Hard Ride

by Opal Carew

  The feel of the supple leather against her cheek, the manly smell of it, filled her with longing.

  Back in college, they used to study together, and they’d become friends. Then it became complicated by a growing attraction between them. If things had happened differently—if that incident hadn’t happened—then they probably would have gone somewhere with it. Developed a romantic relationship. Become lovers.

  But she couldn’t. Not after …

  Her heart clenched. She’d pulled back and she knew he’d never understood, but there was no way she could have told him about it.

  Now, as she clung to him, she wondered what had happened to him—whether his situation had changed or he was just defying his family. But there was no denying that he was earthier. And more rugged.

  And at the same time totally intimidating with his badass clothes and his biker attitude. Which, she admitted, was a big part of why she was filled with yearning.

  She knew him, but she didn’t. Which made him a mystery.

  But no matter how big and intimidating he was, she knew what was inside, and that he would never hurt her.

  They had left the downtown area and now traveled along the quiet highway. She lived on the outskirts in a low-rent building on the bus line. She heard the sound of engines behind them. She glanced back to see other bikers following them. She noticed Devin glancing in his mirror, his expression drawn tight.

  He turned on a side road and one of the bikes pulled up alongside them, then another pulled up on their other side. She thought it might be Devin’s friends, but there were four in all. Suddenly the bikes pulled ahead, and the two behind them pulled beside them. The bikes slowed and swerved to the right. Devin tried to pull away from them, but they surrounded the bike and forced him off the road.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Devin shouted as he stopped the bike.

  But two of the men grabbed his arms and pulled him from the motorcycle, and she felt a third slide his arm around her waist and pull her roughly from the seat and plunk her on the ground.

  “So this guy is good enough for you, but not us?”

  Her gaze shot to the owner of the voice. It was Crow from the bar. And she now recognized the others, who had pulled off their helmets, as the guys who had been with him at the bar.

  It took all three of Crow’s men to restrain Devin as Crow grabbed her arm and pulled her off the side of the road. Liv was terrified as he dragged her toward some trees. The others dragged Devin along with them.

  Her captor backed her against a tree and leered at her, his tight grasp on her arm biting into her flesh. He grabbed the neckline of her dress and she gasped as he tore it open, revealing her pink lace bra, her breasts swelling from the top. Someone behind her snickered, and she sucked in a breath, terrified, knowing exactly what he intended to do to her.

  He pushed her shoulders back, forcing her against the rough tree bark, his dark, weasel-like eyes locked on the swell of her bosom.

  Suddenly, she heard a growl and a thud, then a heavy thump. She glanced around just in time to see one man on the ground and Devin’s fist connecting with the jaw of the other one. The third man rushed him from behind, but Devin turned and flipped him onto the grass. With all three men on the ground, he kicked the first, who was starting to get up, in the ribs, then stormed in her direction.

  “You get your fucking hands off her.” Devin’s voice was intimidating and dangerous.

  Her captor hesitated, then pulled her from the tree and thrust her toward Devin. He caught her before she stumbled to the ground.

  “You oughta keep your fucking girlfriend in line,” Crow said. “You let her sit around Matey’s like that and a guy gets ideas.”

  Devin set her to the side and strode toward Crow, then pounded his fist so hard into the guy’s face that he dropped to the ground. Blood rushed from his nostrils and Liv was pretty sure Devin had broken his nose.

  But Devin wasn’t done. He grabbed the guy and pulled him to his feet, then hit him again. And kept on hitting him. Aghast, Liv raced forward and grabbed Devin’s shoulder, trying to pull him back.

  “No, Devin. Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

  “Stay out of this,” he snapped, pulling his fist back for another blow.

  But she wrapped her fingers around his forearm. “Please. Don’t do this.”

  He stared at her, then scowled. But he released the guy, letting him sag to the ground. He was conscious, but barely.

  Devin grabbed her arm and pulled her, stumbling, toward the road again.

  “Take care of your asshole leader,” he grated as he passed the other three men, who had staggered to their feet again.

  He pulled his jacket off and threw it around her shoulders. “Put that on and zip it up.”

  She nodded, sliding her arms into the sleeves, then pulling up the zipper. It was huge on her, but it covered her semi-nakedness.

  “Are you okay?” he asked through gritted teeth as they continued walking.

  She nodded, not trusting her words. The truth was she was badly shaken.

  He lifted her onto the bike, then mounted it himself.

  “Liv, don’t call me Devin again. My name is Shock. The man called Devin is long gone.”

  Then he started the engine and the Harley jolted forward before she had a chance to respond.

  * * *

  Shock took Liv to the address she had given him, and pulled up in front of her building. He wasn’t expecting such a run-down place. With her great grades at school and her ambition, he was sure Liv would be doing well in her career. Why would she live in such a dump?

  He got off the bike and watched her throw her leg over and slip to the ground, catching another glimpse of her feminine lace panties.

  She pulled off the helmet, revealing her tousled honey-blonde hair, which now tumbled in soft waves over the shoulders of his leather jacket.

