Ryker (The Ride #4)

by Megan O'Brien

  Mark looked at the two of us, his expression thoughtful. “Is he the reason?”

  I knew what he was asking—was Ryker the reason I hadn’t wanted to commit.

  I met his eyes and nodded with an apologetic shrug.

  “Well then, I’m glad it worked out for you, Pipe.” He nodded. “Take care.”

  “You too, Mark.” I smiled, watching as he turned and left the bar.

  “Am I the reason for what?” Ryker asked, turning me to face him.

  I looked up into his beautiful green eyes and placed my hands on his shoulders. “The reason I never wanted anything serious. He wasn’t you,” I replied. “You’re my person.” I shrugged, having no other way to describe it. “You always were.”

  He smiled, his hand on my hip as he pulled me closer. “You’re my person, too.”

  “Good.” I grinned against his lips. “We better deliver these drinks before we’re accused of the smoky-eyed stare again.” I smirked.

  “True,” he agreed, chuckling.

  It was late by the time we returned to the house. Everyone parted to head to bed with murmured good nights.

  Ry and I headed to my old bedroom, hand in hand. “Want to know a secret?” Ry smiled with a playful glint in his eye, once we’d shut the door behind us.

  I cocked a brow, curious. “Sure.”

  “I got something new today too,” he replied, looking almost nervous.

  My brow rose in surprise. “Oh?”

  He nodded as he slowly removed his jacket, his gaze holding mine as he pushed up his shirt to reveal a brand-new tattoo covering his entire forearm.

  I gasped as I grappled with what I was seeing. It was a road, drawn in blacks and grays, leading to a very simply drawn house. It could be any house, anywhere. Birds flew overhead, the sun peeked through stormy clouds, and flowers bloomed in bursts of reds, oranges, and greens.

  It was an overwhelmingly beautiful tattoo. But it was the writing along his wrist that stole my breath. There in black script was my name.

  My name.

  “Oh my God,” I managed after a few moments. “That’s my name,” I said stupidly.

  He chuckled. “I fucking hope so, otherwise I’m going down the hall and kicking Caden’s ass.”

  So that’s what they’d been doing all day.

  I looked at it more closely, again admiring the blacks and grays contrasted by the colors woven in. It was sadness and joy, darkness and light. It was as badass as it was sweet. It was Ry and me.

  I looked up, my gaze locking with his. “This is permanent, Ry,” I murmured, awestruck.

  “So are we,” he replied without hesitation. “You said I’m home to you—you’re home to me too, no matter where it is, no matter what it looks like. You’re under my skin—and I wanted you on it.”

  My eyes filled with tears as I pulled him close. “It’s beautiful, I love it. I’m completely overwhelmed.”

  He pulled me close, kissing the top of my head as I held on to him. “I love you,” I told him, the words muffled since I was pressed so close to his chest.

  “Love you too, babe.” He squeezed me tighter. “Looking forward to tomorrow night when we have our own hotel room. You can scream for me then. For now,” he paused, stepping me back toward the bed, “you’re gonna have to be quiet.”

  Judging by the look in his eye that was going to be quite a challenge, but I was certainly up for it.

  Chapter 19

  “Baby, you’re lucky you’re beautiful because you can’t sing for shit.” Ry chuckled, as we drove home after a great day and night in San Francisco. It had been a quick, foggy trip, but I’d loved every second.

  I paused mid-song to glare at him, before continuing to sing along to the new Best Coast album. Those chicks could sing—unlike me.

  “You know you want to sing along,” I teased, as he reached over to run a hand over my head, squeezing my shoulder. “You want me to drive at all?” I offered, leaning into his touch before his hand returned to the wheel.

  “Nah.” He shook his head. It didn’t surprise me. For some reason it was part of his guy code—always had been. If he was in the car, he was driving. I shrugged, not minding in the least, though I was excited to drive my car once Mr. Alpha could get back on his bike.

  “I had fun,” he shared, glancing over at me with a boyish smile.

