Love, Loyalty & Mayhem: A Motorcycle Club Romance Anthology

by Ryan Michele

  “Sybil. I like that.” He gives me another smile and warmth flutters in my lower belly.

  “Thanks.”

  “I didn’t mean to knock you down and spill my beer on you. I was trying to get through and tripped over some bi—broad’s shoe.”

  I shrug. “Accidents happen.”

  He nods his head back toward the bar. “You want to get that drink?”

  I hold my wrist up to show him that they won’t serve me.

  “Don’t worry about it. I come here all the time.” He takes my hand again, cuts the yellow band off my wrist with a pocketknife, and shoves it in his pocket.

  I smirk at him. “Souvenir?”

  “Something like that.” His lips curve into a smile and the curious side of me wonders if he is a good kisser with that lip piercing. “Come on.” He takes my hand in his once more, and I look down at them joined together. The contrast between my pale skin and his dark ink is startling. I try to read what his knuckles say, but I can’t with the way he is leading me through the throngs of people that are packed together like sardines. We make it to the bar with him standing behind me, caging me in. The musky scent of his cologne wraps around me, intoxicating me.

  Glancing down I study his tattoo sleeves that leave no slither of skin un-inked. I can’t tell what they all are but make out a huge number seven with the word original attached to it.

  “Whatchu’ drinkin’?” His lips move along the shell of my ear, and a shiver courses up and down my spine at the proximity.

  “Um, I’ll take a beer.”

  “Two Heinekens.” He moves one arm and holds up two fingers as he tosses a twenty on the bar. “Thanks man.” He pops the cap off one with the bottle opener at the end of the bar and hands it to me.

  With his hand on my waist he guides me to a table that magically becomes empty with the snap of his fingers. Part of me misses his touch when he removes his hand and pulls out a chair for me. “What? You some kind of royalty around here?” I tease, arching a brow.

  “Something like that.” He takes a hard drink, and I study him. His jawline is smooth, but I wouldn’t say he has a baby face. His head cocks to the side. “That your boyfriend or brother over there giving me the evil eye.”

  Oh shit. I completely forgot about Jesus. I’m such a bitch. In my defense I was distracted by this intriguing guy. My eyes widen, and I turn my head to the direction he’s looking off to and chuckling. Jesus’ eyes meet mine, and I can feel the disappointment radiating from him. “No. He’s just a friend. We grew up together. I feel like an ass. I completely forgot I was supposed to meet him by the stage.” I don’t know why I am explaining myself. I suppose it is the guilt swimming like a shark ready to attack in the pit of my stomach. I wave Jesus over and he stalks toward us with an angry but hurt scowl on his face.

  “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.” I can tell this guy—Diego is amused by the situation.

  I don’t find it all that funny and when Jesus shoots me a fake smile as he takes up an empty seat, I feel even worse. I’m a crummy friend.

  5

  Diego

  Talk about luck. When I came out to fuck around tonight, I wasn’t expecting to run into my mark. But it seems fate is smiling down on me. When I bumped into a chick on my way to the bathroom, I wasn’t expecting it to be Sybil. She’s even more beautiful in person. Meeting her here tonight however changes my plans. So does the fucker sitting next to her that can’t keep his eyes off her. I need to find a way to get rid of him. He needs a distraction. Someone to get his focus off Sybil. He is a complication I wasn’t counting on, but no matter. I scan the room looking for a familiar face. Bingo. Taty, pronounced Tauty is here. Perfect. Discreetly under the cloak of the table as the lights go down for the show, I shoot her a text.

  D- Got a dude at my table get him gone.

  I watch her as she gets the message and shove my phone in my pocket. She smirks at me and fingers the straw in her drink as she approaches our table. “Hey there, D. Who’s your friend?” She runs her black nail polish coated fingernails down his arm.

  Sybil speaks up. “His name is Jesus.”

  “Well hey there, Jesus. I’m Taty. Mind if I join you. I’m feeling incredibly religious tonight,” she coos, and he rolls his eyes. Taty is the opposite of Sybil. Bleach blonde hair, freckles on her nose, grey eyes, and tattoos.

