by Shyla Colt
“So, remember the guy I met at the bar, Shooter?”
“The sexy-hot biker who stunned us all by showing respect? Yeah, kind of hard to forget.”
“Well…he showed up at work.”
“What?”
Juliette flinched and pulled the phone away from her ear. “Yes. I gave him my card. I knew he might look me up but I assumed he wouldn’t.”
“Why? Clearly he was into you.”
“How could you tell? I thought maybe he wanted to kill time.”
“God, you’re so oblivious.” Joey huffed. “A man like that isn’t going to waste his time chatting up some girl because he’s bored. He had bitches drooling over him. If he wanted sex, he had it offered up on a platter.”
“Some men like the challenge. It’s a game. Like a bet.”
“Oh honey, he’s not Peter.”
“I know. I’m trying to tell myself that, but it’s hard getting out there again, and Shooter…”
“Is kind of scary because he, or rather his lifestyle is completely out of your depth?”
“Yeah.”
“Let me ask you this—what do you see in him?”
“He’s real and out there for everyone to see. It makes me want to trust him and find out his story. That’s something I never imagined feeling for a man again, that wonder and interest. My pull toward him is at least as strong as my fear of being hurt, figuratively speaking.”
“So see where it leads you. Don’t let one bad experience sour you forever. It’s been long enough.”
“It’s been a little over six months, I feel ready, I really do. Other issues are popping up to the surface now that I’m testing the waters, and they have me off-kilter. He invited me to go with him out to the lake with friends.”
“That’s huge. He’s bringing you around the brothers?”
“I guess.”
“Trust me. It’s a sign of how into you he is.” A silence passed between them. “I want you to be careful about this, Jul. Bikers live by a different code. Have fun but don’t get too caught up in the hype unless he’s playing for keeps.”
“Joey?” The somber tone wasn’t like her friend.
“My mom was pretty wild before she had me. She’s never gone into detail, but I know she used to run with a biker gang.”
“What!”
“Yeah, why do you think I know so much about the lifestyle? She’s tried to keep it from me, so I respect her choices. But I looked up everything I can about the culture I’m pretty sure my father belongs to.”
“Holy shit, Joey.”
“Yeah. So I know firsthand, it’s not always a happy ending.” Joey sighed. “Still, I have to admire my mom for living her life to the fullest. It must’ve been incredible.” The wistful tone in Joey’s voice made Juliette smile. The free-spirited artist took after her tattooed mother in more ways than one, apparently.
“Like mother, like daughter.” Juliette said.
“Come on, we both know I’m her mini-me.” They laughed and the mood lightened. “This stays between us, okay?” Joey asked.
“Of course.” Juliette’s head swam with the revelation. No wonder her friend seemed a little M.C. obsessed. “Anyways this is probably a test. That makes me nervous and the thought of wearing a swimsuit around him…”
“God I wish I could murder that asshole, Peter. You’re beautiful my friend, nothing is wrong with you. You have a coke bottle figure most girls would kill for. Wear that wicked two-piece, sailor-themed number we picked out together.”
“And what do I wear over it?” Juliette asked, rummaging through her dresser to pull out the swimsuit.
“Jeans and a tank top. Keep it simple, Jul. You don’t have to be anything but yourself with Shooter. That’s how it should be.”
Joey’s words penetrated her panicked haze. Those two sentences summed up everything. It felt natural with Shooter. Low pressure, fun and scary, but in the good way.
“Damn Joey, when you’re right you’re right.”
“I keep telling you bitches that,” Joey said making her laugh.
“Yes you do.” Juliette grinned. “Thanks again, I need to go so I can get dressed.”
“Okay, have fun, and call me as soon as you get home. I need all the details. I have to live vicariously through you.”
“Will do, can we keep this between us for now?” Juliette tossed a pair of cut-off jeans on the bed and grabbed a black tank top.
