Chapter 19
Maddy
I spent the next two days a prisoner in German’s room. Okay, so I wasn’t locked inside of it. However, there was nowhere for me to go. Especially since I’d had my run-in with Cici. Not wanting to bump into her around the Clubhouse, I kept to myself and watched TV.
By day three, I felt like I’d been marooned on a desert island and needed to get out of this place before I went insane. German was away overnight on Club business, and I was pacing the length of his room like a caged, wild animal. Lucky for me, he’d arranged for a Club Brother’s Old Lady by the name of Evie to stop by and keep me company for the day.
As soon as we met, I knew me and Evie were going to get along like peanut butter and jelly. The woman had forest green eyes, long, luxurious brown hair, and the sweetest personality you could ever hope for.
“Hi, I’m Evie,” she’d introduced, kindly extending her hand for me to shake.
Taking the tiny woman’s hand in mine, I said, “Maddy. It’s so good to meet you. I feel like I’ve been in solitary confinement for months and I was in desperate need of a friendly face.”
Her tinkling laughter made me smile. “I bet. I’ve had to stay at the Clubhouse myself. It can be a bit confining.”
“Tell me you’ve come over today to take me somewhere outside of the compound!” I begged, desperate for a change of scenery. “I don’t think I can spend another minute trapped behind these four beige walls.”
“I think I can arrange that,” Evie said with a puckish grin. “How do you feel about coming to my cafe? I just opened it a month ago. If you’d like, we can have a cup of coffee and some snacks as we get to know each other better. I can’t imagine German would have a problem with that.”
Her offer sounded like heaven. “I don’t know about German, but I’d love it!”
As we walked out of the bedroom, I saw two men waiting for us. “This is Boots and Knife. They’re going to come with us today.”
On the drive over to her cafe, Evie explained that Boots was a Prospect who had become a full-fledged Brother a few months back, while Knife was still essentially pledging.
“I’m a Brother who’s still pulling Prospect duty,” Boots teased, as he took a left turn into the parking lot of Evie’s cafe. “It’s a sad, sad day, ladies.”
“You love it,” Evie accused with a smile. “I heard you volunteered for this duty because you love my chocolate chunk muffins and dark roast coffee!”
“Allegedly,” he returned with a good-humored grin of his own. “I’m not officially going on the record with that statement though.”
Evie looked at me and winked. “Does that mean you don’t want a chocolate chunk muffin and a dark roast coffee as soon as we get inside?”
“I didn’t say that,” Boots returned with mock indignation.
“That’s what I thought,” the sassy woman said, as we stepped out of the vehicle to go inside.
The cafe was called Evie’s Corner and was absolutely adorable! Small but homey, it fostered a quaint and rustic vibe that clientele obviously loved because the place was packed. The shop was furnished with hand-cut wooden countertops and comfy, plush seating throughout the gently lit space. Living plants were strategically placed around the room, adding a homey touch I thought was brilliant. It was adorable, and exactly the kind of cafe I’d enjoy reading a book and sipping some coffee at in my free time back home.
“This cafe is perfect!” I complimented, as Evie took me over to an oversized chair near the corner of the room where we could chat in moderate privacy.
Evie beamed. “Thanks! I absolutely love it. When I opened my catering business a year ago, I didn’t know in what direction I wanted to take it. I still do some catering on the side, but I’m loving the coffee shop business more and more every day.”
I was seriously impressed with everything the young woman had achieved in such a short time. And, as busy as it was in here, I could tell the community was grateful for her decision as well.
“Can I interest you in a beverage or something to eat?” Evie offered, showing me the main display where a bevy of food options were attractively displayed.
“Boy, it all looks so good,” I said, and meant it. After some tough decision-making, I settled on a blueberry scone and a hot black coffee to wash it down with.
“Coming right up,” Evie said, stepping behind the counter where two other employees were busily filling orders.
