Fighting to Ride

by Debra Kayn

  Kurt pressed back against her and laughed. "You made me clean every tool you owned for not following the rules. It took me a month."

  "You're making club history." Raul grasped Kurt's hand and pulled him in for a one armed hug.

  Risa sat back, smiling. The amount of support Kurt received from his family amazed her, yet she wasn't surprised. Kurt was the type of man who everyone respected. He deserved everything he received.

  After Raul left, Kurt turned to her and raised his brows. "You hanging in there?"

  "Yeah." She stroked his face. "I was wrong. Your family...I can't even describe how much they love you. I've never seen anything like it."

  "What about Nate?" Kurt's hands circled her waist.

  "He loved me. I know he did, and he was the closest person I had in my life, but you...you have a club, and each of them has so much respect and memories that involve you." She kissed him sweetly. "All I'm saying is you're very lucky, my man."

  "Damn, angel." He laid his forehead against hers. "A little while longer, and I'm showing you my room and having you to myself."

  "I'd like that," she said, feeling the vibrations of his promise all throughout her body.

  She caught movement behind Kurt and glanced over his shoulder, catching Rain's eyes as he waited for Kurt to turn around. "You have more people who want to talk with you."

  "Right." He kissed her quick and turned.

  Rain stood with Tori tucked against his side. Risa smiled at the other woman and received an understanding wink in return. God, these people astounded her.

  Well, except Torque. He still scared her, but he was no longer on her hit list.

  Rain looked around the room, nodded, and brought his gaze back to Kurt. "You worked your ass off for what you built. Don't ever let anyone take that away from you."

  "I won't." Kurt settled back between Risa's legs, still facing Rain. "Is everything going okay in Pitnam?"

  Rain's cheek twitched. "Call a meeting tomorrow, and I'll fill you in."

  "Consider it done." Kurt's body stiffened. "There's a favor I need to ask you, too. It's about Lee."

  "Tomorrow." Rain clamped his hand down on Kurt's shoulder while gazing down at Tori. "How about we find us a corner, so I can show these young assholes how a real biker parties?"

  "Like I'd tell you no." Tori kissed Rain, then squeezed Kurt's hand before letting Rain lead her away.

  The president and his wife's daughter, Lilly, hurried over to Kurt, only stopping when she plowed into his chest and tossed her long blonde hair. "Congrats, Kurt."

  Kurt grabbed the front belt loop on Lilly's jeans, tying her to the spot before she could rush away. "Hang on."

  He scanned the room. "Where is he?"

  "Who?" Lilly blinked at him.

  Risa ducked her chin to keep from laughing. The girl could not lie. Whatever Kurt suspected she'd done, she was guilty. Though she wasn't positive that Kurt saw past the cuteness Lilly plastered on her face.

  "You know damn well who, and if you don't want me to march your ass straight to your dad, you'll tell me what's going on in the club." Kurt tugged Lilly closer. "Talk."

  Lilly crossed her arms, cocking her hip. Her long legs, slim arms, accented a tight body with breasts Risa probably never had even at twenty years old. What made her normal prettiness breathtaking though was the attitude. Over confident and stubborn, the girl contained more energy than a dozen young women her age.

  "Okay, but keep this between you and me." Lilly glanced at Risa and whispered low, but not low enough. "He doesn't know, so don't tell him."

  "What?" Kurt demanded.

  "Ink. He doesn't know, so you can't punish him." Lilly glanced behind her, and then removed something from her pocket. Risa peeked over Kurt's shoulder. Lilly held three packaged condoms in her hand.

  Kurt plucked them out of her grasp. Risa tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, "Uh, it's better to have protection than not to have it when you need it."

  "I'm not using them, I swear." Lilly's eyes widened. "They're Inks. I snitched them from his wallet when he was in the shower an hour ago."

  "What were you doing in his room?" Kurt asked.

  Lilly blew out her breath. "Not what you're thinking, obviously."

  "What I'm thinking is Ink broke club rules," Kurt said.

  "No." Lilly rolled her eyes. "He's too smart for that. He won't even look at me."

