by Aja Foxx
I turned and walked away, smirking when I heard Henry's breathe catch. Seemed my mate was not as immune to me as he probably thought he was. I wasn't sure if that was going to make things easier or harder.
I was going with harder.
Very hard.
Rock hard.
God, I ached.
I grabbed Henry's keycard on my way to the elevator and then started planning what I was going to make him for dinner. I'd gotten a good look at his fancy high end kitchen and was pretty sure he'd have everything I need, minus the food, of course. I just needed to pick up a few items and then I could show off my cooking skills.
Once I got downstairs, I walked out of the building and down the street to my motorcycle. I drove back to the grocery store where I'd seen Henry stop before. It wasn't a huge store, but it wasn't a corner market either. Hopefully they would have everything I'd need to impress my mate.
God knows nothing else I'd done had.
This might be my only chance.
* * * *
~ Henry ~
I felt as if I was in a daze after Gunner left. I was mesmerized by the rugged biker and I had no idea why. I didn't date often, but when I did, they did not look like Gunner in any shape or form. No one I'd dated ever had. I wasn't sure there was anyone out there quite like Gunner, not even the other guys in his motorcycle club.
I had the insane urge to climb him like a tree and check his tonsils with my tongue. That was so unlike me I didn't recognize myself. I'd been attracted to men here and there, but I never fantasized about being pinned to the wall and fucked until I couldn't walk.
I pressed my hands to my flushed cheeks.
This was insane.
If I was a smart man, I'd have security stop him before he came up in the elevator and deny him access, and I was always a smart man. Why was this time different?
Why was Gunner different?
I shook my head. Maybe I was losing my mind. It was the only explanation I could come up with. I was stressed out and overworked and it was making me see things that weren't really there because there was no way that Gunner could steal my breath just by touching me.
I obviously needed a vacation.
I hadn't started the coffee yet, and that was probably a good thing. I didn't need the caffeine. I did, however, need an extra large helping of wine. I grabbed a bottle off the wine rack then poured myself a very big glass of red wine.
I carried it with me into the bedroom and set it down on the top of my dresser. I wasn't going to put on pajamas just in case Gunner was serious when he said he was coming back to fix me dinner, but I did want to change into something more comfortable.
I took off my shirt and dropped it in the hamper then did the same for my slacks. Considering what Gunner was wearing, I decided to put on a simple tweed sweater and pair of jeans. I didn't wear jeans often, but I liked them. I had to wear slacks for work and my mother refused to allow jeans in her home. It was usually just easier to wear slacks.
I was pulling on a pair of loafers when I heard the front door open and close. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It had only been ten minutes since Gunner left, making me wonder if he couldn't find the grocery store.
I grabbed my wine glass and started toward the other room. "Did you get lost?"
I frowned when I didn't receive a reply. "Gunner, did you—" I sucked in a sharp breath when I reached the living room, dropping my wine glass. I barely heard the glass shatter on the marble tiles. I was paying too much attention to the man who stood in my living room. "How did you get in here?"
Chapter Eight
~ Gunner ~
There were no empty parking spots when I got back to Henry's place with my groceries, so I had to park around the corner. I parked my bike then turned it off and then swung my leg over and stood. After grabbing the stuff I'd need out of my saddle bags, I started walking.
I rounded the corner and my heart leapt up into my throat. Fear momentarily froze me in place as I watched someone forcing Henry into the back of a car. I dropped my bag of groceries and took off running just as fast as my legs would carry me.
I reached the car just as it pulled away. I slammed my hand into the side of the vehicle, knowing it wouldn't stop it, but feeling so enraged, I had to do something. I could hear Henry shouting from inside the car and the terror in his voice ripped my heart in two.
I quickly glanced at the license plate as the car drove off then spun and ran back to my bike. I hit the comm button on my blue tooth earpiece. "Butch," I said as soon as the man answered. "Someone just kidnapped Henry."