  “I enjoyed myself too,” I agreed. “I think it’s good that we got away.”

  “Yeah—I’ll try to lighten up a bit.” He sighed, running a hand over his whiskers. He hadn’t shaved in a few days and I loved the dark scruff covering his jaw.

  “Ry, I love you just how you are,” I assured him. “I feel lucky that I know both sides of you. The quirky guy who loves Cheers and can burp the alphabet—”

  “Backwards,” he reminded me.

  I rolled my eyes. “Backwards.” I sighed. “But I also love the overprotective serious you. I just want to make sure you’re happy. Gotta have some lightness in there, babe, it’s part of who you are. I don’t ever want to be the cause of snuffing out that light.”

  “You are the light, Tink,” he corrected me, glancing over at me, his green eyes bright with intensity. “Always.”

  My cheeks burned, the pleased blush warming my skin. “Okay.” I smiled.

  “Okay.” he winked. “Now, let’s get home. I miss the dogs and our house.”

  I beamed. “Me too. Though I don’t miss the construction zone that is our soon-to-be bedroom.” I grimaced. Ry still hadn’t gotten around to finishing everything, what with the Black Riders and our unexpected trip out of town.

  I’d had so many reservations about moving into the master, but there was something about seeing my dad settled, seeing him so ready to move on, that made me feel ready too.

  “Yeah,” he agreed, evasively. “Soon enough.”

  “Soon enough,” I nodded.

  It was early evening by the time we pulled into Hawthorne. Ry had texted a few times when we’d hit red lights, and I wondered who he was talking to but didn’t ask, focused on getting home.

  “Etts dropped off the dogs, so we don’t need to pick them up,” he informed me.

  “That was nice of her,” I replied, gazing out the window. The weather was warming. Spring was just beginning, the change clear on the mountains beyond and the trees, which lined our town.

  I was relieved when our house came into view. With Ry by my side, knowing it was ours, it felt more like home than it had in years—maybe ever.

  “I’ll grab the bags, you go on in,” he said after we’d shut the engine off. “Take Roxie out so she doesn’t piss on the floor!” he hollered as an afterthought.

  I laughed, nodding. Roxie and her pee-filled excitement was always a challenge, that was for sure.

  The dogs rushed through the front door like broncos, circling me with tails wagging and tongues lolling before racing the same circles around Ryker.

  We finally got them calmed down enough to follow us inside. “Head on up,” Ry’s deep voice instructed. “I’m right behind you.”

  I trudged up the stairs, feeling tired despite the early hour. Thank God the SUV was comfortable, we’d certainly spent enough time in it.

  I stopped at the top of the stairs, noticing a glow underneath the master bedroom’s door. I walked toward it, curious, and pushed the door open, cautiously.

  What I saw took my breath away.

  The room was lit with what looked like a hundred candles. There were flowers all over: roses, lilies, tulips, and sunflowers.

  “Thought this would be a good place to make a fresh start,” Ry’s deep voice sounded from behind me.

  I whirled to face him, barely able to catch my breath.

  “I want to put rubber to road with you, babe, but I also want like hell to come home with you too. There’s nothing like it,” he murmured, as he dropped to one knee.

  My hand flew to my throat as I fought like hell to catch my breath.

  “Piper, you’ve been my world s
ince we were eight years old. You’ve been my best friend, my first love, my only love. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” he asked, his voice gruff with emotion.

  I managed a nod, extending my hand as he slid a beautiful vintage-style engagement ring on my finger.

  He rose and pulled me close, his mouth to my ear. “Want to hear the words, Pipe,” he murmured.

  “Y-yes,” I stammered, feeling overwhelmed with a kind of happiness I’d never known.

  He lifted me off the ground, his face buried in my neck.

  “How did you do this?” I managed, looking around the room in awe. Not only was it decorated beautifully, but the construction was done.

