by Marla Monroe
“I guess it’s everything going on. I’m not normally a nervous person,” she told him.
“I didn’t think you were.”
“Okay, you always get on last and off first. Got it?” he asked.
“Okay.” She listened as he explained where to put her feet and how to hold on to him.
“Time to mount up,” he said as he hit the switch to the garage door opener.
He climbed on and then waited on her to get on behind him. She actually managed to do it without breaking her neck. She was impressed with herself.
They pulled out of the garage, and it closed behind them. She glanced over and noticed that Nina and Jack were already outside waiting on them. Baxter tapped her helmet, and she turned to look at him.
“When I have it on one channel, we can all four talk to each other. When I put it on a different channel, you and I are the only ones on it. So if you have something you want to talk about without them hearing you, let me know.”
“Okay.” She heard a click over her headset, and then she could hear Jack and Nina talking.
“Hey, Nina. I’m going to kill you when this is over with,” she said.
“No, you won’t. You’re going to have a ball. I promise. It’s so much fun.”
She could hear Jack and Baxter talking about directions in the background. All the talking was beginning to make her dizzy. She wasn’t so sure about this trip. It really might be more than she could handle. Hell, Baxter was more than she could handle.
“Ready back there?” he was suddenly asking her.
“Um, yeah. I’m ready, I guess.”
“Hold on then.” He pulled out of the drive and onto the street.
She decided she could handle this after all. It wasn’t that bad. She had to rethink her strategy for holding on though once they pulled out onto the interstate. She soon had Baxter in a death grip with her face squished sideways against his back.
“Charlie? Can you loosen up a little, baby? I’m having trouble breathing up here.”
She could hear the snicker in his voice. He was laughing at her. If she wasn’t so afraid that something she did would get them both killed, she would have pinched him. Instead, she slowly relaxed her grip some.
“Jack says I should have taught you how to ride a bike last night. Said for you to ask Nina about it,” Baxter told her.
“I’ll ask her later.” She already knew about that naughty piece of information. Though Nina hadn’t gone into detail, she knew it involved sex.
“How are you doing?” he asked again a few minutes later.
“I’m making it. It’s not so bad right now.” Actually, she was enjoying herself. Once she’d figured out she could hold on to Baxter with just her hands and not her entire body, she was able to look around her at the scenery.
“We’ll be stopping in another thirty minutes at the first small town on the tour. You can get off and stretch your legs and drink some water.”
“Sounds good.” She was thirsty. The wind blowing in her face dried out her mouth.
When they pulled into Split Rock, they rode around the town with several other bikers before Jack settled on a small strip of grass under a tree. They pulled up next to them and cut their engines.
“All right, we’ll be here for about thirty minutes I think. The rally starts here at eight. It’s seven thirty now,” Jack said.
“I need to pee while we’re here,” Nina told them.
Jack rolled his eyes and grinned. “Told you.”
“I’ll come with you.” Charlotte climbed off the bike and nearly fell when she stood up straight. Her ass was tingly, and her legs wobbly.
“Take it easy there for a few seconds and get your legs back under you,” Baxter told her as he climbed off behind her.
“Let’s go, Charlotte,” Nina said grabbing for her hand.
“No going anywhere without out either Jack or me with you,” Baxter warned her.
“Okay, don’t worry. I don’t want any trouble,” she said.
“I’ll take them, so you can stick with the bikes,” Jack said.
Baxter nodded and stretched. Charlotte wondered if he was sore where his gunshot wound had been. She’d been holding onto him pretty tightly for a while. She followed Jack and Nina toward a little diner where several other bikes where parked. The building looked fairly full. She was surprised when they walked in that no one thought anything of them heading directly back to the bathrooms. Jack stood watch outside the door.
“So, how are you doing so far?” Nina asked her.
“Okay. I’m going to be sore though. I can already tell.”
“Loosen up some. You’re stiff all over. The stiffer you ride, the worse it will be. Try to relax. I promise. Baxter is a great driver. He won’t let anything happen to you.” Nina washed her hands at the sink.
“I’m trying. I’ve never been on a bike in my life until today.” Charlotte washed her hands and then dried them.
“You’ll be riding like a pro in no time. Just relax.”
Charlotte followed Nina out of the restroom to where Jack was talking to someone wearing a long white beard and a do-rag like Jack’s. He turned to them.
“There’s my girls. Nina, you remember Bear. Bear, this is our friend Charlotte.”
Bear stuck out a massive hand to shake. She looked over at Nina and found the other woman smiling. She stuck her hand in his, and it was instantly pumped in greeting.
“Good to meet a friend of Jack and Nina. Glad to hear Baxter is with you this time. Sorry I missed him. I’ll look for you all on the next few stops,” Bear said.
Jack bumped knuckles with him and herded her and Nina through the diner and back outside. They all three held hands on the walk back to the bikes. When they were within shouting distance, Charlotte felt her tummy somersault inside of her at the sight of Baxter leaned back against the tree with his hair around his shoulders. He was unbelievable to look at. His height made her feel almost dainty. No one had ever made her feel so feminine as he did. She couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips when he looked at her.