  "That's it. You can't go breaking into private rooms." Kurt hooked Lilly's arm, and pulled away from Risa.

  "No. Please." Lilly planted her feet. "I only wanted something to take back to Pitnam. I looked in his wallet, hoping he'd have a picture of himself—but that was a stupid idea. He wouldn't carry his own picture around. I found his driver's license, but I don't want him stopped by the cops and thrown in jail for driving without a license. I'm not mean. The condoms were there, so I took them."

  "Why?" Risa asked, curious about what was going on between Lilly and Ink.

  Ink had ten years on Lilly. She grabbed Kurt's hand and held him back. Guys were clueless, but a twenty-year-old female, one that looked like Lilly, had a lot of power they were unaware of just bubbling to come out.

  "Okay, fine. You want to know the truth? I don't want him to have sex while he's in Federal." Lilly's lips pursed. "At least, I'm not going to make it easy for him."

  Kurt tilted his head, gazing at the ceiling. "Why in the hell would—"

  "I get it," Risa said, taking the condoms out of Kurt's hand and handing them back to Lilly. "Here you go."

  "Uh, thanks." Lilly gave her a shaky smile. "You two aren't going to get Ink in trouble, right?"

  Risa shook her head. "I'll make sure Kurt doesn't say anything."

  "Chill." Lilly's whole face broke out in a smile. "I'm glad you and Kurt are together. I like you."

  "Get out of here, little girl." Kurt lifted his chin. "Stay out of trouble."

  Lilly waved over her shoulder, hurrying away. Risa laughed, pulling Kurt toward her. "Give her a break. She's crushin' on Ink. He probably doesn't even see her as an available woman."

  "He notices," Kurt muttered. "I need a drink."

  She grabbed the whiskey bottle off the bar, and handed it to him. "Drink up. You deserve it, prez."

  "You go first." Kurt's mouth softened. "Let's enjoy the night and celebrate."

  Three swallows and she passed the bottle. When he finished and set the bottle back on the counter, the alcohol finally hit her. She pulled him closer, capturing his mouth.

  She absorbed his groan, and gave him a thorough tongue love. Warmth encompassed her, and she hooked her ankles around his thighs, holding him in front of her. Lightheaded and happy, she continued kissing him long after his hands worked their way up the back of her shirt. She peppered his lips with kisses.

  "Angel—" He kissed her back. "Let's get the hell out of here."

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. "What about the party?"

  "Do you see my folks?" he asked, diving for her neck.

  She peered over his shoulder, searching the room. She found Taylor sitting on Slade's lap, privately talking...okay, kissing. And, groping. Neither of them paid any attention to the crowd in the room, or all the drinking, playing, and partying.

  "Okay, let's go," she said.

  Kurt lifted her, and instead of putting her feet down on the floor, she locked her ankles around his back. He kissed and moved with her across the floor. No one cared that Kurt and her were leaving the party, because everyone in the club minded their own business and were open enough, close enough, cool enough to let Kurt enjoy his celebration the way he wanted.

  His tongue slipped into her mouth, more possessive than any other time. His moan touched her in all the right places as he continued up the stairs. She sank her fingers into his hair. His hard body protected her, and she soaked in the comfort that came from having him in her life.

  For once, she ceased to care about what others thought of her, because the only thing that mattered was the
man holding her and he gave her everything she wanted.

  "Angel." He nipped the soft spot below her jaw line. "You're mine."

  She wanted to scream, jump in the air, strip naked. Instead, she licked a line from his mouth to his ear and whispered, "My man..."

  His head snapped back and he smiled. The kind of smile that reached inside her body and tickled her ovaries. He fumbled with the door handle, and then carried her through the darkened room. She fell through the air, landing on a bed with his weight coming down on her. His lower body pressed into her stomach. She gulped, trying to catch her breath. Amazed that she was ready to give him everything even though the MC lifestyle scared her to death, she tingled with excitement.

