RIDE (A Stone Kings Motorcycle Club Romance)

by Daphne Loveling

  “What do you mean?” I asked innocently. But it was ridiculous to even try to hide anything from her. I knew damn well she wasn’t going to let me off the hook.

  “Don’t give me that,” she snorted. “You’ve been walking around with that blissed-out ‘I just got laid’ face for the last week and a half, so I know what’s going on between you and Tattooed Guy. But the last couple of days, you got a pinched thing going on right here.” She grabbed the skin between her eyes. “Something’s peeing in your Rice Krispies, and it’s wrecking your post-coital glow.”

  “Damnit, Vanessa,” I complained. “I thought that once I actually started something up with a guy, you’d back off.” I broke off a piece of my muffin. “If I’d known you were going to get even nosier…”

  “You’d what? Not have sex with Mr. Hottie? Please.” Vanessa waved her hand. “Look, you may as well just tell me what’s up. You know I’m gonna worm it out of you anyway.”

  I shook my head in exasperation. “Fine. You win. But honestly, it’s mostly nothing. This thing with Trig, we’re trying to keep it light. But my stupid brain won’t let me just enjoy it for what it is.”

  “Okay, now we’re talking.” She had finished the last bite of her scone and now crumpled up the paper it had been sitting on. “So, what’s your brain fixating on?”

  “Well…” I frowned, considering how much to tell her. “For one thing… I think he’s kind of a man whore.” I leaned toward her and lowered my voice. “Do you know what he told me about how he got shot?”

  She raised her eyebrows curiously. “Spill,” she urged.

  “He said…” I began. “Well, he implied that it was the husband of someone he was having sex with who shot him. He said he didn’t know the woman was married.”

  Vanessa burst into laughter. “That’s hilarious!” she cried.

  “No it’s not!” I protested. “I mean… that’s crazy stuff. Who lives like that?”

  Vanessa was still chuckling, but she made an attempt to calm herself.

  “Look, he said he didn’t know she was married. I mean, it’s a hilarious story, and I’ll grant you something like that doesn’t happen to everyone. But you can’t really blame him if he didn’t know, right?” She spread her hands.

  “I’m not blaming him, exactly,” I countered. “It’s just… what does it say about a guy that he’s getting shot by a jealous husband?”

  “It says he’s hot, and women want to have sex with him.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever. Plus, if you’re trying to keep it light, what do you care about his sexual past? As long as you’re using protection.” She cocked her head at me. “You are using protection, aren’t you?”

  “Of course! What do you take me for?” I retorted.

  “Well, okay, then. I see that as a non-issue. Is that all?”

  Vanessa clearly wasn’t going to let me dwell on this one.

  “Not quite…” I admitted. “There’s something else.”

  “Aha! I knew it!” she said. “I knew you trotted out the fake reason as a diversion from the real one.”

  “How do you do that?” I shook my head in disbelief.

  “I have a sixth sense.” She settled back into her chair and took a sip of coffee. “Okay. Tell me.”

  “Oh, God, it’s such a long story…” I moaned. “It’s so not worth getting into.”

  “So, tell me the short version.”

  I sighed. “Okay. So. I don’t think I ever told you this, but I actually know Trig from a long time ago. We went to high school together.”

  Somehow, Vanessa was less surprised by this than I expected. “Okay. And?”

  I looked at her curiously. “Um… And, uh, we kinda sorta almost had a thing. But not quite.”

  She smirked at me. “For a smart, educated woman, your command of the English language leaves something to be desired.”

  “Ugh.” Damnit. “Okay. We… he…” I tried again, stumbling awkwardly over my words. “Well, he was my first kiss. And I really, really liked him. But then… I found out that he had said some really hurtful things about me behind my back. So I kind of dumped him before we ever got started.”

  She waited for a few seconds, then cocked her head in confusion. “Is that all?”

  “Ugh. Yes, that’s all. But Vanessa, it hurt a lot at the time. I was humiliated.” Her skeptical look made me feel suddenly ridiculous. “I know it doesn’t sound that bad now,” I concluded lamely.