"What?" Butch shouted.
"I was bringing groceries back to his house so I could cook him dinner and I saw someone forcing him into a car." I quickly gave Butch the license plate number and the make, model, and color of the car. "I'm going after it."
"Stay on the line with me. I'm sending the boys to your location."
I climbed on my bike, started it up, and then peeled out, leaving a trail of smoke and burned rubber behind me. "I'm headed west down Syracuse toward Fifth Avenue."
I put on as much speed as my bike could handle as I tried to catch up with Henry and his captor, or captors. I'd only seen the one guy putting Henry into the car, but there could have been more. I wasn't taking any chances. I was going after whoever took my mate full-bore.
They were going to regret messing with the mate of one of the Soldiers of Fortune.
"We're turning south onto Salmon Street."
"We're almost there," Butch replied. "Just a couple of streets over."
I could see the car ahead of me, but there were still a couple of blocks between us. I was afraid I wouldn't catch up in time or that I'd lose them. "Can you try and cut them off?"
"I can try. Let me know if they change directions."
When the car started going faster—obviously they had spotted me following them—I was glad it was later in the evening. There were fewer cars I had to zip around. If it had been the middle of the day, I had no doubt I'd have a line of cops on my tail. I wasn't exactly going the speed limit and I never met a stop light I couldn't zip right through.
I grinned when the car carrying Henry shuddered then slid sideways and stopped. The row of motorcycles sitting across the road in front of it was the prettiest sight I'd ever seen. I pulled up close to the car, put my bike in neutral, put out the kickstand, and then climbed off.
I could see Henry's pale face through the window as I walked toward the back door. I yanked the door open then held out my hand. When Henry took it, I helped him out of the backseat and then led him over to my bike.
I dug a helmet out of my saddlebags and handed it to him. "Put it on, Henry." I watched as Henry did as I said then pointed to my bike. "Get on. I'll only be a moment."
I had a little business to take care of.
I walked back over to the car. I didn't recognize the man in the backseat or the man in the driver's seat, but I could see from the fear on their faces that they recognized me.
"Do you know who I am?" I nodded my head toward the line of bikes sitting across the road on the other side of the car. "Do you know who they are?"
The pale man in the backseat nodded, but didn't say a word.
"Dr. Henry Nash is under the protection of the Soldiers of Fortune. Do you understand what that means?"
The man swallowed hard before nodding.
"If you bother Dr. Nash in any way, if you upset him or cause him any grief, I will feed you to the bears."
Literally.
"Do we understand each other?"
The guy nodded again.
I grinned. "Good."
I slammed the door closed and walked over to my bike and climbed on. "Hold on to me, Henry."
Henry's arms wrapped around my waist. That in itself was a pleasurable torment. His grip only got tighter as we got started and headed down the street. I could hear the loud roar of motorcycles coming up behind us and knew Butch had sent some of our club members to help me keep Henry saf
e.
"I'm taking Henry to the clubhouse." It was the safest place I could think of.
"I'll be along in a moment," Butch replied. "I want to have a little talk with these gentlemen and find out why they were taking my son."
"You might think about sending one of the prospects over to check on Harry." I had no idea what this was all about, but I wasn't going to be caught with my pants down again. "Henry would be devastated if anything happened to his twin brother."
"I'll put Tex on him."
Tex was close to becoming a fully fledged member of the Soldiers of Fortune. He was quiet, but dependable. He'd be a good man to keep an eye on Harry.
"Thank you, Butch."
"You just keep Henry safe."
That's what I planned to do.
"I'll see you back at the clubhouse." I hung up then dialed Rooster. I hadn't seen his bike, so I assumed he'd been left back at home to keep an eye on things there. "You at the clubhouse?" I asked when the man answered the phone.
"Yeah, why?"
"I'm bringing Henry. I need you to make him something to eat. Our dinner plans were interrupted."