  “Had a little help.” He shrugged with a grin. “I wanted us to come home to our future,” he murmured against my lips. “I wanted to make you a promise under this roof where we have so much history—we have a past, but a future too. You’re mine. I’ll take care of you for the rest of our lives. I’ll protect you. Make you laugh. Sometimes piss you off.”

  “That a promise?” I laughed through tears.

  “Yep.” He chuckled. “I love you so fucking much, baby. I always have. You’re all I see.”

  “Even blind, you’d be all I would see.” I sighed, blissfully, as he held me. We swayed to an invisible beat, the candlelight glowing all around us.

  It was the most romantic moment of my life.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered, gazing at the new diamond sparkling on my finger. It was a vintage filigree style—very me.

  “I figured you’d want something antique. This just looked like you when I saw it.” He shrugged. “But I admit Sam approved of the choice before I bought it.” He smiled.

  “Smart man.” I laughed just as a commotion sounded from the backyard. I lifted a brow. “By chance are those helpers of yours still here?”

  He groaned. “I couldn’t talk them out of it.” He bent to nip at my neck, making my skin tingle. “All I want is to get you naked.”

  “Soon,” I promised, bending to blow out the candles with the thought that they should definitely be relit later.

  He made a growling sound before nodding once. “Soon.”

  It looked like the entire club was in our backyard when we emerged to squeals, hoots, and hollers.

  I blushed at the attention, as Ry just shook his head, grinning.

  Scarlet, Connie, Kat, Ettie, and Jill all made their way to me, offering hugs and wanting to see the ring as Ry made his way to the guys, receiving downright painful-looking pats on the back.

  I never could understand why male affection had to be so… violent.

  “It’s beautiful.” Kat smiled, appreciatively, moving Wren to her other hip to get a closer look at my ring.

  “Thanks, he did good.” I grinned as Sophie put a beer in my hand. “Thank you guys for helping—it’s gorgeous.”

  “It was all Ry’s idea, but we were very willing minions,” Scarlet replied, throwing a quick arm around me before having to follow Gracie, who was toddling at a far more rapid speed these days.

  I looked around the beautiful chaos in our backyard. Dogs ran in circles and babies squealed as our friends’ loud laughter and boisterous mood filled the space. I looked over at Ry, the grin on my face nearly painful, it was so wide.

  We’d worked hard to get here and I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but our future had never looked brighter.

  Chapter 20

  “Babe.”

  At first the rasped words and his hands stroking my body were part of dream.

  A very good dream.

  It was his lips moving over my neck and his hands sliding south that woke me from my very amazing dream into an even better reality. “Mmm?” I mumbled as my body came alive under his touch.

  His warm hard body pressed over mine as he continued his delicious onslaught.

  We’d both become insatiable in the days since becoming engaged, but this felt different. His movements were nearly desperate as he slipped inside me before I’d even opened my eyes.

  He groaned, the sound low and deep, as I gripped his backside, pulling him deeper.

  “Shit, you’re so tight. You feel so good. I could never get enough,” he rasped, as he took my mouth in a searing kiss.

  I met his intensity, fully awake and more than ready for what he had to give.

  “I’m close,” I gasped, as his movements intensified, sending me over the edge.

  His breathing grew harsh, his skin warm and muscles coiled tight under my hands as he let out a groan.

  I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close. “Good morning.”

  He chuckled, his breathing rapid. “Mornin’.”

  I held him, relishing the rise and fall of his body as his breathing began to slow. He lifted his head to look at me, his green eyes bright and intense. “I gotta go on a run with the guys. I’ll try to be back by tonight.”

  A trickle of worry slid down my spine, as I fought to control my reaction. This was what that intensity was all about. “What for?”

  We’d been talking more about his life with the club. While he was at times reluctant to admit the details, I wanted to prove I could handle it. I didn’t want any secrets between us.

  He deliberated for a minute before sighing in resignation. “Cal’s tired of fucking around. The threats from the Riders keep coming and we won’t fucking back down,” he ground out. “Things will come to head—we want that on our terms.”

