“I won’t be going with a bitch, Jay. Just want what’s best for you.” I love her. Have done for quite a while now. The feeling having gradually grown, morphing from being that of a friend or a brother into something else. As she’s matured, so has the way I feel about her. But I can’t tell her. Don’t want to scare her off.
I watch, intrigued, as Bitch gets up and stretches, then rubs herself against Jay’s arm. Even the darn cat is entranced by her. I hold my breath when Jay scoops her up in her arms and cuddles her. Don’t let her claws come out now.
Then Jay’s standing, carrying her to the door, placing her outside. “Sorry, Puss. I’m not sharing my man.” She closes the door, but not before eyeing the scratches under the door handle. A slight grin comes over her face as she realises how the crafty feline gets in.
“Better lock it. She’ll only be back.”
“I can see that. Clever cat.” She locks it. Another first. Her and I behind a locked door.
We both laugh as we can hear Bitch throwing herself at other rooms along the hallway. Then Jayden’s face grows serious, as she glances at the barrier between us and the outside world, then at me. She’s biting her lip, making me want to soothe it with my tongue. My cock thickens in my jeans. It has to be because we’re behind a locked door, hundreds of miles away from Drummer, Slick, Ella and all the men and women who’d watch us like hawks back in Tucson. For the first time, I’m allowing myself to have a very masculine reaction around her. There’s no doubt of my feelings toward her at all.
Now the cat is no longer between us, I allow myself to move closer, pushing for something I never have before. “Can I kiss you, Jay?”
She rears back, looking startled. I hope it’s because my request came out of the blue, not because she finds it distasteful. Again, her teeth worry her lip.
“Never mind,” I say softly. “We’ll just go join the others. Food should be ready soon.”
“Pal,” she puts out her hand and touches my arm. “I’ve, I’m…”
“It’s not the right time.” I get it, I do. I’ll just live with my disappointment.
“I’m not sure whether it is or not. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? I know you expect things to change between us, now that we’re here.” She glances around. “Alone.” A quick grin. “I can’t help but expect Slick to jump out of the closet.”
“With a shotgun,” I laugh. Understanding exactly what she’s thinking. We’ve both been conditioned not to respond to each other.
She inches closer to me. “Pal? I, I think I would like to kiss you.”
I inhale sharply. A moment I’ve anticipated for so long. I’ve kissed her forehead before, even her cheek, but until that peck on the side of my face the other day, which barely counts, she’s never taken the initiative. I’m nervous, I’ve kissed girls, of course, but no one who means as much to me as Jay does. All of a sudden I regret suggesting it, wanting the dream to go on a little longer rather than risk disillusioning her. What if I’m not what she expects? What if I do something wrong? Knock my teeth against hers? What if it’s awkward? Fuck, I’m scared I’m going to push her away.
Her breathing has sped up. How do I read that? Is she nervous too? Fuck, she has to be. Has she ever kissed anyone before? Did the fuckers who… No, don’t go there, Pal. Don’t even think it. And never ask.
I’m the man. I’m expected to make the first move, aren’t I? My hands are shaking as gently I raise my right, placing it against her left cheek. I lean in, oh so slowly, giving her every chance to move back. She raises her head slightly, her lips aligned with mine though inches still separate us. A gap which narrows too fast, yet at the same time, torturously slow. I can feel her warm breath against my skin, only a fraction of free space remains between our lips.
Bang! A hammering on the door. Both of us jump apart, my heart’s thundering in my chest. Jay’s hand covers her own, as shocked as I.
“Pal? Jay? You in there? Food’s ready!” It’s Demon. He’s trying the door handle.
“Coming!” I yell back, then, when I’ve unlocked the door, I raise my chin defiantly at the VP. “Bitch got in.” I tell him, explaining the bolt.
He grins. Accompanying his words with a wink. “Mo, Mom, sent me. Think she was worried what you’re getting up to.” Jeez. Perhaps it’s not Slick we need to worry about here. Seems we’re still not allowed time to ourselves. He leans in conspiratorially, “I won’t tell her you locked yourselves in. Don’t think she’d believe you about Bitch. Hi Jay.” He nods the last over my shoulder.
