RAW: THE ULTIMATE MC COLLECTION

by Palomino, Honey

  She began to open it, but I stopped her.

  “That’s for your eyes only, babe. For security. It’s one of the rules of Solid Ground. Only you know your new identity.”

  “Oh,” she said sadly.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, peering into her eyes, trying to ignore the urge to shuffle her off to my room and pick up where we left off this morning.

  “I don’t know,” she replied, shaking her head. “I’ll go pack, I guess.”

  “Okay, babe, we’ll ride out in a few hours,” I replied, as she walked sullenly back into the clubhouse. I followed her in, and Grace and Ryder confronted me as soon as Lacey was out of sight.

  “Couldn’t keep it in your pants, huh, Romeo?” Ryder asked.

  “Not a good idea, Riot!” Grace said.

  “What?” Fuck, this was the last thing I needed. Grief from these two. “It’s nothing.”

  “Oh, yeah? Well, then that’s even worse,” Grace said, her voice rising in anger.

  “No! That’s not what I meant,” I protested. “Look, it’s not what you think. I’m not just using her or something. Fuck, give me a break!”

  “Look, Lacey needs to be thinking about her future, and starting a whole new life. She doesn’t need to get mixed up in your life.”

  “My life?” I exclaimed. “I don’t really have much of one, if you hadn’t noticed.”

  “Look, man, just keep it together. She’ll be starting a new life soon. Your job is to protect her until she gets there.”

  “Yeah, I got it,” I replied gruffly.

  “You got your piece?” Ryder asked, as he slid a box of bullets across the kitchen table at me.

  “Yeah,” I replied, the weight of the gun tucked in my waistband a constant reminder that I was never without my backup protection. My fists were always my first line of defense. I grabbed the bullets, and walked back outside.

  I didn’t want to hear their shit, as much as I knew what they were saying was true. Every step Lacey and I made was designed to get her farther and farther away from me, and now that I had a taste of her, I just wanted to bring her as close to me as possible.

  How was I ever going to let her go now that I found her? Nobody had ever made me feel like that in bed before. Hell, nobody had ever made me feel anything in bed at all. There was something real, something basic, some intuitive need between Lacey and I that demanded to be acknowledged. And as much as I wanted to resist it, I couldn’t help but embrace it.

  The fact that she wasn’t mine? That the last thing she needed was a man, this man, in her life? Those facts just kept getting pushed to the back of my mind, until the moment came when I had to say goodbye, when I could deny them no longer.

  Grace and Ryder left moments later.

  “Lacey’s resting. How about you let her get some sleep, Casanova?” Grace said, smiling as she and Ryder walked hand in hand back to their cabin.

  Hours passed as I waited on the porch for the sun to go down. It seemed like forever, and the moments inched by, an excruciating reminder that I was that much closer to that final goodbye I knew I would have to eventually say to Lacey.

  As if to remind me that that time wasn’t here just yet, Lacey walked out of the clubhouse, the fading sunlight shining through her flimsy white shirt as the light breeze made it dance around her body. She was stunning.

  I swallowed hard, images of her moaning, writhing body dancing uncontrollably through my head, tempting me to turn her around and lead her back to bed.

  But, I didn’t.

  No, I went against every instinct I had. I didn’t touch her, I didn’t kiss her, I didn’t make love to her like a starving man. I handed her a leather jacket and a helmet.

  “You ready?”

  “Yep,” she replied, putting her backpack down and placing the helmet over her black curls.

  “Can you um…help me?” Lacey asked, turning to me, the straps of her helmet outstretched.

  “Sure.” I lifted her chin, and fitted the clasps together, adjusting the length of the strap until it was tightly holding the helmet to her head. I looked into her eyes, turning away when I saw the questions in her eyes.

  I had all the same questions, and not one fucking answer for her.

  “Everything’s going to be okay, darlin’, don’t worry,” I whispered.

