Page 13 of Jana's Fierce Biker

She listened to his breathing deepen. It was a soothing sound, but she couldn’t hold back the images she’d seen earlier. Dammit. Snookie had been such a sweet cat. Jana remembered finding her in a kitchen on the side of the road. She was emaciated and covered with fleas.

Jana had rushed her to the vet. The vet examined the kitten and pointed out a few things. They immediately started an IV and several shots. Jana was amazed and felt herself cringe when the needle went in. She saw and gave thousands of shots while in the medical field. But seeing it happen to a tiny kitten made her wince in sympathy.

They helped her bathe and cover it in medicine to care for the fleas and ticks. The good part was when the doctor said the kitten would survive with care, and it made it even more meaningful when he told her the kitten probably wouldn’t have made it through another night without her. It was like it was meant to be. She thought about getting a cat but hadn’t had the time to look for one.

The vet’s office gave her what she would need to care for the cat for a few days, so she wouldn’t have to run to the store immediately.

She immediately set up the litter box and a water bowl when she got home that night. They couldn’t determine the kitten’s exact age, so they gave her a bottle and formula to feed her until she got stronger.

They had bonded that night while she fed her. Holding her like a baby, the kitten stared up at her with bright eyes while she sucked the milk down. When she finished, she immediately fell asleep in Jana’s lap. Jana carried her to her bed and sat next to her. Within a few seconds, the cat pressed against her body.

Jana had been astounded when she realized she’d already fallen in love with the cat and couldn’t see her life without her. She had given her the name from a television show. Since the cat was getting more playful and energetic, the healthier she got, Jana had to give her a name that would match her personality. Snookie. It fit her from the beginning.

Jana sometimes wondered how she could feel so deeply about another living thing. She’d always been standoffish, and it always took her a while to warm up to people.

After Snookie, Jana thought it would never happen again. She was wrong. Her feelings for this big biker were becoming stronger than she anticipated, making her uneasy. The more he cared for her, the deeper she fell.

She knew it was probably a stupid move. There was no way a biker would ever settle into a relationship when he had naked women around him all the time. Jana guessed every club had a group of women whose only job was to fuck the guys. She’d never be able to compete with that. She even thought she wouldn’t want to try, but that was rapidly changing, and it scared her.

She was falling hard and didn’t know how to deal with it.

She woke up crying a few times that night, and Gunner was always right there holding her. It made her grief so much easier because she knew she wasn’t alone.

Chapter Eight

Gunner opened his eyes the next morning. He wanted to groan when the muscles in his back started to cramp, because sleeping on a queen-sized mattress was hell on him. Besides, the fact he’d gotten little sleep made his disposition even darker.

Jana started to move around. He gave her a minute to awaken before talking to her.

“Baby, do you have to work today?”

She tilted her head up to look at him, and his breath caught in his chest. Even with blotchy skin and swollen red eyes from crying, he still found her to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

He smoothed the hair off her face. “Hey, do you work today?” he repeated.

She nodded. “I have to work a double shift because I’m taking another person’s day so they can be with family.”

“How many hours?” He didn’t like the sound of that.

“Around eighteen hours.”

“Fuck, woman. That can’t be healthy for you.”

“I don’t do it often, so it doesn’t hurt me. I’ll be able to take a few breaks so I can crash and get naps in. It helps.”

That made him feel a little better.

“I have to shower and get dressed,” she said.

He lifted his arm. “Go, I’ll make coffee.”

She smiled. “That would be wonderful.”

Gunner watched her get out of bed and walk into the bathroom before he stood, dressed, and walked out to the living room.

He smelled the coffee and cinnamon right away. He saw Chains pulling out food and drinks from a sack.

“Oh, hell. Thanks, man,” Gunner said.

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