The Higher You Fly

by Debra Kayn

  Lightheaded, she watched him strip and roll on a condom. Then, he dipped her, taking her to the blanket they had spread on the floor earlier.

  The heat of his mouth on her neck settled her. She lowered her hands to his back and widened her legs. The only thing she needed was Caiden. Her heart came alive when he was near, and her body thrummed with love that filled her soul.

  In one, slow, smooth movement, their bodies connected. She tightened her legs around his hips, urging him forward.

  He moved, completely undoing her tight control. Greedy and needing to show him how much she loved him, she kissed him passionately as a moan escaped.

  Every inch of her body aware of Caiden. There was no sense of position, movement, goal, only physical pleasure that summed up everything she was feeling.

  His weight on her. His mouth on her. His hands on her. His cock in her.

  She believed she needed nothing else when her orgasm hit her. The focus of her energy centered on the only man who had taken her love and kept it all his life.

  "Caiden, Caiden, Caiden," she whispered, unafraid to chant his name out loud.

  His body tensed and she held him through his release. His eyes focused on her. She felt him smile before his lips curved.

  "I love you," she whispered.

  "I love you, too," he whispered back. "Always have. Always will."

  When his lips found hers, and he rolled to his side, taking her with him, she knew the love they shared was real.

  It was her reality.

  Epilogue

  One year and five months later ~

  Jolene wiggled her toes in the water of the creek. Caiden squatted beside her with a towel and dried her feet. She held on to his shoulder, balancing her ass on the boulder she sat on, while he slipped her sneakers on her feet and laced them. He hid his amusement that Jolene couldn't put on her shoes by herself because she had forbidden him to comment on her size.

  Pulling her off the boulder, he held her while she found her balance. "Okay?"

  "For the tenth time, I'm fine." She smoothed her shirt over her rounded stomach. "We need to keep walking."

  He held her hand and guided her along the path that ran from the creek to the cabin. On any other day, he would've enjoyed watching her waddle, heavy with his child. Except her due date came and went two days ago without their daughter showing up. All day, he'd imagined Jolene going into labor.

  She'd got up out of bed this morning determined to jumpstart her labor before the weekend was over. He'd tried to talk her out of going on a walk, but she claimed it was good for her and the doctor told her exercise often helped encourage the baby to come out. He thought differently. Even ten minutes away from the house turned into a half hour walk for her. That was too far away.

  What if she had a contraction?

  "I don't think walking is helping." She placed her hand low on her back. "Maybe we need one of those trampolines like Sawyer has in the yard at his house for Parker. I could just bounce this baby girl out."

  "Not on your life," he muttered, slowing his walk.

  "You'd change your mind if you were the one pregnant." Jolene looked at him and grinned. "I can't wait until I can hold her in my arms."

  He flipflopped between anxious to see their baby and dreading the pain Jolene would go through. He looked up at the cloudless, blue sky. Nothing scared him more than losing Jolene. Dr. Becker had assured him that Jolene was healthy, carrying a healthy child, and the delivery process would go smoothly. He'd still change places with her if he could. Anything to protect her from the pain she'd experience.

  "Did I tell you Casey and Lux are going to come next month to see us?" Jolene let go of his hand and grabbed the back of his belt, leaning on him. "They might bring the kids with them and stay at Federal Inn."

  Her steps slowed even more. He put his arm around her back, supporting her. "You mentioned it yesterday."

  "They'll be able to see the baby." Jolene stopped in the middle of the trail, rubbing her stomach.

  "Are you okay?"

  "Yes." She moved over in front of him. "Just let me catch my breath."

  The path back home had a slight slope. He knew it would be too much for her. Carrying her wasn't an option. He'd tried that yesterday and only made her more uncomfortable.

  "I'm thirty-nine years old." She laughed. "What was I thinking when we decided to get pregnant?"

  "I don't think we were thinking." Caiden chuckled and kissed her upturned lips. "But, it's the second best thing to ever happen to me."