“Have fun?” he asked with a knowing grin on his face.
“Smartass. Yeah, I met a man named Bear that looks like one.”
“Didn’t Jack tell you not to talk to anyone?” Baxter growled.
“It’s okay, Baxter. It was a friend of mine. He and his old lady are on this ride. They’re anxious to meet you, too.”
“I remember you talking about him now. Long white beard?”
“That’s the dude,” Jack said.
They each drank bottled water that Nina grabbed from a vender pushing a wheelbarrow down the street with bottles of water and ice in it. Charlotte couldn’t help staring at all the different bikes around them. There were bikes with three wheels, as well as bikes pulling carts of some type behind them. And then there were the people themselves. Some looked like businessmen on holiday, and others like what she would think a true biker would look like. Of course, she’d seen them up close when Nina had been kidnapped several months back.
“Looks like everyone is getting ready to mount up and ride,” Baxter told her. “Let’s go, Charlie.”
She rolled her eyes at him but pulled on her pack and then the helmet. He had to fasten it again, but she had managed everything else. She waited while he mounted up, and then she climbed up and settled herself on the back. Nina looked her way and gave her a thumbs-up. Charlotte smiled and returned it. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all. She was having fun.
They rode the rest of the morning in a loosely formed group without stopping until time for lunch. Charlotte had tried to count the number of bikes but gave up with all the jockeying for positions in the line. There were at least fifty though, she was sure. She would ask Baxter what he thought later.
“Okay, we can try for the diner, but they look pretty crammed, or we can go for KFC and eat it outside on the picnic tables.” Jack waited for them to decide.
“I vote for chicken,” Charlo
tte said.
“Me too. Less hassle,” Nina said.
“Sounds like it’s going to be chicken,” Baxter noted.
“You girls stick to the bikes and don’t go anywhere,” Jack said. “If there’s a problem, just buzz me on the phone, and I’ll come right back.”
“Jack has the phone programmed to his number if I push any button, it goes to his cell,” Nina explained to Charlotte.
“Charlotte, don’t go anywhere,” Baxter said and kissed her on the nose.
“Hmmm, looks to me like someone is getting bossy,” Nina said when the two men had walked off.
“Bossy doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“He’s treating you okay, though, isn’t he?” Nina asked.
“Yes. I suppose. I just don’t like being tricked into doing something I didn’t want to do.” She lifted her eyebrows at her friend.
“I’m sorry, Charlotte, but we couldn’t leave you there with Neal still out there loose. He’s crazy, Charlotte.”
“I don’t understand it. He’d been so boring and quiet when we went out. It’s why I put a stop to our dating. It wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Sometimes, it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”
Charlotte thought about how quiet Baxter was for the most part. “You’re telling me.”
“Ladies, what are you two doing all alone over here?” Charlotte jerked around at the sound of a man’s voice behind her.
Two scruffy-looking men stood off to the side of the picnic table. One of them walked over and sat down behind Charlotte. She immediately tried to elbow him in the gut, but he laughed and wrapped his arms around her. She could feel his hot breath next to her ear.
“Be still, Charlotte. Jack and Baxter are on their way,” Nina said as the other man sat down behind her.
“Jack and Baxter. What sissy names. Can’t wait to meet them,” the one behind Nina said.
“Well, the feeling isn’t mutual,” Jack said in a growl as he walked up to the picnic table.
“Get your fucking hands off our women,” Baxter yelled stomping over beside him.
Both men jumped up and backed away with their hands up palms out.
“I better not see your faces near us again, or I’ll teach you some manners,” Jack told them as they turned around and hurried off.
“Told you they were coming. If anyone comes on to you like that, don’t fight them. Wait on Jack and Baxter. Fighting them just stirs them up,” Nina told her.
“Now you tell me.” She wiped her ear where she could still feel the other man’s breath there.
“You okay, baby?” Jack asked Nina.
Baxter pulled her up from the picnic table and crushed her against him with a searing kiss. Her lips burned where he pressed them to hers.
She pushed against him, and when he finally let go of her, he frowned down into her eyes. “I’m fine. No need to get carried away.”
“Did you remember to bring the chicken back with you?” Nina asked with a chuckle. “I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry,” Jack teased her.
“Got the special,” Baxter said, still watching Charlotte.
They spread out the tablecloth Nina had brought along for this. While they set up the food, Jack ran and got drinks for them. Baxter stayed behind to help with the food. They had twelve pieces with potato salad and corn on the cob and biscuits.
It didn’t take long for them to eliminate the food. They were all hungry. Charlotte ended up eating more than she normally did because Baxter kept poking food at her until she called him on it.
“One more piece of food gets on my plate, and I’m going to throw it at you,” she fussed at him.
“You have to eat to have the kind of energy you need for these rides. You barely eat enough to keep a flea alive.”
“Back off, Baxter. I’m eating plenty.”
Nina and Jack chuckled and then began to studiously ignore them while they gathered the garbage.
“If I say you need to eat more, then you have to eat more. Not just because I said it, but because I know more about these rides than you do, and you need to remember that.”
