Riding with the Bad Boy (A Dark Motorcycle Club Romance) (3 page)

I
stood
outside of the dorm room waiting for Audrey to answer the door. What once had been a shared room, now belonged to just her. I loved my time on the college campus, but I had to spend the few weeks of my college experience at the clubhouse.

I
t was
all because the motorcycle club thought I was a danger. Apparently they got into some deep shit with another club and someone got screwed over. The last thing you ever want is a rival gang to hold a grudge.

I
convinced my brother
, to wait outside the dorm room for me. I could see him through the hallway window and I knew that he was standing directly next to the door, stalking back and forth, waiting for me to emerge. Typical.

W
hen I explained
that I needed to go to school early in the morning for a study group he was the very first one to volunteer. I had a feeling it had something to do with the conversation he had with Audrey yesterday. Audrey had always been attracted to bad boys and older men. She was constantly going after them whenever we went out, it was like I couldn't keep her hands off them. Especially if they were muscular and tall.

B
ear fit
the profile for both.

I
f he knew
what happened between Coyote and me, he didn't say a word of it. The whole ride to the college on the back of his bike was awkward intense. Maybe he did know.

"
A
re
you coming out sometime today? " I shouted through the door. We had an honest relationship and I liked it that way.

A
udrey’s muffled reply came
and then a few seconds later she opened the door. She had way more makeup than I’d ever seen her wear, and her hair was absolutely gorgeous. She’d tamed the wild frizz into a mess of sweet curls. She was trying, and hard.

"
Y
es
, just give me a minute." She opened the door so I could come in and then she returned back to the mirror on her dresser, searching through her jewelry box and picking out a set of earrings. They were cute little things, but I knew Bear wouldn’t notice. He didn’t give a shit about any of those things.

"
T
his doesn’t have
anything to do with my brother standing outside, does it?" I knew the answer to that before I even asked her, but I wanted to play with her a little bit. Having a crush on your best friend’s brother wasn't exactly the smartest thing to do. Still I couldn't blame her, Bear was a handsome guy and had that bad boy appeal. Hell, that was what made me so attracted to Coyote.

"
W
hat
? No, I just want to look nice today. No particular reason." Audrey blushed and then gave me the side eye.

Y
eah right
, like I believed that.

"
S
o
, what happened between you and Coyote last night? I saw the way he was looking at you before I left. What did he really want to talk to you about?” She winked at me, trying to make me the one who was uncomfortable.

L
ast night
I’d done something I never thought I do. I actually slept with the club president. And it was the good kind of sex. The life changing, world-rocking kind of sex that left you completely breathless. I didn't expect him to, but I didn't say no either. He was sexy as hell and I wasn’t one bit sorry. I’d fantasized about him ever since I was a teenager, the older, rougher biker a forbidden crush. I didn't let the opportunity to make him mine pass me by.

"
L
et's just say
, we had a very intense conversation, and I may regret it,” I admitted. I wasn't going to tell her the whole story, but the look on my face said it all. Dammit, I was never that good at my poker face.

A
udrey squealed
and smacked me on the shoulder, her eyes wide. “Girl, that man is so handsome I can't believe it. Did he really want to talk to you, or was it… something else."

"
Y
es
, it was about something else. We slept together, well, I guess you could say we ‘fucked’."

"
H
ow was it
?" I couldn't believe she was asking me this.

"
W
ell
, it was hard and passionate, and it was just as good as I always imagined it a would be." I bit my lip and waited for her to start barraging me with questions. She didn’t, her attention was back on her own face. I’d lost her attention to Bear. She was staring at herself in the mirror.

“
I
am so
glad you got some, girl. You needed it.” She giggled and finished putting her earrings in. I couldn't believe she said that. I flipped her off and she stuck her tongue out at me.

I
'd never had
such a good friend.

S
he grabbed
my hand and pulled me toward the door. "So, about your brother…"

T
here it was
. The question about Bear’s availability. I’d been waiting for it, knew it was going to come, but even when it did, I had to think of how to approach it. She was a smart woman, and she could make her own choices, but Bear was Bear.

I
considered
my words very carefully.

"
L
ook
, I'm not one to judge anybody, but you at least deserve to know exactly what you're getting into. These boys, they aren't the kind who you can imagine a life with."

"
W
hat do you mean
? I don't know if I want a life with anyone." She looked confused, so I continued.

"
T
hey live fast and dangerous
. They aren’t going to have a job that's 9-to-5 and they certainly won't be able to provide you with the kind of life your are accustomed to." I was warning her. I wanted her to know exactly what she was getting into with him, but she wouldn’t listen to me. She never did.

