BikersLibrarian (4 page)

“Only yours.” He started the bike up before she could reply.
She held his waist tight and he eased on the throttle. The scenic route usually
put him in a relaxed mood. But the feel of her breasts pressed up against his
back and her thighs wrapped around him made that impossible.

They pulled up to the lake and he willed his hard-on to
deflate. He wasn’t used to going without. It was an exercise in restraint.
Shutting off his engine, he rolled his shoulders, pulled the helmet off his
head, hung it off the handlebars, and glanced over his shoulder. “How you doing
back there?”

“Stiff,” Juliette said, laughing slightly as she removed her
helmet and shook down her ponytail.

“Yeah, you’ll get used to it after a while—“

“Hey. Who’s the bitch?” Slim’s husky voice shattered any
hope of easing her into their lifestyle. She gasped.

“Give me a fucking minute and I’ll introduce her, Slim.”
Shooter yelled back.

“Bitch?” Juliette whispered.

“They didn’t mean any offense. It’s just a term for women,”
Shooter said.

“Wow.”

He wanted to soften the blow but this was sink-or-swim time.
She’d be able to deal with this or she wouldn’t. Either way, he needed to know
before he let himself get in any deeper. “Words are all relative.”

She remained silent, taking in the scene. A handful of tents
had been set up a few yards away from the lake. His brothers stood around in
various stages of dress. Whores hung off their arms in tiny bikini tops, small
bottoms that exposed their asses and cut-off jeans that left little to the
imagination.

“They’re staying the night here?” she asked as he held a
hand out and helped her off the back of his bike.

“Yeah, you got a problem with roughing it?” He narrowed his
eyes.
I didn’t take her for a high-maintenance type of chick.

”No, not at all. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.”

“Forget everything you think you know about bikers and get
to know us personally. You think you can do that?” He glanced down at her,
wishing he could see inside her head. Bringing her among them was a risk. She
could turn tail, shut him out and run for the hills. It wouldn’t be the first
or the last time a woman discovered she couldn’t handle M.C. life.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to some people.” He placed a
hand on the small of her back and guided her away from the row of cycles.
Tension flowed from her and he swore he felt a wedge forming between them. He
led her over to Moose, who had his arm wrapped around Peaches. The bleach
blonde gave a friendly, dimpled smile.

“This is Juliette, she’s hanging out with me today. Juliette,
this is Peaches and Moose.”

“Hi,” Juliette said. Her voice was soft and subdued.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Peaches said. Her pronounced
southern twang and friendly blue eyes seem to set Juliette at ease. Juliette
took the hand Peaches offered and shook it.

“You the bitch that caught his eyes at the club?” Moose
asked.

“Yes.”

“Damn surprised to see you here,” Moose said.

“Um…” Juliette looked toward Shooter.

“He hasn’t brought a girl around in a long time. You must be
pretty special. You a magician or something?”

“No-no, a librarian,” Juliette said.

“Oh Jesus, The biker and the librarian. That shit is
classic.” Moose threw back his head and laughed. “Any friend of Shooter’s is a
friend of mine. If you want to put up with him, god bless you.”

“Shut up, you asshole. You’re embarrassing the fuck out of
her,” Shooter said.

“What? Afraid she’ll come to her senses? You should be,”
Moose said. The glint in Moose’s eyes told Shooter his friend knew exactly what
he was doing.
I bet the prick is enjoying every minute of it.

A peel of laughter burst from Juliette’s lush lips, shocking
Shooter.

“I-I’m sorry, you just remind me of a friend of mine.”

Moose grinned. “I like her. She’s not stuck-up like I first
thought.”

Juliette laughed harder and the knots in his stomach
loosened.
Maybe I wasn’t completely off my gourd for pursuing this.
He
craved the softness and light he saw inside her. She reminded him of a time in
his life he’d almost forgotten.

“Ass. Come on, Juliette, let me introduce you to less mouthy
brothers,” Shooter said, guiding her away from his best friend. “He likes to
stir shit up, but he’s harmless, I promise.”

“He’s huge, it’d be intimidating as hell if he wasn’t so
funny,” Juliette said.

“I’m just glad you get his humor. He’s run women off
before.”

“Your women?” Juliette asked.

“I won’t lie to you. I’ve never lived the life a monk, and
yeah I like women, so they were around, but none like this.”

“Like what?” She stared up at him with wide, brown pools
that made something in him go soft.

“You’re not just some bitch I’m screwing, Juliette. You have
to know that. If all I wanted was sex I have my pick. I never bring women
around like this. That’s why the brothers are going to give me shit.”

