Page 33 of Rise In Arms

We drive straight through, only stopping twice for the ladies to go to the bathroom, and an hour ago we stopped to get something to eat. I’m tired as hell and know the ladies will be feeling it too but I need to get them to the clubhouse, where I know they’ll be protected by me and my brothers.

Thank fuck Quill offered for the girls to stay with Jasmine at their house, because having Hazel and Charity in the clubhouse is not something that sits well with me. They’re both beautiful women, and I can’t guarantee the boys won’t try to make moves on them. But something is niggling at the pit of my stomach, and it’s the fact I’m gonna see Jasmine sooner than I thought. The way we left things was not that great. I admitted my feelings to her, and even kissed her. Guilt washes over me when I think about how I took her in my arms and kissed her. If Quill ever found out, he’d have my neck. I don’t know what came over me in that moment. Maybe it was her in that white dress, or her pleading for me to explain why I was leaving, I’m not sure. I had a lot of feelings going on, especially feelings for Jasmine, and I couldn’t stand to be there day in and day out seeing what I could never have.

Which brings me back to why I was leaving in the first place. How can two days make such a difference? I thought I would never feel for a woman the way I felt for Jasmine. But there’s something about Charity that’s awakening something in me, something I’ve never felt before.

Right now, riding along with Charity on the back, her arms around me, her body sliding up and down mine now and then, feels like heaven. I’ve only ever had one woman on my bike, and that’s Hazel. I’ve never wanted a woman straddling my bike—it’s bikers’ code, a woman on the back of your bike means she’s your ol’ lady, and I was never ready for that kind of commitment… until her….

We enter our hometown and I feel a sense of relief wash through me. Not that me and my boys can’t handle protecting the girls, but there’s nothing like having your MC behind you.

“Are we nearly there?” Charity asks when I stop at a red light.

“Yeah, just a few minutes away.”

“Thank God, my butt is numb.”

“There’s a lot more I would like to numb on that sweet body of yours,” I say under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, not far now.”

“Okay.”

Tracker pulls up on the left side of us, whistling sharply to get my attention. “Just got a call from Prez. He needs me on a job, I’ll meet you guys there.”

I signal him with my hand to go, and when the light turns green he takes off, with Bear staying close behind me.

We drive up to the clubhouse and stop at the closed gate. As soon as Rhyder sees me approaching he opens it, allowing us entry.

“Wow, this is some place you have,” Charity says as she gets off my bike and takes off her helmet. I nod over to Bear, who’s pulled up beside me with Hazel, then look over at Charity.

“This is home for me,” I reply, getting off the bike myself and looking around at our compound. The only place that has ever been home for me.

“You live here?” Charity asks, her eyebrows raised.

“Sure do. I have a room in the clubhouse, along with all of my brothers,” I explain, taking her helmet from her and placing it on my bike’s seat for now.

Running her hands down her hair to tame it, she continues with the questions. “So, when you say brothers, do you mean your blood brothers.”

I smirk at the term. “Something like that. They may not be my brothers through blood, but they’re the closest thing to family that I’ve got, and I’d do anything for any of them.”

“Wow, I envy what you have.”

Frowning, I step closer to her. “This sort of life is not what I would consider something to be envious of. It’s not a place for a lady, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want my sister living here.”

“But why?”

“You’ll see,” I say smiling, then look over at Hazel, who’s just joined us.

“See what?” Hazel asks.

“Oh, nothing. Your brother was just telling me how this place is not for ladies, so I asked him why.”

“Is that right?” Hazel says, looking around.

I growl. “Now listen here, sis. What you’ll see in there might shock you, but we’re men, and women come down to… party with us.”

“Um, what do you mean party?” Charity asks.

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