Biting Back: A Motorcycle Club, Shifter, Romance (Shifting Steel Book 1)

by Stephanie West

  Cain ignored his phone as he drove. He was too strung out to talk in the truck, plus he needed to calm down. Finally they got back to the clubhouse. He hated the scent of fear that wafted from Iris as he led her back up to his room. She hung her head and walked like a man walking down death row.

  Iris had every right to be afraid but the way she trembled as he shut his bedroom door had his beast snarling. The woman had been through too much. She’d been abused, kidnapped and the list went on. Yet he still couldn’t let what she���d done slide.

  “Sit” Cain demanded as he paced his room. He needed to lay it out for her and didn’t know where to begin.

  “No” Iris said. She looked as surprised as he was at her vehement response. Then her chin tilted up defiantly. Man she was cute with that angry stubborn expression.

  Cain looked at her, seeing for the first time the bandage on her forehead. Dammit she’d gotten hurt. He’d flay Swain alive if the bastard had done that.

  Cain shook himself. He had to remain focused. Iris had fucked up big time. He didn���t look forward to the fact that he���d have to put her under constant watch or worst case scenario send her out West where he had some family. That would suck hard for everyone involved. But if Iris was too stubborn to get with the program then she was a risk to not only his brothers but herself.

  “If you’re going to punish me for escaping just do it. You can’t do anything worse than what’s already been done to me!” She yelled at him her hands on her hips. Iris looked brave but he could smell the powerful scent of her fear.

  “Fucking Shit.” Cain thought as he paced the room.

  Of course she thought he’d hurt her. It’s what she knew. Cain had been brought up better than that. His dad could throw down with the best of them and passed that on to Cain, but the man had taught him never to lay a hand on a woman in anger.

  “I won’t apologize for what I did. I’d do it again if I had to.” Iris railed at him bravely.

  God she was a vision in all her female indignation. Cain liked the fact she was willing to stand up for her botched escape, regardless of how foolish it was.

  He wondered how in the hell she ended up at the hospital instead of miles away. Iris was soft and kind hearted. She���d probably accidently shot Swain while holding the gun on him and then couldn���t bear it. Iris was brave but not cold hearted. Cain doubted if she was ever faced with the opportunity to take Hank out that she would even be capable.

  ���I don���t expect an apology. I expect you to listen and listen good.��� Cain practically snarled.

  Iris backed up hitting the bed and nearly falling onto it.

  Eric burst through the door. Cain looked up pissed at the intrusion. He was just getting to the point.

  “Cain you need to talk to Trip.” Eric held his phone out.

  “I’ll call him in a minute.” Cain growled.

  “No he said it’s urgent. He’s been trying to call you.”

  “Fine.” Cain snarled as he grabbed the phone and stalked out the door.

  Iris looked concerned. She should. Cain was holding on by a thread. If something had gone wrong with Swain he didn’t know what he’d do. A part of him might want to protect Iris, but the club might overrule him where Swain was concerned.

  “How’s Swain?” Cain said into the phone after slamming the door.

  “He’ll be good as new in no time.” Trip said. “Eric told me you had a bit of a chase.”

  “Yeah” Cain replied in relief as he leaned his forehead against the wall.

  “Tell me that woman’s alright, that you guys didn’t do something stupid.” Trip said in concern.

  Cain’s head popped up.

  “No we just got back. I just put her in my room. I’m not really sure what to do.” Cain ran his hand through his hair.

  “You might get on your knees and kiss her feet.” Trip replied.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Cain demanded.

  “You need to ask her, but you know that map gas cylinder that blew last week.” Trip said.

  Cain remembered. Swain had gotten lucky the debris had hit his arm rather than take off his head.

  “Well he had shrapnel in his shoulder and would’ve bled out if Iris hadn’t gotten him here in time.”

  ���Well Shit!��� Cain hung his head.