“Are you ashamed—”

“Fuck no. Do I look like the type of man who gives a shit
what other people think? Not that we judge here. That’s the best part of my
life. We exist how we want. No censure, no politically correct bullshit or
predetermined chains of society.”

“So we’re…dating?”

Shooter snorted. “I don’t date, but if the term makes you
happy, yeah. I guess we are.” Her bee-stung lips formed an
O
.

“You bring fresh pussy to share?” Casanova asked with a
predatory grin. Juliette gasped and took a step closer.

“She’s completely off limits. I so much as think you’re
looking at her wrong and I’ll break your ass down. You understand me,
Casanova?” Shooter growled, narrowing his eyes at the blond pretty boy who
never met a woman he couldn’t bed.

“Yeah, I get you, geez. No reason to be so damn touchy.”
Casanova held up his hands. “When you get tired of him, honey, come my way.”
Casanova winked.

Juliette shuddered. A flash of real fear flickered in her
eyes, and her gaze followed Casanova as he strutted off. “Hey, no one here is
going to lay a finger on you, all right?” Shooter asked. She blinked and nodded
slowly. Skeptical, he continued to introduce her to others until they made
their way back to Moose and Peaches.

“You want a beer, Librarian? You look like you could use
it,” Moose said.

“I’d love one,” she said swiftly.

Moose laughed and smacked Peaches on her ass. “Go bring us
two beers, Peachy.”

“I’m on it.” Peaches winked and sashayed off.

“Should I help your girlfriend?” Juliette asked.

Moose laughed. “You’re fine where you’re at, and trust me,
that ain’t my old lady.”

“Oh, okay.” Juliette glanced up Shooter and he felt the
chasm between them begin to form.

“Some women are around to have a good time, and we give them
that along with the means to survive. Peaches is one of them,” Shooter said.

“A prosti—”

“Now, now, no need for labels. Peaches choose this, we’re
not sex traffickers, for Christsake,” Moose said. “Better set your girl straight
before she rocks the boat and the surly ones get testy.”

“Rock the boat with who?” Juliette furrowed her brow.

“Take a walk with me,” Shooter said, guiding her away from
the noisy clusters of people nearby and out onto the trail. With the rich green
of the forest broken up by wildflowers, it had the potential for romance, if
only the air between them wasn’t strained by stress so thick it rivaled taffy.
“We choose to live this way and expect to be able to do so freely. That’s what
Moose meant back there. I know it’s a lot to take in and I‘d be stupid to not
consider that this may not be for you. All I ask is you keep an open mind and
keep your judgments to yourself.”

“Who said I was judging?”

“Aren’t you?”

“I’m trying to wrap my head around everything. It’s like I
walked into Oz or something. The people I know don’t live like this.” Confusion
shone bright in her eyes.

“You want me to take you home?”

“No, I want you to explain why I’m here in the first place.
I’m not your kind of girl.”

“Maybe that’s why. You’re the kind of girl I used to go for
once upon a time. I thought I was over with that but then you come along and
fill my mind with what ifs. I’m not a man who believes in regret so I took a
shot and went for it. I’m not going to treat you like one of the biker bunnies,
if that’s what you’re worried about. I do know how to treat a woman.”

“I know. That’s the problem.” She huffed. “You’re like two
men in one body. The biker who’s large, intimidating and most definitely
dangerous, but there’s also the man who holds open my door, puts his hand on
the small of my back when we walk and for some god-awful reason, makes me feel
safe. It’s been a long time since I felt that way with a man.”

“You can have both parts of me, but you can’t have one
without the other.”

“I know.” She glanced down. “ But I’m not sure I’m equipped
for this lifestyle.”

“That’s for you to decide.” He placed a finger under her
chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “I’m not going to be strung along, so I
suggest you figure it out fast. I’m going to ask you again—should I take you
home?”

Two heartbeats passed.

“No, I don’t want you to take me home. I want to stay.”

He grinned. “Then relax and enjoy yourself. I want to show
you what life is like when you’re with me.”

“I get the feeling it’s going to be one hell of a ride with
you, Shooter.” She tilted her head back and flashed a shy smile.

“I think you can learn to love walking on the wild side,
Librarian.” She leaned forward and he bent down, capturing her full lips. He
thrust his tongue inside her mouth and moaned at the taste of her. She was
lightness, sweetness and sunshine. A ray of purity in his dark world. His soul
rejoiced. His jeans grew tight. He deepened the kiss, seeking more of the
soul-nourishing vibrations she offered freely.