  She half-grinned, and we mounted the bike. We rode off down the dirt road, the clubhouse fading from view behind us.

  We were about an hour down the road, just getting into Portland, when Lacey tapped me on the back. I turned my head and she yelled at me.

  “Gotta pee!” she yelled. I nodded to her and she wrapped her hands and thighs around me again, tightening her grip on my body as we thundered through the tunnel that led into the southwest part of the city.

  I stopped at the first diner I found.

  “Thank you!” Lacey said, as she took off her helmet.

  “You hungry?” I asked. She nodded and ran into the diner quickly. I laughed.

  “I’ll get us a table,” I said to her back. I took a minute to walk around the parking lot, stretching my legs and hands. Riding for a long time took a toll on your body, and the older I got, the more it hurt.

  The diner shared a parking lot with a motel, and it was filled with empty cars. The streets were streaming with occupied ones. I hated coming into the city these days. I had once loved it, loved the electric vibrance of it all, but not anymore. Now, I preferred staying at the clubhouse as much as I could. Being alone was comfortable for me. And those secluded woods provided me with a sense of peace that I craved, even if it was within the chaotic setting of the clubhouse.

  Aches, pains, and the need for serenity. I was starting to sound like a very old man.

  I walked in to the diner and the hostess led me to a table in the back. When Lacey found me, I was looking out the window, a million miles away.

  “Feel better?” I asked.

  “Yes, tons. Sorry, I should have gone before I left.”

  “That’s okay. Gives us a chance to grab a bite before we get there. The Eugene Gods don’t have any women like Grace or Cherry to keep the fridge stocked.”

  “Oh,” she replied, her face falling again.

  “You don’t want to go,” I said.

  “Well…I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m not grateful. And I know I screwed this whole thing up and that’s why I have to leave. I know it’s all my fault. But I - I - I…well, I was just getting comfortable at your clubhouse,” she added, shyly.

  I laughed out loud, much louder than I intended to.

  “You definitely looked comfortable this morning when I left you sleeping in my bed,” I replied.

  “Yes,” she said, her eyes shifting down. “I did.”

  “Hey.”

  “Hey,” I repeated, when she wouldn’t meet my eyes. She raised them finally, and I smiled at her. “It’s all going to be okay, babe, I promise.”

  I was lying through my teeth. What the hell did I know?

  “I hope you’re right,” she replied, her voice shaking. She had tears in her eyes, and I was reminded once again how frightened she must be.

  “The Eugene Gods are just fine, don’t worry. And I won’t leave you alone for a minute. You’re safe with me.”

  “Thank you, Riot. But what about afterwards?”

  “After what?”

  “After I leave, to start my new life…” Her eyes fell to the table, and all the questions I saw there earlier came back.

  I sighed.

  “I don’t know, babe. But what I do know is that Grace is great at her job. She wouldn’t be sending you anywhere that wasn’t safe.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she replied, quietly.

  “What then?”

  “I meant…well, us…oh, nevermind.”

  “Us?” I asked.

  “Look, I get it, there’s no ‘us’. I shouldn’t have said that.” Tears fell down her cheeks.

  “Oh, hey, don’t do that�
�” I dabbed at her cheeks with a napkin, and grabbed her hand.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “You have nothing to apologize for. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, though. We’ll figure something out. Maybe Grace will let us bend the rules a little, and we can stay in contact."

  I knew that wasn’t likely, but what was I going to tell her?

  She perked up a little, though, and we ate slowly, taking our time before we had to get back on the road. Before we knew it, it was after ten and the diner was closing.

  Hand in hand, we walked back to the bike.

  I saw the puddle next to my bike right away. My heart pounded as I scanned the parking lot and pulled the gun from my waistband, all at the same time that I pushed Lacey behind me.

  “Get back!” I commanded.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Someone fucked with my bike,” I said, as I pointed to the puddle at my feet. There was not a soul in sight, and the few parked cars in the lot were empty. I put my gun away, and leaned down, poking a finger in the puddle, and smelling it.

