The Biker's Baby

by N. Alleman

  I gulp down the lump of fear in my throat once more—it’s no use to me at this moment. I need to focus.

  “Um…” Karen shifts in her seat, looking a little awkward.

  “Are you okay?” I ask. I don’t like seeing her this way, if she’s uncomfortable about something, then it must be bad.

  “Yeah, it’s just…” She glances over at Lucas. “I know this is a pain, but before we do anything, I have a doctor’s appointment. It’s about the baby, so I can’t really miss it.”

  “No, no, not at all! You go. This can wait awhile.” I look down at her swollen belly once more. “I still can’t believe it.”

  We exchange sad smiles before Lucas insists that they have to go if they don’t want to be late.

  Once the door closes behind them, I turn to Jake. “Do you want a drink or something to eat?”

  He ignores my question. “Why the fuck are you even considering getting the help of that prick?” he barks, bolting up to his feet, cheeks flushed with anger.

  “And why are you not angry about the fact that your sister and her boyfriend have let me take the fucking rap for something I didn’t even do?”

  “What?” I ask. What the hell is he going on about now? “You mean getting help from Ryder? I don’t know, it wasn’t my idea. I don’t know what else we can do. And as for your other question, I am mad, but at the same time, Lucas was helping my sister. If we tell the cops it was him, their kid will grow up with his father in prison.”

  “Fuck! This is bullshit.” He sighs heavily. “Fine. But I don’t want any help from that slime-ball club owner. He’ll probably turn us in at the very first opportunity.”

  “Lucas and Karen don’t think he will.” I keep my voice calm and considered. “If they trust him, then we need to as well. We don’t have any other choice. Do you want to be on the run forever? Do you want to potentially end up in jail?”

  “For something that another guy’s letting me take the heat for? Sure I do!”

  His sarcasm cuts me like a knife then he shows me his back, as if he can’t even bear to look at me anymore.

  I get that he’s mad, but Ryder might be able to help us.

  Is Jake really willing to risk everything because he’s jealous? That’s insane. I don’t have any feelings for Ryder at all. Even if I’d gone into that club having never met Jake, I wouldn’t have any feelings for him.

  But how do I articulate that without accusing him of overreacting? I don’t imagine that would go down well. Jake sees red, explodes, and then calms down. There’s no point in poking the beast whilst he’s in a rage. I need to let him figure out his issues on his own.

  The next thing I know he’s practically on top of me.

  I open my mouth, ready for another screaming match, prepared to shut down all of his jealous accusations.

  But instead of yelling at me, his mouth crushes against mine.

  I’m consumed by the angry, passionate kisses he showers all over me, stunning me into silence.

  19

  Daisy

  “Jake?”

  I consider stepping back to assess what the hell is going on, but something stops me. Despite my anger at him, I actually want this. I want to take out all of my frustration in this way. In fact, I couldn’t even begin to imagine a better way.

  “Are you trying to push me away?” Jake says with a smirk, unbuttoning my jeans and pushing a finger inside my panties. He curls his finger, stroking my little button.

  My body jerks with pleasure, and instead of continuing my fight against this, I push his hand further, forcing him to finger-fuck me harder as the pad of his thumb draws slow circles on my clit. I want more. More from him than I’ve ever gotten from anyone before.

  Another finger slips in, then another, and I’m so wet that I can’t take it. The rage is still there, burning away, but it’s becoming a fiery passion instead.

  Jake’s throbbing erection presses against my leg. It’s struggling to break free from its material prison, and I desperately want his clothes gone now.

  I’m dying to feel him inside me. I want him to fuck me again and again, harder and harder, until all of these crazy emotions disappear, until there’s nothing left but each other.

  “No,” I finally reply, just as he pulls away from me. “I want more of you.”

  “I bet you do, you bad girl,” Jake growls, stripping off his pants.