He slid his hand down her back and cupped her thick ass. She
gasped. He swallowed the sound, greedy for more of the woman who made him feel.
His soul ignited and he knew in his gut he wouldn’t be able to let her walk
away. He wanted to explore the connection that existed between him. The
intensity of her lure was so strong he’d broken his rule about getting close
and hadn’t looked back.

She pressed her hips against his, gripping the edges of his
cut. They moved their heads this way and that, exploring. His dick turned to
granite. She rocked her hips and he pulled away, sucking in air.

“Unless you want me to lay you down here and now, I think
we’d better stop.”

She glanced up at him, stunned. He chuckled and rested his
forehead against hers. “I’ve been dying to get between those killer stems of
yours since I first saw you. But I know you ain’t ready yet.”

“And you don’t mind waiting?” She arched an eyebrow and he
frowned.

“What kind of asshole would? I told you this isn’t just
about pussy. When it goes down between us it’ll be worth the wait.” He let his
arms drop to his sides and stepped away from her. “Let’s go back out there with
everyone. You’re too damn tempting for your own good.” He wrapped an arm around
her waist and led her back down the trail.

Juliette stumbled toward the kitchen, in desperate need of
caffeine after her impromptu late night. A breathy sigh slipped from her lips.
Shooter was everything she should run from.
But god, do I want him.
He
made her toes curl in her shoes, her heart speed and the well of happiness in
her soul overflow. Shooter woke good things. He helped heal that badly bruised
portion of her ego. She spun the carousel of coffee flavors, picked a dark
roast, popped it into the Keurig and pressed brew. The rich aroma filled the
air and she grinned as the liquid filled her favorite mug. For now, she was
okay with the risks she was taking. Shooter wasn’t the type of man you took
home to your parents. He didn’t have a polished exterior or an affluent family.
Yet, he embodied throwback qualities she longed to discover in a modern man.

A knock sounded on her door. She glanced at the clock.
Who’s
this at nine in the morning on a Wednesday?
She walked over and peered out
the peephole, surprised at the man clad in a brown uniform. Curiosity piqued,
she opened the door.

The close-shaven brunet smiled. His hazel eyes crinkled and
he held up the electronic keyboard.

“I just need a signature from you, ma’am.”

“Okay.” She signed her name on the line and eyed the
rectangular box tucked under his arm.

“Excellent, here you are, have a nice day.”

He handed her the box and she took it, offering up a small
smile as she retreated into her home, confused.
Did my mom send me
something?
It wasn’t unusual for her mom to send her goodies in the mail.
Juliette was guilty of doing the same thing if she saw something her mother
might like.
Who doesn’t like surprises?
Closing the door behind her, she
engaged the lock and walked into the kitchen. She placed the box on the
counter, grabbed a pair of scissors and gingerly cut through the tape. She
pulled back the freed flaps and gasped at the brilliant display of wild flowers
nestled in packaging with a square vase.

The doubts she’d harbored vanished. His lifestyle would be a
challenge to understand. Bitches, Biker Bunnies and a set of rules she didn’t
get left her off-kilter. While everyone seemed to be happy, it was harsh and
cruel. A happy ending seemed doubtful. Then Shooter did something like this.
Her hands shook slightly as she removed everything, filled the vase with water
and added the flowers, carefully arranging the baby’s breath among the
multicolored blossoms that included daises, sunflowers, peony, pom poms and a
few others she couldn’t recognize. Butterflies danced in her stomach. The way
this man her feel was unreal. Wonder and awe for his hidden depths brought a
silly grin to her mouth. The lack of a card seemed just his style. He didn’t
strike her as a poet. She stepped back to admire her work.
I am in trouble.

She lifted her mug and sipped her coffee carefully. The last
thing she wanted to do was open the floor for her friends to judge her.
Nibbling her bottom lip, she shifted her weight.
Best to keep it to myself
for now.
It was a good kind of secret to have. Pleased with her decision,
she finished off her coffee, and padded down the hall, feeling like a teenager
secretly dating the high school bad boy. Not that she saw Shooter that way. Bad
boys had never appealed to her. Sure, there was something sexy about the dark
and brooding men, but she’d never been drawn to them, which was why this thing
with Shooter came out of left field.

After a quick shower she snapped a picture and sent a photo.

Thanks for the flowers, they’re beautiful. J

Can’t take credit for that. You got a secret admirer? S

She frowned at the response. Who the hell would send her
flowers?