  This was not what he���d expected to hear at all. Iris was beyond unique. She blew so far past unique it wasn���t even a blip in the rear-view mirror. Cain didn’t know how in the hell she did what she did, how she knew about the fights or this. She’d tried to tell him this morning and even though he believed her he had no clue of the extent of it. It was too wild to fathom.

  Cain looked at his bedroom door as confusion, amazement and a bit of concern threaded through him. He felt a bit like he���d cornered the angel of death. To think he’d been ready to rip the woman a new one. Thank god he talked to Trip first.

  “You need to try to get Swain out of there.��� Cain told Trip when he found his voice again. ���I’ll send Eric over with my truck.” Cain didn’t want to risk Hank taking revenge on his brother while he healed.

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. Swain’s looped up on narcotics but he’s good enough to move. The night staff is sparse so it should be easy enough.”

  “Good” Cain replied as he hung up.

  His kind didn’t stay in hospitals long. They healed too fast and people got suspicious.

  Cain told Eric what was up then stood collecting his thoughts. Iris had saved Swain���s life, but she still put herself and them at risk, grave risk, in the process. Cain shook his head feeling completely out of his element where the enigmatic little woman was concerned.

  Iris

  Iris refused to sit idly by, waiting for Cain to come in and do god knows what with her.

  ���I hope Swain���s okay.��� She worried.

  The last she heard surgery had gone okay, but she didn���t know about these strange men. Complications were always a possibility.

  Iris walked into the bathroom, locked the door and stripped off her borrowed jogging pants and sweatshirt. She didn’t even care if Cain broke down the door. She was taking a shower. Iris shook the glass out of her hair into the sink and checked the floor making sure none got on the tile from her clothes. She undid the bandage around her chest wincing as the pressure caused her pain.

  “Screw it.” She bit her lip against the discomfort.

  Iris stepped into the hot spray and leaned against the wall. She washed quickly since she was feeling a bit dizzy from all the excitement then got out and dressed. She was going to go out there and tell Cain what was up and if he couldn’t listen to reason well fuck him.

  “To think I wanted that asshole to rescue me.” Iris groused.

  Even as she angrily cursed Cain, Iris started to think about how close she’d come to Hank recapturing her and she started to tremble. Where would she be if Cain hadn’t found her? By the time Iris stepped out of the bathroom she was shaking from the entire ordeal and the realization of what almost happened.

  Cain was standing by his door leaning against the wall looking calm but serious.

  “Is Swain okay?” Iris asked hoping he was fine.

  Cain nodded as he pushed off the wall.

  “I probably should turn you over my knee.” Cain said and Iris backed up. “Swain could’ve really hurt you, with that stunt you pulled.” He ran a hand through his shoulder length hair. “My brothers at the gate saw you holding that gun on him. And lets not forget that Hank was at the hospital cause you were recognized. What the hell were you thinking?” Cain berated her but at least he didn���t raise a hand to her.

  “Swain was injured, he would’ve died.” Iris said as she sat on the bed.

  She was beyond exhausted. She couldn’t keep up with all this. Try as she might to stop them, tears started to stream down her cheeks.

  ���Hey
now.��� Cain said lifting her face wiping away the tears as he knelt in front of her.

  “Swain had to go to the hospital. As it was he practically wrecked when he started to pass out in the truck.” Iris explained.

  “Is that how you got this.” Cain gestured to her forehead and she nodded. “Shit! I just talked to Trip. Was he really that close?”

  “Yes” Iris replied.

  She relaxed nearly collapsing back into the bed. Cain wasn’t as irate as he’d been several minutes ago. She looked into his eyes hoping he could understand why she did what she did.

  “Thank you. I can’t say that enough. But you have to understand you can’t put yourself at risk like this. It put everyone at risk.” Cain reprimanded her. “Like it or not I’m in charge here. You should have made Swain call me.”

  “People rarely listen till it’s too late.” Iris said her eyes flashing.

  Cain smiled at her spirit but shook his head.

  “Try me.” Cain insisted.

