Page 41 of Bride for the Bikers

“God damn,” groans Thunder.

I moan, feeling used and dirty. In a good way. Like a bad girl. I should probably be ashamed, but I'm not. Especially when I look up to find Outlaw leaning against the wall, watching. There are take-out bags at his feet. I have no idea how long he's been there, but our eyes meet.

He doesn't make a move to join, but he tips his head in acknowledgment. “Dinner's here.”

23

HARPER

I don’t knowwhat to expect when we pull off the highway deep in a city I’ve never visited. The neighborhood is a mix of brick apartment buildings and single family homes, with businesses slipped in here and there. I guess I knew it wasn’t going to be a tent city full of motorcycles, but it seems very normal. It’s not a rich area, with some boarded up storefronts, and a few overgrown lawns, but for the most part it’s clear that the people who live here care about their places, they just might not have the money to keep it picture perfect.

A group of people hanging out on the stoop of an apartment building look up as we drive past. One of the men raises a hand in greeting and Shadow returns it. It reminds me a lot of the neighborhood I grew up in, before we moved to be closer to the specialist doctors.

With my arms wrapped around Thunder's waist as far as I can, I straddle the back of his deep red motorcycle, watching the city slide by. We roll through an intersection. Off to one side is a bar called The Eagles' Roost, with a long row of motorcycles parked out front. It reminds me of Chainsaw Charlie's in Vegas. And ifthe name isn't a good hint as to whose turf we're on, when I turn to look across the street, all doubt is removed.

A huge compound with massive walls stretches down the block as far as I can see. The walls are tall, maybe two stories high, and topped with vicious looking barbed wire. I can’t see inside, except for what looks like the top story of a huge warehouse with a gigantic Screaming Eagles logo on the wall that must be visible from at least a couple blocks away. We drive up to a large gate that’s partly open, but it's watched over by a couple of tough-looking guys with the same patches on their leather vests. They wave us through into a courtyard in front of the warehouse.

There're bikes everywhere, parked wherever there's room. My gut instinct is fear of the dangerous looking men hanging around outside. Are the ones I’m with any different? I’ve long since stopped thinking they are scary, because when I look at my four, I see more than the rough clothes, tattoos and take-no-prisoners attitudes. I’ve seen them laugh. I’ve seen them worry about each other.

I’ve seen their passion.

To the side of the warehouse, a huge garage gapes open, with people working on bikes inside. It's way more impressive than the glorified frat house I’d pictured in my head. In the other direction, there are actual homes, with little bits of lawn, painted shutters and everything. There's even some little bikes with training wheels knocked over on one of the lawns. Kids? In a place like this?

Thunder kills his engine right in front of the metal stairs that lead up to a little platform in front of the front door. “Hop off, honey,” he says.

I slip off and stretch. It’s been a long ride, and I’m still a little sore from last night. My thighs are killing me and my butt is numb.

“I could watch you doing that all fucking day, baby girl,” Shadow says as he pushes his bike up on its stand. “Showing off those sexy curves… fuck.”

I’ve always felt a little bit invisible. Mom never seemed to want to draw attention to herself, and I guess that rubbed off on me. It’s strange to suddenly beseen. I keep wondering when they're going to realize that I’m nothing special, but until then, I'm going to enjoy it. At some point, they'll be done with me and go back to their sexy exciting lives, and I’ll go back to… I don’t know. I'll never have another experience like this, no doubt about it.

“Come on.” Lightning smacks my butt, making me jump forward with a surprised squeak.

He laughs as he leads the way up the stairs and into what I guess is the clubhouse. When they called it that, all I could picture was a little tree house with a big “No girls allowed!” sign over the rope ladder up, but it's obviously a lot more serious.

Shadow holds the door for me, and when I look over my shoulder to thank him, I walk right into what feels like a wall.

“Hey now. Better watch where you're going. Who are you with?” The man standing over me is huge. Just as big as Thunder and Lightning. He's wearing a black tank top, revealing massive arms covered in dark tattoos. His hair's cropped short and he's looking down at me with questions in his brown eyes.

“What? I—” What do you even say to that?

“Us,” Shadow answers, patting him on the shoulder in greeting. “Badass. All good?”

Badass grins and pats him back with whacks that'd knock a lesser man over. “Damn it’s good to see you back. We heard about the trouble. Shoulda known you’d bring back a souvenir. She for sharing?”

Lightning laughs. “'Fraid not, not that you fucking care. Natalie would have your balls.”

They laugh together and Badass nods. “And fucking rightly so. Nah, those days are behind me and I’m a better man for it. But if she ain't a slut, then what’s her deal?”

“You must not have heard all the news. She got into some trouble of her own out in Vegas and got dragged into ours. We’re getting her sorted out,” Shadow explains.

An athletic biker with sandy blond hair and piercing blue eyes joins us. “Watch out. That's how it starts,” he says with an almost boyish grin. “Outlaw! Fucking hell, man. Have you seen Doc yet? Heard you caught a bullet out there. Hurts like a motherfucker, don't it?”

“Can’t say I’d recommend it, but it’ll take more than that to take me down.” Outlaw's been quiet, but he seems friendly with the new guy. “I’ll go get it looked at once we’re settled in.”

“Quickshot.” Shadow pats him on the shoulder. “Good to see ya, but we've got to go report to Prez. You know how much he loves waiting.”

Badass winks at me. “Welcome to the club.”

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