  “So, you were humiliated, like he told the whole school about it and then you were a laughingstock?” she asked.

  “No…” I trailed off. “I only heard about it from one person. But that was enough.”

  The more I talked about it, the more I realized how silly most of this probably sounded to her.

  “Huh.” Her face was blank. “Well, okay. Have you asked him about it now? Like, asked him why he did it?”

  “Not exactly,” I confessed. “I mean, he apologized for it a few weeks ago — for hurting me, that is — but when I pressed him on it, he admitted that he didn’t even really know what he had done wrong in the first place.” I looked at her in disgust. “I mean, how does he not even know? Either he’s lying, or he’s completely forgotten about it. Either way, it’s shitty.”

  “Or he never did what you think he did,” she said.

  “What?” I asked her in disbelief.

  “Well, I mean, that is a third possibility. Right?” She took another sip of her latte. “All you have to go on is what some third party said he said. And besides, even if he did do what you say he did, it was a long time ago. I’m sure I did lots of shitty stuff when I was younger that I don’t remember anymore. Kids are mean sometimes.”

  I took a deep breath and let it out. “You sure are deflating my righteous anger about this, Van.”

  “And another thing.” She set down her cup. “Even if he did do all that stuff way back then. Why does that have to mean that he’s not sincere now about how he feels about you? Even if you think he was trying to hurt you way back when. Why, after all these years, would he be so invested in hurting you now? It doesn’t make any sense, Eva.”

  I opened my mouth to answer, but shut it again. I didn’t have a good response for her. As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point. We were adults now. What happened when we were eighteen was old news.

  But it still hurt. More than I could explain.

  “Look, Eva,” she concluded. “You just need to talk to him. Let him know how you’re feeling. That the memory of what he did all those years ago still hurts you. Give him a chance to explain.”

  “What? No!” I protested.

  She cocked a brow at me. “Why not?”

  “He’s gonna think I’m a psycho for bringing up something that happened so long ago.”

  She smirked. “Well, then, maybe that’s your sign that you are being a little bit of a psycho for being so hung up on this.”

  “No,” I said stubbornly. “I’m not. I think it’s important.”

  Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Well, then, you need to ask him about it if you think it’s important.” She heaved a dramatic sigh. “It is freaking amazing to me how women will wind themselves up into a tight little ball of anxiety, rather than just tackle the issue head-on.”

  “Well, what if he lies to me?” I challenged.

  She crossed her arms and looked at me. “If he’s the type who would lie to you about this, then isn’t it better for you to ask and find out, than not to ask and never find out?”

  Damnit. She had me there.

  “Tell me why I’m your friend again?” I complained.

  “Because you need someone to hand you a dose of reality from time to time, to save your neurotic ass from yourself,” she tossed back without missing a beat.

  Later that day, when Trig showed up for his therapy appointment, Vanessa made herself conspicuously present, much to my irritation.

  “Hey, there beautiful,” he murmured to me as he walked in, dipping his head low
so that his breath tickled the sensitive skin behind my ear.

  “Sshhh, someone will hear you,” I hissed, pushing him away as I felt my face flush.

  Luckily, Adele was on the phone and didn’t notice anything, but Vanessa waltzed right up to the two of us with a grin on her face like the cat that ate the canary.

  “Hello, Mr. Jackson,” she said, giving him her winningest grin. “How’re you doing? Eva tells me your therapy has been going very well.” She wiggled her eyebrows significantly.

  He grinned back at her. “Yes, indeed. Eva is exactly the therapist I needed to whip me into shape.”

  He tried to put his arm around me, but I ducked away.

  “Well, I’ve got some paperwork to do,” Vanessa said breezily. “You two have a good session, now.”

  As I watched her walk away down the hall, she mouthed “Talk to him!” behind his back.

  I glared at her and turned my attention to Trig.

  “Okay!” I said brightly. “So, how’s the leg feeling today?”

