5. Emma #3
“Now you’ve tried drugs, as you put it. Though I will argue weed isn’t a drug.
They say it’s a gateway drug, but the only gateway it gives you is putting you in the same room as a sleazy drug dealer who sells other shit.
When they finally make this shit legal, it’s going to be a huge money maker.
Not that it isn’t now.” He runs his larger finger down the side of my cheek, across my jaw.
He cups his large bear paw around the back of my neck, pulling me the four inches that separate us.
He covers his mouth with mine, sealing our first kiss.
I slide my hands up his large pecks, slipping them under his Kutte, kissing him back.
We spend the next ten minutes with him trying to teach me how to smoke a joint and stealing kisses from each other. I look down at his forearm and see the same brand my father and grandfather share. I trace it with my finger. “Did you ever want to do anything else besides join the club?”
“I’ve been tattooing since I was sixteen.
It started when a brother had me practice on pigskin he’d get from the local slaughterhouse.
At first, I was nervous. Pigskin’s slick and tough, and I messed up a lot.
But I kept at it. Eventually, the brothers trusted me enough to let me work on their arms and backs, offering advice and pointing out every tiny mistake.
It felt good knowing my work would stay with them for life, marking their stories.
I always knew this was the life I’d live.
The club gave me a family and a sense of belonging, and my art gave me purpose.
I never wanted anything else. I love the life I live.
Every tattoo, every ride, every brother.
It’s not always easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Being part of the club isn’t just about the patch on your back; it’s about who you become and what you earn in return.
I grew up in this life. For me, it’s always been enough. ”
“I like it here, from what I’ve seen. Everyone has been really welcoming. I don’t have a big family back in Arkansas. I haven’t really found a place to call my own, ya know? But I can definitely see the appeal of staying here. Maybe I have some of my dad in me after all.”
“The club has a way of finding those who are lost. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone.
” He shrugs his massive shoulder, arms crossed, leaning back against the log as I lean against his bent knees, still straddling him.
“But the family that comes with it is the best around. This would be the life I would raise my family in, and I would be proud of it.”
“Do you want kids?” I ask, my voice soft in the quiet night.
“Why, are you offering?” he retorts, my mouth gaping at his answer as I stutter for a response.
He puts me out of my misery with a grin and a sparkle in his eyes.
“Hell yeah, I want a pack of wild little Heathens tearing up the clubhouse, making mischief, and keeping everyone on their toes. I want a wife with those kids, though. After a long ride, I wouldn’t mind having an ol’ lady to come home to.
I need a woman who knows how to love me through all the bullshit life can throw our way.
A woman who will build a place that feels like home, no matter where you’ve been after a long run. ”
I fiddle with the fringe on my shirt, biting my lip, deep in thought. “I don’t understand why you’re here with me.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, confused.
The pot is making me loose-lipped and relaxed. “Are you kidding me? Look at you. You’re the walking poster boy for bad boy meets cowboy Viking.” He throws his head back in laughter, his strong, chiseled chin dusted with a five o’clock shadow, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere.” He scoops me into his arms, repositioning me so I sit between his outstretched legs, my back to his massive chest. His long legs bracket me in. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me to his chest.
“You are, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Not to mention, you’re funny as shit, an awkward little butterfly waiting to hatch from her cocoon.
And when you do, baby, you’re going to flourish.
You’re smart as a whip, and you’ve got claws beneath that sweet little persona.
I dig the shit out of you, babe.” My face breaks into a smile, shielded by the darkness, the moon reflecting on the river.
“You are just a big romantic under all this leather and muscle, huh? I guess, as the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Yeah, but don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain.
” He lets out a chuckle, his laughter completely contagious.
It’s smooth and deep, and I fall a little more for this giant biker.
I glance over and catch him studying the sky, his features soft in the darkness, a gentle smile curving his lips.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to simply exist here, in this pocket of time, full of possibility, with nothing but the sound of the river and the promise of midnight adventures.
I curled closer to him, letting my head rest on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek.
He pulled me closer. The gesture was small, but it spoke volumes, conveying comfort, protection, and a silent vow that I wouldn’t have to face the world alone, not tonight, anyway.