by K E Osborn
Looking down past the building is a grassed area that expands forever. A large tree is a prominent feature, and there’s a small area that looks like they have bonfires. Swallowing hard, Steel reverses the bike into position and turns it off. I exhale. It feels like I’m shaking slightly—I’m nervous and completely out of my element here. I have no idea what I’m about to face.
My leg is burning as I cautiously step off the bike and pull off my helmet. Steel follows then turns to face me while looking down at my leg. “How you doin’?” he asks grabbing my hand.
I shrug but then freeze and tense up as two ferocious looking Rottweilers burst through the compound toward us, barking loudly and snarling. Jumping as they come toward me, I cower behind Steel squealing slightly as he chuckles. My heart is racing as they come right up to Steel baring their teeth at me, their hackles up and their eyes full of fury.
“Easy boys, down,” he commands. They instantly lay down and stop growling, turning from guarding into smiling and happily wagging their tails.
“Steel, are they gonna bite me?” I ask hesitantly still hiding behind him.
He turns to look at me and smiles. “Nah babe. They just didn’t know you. So they were guarding. They’ll be fine now they know you’re okay to be here. Cassius, up,” he says and one of them jumps up happily still wagging his tail. I jump slightly as he pads over and cuddles into Steel’s side and he pets him like he’s an old friend.
“Trust me, he won’t hurt you. Pet him, he’ll love you forever.”
I open my eyes literally thinking he’s crazy. Steel smirks grabbing my hand and pulling me out from behind him. I tense up entirely, and he moves my hand down to Cassius’s head and I flinch, but he nuzzles into my hand. My shoulders relax a little, and I raise my eyebrow seeing an entirely different side to this dog. He’s actually quite the cuddler. Not to mention kind of cute with his black body and reddish/brown highlights on his face, with little flecks of grey. I figure he might be getting on a bit in age.
A couple of burly guys walk around the corner, and Steel grabs my hand smiling at me. “C’mon, let’s get your leg checked out.”
I nod as the two men look me up and down. I furrow my brows at them, and they start to whistle as they walk to Steel and me.
“Is this a new club girl, Steel?” The one with long blond hair calls out.
“No Ryder, she’s mine.”
I open my eyes wide as we continue to walk toward a big black door on the side of the clubhouse. I can’t help it as a small thrill of excitement flows through me at the words he’s just spoken. She is mine.
Steel pushes in the heavy black door and the thunderous sounds of ‘Kashmir’ by Led Zeppelin invade my eardrums straight away before I’ve even walked inside. We continue through the short hall, and then into the vast expanse of the room. The walls are lined with wood panelling, and there’s pictures of heavy metal bands and naked women everywhere. Biting on my bottom lip, I try not to look at the pornographic photographs. To the right is a bar that extends the entire length of the room. The wooden bar has stools along the entire length for the bikers to sit at—it actually kind of looks like a bar in here. There’s a few tables and chairs set out where I guess they’d eat and drink, mixed with a few lounges and even bean bag sofas. Then on the side, there’s a room with two wooden doors, but the doors are shut. I don’t know what’s behind there. At the end of the bar is a hallway, and off to the left of the hall is a couple of pool tables.
And oh my God, there’s a woman with mahogany hair sitting on the pool table naked shooting ping pong balls out of something that should not have ping pong balls shooting out of it, and they’re landing into full beer Steins. Swallowing hard as my heart starts to race watching the scene in front of me, the guys around the woman cheer as she shoots out another one and it lands in a stein perfectly spilling the beer over the edge. One of the men picks up the stein throwing the ping pong ball out of it, and then brings the cup to his mouth and starts drinking the beer. My lip curls up in disgust as I frown, and Steel pulls my hand and keeps us moving through the open room that looks like what I would now class as a dingy bar.
We walk over to a green lounge suite and I can’t seem to take my eyes off the girl on the pool table. She shoots another ball hitting a guy right in his face and the men all cheer. I inhale a deep breath while folding my arms over my chest and lean back into the lounge wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into?
“Stay here!” Steel says distracting me from the show.