  I feel the need to tell him something. I don’t know why this feels like the opportune moment, but it just does. “No, I’m not. I’m not really a bad girl. I’m normally a good girl—you make me want to be bad.”

  “Oh god, baby. You don’t know what that does to me,” he says, breathless at my revelation.

  I cup his face in my hands. “Ruin me again,” I whisper before kissing him hard.

  He responds vigorously, ripping off all my clothes in what feels like a second.

  Again, I’m naked and exposed. And I love it.

  “Turn around,” Jake whispers in my ear. “I want your back to me.”

  I happily comply, eager to feel him in whatever angle will give me the most of his length, and he glides a hand over my shoulder blades while stroking me between my legs with the other.

  I exhale short, sharp breaths. The anticipation is making me crazy.

  “Stop screwing around, Jake. Fuck me already.”

  He lets out a low groan at this request. “Yes, ma’am.”

  His body crashes down on mine. The feel of his hot skin against mine sends shivers of desire through my entire body. When his cock finally launches into me, I screech with a carnal satisfaction that surprises me.

  Arching my back, I scream his name as he thrusts deep inside me. “Jake! Oh god!”

  The more I respond, the harder and faster he fucks me.

  Soon I’m grabbing the table in front of me and holding on to it for dear life. If I let my grip slip I might fall, and I don’t want that to happen.

  His long, deep strokes feel so fucking good that I don’t want it to end. I need him so badly.

  His fingers work their way around, and he expertly rubs on my clit. Oh, god, this just got a thousand times better.

  “You’ve wrecked me,” Jake announces in a gravelly whisper, his hips working even harder. “No one’s ever made me feel the way you do.”

  Warmth spreads from my core into my extremities. The pleasure is already starting to fill me up, and I absolutely cannot have this conversation right now.

  “Uh-huh,” I reply, hoping that he gets the hint.

  He grabs my hair, tugging my head slightly backward. “You’re mine. All mine. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” I gasp, the orgasm creeping up my legs. Any minute now. Any second.

  “You belong to me. And you will not go off into some other guy’s office without me again, do you understand?”

  His possessive rant turns me on even more. At that moment, I’d do anything for him, even walk through a burning fire pit, as long as he keeps fucking me like this.

  “Yes.” Ecstasy pulses through me, and I’m utterly helpless. “Yes, god, Jake. Yes!”

  “Good,” Jake says before grunting and spilling his seed inside me.

  We collapse on the floor, exhausted. Jake wraps his arms around me as we pant breathlessly. We lie there in silence for a few moments, quietly recovering. I never knew angry sex was so good for getting rid of anger.

  The fact that it did as much for him as it did for me makes me feel like I can do anything. I love turning Jake on like that, and the fact that I could do it even while we were in the middle of a stupid argument is even better.

  He finally turns to face me. “I meant what I said, you know.”

  It takes me a few seconds to work my way through the blissful haze to understand what he means.

  “I’m yours,” I say, nodding my agreement. I guess this is his way of asking me to be his girlfriend, and I’m more than ready for that. I know exactly how I feel.

  “And if we have to go
back to the strip club, you’re not going to see Ryder alone.”

  “I don’t want to anyway,” I reply, grinning brightly. “I don’t ever want to be anywhere without you again.”

  We lie there for a while, just enjoying being with each other. At this moment, it’s all we need.

  Reality be damned.

  20

  Jake

  After an especially delicious romp with Daisy and a sandwich, I’m feeling like my usual arrogant self.

  We strut through the doors of the strip club—a bouncer, a pregnant stripper, the girl who auditioned this morning and a wanted man— we’re a motley-looking crew—but I don’t give a shit. Let everyone stare if that’s what they want to do.

  If this is the route we have to take to end this whole fucking mess, we may as well get it over with.

  I start to ask how we’re going to get access to Ryder this time, but Karen is already on it.

  She pushes past everyone and opens the door Daisy vanished behind only a few hours ago. She seems like the type of person who doesn’t mess around.