  He gave her another kiss and urged her to start walking again. Life had turned out better than he'd imagined. It was true for him, that until Jolene had told him she was pregnant, he hadn't thought about having kids of his own. But, the moment she greeted him after he came home holding up a pee stick and the most beautiful smile on her face, he became a father.

  Jolene held her lower back with her hand and panted the last hundred feet to the edge of the yard. Stopping at the apple tree, she glanced at Caiden and blew out her breath.

  "I think the baby is sitting on my bladder." She arched her back.

  A motorcycle came up the road. He squinted, recognizing Kurt.

  "I forgot I told Kurt he could come over and grab a couple cans of oil instead of riding into town," said Caiden.

  "Go ahead and go visit with him." Jolene wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. "I'm going to sit on the porch and cool off in the shade after I go to the bathroom."

  "I'll walk with you across the yard," he said, not liking how she still struggled to breathe.

  "Don't be silly." Jolene patted his chest. "You're only going across the yard. If I need you, I'll yell."

  "I'll be fast." He jogged across the yard.

  * * * * *

  Caiden shook Kurt's hand and led him over to the pole building. Jolene groaned, unable to hold in her discomfort any longer. The first contraction on the trail walking back to the house had left her breathless.

  Exhaling slowly, she walked to the cabin, wanting to get inside before another contraction hit. Without her phone on her, she guessed that she had fifteen minutes before the next one came.

  She was going to have their baby today.

  Inside the house, she emptied her bladder, washed off her face, and changed her top. In the bedroom, her stomach tightened, and she sat on the edge of the bed when the peak of the contraction came. She moaned, holding her stomach.

  Sweat broke out on her forehead. Catching her breath, she pushed herself to her feet and grabbed her phone from the dresser, noting the time. Pressing her hand to her forehead, she looked around the bedroom and then remembered Caiden had set her bag for the hospital by the front door.

  With everything ready for when her contractions grew closer together, she waddled through the house and out to the porch. Caiden might as well enjoy the calm before the storm. When her due date had passed, he'd grown more nervous, even staying home from work to be by her side.

  She sat in the rocker, knowing she wouldn't be able to get out on her own. She'd learned that mistake on Thursday. One day, she'd been fit enough to stand on her own and the next the baby seemed to settle right between her hips, making a lot of regular movements impossible.

  Caiden and Kurt stood in front of the overhead door of the pole building beside the Impala. She smiled to herself at how happy Caiden was today compared to the moody young man she'd fallen in love with twenty-two years ago.

  When spring melt started, he'd gone over to the Bantorus clubhouse and picked up his car he had when they'd met and brought it out to the cabin.

  The Impala had looked the same as she'd remembered it. Dented with primer paint, and rattling over the road. Today, the Impala sat pretty with a midnight blue paint job looking beautiful in the driveway.

  An ache started in Jolene's back. She stopped rocking. The muscle spasm wrapped around to her middle and she held her breath. Unable to hold herself still, she squeezed her eyes closed and leaned forward.

/>   When her stomach finally relaxed again, she opened her eyes to find Caiden kneeled in front of her. She stroked his whiskered covered jaw, seeing the concern in his eyes.

  "I'm fine." She held up her phone. "The contractions are ten minutes apart."

  "We're going to the hospital." Caiden stood.

  "No, not yet." She caught sight of Kurt standing on the steps of the porch and waved. "Dr. Becker said to come in when the contractions were eight minutes apart. It's too early."

  "Doesn't matter." Caiden threw his keys to Kurt and said, "Can you drive the SUV up to the porch?"

  "Sure." Kurt walked away from the house.

  "I'll get your bag." Caiden opened the front door, reached inside bringing out her hospital bag, and shut the door. "Ready?"

  She laughed. "Look at you, being all calm and efficient."

  Caiden frowned. "Are you hurting?"

  "Not at the moment." She glanced at the phone. "We need to wait. I don't want to sit at the hospital for hours with everyone running in and out, poking me. Let's sit on the porch and enjoy the afternoon."

  Caiden scratched the back of his neck and studied her. Kurt backed the car up to the steps and got out. She pushed with her foot and got the rocker rocking.