  “Thanks for the ride.” She toyed with the zipper on the jacket.

  “Keep that on. I’ll walk you to your place and get it back there.” He sure as hell wasn’t going to let her walk around in public with her dress torn open.

  She hesitated. Fuck, did she think…?

  “Hey, you were just attacked by some asshole. You don’t really think I’m going to try something, do you?”

  She gazed up at him. “No, of course not.”

  But she didn’t sound as sure as he would have liked.

  “I’m walking you to your place and I’m going to make sure you’re safe and sound.” His tone brooked no argument.

  She turned and walked toward the apartment building and he followed her. She pushed her key in the door and turned it. They walked past the threadbare couch in the lobby and into the elevator. A few minutes later they stood at her apartment door. She opened it and glanced up at him.

  “I’m coming in,” he said. “You’re not taking that off out here in the hall.”

  She nodded, then led him inside.

  It wasn’t much. A tiny studio apartment with a kitchen on one side with a small round table, a pull-out couch—he assumed because of the bed pillow and blanket sitting on top—and two doors. One probably a bathroom and the other a closet.

  She walked to a dresser against one wall and grabbed a sweater from a drawer, then turned her back and slipped off the leather jacket. As she pulled on the sweater, he could see the reflection of her pink-lace-clad breasts in the glass door of the TV cabinet. He should look away, but the sight was mesmerizing. His cock twitched. He had wanted this woman with an unprecedented depth of desire for a very long time.

  She zipped up the sweater, then turned to him and handed him his jacket. “Thank you.”

  He took it with a nod. “How about a cup of coffee?”

  “It’s kind of late.”

  “Come on. It’s Friday night. And we haven’t seen each other in six years.”

  * * *

  Liv sighed. “Okay. I think I have some decaf.”

  She didn’t really want
him to leave. She was still shaken up by what had happened. In fact, she’d love nothing better than for him to climb into bed with her and hold her all night long. She’d feel safe in his arms. Protected. But that was an insane idea. Anyway, there was no way she’d show him that much weakness.

  And she also knew that if he stayed the night, they wouldn’t just sleep.

  She puttered around the kitchenette making coffee, then set two mugs on the round table and they both sat down.

  “So, what happened?” she asked. “Why are you riding around with bikers instead of living in New York, running your family business?”

  He frowned, then sipped his coffee. “You never did beat around the bush, did you?”

  She shrugged. “It’s a huge change for you. Of course I’m curious.”

  “Let’s just say my old life chewed me up and spit me out, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

  “That’s an awfully cryptic answer.”

  He glanced around her dingy apartment. “And what about you? This isn’t exactly what I expected for you. You had your choice of job offers after college. I figured you’d have a great job. A nice house.”

  “Not a tiny, crappy apartment,” she said, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.

  The fact was she did have a well-paying job. And she worked hard. But she’d recently had to sell her beautiful town house and her car to help with her sister’s medical bills.

  Several months ago, Julia had started getting sick a lot, and then she’d taken ill with pneumonia. She’d wound up in the hospital and just didn’t get better. The doctors kept her in the hospital, doing tests, but two months and a pile of bills later they had theories but nothing conclusive.

  Not that she’d tell Shock that. She didn’t want him feeling sorry for her.

  She was doing enough of that herself.

  “Liv, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

  She shrugged. “It’s okay. I guess things don’t always turn out the way you expect.”

  He drained his cup, then stood up. His huge frame dwarfed her tiny apartment.

  “I should get going.”

  She stood up, wishing he would stay a little longer. But she wouldn’t ask.

  “Okay. Thanks again for the ride. And for … saving me from those guys.”

  He frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay? I could stay if you want.”

  “No,” she answered too quickly. “It’s okay.”

  “Liv—”

  “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “I’m not worried, but you must still be shaken by what happened.”

  “I can take care of myself,” she said. That was her mantra.

  He rested his hand on her shoulder. His gentle touch sent warmth humming through her, and not just a comforting warmth. Her insides heated with that familiar yearning that threw her so off balance when she was around him.

  “I know you can.”

  “Do you?” She stared at him. “Because it didn’t sound that way earlier when you said I have no common sense. And come to think of it, you always used to lecture me back in college, too.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “So I was a little harsh. I was worried about you, that’s all.”

  “Well, don’t be.” But her annoyance faded as she saw the warmth in his eyes. Things might have changed, but there was still something between them. There always had been, even though they’d never taken their relationship beyond friendship.

  But now, as she stared up at him, the heat of the potent attraction that had always pulsed between them flared to life.

  He must have felt it, too, because he slowly lowered his head and she knew she should flee. He was going to kiss her and that kiss would devastate her senses. She knew it. He knew it.

  But she was frozen to the spot. Longing for what was about to happen.

  His lips brushed hers, and electricity flashed through her. His arms came around her and he drew her gently to his body. He deepened the kiss, singeing her senses. Sending her heart pounding like a kettledrum.