No, it’s probably my Mom. J

A woman has to keep things interesting, right? J

Juliette laughed. She hadn’t managed this on purpose, but
she wouldn’t tell him that.

Keep doing what you’re doing cause it’s working on me. S

She beamed, glad he couldn’t see her. Her sappy expression
would ruin the cool façade she was creating with her words.

You think about what I said last night? S

She furrowed her brow. Their conversation in the woods had
ended with an ultimatum. Holding her breath, she cast the die.

I’m in this for the long ride. J

Be sure. I’m persistent about the things I want, and I’m
an all or nothing type of man. S

Her stomach tangled into knots and moisture coated her
panties. She could hear him saying the words in his sexy baritone. He’d been
nothing but honest with her. There was no sugar coating or hiding things until
a later date. So she took his words to heart. Mulling over the things that
would happen if she said yes, she hesitated. She didn’t know his world. The
things she’d seen going on at the lake shocked and partially disgusted her. It
was like a mini-Woodstock. Men and women in various stages of undress. Smoking,
drinking and fornicating…there was no kinder word she could give the sexual
activity going on in those tents.

The thing was, they were free. They did as they pleased and
no one was being hurt, or forced into things. There was something admirable in
that.

I’m sure. J

It’s a done deal then. S

The text sent blood rushing to her face. Things had changed
between them. They were no longer dipping their toes into the water and seeing
what happened. Her heart raced and her throat tightened. She took a deep
breath, staving off the panic waiting on the wings to rush in.
I will not
become the things that happened to me in the past. I will move on and be happy.
This is a huge step, but nothing I can’t handle.
Her heartbeat slowed and
she cherished the victory. She was nothing like the woman who’d retreated to
lick her wounds.

Taking a deep breath she
calmed herself.
I’ll go into this with a level head.
Everyone had
secrets. It was just a matter of time until they came out. Her thoughts turned
to Joey.
I’ve known that girl all my life and she never said a word.
Suddenly
her best friend’s attraction to rebels made sense. Her thoughts shifted to her
own mother and her stomach bubbled. An old-fashioned woman left alone to raise
a child, she had a very narrow view on the type of man she wanted for her
daughter. Her mom thought a good job, strong family ties and dependability
equaled happiness.
If she only knew how wrong she was.

Brushing away unhappy thoughts from the past, she moved
toward the bedroom to get dressed and shower to go in to work for the afternoon
shift. Humming to herself, she dressed in a pair of black slacks, a white tank
top and her favorite black polka dot cardigan. Despite the heat outside, the
library was kept at a chilly temperature. She added a funky silver necklace
with turquoise squares for a pop of color and got into her car feeling like a
million bucks. Embracing the exceptional mood, she turned her Mp3 player to the
Beastie Boys and sang along.

* * * * *

Exhausted from a day on her feet and not enough sleep,
Juliette made her way toward her car. The library had been packed by kids
working on a term paper. It happened in spurts that way throughout the
semester. She approached the car and froze. Tiny purplish-blue flowers with
yellow centers were strewn across the hood of her car. Narrowing her eyes, she
looked around the empty parking lot. There was no sign of anyone, and all the
other cars were untouched. The name of the flower eluded her. She wanted to
place this on Shooter but it didn’t feel like him. Nothing that man did was low-key.
Maybe they were on other cars that left earlier.

Walking closer, she looked for signs of a flyer or a note.
It wasn’t unheard of for churches to hit their parking lot, maybe this was a
new gimmick? A really, really creepy one. Blowing a stray strand of hair out of
her eyes, she brushed the flowers off, keeping one to look up that night on Google.
Unlocking the door, she slipped inside, locked the car and shoved her keys into
the ignition. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She didn’t like odd
occurrences. Her trust in the basic goodness of humanity had been shattered, so
she always thought the worst.

She turned the engine, threw the car into drive and sped
from the parking lot. “I can’t let this make me go off the deep end. If I call
the girls panicking it’ll look like a back slide,” she said out loud, talking
herself down. “It doesn’t mean anything. I need to calm down and wait things
out.” Satisfied with her short-term plan, she relaxed. Too wound up to head
home, she took a detour and headed for her mother’s house. The only child to a
single parent she felt responsible for a portion of her mother’s happiness.
She’d worked two and three jobs to keep them both fed and put her through
school, so Juliette went out of her way to visit at least once a week. Not that
it was a complete chore. She loved her mom. They just had very different views
on how she should be living her life.