  Sybil smiles at me, and I scoot our chairs closer together. “So Jesus and Taty can see the stage better,” I explain and squeeze the top of her thigh.

  I watch her take a drink of her beer unable to look away. She’s fucking stunning. It will be a pity when I snuff the light in her eyes out. I don’t want to think about that right now. Not yet. I came here tonight for two things. To listen to some damn good music and get laid. I can tell that cocksucker she came with is irritated. She may have arrived with him, but I guarantee by the end of the night I’ll be the one to drive her home.

  I can’t grab her tonight, but soon, very soon she will meet her demise.

  Rocky takes to the stage and taps the mic, the loud feedback noise pierces the room. Loud voices lower into whispered murmurs, and the drummer for Morbid Duplicity takes his seat. “Are you ready to get your rock on?” he holds the mic out for dramatic effect and the crowd shouts, “yes,” back at him. “I am happy to present to you Morbid Duplicity.” He rushes from the stage and the rest of band makes their entrance.

  “How’s everyone doing tonight?” The crowd yells back, howling and whistling.

  The music starts, and Sybil is dancing in her seat. My fingers graze the small sliver of skin exposed along her lower, back and I smile when I notice a tattoo on her hip. It’s a small black heart. Dainty just like her.

  I finish my beer and ask her to go out on the floor with me before that Jesus dude can. I’m not much of a dancer but for tonight I can pretend.

  Sybil’s hips move to the music and her ass grinds over my crotch as the lead singer belts out the lyrics. “Close your eyes. Let my voice carry you away. I’m gonna take you to dreamland.” The girl can move that’s for damn sure, and I wouldn’t mind taking her home for the night. Let her wrap them red lips around the head of my dick and suck me off. Bet she’s never had a big cock in her mouth before. According to her file she’s never had a boyfriend. Maybe I’ll find out if she’s a virgin before I kill her. The thought of taking her life has my chest squeezing tight. I suck in a breath and push away the dark thought and enjoy the way her tight little body is pressing against mine.

  An elbow hits me in the side, and I look over to see Jesus and Taty next to us. Great. I underestimated this asshole’s commitment to seeing this through. Normally I’d beat the fuck out of a punk like him, but I don’t want to scare Sybil off. I want her to trust me. I need her to trust me.

  “Let’s get another drink,” I suggest, gripping her upper arms, skimming the shell of her ear with my teeth just enough to get a reaction out of her. I feel her shiver under my touch.

  “I’ll come with you,” Jesus calls out over the music, inserting himself into our conversation. This motherfucker is getting on my nerves. I wasn’t talking to him.

  “What do you want? We’ll get it.” I try my damnedest not to give him my signature fuck off glare.

  “I don’t want Sybi to miss any of the show,” he presses and moves toward me. Cockblocking bastard.

  “Right.” I turn my attention back on her. “I’ll be right back.”

  She smiles and nods. I give Taty a side eye glance and she moves in and starts chatting up Sybil. Good girl.

  We get closer to the bar and he grabs my arm. I jerk my arm back. He doesn’t know me like that to be putting his fucking hands on me. I’ve beat the fuck out of fuckers for less. “I know what you’re trying to do. I just want you to know it isn’t going to work. Sybil is still young but the day she’s ready I’m going to marry her.”

  I snort. He has no chance in hell of that happening. I only just met them and even I can see how wrong they are
together. She’s got a hidden desire that burns for something more. Something I could give her if only I didn’t have to kill her. “You’re so off base, man. I’m just here to have a good time.”

  “She won’t fuck you if that’s what you’re after.” His brows are furrowed, and his lips turned down. He doesn’t believe his own words.

  “You mean she won’t fuck you.” I laugh with a shake of my head and step up to order my beer. This asshole has the balls to shove me from behind. I slowly turn around and he’s waiting for me to hit him. He’d love for me to throw a punch and piss Sybil off. “Look. I don’t want to see you hurt. I get that you’ve been sniffing at her ass for years waiting for the perfect chance. Maybe you thought tonight would be the night to test the water. You’d bring her to see her favorite band and at the end of the night you’d get a little kiss in. And if you were lucky, she’d let you cop a feel. You’re a good dude so I’m going to be straight with you. You’re right. I’m going to fuck your girl. She’ll scratch her nails down my back and scream out my name and then we’ll never see each other again. Hell, she might get pregnant and then there you’ll be waiting in the wings ready to swoop in and be her white knight. But there is something you fail to understand. Something I knew from the moment I saw her. She doesn’t need a white horse she wants the dark stallion.”