  Kurt dragged the edge of her Tee up and over her breasts. She arched and lifted, letting him strip the material from her body. He hovered over her, making a noise in his throat that she wanted to record and play over and over.

  "Are you with me?" He pressed his hardness against her sex.

  There was only one answer.

  To walk away from Kurt Ramchett would rip out her heart. "Yes."

  She'd had many regrets, but saying yes would go down in her life as the smartest thing she'd ever said. Even if agreeing for a night, a day, a future with Kurt proved she was insane. Right now, right here with him, she'd take her moment where nothing got in the way of being truly happy.

  Kurt lowered himself and kissed her. His hands went to the front of her jeans, popped the snap. She wiggled underneath him, impatience to have her bare skin against him. Somehow, he got her jeans off and freed her legs.

  The whiskey scented kiss continued. She tugged at his shirt, until he broke away, stood beside the bed and undressed. In the dark, she could only make out shadows, but didn't need to see his body to know what she was getting.

  She sat up at the same time he came back to her. He caught her and took her down to the bed with a slow kiss. She palmed his hard, muscled chest. There was no rush like the other times, only sweet exploration.

  His legs, solid and rougher than hers pinned her to the bed. She raised her foot, running her arch over his calf causing his sheathed hardness to settle between her legs. She moaned and squirmed underneath him, and he answered by plunging his cock lazily between her slick folds.

  Then he raised his upper body and lowered his head to her breast, sucking her nipple in his warm mouth. Her eyes closed. Overwhelmed with emotions, the suckling, the pulls, the fantastic sensations he drew from her brought out a myriad of reactions.

  Tears fell from her eyes and she let them go unchecked.

  Kurt slipped his hand between their bodies, fisted his hardness, and used his cock to draw a line along her slit with just the right amount of pressure. Her knees relaxed and her thighs opened wider, falling to the sides. She'd give him every part of her if he would promise to keep touching her.

  "More." She writhed on the bed, riding the pleasure circling her body looking for the perfect chance to explode.

  Kurt hooked the back of her knees, pulled her body down, and pushed her legs to his shoulders. Her ass lifted off the mattress involuntarily, and he thrust inside of her...which seemed to go clear to her throat.

  "Oh, shit," she said through a hiss.

  Kurt held still, his length filling her completely, and said, "Good?"

  She nodded energetically, because her tongue, plastered to the roof of her mouth, failed to work. Like him, it was better than good. It was fantastic.

  In fact, she might pass out. She gasped on a quiver. He moved, giving her more and withdrawing a little. Her pulse pounded in her pussy to the beat of her racing heart.

  "Damn, you're squeezing me to death," Kurt mumbled, picking up the speed.

  The extra stimulation started a wave of tingles. Warmth turned to tight hotness. She twerked against him, meeting him half way.

  Taking.

  Giving.

  And, taking again.

  Her insides clenched and she screamed at the same time her orgasm claimed her. Head back, mouth open, she couldn't stop screaming his name as each jolt of pleasure consumed her.

  "Fuck, yeah." Kurt grunted, thrusting in short, fast strokes.

  He plunged deep, holding her pinned to the bed, and filled her completely. She quivered at the fullness of taking his climax and never giving it back. She wanted to keep him in her life, in her bed, in her body.

  "Angel?" He rolled to the side, taking her with him. "Damn. "

  She inhaled deeply, out of breath. Words stuck in her head, she didn't know how to reply. It was everything he said and more for her. He had no idea how much he'd given her tonight. It wasn't only the sex, but the acceptance. It was a view of a family that she never imagined was possible. He gave her hope that someday, she too could have a life where other's recognized her, for her, even though she had a past she could never erase.

  "Angel?" Kurt pushed up on his elbow and ran his hand between her cheek and his chest. "Are you crying?"

  She nodded.

  "Are you okay?"

  She nodded again.

  "Angel...talk to me," he said.

  She swallowed hard and told him the truth. "You're not the better man."

  Kurt's body hardened, and yet his cock shrank, slipping out of her. She shifted her body, so she could see him in the dark. "You're the best. You're my man," she whispered.