  Daisy tightly grips my hand, taking the words I spoke before seriously. She’s mine, and she knows it. I don’t think she’d do anything to mess that up. Then again, neither would I.

  By the time the rest of us reach Ryder’s office, Karen is already inside talking to him. I can tell from her voice that she’s crying.

  “…it’s all a big mess, we just don’t know what to do.”

  “Okay, don’t worry, Karen. I’ll sort it. You know I look after my girls.”

  Ryder’s face is unexpectedly sincere. Maybe we really can trust him.

  “Sorry to drag you into this, boss,” Lucas says, joining the conversation. “And I’ll understand if you have to fire me now. Obviously, I love my job, and I don’t want to lose it, but if you’re worried I get it.”

  “No,” Ryder interrupts firmly. “I need you here, Lucas. I know why you did what you did, and I know it was an accident. No, losing you from my business is not the solution here. I’ll think of one.”

  “Thank you,” Karen says, her voice barely above a whisper.

  I glance down at Daisy, who’s smiling at me too. She thinks this is all over now, and that Ryder can magically make it all go away. But there’s a gnawing sensation inside of me, telling me that it won’t be quite that simple.

  There’s got to be a catch.

  “So, Jake, is it?” Ryder’s focus turns to me.

  I stand tall and puff my chest out. This guy needs to know I’m a force to be reckoned with.

  I won’t be fucked about, not by someone like him.

  “Yep,” I snap, emphasizing the p.

  “The mysterious man who’s been blamed for the murder.”

  I nod, not sure where he’s going with all of this.

  He stands, moving out from behind his desk. There’s a light shining behind his eyes that suggests he has an idea. Something tells me I’m not going to like this.

  “Really, you are the one who has the most to lose from all of this.”

  “I guess you could say that,” I reply stiffly. “Unless Lucas turns himself in.”

  “Yes, but you’re the one the police are after. If they catch you, they’ll lock you away no questions asked. I’m sure there’s enough evidence to convict you, even if you are innocent. After all, they wouldn’t have launched a nationwide manhunt for you if not. It’s never a good idea to release incorrect information to the media…”

  “All right, I get what you’re saying,” I say. “Get to the point, for fuck’s sake!”

  He grins, knowing he has me exactly where he wants me.

  “I don’t owe you anything. However, I do want to protect Lucas and Karen. I’d even like to look after sweet little Daisy.”

  Rage bubbles in the pit of my stomach. I know he’s doing this to antagonize me. I’d love to be completely unmoved by his attempt, but I can’t help but be rattled. This is total bullshit.

  I never committed the fucking crime, yet I’m still paying for it.

  And I feel like Ryder’s about to take his jealousy out on me. First, he couldn’t get Karen, he lost Lucas, and now, Daisy’s off limits too.

  “So…” Ryder moves his body much closer to mine, trying to intimidate me. “I’m going to need something from you, if you want me to help you out of your predicament.”

  I don’t respond.

  I remain still and silent. He doesn’t need an answer right now, but he knows I have no choice, because I wouldn’t be here otherwise.

  His eyes flick suggestively toward Daisy, and I completely lose my shit.

  “What the fuck?” I say, yanking my hand from hers and balling it into a fist. If I have to pound this guy into the ground to show him what a fucking crazy idea that is, I will. I don’t even give a shit if I have to go to jail for it.

  “How fucking dare you. As if you think I’d even consider that option. You really are a piece of work.”

  Just as I raise my fist up, the red mist descending, he shocks me by booming out with laughter.

  “Oh, Jake.” He shakes his head in amusement. If I wasn’t so confused right now, I’d be beating on him hard.

  “You’re hilarious. No, of course, I don’t want Daisy. You think I can’t get my own girls? Plus, I respect that she’s yours. I don’t want to poach your girl.”

  He holds his hand to his chest in a mock offended gesture, as if I’m supposed to believe that a connected guy like him isn’t against the practice of theft.