  “Maybe I should’ve found a way to tell you, but can you really blame me!” Iris gestured wildly to herself and the room at large. “While I wasted time getting permission everything would’ve gone to shit!” Iris said in frustration. ���Punish me if you feel the need. I don���t really care.���

  “I’m not going to do anything to you.” Cain sighed in frustration. “I’m just pissed you got hurt in the process.”

  He was frustrated, she was frustrated. Cain didn’t understand how difficult it was living with the things she knew. She did her best but it wasn’t always spot on or perfect. She was human after all.

  Cain

  Iris relaxed, looking at him with less worry and more relief. That comforted him. He didn’t want her to fear him. In fact the longer he was around Iris the more Cain found he wanted to shelter her from the trouble that seemed to find her.

  The way she softened him and turned his world on end was disturbing. The way her tears tugged at him, was more disconcerting than being shot at. Things hadn’t been dull since he’d met Iris and it had been less than twenty for hours. What the hell would his life look like after a week with this reckless little angel.

  It frustrated Cain that she refused to see or understand just how bad this all could’ve gone. Then again considering her quirky gift, she probably understood clearly and put herself at risk anyway to save Swain. It dawned on Cain that that���s what Iris meant earlier when she refused to apologize for what she���d done.

  Cain meant it when he said he should turn her over his knee. He had no clue what to do with a woman like her.

  At least she was safe.

  “Thank you for coming for me.” Iris said quietly. “I’m sorry I almost got you killed.”

  “When I promised you Hank would never hurt you again I meant it, and I always keep my vows.” Cain reassured her.

  He would’ve kept the vow even if Iris hadn’t done what she did for Swain and had been attempting to escape instead. But he was damn glad she hadn’t. Although her stunt made him question her sense of self preservation it went a long way towards gaining his trust.

  Iris was a puzzle wrapped in a sexy little package. He wanted to uncover the mystery and delve into the sweet little beauty. She inflamed his senses and had him constantly on edge. She pulled him in and made him wary all in the same breath.

  It was a damn good thing Iris was in no shape to withstand him because he was beyond tempted to pull her against him and kiss her full pink lips. He wanted to possess her in ways that would terrify her if he acted on them. Man he was screwed.

  7 Men Will Be Men

  Iris

  Iris wasn’t quite sure what to make of Cain and his fellow Reapers after everything that had happened. They treated her like an honored guest rather than a captive.

  Cain insisted she stay in bed for several days. He set Shaz up with food and a box in the bathroom. He brought her food, magazines and even put a small little flat screen that looked new on the end of the dresser at the foot of the bed.

  The man was making it really hard for her to hold him at arm’s length. Her resolve was crumbling more and more after he’d come to her rescue for yet a second time. She’d have to be a fool to not be swayed by such a valiant act. Yes he was a dangerous biker, a Reaper, and yet who else could’ve done what he’d done.

  Anytime Iris got up to exercise her legs the brothers made sure she was doing okay and had anything she might need. More than a few of them looked at her with appreciation rather than suspicion, making her wonder if they all knew what she’d done for Swain. Surprisingly they made her feel safe. Hank couldn’t get to her as long as the giant Reapers were around.

  Iris was disappointed Penny didn’t live at the clubhouse like her brother, since she would’ve liked the company, but this wasn’t a place to raise children. Cain had things to do, but always checked in on her and chatted with her. He even spent the nights in the recliner in the corner of the room that didn’t look nearly big enough for his over-sized body.

  The clubhouse was like a motorcycle frat house. The evening festivities were certainly a commonality between the two. Some nights were calmer than others. Iris would’ve had a hard time sleeping through it all in the old days, but not now. Plus she found her schedule had shifted so she was up later into the night.

  Last night Cain had finally let her come down and sit at the bar while the men and women carried on. The woman they called Sweet Butts would shake their ass to music or pleasure the men in the open making her blush. Now that she knew the term meant club whore, Iris was glad the Reapers didn’t refer to her with the derogatory term. Of course she didn’t whore herself out either. There was only one Reaper that caught her eye, Cain.