I look at him as he turns away from me checking around the clubroom like he’s looking for someone in this crowded space. Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I notice a man walking toward Steel and me. He’s very tall and well built, with a brown beard but platinum blond hair and a nose piercing right through his septum. He looks really quite intimidating and scary. My muscles tense, and I start physically shake this time as he looks down at me and half smiles. It doesn’t ease my nerves.
“Hey Jigsaw, have you seen Techie or the doc?” Steel asks and the giant man called Jigsaw keeps staring at me. It’s unnerving.
“Jigsaw?” Steel asks again as Jigsaw places his hand in front of me.
I tense up but take it not wanting to offend him. He pulls me up from the seat and tilts his head as his eyes search all over me. I stand still not knowing what to do as he says absolutely nothing.
Steel just stands there smirking, and I want to slap him for not helping me. Jigsaw smiles and it’s actually a kind smile as he turns to look at Steel.
“Tio,” Jigsaw says in some kind of accent.
Steel laughs and nods and Jigsaw gazes back at me and smiles brightly.
“W… what?” I ask, my voice breaking slightly.
“That means ten in Swedish,” Steel says confusing me further.
I furrow my brows and tilt my head. “What does ten mean?”
Steel and Jigsaw chuckle. Jigsaw leans in kissing my cheek. His rough beard tickles my skin, and I flinch back startled by his forwardness. “Ja, definitivt tio.” And with that confusing Swedish talk, Jigsaw ups and walks away leaving me utterly confused scratching my head.
Steel chuckles pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around my waist.
“W… what j… just h… happened?” I stutter out.
“That was Jigsaw.”
“Is his name Jigsaw ‘cause he’s such a confusing puzzle to work out?” I ask.
Steel bites his bottom lip trying to hold back a smirk. “Yeah… let’s go with that.”
I furrow my brows thinking there’s more to the story, but I’ll find that out another time. “So again, what just happened?”
He smiles. “He likes you.”
I tense up. “As in likes me, likes me? Like wants to claim me… likes me?” I ask suddenly, even more worried than when I came in here.
Steel throws his head back laughing hard, his chest rising and falling harshly with his laughter. “Oh God, you’re funny. No, babe. Likes you, as in thinks you’re hot. Tio means ten, he was givin’ you a score…. a ten out of ten for hotness.”
My eyes open wide. “He was scoring me?”
He smirks. “Yeah.”
I let him go and sink back down into the lounge suite. “Will all the guys in here do that?” I ask not really wanting to know the answer.
He scrunches his brows and slumps his shoulders. “So you’ve just been told you rated the hottest you can possibly rate on the hotness scale, and you’re upset because of that?” he asks and I roll my eyes.
“Do they do that to every woman that walks in here?”
He huffs and sits down on the seat next to me, the cushion dipping slightly. “I guess. We’re men, it’s how we work, babe.”
I turn my head to face him forcefully squinting my eyes and flaring my nostrils. “So you rate them, too?”
He runs his hand through his hair and exhales. “Shit. What am I meant to say here?” he asks and that’s enough of an answer. Shaking my head, I stand up
and move to walk out.
“Flame, stop!”
A tall nerdy and yet somehow sexy guy comes up to me with a… man? Woman? I have no idea what that person is, and it halts me in my tracks as Steel catches up to me. I leer at the man-woman and I can’t help my staring. It has short hair like a buzz cut. The facial features are of a man, a chiselled jaw and a strong nose, but the eyes are soft like a woman’s. The body is a little soft and pudgy, so it’s hard to tell if the boobs are because it’s female or if they are just man boobs. I’m actually coming at a loss, and it’s not like me to stare for so long but fuck, I have no idea what this person is.
“Willow meet Techie, my best mate, and Dr. Stevie Reynolds, the club doctor,” Steel introduces us and I inhale sharply now knowing this is actually a male, even still I’m slightly confused by him.
“I hear you have a burn on your leg, Willow? Care if I take a look?” he says and his voice is soft and agile, nothing like the masculine vibe he’s portraying. This is doing my head in.
