Love, Loyalty & Mayhem: A Motorcycle Club Romance Anthology

by Ryan Michele

  The room exploded in laughter, but Cyrus was too lost in his thoughts to even care. The guys continued to tell stories and carry on until everyone had finished eating. We cleaned up the dishes, and everyone was talking amongst themselves in the kitchen when Gus leaned over to me and said, “I need to have a quick word with Saul, and then I’ll run you home.”

  “But I drove here.”

  “In that case, I’ll follow you home.” He placed his hands on my hips and pulled me towards him. “Unless you have a problem with me spending some time with my woman.”

  “No, I don’t have a problem with that.” I inched a little closer. “In fact, I was going to be a little disappointed if I didn’t get a little alone time with you.”

  He leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. As he turned to leave, he said, “Give me a minute … five at the most.”

  When he turned to leave, I headed over to the others to say my goodbyes. Louise and Moose thanked me for the gift I’d given Rayne, and then T-Bone and the others each took a moment to speak before they wandered over to the bar. I was about to head out to the parking lot when I saw Gus walking in my direction. Just the sight of him got to me like no other man had before. He was just so damn handsome, so confident and self-assured, and the way he looked at me, like I was the most beautiful woman on the planet, made every nerve in my body long to be touched by him. As he made his way over to me, I smiled and said, “That was fast.”

  Gus wrapped his arms around me and lifted me in the air. “Told ya I just needed a minute.”

  “That, you did.”

  Then he gave me a brief kiss and lowered my feet to the floor. Wasting no time, he took my hand and started for the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Once he’d walked me over to my car and got me settled inside, he hopped on his bike and followed me over to my apartment. We parked and headed inside and got in the elevator. The second the doors closed, we were on each other like two sex-starved teenagers, kissing and pawing like there was no tomorrow. When the doors opened, Gus lifted me into his arms and carried me to my apartment door. Fumbling with the key, I finally unlocked it, and while he carried me inside, I was surprised to find that my lights were on. Gus was about to lean in for another kiss when I scooted out of his arms and stepped into the living room. As soon as I saw her and noticed the expression on her face, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.

  “Hello, Samantha Grace.”

  “Mom … Uh, what are you doing here?”

  Her eyebrow was raised high in annoyance as she said, “If you had checked your cell phone, you’d know that I was coming.”

  “I’m sorry.” Gus walked up next to me as I told her, “We were at a birthday party, and I—”

  I’d never told her anything about who I’d been seeing, so I was surprised when she stood up and interrupted me by saying, “You must be Gus.”

  “I am.”

  “Well, it’s nice to finally meet you.” She extended her hand. “I’m Elizabeth Travers. Samantha’s mother.”

  As he shook her hand, he replied, “It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Travers. Samantha has told me a lot about you and your family.”

  “Umm … well, that’s nice to hear. Wish I could say the same about you.” She was wearing one of her fitted blouses and a string of pearls along with black slacks and heels, but it wasn’t what she was wearing that made her seem pretentious. It was the way she looked at him and the tone she used when she spoke. Mom didn’t have to say the words. She’d already made it clear that she didn’t approve of Gus, and to top it off, she glanced over at me with one of her looks. I knew then I was in for it. Her focus was still on me while she told Gus, “Maybe we can rectify that in a bit when Samantha and I are alone. I’m sure we will have lots to talk about.”

  “I’m sure you will,” he answered and seemed completely unfazed by her rude behavior.

  “Mom,” I warned.

  Before I could say anything more, Gus looked over to me and said, “I’m gonna get going.”

  “Wait. You don’t have to leave.” I glared over at my mother, adding, “She won’t be staying long.”

  “You need to spend some time with your mother, Sam.” He leaned towards me and kissed my cheek. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. I wasn’t able to stay long anyway.”

  “Okay.” Disappointment washed over me as I followed him to the door. Before he walked out, I whispered, “I’m sorry about this.”

  “Don’t be.” Gus kissed me one more time, then stepped into the hall. Before I closed the door, he called out to my mother, “It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Travers.”

  She didn’t respond, which only aggravated me even more. Once he was gone, I stormed back into the living room. “What the hell was that?”

  “I was about to ask you the same,” she snapped. “And watch your tone, young lady. I don’t care how old you get; I am still your mother and I will not be disrespected.”

  “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, Mother.” I took in a deep breath and crossed my arms. “I just want to know what you’re doing here?”

  “I came because I heard that my daughter had gotten herself a new boyfriend.”

  “And where did you hear that?”

  “From Evan. Everyone informed us that he was the best campaign manager in the country, but when he alerted me that my daughter had gotten herself mixed up with some delinquent, I thought he’d made a terrible mistake. Lo and behold, I arrive only to find you here with him.” She walked over to the window and watched Gus get on his motorcycle, then grumbled, “A biker, Samantha? How could you delve so low?”

  “You’re wrong about him, Mom. He’s not a delinquent. He’s a good man, and he’s been wonderful to me.” Her back was still turned away from me when I said, “I love him. I don’t care if you approve of him or not.”