  “Leg’s fine,” he growled under his breath. “Other parts of my body could use some attention, though.”

  I risked a quick grin at him. “Just what are you proposing, sir?”

  “Come over to my place tonight. I’ll cook you dinner and then I’ll show you exactly what I’m proposing.” He reached down and grabbed my ass. I squealed, and then covered my mouth as I tried not to burst into laughter.

  “Actually,” I replied as I swatted him away, “Could you come over to my place instead? Zoe’s got the sniffles, and I don’t want to leave her for the evening. I think she might have picked up what Mrs. Hayes had.”

  “Sure thing.” He nodded. “You want me to pick up some pizza or something, so you don’t have to cook?”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll make something.” I looked at him regretfully. “I’m sorry to do make you come over to my place. I know you’d probably prefer to be alone.”

  “It’s no big deal at all, Eva. You’re a package deal,” he said simply. “Zoe’s part of that package. And I like her. She cracks me up.” He gave me a sly grin. “Besides, making out with you on the couch is hot.”

  “Well, maybe… we could risk taking it into my bedroom tonight. If we’re quiet.”

  “If we’re quiet?” he protested. “Honey, you’re the screamer in this relationship.”

  I froze for a moment. Relationship. Are we in a relationship? I didn’t know. Did I want to be?

  Did he?

  I pushed the thought away.

  “I can be quiet. Just you wait. You won’t hear a single peep out of me.” I tossed my head defiantly.

  “Challenge accepted,” he chuckled.

  As I led him through his exercises, my mind kept wandering back to the word he had used.

  Relationship.

  We had seen each other every night since the first time we’d had sex. He got along great with Zoe. I was pretty sure he wasn’t seeing anyone else — hell, he’d hardly had time to.

  In many ways, what I had with Trig was exactly what I would have imagined if someone had asked me to describe my ideal relationship. The fact that he was a tattooed biker notwithstanding, he was pretty much perfect.

  And that was just the problem.

  Wasn’t he too good to be true?

  17

  Trig

  It turned out that Eva’s last patient of the day canceled on her, so she was done earlier than usual. As it happened, I had been her second-to-last patient, so I was there when she found out she was free.

  Never being a man to pass up a golden opportunity, I suggested that we take a quick detour to my place before it was time for her to go pick Zoe up from pre-K.

  My cock was practically bursting out of my jeans by the time I was halfway to the house. I watched Eva’s car behind me in my rear-view mirror and tried like hell not to speed all the way there. Once in my driveway, I threw the truck into park, strode up the walk, held the front door open for her, and had her up against a wall before she could say a word.

  “Do you know how long I’ve waited to do this to you?” I panted against her neck as I pushed her shirt up, exposing her full breasts barely contained by a lacy pink bra.

  “Uh, about sixteen hours?” she teased me, raising her arms up so I could pull the top off over her head.

  “Exactly. A fucking eternity.”

  My mouth came down on hers, my tongue insistent and probing. Her lips parted, accepting me eagerly, and she moaned softly into my mouth. Her breasts pressed against my hands as I cupped them and began to tease the nipples to hardness.

  My cock throbbed in my pants and I ached to take it out and slide it between her slick folds. I was already imagining the gasp I knew she’d make when I thrust myself inside her. I would have thought I’d get bored the more I fucked her, like I did with every other woman, but with Eva, it just got better and better. Now that I knew just how fucking good she was — what she liked, the noises she made — it just made the anticipation sweeter. I fucking craved Eva. There was no other word for it.

  “Jesus Christ, I fucking want you now,” I rasped, breaking away from the kiss.

  Lowering my hands, I reached down and cupped her ass, then pulled her to my waist and began to carry her to the bedroom. She whimpered and pressed her hot pussy against me. I knew she needed it just as badly as I did.

  I crossed the threshold to my room and tossed her on the bed. Reaching down, I grasped the bottoms of her yoga pants and grunted: “Off.”

  Eva bit her bottom lip, staring up at me, and lifted her hips. I yanked the pants off and then I was on her. I spread her legs and licked her inner thighs, nipping at her already-stiffening bud through the fabric.