  Tonight she mixed with the crowd a bit more. Besides the sounds of people enjoying themselves there weren’t any fights here unless you counted the banter Iris currently witnessed. One of the guys was giving Swain a hard time over some shot at the pool table. She was glad to see Swain up and doing so well after nearly dying. Surely he should still be recuperating.

  “So okay maybe I was hasty with my assessment.” Iris amended.

  Iris watched as the men’s verbal jibes turned into rough housing. She was glad it was nothing like the cage fights she’d witnessed, just thinking about them made her shudder.

  “Uh Oh! Get out of the way!” She admonished herself.

  The two guys were wrestling like overgrown teenagers. Swain was going to open up a vein again, the idiot. Meanwhile the other brothers hooted and laughed. There went the table beside one of the couches, it was knocked over and now lay minus a leg.

  “What the fuck that table was a hundred years old!” Iris frowned.

  It had been a sturdy mission piece, but even the best furniture didn’t hold up to a rowdy brawl, which continued despite the poor table’s demise.

  Before Iris knew it she was laying flat on her ass. Her preoccupation and love of old crap ended with her sprawled on the floor.

  Iris hadn’t been quick enough to evade the two men and their antics. She wasn’t really injured any more than she’d already been, but still Iris was sick of being constantly sore. Pissed actually. She was tired of being bruised and every sickly shade of the rainbow.

  Cain

  “I can’t believe those bastards are rough housing.” Cain groused.

  It’s not like it didn’t ever happen, and it was generally fine, but not with all the females around. A growl passed his lips as he saw Iris go down, hitting the floor. She wasn’t big enough to take a hit like that plus she was still recovering. Cain was halfway to her when Iris bellowed.

  “Cut it out assholes! You’re not the only people in the room and I’m not built like a fucking tank.”

  One man laid stunned on the floor while Swain stood, in a frozen fighting stance, mouth agape in shock. Iris’ voice was filled with indignation and something that resonated power. It staid Cain’s forward momentum.

  “You shouldn’t be wrestling.
” She pointed at Swain. “And I’m sick of being sore and covered in bruises all the damn time. TAKE THAT STUPID SHIT OUTSIDE!” Iris lit into them.

  The two brothers shifted uncomfortably. She pointed at one.

  “YOU’RE gonna have that hundred year old table properly fixed.” Then she pointed to Swain. “And YOU’RE gonna make a new one till it is, since clearly you’re all better!”

  Generally Cain didn’t like anyone but himself giving out orders, but the two brothers had it coming. That’s what they got for knocking his angel on her ass. In fact he was damn proud of how she reacted. His brothers looked to Cain since he was the boss.

  “Sounds fair especially since you knocked the lady down.” Cain nodded with a chuckle.

  Swain and the other brother murmured their apologies to Iris before picking up the pieces of the trashed table and slinking off. They knew how badly Iris had been treated, so Cain knew they felt bad for knocking into her. Swain in particular felt he owed his life to Iris, which he did, making him look all the more guilty. Maybe they’d think next time before getting trashed and acting like idiots.

  Iris stood with her hands on her hips scowling at the men as they retreated. Despite her abuse at the cop’s hands Iris had been far from cowed. She was strong and commanding with the way she took the men to task. God that stubborn defiant look of hers was sexy. She was positively stunning. Cain’s cock hurt just looking at her.

  “Holy shit I want this woman!” He groaned. His inner beast growled in agreement.

  Iris

  “Was I outta line?” Iris wondered and almost pulled the hand back that was pointing accusingly at the men, but instead decided to hold her ground as they moved to clean up. Her outburst couldn’t be any worse than pulling a gun on one of them.

  Penny hooted approval where she stood at the bar between Eric’s legs. Then Iris heard the chuckling behind her as Cain agreed to her decree.

  “How the hell did Cain do that?”

  This was the second time she’d made an ass of herself only to find him laughing behind her. Ugh.

  “That’s the kind of smack down this little Spitfire turned on the cop. It was a thing of beauty wasn’t it Trip?” There was admiration in Cain’s voice, and a bit of pride.