by ML Nystrom
We walked as a group to the staging area where the bikers were preparing for the final run of the day. The kids were already trick-or-treating from tent to tent and trunk to trunk, and families were settling down. The scent of campfires wafted on the slight breeze. It was peaceful.
Betsey was dressed up as a devil woman, Tambre was supposed to be the goddess Hera in her Greek toga, Molly was a sexy witch in purple, black, and green, and I was her cat. We were treated like royalty, people calling out their thanks for a great day and for the food. I smiled as well, greeting people and accepting their gratitude as if I was a part of this biker family.
Betsey ran up to Brick as he whistled at her sexy devil costume. He himself was dressed as a matching devil with pitchfork, long red cape flying out behind him. Taz was in a Greek toga as Zeus, and he greeted Tambre with a warm hug. Molly took a flying leap on Cutter, who was in a purple-caped warlock costume. Stud was dressed as Thor, and he very much looked the part of a Viking god. He also sported a red cape that draped behind him, and fake hammer that dangled from his belt. His eyes glittered when he saw me.
“Are you sure you want to go on this ride with me, Kat? The way you look, I may not stop until we get to Vegas. You look fantastic.”
I felt myself blush at the compliment, but also preened just a little. Having this man’s attention was as intoxicating as the booze from earlier. “Thanks, Stud.”
A harsh bike rev cut through the air, and I glanced over to see Mute. I lost my breath. He looked like the Phantom of the Opera dressed all in black. Tight pants tucked into cuffed leather boots, a loose shirt that laced at the front and was tied with a black sash. Black gloves covered his hands, and a black half-mask covered his face. I felt his eyes glare at me through the holes. Mackie was standing behind him, two helmets in his one hand. Apparently, Donna was not riding with Mute.
“I think I just died and went to heaven!” the older man declared, grabbing his chest and nearly dropping the headgear. “I get to ride and look at a beautiful woman all on the same day! God must love me!”
I laughed at his antics. He was one of my favorite people, always happy and free with his humor. He was one of the first people to accept me into the club family. Even though he didn’t wear a cut, he was a big part of it.
“Mount up!” Brick yelled, and I turned back to Stud. He handed me a full helmet and face shield.
“You’ll have to remove the cat ears, baby girl. A helmet is a necessary evil. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to that pretty head of yours.” He ran his hand through my hair, taking the ears with him, and his eyes got intense. I felt a flutter through my middle. This touch was more than friendly. I wasn’t sure how to handle it, and my first instinct was to run. My second was to revel in it. I decided it was the booze talking. No way would this be real if I was completely sober.
He popped the helmet on my head and hooked the straps, then explained how to get on the bike behind him. I got on and tentatively put my hands on his waist, gripping lightly. He chuckled while putting on his own helmet.
“You’re gonna need a better grip, baby girl. Pull up closer. I need to feel you at my back. This ride can get a bit cold, so snuggle tight and I’ll keep you warm.”
He pulled me up until I was pressed fully against him, my breasts crushed into his back, my arms wrapped tight around his middle. I could feel his muscles working as he shifted around on the bike, and the flutter in my middle grew. I was attracted to Stud, but men like him usually weren’t attracted to me. He was smart, insanely handsome, super masculine, and I was—well, I was just me. It was scary to want more than friendship.
When he started the flaming machine we sat on, I could feel it through my entire body. The powerful vibration did something to me. The bike was like a beast coming alive, and I could feel it purring underneath me. It sent its message of acceptance through me, and the flutter in my middle turned into an ache. I could feel the place between my legs tingle, and wanted nothing more than to press down into the rumbling seat. My nipples hardened into little points where they were pressed into Stud’s back. He must have felt them, as he placed one hand on my clenched ones and stroked my fingers. I groaned a little, more turned on than I had ever been before.
“Hang on, baby girl,” I dreamily heard Stud say to me. “We’re gonna have a good ride tonight.”
I pondered for a split second if he meant a different kind of ride, then he took off and I could think of nothing else.