  I turn my back on him and grab my beer, knowing he will swing at me once the shock of my words settle in. He hates me only because he knows I speak the truth. He hates me because deep down he knows she’s no innocent Snow White. There is something behind her eyes. Something dark and needy. A craving that sings to me like a little bird. A sparrow whose feathers I will pluck one by one.

  I take a sip of my beer, smiling to myself as I count to three. On what would be four, I block Jesus’ attack with my left forearm. Guys like him are so damn predictable, it is almost comical.

  Turning around I smirk at him. “Gonna have to try harder than that.”

  “What the?” I hear him mutter as Sybil rushes toward us.

  “What the hell are you doing?” She smacks at him and directs her attention my way. “I’m so sorry. He’s normally not like this.”

  “It’s no big deal.” I shrug. “Why don’t we go finish the show, and afterward I will introduce you to the band.”

  “Seriously?” The way her eyes light up I know who is going to drive her home.

  “Whatever. Sybi, I’m leaving. You can stay here with this douche who only wants to get in your pants, or you can come home with me.”

  “I’m staying,” she whispers, not meeting his eyes.

  Sorry fuck. I bet he will cry on the way home then crawl into bed and jack off while he thinks about what an idiot he is and how Sybil will come crawling back to him once I throw her away. He’d be right except when I am done playing with her, she’ll be dead, and he’ll take the fall.

  6

  Sybil

  Whoa. This sexy stranger—Diego wasn’t lying. We are currently hanging backstage with Morbid Duplicity. I’m utterly speechless. Never in a million years would I have dreamed of this. Diego’s fingers dig into my hips burning with possession, and I find the act cute. He’s rough and reeks of trouble, but I like the dangerous glint in his eyes when he looks at me like he could devour me.

  The lead singer, Lennox Hardin, gets the message loud and clear. I’m off limits. He shakes my hand and gives me an autograph on a bar napkin. I feel like a bumbling idiot and mumble a tense, “Thank you.” He winks at me and shakes Diego’s hand. They slap palms then bump fists.

  “Nice to meet you, Sybil. You ever ditch this asshole and want a good time he knows where to find me.”

  My mouth opens and closes quickly.

  “Ha. Funny,” Diego quips. “You ready to get out of here?” Those rough fingers skirt along my waist.

  “Yeah. Okay.” I graze my bottom lip with my teeth. I never do things like this—go off with random guys at bars, but there is something about Diego that has me wanting to get to know him outside of the club scene. Guilt over how things transpired between Jesus and me tonight eats at me, but I push the negative thoughts away. I deserve a good time.

  Taking my hand in his, he leads me out the back door of the club. The door slams shut, and Diego turns into me, pushing me against the cold metal. Hot, needy, raw, hungry, and tasting of beer his mouth claims mine in a stolen kiss. I’ve never been kissed like this before. With such want. I feel desired as warmth pools in my lower belly. I’ve kissed plenty of guys at parties and on dates but never quite this intense. Sucking my bottom lip between his teeth he gives the plump skin a tug and I moan. Thrusting his tongue between the part of my mouth, Diego maintains complete control, dominating me. I feel the metal of his piercing pressing into my lip and suck it into my mouth, nipping at him with my teeth.

  His hand moves up my side and I break away, needing to catch my breath. My head swims and my pulse is racing. I feel dizzy with excitement. My mouth curves into a sated pout. “That was unexpected but nice,” I tell him in a breathless whisper.

  “Nice?” He quirks at brow at me and chuckles. “I can do better than nice.” Curling a finger through the belt loop of my low-cut jeans Diego jerks my body into his. The man smirks, closing the distance between our mouths again.

  I’d like to say that I’m drunk, but I’ve not had that much to drink. Fisting my fingers in his hair, I deepen the kiss, moving my tongue in tandem with his. Our bodies press together as he backs me into the door again, his lips fused to mine. We’re a flurry of teeth, tongues, lips, and fingers. Taking and giving pleasure.

