Chapter 9
Iopen my eyes realizing this isn”t my bedroom. It wasn’t a dream.
Rock is sleeping on his stomach with one arm over me while the sheets are on the floor. I look at his amazing tattoos and follow the lines from his shoulder until his back. The black ink on his skin looks great. Maybe I”ll get a tattoo soon too, something mine and unique.
Sneaking out of the bed without waking him up is harder than I imagine but I have to pee so bad. Eventually I manage to move his arm and rush to the bathroom. I rinse my face and pause to look at his toothbrush. Should I use it? I put it back, spot the mouthwash, and use it. I try to brush my messy hair too, but it’s as wild as my night with him.
When I go back to the room, Rock has rolled on his back. I pause to look at him, trying to stop all the dirty thoughts that pop in my mind right now. I crawl on the bed. I’d like to straddle him but I’m not that brave, instead I snuggle near him, and he pulls me closer.
“Good morning, Princess.”
“Good morning, Zane,” I whisper, breathing in his scent. No, I can’t feel it.
His eyelids flutter open revealing his sleepy eyes. “Are you mad at me?”
“Should I be?”
“Nope.” He kisses my forehead. “I”m not used to hearing my pocket name.”
I shrug, a playful smile on my lips. “I just wanted to see how it would sound.”
“It”s weird, isn”t it?”
“I”m used to calling you Rock.” I confess, making him smile.
“Mmm, and when you call me that?” His fingers caress my ribcage before bending down and kiss me. “What time is it?”
“I think it”s seven a.m.”
He reaches for his cellphone on the bedside table and checks the hour. “Six a.m. We still have time.”
“Time for what?”
“To properly wake you up.” He rolls on top of me. “I want to take you to our Clubhouse.”
“What”s the Clubhouse?”
“It”s our second home. Where The Black Panthers go to spend time together.”
“Like your secret cave?”
He peers at me before laughing out loud. “Kind of.”
“Is it safe?” I know nothing about bikers or clubs.
“For you? Of course, baby. You”ll meet my whole family.”
What? Is he insane? “B-but I only have my pajamas,” I murmur while he kisses my shoulder.
“Bring some stuff here so you won”t miss anything.”
“A toothbrush for sure.”
“Use mine but I meant to say you should bring some clothes too.”
“Clothes? You”re assuming I”d spend some nights here.”
“I hope so,” he replies as my phone starts to ring.
“Who”s calling you so early?”
“I don”t know,” I jump out of the bed, and rush downstairs. Maybe dad?
“Hey, Raven, what”s up?”
“Morning, Miss. I came to your room, but I’ve been told you checked out last night.”
Shit!“Yeah, I got home by midnight more or less.” Lie, it was already two a.m.
“Oh, cool. Well, I want you to make me a list of songs you”d like to use for the choreographies.”
“That means I”ve qualified?” My hands start shaking as I bite my nails.
“I”m still waiting for the list; they”ll notify us this morning. However, start thinking about it and the costumes.”
My heart races in my chest and I’m so freaking excited that I can’t stay still. “Noted, I”ll do some research then.”
“Awesome, see you on Monday.” I hang up, feeling my eyes watering.
“Is everything okay, Princess?” Rock”s voice makes me spin around.
“Yeah,” I nod while hugging him.
“Baby, you”re shivering, who was on the phone?”
“Raven, my coach. She told me I need to get ready mentally for the news I”ve been waiting for since I first wore my skates.”
He cups my face and wipes my tears off. “What is, Princess?”
“My qualifications,” I whisper. I”m afraid that saying it out loud can somehow change something.
“That”s great, isn”t it?” I nod while nervously laughing. “Then why are you so emotional?”
“Because it”s the first time I try to get qualified for the Olympics, and they want just the best.”
“And you are the best, Princess.” The tenderness in his eyes hits me. “I saw you skating. I”ve never seen something more beautiful.”
“You”ve seen me? You came to the Icylight?”
“Of course, baby.” I stand on my tiptoe and kiss him.
“Do you want a coffee?”
“And some clothes,” I confess while looking at my bare feet.
“Okay, let me put a shirt on and we can go.”
I follow her closely while we get to her place, and I can”t wait for her to sit on my bike. No other woman than Caroline ever sat on it.
“Make yourself home,” Ash plants a kiss on my mouth before rushing upstairs.