It was stunning. Scary. Exhilarating. The wind was cold as it rushed around me, and I was glad for the helmet’s face shield. The bikes spread out as the Dragon Runners club opened up and flew. Stud pulled out ahead of everyone and ramped up his speed. We took the first curve on the Tail and I felt the inertia of the turn in my head and gut. The man and the bike worked as one, dancing over the road. I could feel the pressure of each curve, followed by a floating sensation as we prepared for the next, and then pressure again in the opposite direction. The powerful beast between my legs, the cold wind, the warm man I clung to, it was too much, and a need rose up in me that I hadn’t paid attention to in a long time. I wanted this. I wanted to be a part of this so bad.
I groaned again at one particularly hard curve, and clutched at Stud’s middle. He let go of one hand grip and stroked my hands again, caressing me. I was starting to believe it could be possible. That this man was truly interested in me. That later tonight I would have an experience I’d never really had before. Was I ready for this? Did I trust it?
I didn’t get to answer that question, because at the next curve a deer ran out in front of the bike, followed by two more. The headlight made their eyes flash gold as they bounded across the asphalt. I heard Stud curse, and he swerved to avoid them. The bike skidded dangerously close to the edge of the road and he tried to compensate, but the force was too much and we were thrown.
I screamed as we flew off, the bike going one way and us going the other. Somehow Stud managed to grab me before we hit the ground, and rolled so his body was between mine and the ground. We came up hard against a tree, and I heard Stud curse loudly in pain.
“Goddammit!”
It got still and quiet now that the bike wasn’t running. Only the faint buzz of the forest penetrated the helmet. I was lying next to Stud as he rested against the tree. Both of us were breathing hard. Whatever liquor-induced state I’d been in earlier was gone. I was stone-cold sober. Stud was in pain, I could hear it in his voice.
“You okay, baby girl?” he wheezed.
“I think so. Nothing broken. You?” I gasped.
“My arm. Definitely broke. I felt it crack. Goddamn deer!” he spat, not moving.
The rumble of other motorcycles came closer, and a few minutes later, Taz and Mute were sliding down the short embankment to us. I could see Tambre and Mackie peering over the side.
“Anyone hurt?” Taz asked in a deep growl. Mute bent over and gently pulled the helmet off my head. He started running his hands over me, feeling my arms and legs. I was in too much shock from the accident to think much about it.
“Broke my fucking arm. Think I turned my ankle too. Kat says she’s okay. Probably banged up. She’ll feel it tomorrow,” Stud managed to say, biting off his words. “Fucking damn deer herd in the road! How’s my bike?”
“Gonna need some paint; rest of it is okay far as I can tell. Laid it down good so the frame isn’t bent, maybe the front wheel just a bit but could be worse. Mute, you get Kat up the hill. Flag the cage down. Should be here in a few minutes. Then come help me get Mr. Show-off here up the hill. Looks like the rest of our run is to the hospital.”
Mute scooped me up and I automatically put my arms around his neck. I yelped at the sharp pain in my side and back. He stopped and looked at me, his teeth grinding and eyes glittering.
“Where are you hurt?” I could hear him asking.
“I don’t think I broke anything, just bruised. Stud’s the one who’s really hurt.”
He climbed up the steep hi
ll and set me down gently. Mackie shuffled over and awkwardly sat next to me. Tambre stood on the other side, watching for the truck.
“How’s your head, sweetheart? Dizzy? Seeing double?” she asked quietly. She had a small first aid kit in her hands and was rummaging through it.
“No, I’m good. Just shaky.”
“Quite a spill. Y’all were lucky. Coulda been worse. A lot worse. There’s people that don’t get to walk away from a wreck on the Tail,” Mackie intoned.