“Always, now go make Momma proud,” Joey said. She hung up and Juliette continued to laugh. Encouraged by the pep talk, she quickly dressed, pulled her thick hair back into a high ponytail and made a dash for the door. Today the only thing she needed to focus on was fun. The “f” word had been severely lacking from her world. Its time to get it back. She left the house, happy to make the final step of recovery, moving forward.
* * * * *
“Are you seriously bringing the bitch from the club to the lake today?” Moose said as Shooter cleared out space in his saddlebag for her things.
“Yeah, I told you that.” Shooter said, shaking his head.
“I thought you were kidding?”
“Why?” Shooter said.
“Cause you’re a cut-and-run kind of guy, and she’s a ring-and-wife kind of girl,” Moose said.
“That’s your opinion of her so far. That girl has secrets in her eyes, and I want to know all of them. “
“Are you kidding me with this shit?” Moose said. His eyes were comically wide, reminding Shooter of the animal he’d been named for.
“Nope.”
“You sound hung up on this bitch already.”
“I’m interested, not hung up, there’s a huge difference.” Shooter said walking to his room with Moose on his heels.
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“I don’t know what to tell you.” Shooter dumped the clothing onto his bed and left the room, locking it with his key. “Random and available sloppy pussy got boring. I’ve had all the bitches in the club, and yeah, I could bang new ones but what’s that going to change? At the end of the night I’ll still come home to nothing.”
“ A week ago I would’ve agreed with you.” Shooter shrugged.
“What the fuck? I think those bitches are a coven, ’cause clearly she’s cast a spell on you,” Moose said.
“No spell, brother, she just grabbed my attention and hasn’t let go. Today we’ll see if she can handle it in our world. I’m going to go pick her up. I’ll meet up with you at the lake.”
“All right,” Moose said, shaking his head as Shooter walked from the club. His phone vibrated, and he removed it from his pocket, praying it wasn’t an emergency situation that needed his immediate attention. The 513 area code made him roll his eyes. No way am I letting this ruin my day. He hit Ignore, sending the call to his voice mail and continued to his bike.
He pulled up in front of the library twenty minutes later and let out a wolf whistle when Juliette walked out of the building in a pair of cut-off blue-jean shorts and a black tank top that showed off her breasts.
“Stop,” she said shyly as he laughed.
“Just showing appreciation for beauty.”
“Thank you.” She stopped in front of his bike.
“Let me guess, you’ve never ridden one before?”
“No.”
“Hand me your stuff and I’ll give you a crash course.” He took her rolled-up towel and wallet, impressed with her ability to follow the command to pack light. Securing his satchel, he sat up straight. “Okay, first thing, put this on.” He handed her the matte-black helmet he’d brought just for her. She put it on and latched the chin strap. “Good, now, these,” he pointed to the silver prongs on the bike, “are pegs. Put one leg on, grab my shoulder, and hoist yourself over. You can use them to rest your feet on while we ride.” Her face took on a determined expression, all wrinkled brow and pursed lips. He bit back his smile to keep from embarrassing her. “Ready?”
“Yep.” She gripped his shoul
der tight, wobbling slightly as she positioned herself on the back of his bike.
“Not bad for your first time,” he said.
“Thanks, this is incredibly awkward.”
“Yeah, you’ll get used to it. The lake’s just about twenty-five minutes from here, so the jelly leg you’ll get should be mild.”
“Jelly leg?”
“Yeah when you get off after your first long ride it’s like having sea legs and stepping onto land.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”
The connection between them popped and crackled like wood in a fire. He cleared his throat, holding her gaze. “Put your arms around my waist and hold on tight. When I lean into a curve, you need to match my movement. Other than that, try to get comfortable and enjoy the experience. You never forget your first ride.”
“You got a thing about firsts. Makes me wonder about you, Shooter.”
“Only yours.” He started the bike up before she could reply. She held his waist tight and he eased on the throttle. The scenic route usually put him in a relaxed mood. But the feel of her breasts pressed up against his back and her thighs wrapped around him made that impossible.