A
udrey waved me away
, a slow smile returning to her lips.

"
I
don't want
the kind of life my father wants for me, Charlotte.” She looked into my eyes and I knew she was being sincere. “You know that. I want a life where I actually get to live. I never wanted to be the trophy wife of some rich aristocrat. It just isn't me.” It was true. She was everything opposite of what any of us expected. She was smart but bold, she was a firecracker and she didn't ever take no for an answer.

S
till
, I had to try.

“
B
ut
-“

“
I
don’t care
if it is short term, I want to see where this goes, but I also don’t want to go after bear against your wishes."

F
ast and dangerous
. I knew that was the life Audrey always dreamed about, but I wasn't sure that she fully understood what she was getting into. "Look, I give you my full blessing to go after Bear if that's what you want. But if it turns out to be a horrible mistake, don't blame me for that. I love you like a sister, and I don't want to see you get hurt. Bear can be unpredictable." That was putting it nicely. He was my brother, and I was the first to admit when he was an ass. It was all the fucking time.

W
ell
, now that that was decided, she pulled me down the stairs and outside of the dorm building. Bear was there, waiting for us smile on his face since he saw Audrey. She blushed at him.

H
ow long is
the study session anyways?" Bears eyes lingering over Audrey. I cleared my throat to get his attention. "It should be no more than 45 minutes, there. I'm not asking you to sit around the whole time if you have something better to do –"

N
o
. I'm here to protect you. You have no idea what could be out there waiting for you. I want to abandon."

"
W
hy do
you have to follow me around, watching to me instead of using some prospect?” He had so much he could be doing, so much work that needed to be done at the garage. There was no reason for him to be there. I know before I even asked why it was him, why he chose to come “protect” me. And it wasn't because I was his sister either, it was because of the girl who was my best friend.

B
ear said
, "Well, when you're done, Coyote wants us both back of the motorcycle clubhouse. Audrey, do you think you want to come with? You’ll have to drive, only got room for one extra on my bike.

I know you have free access to it, and it may be safer if you hang around with us. If the Devils know that you’re close friend of Cub’s, they may talk to you as well."

"
D
o
you think there will be any danger? " Audrey asked.

"
I
t's very unlikely
, but we want to make sure that you're taken care of as well. We’ll have a prospect watching the dorm at all times for any suspicious activity. In fact, I don't know why didn't think of it sooner. No motherfucker will dare bother you."

I
sped
up ahead of them, trying to ignore their obvious flirting and walked across the campus quad leaving Bear a little bit of space to talk to her.

M
y mind was too occupied
by everything else. I had an international relations course to study for; the final was in two days. And then, there was Coyote. I didn't know how to handle him. I woke up this morning and he was gone, already out of the club and on his way to work, nothing discussed between us. The last thing he said to me before we fell asleep was that I was his. What in the hell did that entail? I wasn't sure.

M
y life was far
from easy. Right now the only thing I could worry about was getting through the last few weeks of school.

I
t was going
to be hard when all I could think about was Coyote.

B
y the time
I got out of my study group it was at least noon, I could tell because I was ravenous. Bear was there, waiting for us. He was standing against the stone building, one leg up on the wall the other down. Complete with his hands in his pockets. It looked like he was trying to be the total badass. I had no doubt the effect was for Audrey.

I
smirked looking
over at her to make a joke, normally she would’ve thought a guy doing that shit was hilarious. But, she was giving him such sappy eyes I couldn't help but roll mine. She was smitten. How gross.

"
Y
ou ready to go
? Follow me." He asked as he started ushering me towards the parking lot where he put his bike. He refused to transport me like a civilized human being, telling me, "there is no way I'm riding in a cage."

"
Y
eah
, I'm ready. You go on and say goodbye to your love." I emphasize the O in love making fun of the two googly eyed lovebirds.

T
he ride wasn’t
a long one, Bear knew all the shortcuts back to the clubhouse. We wound through the small one-way streets and alleys and self-confident in his own driving. I never could get used to riding on the back of a motorcycle. You think it would be easy, considering I grew up in one of the most well-known motorcycle clubs in the area. Our territory with sacred, no one dared cross into it, so at least I knew we were a safe distance from any conflict. The small Borough line marked the beginning of our territory and the beginning of my sanctuary.

I
thought about Audrey
, would she be better off in the club with us? Or was it just a ploy of Bear’s to get her in his bed.

I
followed
him into the clubhouse my eyes searching for Coyote. The man was at least a head taller than half of his club. He was everything I’d ever wanted. Tall, confident, and strong. Coyote stood out in any crowd, it didn’t matter if it was men like him or not. And it wasn't just because of the massive tattoos he had all over his torso, no, it was because of the confidence held within.