  She melted against him and allowed his tongue to glide into her mouth, curling her own around his. She drew in a deep breath, giving herself over to the moment, allowing this experience that she’d yearned for over so many years to completely envelop her.

  Then she felt his hand glide up her side and heard the zipper of her sweater as he pulled it down. His hand slid inside and cupped her lace-clad breast.

  She gasped and pushed against his shoulder.

  He cursed under his breath, then pulled back.

  Her dress, gaping open, covered nothing, so she quickly pulled up the zipper of her sweater.

  “Fuck, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” He straightened. “I’m going now.” Then he turned and strode to the door. He pulled it open and turned to her. “Just promise me you won’t go hanging around that bar late at night on your own again.”

  “Of course,” she mumbled, not having the energy to say anything more.

  He nodded, then shut the door behind him.

  * * *

  Shock pushed open the door of the building and strode into the night. Fuck, what was wrong with him? That wasn’t him.

  True, when he’d first suggested driving Liv home, he’d seen it as an opportunity to finally get into her pants. He’d longed to sample her luscious body ever since college, but she’d drawn a definite line in the sand. Despite her own obvious attraction to him, she’d never allowed their relationship to move past friendship. Now that he’d found her again, he’d intended to change that. A quick one-nighter with her should put those old cravings to bed once and for all.

  But when those guys attacked her this evening … fuck, he wasn’t going to do something after that. Once she was in his arms, though, all thought fled his brain and his throbbing cock had taken control.

  She threw him off balance, and he hated that.

  Well, there was no reason for him to see her again, so this was over. And just as well.

  He climbed on his bike and took off into the night.

  * * *

  The next morning, Liv hung up the phone, her heart aching. Her sister had taken a turn for the worse. The doctor told her that they’d found an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which would kill her if they didn’t remove it quickly. Unfortunately, because they had determined that Julia had a fairly rare form of vasculitis, a specialist would need to be brought in. That meant the surgery would be very expensive and her insurance would cover only a portion of it.

  But Liv was already tapped out. She’d sold the town house and her car, and used up her savings to help Julia. Julia hadn’t asked her to—in fact, she had insisted that Liv not do it—but Liv couldn’t just watch her sister die without doing everything she could to help.

  If only Julia’s no-good husband, who’d up and left her six months ago, would help out.

  Liv picked up the phone and dialed.

  “Yeah,” Carl’s voice said impatiently on the phone.

  “Carl, it’s Liv. You stood me up yesterday.”

  “Yeah, I got held up at work.”

  “We were supposed to meet at midnight.”

  “Liv, I work as a bouncer. There was an incident and they needed me to stay past my shift. Nothing I could do.”

  “You could have called.”

  “Yeah, sorry.”

  “Look, I really need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”

  “Okay, tonight. Same time and place.”

  The thought of going back to Matey’s Bar at all, let alone on her own, sent her heart pounding.

  “Let’s pick somewhere else,” she said.

  “It’ll be fine, Liv.”

  “It’s just … there were some guys there … They might be there again tonight.”

  “Fine, if you’re nervous, meet me at Burt’s, the bar I work at. It’s just down the street.”

  “But—”

  “Look, those are your choices. Take it or leave it,” he said wi
th finality.

  She scowled. “Fine. I’ll meet you at Burt’s.”

  She hung up the phone, not looking forward to this evening.

  * * *

  Liv walked inside Burt’s and glanced around. The décor was basically Western, like an old-style saloon. Burt’s seemed to have a rougher crowd than they did at Matey’s Bar, and several unsavory-looking men around the place stared at her. Her skin began to crawl and she had an overwhelming urge to turn around and bolt out of here, but that would just leave her on the street again at midnight. The bus had dropped her off just outside the bar, but it was gone by now, and after last night’s adventure, she didn’t want to chance waiting for the next one to arrive.

  She walked to the bar, hoping to ask the bartender where Carl was.

  * * *

  A waitress stopped by the table and asked if Shock and the others wanted another beer. Rip and Steele were back at the house with their women, just like last night, but Dom, Magic, and Wild Card were with him.

  “I’m done,” Shock said. He glanced around and Magic shrugged. The others nodded.

  The waitress left and Shock sipped his beer, then sat back in his chair. He was getting tired of this whole scene. Rip and Steele had the right idea. Spend the evening pleasuring their women. Maybe, if they went home now, the ladies would like a little extra fun.

  He sure could fucking use it.

  “Hey, isn’t that your girlfriend from last night?” Dom asked.

  Shock glanced in the direction Dom was looking. Sure enough, Liv was walking toward the bar. Fuck, did the woman have no sense at all? After what happened last night, he honestly thought she’d stay away from this area.

  Men were watching her sweet denim-clad ass as she walked, and annoyance bubbled up inside him. As she approached the bar, a big guy walked right up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. Shock started to get to his feet, ready to spring into action if the guy tried anything, but when she saw the man, a look of relief crossed her face and she followed him to a table.

  Was this the guy she’d intended to meet last night?

  He watched them as they sat at a corner table talking intently.