“Oh! Right, um. You don’t have to. I was actually going to run home to shower and change.” I gesture to the company van.
"Perfect. We can give you a ride." Beast suggests. Piston nods in agreement.
"No, I couldn't?—"
"Why not?" Zero asks. “We're already here."
"But—"
“Happy to help with the shower, too if you need a hand. Last night was good practice.” Piston winks.
“I need to come back here, though.”
Beast shrugs. “No problem.”
I swap my glare back and forth between the three of them. “I can make it home on my own, you know.”
“I’m sure you can.” Zero says. The other two nod. Nobody moves.
Tick, tick, tick. I can hear the clock slowly running out on my secret. The moment they see where I live, they’re going to know I’m connected to the club. But maybe that’s a good thing. If they keep insisting on showing up it won’t stay hidden for long, anyway, and once everything is out in the open, I won’t even have to remind myself why getting mixed up with them is a bad idea. My sister will do it for me.
"Fine. If you insist." I dash inside and put back the key. “Carl! I’m getting a ride home so the van’s still out front,” I yell throughthe door into the back. He yells back something that sounds vaguely affirmative.
All three are near their bikes when I get back outside. I don’t remember which guy was riding which bike when they showed up. I’ve always loved how motorcycles seem to reflect their riders, so I try to guess which bike matches which man. The first is sleek and black, with blood red detailing that spirals into a zero on the tank. That’s easy. Zero. The other two are harder. There’s a heavier model, chunky and deep blue with chrome trim that looks custom, and an older one, army green. It’s a workhorse built to last, not for show. I’m going to guess Piston on blue and Beast on green.
"Who am I riding with? I’m not going to have to worry about someone getting jealous about me riding bitch, am I?" I can't help the quirk of my lips when they eye me, suddenly suspicious.
"If you know enough to ask, don’t piss me off by thinking we’d pull shit like that." Beast throws his long leg over the green motorcycle. Yes! One down.
I shrug. "Hey, I’m a girl’s girl. It’s always good to check."
Zero chuckles. "Smartass." He gets onto the black one. Two out of three then, which means I guessed right. There's just a little pride at having figured out their styles so fast.
Piston throws a leg over the blue bike. "We’re all free agents, baby. You need a ride, we'll give you a fucking ride. Mount up." He pats the seat behind him.
It’s been a while since I’ve been on a bike, and even longer since I’ve been on one with a guy that made me very aware of how intimate it can feel. I swing into position behind Piston, my thighs spread on the outside of his. I wrap my arms aroundhis chest, pressing myself up against the Screaming Eagles MC patch on his back. The leather is warm from the sun, and it smells like open roads and freedom.
“You set?” he asks.
“Fire her up.”
I feel more than hear his laughter, and when he starts the bike, the rumble of it seems to erase all the little pockets of air between our bodies, shifting me even closer. My heart is pounding, and I can’t stop the smile stretching my lips any more than I can stop feeling how solid his abs are under my hands. I know there’s no way it’s going to work out, but getting some help in the shower is sounding like more and more of a great idea.
"Where we going, pretty lady?" he asks over his shoulder as Beast and Zero pull up on either side of us.
I point towards home, and the motorcycle roars. He waits for me to get a solid grip, then releases the break and we launch out of the parking lot like lions chasing down prey. My heart drops into my stomach and adrenaline flares as my body's initial panic response fires off. God, this is amazing. I let out a thrilled whoop that's carried away by the roaring wind before I can even hear it.
Whenever there's a turn, I tap Piston and gesture with hand signals. He turns dutifully, followed by our honor guard of Beast and Zero. I'm tempted to just guide them all over the city just so I can keep enjoying the sensation of him and his bike and the wind in my hair, but this can’t last forever. I can’t leave Carl to handle everything all day. Luckily, while Travis can be kind of an ass sometimes, he doesn't care too much about who is there when, as long as there's coverage and the dogs are taken care of.
When I point out the last turn, down the street towards Natalie's building, I see them glance at each other. Maybe they haven’t been here before, but I doubt it. The club owns two side by side buildings here. Faith, their president’s daughter and old lady to Alpha, Ripper and Blade, runs a bookstore out of one, and a couple years ago Natalie expanded her bakery out of the bookstore and into the other. Both families live in apartments over their respective businesses. The Screaming Eagles might be a large MC, but we’re in South Side and six members live here. They’ve probably been by at least once.
And I'm right, because I don’t even have to tell them where to park, and I get some very suspicious looks as I climb off.
Animal, one of Natalie’s men, opens the door to the bakery and leans in the opening. "What the fuck, Sandra? Did something happen?"
“Yeah, what the fuck?” Zero asks, and I see the same question reflected in Beast’s confused expression.
“Everything’s fine.” I give Piston one last squeeze before dismounting. “Did you save me cookies?”