“Sure Doctor.”
“Please, call me Stevie. Everyone else does. Now take a seat on the lounge and I’ll get my kit and fix you right up, love,” he says and my head’s spinning right now. This place is so weird.
Swedish bikers that rate women.
Nerds that look like bad boys.
Doctors that look like lady boys.
What the hell is this place?
I plonk myself down on the lounge while Steel talks to Techie and I gaze around the room. It’s only then I see an older man with mutton chops sitting on the other side of the room staring me down. His hard glare unsettles my nerves until a half-naked, very young and attractive girl walks over to him and sits on his lap. I look away, but I can’t help myself, I casually glance back and when I do she’s on her knees giving him head. I gasp and look away quickly as his eyes meet mine.
What the actual fuck!
Steel was right, this place is not for me!
My heart is racing and I feel a little nauseous. I’m not sure if it’s from the pain in my leg or from this atmosphere. The smell of booze and cigar smoke permeates the air, and I’m pretty sure the stench of sex is lingering as well. This place wreaks, and could do with a woman’s touch. And not one of the women in here. These girls are so attractive and could get modelling jobs easily. I can’t help but wonder how these women all live their lives.
Do they have jobs outside of the club?
Do they service only one club member?
Do they service Steel?
I shake my head and fold my arms over my chest and huff out a full breath in annoyance as the doctor steps back over.
“I’ll get you fixed up in no time, love,” he says as I push my leg out for him to check.
I look down at the doctor and he’s handling my leg delicately and tenderly like how a woman would, but everything about him—even his name—screams that he’s a man. I start to wonder if maybe he’s transgender. I tilt my head studying to see if he has an Adam’s apple, and there’s nothing.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
I open my eyes wide in shock. “Like what?”
“Like you're wondering if I'm a male or a female.”
Shit! I don't say anything and remain quiet.
“I'm a chick,” Stevie says shocking me.
“Oh, wow! Really?”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head as she applies a bandage to my leg. “Don't sound so surprised!”
“Crapsticks! Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just I'm not used to this kind of... atmosphere,” I say honestly.
She looks around the clubhouse and chuckles. “Yeah, the guys call me he ‘cause I work mainstream as a doctor, and if the medical board knew I helped bikers on the side, I could be deregistered. So they call me he to turn people off the trail… It can be daunting, but don’t let this get to you. Steel, he’s one of the good guys.”
I swallow hard and nod. “I sure hope so.”
“You hope what?” Steel asks walking over with his friend.
“She hopes this heals without a scar. I told her it would, it’s only a superficial burn and should improve within a few days. Nothing major. But if you’re going to be riding a bike again anytime soon I suggest pants,” Stevie tells me and for all her shortcomings, saving the day is a great attribute.
I glance at her and smile as she winks at me.
“That’s great news. I have some trackies that might fit you, babe. Come to my room and I’ll see if you fit in them.” Steel offers me his hand as he lifts me from the lounge. I smile at him and his friend looks at me and grins.
“Hey, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Spike, but call me Techie. My man Steel here has been pining over you for the last few days.” He looks up to the ceiling and Steel groans. “Psychologists studied data from over ten thousand speed daters and found most people make a decision on an individual's attraction within three seconds of meeting the other person. On another note, it takes only up to four minutes to decide if you actually like someone or not. According to the dilation of Steel’s pupils, the tall stature of his stance, the lingering looks he’s been giving you since you walked in here, and the fact he’s been a moody little fucker since he met you, I think it’s safe to say within three seconds he was attracted, and within four minutes, he adored you.” Techie smiles brightly and looks at me like he’s just given me the run down I’ve been needing.
I squeeze my eyebrows together at all his facts, and a small smile crosses my lips. “So Steel likes me, hey?”
Steel rolls his eyes and Techie frowns and furrows his eyebrows at me. “Yeah, that’s what I just said, weren’t you listening? She doesn’t follow too well, Steel,” Techie says making me giggle at his mini tantrum. He obviously has no sense of humour and can’t take a joke.
“Okay Techie, fuck off. Let me take my girl to get some pants on.”
