Page 9 of Saint

“If it’s daylight, I can watch and make sure you’re ok. If it’s dark, I will walk you or get a prospect to come do it. Don’t argue with me. This doesn’t happen again. Got me?”

“Got you” I mentally give myself a head slap. I don’t know why I give in to demanding biker talk so easily. Too many years of just doing it I guess.

“Good. Now, lock the door behind me. Call me if you need me. See you in the morning.”

“Yeah, about that. Do you think I should ride with Saint? Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Of course it fucking is. The man’s crazy about you. See you in the morning.”

Crazy about me? That’s not what I was expecting.

Dublin

I call Saint as I leave Jack’s cabin. He picks up quickly but sounds like he’s far away and not really paying attention “Yeah?”

“Brother, you need to get a couple of prospects to take turns watching Jack’s place tonight. Something spooked her when she was walking home earlier.”

“Prospects? Bullshit! I’m on my way!”

“No! No! Don’t do that! She’ll lose her shit. She wasn’t happy when I insisted on searching the place. There’s no one there, inside or out. I just want to make sure it stays that way. Just get them to take it in shifts and stay in the shadows.”

Saint agreed reluctantly and hung up.

Jade

It was not a good night’s sleep. Between worry about who might have been lurking outside and excitement and doubts about today, it was a very long night.

Despite all my doubts, I get up and get on with getting ready. No matter which way I look at it, there’s nothing like a day on a Harley. I put on my favourite jeans, boots, tank top and leather jacket. I’ll forgo the helmet today. I may not trust myself so much on the wrong side of the road but I’m happy to put my faith in Saint. I put on some light make up, find a couple of bandanas and my wrap around Arnette sunnies with the mirror lenses. My hair gets pulled back into a low bun at the nape of my neck and I wrap it in a bandana to keep it secure and free of knots from the wind. This also has the added benefit of leaving my hair all wavy down my back when I take it out. I may not be certain of what today is going to bring but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in showing off a little at the end of the day. If I’m riding with the Club President, I’m going to look my best.

The sun is out in force today, shining on my back and on the blue green waters of the lake as I sit waiting for Saint and it brings a smile to my face. What a beautiful day to ride. I find myself really looking forward to enjoying the company of others and being out and about. The hospital Reign is in is about an hour and a half away through some beautiful country so I think it should make for a great afternoon. The sound of Saint’s customised Harley disturbs my wandering mind and the view of him on that beautiful bike riding down the street is magnificent. He looks like a king. And for today, even if that’s all it is, I’m happy to play queen.

I stand as he pulls up to my gate and watch him drag his eyes over me from bottom to top. My plan to ask if he really wants me on the back of his bike today is thrown out the window. No words are needed as he pulls me in for a very close good morning kiss on the cheek as he looks right into my soul. I’m breathless, thrilled that I can see such want in his eyes. Throwing caution to the wind, I return the kiss and whisper “a very good morning” in his ear as I climb on the back of his bike, slide on my sunnies and tie the bandana around my face. He reaches behind him and pulls me in closer before grabbing both my hands and placing them firmly around his waist. The bike roars as we take off and I have a smile from ear to ear.

We don’t go far. Apparently we’re meeting at the bar. I must ask why these guys don’t have a Clubhouse. Mind you, it’s probably none of my business. Club business is not women’s business. Jameson and Smoke are waiting next to their bikes as the guys pull up one by one in formation.

“Morning Jameson” I say on a smile “you’ll be leading the ride today then? You picked a fabulous day for it. Morning Smoke” Smoke simply nods in greeting. There might be a smile behind his eyes. It’s hard to say.

“Morning Jack” Jameson says grinning back at me like he has a secret “yes I will be and yes I did! You look like you’ve done this before” he says looking at my riding gear and hair “Ready to ride?”