Her house is fantastic in the morning light. In the living room there”s a showcase with all her medals and cups. I”m shocked at how many she won. I”m sure she”ll be qualified for the Olympics, and I love seeing her so nervous. As I scan the shelves all I see is first place and gold medals. There’s a few silver ones and I lean closer to read what’s written on them: Tokyo and Paris. Wow. I don’t understand why she’s afraid though. Yesterday’s performance to me looked superb.
When she joins me into the living room, I salivate. Those leather leggings fit her divinely and her t-shirt reveals the curves of her tits, which I love.
“I”m ready. Do I need to follow you on my bike?”
“No baby, you”ll come on mine.”
“Is that an excuse to feel my legs around you?” she teases.
“Hmmm, I don”t need an excuse to fuck you, baby.”
“Good to know.” She flashes me a smile. Ash wrapped me on her finger and she didn”t even realize it. “Would you let me ride it?”
“You can ride me all the time.”
“Your bike, Rock!” She squeaks blushing, triggering my laughter.
“Not a chance, Princess. No one but me will ride it.” She pouts and I kiss her.
“Ready to meet my family?”
“Yes,” she whispers before we leave her home. I’m not sure if she’s doing it on purpose or if she never rode as a passenger. But seeing her smirk I bet it’s the first. I let her take time to get to her seat even though there’s so much space between us. “Ash,” I growl, making her giggle. Revving the motor I leave the break just to yank her on me.
“Nice try, Mister President.”
“Prez. That’s what they call me.” I grin at her while she circles my middle. “Off we go.”
She holds me tightly at first but after a few miles she relaxes and enjoys the ride. Nope, this is definitely her first time as a passenger.
Mellow opens the gate as he sees me and nods. I give her a tour of our place. “Welcome to my charter.”
“I kinda love the architecture and the green spaces are fabulous.” She pauses as she turns to look at the moms and babies chatting. “Do you have a kindergarten?”
“We have everything, but still from primary onward we make them study downtown.”
“Why? I mean, aren’t they housewives?”
I shake my head and pull toward the Clubhouse. “Not all of them. Betty,” I point to the troublemaker on the other side of the street. “She’s a pastry chef and runs Rudolph’s.”
“No way,” her eyes widen. “Her cupcakes are my weakness.”
I chuckle. “Our women run a good part of shops, restaurants, bakeries, and so on in Newtok. Clubs are mostly run by my brothers, but we do have a few doctors and artists. You name it, we have them.”
“I’m speechless.”
“Yeah, I know. People think being part of a club may ruin your life. We do care about our brothers, their family and education.”
“That’s more than I could ever imagine. Don’t get me wrong, but I was picturing a motorcycle club more like a bunch of alpha men into alcohol and whores.”
“Ouch.” I guess that’s what people see in us. “We’re more than that with values and rules.”
“Respect, Honor and Courage.” She smiles. “I read them on your tattoos, I shamelessly admit I know nothing of this world.”
I hold out a hand for her. “More than those three but they are the main ones.”
Her eyes stop on my jacket. “Will I have one too?” She pulls me closer.
“You know what’s the meaning of you wearing one?”
“That I won’t freeze my bones while riding with you?”
I burst out laughing and kiss her. “A jacket is more than that. Is a silent warning that you’re mine.”
“Am I?”
I lean to her ear and bite her earlobe. “You tell me, Princess. Are you mine?” She shivers and I have my answer. “Let’s get inside.”
It”s still early and everyone is sleeping for sure. They had a busy night chasing whoever scared her.
“It”s huge,” she says . “I”ve never been here.”
“No one can come close here, unless it is with one of my brothers or upon invitation.”
“So they”re living here?”
“No, Princess. We use it to take a break, relax or use my office. But it happens to spend the night over here when we get wasted or have something important to deal with. Don’t worry we do have plenty of bedrooms upstairs.”
We get inside and she takes her jacket off.
“I”ll take you on a tour later. Do you want some coffee?”
She fans her hands on her hips. So fucking sexy. “What about making breakfast? I have counted at least six Harleys outside.”
“Yep, and the kitchen is up there.” I point on the other side.
Cooking with her is something new for us and I don’t recall having done it with Caroline either. I have never seen anyone so happy in the morning and her happiness is so contagious.
“It”s not Sunday, isn”t it?” asks Di, still sleepy.
“Good morning, Di, I”m afraid not.”
“Then why are you making us breakfast?” She pauses seeing Ashley. “Oh, got it. Morning, Princess.”
“Good morning, Di.”
“Better go back dressing up. I”ll wake the boys too.”
“I”m starving,” says Mac, wearing just his boxers with Mickey Mouse on them.
“Mac, we have guests.” I snap, making him freeze. Di and Ashley burst out laughing, looking at his embarrassed face.