Looking around, I see Jay’s face is flushed as though I really had kissed her. That she’s embarrassed is putting it mildly. But I’m proud as fuck when she jumps to my defence. “The cat was just in here…”
“I’m messing with you,” Demon laughs. “Fuckin’ cat gets everywhere. Only tolerate her as she catches the mice.” He stands back, waving his hand. “Come on then.”
Swallowing back the request that he leave us alone to finish what we started, I hold out my hand for Jay to take, then lead her back down the stairs, across the clubroom, and out to where picnic tables are already filled. There’s still a short queue by the grill. Interestingly, it’s set up in what I’ve been told is the remains of the original furnace.
Jay’s grip on my hand tightens. I’m not surprised. It’s the first time my new brothers have seen her. Cad, already eating, catches my eye and gives me a thumbs up. Working closely with him, he’s one of the brothers I know best.
Thunder’s manning the grill, Runt and Wills, two of the prospects helping out. Both, close to my age, eye Jayden up with interest. For some reason, there’s no bar on prospects having a girl here, and something about the way they’re assessing her has me placing my arm around her waist and pulling her into my side.
“Might as well piss on her while you’re at it,” a voice, unmistakable as Lizard’s, says in my ear. “Hey, I’m Lizard. Seems your man’s too rude to introduce me to his lovely lady.”
As Jay gives a nervous laugh, she takes the hand he holds out to her. Instead of shaking it though, he raises it to his lips and kisses the back. Jay blushes, as my body goes rigid. Lizard laughs, using my confusion to step up and get ahead of us in the line. Turning, he winks at me over his shoulder.
Asshole.
We fill our plates, Jayden grabs some salad shit that doesn’t interest me, then I lead her to a table where there’s space, pretending I don’t see Moira beckoning us over. In order to avoid her, I belatedly realise I’ve joined the table where Pyro and Taser are sitting.
Both men’s eyes immediately go to Jay.
“Jay, this is Pyro and that there is Taser.” This time I take the lead.
Taser’s giving her a long assessing look. Too long for my liking. Suddenly he speaks, “So you’re the baby Pal’s been sittin’.”
Pyro slaps him around the back of his head. “Doesn’t look much like a baby to me.”
“What I was thinkin’,” Tase replies, rubbing his skull. “Now I see what Pal’s been makin’ such a fuss over.”
Is it wrong that I want my property patch on her? Or, if not that, a fucking big neon sign flashing over her head, mine.
Jay takes a delicate mouthful of food. It is good shit, Thunder can cook. But I don’t much care for her appreciative groan which goes straight to my dick. I can only hope it doesn’t have the same effect on anyone else, or I might need to kill someone. She swallows, then looks around.
“Anything here to drink, Pal?”
“Sure. Soda?” I start to stand, then waver.
“Go ahead, Brother. We’ll look after your girl.”
Which is what I’m afraid of. Jay in no way looks like jailbait. They know her age, don’t they? Fuck me, but I can’t remember. I hurry away, almost pushing brothers out of my path in my hurry as I go back to the coolers to get our drinks. Bottle and can in hand, I start to return to the table, when Sparky steps in front of me, impeding my progress.
“That’s her, is it? Nice lookin’
kid.”
“Yeah, that’s Jayden.” I confirm.
“You bringing her on the ride the weekend after next?”
“Might. Haven’t asked her yet. She’s not had any experience ridin’. Need to get her on the back of my bike to see how she takes to it.” I think for a moment. “Will there be any other women along?”
Sparky shakes his head. “Prez, Bomber and Buzzard may bring their old ladies. You’re the only other fucker who’d let a bitch up behind him.” He laughs and walks off. I swear he’s muttering no one else would be crazy enough.
I speed up, keep my head down, and end up back at the table without being stopped again. Jay’s laughing at something Pyro has said. At least she doesn’t seem to feel I’ve left her adrift. But then, she’s used to being around bikers.
“Sorry, got caught up.”
She smiles as she takes her soda. “Pyro and I were just getting acquainted. So Pyro manages the auto-shop, and you, Taser, what do you do?”