At this point he turns and addresses the group “Okay Keepers, we’re heading over to the city to see Reign. We’ll be taking the mountain pass. I think we’ll stop at that mountain tavern on the way back home for lunch and then tonight we’ll grill and party. Let’s move out!”

The roar and vibration of all the bikes is magnificent causing many to stop and stare as we make our way through town and out to the open road. It’s a great road too. Newly paved and winding with amazing scenery on either side. I relax completely and find myself tucked very comfortably in behind Saint as we lean into corners and pick up speed on the straights. My God this man smells good. I relax so much my hands let go of his waist and fall to his long thighs, my head resting on his back as I watch the trees and blue sky go by. My hands must have minds of their own because they start to move up and down his thick, muscular thighs and I grin as he firmly places them one at a time back around his just as muscular waist. I can feel him laughing while he grabs my knee and urges me to scoot forward even further. In return I allow my fingers to play absentmindedly over his oh so toned abs. Between the roar and vibration of the bike and my proximity to so much raw masculinity, I’m feeling that familiar throb between my legs again and I’m pretty sure he knows it. Holy shit, are we there yet?

After what feels like an eternity I find us riding into what seems like the business district of a small city. Fifteen minutes later and we’re pulling into the parking lot of a major hospital. We head for the back of the lot so we can park all the bikes together and dismount. I shake my legs to get some feeling back and start to stretch when Saint’s gravelly voice murmurs in my ear. “Don’t.” I look up to find myself the centre of attention and all eyes drop to the ground. “The whole club is watching you and I don’t wanna have to beat all my brothers senseless Jade. I’ll help you stretch later.” I’m not sure if that’s a threat or a promise but I guess I’ll stretch later.

“Right. We have one hour of visiting time and the nurses are being strict on visitor numbers. So three at a time and make it quick. Just let him know you’ve got his back and get out. I’ll go in last with Jack so he can meet her. Oh, and don’t forget to make nice with the nurses boys. Use your inside voices and watch the language. If you upset them and I miss my turn with my boy, you’ll be buying your own drinks for a week! So team up and in you go.”

The guys broke off into groups of three and took turns going into visit. I stood, leaning against a brick retaining wall in the shade eyeing off the main entrance to the hospital and occasionally getting a whiff of that unmistakeable hospital smell. Each time I breathed it in I slumped a little further down and felt a little paler. I was so lost in my own world I didn’t hear Jameson and Saint walk up to me. They each grabbed an elbow and stood me back up. “Earth to Jade. Time to come home. What’s going on in there?” one of them asked tapping on my forehead.

“Hospital. Smell, sound, not good. Not sure I can go in there” I mumbled, possibly at the ground. My eyes still hadn’t found focus.

Jameson snapped his fingers in my face and Saint rubbed the back of my neck. “It’s gonna be ok. You know the outcome here. Reign’s alive and kicking in there and busting to meet you. No nasty surprises, no scary job to do. You’ve got this.”

I looked up to find both of them staring back at me. Green eyes and blue eyes demanding I focus on them. “Yeah, naaah. Nope. Still not sure. The smell. I don’t think I can walk all the way through there.” They look at each other and in two seconds flat I’m picked up and deposited onto Saint’s back. My legs are wrapped around his waist and my arms are all but tied around his neck while his strong hands are under my backside holding me up. He strides purposefully towards the doors and Jameson walks behind with his hand on my back to keep me there. I couldn’t escape this in a million years. Defeated, I clam my eyes shut and bury my face as far into Saint’s hair as I can, taking in deep breaths of his intoxicating scent. Leather, soap, grease and I think very expensive cologne. I focus on the cologne. It’s delicious. Just breathe. Breathe it in. Don’t look.

“Jack if you keep breathing in like that, you’re going to hyperventilate. And there won’t be any cologne left on him for you to breathe in later. We’re here. We’re in Reign’s room. Open your eyes.”

I open one eye at a time to find Jameson looking back at me. “All good Jack, you made it.”

---