  “Brake fluid. Fuck! They cut my lines.”

  “Who would do that?” she asked, her voice shaking in fear.

  “Someone who didn’t want us to leave.”

  “What do we do now?” she asked.

  “Well, that’s a good question.” I wouldn’t be able to get replacement parts until tomorrow. I could call the Gods to come get us, but the last thing we needed to do was return to the clubhouse. I eyed the motel, and once again, my head was filled with images of Lacey splayed out in front of me, her warm, inviting body just begging me to devour it.

  “Let’s get a room.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Lacey

  I woke up the next morning starving.

  After talking to Ryder on the phone, we had decided to stay put for the night, but not after much convincing on Riot’s part. Ryder wanted to come get us, but Riot convinced him to let us stay and get the bike fixed this morning.

  We spent the entire night making love. I was beginning to think he had sold his soul to the devil for that amazingly skillful mouth. I had never come so hard in my life, and with every kiss, every lick, every stroke of his tongue, he took me to places I had never even imagined existed.

  My body melted under his assault, submitting to him completely, letting him show me everything I had been missing in that tiny hotel room. He insisted all night that I tell him everything I liked, and didn’t like.

  They almost didn’t let us get a room, and I was convinced my loud moaning would get us kicked out. Neither one of us had a credit card. But apparently, my pleading and Riot’s flexing, convinced the clerk to show us a little mercy.

  By the time the sun woke me up, Riot was passed out next to me, his face scrunched up on the pillow next to me, drooling. It was so fucking adorable, there was no way in hell I was going to disturb him.

  I delicately removed myself from the bed, making sure not to wake him. I dressed quietly, grabbed the hotel key, a twenty from Riot’s wallet on the dresser, and walked out into the blazing sunshine, after scribbling a note for him to let him know where I was going.

  The diner was dead at this early hour, and I sat at the breakfast counter while I waited for our order. My body was on fire, my flesh deliciously swollen, the soreness a constant reminder of Riot’s touch.

  It was obvious that the feelings I had for Riot were mutual. Monty’s men had never been like that with me. Riot gripped onto me like he never intended to let go. He kissed me and fucked me like my pleasure was the only thing in the world that mattered to him.

  And holy fuck did he know to please me. It was like someone gave him a blueprint to my body, and then handed him the only key.

  By the time he was done with me, my skin was singing, begging for more of his sweet melody.

  My stomach growled, teaching me something new this morning - voracious sex made one very hungry! I had never experienced this before, but apparently, it was very true. And if I was this hungry, then I knew Riot, who had done almost all of the ‘work’ last night, must be famished.

  My order came up, and I paid for it and walked back out into the sunshine. Since it was early, there were only a few cars parked. I was crossing the lot, heading back to the motel, bags of hot food in my hand, when I heard a car door open behind me.

  I turned to see two very large men emerge from the car, and begin walking towards me. I picked up my pace, and pulled the hotel key from the pocket of my jeans. Stupidly, I had left my cell phone in the room. The men continued to follow me, and I started running. They began chasing me, and I dropped the food, breaking into a sprint across the lot as the skin on the back of my neck stood up.

  I was almost to the door that led into our room, and I began panting, running as fast as I could now to escape them. My foot caught on the curb as I tried to jump up to the sidewalk, and I landed right on my face. Quickly, I jumped back up to my feet, but it was too late.

  They towered over me, and I looked up straight into the barrel of a gun.

  I took a deep breath, and yelled as loud as I possibly could.

  “RIOT!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Riot

  I heard Lacey’s cry before my eyes opened. I bolted out of bed, naked and panicked, looking around the room.

  She wasn’t here.

  I barreled through the door of the motel, just in time to see a black sedan peeling out of the parking lot, Lacey struggling in the backseat, and her screams echoing in my ears.

  I hopped on my bike, for a split second forgetting that I was naked, my bike was broken, and that I didn’t even have the fucking keys, but reality quickly came crashing down on me.