  Kurt stepped up on the porch. "How's everything going?"

  "Good." Jolene reached out and grabbed Caiden's hand. "Sometime soon, we're having this baby."

  "I'll let you guys have your time together." Kurt grinned. "Call us if you need anything."

  "Thank you, Kurt," said Jolene.

  "Wait." Caiden raised his shoulders looking at Kurt. "Tell Jolene she needs to leave now."

  Jolene pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Her poor man needed help and was reaching out to anyone who could help him.

  Kurt chuckled. "How far apart are her contractions?"

  "Ten minutes," said Caiden.

  Kurt winked at Jolene. "You've got a little while."

  "That's what I told him." Jolene shook her head, loving Caiden's concern. "We'll be fine. Tell Risa hello and have her come by and see the baby next week."

  "I'll tell her. Good luck, you two, and congratulations." Kurt strolled off.

  Caiden remained standing on the porch. Jolene's heart melted. He'd failed to hide how the thought of her having a baby scared him to death, and it made her fall in love with him all over again.

  "I really think we need to leave." Caiden leaned down and kissed her forehead. "There are people at a hospital who can help you."

  "You are the only person I need." She held on to his hand, and when her stomach tightened, she put his palm on her baby bump. "Feel."

  She barely said the word, and the ache in her back intensified more than earlier, and she groaned, reaching out to grab on to Caiden's leg and came away with a fistful of his jeans.

  "Jolene," he said, stepping closer and holding her head against his hip. "Breathe."

  The contraction eased. She sat back in the rocker and looked up at Caiden "What time is it?"

  He picked up her phone from her lap. "Two thirty."

  "That's..." She closed her eyes, tired and winded. "Nine minutes."

  "All right. We're not waiting any longer. You need to get to the hospital." He locked the front door of the house, put her going-to-the-hospital bag in the car, and scaled the steps in one leap. "Let me get you in the car."

  She exhaled loudly and held up her hands. For Caiden's sake, she'd go. "Okay."

  Caiden helped her to her feet. She walked to the steps, turned around, and looked at the house. Tears filled her vision. Her and Caiden had started their life together inside that cabin when neither of them understood the magnitude of their love. Soon, they'd be bringing their daughter home.

  Turning around, she grabbed Caiden's hand and squeezed. "Okay, Caiden Hall, let's go have our daughter."

  * * * * *

  Kaitlin Ann Hall was born six and a half hours later to Caiden and Jolene Hall, the proud parents. Soon after birth, Kaitlin's dad put an anklet with a tiny garnet set within a silver circle around his daughter's precious, little ankle.

  Dear Readers,

  Thank you for reading The Higher You Fly. Between the Bantorous MC series, Moroad MC series, and Ronacks MC series, I've spent a lot of years showing readers the inner workings of motorcycle clubs. Both territorial and freedom riders. Readers learned about the Brotherhood, the level of protection they provided, and even illegal crimes and how prisons are controlled. With The Higher You Fly novel, my first desire was to give readers a love story that is meant to last a lifetime. My second goal was to show you how motorcycle clubs are viewed from the outside. Bikers in your community are just like you, your neighbor, your coworker, your friends. Friendships are developed whether you wear a patch, or you don't wear a patch. Support is given freely. Too often in the fictional world and in the media, bikers appear exclusive and stay within the lifestyle. Like any organization, whether that be the Masons, Elks, Moose, or religion, bikers also have relationships with those outside the lifestyle.

  If The Higher You Fly is the first Debra Kayn book you've read and you're curious about the characters found in the book, here is a list of the secondary characters and their book.

  Kurt and Risa — Fighting To Ride

  Cam and Christina — Wrapped Around Him

  Merk and Desiree — Time Owed

  Remmy and Natalie — Struggling For Justice

  Ink and Lilly — Living A Beautiful War

  Lee and Shari — Starving For Vengeance

  Sawyer — He's in book 4 to 8 of the Bantorus MC series. While he doesn't have his own book, he plays an important role within the club.