He shrugs and turns back to me placing his hand out. I take it, and he brings my hand up to his mouth kissing the back of it tenderly. “Until we meet again, Willow. Little miss MC1R gene.”
I furrow my brows as Steel laughs and Techie walks off, his heavy boots thumping along the concrete as he leaves. “What’s the MC thingy?” I ask and Steel grabs my hand and pulls me to him.
“I think it’s your red hair gene. Don’t worry, it’s tech talk. You’ll get used to him. Let’s find you some pants, hey?” I smile and nod leaning on my toes and kissing him softly.
“Kid!” a bellowing voice echoes throughout the clubroom.
Steel groans and pulls away and places me behind him as if to shelter me from something.
“What?” Steel calls back looking over to the older man, who must be in his fifties with a long grey beard forming a triangle down his chest.
He looks scary and intimidating, like a real biker.
A bad biker…
“This some new club girl you forgot to talk to me about?” The scary man bellows storming over, it feels like the ground shakes with each of his thunderous footsteps.
I cling onto Steel’s biceps from behind for comfort.
“No, she’s not a club girl Dad. Flame is out-of-bounds for everyone… but me.”
Dad? This scary tattooed burly biker man is Steel’s father?
“You claiming her?” he asks looking at me and running his eyes over my body leeringly. I don’t like it one little bit, so I try to hide further behind Steel.
“I… shit… I don’t know. It’s too new for that yet—”
“Then why the fuck’s she in my house? If you haven’t claimed her, and she ain’t no club girl, get her the fuck outta here. She could be the heat for all we know.”
I furrow my brows at the way he talks down as though I’m not even here.
“Dad, stop! Flame isn’t the heat, she works at a fuckin’ child care centre.”
Steel’s dad scoffs and folds his arms over his massive chest. “A kid watcher, hey. And you think little Miss Scaredy-cat can handle this life? You’re a f
ucking dickhead, kid. Get her out of here. Now,” he blares and Steel huffs and stands a little taller.
“I just have to get her some pants. She burnt her leg on my Hog then I was taking her home anyway. Your precious club is safe, don’t be such an over-reactin’ fuckhead.”
His dad leans in closer to Steel getting right in his face. My heart starts to race faster watching Steel and his father face off over me.
“Get. Her. Out. Of. Here!” he spits each word with venom.
I grab hold of Steel’s hands and pull on him. He turns to look at me and winces. “Can you get me some pants so we can leave?”
“Listen to your whore, kid.”
My eyes open wide as Steel swings back around and stares down his dad, their chests coming together forcefully as their foreheads meet. It’s only now I notice the rest of the clubhouse has dropped to complete silence, and his mates are standing up and starting to inch their way over toward us.
“You ever talk about Flame like that again—”
“You’ll what?”
Steel clenches his fist, and I back up slightly as Techie and Jigsaw step in and pull the two men apart.
“Easy, Steel,” Techie says resting his hand on his chest and pulling him back to my side as he continues to stare at his dad with gritted teeth.
“Watch yourself, kid,” his dad says. Jigsaw grabs his dad and pulls him away into another room. The music is turned back on, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
That was intense!
“Go to your girl, she’s scared mate,” Techie says to Steel, and it seems to be just the wake up he needs.
He turns facing me, races across and takes my hands. “Are you okay?” I merely nod because physically I’m okay, but mentally? I’m not really sure. “C’mon, come back to my room, there’s too much testosterone in here.”
He pulls my hand walking off down a hall, and I don’t have time to think before I’m dragged off behind him. My mind is trying to comprehend what I’ve been a witness to since I arrived here, but everything’s a little overwhelming. We walk briskly down a hall, and the racing of my heart and the speed we’re walking isn’t helping me catch my breath. Steel stops at a door and walks in pulling me through. I follow, and once I’m inside he closes the door with his foot. I take a few deep calming breaths trying to gather my bearings as he walks off, to what I assume is the wardrobe, but I’m not really looking. I’m watching the floor and trying to concentrate on the hole I wish would open up and swallow me into it.