She pulled up in front of the ranch-style white house with
hunter-green shutters and smiled at the brilliant displays of flowers arranged
around the large oak in the front yards and in the flower beds in front of the
walkway. A yellow beautification from the community group stood out among the
dark purple Impatient. She glanced at the clock, 9:00p.m. A secretary for a
local insurance company, her mother kept early hours, but the living room
lights were on, which meant she hadn’t headed to bed yet. Climbing out of the
car, she hurried to the front door and let herself in with a key.

“Juliette?”

“It’d better be. Or do you have some relationship news you
need to share?”

“Honey, I’m just fine being alone. A man would only be
underfoot. I’ll be out, I’m just setting my coffeemaker.”

Juliette locked the door behind her and sank down on the
comfortable beige couch.

“Take your time. I got off work and thought I’d swing by and
see if I could catch you.”

Her mother emerged from the kitchen in a lavender robe,
bunny rabbit slippers and a purple headscarf. “You came right on time. I
haven’t gotten a chance to talk you recently.” Her mother sat down beside her
and they hugged. “How’ve you been?”

“Good, I’ve been getting out more.”

“I’m so glad. I know you took the breakup with Peter hard,
but there are other fish in the sea. You really had a winner with him though.”
Her mother shook her head.

Juliette bit the inside of her lip. She’d never told her
mother what had actually happened. It was far too embarrassing. “Just wasn’t
meant to be. We weren’t compatible where it counted.”
Because I’m sane and
he’s a sexual deviant.

“Any new prospects on the horizon? I’d like to have
grandkids some day, and you’re my only hope.”

“Mom, I have plenty of time.”
Here we go again.

“I know, honey. I just want to see you settled and happy.”
Her mother patted her hand. “I don’t want to see you end up like me.”

“Mom, there’s nothing wrong with being like you. You’re
amazing.” She squeezed her mother’s hand.

“A person gets lonely after a while. Always love yourself
enough to be able to be alone but don’t put things off so long you regret
them.”

The wealth of sorrow in her mother’s words made her chest
ache. “I won’t, Mom. As a matter of fact… I met someone. It’s new and
unexpected, so I don’ t want you to get your hopes up.”

“That’s wonderful. Unexpected? Did you meet him at work?”
The joy that lit up her mother’s face reinforced the rightness of the impromptu
reveal.

“No, while I was out with the girls.”

“So he’s passed the test. That’s a great way to start off.”

“Mmhmm.” Juliette forced a smile. He hadn’t failed the test
exactly, they just didn’t know she was still seeing him.

“Tell me about him.”

“We’re still getting to know each other, but so far he’s
very respectful and kind of old-fashioned in that masculine way you know I
like.”

Her mother narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure I like the sound
of that. You have to be careful. You want to be the one running the show. A man
will control you as much as you allow him to. Always have a backup plan. Money
set on the side and enough of yourself held back to continue without him.”

“I know, Mom,” Juliette said. She understood where her
mother was coming from, but she didn’t agree. A lukewarm love based on mutual
likes and similar goals wouldn’t make her happy. It was all or nothing. She
needed passionate, crazy, heated and forever. Life was too short for
watered-down versions of what you really wanted.

“You were always so sensitive and idealistic. It worried me
to death growing up.” Her mother shook her head and placed a hand over her
heart. “Just trust your old mom on this one.”

“Stop calling yourself ‘old mom’, and I do listen to you. I
really do. But we both know our wiring is different. You raised me to be strong
and independent. No relationship will take that away from me. I’d never let it.
That I can promise you.”

Her mother smiled. “I’ll hold you to that one. When am I
going to met this mystery man?”

“When I know if it’ll pan out or not.”

“Can I at least get a name?”

I can’t tell her Shooter.
She flashed back to the
first night she met him in the club. “Daniel.”

“Daniel, that’s a nice all-American name, is he cute?”

Not the words I’d use to describe him.
“He’s ruggedly
handsome. Dark hair, dark eyes, massive frame and he’s tall, Mom. He actually
makes me feel short.”

“That’s just wonderful. Ruggedly handsome…is he into camping
and fishing?”

“No, more adventurous things, he drives a motorcycle.”

“Ohhhh.” Her mother’s eyes narrowed. Her brow wrinkled,
turning her previously glowing face into the site of an oncoming storm. Taking
that as her cue to leave, Juliette stood. “Well, I don’t want to keep you. I
know you have to be up early, and I have the morning shift. I just wanted to
check in on you.” She kissed her cheek. “Night, Mom.”