When she returned, she handed me my scone and I nearly died after taking a bite. “This is divine!” I gushed between soft, pillowy mouthfuls of the subtly sweet treat. “And the coffee pairs perfectly with it!”
Evie’s smile lit up her mossy green eyes. “I’m so glad you like it. I’ve worked hard to make this shop a reality. And I could have never done it without the Club. You haven’t met Bishop yet, but he’s equally responsible for helping me get this place going. He has friends in the electrical field, woodworking, and a host of other trades which allowed me to get this place up and running so fast. I could have never got it done so quickly without him and the other Club members pitching in and standing behind me.”
I was pleasantly surprised to hear the Club had helped her get her shop off the ground. I’d have never guessed they would have been so supportive of one of their members Old Lady’s. “I’ll have to thank Bishop when I finally do meet him,” I said, stuffing another delicious bite into my mouth. “I think I speak for all of Buse when I say this scone was well worth everyone’s hard work!”
Evie giggled. “I heard you were currently going to school. What’s your major?”
“Business management,” I stated flatly. “My father owns his own company and he wants me to take it over one day.”
Shrewd green eyes studied my face. “Is that what you want to do?”
Since I was young, that had been the plan. Now, I wasn’t so sure. “I want to work with my father. I love the idea of us being in business together.”
“If your dad didn’t own the company, what would you do instead?” Evie thoughtfully queried.
I didn’t even have to give it much consideration. I already knew the answer. “I’d become a veterinarian. I love working with animals and medicine really appeals to me. I have an elderly cat named Mr. Jingles and some fish that I adore back home. If I didn’t travel so much with my father for work, I’d have a household full of other pets, too.”
“You seem really passionate about it,” Evie noted.
“It’s more of a fantasy than a reality,” I told her.
Evie took a slow sip of her iced coffee. “This place was just a fantasy before it was a reality. That’s how all dreams work.”
I smiled at her excellent point. “True. It’s just I won’t have time for both my father’s business and going to school to become a vet. I have to pick one.”
Evie didn’t judge, she just nodded her understanding. “Have you told your dad how you feel?”
My father would give me whatever I wanted. He always had. That was the problem. If he found out I wanted to become a veterinarian, he’d support me one hundred percent. But more than becoming a vet, I wanted to go to work with my family every day. For my father to pass on to me what his dad was never able to pass on to him.
“No,” I confessed. “But I know he’d support me no matter what I decide to do. He’s great like that.”
“It sounds like the two of you are really close,” Evie said. “I understand why you wouldn’t want to give that up.”
I chewed another bite of scone. “Are you close with your family?”
“No,” Evie replied with a quick shake of her head. “My dad’s in prison and my mom hasn’t been around for years.”
My heart sank at her words. How could parents be so selfish as to abandon their beautiful daughter to the wolves like that? “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Evie said. “I’ve got a new family now. The Devil's Riders. And it’s the strongest one I’ve ever met. They stick by one another through the good and the bad. They’re always there to help, like when I opened this shop. And I never have to go it alone when I’m taking a risk, because they back me all the way. I didn’t just get a man when I started dating Bishop. I got a family. One that welcomed me with open arms and now couldn’t see myself living without.”
That was pretty amazing. “And the rest of the world is benefiting from your delicious food and coffee, so everybody wins!”
Evie laughed. “Yup. It’s a symbiotic relationship, really. Just look at Boots and Knife.”
I glanced at the two men who were sipping coffee and eating baked goods like they were going out of style. “However would those two men survive if I didn’t feed them sugar and caffeine on a daily basis?”
“True,” I agreed with a smile. “Caffeine and sugar are two of the biggest contributors to my diet as well.”
“Same,” Evie confessed with another giggle.
“So are there other awesome women like you who hang out with the Club? I’ve only met Club girls,” I said, not even trying to hide my disdain.
