Patriot (Silver Saints MC)

Reluctantly, I pushed the fantasy from my mind. It would be a very painful ride if I didn’t calm the hell down. My boys were waiting for a sign, so I swirled my finger in the air to indicate they should round up—get in position. Then I twisted the throttle and headed out onto the open road. Once Dash signaled that he’d take up the rear and everyone was accounted for, I lost myself to the ride.

With Cherry glued to my body, the wind blowing around me, and the familiar rumble of my engine, it was the best ride I’d ever experienced. It amazed me how much more I enjoyed it with my woman behind me.

Cherry was a fucking trooper. She didn't make a peep on the long trip home, even when I checked to see if she needed a break. Her arms tightened, and she shook her head before resting it against my back.

We rode up to the entrance to the Silver Saints compound just as the sun was setting. Dax, our sergeant at arms, was manning the gate. He didn’t immediately open it, so I slowed to a stop when I reached him. His eyes strayed to the woman on my bike and back to my face, but his thoughts were unreadable. “Prez wants to see you first thing.”

I figured, so I nodded in acknowledgment, and Dax went to the security booth to open the gate. There was a lot on the left side of the clubhouse, just beyond the garage doors that led to our shop. I brought my motorcycle to a halt in an open spot and kicked down the stand. After shutting off the engine, I grinned when I had to pry Cherry’s arms from around me. After a second, she seemed to realize what I was doing and dropped her hands to her sides.

Carefully, I dismounted first, then turned and grasped her waist to lift her off the bike. I continued to hold her, suspecting she wouldn’t be able to stand on her own yet. She grabbed my biceps and tried to find her balance, her expression a little shell-shocked. I cocked my head to the side and followed a hunch. “You ever been on the back of a hog, Cherry?”

Her cheeks bloomed with pink, making her freckles stand out and my cock swell. “Um, no.”

“Five years living in a club, and you never once went for a ride?”

She cleared her throat and looked at the ground. “I was afraid they’d expect a...different kind of ride. And I tried to stay away from the guys as much as possible.”

A rush of pleasure flooded my body when she admitted that I’d been her first ride. And it didn’t hurt to hear that she hadn’t been interested in any other men.

I put a finger under her chin and lifted her face up. “I’m honored that I popped your motorcycle cherry, too,” I drawled with a wink.

Her nose scrunched up adorably, and her green eyes filled with the flame I’d seen earlier. “Just because I agreed to come with you doesn’t mean I’m going to fall into bed with you.”

Knowing where she’d be sleeping, I smirked. “We’ll see.”

She huffed but couldn’t quite hide her interest in the idea. I loved that she was so honest in her emotions and reactions, and that she wore them so plainly on her face.

“Patriot. Get your ass in my office.”

Mac’s gruff command came from the side door to the garage, and I twisted my head around to see him standing with his arms crossed, scowling at me. I nodded respectfully and grabbed Cherry’s hand, taking her with me as I followed my president inside.

“Did I get you in trouble?” Cherry whispered, her voice trembling with worry.

I could understand her trepidation. Mac was a scary motherfucker with his ripped physique, full beard, and almost as many tattoos as me. Not to mention the air of authority that hung around him, one that promised unimaginable pain to anyone who fucked with him or his people.

However, even though that shit was legitimate, what people outside the club didn’t know was that he was a giant teddy bear when it came to his wife and kids.

“No worries, baby,” I assured her. “Remember what I told you about my prez?”

She nodded, and some of the fear in her expression ebbed.

We entered Mac’s office, and he indicated for us to sit. I was tempted to pull Cherry onto my lap, but Mac wouldn’t appreciate it until I’d cleared things up, and I didn’t think she was ready for it. Instead, I led her to one of the chairs in front of the desk and then took the one next to her. Just as I sat, Scout—the Silver Saints VP—strolled into the room and shut the door behind him.