Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
MARLEY
“God, it’s so fucking hot. How the fuck do you people wear all these heavy biker leathers in this heat?” Sloane says before the sound of her camera shuttering follows suit. “I think I would rather die. Or even be run over by one of your bikes.”
I laugh as I pose against my Ducati. I kept my helmet on, desperate to show off the pink devil horns it sports, but I disconnected the Bluetooth to talk to her easier.
“It’s not that bad, actually. But these are specific summer-based leathers.
Or perforated leathers, if you want the technical term. ”
Her head twists to the side. “Perforated?”
My lips smack as I think. “Um. Jackets with vents. Or holes?”
A man sneaks up behind Sloane, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her belly. Maddox chuckles beside me as she melts into him, moaning loudly as the weight is taken off her. The man speaks roughly. “Someone mentioned holes? I like holes. Specifically hers, though.”
Sloane smacks his shoulder roughly before blowing some of the white wisps of her hair out in a dramatic breath. “Shut up, Rhodes.”
Another man walks forward with a faux grumpy expression on his face. “Don’t talk about my wife’s holes.”
Rhodes turns toward him, slowly lowering Sloane’s belly back down. “Would you prefer I talk about yours?”
The sound of Sloane smacking her forehead roughly really makes me giggle. “Would you two go away so I can work?”
Another woman comes out from who-knows-where and smirks at the men before reaching up on her tiptoes, pinching their ears, and all but dragging them away. They both groan and squeak, as she says, “Leave our girl alone. Asher is being a good boy and talking to bikers. Go join him, dogs.”
Once again, I thank God that my face is hidden behind my helmet because my mouth drops open in shock at her words. Somehow, she’s scarier than the two heavily tattooed, muscular men… and I kinda want to be her friend.
Maddox whistles slowly. “You got your hands full, woman.”
Sloane groans. “Tell me about it. And they’ve already talked about making me pregnant again when I haven’t even had this one yet! I’m doomed.”
It’s my turn to whistle. “Can’t say I envy you there. Respectfully.”
She laughs. “Girl, I don’t envy myself. But… I love all of them so fucking much. It’s worth it.”
I turn to Maddox and smile beneath my helmet. He turns to me, and while I can’t see his facial expression, I simply know he’s smiling back at me.
That, we do understand.
Sloane’s camera makes a few more shuttering sounds before she speaks again. “Alright, friends. I believe our time is up for the solo shots. Just the race now, right? Unless y’all want some others?”
I mull it over for a moment before I turn to find Zander watching us in the crowd of bikers, ever the pessimistic introvert. He’d rather watch his friends have fun than join or talk to those around him. But I can’t find it in me to leave him out, ever.
I turn back to Maddox. “Think we could get a couple shots of Zander backpacking? We may never get the opportunity again.”
Maddox turns toward Zander without another word to us, and Sloane and I both laugh as we watch Zander’s face somehow light up and drop all at the exact same time.
Mere minutes pass before Zander walks past us, helmet in hand, as he frowns at me. “Are you trying to be a nuisance today? What have I ever done to you?”
Before he can blink, I run at him and jump on his back, wrapping my legs around him. He grunts as his arms go to hold my legs, and Maddox miraculously catches his helmet before it hits the ground.
Sloane’s camera starts up again, her laugh filling the air, as Maddox turns back to her and poses along with us.
I whisper as loud as I can for Zander to hear me through my helmet, but not loud enough that Maddox hears too.
I have to test my thoughts without his gaze on me initially, and this is the only way to do it.
“You love me. Probably not the first time you’ve imagined my legs around your waist, eh? ”
Zander’s grip on my legs tightens to an almost painful hold, forcing a barely audible whimper out of my throat… but he doesn’t deny it.
Instead, he only blushes at the camera in front of him.