  As most of you know through my other books, Federal, Idaho is the fictional name for Wallace, Idaho —my hometown. Feel free to visit my website and see real pictures of places in my books. Visit the Bantorus clubhouse, Rail Point Bar, the Moroad clubhouse, and many more places.

  Love,

  Debra

  If you're curious about Kurt Ramchett, enjoy the first chapter of his book, Fighting To Ride, Bantorus MC series. Available at all retailers.

  — Chapter One Sample—

  Two flashing sheriff patrol cars blocked each end of Cedar Street. Kurt Ramchett rode his Harley Davidson between the government vehicles and parked in front of the Sterling Building. He eyed the crowd gathered in the street as he put his feet to the asphalt and pushed the motorcycle backward to park against the curb. The last thing he expected upon arriving in Federal was a police presence.

  The rest of the Bantorus MC members of the new Federal charter followed suit and parked their bikes against the sidewalk, in one neat line. Kurt flicked his hand low, letting them all know to stand back until he found out what was going on. He'd purchased the historical building years ago to use when he brought the Bantorus MC, Federal charter, into Idaho.

  That day had finally arrived, and he needed to crash.

  What he didn't need was to deal with a crowd of strangers or his biker's that were too tired to put up with any bull shit. He caught German's gaze and sighed.

  German, all five foot ten inches and a solid two hundred and fifty pounds, lumbered off his motorcycle and held out a stubbed joint to light. Kurt fingered his hair off his face. "Put it away, Germ. You're not in Pitnam anymore, and if you haven't noticed, we're thick with badges."

  A male voice came over the loudspeaker directing the crowd to stay on the sidewalks until notified. Kurt spotted the sheriff headed in his direction and strode across the street. The pressed blue uniform looked out of place, since the last time he'd come face to face with the sheriff, he went by the name Colby and wore a flannel shirt and jeans.

  "Sheriff," he said, stopping the sheriff from approaching his men. "What can we do to shut off the spotlights and get a little privacy?"

  Sheriff Colby, about Kurt's size of six foot two inches, peered up and down the street before meeting Kurt's gaze. "We're here for crowd control. The miners should be arriving any tim
e."

  "What did you do, call in the fucking welcome wagon?" Kurt slipped off his gloves and shoved them in his back pocket. "Call them off."

  He'd met the sheriff a few times in Pitnam before buying the mine property. Last few months, he'd emailed almost daily with Sheriff Colby while working on the paperwork to become a guns dealer within Federal.

  "It's not for you or your club." The sheriff took off his hat and swept his blonde hair off his forehead. "It's the monthly show for Silver Girls."

  Sheriff Colby motioned to the Sterling Building at the same time voices grew louder, pulling his attention away from Kurt. "I guess it's time for the show to start. Make sure your men stay back, and no touching."

  "What the hell does that mean? This is Bantorus MC's building," he said.

  The sheriff nodded. "Risa Kohl, the owner of Silver Girls, rents the whole building. She's been in business for at least five or six years."

  "The property manager had orders to clear the building prior to us arriving. I informed Leo to swipe the place clean. There's no one renting the building from us any longer. We've been on the road for fourteen hours and need to crash," Kurt said.

  "Wasn't Leo in charge of your rental?" Sheriff Colby asked.

  Kurt's patience ran out two hours back on Interstate 90. "Yeah."

  "You'll be able to ask him your questions tonight. He usually comes and watches the show with all the other men in town." Sheriff Colby hurried toward the crowd, walking away from Kurt. "Ten feet, men. You get too close, and you'll sit in jail tonight and be banned from watching Risa."

  Kurt caught Remmy's gaze and lifted his chin, beckoning his Vice President over.

  Voices rose in protest over the sheriff's orders. Kurt studied the loud crowd. Men shoved each other and smiles widened as the men garbed in dirty jeans, T-shirts, and black steel-toed boots marched straight toward the building in which Kurt and his men blocked. He made eye contact with Remmy, Ink, and Germ, who in turn motioned for every Bantorus MC member to line the sidewalk.