  Eva threw back her head and moaned loudly, arching her hips to meet my mouth. Her panties were fucking soaked, I noted with satisfaction. I pushed them to one side and plunged my tongue deep inside her, tasting her juices and slicking them over her lips and nub with my tongue. She wasn’t going to last long, and I wasn’t going to prolong it.

  I plunged deep inside her again, and glanced up to see her reaching for her breasts, tweaking her nipples as she writhed and whispered my name. I flicked her stiff nub with my tongue once, twice, and then wrapped my lips around it and began to suck as I continued my assault. Eva’s legs widened even more as she thrust herself against my tongue, frantic. Suddenly, she stiffened, and screamed sharply as she came. I continued to lave at her softly until she gently pushed my head away.

  Making her come like that was so fucking hot it had pushed me to the end of my self-control. I stood up and ripped my T-shirt over my head, then roughly undid my jeans and kicked them aside.

  I stood in front of her, my cock at full attention and dripping pre-cum. I stood for just a moment, drinking her all in as I stroked myself.

  “Turn over,” I barked.

  Eva was still gasping from her orgasm, but she quickly got up and did as she was told. She knelt on all fours on the bed, then turned to look at me seductively through the thick curtain of her hair.

  “Fuck me, Trig,” she breathed. “Please. I need it. Now.”

  I grabbed the condom from the night stand and sheathed myself, then knelt behind her. Slicking my tip against her folds, I grunted with satisfaction as she let out a loud moan. Unable to wait any longer, I drove my cock inside of her.

  She gasped, just as I knew she would, and then her hips thrust backward, meeting me. I grabbed her by the hips, withdrew and plunged in again, groaning from the sheer agonizing sweetness of it.

  “I’m not gonna last long, babe. I need release.”

  “Take me. Oh, God, Trig, yes, that feels so good,” she moaned. Her hands gripped the sheets as I drove deep inside her, over and over. She began to pulse around me, and I knew I could make her come again. With one hand, I reached around her and began to stroke her clit, knowing instinctively just how much her sensitive nub could take.

  She angled her ass upward, taking me even deeper, and her pussy ti
ghtened around me.

  “Come for me, Eva. Come for me now…” I crooned.

  Seconds later, she bucked crazily and cried out as her orgasm shattered through her. Her pussy tightened around me, milking me, and that was all it took for me to be a goner. With a final driving thrust, I roared my release as I emptied myself deep inside her. I reached down and hugged Eva tight against me, burying my face in her hair as I shuddered.

  We stayed that way, braced against each other, as our ragged breathing slowed to normal.

  When I came back to my senses I was holding her tight, kissing her neck softly as she caressed the arms that enfolded her.

  “Jesus Christ, Eva,” I said softly. “I don’t know how you do this to me.” I wanted to say more, but I didn’t trust myself. I wanted to tell her how perfect she was, how I knew I’d never get enough of her no matter how many times I tried, how much I wanted her in my bed forever.

  Forever.

  I could barely admit it even to myself, much less her. But Eva Van Buren had me thinking about forever. About what it would be like — how fucking amazing it would be — to make love to her body when I’d known her for ten years. Or twenty.

  It scared the fuck out of me.

  But I’d also never wanted anything so badly in my life.

  A few minutes later, Eva leaned back and kissed me softly. “I need to go get Zoe,” she whispered.

  “Gotcha.”

  Pulling out as gently as I could, I held onto the condom and knotted it discreetly as Eva crawled off the bed.

  We got dressed in silence, but it was a comfortable silence. Easy.

  “When do you want me to stop over?” I asked her.

  “You can come whenever you want. Now, if you’d like.”

  I looked over at the clock on the nightstand. It was a little after three. “I’ll give you a half an hour head start so you can go grab Zoe at pre-K.”

  I grabbed my jeans and pulled them on, watching as she ran her fingers through her hair to put some semblance of order into it.

  “Eva,” I said, my voice hoarse with emotion.