  Several seconds passed and he crushed her to his chest. More tears fell, but her body sang. Somehow, a tough biker who used his fists to achieve everything he'd ever wanted was on the verge of stealing her heart. It was unbelievable, and a little bit scary.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The club's meeting room reminded Kurt of walking into the back room at Cactus Cove the first time as a prospect, and then being sent right out to the bar until the members voted him into Bantorus. His gut tightened as the dream became reality. This time, it was his room, his club, his leadership that made the Federal charter possible.

  For the first meeting, it was good to have the first riders from Pitnam sitting around the oval wooden table. He spotted two strangers sitting at the side between Sawyer and Stripper. Kurt stopped behind the head chair.

  "You two, get the fuck out, and wash everyone's motorcycles," he said.

  The two men, if he had to guess, were somehow related going by their similar buzz cuts and hideous koi tattoos on their bicep, scrambled out of their seats and to the door. The latch caught and the whole table erupted in laughter. He sat down, catching Rain's cheek twitching in amusement. Rain had said the same thing to him and every prospect that came after him. Either prospects earned their spot at the table or they'd go back home and wish they never heard the name Bantorus.

  "Business first." Kurt leaned back in the chair. "First shipment of guns goes out in the morning. The militia officers will come here and pick up the weapons. I'll send a team to escort them until they give us the signal that they have things under control. Let me remind you, because of the size of the orders, everyone must be on their toes."

  Not only did he have to worry about break-ins, but also the militia had informed him that there were dangers coming from their side. Kurt knew the risk and accepted them. It was nothing they hadn't dealt with before, but operations in Federal were different from those in Pitnam.

  "Once word gets out, other Light Foot Militia groups will want to go through us, because I'm the only one willing to work with large orders...legally. I'd like to keep our relationships friendly, but cautious," he said.

  Remmy sat forward. "Do any of them have worries?"

  "Only one." Kurt pointed at Ink. "Meghoni Mining. We need to find out more about who controls Meghoni, because it's not the owners. Mike's mentioned that there have been an unusual number of new recruits, and they happen to all come from Meghoni mine. He has a feeling someone else is pressuring them to join. Dig deep and look in the records to see if they have any backers and why a mine company would need a tie to the militia."

  "On it, prez," Ink said.
r />   "Permission to speak?" Rain ran his tongue over his teeth while Kurt nodded. "I have an idea who pulls the strings at Meghoni."

  The news came as a surprise. When he'd talked over his plan with Rain back in Pitnam, Rain never mentioned any concerns. "Go ahead."

  "It's a big fucking circle." Rain thumped his fist against the table. "Who has the money to go over the heads of the mine owners? Who wants the inland Northwest? Who got wind of Kurt buying the Sterling Building years ago, and would predict Bantorus evolving and taking more territory under their protection?"

  Kurt's heart pounded with each question. He drew his knees up and planted his boots flat on the floor. "Los Li."

  "Right." Rain reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "Here's the schedule of the recent runs Bantorus MC has made down to Lagsturns. Notice the pattern."

  Kurt scanned the paper, noting it covered the last six years. Bantorus MC made a scheduled run to Cali to deliver cars to the Lagsturns MC every four months, until the last eight months, when orders completely stopped. He scanned back through the tally before last year noticing the orders slowly growing smaller. He crumbled the paper. He'd been fighting in the ring when this was going down, and hadn't noticed or heard any changes happening on Bantorus's end of the deal.

  "What does Lagsturns MC have to do with Los Li?" he asked.

  Of course, he'd heard talk years ago of trouble, but as far as he knew, Lagsturns stayed far away from Los Li and had even helped Bantorus in the past to retain their territory and keep Los Li away. About five years ago, Los Li took control of Seattle. Times were changing and not for the better. It was the main reason he wanted to open the charter and expand. They couldn't afford to lose more territory.

  "I don't know." Rain shrugged. "It's only a feeling, and Lee's smack dab in the middle of Lagsturns shit right now. Several of us have tried to contact him, your dad more than anyone, and still we're left in the dark."