  “So you’re going down there to what, instigate?” I asked, terrified of what that could mean.

  “Hopefully not.” He shook his head. “We need a commitment that they’ll back down. Find another territory to run their shit through. Cal’s tired of being in limbo waiting for the other shoe to drop, and so am I.”

  I felt the same way, but that didn’t mean I wanted my man to ride off straight into the heart of the danger.

  He rolled off me so we lay side by side, and ran his hand down my side to grasp my hip. “I’m not living another day with you having to look over your shoulder, Tink. It’s not the way I want us to live. They threatened you, hurt you, and I’m not fucking waiting another day to make that right.”

  “I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you,” I managed, trying like hell not to cry.

  “It won’t,” he replied, despite the fact that he couldn’t promise that—not really. “I want you to go about your day today. Head to Dixie’s—Mack will stay close to you while I’m gone. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  I bit my lip, nodding. I knew there was no way to talk him out of it. If I could, he wouldn’t be the man I loved and I had to accept that. Instead, I kissed him hard, wanting to feel his skin under my hands, his body against mine despite just waking to that very thing.

  “Again?” he murmured, his gaze flaring.

  “Again.” I nodded.

  *****

  “This the last of it?” Ettie asked later that evening, as she helped me steam a few blouses.

  I nodded, distracted.

  I’d been a nervous wreck all day, barely able to eat, but glad to have the distraction of the store and all the last-minute prep I needed to do for the grand opening, which was just a week away. Ettie had hung close, since Mack was on point to watch over us. Scarlet and Connie had stayed for much of the day as well, having just left with Axel as an escort.

  Axel, Mack, and Sal had all stayed behind to watch over things with a few of the prospects.

  “Let’s call it a night,” I added. “Does Mack want to come inside? He does know the fact that I sell primarily women’s clothing isn’t infectious, right?” I teased, desperate for some break in the tension.

  She giggled with a playful eye roll. “He knows. I think he went across the street for a coffee. I’m about done, I’ll go put the steamer away so we can hit the road.”

  “That’d be great,” I murmured, watching her stride toward the back.

  I was bent over to give the dogs a quick pat when the front doo
r opened with such force, the bell above the door went flying. I looked up in surprise, taking in the three glowering men filling the doorway.

  Black Riders.

  I fought back the panic surging through my veins, as the dogs began to bark and growl viciously.

  They strode across the store, the bald one delivering a savage kick to Tank, sending him flying with a whimper.

  “No!” I cried in horror, pulling Roxie back desperately, wanting to spare her the same fate. The same man barreled toward me and pulled me bodily away from the counter and toward the back of the store.

  My only relief was watching as Tank rose unsteadily to his feet.

  “What do you want?” I shrieked, fighting with everything I had as he dragged me onward. The other two followed, but not before delivering more kicks to Tank and Roxie, who both tried to protect me.

  “Stop it!” I screamed, as he put a calloused hand roughly over my mouth.

  “Shut the fuck up,” he growled.

  I sent up a silent prayer that Ettie had heard the commotion and had either escaped out the back or was hiding somewhere. I fought harder, trying to give her more time, and for a moment broke free of his grasp before he grabbed me again.

  The odds weren’t in my favor with three against one, but I knew that no matter what, I couldn’t let them take me. I wouldn’t get out alive. The reality of that sent ice through my veins and hardened my resolve to fight.

  I kicked out wildly before throwing my head back into his mouth with as much strength as I could muster.

  “Fuck!” he roared, forced to let me go. I scrambled for the door.

  One of the other men pulled me back by the hair, punching me hard in the face. I dropped like a box of rocks, my mind hazy as I scrambled to recover.

  “You’re tough; I like that in a woman.” The bald one grinned through the blood now covering his mouth.

  “Fuck you,” I spat, as I was hauled roughly to my feet by the man with a huge scar across his face.

  “Come on, Saul, we need to get the fuck out of here,” the scarred one ordered.

  The bald one—or Saul, as I now knew his name to be—nodded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.