C
oyote parted
the distance between us grabbing me by the arm and pulling me into him, my body plastered against his side. It didn't go unnoticed, especially by Bear who gave him a look that could be nothing other than curiosity and irritation. He wouldn't dare question his president in front of the club. None of them would.

T
his wasn't a church meeting
, those were held in the off-limits conference room, the one with a snake carved into the table. Instead, it was held in the common room of the club, where the pool table and all the club whores were. I clung to him, trying to ignore the club women who watched as Coyote dipped his hand down into my jean pocket grabbed my ass. There was nothing I could do to stop it, and I didn’t want to. Whatever Coyote wanted to classify me as he had that right as club president. I could be anyone, anything he wanted, I could be his old lady, or patch property or just another one of the hang club girl.

"
L
adies
, assholes," Coyote greeted, "I called you here today because I have some important news, that you all may like to know.” He spoke with the formality of a man who was holding something back. I knew him, it had to be his anger.

"
A
s some of
you know we've been receiving… letters… From an anonymous group who feels the need to threaten our club." He slammed down another one of those papers on the nearest pub table. "This one explains that none of our loved ones are safe. It goes on to give, in detail, the consequences for being associated with our little club. I'm not sure which one of you screwing someone over, but if you did, if you so much as looked at another guy funny, I need you to tell me. I'm sick of this shit. We’ve got other shit to do.”

I
didn't know
what he was talking about, but I certainly didn't want to read the letter on the table. Clearly someone had pissed off somebody who was powerful. Or there was a group trying to encroach on our territory.

I
didn't know
what was going on, but I knew that the safest place to be was with the clubhouse. It was surprising, actually. I thought the best thing I could do was distance myself from the clubhouse, but even being affiliated with them was enough to make my life dangerous. It could've been worse, I could've been a member of a club that didn't value its women or its family. I'd heard stories of men pimping out the old ladies and the daughters, of other clubs. It didn’t change the fact that even being a part of Snake’s Bite put me in danger.

O
ur club was much
on more honorable, sure they had women that they considered club property, but that was a part of the life. Our club was better than most when it came to women.

T
he club didn't get involved
in prostitution. They didn't beat women. They knew that every single woman with somebody's daughter, the moment the woman decided they didn't consent, they didn't have to do anything they want to. It was the only thing I really respected about the club. Well, that and Coyote’s tight ass.

C
oyote looked
around the room waiting to find out who the transgressor was, but nobody spoke up. The silence was the worst possible thing.

"
F
ine
, if nobody wants to tell me to my face that I'm going to have to do a little bit of investigating. I promise you this, though, find out this was intentional, if one of you caused this on purpose, you'll lose a lot more than what if you would’ve told me when I asked." I knew what that meant. The price for the betraying the club was simple. Death.

"
D
ismissed
." He stood there, holding me as the rest of the group followed out, everyone except for Bear.

"
S
o
, is this a thing now?"

“
Y
ou got
some kind of question?" Coyote looked like he was ready for a fight.

“
Y
eah
, are you fucking my sister, or what?" Bear didn't back down against Coyote. Ever. I never saw it and I never thought he would. The two of them had been friends ever since they were little, and now with Bear being my only protector, he stood up for me.

"
I
am
. You got a problem with that?" Coyote all but snarled.

"
O
nly if you
ain’t going to treat her right." The machismo was almost too much to take, I felt like they were two men arguing over a piece of land, not me as a person. Though a small part of me, one afraid to admit it, thought it was a little bit exciting.

"
I
respect you
, Bear, I’d never do anything to hurt your sister. I want to protect her." Coyote’s eyes flashed, and for a moment I consider the seriousness of that statement. Just what exactly did he want?

B
ear considered
him for a moment and then finally he nodded. "Fine. But don't think I won't be there the moment that you fuck up, Coyote. I consider you one of my brothers, hell you're my president, but if you so much as I –" Bear spoke, but I couldn't take it anymore.

"
E
nough
. Both of you." I yelled. "Why do you keep acting like I'm just some kind of property? I'm here, stop talking about me like I'm not." I dislodged myself from Coyote’s arms and turned storming off down the hallway corridor.

I
didn't want
to hear them talk about me like that anymore. The only place I could take solace was my bedroom. It was what little personal space is still had left. I flopped on the bed and covered my eyes with my arm, trying to block all out all this shit.

I
t was too real
. The last thing I wanted to do was be involved in some kind of club shit.