“I run the strip club.” If he’s said it so bluntly to shock her, it won’t work. She knows all about Angels in Tucson, the strip club Satan’s Devils own there.
She grins. “Always fancied trying my hand at pole dancing.” I’m not sure how I stop myself spitting out the mouthful of beer I’ve just taken.
“You’re not fuckin’ pole dancing.” I tell her.
Almost about the same time Taser points out, “Got a pole inside if you want to give it a try? I’m sure Titsy could give you some pointers.”
I growl, they laugh. Jay looks like she’s giving it careful consideration. Then she glances at me and smiles, managing to convey she was pulling my leg. A wave of relief goes through me. Her looking the way she is? Don’t want to see my brothers watching her slide up and down a fucking pole.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jayden
I’m having fun. I don’t know what I expected coming to a different club. I knew it wasn’t going to be like the Tucson chapter, that a family barbeque was a misnomer as there wasn’t much family here. But the men I’ve met so far have been alright. The problem I’m going to have is learning all their names.
It had been strange upstairs in Paladin’s bedroom. The first time I’d been alone with him. The first time he was going to kiss me. As I eat the food on my plate, I wonder what it would have been like if we hadn’t been interrupted. Would it have made the tingles that Moira had described go through me? The anticipation had almost been enough. Talk about bad timing, we’d been that close before Demon had knocked on the door.
Part of me wishes he hadn’t stopped us. The other part is glad, in some ways, that he had. It’s not that I don’t trust Paladin, I don’t trust myself. I don’t know the boundaries, when to stop, when to encourage him. I’m scared of him taking advantage and going too far like those men had in my past, but likewise, I haven’t any experience of successfully saying no. Would I have known when to stop? Or would he?
In two months, I’m legal. Many kids my age have already lost their virginity, obviously, mine went years ago, but I left school friends in Tucson who were sexually active and not ashamed of it. What does a date on the calendar matter? Particularly when different states, different countries, have different interpretations. Do I feel old enough? I feel ancient in many ways, a nervous kid in others.
I chew, swallow, then pick up my soda and take a sip, trying to analyse my feelings when I’d first seen Pal today being chased by that whore. She’s around here, somewhere. While Pal had been getting the drinks, I’d seen her glaring at me. She, and the other club girls, are immediately recognisable due to their lack of clothes. The sun is shining, but it’s nowhere near warm enough to be prancing around almost naked. I suspect they’re on the lookout for a male body to keep them warm. As long as they’re not expecting to get their hands on my man.
My man? Since when have I felt possessive about Pal? I suppose I’ve never been challenged. Have always accepted he was mine. Yet, once Tulia had been sent on her way, and Pal had taken me up to his room, the green-eyed beast inside had fully woken up when it appeared someone had got in there first. The sense of relief that I’d felt on seeing that clever cat had surprised me. But it had also brought home, this is where Pal lives. He could be getting up to anything, and I’d never know. He could tell me whatever he thought I wanted to hear, as for what really goes on, I’d be none the wiser.
A nudge to my ribs. “You’re quiet. You okay?”
I nod, smile, and don’t let him into my thoughts.
“Mo said come and join us.” I glance up. A woman, Mo’s age, is standing beside us. Pal’s smiling at her. “Jeannie, this is Jayden. Jay, Jeannie. She’s Bomber’s old lady, and looks after us like a mother.”
Jeannie’s wide smile suggests she’s flattered, rather than upset by his description of her. She waves to where two or three picnic tables have been pushed together. Along with Mo, there’s another woman sitting there, properly dressed for the cool day, so I assume she’s another old lady and not a whore.
When she sees who I’ve spied, Jeannie explains. “That’s Sindy, she’s Buzzard’s woman.” From here I’d guess she’s about forty. Suddenly Jeannie’s body stiffens. “Oh no, you fucking don’t,” she snarls, then turns and stomps off.
My eyes follow her to see her heading toward an older man who currently has one of the scantily clad women’s arms looped around his neck. To be honest, he seems to be ignoring her, but that doesn’t stop Jeannie storming up and ripping the club whore away.