"Henry?" Rooster asked as if he'd never heard of the guy.
"The doctor who treated Bug."
"Oh, yeah, sure. I can whip him up something."
"He's had a bit of a fright tonight so nothing too heavy." I didn't want a sick doctor on my hands.
"I got it," Rooster replied.
"We'll be there in about fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Rooster replied. "We'll see you then."
I hung up then concentrated on getting me and Henry back to the clubhouse in one piece. I was carrying precious cargo. I could no longer zip through traffic at a high rate of speed. I needed to be a bit more careful.
I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with Henry once I got him back to the clubhouse, but it was becoming harder and harder to remember exactly why I shouldn't claim him. He needed a keeper something fierce.
When we got home, I drove around back and parked my bike by the garage. Bear and Ink pulled up behind me, which kind of told me Razor, Rocky, Ryder, and Gearhead had stayed behind with Butch, which wasn't the worst idea. A show of force was sometimes needed to get people to understand they were prey and not predator.
I parked my bike, cut the engine, and then climbed off. I helped Henry take the helmet off and then stuck it back in my saddlebag before holding my hand out to the man.
I was surprised by the grin on his face.
"I've never ridden on a motorcycle before," Henry said. "That was awesome."
Awesome? Was that a word an educated man like Henry would use?
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." I started leading Henry toward the back door. "Are you hungry? I called ahead and asked Rooster to make you something to eat since our dinner plans got messed up."
I smiled when a very adorable flush filled Henry's cheeks.
"I could eat," he replied.
My bear actually hummed. Not a tune, but a satisfied sound as if providing for our mate was his greatest pleasure in life.
And maybe it was.
My thoughts were just a bit chaotic as I led Henry into the clubhouse. Logically, I knew putting as much space between me and Henry was what was best for him. He didn't belong in this world.
It was a dangerous place.
But it seemed as if his world was just as dangerous and I was starting to wonder if having him in my world was the only way to keep him safe. The thought of my mate in danger was unacceptable.
We stopped in the kitchen. I was amused by the wide eyes on Henry when he looked at Rooster. Our resident cook was unique. He got his name honestly. He was a cocky bastard with bright red hair that stood up straight on the top of his head like an uncontrollable mohawk. The rest of his body was taken up with tattoos and piercings, not to mention a full beard.
"Rooster, this is Dr. Henry Nash," I said when the man glanced in our direction. "Henry, this is Rooster, our resident cook. My advice, don't piss him off or we'll be eating gruel for a week."
Henry smiled tightly. "Mr. Rooster."
Rooster rolled his eyes. "Fuck! Not another one."
My growl was low and threatening.
Rooster's eyes instantly rounded. "It's just Rooster. Not Mr. Rooster. Bug refuses to call me anything but Mr. Rooster. Drives a man to drink."
That was better.
"My apologies, Rooster," Henry said. "And please, it's just Henry."
I wasn't sure how I felt about that part.
"Gunner here said you missed your dinner."
Henry nodded. "Yes, we had dinner plans and...well..." Henry shrugged. "They kind of got changed."
"Someone kidnapped Henry," I explained. I wasn't sure how much Butch wanted everyone to know about his connection to Henry, and I damn sure wasn't ready to talk about mine. "Butch will be back after he questions the guys who took him."
Rooster gave a single nod before turning back to the stove. "Go on out to the main room. I'll bring the food out just as soon as it's done. We're having KISS burgers and fries."
Henry frowned. "KISS burgers?"
I chuckled at his confusion. "Keep it simple stupid burgers. KISS burgers."
Henry laughed. "Not sure I've ever heard of those before."
"You'll love them." I know I did. "Rooster puts salt and pepper and just a bit of garlic powder on each patty then bakes them in the oven. Once they are all done, he puts them on the buns with a slice of cheese then wraps them in tinfoil and puts them back in the oven for a few minutes. When they come out, they are hot and gooey and so, so good. There's nothing on them but the burger patty and cheese. So, KISS burgers."