“There are,” Evie acknowledged. “There’s Reaper’s Old Lady Angel, who introduced me to the Club. She’s currently very pregnant at the moment, but plans to open a daycare once her son is born. And then there’s Amelia, who’s Hawk’s Old Lady. Amelia owns her own salon and is Bishop’s sister. At this point, they both feel like the sisters I never had but always wanted.”
“Wow! I can’t wait to meet them,” I said, finishing the last few sips of my coffee.”
“You’re going to love them. And they’re going to love you, too!” Evie said reassuringly before getting up to refill my mug.
When she got back, she asked, “So which Club girls did you meet?”
“It was only one, actually,” I admitted, a bit embarrassed. “Cici. She, ah, climbed into German’s bed when I was sleeping and didn’t take it well when she found out I was there instead of him.”
Evie snorted. “Cici’s the worst. I’m not one to judge people’s life choices, but that woman’s plain awful! When I first started dating Bishop, she tried to make my life hell, and actually succeeded a time or two.”
“Really?” I said, intrigued.
“Yup. But after she accepted Bishop wasn’t going to kick me to the curb, she glommed on to German.” She smiled at me then. “Which allows me the perfect segway to ask about the handsome biker and yourself.”
The curse of the redhead struck again and I blushed. “I want there to be something between us, but I’m not sure what he wants. He says there’s no one else, and I believe him,” I hurriedly added. “But, I’m not sure if that means we’re together or just that he hasn’t come across a better option yet.”
Evie snorted. “Not a chance, Maddy! First off, you’re incredible. And secondly, German’s not that kind of guy. I’ve never met a more honest, straight shooter than him. If German says there’s no one else but you, believe him, lady. He means it.”
Those words assured me more than they should have. “Thanks. I really needed to hear that.”
Evie nodded. “Loving a biker ain’t always easy, but it’s worth it if he’s the right one,” she explained as she leaned back in her chair. “From what I hear, you’ve had a lot to deal with lately. Just know you’re in good company, as there isn’t an Old Lady amongst us who hasn’t had a wild ride with the Club!”
She told me then about how Angel, Amelia, and she, all became involved with the Devil’s Riders. By the time she was done, I’d had three full cups of coffee, and my mind, as well as my bladder, were blown.
“Bikers definitely don’t live boring lives!” I said earnestly.
“Definitely not. And if you ride with the Devils, neither will you,” Evie sagely returned.
That was something to consider. Though I’d lived a lavish life by most accounts, my day-to-day routine at home was pretty standard. If German and I were to get together, that would all change. Did I want that? Could I even handle it?
As I was getting ready to leave, Amelia asked me if I was going to the party at the Demon Knights’ Clubhouse tomorrow. I hadn’t even known about it. She said she’d be there with Bishop and I should come along and meet the other girls.
Thanking her for a wonderful afternoon, I told her I’d ask German about it and headed back to the Clubhouse with a million thoughts in my head and even more questions.
* * *
As soon as German came through the door that next evening, I had a smile on my face. I also had a plan in mind to get him to allow me to go to the meeting with the Knights.
Jumping up from the bed where I’d been reading a Stephen King novel on my phone, I asked, “How was your trip?”
German gave me a look like he knew something was up. “Good. How was your coffee outing with Evie?”
I gave a genuine smile when I answered. “She’s awesome. Thank you for having her come over and take me out to her incredible cafe. I was really starting to get some major cabin fever hanging around the Club all day and night.”
“I’m glad you got it out of your system,” German returned, wearily setting his keys on the nightstand. He knew something was up. Just not what yet.
“I didn’t get it all out of my system,” I continued, hedging hard that I wanted to go with him tonight. “I’m still a little desperate for fresh air. Maybe a night out? On the back of your bike. And some drinks?” Okay, maybe I had pushed my agenda too hard with that last part.
Understanding lit German’s face. “Evie told you about the party at the Knights tonight.”
I shrugged sweetly. “Maybe.”
