"Go ahead. I should probably check my shoulder anyway. Luna's going to kill me for fucking on fresh stitches."
I laugh despite myself and pad naked to the small attached bathroom. After I pee and clean myself up as best I can with some toilet paper and water, there's a knock on the door.
The bedroom door, not the bathroom.
Goddamn it.
I peek out of the bathroom to see Ryan looking at me with raised eyebrows. He's still naked, still sprawled across the bed like some kind of post-sex god.
"Want me to get it?" he mouths.
I shake my head and grab a towel, wrapping it around myself before opening the door just a crack.
It's Luna.
Of fucking course it is.
She takes one look at me. Disheveled, wrapped in a towel, clearly freshly fucked, then peers past me to where Ryan is very obviously naked on the bed. Her face breaks into a huge grin.
"Well, well, well," she says, laughing. "You two didn't waste any time, did you?"
My face burns. "Luna, I—"
"Relax, honey. I'm not judging." She's still grinning. "I knew it would happen. Just didn't expect it to happen this soon. You work fast, Shadow."
"Apparently," Ryan calls from the bed, and I can hear the amusement in his voice.
Luna shakes her head, still smiling. "Anyway, I came to tell you both that everyone's downstairs. We're having a celebration. All the bikers and the women who were saved last night. Some of them will be leaving soon to go back to their families, so we want to give them a proper send-off."
"We'll be down in a few minutes," I manage.
"Take your time. But not too much time. King wants to make a speech, and you know how he gets when people are late." Luna winks at me and also hands me a pair of new clothes. "Glad you're feeling better, Rachel. And Shadow? Try not to tear your stitches again."
She leaves, and I close the door, leaning against it and groaning.
"Well, that was mortifying."
Ryan actually laughs—a real laugh, deep and genuine. "I can't believe a man with my name got caught so easily. Some fucking shadow I am."
I turn to look at him, and despite my embarrassment, I'm laughing too. "At least everyone knows now. We won't have to hide or sneak around."
"True." He stands and starts gathering his clothes. "Might as well own it."
As he pulls on his jeans, I notice him grit his teeth, his face tightening with pain.
"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.
"Shoulder still hurts a bit," he admits. "But I'll be fine. The pain was worth it." He looks at me, and there's such heat in his eyes. "I'd do it all over again for you. The ultimate prize."
This man… This damaged, deadly, surprisingly tender man, might actually mean that.
And I might actually be starting to believe him.
I get dressed in the clothes Luna brought me just now—actual jeans and a t-shirt that fit properly, thank God, and we head downstairs together. Ryan's hand finds mine as we walk, and I don't pull away.
The main room of the clubhouse is packed with people. All the Savage Riders are there and Shadow tells me all their names: King and Luna, Tank and Amelia with little Anna, Beast and Jenny, Rage and Claire with Eli, Torch and Sidney with Max. Chaos is talking with Rookie, another prospect. And scattered among them are the five other women who were rescued with me last night.
Sarah sees me first and rushes over, pulling me into a hug. "Rachel! Oh my God, I was worried when you locked yourself in that room. Are you okay?"