"They sound wonderful."
"They are." I could almost taste them now.
Rooster waved his spatula at us. "Go on and get out of my kitchen so I can finish these."
I knew when to beat feet. The kitchen was Rooster's domain.
"Come on, Henry." I put an arm around his shoulders and led him out of the kitchen. I noticed that Henry moved a little closer to me when we reached the main room and wondered if he was scared. "No one will hurt you here, Henry."
"I've been here twice, Gunner, and I've had to punch someone in the face each time. While I'm sure you mean well with your reassurances, I know better."
My bear rippled with rage as I turned to look at Henry. "You had to punch someone?"
Why had I not known of this?
"One of your club members doesn't understand what no means. He wanted a blow job. When I said no, he demanded that I let him fuck me. Apparently, I was fair game since I wasn't a honey or someone's ol'lady. When he refused to take no for an answer, I had to defend myself."
"Twice?" I growled. I remembered the first time, but I hadn't been aware there had been another.
"I think the second time he was still pissed that I'd hit him the first time. He still wanted a blow job, and when I said no, he tried to force the idea." Henry shrugged. "So, I punched him again."
"Who was he?" I needed a name so I could go kill him. No one got to put their hands on my mate.
"I don't know, but Bear tossed him out the front door and told me to tell him if I ever had problems with him again."
Looks like I needed to have a little talk with Bear.
"If you see him in here, point him out to me." I was pretty sure I knew who it was since I'd tossed one of the prospects around the room when he'd gone after Henry. I just hadn't known he'd done it a second time.
Might explain why I hadn't seen the guy in a couple of days.
"You know, I can defend myself if I have to."
"Yes." I wasn't falling into a trap by denying that Henry could take care of himself. I'd seen Bear do that with Bug and it hadn't ended well. "I just want to make sure you aren't put in a position where you need to."
I'd kill anyone who threatened my mate.
"So, what do you all do here?" Henry asked. "I mean, I know Butch is in charge and you told me Rooster is your
cook, but what about you? What do you do here?"
My anger was not appeased, but I'd have to wait to act on it.
"Well, as you said, Butch is our club President. We all answer to him. I am the vice president or the second-in-command. Bear is our Sergeant-at-Arms. He is in charge of the enforcers. He protects everyone and handles our security. Rocky is our treasurer and he takes care of our finances and makes sure our money is making money. Ryder is our road captain and he keeps us on the road and plans all of our trips. Gearhead keeps our bikes running. Rooster makes sure we all eat. Ink mans the bar and inks us when we want a new tattoo. Bug is our member relations guy, which means he's in charge of all the prospects. Peanut is pretty much Bug's shadow and helps keep him safe since he tends to get into trouble. The rest are all prospects."
"And a prospect is?"
"A prospect is someone who wants to be a member of our MC. There's a period of time that they have to serve as a prospect, kind of like having to prove themselves to the club. It varies with each prospect. Peanut, for example, had only been a prospect for about a year before he got in, but he did the club a solid and it earned him his patch instantly. Tex has been here for about a year too, but he's really quiet so it's taking a little longer for the rest of us to get to know him and see if he'll be a good fit."
I was pretty sure he was in. Yes, Tex was quiet, but he was proving to be a good man. It wouldn't be too much longer before he earned his patch.
"And what do you all do here?" Henry asked. "I mean, you don't all just sit around and drink and fuck all day long, do you?"
"No." I grinned. "Sometimes we rescue sexy little doctors."
Chapter Nine
~ Henry ~
I ducked my head so Gunner wouldn't see the surprise on my face.
He thought I was sexy?
I was elated and terrified at the very same time. I was elated because a man as handsome as Gunner thought I was sexy, but terrified because I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that anything that happened between us—assuming anything did—would be fleeting. Men like Gunner didn't form long lasting relationships.
My biological father was proof of that.