“Spread the word the breakfast is ready and wear some pants. I don”t need to see you naked in here.” I shout.
When they all show up, I can sense Ashley”s nervousness. I introduce her to my whole family. Bonnie and Silky came here too so I haven”t missed anyone.
“So, Rock, is she your ”ol lady?” asks Doc.
“Oh yes,” I admit, biting into her delicious pancakes.
“Hey, I”m not that old.” The room fills with laughter.
“It means you”re his soulmate, Princess. The one and only.” Explains Di to her. She lifts her surprised eyes on me. Yeah baby, you got your answer.
It is the longest and most relaxed breakfast ever, and after a while Ashley feels at ease with us.
“Di said you”re a skater.” Doc’s voice reaches us.
“Yes, I am a figure skater,” she confesses.
“So what are you doing, I mean other than skating?” asks Mac.
Ash shrugs. “Pretty much that, just skating.”
“For real?”
“Have you seen her skating, Mac?” asks Di knowing damn well he wasn’t paying attention last night. Betty kept him pretty busy.
“Nope.” He confesses realizing then he admitted he wasn’t focused on anything.
“Then shut up.”
He rolls his eyes in a melodramatic way. “It can”t be that hard.”
“Wanna bet, Mac?” Teases Ashley, leaving us speechless.
“Sure, I can do it too.”
She pauses to look at him before pointing a fork at him. “Have you ever skated?”
“Nah, but it can”t be that difficult.”
“It”s not.” She retorts, amused. “Who wants to see his ass on the ice?” Ashley asks with a devilish smile on her face.
We all agree. Oh, it’ll be so much fun.
“What do I win?” Mac fires back in a cocky voice.
“The tickets for the Devils,” says Blue.
“Not a big deal. What do I win if your ass will land more than five times on ice in one minute?”
He leans comfy in his backrest. “Name your price.”
“I need to think about it.”
“You”ll lose anyway, one minute will fly by.” Brick teases him.
“Fifty dollars on Ashley winner, who”s with me?” yells Di.
“I”m in,” I pull out my fifty bucks. “Sorry, Mac.”
“Yeah sure, family first, huh?”
“Of course, that”s why I”m betting on her.” I crack up in laughter. Family first. Always.
We ride to the Icylight. The guys are hype to see Mac on skates and have to admit I am too. We need a little distraction.
“You have the skates there,” she points toward the shelf behind us. “if you want to give it a try.” I kiss Ashley while Mac wears his skates.
“I”m ready, Princess. Better you prepare the tickets.”
“Fasten the strings,” she admonishes him, showing him hers.
“This is going to be fun.” I chuckle.
“Fuck you, Rock.”
Ashley gets into the rink, skating to the side and moving backward. “What are you waiting for, Mac?”
“I”m fucked, am I?” he asks me when he gets up, almost losing his balance.
“Oh yes.” I hold back my laugh.
Once he gets on the ice, he miserably falls.
“That”s one, Mac. Do you need a hand?” Di shouts, triggering our amusement.
“I can do it.” He snaps. I have to give him credit. He’s trying hard to stay still but when he tries to move falls and after the endless fall he growls in frustration.
“I give up. You won. It”s impossible.”
“Trust me, it”s not impossible. Give me your hands,” she says but Mac is holding on the dasher.
“My ass hurts already, Princess. I”ve learned my lesson.”
“Come on, trust me.”
I look at Mac taking her hand trying to stay up. “Eyes on me, Mac, breathe and focus on me, okay?”
“Okay,” he takes a deep breath and she skates away with him.
“Guys, Ashley said we can skate too.” Bonnie smiles.
“I”ll stay here,” says Di.
“Yeah me too,” Brick agrees.
“Same.” Said Blue and Doc, but to my surprise Bonnie joins them.
When Mac rejoins us, he smiles like an idiot.
“Apparently I won,” she giggles.
“Most definitely.” Mac nods.
“What about you all coming to my barbecue party tomorrow?”
“You want us to come?” he asks, surprised.
“You”ve shared a piece of you with me and I”d like to do the same. It”s nothing fancy though. Food, music, beer and a lake to swim in. You”ll meet some of my friends and that”s all.”
I pull her in my arms. “That”s what you want?”
“Yes, Rock.” She kisses me. “Plus, I want a sneak peek of those Mickey Mouse briefs.” She teases Mac. He’s been obsessed with Mickey Mouse since he was ten and still is.
“I like her,” Di nudges me.
“Yeah, me too.”