Bad Ride (Men of Valor MC)

It’s been so long since I’ve had anything like this. One of the women, Clair, is kind of like a mother hen, keeping a watch over us all and listening to problems. It seems like no matter what you’re dealing with, you can go to her and have a sympathetic ear. Then there’s the girl, Petal, who tells me how sweet Chewy is, and how I’ve found a good one and should hold onto him, and honestly I’m starting to believe her.

All I can think as we enjoy drinks and gossip is, my dad is so wrong.

These people aren’t bad. They aren’t evil. They’re just a bunch of men and women who’ve formed their own sort of family and look out for each other. They don’t have the need to fit into what society and it’s self-imposed ‘norms’ are. They are free and unencumbered by expectations.

And it’s something I want.

After an hour, anything I had planned to say to Chewy is long forgotten. How could I ever think of giving up on him? I excuse myself from the group, making my way for the ladies’ room, but change my mind and head over to Chewy instead, missing being close to him and wanting to be sure I explain more about why I left last night.

And that’s when I overhear just a snippet of their conversation.

“If we don’t, Ranger, someone else is going to take that contract.”

“We’re not running chop shops, Ice, that’s not us. Hardworking people bought those vehicles, and in case you haven’t noticed we have a code here.”

“Sure, but the local pressure is building…Chewy--”

The conversation dies away when they see me standing there, and Chewy turns, clapping his hand on the shoulder of the guy next to him as he drops his voice. “Give me a minute, Savage.” When his eyes meet mine, it’s like they soften all on their own. “How are things going? The girls treating you right?”

I nod. “They’ve made me realize a couple of things… Can we talk?”

“Sure. Let me finish up here with the guys then we’ll go back to my place.”

My voice is hesitant as I say, “Well, actually I was thinking you could come back to mine. If you want to, I mean… well, my dad is going to be out of town on business tonight and I thought perhaps you could… It’s probably me being dumb, forget I said—”

“The hell I will,” he says with a growl. When I mentioned my dad, I saw a look pass between the other club members at the table, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. “Your place sounds perfect. Let me finish up here with the guys and then we’ll get going, okay?”

I nod, smiling. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he says, gathering me into his arms and stealing a kiss, ignoring the whoops and hollers from the others gathered around, and I think I might be just a little bit, well, you know…

In love.

Chapter 7

Chewy

“I thought… Well, I don’t really know what I was thinking. But I thought we weren’t right for each other, but now—” She turns my way with a grin as she holds up first one sundress, then another, measuring them against herself for my benefit.

I gulp back my dry throat as she shows them to me, imagining her in each. And out of each. Both are enough to make my mouth water, the shortness of the skirts and the low cut of the strappy tops enough to make my imagination run wild.

“Which one?” she asks, and all I can think is neither, nothing, bare skin all the way, so I give a grunt that seems to please her and she lays both on the pastel-pink comforter on her bed.

I look so out of place here in her room. My monstrous size and general appearance incongruous against the light airiness and goodness of her. She’s pastels and satin, thick cream rugs and cuddly toys, and I’m denim and leather, grease and power tools.

Our differences have never been more evident than when I’m standing in her bedroom, but somehow none of that matters. To me, or it seems to her. Her excitement at having me here somehow makes me feel at home despite the differences between us, and I crash down onto her bed, pulling her to me, making her squeal and bat playfully at my arms.

“You going to ravish me, Charles?”

“Maybe. Would you like that?”

My words catch her off guard and she doesn’t respond right away, her mouth moving silently until she says. “Maybe you should try it and find out.”

Fuck yes.

Those are the words I’ve been waiting for, and I aim to please. The clothes she wears for school are drab and plain, which I approve of. When other people are looking at her, even if it’s just a bunch of horny teenagers, I don’t want them to see what I see. If I had my way, she’d wear a paper bag whenever she’s not with me. But when her plain ribbed sweater and gray pants come off, what’s underneath makes me grin.