  “And your father? What about him? Do you care about him at all?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Well, you certainly aren’t acting like it.” She turned to face me as she continued, “You know what becoming governor means to him. He’s spent his entire life working for this chance, and how do you think he’s going to feel when you’re the one who takes it away from him.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m not taking anything away from him.”

  “Of course, you are! When the media learns that their lead candidate—the man who has an impeccable record with not one single skeleton in his closet—has a daughter who is tangled up with some miscreant who belongs to one of the most dangerous biker clubs in the country, then your father’s political career is over!” Her face flushed red as she continued her rant. “He’s supposed to turn this state around and make it a safe, thriving place for the rich and the poor. How’s he’s supposed to do that when his own daughter is running around with criminals?”

  “Just because he’s in a motorcycle club doesn’t mean he’s a criminal, Mother.”

  “No, but he is.” With a huff, she stormed over to my coffee table and picked up a folder. As she thrust it in my direction, she spat, “See for yourself.”

  I opened the file and quickly scanned the first page. It was a record for an Augustus Peterson, born in Piedmont, Washington, in 1966. At first, I was thrown by the name, but when I got to the bottom of the page, I noticed a black and white photograph of Gus. I looked up at my mother with pure disgust. “What is this?”

  “It’s everything he could find on your new boyfriend. From the looks of it, he’s been a very busy man.”

  “You had no right to do that!” I tossed the folder down on the coffee table.

  “Of course, I did! Your father’s career is at stake!” She walked over to me and sighed. “You father has moved heaven and earth for you, Samantha … giving you everything you could have ever wanted, including this apartment and that internship at MBC. Now, it’s time for you to return the favor. End this thing with the biker before it
’s too late.”

  “I’m not ending things with him.”

  “I know you think you love him, but he’s simply not the right man for you.” She placed her hand on my face as she continued, “He can’t give you the kind of life you deserve.”

  “He can and he will.”

  “I wish that were true, but it’s not. You’ll see that for yourself soon enough.” She lowered her hand and let out a deep breath. “Your father had a meeting with a nice young man last week. His name is Dennis Rayburn. He’s a lawyer in Nashville, comes from a good family, and everyone thinks highly of him. We were thinking of having him come for dinner in a couple of weeks. You should come, especially considering your new position at work. You two would be in the same city.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Just think about it.” She picked up her purse and coat from the sofa, then added, “In fact, I want you to think about everything I’ve said tonight. Your family is counting on you to do the right thing.”

  With that, she turned and walked out. As soon as the door closed, I broke down in tears. I wasn’t sure why I was crying. Maybe it was my anger at all the things she’d said about Gus, or maybe because I knew she was right.

  5

  Gus

  Samantha’s body grew rigid as I began to thrust deeper, harder. Her snug pussy throbbed against me, weakening all of my restraint. When she showed up tonight in that tight, little black dress and those fuck-me heels, I knew exactly what she was up to. My little temptress wanted my attention, and by God, she fucking got it. I was done the second she walked into the room and I saw that spark of lust in her eyes. I tossed Samantha over my shoulder and carried her straight back to my room. I watched with bated breath as she slowly undressed and revealed her perfect curves, then I led her over to the bed. After I shed my clothes, I lowered myself down between her thighs and explored every inch of her body, making her come undone over and over again. Once I was inside her, I intended to go slow … wanting to savor every damn second, but she was so tight, so warm and wet. I couldn’t hold back. I tightened my grip in her hair as I quickened my pace to a demanding rhythm. Her nails skated up my spine as her hips bucked against mine, meeting my every thrust with more force … more intensity. I could feel the pressure building in my cock as she constricted around me.

  Her head reared back as she shouted, “Oh god, Gus!”

  “Fuck,” I groaned as she clamped down on me like a fucking vice. She panted wildly, moaning and clawing at my back as I plunged deeper. I knew she was close, unable to stop the inevitable bliss of her impending release. I looked down at her, and my chest literally ached with emotion. This woman had a hold on me like I never thought possible. I lowered my mouth to her neck and whispered, “Mine.”

  “Yes!” she cried out in pleasure. The muscles in her body grew taut, then stilled as her orgasm took hold. I continued to drive into her, the sound of my body pounding against hers echoed throughout the room and pushed me over the edge. My hands reached under and lifted her ass off the bed as I drove into her one last time, submitting to my own release.

  Samantha’s body fell limp under mine. I remained deeply seated inside her, not ready for the moment to end. I would miss nights like these if she decided to take that job in Nashville. I was surprised when she’d mentioned it earlier in the week, but knowing what it meant to her, I assured her that we’d make it work. That didn’t mean I was happy about the idea of her being away from me. I rested my head on her chest and listened to her rapid heartbeat begin to steady. Samantha’s breathing began to slow to a point that I thought she’d actually fallen asleep. I looked up at her and was surprised to see a sexy smile on her face. Settling myself alongside her, she slowly began to wiggle her way into the crook of my arm and rested her head down on my chest. I leaned over and kissed her on the temple. “You are really something, Samantha Travers.”