“Fine. Just don’t shove it in my face.” She sighed and gave in. He was right. He knew more about riding bikes and rallies than she did.
“Are you sure you’re okay from earlier?” he asked her in a quiet voice.
“Yeah, thanks. I wasn’t expecting it was all.”
“It shouldn’t have happened. We won’t leave you girls alone again. We knew better,” Baxter promised her.
“I don’t want to be a burden anymore than I already am.”
“You’re not a burden, Charlie. I wanted you to come with us even before the mess with Neal.”
“Then why didn’t you ask me?” she asked.
“You had already told Nina no.”
“I didn’t think you would want me around.”
“Where did you get that idea?” he asked.
“You had been ignoring me lately. I figured you were tired of me always being over there.”
“Charlotte, you had as much if not more of a right being over there than I did. I’d never get tired of having you around.”
Charlotte was about to say something, but Jack and Nina came back from tossing the garbage.
“You guys ready to mount up again?” Jack asked.
“I’m ready.” Charlotte climbed off the picnic table and walked over toward the bikes. She waited for Baxter to get settled, and then after fastening her helmet on by herself, she climbed up behind Baxter and held on.
What did he mean he’d never get tired of her? He really didn’t need to be saying things like that. Nothing lasted forever. She knew that better than anyone. Her marriage had lasted all of three years. All because she’d been too young to know what she wanted. Did she want Baxter now? What did Baxter want from her?
Chapter Seven
Baxter wondered if Charlotte understood what he wanted from her. Not yet, she didn’t. He hadn’t shown her his other side, the darker side of himself. He kept alluding to it when she stepped out of line. Part of him wondered if she was doing it on purpose. He threatened her with spankings, and she acted like she didn’t believe him, but he was sure she did.
Nina knew more about him than Charlotte did. Maybe she had talked to Charlotte about him. Maybe his Charlie knew that he was a Dom. Maybe it even turned her on. Baxter hoped it would. The more time he spent with her, the more he craved her. Letting her go wasn’t going to be an option.
They stopped twice more along the way at different little towns for bathroom breaks and to rehydrate themselves. They kept the women with them at all times now. Baxter didn’t trust anyone around Charlotte. She needed to learn more about self-defense. He planned to talk to Jack about that when they got back. He was sure Nina needed a refresher course, as well.
As they pulled in to where they were going to be spending the night, Charlotte spoke up for the first time during that leg of the trip.
“I’m looking forward to a nice hot bath.”
“I packed some bath salts for you, too,” Baxter teased.
“Why would you do that?” she asked as she eased off the bike.
“Walk around a few steps and ask me that again.”
“Fuck you.”
“Count on it, baby,” he said as she limped around.
She glared at him with wary eyes. He could tell she didn’t know how much of him to believe and how much of his teasing was just that, teasing. He liked keeping her off guard. He wanted her so off guard that she couldn’t say no to anything he asked of her. And he would ask a lot.
“Let’s get the keys, guys. I need a shower,” Nina said.
“I’ll get the rooms. You can stick with the girls and watch the bikes,” he told Jack.
Jack nodded and pulled Nina into his arms for a kiss. Baxter winked at Charlotte before he opened the door to walk into the office. He was second in line, so he had time to look around the hotel.
It was a nice place compared to most of the dumps he’d stayed in lately. When riding with The Devils before they’d been brought down by the law, most of the places they’d slept were clean but low on the motel totem pole.
When his time came, he checked them in and made sure they had connecting rooms. They were on the second floor. He didn’t much like that, but it couldn’t be helped. He took the key cards and carried them back out to where the others were waiting.
“Second floor, but we have connecting rooms,” he told Jack.
“Fine. We’ll be good. Other than those two assholes from earlier, I haven’t seen any of the major players riding today,” Jack said.
“What do you mean by major players?” Charlotte asked.
“Major bike gangs. There have been a few small weekend riders, but none of the real biker gangs that you see in the bigger rallies,” Baxter explained.
“Oh.” Charlotte walked beside Baxter as they headed for the stairs to the second floor. He pulled Charlotte’s pack off her back and added it to his as they climbed the stairs.
“Hey, I could have carried it,” she fussed.
“I know, but there’s no reason why you should,” he told her.
Jack had done the same thing to Nina. Nina nudged Charlotte, and they grinned at each other. Uh-oh, Baxter thought. When women grinned like that, something was up. He lifted an eyebrow at Jack, and the other man nodded with a resigned look on his face. He was already admitting defeat. Not him. No way was he going to admit defeat.
“Here we are,” Jack said, stopping in front of one of the rooms. He used the key card, and shoved the door wide.
Baxter tried his card on the next door, and it unlocked, as well. “Come on, Charlie. Our room is over here.”
She turned and looked at him with a furious look on her face. She opened and closed her mouth and then opened it again. He leaned in and kissed her, shoving his tongue into her open mouth to tease along hers. Then he jerked away quickly to avoid her sharp teeth.
He pulled her along to their room and closed the door behind them.
“If you think for one minute that I’m going to sleep with you…” She stopped when he dropped the backpacks on the bed and slowly turned around.