  “No, what I want is you,” he continues.

  “Huh?” Oh god, this guy isn’t hitting on me, is he? That really would be fucked up.

  “I want you to work for me.”

  This can’t be good, but I’m not sure yet what’s the catch. “Like Lucas does? As a bouncer?”

  I consider that option for a moment. Working as a strip club bouncer to save myself from going to jail. No, that option seems too good to be true.

  “Sort of. I think the details of this should be discussed in private, don’t you?”

  The way he looks at me gives me no choice but to nod in agreement. Clearly, the work he wants me to do is for my ears only.

  “No, I…” Daisy starts, but I shoot her a look to silence her.

  Sure, it’s hypocritical—after all, I insisted that she couldn’t see Ryder alone, but I’m trying to protect her.

  Karen is the one who got involved with Manny in the first place.

  I’m the one who decided that it was a good idea to beat the shit out of him, which made the cops believe I killed him, and Lucas is the one who accidentally killed him. The three of us are all involved.

  Daisy isn’t.

  She’s only guilty by association. I’ve already put her in enough danger, and if there’s something I can do to protect her, I will.

  Because even though I’ve only known her for a short time, she already means the world to me.

  “Just wait outside. It will only take a few minutes.” I kiss her lightly on the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair before ushering her toward the door.

  “Thank you, Ryder. I really appreciate it,” Karen says. She pauses for a second, looking thoughtful. “Just be nice, okay?”

  Ryder laughs. “Of course. Am I ever anything else?” The look Karen gives him makes him laugh. “I’ll see you soon. Look after yourself.”

  As soon as the door slams behind the three of them, Ryder turns to face me.

  “Right,” he says, grinning brightly as if he’s just won the lottery. “Let’s get down to business…”

  21

  Daisy

  I can’t sit still, and I don’t know how the hell Karen and Lucas are so damn calm. They’re so relaxed, casually sipping their drinks as if they haven’t a care in the world. Don’t they realize that their lives are hanging in the balance too?

  “Will you just sit still, Daisy?” Karen hisses at me. “We’re not supposed to be calling attention to ourselves.”

>   “Oh yeah, because we totally fit in here!” I say, indicating to our bizarre surroundings. “Just two girls—one of them knocked up—watching a strip show with a bouncer. Completely normal.”

  “If you weren’t acting so crazy, you’d see that it’s not so strange!”

  I try to calm my racing heart. Chill out, I think, but it gets me nowhere. Whatever Karen says, I don’t think I’m overreacting at all.

  “What’s Ryder doing in there?” I finally ask. “Why couldn’t we stay? I can’t stand this.”

  “Ryder knows what he’s doing. He’s the only person in the damn world who could get us out of this. You need to trust him. Or, at least trust me. Plus, Jake is a grown-ass man. He can look after himself. You need to stop worrying. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”

  I shoot my sister a nasty look. Most of the worrying that I’ve been doing over the past few months has been over her. She has no right to tell me how to feel now, especially seeing as it was her boyfriend who inadvertently got Jake into this mess.

  I can’t tear my eyes away from the door as I wait impatiently for Jake to show his face. Then I’ll be able to tell right away how bad things are.

  “I’m just scared, that’s all,” I mutter under my breath.

  “You really care about him, don’t you?” Karen asks. “I mean, I already guessed that he was more than just a friend. But it sounds like it runs deeper than that. Do you love him?”

  “Love him? Of course not. I haven’t known him long enough to love him.” I’m so defensive that it’s almost as if I’m trying to convince myself. “He’s great, but…”

  Before I get to continue that sentence, Jake swaggers into sight.

  “Jake!” I cry, jumping from my seat. I don’t even care that people are probably staring. None of them matter to me. Only he does.

  I grab him and pull him closer to me, as if I’m about to kiss him. Only I don’t, I whisper in his ear instead. “Is everything all right?”

  He nods mutely.