  “You are too.”

  “There you go again … stealing my compliments.” I joked.

  “Well, they’re good compliments. I can’t seem to help myself.” She giggled, and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest. “But I have one you haven’t used yet.”

  “Oh, really? What’s that?”

  She trailed the tips of her fingers across my chest as she whispered, “I love you more every minute of every day.”

  “You’re right. I haven’t used that one.” I hadn’t said those three little words to her yet. She knew I loved her. I showed her in every way I could, but clearly, she needed to hear me say it. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, because I do. I think you know that.”

  “I do.” She smiled and said, “Seems strange.”

  “What?”

  “That we might not have met if that guy hadn’t tried to steal my purse.”

  “It might’ve taken me a little longer, but I would’ve found you, Samantha. You were meant to be mine. I have no doubt about that.”

  The room fell silent for a moment, and then she glanced up at me and said, “I think we missed our dinner reservations.”

  “Yeah. I’d say I’m sorry, but that’s on you.”

  “On me? How so?”

  “You knew what would happen when I saw you in that dress.”

  “Are you saying I had ulterior motives for wearing that dress tonight?” she asked, feigning innocence.

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I looked down at her beautiful face. “You thinkin’ I’m wrong?”

  “Nope.” She giggled. “Not at all.”

  “That’s what I thought. You knew exactly what you were doing, so now, you have to decide what we’re gonna do for dinner.”

  “How about a night in? We can order a pizza and watch a movie.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Once our pizza arrived, we made a make-shift picnic on the edge of the bed and started a movie. As Samantha took a bite of her pizza, she asked, “Do you think you’ll ever get a place of your own like Moose and Louise?”

  “Eventually. Right now, I need to be here so I can keep an eye on things.”

  “So … in a couple of months or a couple of years?”

  “A year … maybe a little less.” I took a drink of my beer, then added, “It just depends on how things play out.”

  “And what about kids?”

  “What about ‘em?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Do you want any?”

  “Yeah, sure. Just not right now.” As I reached for another slice of pizza, I went on to say, “I’ve got too much on my plate to even consider taking on more. Maybe in a few years.”

  “Oh … Okay.”

  When her eyes skirted over to the floor, I knew something was up. “You got something on your mind?”

  “I’m just trying to see where you stand, I guess.” Trying to play it off, she took another bite of her pizza, then said, “It’s important to be in the know.”

  “Samantha.” I waited until her eyes met mine and then said, “As long as you are with me, I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy. You want to take that job in Nashville, then take it. We’ll find a way to make it work until you can get something here. You want a house? I’ll buy you a house—the biggest, nicest house you’ve ever seen. You want some fancy apartment by the river? I’ll make it happen. You want kids? I’ll give you as many as you want, and love and protect them until the day I take my last breath.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she muttered, “Gus.”

  “I mean it, Sam. I take care of the people who are important to me, and you’re on the top of that list. I’m just asking for a little time. Can you give me that?”

  “Yes.” She nodded as she leaned towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. “I can give you that.”

  “Good. Now, finish your pizza, ‘cause as soon as this movie is over, I’m gonna be wanting another go.” I kissed her on the cheek. “I still can’t get that fucking dress out of my head.”

  As she eased back on the bed a
nd smiled. “I think I’m gonna have to get me a few more of those little black dresses.”

  “If you do, you better be ready to suffer the consequences.”

  “I’m more than ready.”

  When we finished eating, Samantha curled up next to me, and we turned our attention back to the movie we’d been watching. As soon as it was over, we made love again, and by the time I was done with her, she was completely spent and had fallen asleep in my arms.

  After the club’s encounter with the Ravens, we all struggled to come to terms with the loss of one of our brothers and a prospect—especially me. It was my job to keep my boys out of harm’s way, and it gutted me that I’d failed them. Samantha knew something wasn’t right, but she didn’t push. While she was still learning the ins and outs of the club life, she understood that there were things I simply couldn’t, and wouldn’t, share with her.

  Things were just starting to get settled down with the club when Sam mentioned a possible job transfer to Nashville. I’d barely had a chance to wrap my head around the news when her mother had shown up for an unexpected visit. I knew from the moment we’d met that she wasn’t happy about us being together. It wasn’t like she tried to hide the fact, and even though Samantha tried to deny it, I knew it got to her. I wasn’t blind. I could see the worry in her eyes, the wheels turning in her head whenever she was at the clubhouse. Even though Samantha and I were from two different worlds, traveling on two completely different paths, I could also feel the love she felt for me whenever she was in my arms.

  But as I lay there watching her sleep a thought crossed my mind, causing a knot to twist in my gut. I was a man who had it all. I had my club, my brothers—my family, and I had a woman who I loved like no other. This realization should’ve made me fucking ecstatic, but I knew how things worked. No man could have it all forever, and the same would hold true for me. I didn’t know how and I didn’t know when, but the tides of change were coming.

  The End

  Gunner: Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis will release late July or early August.