Looking up it’s to see Paladin grinning. “Bomber, I presume?” I ask.
“Yeah. Whores love to fuck with Jeannie. Come on then. I’ll introduce you.”
Making a mental note not to look too friendly with Bomber, I let Pal take my plate.
When we arrive at the table, it’s another round of introductions. I already know Hellfire and Mo, of course, but now I meet Jeannie’s man, Bomber, Sindy, Buzzard who’s the money man apparently, and a man called Rusty who runs the bowling alley. I smile broadly at the latter.
“Free entry for brothers and family,” he tells me, when he sees my interest. “You any good?”
“I’ve never tried,” I say, surprising him.
“It wasn’t exactly safe for Jay to do normal teenage things in Tucson,” Pal explains.
“Well, fuck me. Bout time you learned, isn’t it?”
“She plays pool though,” Pal lets him know I’m not entirely pathetic.
Rusty’s eyes sharpen. “Any good?”
As Pal goes to speak, I place my hand on his arm and lean over him. “How about you judge for yourself?”
He laughs heartily. “I’ve got a suspicion I might end up playin’ against a ringer. But I’ll take you up on that. Anytime you want, kid.”
Like Bomber, he seems older than Hellfire, so I don’t get upset when he calls me that.
“You finished?” Pal points at my empty plate. “Want anything else?”
Rubbing my stomach, I shake my head. “I’ve had plenty.” When he stands and holds out his hand, I take it. I pause a moment, looking around at the men. Even the older guys seem to keep themselves fit. Satan’s Devils all over seem to be a good-looking bunch. Remembering my thoughts about Pal, disloyally I look around seeing if any of the younger men here would cause my heart to race, and then glance back at the man by my side, realising he comes out on top. There’s just something about him. I wonder again what it would have been like had our kiss not been interrupted.
As he walks around and introduces me to more of the men, I realise I have never done this before. Oh, back in Tucson, Paladin was never far from my side, but we never gave off the vibes that we were a couple. It’s comforting in a security blanket way to have people assume we’re together.
“So,” the man called Sparky asks, “you up for the ride out?”
I glance at Paladin. He hasn’t yet asked me. He makes up for that now. “We’ll have to make sure first that you’re comfortable on the bike, but assumin’
you are, would you like to come?”
“Where to?”
It’s Sparky, who’s apparently the road captain, who gives me the details. “Royal Gorge Bridge. We’re going to ride our bikes over it.” Remembering I’m new to the area and that the information hasn’t told me much, he expands, “It’s a high-suspension bridge nearly a thousand feet above the Arkansas River. Cars aren’t allowed, but our motorcycles will be. I’ve arranged it with the park management. It’s about an hour and fifteen-minute ride from here.”
My eyes light up. “Sounds fun. I’d love to.” I can’t wait to be out on the bike behind Pal knowing it would be amazing. The bridge sounds exciting too.
Pal’s watching me closely, then he smiles, his whole face brightening. “Looks like you better count us both in, Sparky.”
Sparky winks at me before walking off. “I hope you’re okay with heights,” he throws over his shoulder ominously.
“Are you?” Paladin asks, curious.
I have absolutely no idea and tell him so. He laughs. “Guess we’re both going to find out.”
Music is playing, but not overly loudly. A couple of the club girls are dancing, their moves clearly aimed at enticing the men. I notice two brothers I was introduced to as Ink and Mace eyeing them up. As I watch, Ink moves closer, moving in behind one of the girls, thrusting his hips behind her. As they pivot I see he’s got his hands over her boobs.
Hmm.
Quickly I turn away from the X-rated display, noticing Paladin frowning. “Thought this was a family affair,” he grumbles, while taking my hand and leading me back over to where Moira, Jeannie and Sindy are sitting.
“You enjoying yourself?” Moira asks.
“Yes, thank you,” I reply politely. It has been interesting meeting the men, and seeing where Paladin’s living. If I’m honest though, it makes me homesick for Tucson, and the people I knew there, emphasising how very far away I am.
Satan's Devils MC Colorado Boxset 1 Books 1 - 3 Page 21