They pulled up to the lake and he willed his hard-on to deflate. He wasn’t used to going without. It was an exercise in restraint. Shutting off his engine, he rolled his shoulders, pulled the helmet off his head, hung it off the handlebars, and glanced over his shoulder. “How you doing back there?”
“Stiff,” Juliette said, laughing slightly as she removed her helmet and shook down her ponytail.
“Yeah, you’ll get used to it after a while—“
“Hey. Who’s the bitch?” Slim’s husky voice shattered any hope of easing her into their lifestyle. She gasped.
“Give me a fucking minute and I’ll introduce her, Slim.” Shooter yelled back.
“Bitch?” Juliette whispered.
“They didn’t mean any offense. It’s just a term for women,” Shooter said.
“Wow.”
He wanted to soften the blow but this was sink-or-swim time. She’d be able to deal with this or she wouldn’t. Either way, he needed to know before he let himself get in any deeper. “Words are all relative.”
She remained silent, taking in the scene. A handful of tents had been set up a few yards away from the lake. His brothers stood around in various stages of dress. Whores hung off their arms in tiny bikini tops, small bottoms that exposed their asses and cut-off jeans that left little to the imagination.
“They’re staying the night here?” she asked as he held a hand out and helped her off the back of his bike.
“Yeah, you got a problem with roughing it?” He narrowed his eyes. I didn’t take her for a high-maintenance type of chick.
”No, not at all. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.”
“Forget everything you think you know about bikers and get to know us personally. You think you can do that?” He glanced down at her, wishing he could see inside her head. Bringing her among them was a risk. She could turn tail, shut him out and run for the hills. It wouldn’t be the first or the last time a woman discovered she couldn’t handle M.C. life.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to some people.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her away from the row of cycles. Tension flowed from her and he swore he felt a wedge forming between them. He led her over to Moose, who had his arm wrapped around Peaches. The bleach blonde gave a friendly, dimpled smile.
“This is Juliette, she’s hanging out with me today. Juliette, this is Peaches and Moose.”
“Hi,” Juliette said. Her voice was soft and subdued.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Peaches said. Her pronounced southern twang and friendly blue eyes seem to set Juliette at ease. Juliette took the hand Peaches offered and shook it.
“You the bitch that caught his eyes at the club?” Moose asked.
“Yes.”
“Damn surprised to see you here,” Moose said.
“Um…” Juliette looked toward Shooter.
“He hasn’t brought a girl around in a long time. You must be pretty special. You a magician or something?”
“No-no, a librarian,” Juliette said.
“Oh Jesus, The biker and the librarian. That shit is classic.” Moose threw back his head and laughed. “Any friend of Shooter’s is a friend of mine. If you want to put up with him, god bless you.”
“Shut up, you asshole. You’re embarrassing the fuck out of her,” Shooter said.
“What? Afraid she’ll come to her senses? You should be,” Moose said. The glint in Moose’s eyes told Shooter his friend knew exactly what he was doing. I bet the prick is enjoying every minute of it.
A peel of laughter burst from Juliette’s lush lips, shocking Shooter.
“I-I’m sorry, you just remind me of a friend of mine.”
Moose grinned. “I like her. She’s not stuck-up like I first thought.”
Juliette laughed harder and the knots in his stomach loosened. Maybe I wasn’t completely off my gourd for pursuing this. He craved the softness and light he saw inside her. She reminded him of a time in his life he’d almost forgotten.
“Ass. Come on, Juliette, let me introduce you to less mouthy brothers,” Shooter said, guiding her away from his best friend. “He likes to stir shit up, but he’s harmless, I promise.”
“He’s huge, it’d be intimidating as hell if he wasn’t so funny,” Juliette said.
“I’m just glad you get his humor. He’s run women off before.”
“Your women?” Juliette asked.
“I won’t lie to you. I’ve never lived the life a monk, and yeah I like women, so they were around, but none like this.”