I could see Mute’s jaw working in the fading light. He was agitated, his movements jerky as he moved Stud’s torn-up bike from the road and made his way back down to the waiting men. Mackie kept talking about other accidents, how to drive a motorcycle, the habits of deer, and other trivial stuff I didn’t pay much attention to. My mind was fully occupied with my own thoughts as the truck pulled up. Mute and Taz appeared on either side of Stud as they slowly made their way over the embankment. Stud’s mouth was tight with pain as he hobbled along, his good arm around Mute’s shoulders, his other arm cradled against his chest. Blood was on his shirt from several scrapes. I cringed as I realized he’d let himself get hurt in order to protect me.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I tried to get up and help, but Mackie put his hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down.
“No, no, sweetheart, you stay put. You’re full of adrenaline right now and can’t feel if something else is wrong just yet. Let the boys handle things and you just be still.” I stayed put.
Taz sorted everyone and gave out orders.
“Get the bike loaded and get Stud in the truck. It’s faster to get to the hospital from here instead of going back to the campground. Tambre and I will follow the truck. I’ll call Brick and let him know what happened. We’re taking care of it and he can finish the run, but he’ll have my ass if I wait to tell him.”
He turned to Mute. “Mackie was supposed to ride back in the truck, ’cause he can only ride so long before it gets too much for him. That ain’t changed. I’m putting him in the truck to go to the hospital with Stud and the two prospects. Ain’t enough room for Kat, unless one of the others rides in the back with the bikes.”
He looked at me and jammed a hand over his craggy face. “Kat, I know it’s a lot to ask, but are you good to ride on a bike to the hospital? Mute will bring you, and we’ll get you patched up. If you can’t, you say so. Ain’t no shame or problem, but that means Mute will stay here with you until I can get someone back here with a truck. Might take some time. You’re studyin’ to be a nurse, so you should know what’s best and safest for you. You also know Stud’s condition is the priority.”
I had a lot of scratches. A few were deep and bleeding, but not serious. My ribs were hurting, but I could breathe okay. Nothing felt broken. I was shaking with adrenaline and knew I would crash sometime soon, and tomorrow I’d be incredibly sore, but there was nothing that would be a problem with me getting back on the bike. I just didn’t want to get on the bike with Mute. He was glaring at me and breathing hard. I could tell he blamed me for this fiasco.
Even though it would bring me in close physical proximity to him, riding to the hospital on the back of his bike would be the fastest way to get out of his company and also not be alone with him for an extended period of time.
“I’m fine, I can ride.” My voice was surprisingly steady. I was shaking like a leaf and clutching myself hard to control it. I really wanted to go invisible, become the incredible shrinking woman and disappear. But at this time, other people were more important.
“Stud needs his arm stabilized as much as possible. Is there something we can wrap around it? If no one has taken off the boot at his ankle, you should do that now before the ankle swells up so much you can’t get it off later.”
“Already done,” Tambre said calmly, walking up to us and bringing my dented, scratched-up helmet with her. She smiled with classic serenity. I’d always thought Taz and Tambre were an odd couple, him being so rough and she being this quiet, sweet angel, but it was very obvious after a while how devoted they were to each other. “I’m not a nurse, but I’ve had a lifetime of patching up my four boys, this old man, and lot of others in the club. Even when you’re careful, accidents happen.”
She looked deep in my eyes and took my hands. “Tonight was just that, an accident. Wasn’t your fault, wasn’t Stud’s fault, so don’t go thinking it was something either of you did. Best we can do is take care of business. Yeah?”
“I’m good, Tambre, and thank you,” I replied.
“Alrighty, let’s get rolling!” Taz called out.
I put the helmet on my head and eased over to where Mute sat on his bike. It was bigger than Stud’s, the growl deeper. I thought of Stud’s bike as a beast, while Mute’s bike was a predator. He didn’t look at me as I painfully climbed on, lightly gripping his shoulder. His jaw was clenching and unclenching, his mouth thin and tight. He hated having to do this, but he would for Mackie and Stud. He was bigger than Stud, harder, and I hesitated putting my arms around him, only gripping his waist. He all but growled as he grabbed my hands and pulled me into his back, wrapping my arms around his waist and folding my hands together. He roared off, and I clutched at him to keep my place.