  “Lacey!” I jumped off, screaming, running after the car. It was no use. By the time I got around the corner, it was gone.

  “Motherfucker!” I yelled, my fists pumping the air. Never in my life have I wanted to hit something so badly.

  What the fuck just happened?

  What the fuck was I going to do now?!

  I looked around the parking lot frantically, searching for some solution. Unless I stole a car, I had no other options.

  I had to call Ryder.

  I began running back to my room, when I heard a soft voice call to me.

  “Hey, you’re Riot, right?” I turned to see the perky blonde reporter from the news the other day. She stood by the ice machine, quietly staring at me, alone and a complete contrast to my panicked state.

  “You’re that fucking reporter!” I sneered.

  She walked up to me slowly, her eyes glued to my naked body.

  “I’m Diana Trudeau, KATU News,” she closed the distance between us, and held out her card. I stared it blankly.

  “I don’t have time for your shit,” I said, turning to go back to my room.

  “Sir, please? If I could have just a minute of your time?”

  “Fuck off!” I growled, my blood boiling in my veins.

  “I can help you!”

  “How do you know my name?” I snarled.

  “I - I’ve been following you! Well, sort of. I know your name, because I just heard that woman yell it before they put her in the car. And I saw you together last night. In the diner.”

  I turned to look at her, and thundered back to her.

  “What are you fucking talking about? Are you the one that cut my fucking brake line?”

  “No! Like I said, I - I - I’ve been following you. Well, Lacey Carrington, really. But since she’s with you…well, anyway. But those men that just took her?”

  “What about them?” I asked.

  “I know where they’re staying. I think they’re Monty Patterson’s men, but I’m not sure. They’re definitely not cops. Dressed way too nice for that, you know?” she shrugged. “They’ve been following you, too. So, I guess I’ve been following all of you.”

  “You got a fucking car?” I asked, my mind
racing.

  “Yes!” she said, her voice shaking.

  “Stay here!” I said, yelling over my shoulder as I walked away. “I have to get dressed. Don’t fucking go anywhere, you hear me?”

  “Darlin’,” she replied, her eyes focused squarely on my junk, “with a package like that I - well, I’m not going anywhere.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Lacey

  They put something dark over my head as soon as the door slammed shut behind us. I screamed, wiggled, tried to push them off of me. But they were so fucking strong. One of them pressed his hand hard against my mouth, digging my tooth painfully into my lip. I tasted blood, and struggled harder.

  “We’ve got a fucking tiger on our hands here,” the man holding me grunted as he struggled to contain me.

  “Just hold on to her. We aren’t going far,” a deep voice boomed from the front seat.

  I turned and kicked, my legs flailing wildly and aimlessly, looking for flesh to make contact with. A resounding crack followed immediately by an angry grunt.

  “You bitch! That fucking hurt!” His hands gripped my arms tighter and he pushed me roughly against the seat. He shifted beside me and I felt the cold, hard steel push against my temple.

  “Try it again, bitch,” he snarled in my ear. I swallowed, and stopped moving.

  “Don’t fucking shoot her, goddammit!” His companion warned.

  “If she fucking kicks me one more time, I’m gonna off the little bitch. I don’t give one fuck. You know how I hate to be kicked!”

  “Alright, alright, shut the fuck up. We need her alive. We’re almost there.”

  “I’m not kidding, bitch,” the man beside me pressed the gun harder into my flesh to make his point. “Not a fucking muscle.”

  I struggled to regain my breath, my adrenaline shooting through my brain, the panic threatening to overwhelm me. I had to stay still. I had to find a fucking way out of this.

  What kind of stupid idiot was I? I had to leave the room without Riot. I had to go get fucking breakfast! Breakfast!

  Now, I was fucked. Riot’s bike didn’t work, thanks to these two, probably, and there was no way he would ever find me. I didn’t even know if he heard me scream. He was sound asleep when I left.