“Like what?” She stared up at him with wide, brown pools that made something in him go soft.
“You’re not just some bitch I’m screwing, Juliette. You have to know that. If all I wanted was sex I have my pick. I never bring women around like this. That’s why the brothers are going to give me shit.”
“Are you ashamed—”
“Fuck no. Do I look like the type of man who gives a shit what other people think? Not that we judge here. That’s the best part of my life. We exist how we want. No censure, no politically correct bullshit or predetermined chains of society.”
“So we’re…dating?”
Shooter snorted. “I don’t date, but if the term makes you happy, yeah. I guess we are.” Her bee-stung lips formed an O.
“You bring fresh pussy to share?” Casanova asked with a predatory grin. Juliette gasped and took a step closer.
“She’s completely off limits. I so much as think you’re looking at her wrong and I’ll break your ass down. You understand me, Casanova?” Shooter growled, narrowing his eyes at the blond pretty boy who never met a woman he couldn’t bed.
“Yeah, I get you, geez. No reason to be so damn touchy.” Casanova held up his hands. “When you get tired of him, honey, come my way.” Casanova winked.
Juliette shuddered. A flash of real fear flickered in her eyes, and her gaze followed Casanova as he strutted off. “Hey, no one here is going to lay a finger on you, all right?” Shooter asked. She blinked and nodded slowly. Skeptical, he continued to introduce her to others until they made their way back to Moose and Peaches.
“You want a beer, Librarian? You look like you could use it,” Moose said.
“I’d love one,” she said swiftly.
Moose laughed and smacked Peaches on her ass. “Go bring us two beers, Peachy.”
“I’m on it.” Peaches winked and sashayed off.
“Should I help your girlfriend?” Juliette asked.
Moose laughed. “You’re fine where you’re at, and trust me, that ain’t my old lady.”
“Oh, okay.” Juliette glanced up Shooter and he felt the chasm between them begin to form.
“Some women are around to have a good time, and we give them that along with the means to survive. Peaches is one of them,”
Shooter said.
“A prosti—”
“Now, now, no need for labels. Peaches choose this, we’re not sex traffickers, for Christsake,” Moose said. “Better set your girl straight before she rocks the boat and the surly ones get testy.”
“Rock the boat with who?” Juliette furrowed her brow.
“Take a walk with me,” Shooter said, guiding her away from the noisy clusters of people nearby and out onto the trail. With the rich green of the forest broken up by wildflowers, it had the potential for romance, if only the air between them wasn’t strained by stress so thick it rivaled taffy. “We choose to live this way and expect to be able to do so freely. That’s what Moose meant back there. I know it’s a lot to take in and I‘d be stupid to not consider that this may not be for you. All I ask is you keep an open mind and keep your judgments to yourself.”
“Who said I was judging?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I’m trying to wrap my head around everything. It’s like I walked into Oz or something. The people I know don’t live like this.” Confusion shone bright in her eyes.
“You want me to take you home?”
“No, I want you to explain why I’m here in the first place. I’m not your kind of girl.”
“Maybe that’s why. You’re the kind of girl I used to go for once upon a time. I thought I was over with that but then you come along and fill my mind with what ifs. I’m not a man who believes in regret so I took a shot and went for it. I’m not going to treat you like one of the biker bunnies, if that’s what you’re worried about. I do know how to treat a woman.”
“I know. That’s the problem.” She huffed. “You’re like two men in one body. The biker who’s large, intimidating and most definitely dangerous, but there’s also the man who holds open my door, puts his hand on the small of my back when we walk and for some god-awful reason, makes me feel safe. It’s been a long time since I felt that way with a man.”
“You can have both parts of me, but you can’t have one without the other.”
“I know.” She glanced down. “ But I’m not sure I’m equipped for this lifestyle.”
“That’s for you to decide.” He placed a finger under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “I’m not going to be strung along, so I suggest you figure it out fast. I’m going to ask you again—should I take you home?”