“You can’t go,” he said then, cutting off my question before I could even pose it.
“Why not?” I demanded, stomping my foot like a child. “Aren’t you going?”
“Yes,” German said, crossing his arms on his chest. “I am.”
“Then why can’t I go?” I returned sullenly, totally crushed by his leaving me behind. Especially since he’d just gotten back from being away overnight. “You don’t want me there?”
Sighing, German scrubbed his hand down his thick beard. “You know that’s not it, Maddy. It’s because it’s too dangerous for you to leave the compound.”
“You let me go to the Raider’s Clubhouse,” I said pointedly.
“And look how great that turned out,” he groused with more than just a hint of sarcasm.
I’d thought we’d moved past the Mouse situation by now, but it seemed we hadn’t. “We had so much fun at the lake with the Raiders. You said so yourself!”
“We did, until we came back to our motel room and somebody had tossed it,” German reminded me then.
“We’ll be with the Club. I’m safe with the Devils. You said so yourself,” I argued back. “I’ll even wear a disguise if you want me to. We can have a return of Lexi. And she can wear a blonde wig this time. Nobody will even know it’s me,” I desperately bartered.
“There’ll be no return of Lexi or the need for a damned wig because you’re not leaving the compound!” German said, fatigue, and irritation fighting for top billing in his voice.
I was fresh out of the shower. My long hair hung damp down my back and I smelled of the strawberry-scented lotion that drove him wild. I was also wearing his T-shirt and a pair of his boxers because I had so few clothes of my own here. I knew how much he enjoyed seeing me in his things, and I decided to leverage that fact to my advantage.
Walking over to him, I looped my arms around his neck and stood on my tiptoes. Rubbing my nose against his, I said, “I’ll be good. I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll stick close to you, Evie, and the Prospects. Please, Christopher. Don’t leave me behind. I want to go with you tonight. You’ve been gone so long and I’ve missed you so much.”
It may or may not have been a cheap trick, but it also happened to be true. I rubbed my hips meaningfully against his to sweeten the pot. Immediately, I felt the bulge of his excitement flex against my abdomen and I shivered with need.
Lifting my chin, German’s mouth descended on mine. Our tongues mated as our bodies entwined. Forgetting my ruse, I surrendered to the passion of the moment and enjoyed his lips slanting roughly against mine.
His hands ran up and down my back, kneading my flesh and crushing me against his chest. I moaned, arching against him, instantly wet the moment his hands were on me. When they palmed my ass and ground me against his stiff cock, I creamed the crotch of his boxer shorts straight through.
My hands reached between us, stroking and fisting his erection through the thick material of his jeans. German humped into my hand, facilitating deeper contact. Dragging down his zipper, I jammed my hand inside the fly and began roughly massaging his shaft as he licked and nipped the sensitive skin of my throat.
A knock on the door sounded then and we reluctantly separated. Ox shouted through it, “Hey German, you in there?”
German took a steadying breath and ran his hand along his mouth where I could see my ChapStick had left them looking glossy and tinted red. Striding over to the door, he yanked up his zipper and cracked it open.
“Yeah, what’s up?” he said shortly, his appearance leaving nothing to the imagination over what we’d just been doing.
“I know you just got home, Brother,” Ox acknowledged, apologizing for what he knew he’d interrupted, “but Prez has called for a quick meeting before we head out to meet up with the Knights. Stuff it back in your pants, loverboy, and meet us downstairs in five.”
“Fuck off!” German shot back as he adjusted the obvious erection in his jeans. “I’ll be there soon.”
Ox chuckled. “Remember, five minutes. I know that probably seems like enough time for a guy like you, but I’m sure your girl would disagree.”
Slamming the door in Ox’s face as he muttered a few choice expletives, I looked at German with hope shining in my eyes.
Sighing in defeat, he said, “If you’re going to go tonight, you better get ready. We’re leaving in an hour.”