  Someone trying to exit through the back breaks the moment. Diego licks his bottom lip then wipes it with his thumb. “Come on, pretty girl. Let’s get out of here.” He leads me around the side of the building to the parking lot where his motorcycle awaits. A thrill shoots through me like an electric current zapping every nerve in my body. Reaching into the saddle bag he pulls out a leather jacket. “Don’t want you getting cold.”

  I push my arms through the sleeves, inhaling the scent of the well-worn leather as I hug it to my body. I get on after him, putting my feet on the pegs, and wrapping my arms around his waist. I bury my face in the back of his shoulder, getting a good whiff of his earthy scented cologne. He smells all manly—like sex and danger. The bike rumbles beneath me and I hold on tight.

  As we leave the parking lot, I spot Jesus waiting for me by his truck. I close my eyes like a coward when he throws his hands up and calls out my name. “Sybil?!”

  I can feel Diego’s stomach move as he chuckles.

  “Wait,” I call out as guilt consumes me.

  Diego stops on the side of the road.

  “I’m sorry.” I throw a leg over the side of the bike and get off. I take off his leather jacket and hand it back to him with regret coursing through my veins. I don’t want to part like this, but I feel I owe it to Jesus to ride home with him. He did bring me here tonight, and I completely blew him off for a guy I don’t even know.

  Diego lifts his shoulder. “Can I get your number?”

  “Yeah. Totally.” We quickly exchange digits and he roars off on his motorcycle. I turn back and cross the road to where Jesus is waiting in the parking lot.

  He pushes his shoulder length hair back into a low ponytail.

  “Jesus, listen…” I start but don’t know what to say really.

  “Don’t, Sybil. I don’t get you.” He shakes his head and gets in the truck slamming the driver’s side door shut.

  Letting out a sigh, I climb into the passenger side and lay my head back on the bench seat.

  He pulls out of the parking lot a little too fast, but I keep quiet. I know he’s hurt and angry. A bad combination.

  The ride back to my car is quiet, awkward, and downright tense. He parks the truck next to my car, and I take out my keys. Maybe in a few days he will have cooled down. We can talk and he’ll see that a romantic relationship between us would never work. I love him to death. Just not in the way
he wants me to.

  Jesus follows me out of the truck and stops next to my car. He leans against the driver’s side door, keeping me from getting in my car and leaving. “Just tell me why him?”

  I shrug and offer him a weak smile. “I can’t answer that. It’s like asking why the sky is blue or why leaves are green, or birds sing. You’ll always be my best friend. Always. But I don’t see you the way that you see me. I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression we could be something more. I never wanted to hurt you.”

  He nods his head and offers me a sad smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. His arms wrap around me in a tight embrace and he kisses the top of my head. I breathe in his familiar scent of sandalwood and vanilla. A smell that has always made me feel safe. Looking up at him I hope that this means we will be okay. I try to pull back. “I should go.”

  Not letting me go, Jesus holds me tighter and gazes into my eyes with a weird expression on his face. “I’ve always wanted you. I get it. You’re still young and need to experience life a little more but in time I know you’ll come to see that we’re meant to be.”

  “Jesus.” I shake my head.

  He silences me by bringing his mouth down on mine. It’s a sloppy kiss that feels all wrong. Like I am kissing my brother. He doesn’t make me feel alive in the way that Diego did when he kissed me. Pushing my hands against his chest, I try to break away. Jesus ignores my signal and kisses me harder, trying to force his tongue into my mouth. I bite his bottom lip and smack his cheek, scratching him with my car key.

  His head whips to the side, his hand moving to his jaw. “What the hell, Sybi?”

  “I’m sorry. You wouldn’t stop. I will never want you in that way. Now please move so I can leave.”

  Tears form in his eyes, and I hate the pain I see laced there, but there is nothing I can do to change how I feel.

  Those obsidian eyes narrow on me and his nostrils widen as he breathes harder, clenching a fist at his side. “You feel nothing for me?” His hurt is turning to anger, and I take a step back.