I was pressed into him like I was Stud earlier, and I couldn’t help but compare the two of them. Mute was bigger, harder, and rougher. Heat poured from his back, and I found myself snuggling into him, taking that comfort as the cold night wind blew around us. Stud controlled his bike like he was riding a horse, smooth and easy, shifting with just a touch. Mute rode like the bike was a part of him, like they were one unit instead of two. I could feel him move through the curves with barely a twitch. He didn’t have to drive the bike as much as just ride it. I was starting to come down from the adrenaline boost and was crashing hard. Without thinking, I hugged him tighter and laid my head on his back, taking what I could from him, and hoping he wouldn’t get pissed and throw me off the back.
My mind was drifting in that place between waking and sleeping, as the next thing I knew we were pulling up in front of the hospital emergency room. Stud was there, barely standing up with his good arm around Taz’s shoulders, arguing with a nurse about sitting in a wheelchair. I was comfortable and groggy, so I didn’t move very fast to get off the bike and away from Mute. Stud stopped his tirade when he saw me still curled up against Mute’s back.
Mute let go of one of the handlebars, and for a moment covered my hands where they gripped his middle. Stud had made the same gesture earlier. Was there something I was missing? Stud saw it and got quiet. He abruptly sat in the wheelchair and gestured for the nurse to push him into the building. Mute helped me off, as my back was locked up tight.
A girl I knew from school, Jessica, was on duty tonight. She was a cute, pixie-cut blonde, short and plump mother of two. Her husband did something for the railroad out of Dillsboro, but I wasn’t sure what it was. She blinked owlishly when she saw me.
“Kat! Is that really you? What on earth? What are you wearing?”
“Long story, Jess.” I groaned as Mute half helped, half carried me to the doors. Jessica rushed off to get another wheelchair, and put Stud and me through immediately with no detour into the waiting room. Halloween was typically a busy night at the ER, but either I avoided triage by being known, or the MC had priority.
Sometime later, I was out with several days’ worth of sample painkillers and muscle relaxers, and another big bill to pay. I may have gotten first dibs at care, but nursing students didn’t get discounts, unfortunately.
Mute apparently had already left to take Mackie home. Betsey was there waiting for me when I was wheeled out.
“Pssht! Slow down, darlin’. Here, let me help you up. You want your place? Guest rooms is all full at the clubhouse, but I can make room if you want to be there.”
I eased into a standing position. “I’m good with my place. It’s not that far. How’s Stud? Mackie make it home okay?”
“Stud’ll be back up at the cl
ubhouse soon. He’s getting hisself a nice cast on his arm and a fancy ankle boot. He’ll be laid up a while for sure, and gettin’ lots of attention from the girls. He ain’t hurtin’ with all them happy pills he got. You got some too, I see. Mute took Mackie home, and went to the Lair to help me out with something.”
She loaded me in her Mustang and drove me to my apartment, making plans to have my car brought to me. “Prospects are cleaning up from the festival. I told them other club bitches to get to work as well. If they’re gonna hang around the campground, they can help out too.”
I stiffly got up the stairs with her help and into my apartment. Sheila and Chip were still out to wherever they go at night, and I was grateful I didn’t have to deal with them. Betsey puttered in my small kitchen. I could hear water running as she filled a glass for me.
“You take a few days off to heal up, and then I’m gonna need you at the bar. Got a call from Blue. He got hit with some heavy mess last night, too. Had his kids last night at the festival, took ‘em home, and found Jonelle out cold on the kitchen floor. He was at the hospital with her when they brought Stud in. Mute brought ‘em to the clubhouse, so they’re up in the guest room in our suite.”
She rolled her eyes and hissed, “That stupid bitch needs to get her head on straight, or Blue needs to set her out permanently. Damn fool keeps takin’ her back, swears it’s part of his marriage vows. I’m glad he takes them promises seriously, but mark my words, one of these days, she’s gonna really hurt someone.”
I managed to get the ruined cat suit off and get into a nightshirt before painfully crawling into bed. Betsey handed me the water and two small white pills. I took them and eased back in the pillows.