Ryder: MC Biker Romance (Great Wolves Motorcycle Club Book 8) (4 page)

“So tell me about
your jewelry while I make these burgers.”

“What do you want
to know?”

“Well, what does
it look like?” 

“I can show you
some.” Jules fished around her lone bag and pulled out a velvet pouch. Inside
the pouch were unique looking rings, bracelets, and chains.

“What do you have
here?”

“My senior
project. I grabbed it all before I ran. The pottery was too big. But I have my
jewelry.”

I picked up a ring
and turned it around in my fingers. It wasn’t blinged out or sparkly princess
stuff. It was the opposite.

“It almost looks
like something you could pick out of the lake. And I mean that in a nice way.”
I had no idea how to talk about jewelry with this woman, but at least this
topic had her smiling. Unlike the utter despair, she had in her eyes when she
talked about her dad and her wedding day.

“No, I know,
you’re right. I don’t like fussy, I like natural. I want it to look like what
you said. Like you could see where it comes from.”

We ate my open
fire burgers, and she explained her ideas. I didn’t press her about the Hawks. I
also didn’t try anything. Though I couldn’t stop staring at her lips and the
place where her collarbone and neck came together. I imagined it probably
tasted very good.

We passed the time
together until after sunset and I let the fire burn down to embers.

“I’m going to turn
in. There’s room in there for two.” I indicated to my tent, which actually
could sleep four, or so it said when I bought it at the camping store. But that
would be four tiny people. At over six-feet tall I wasn’t the size of Ridge,
Steel, or even Stone but I was bigger than your average bear. Still, this
little thing could fit inside with me. I imagined the possibilities.

She must have been
imagining too and gave me a sidelong look.

“I know you liked
that kiss after our run in with the Hawks. But I get it. I’ll chalk it up to adrenaline.”
She looked from the tent to the fire and seemed to be weighing her options.

“I appreciate you
saving me. More than I can say. But it’s probably best if I just stay out here.
I’ll be fine.” I had no idea what that meant, but I wasn’t having it.

“Get in. I’ll stay
out here.”

“No, that’s not
fair. I really can’t.”

“You’re not
sleeping outside. Have you ever done that before?”

“No.”

“Okay.” Without warning,
I lifted her over my shoulder and slid her inside the tent. We were both
inside. Her beneath me. She’d barely had time to squeal in protest and my
current position hovering over her on the tent floor was giving me a hard-on
that was damned uncomfortable.

But I’d have to
ignore it.

“Now, you stay
here. Here’s my blanket. I’m taking this.” And I yanked the sleeping bag out
from under her. It had the effect of lifting her body up to mine. Which was
making ignoring my situation even worse.

I got up on my
knees and crawled out, bag under one arm, Jules laying in the middle of my
tent. I ventured a quick look back at her. She had a look of surprise, and her
mouth was open. I wanted badly to kiss her again. But that was a bad idea. I
didn’t want her to think my little roadside rescue came with strings attached.

She had plenty of
strings wrapped around her, courtesy of her dad it seemed. I wasn’t going to
add to them.

“Ryder. Really I
can sleep out there.”

“Shh. G’Night.” I
zipped up the tent and headed to the base of the tree just outside of my tent.
I’d sleep outside. I’d done it before.

I slid into the
bag. It was a warm night. It was hardly a hardship. The moon was bright as I
settled in. One eye on the tent and one eye on the lake. It was really damn
near perfect.

The small light in
the corner of my tent clicked on. What the hell? Was she planning on reading? I
tried to ignore it. This was, of course, impossible.

The light in the
tent made it so I could see her silhouette. I watched her arrange the blanket
I’d left. And then she killed me. Killed me dead. First, I watched her shimmy
out of her jeans. Then that SCAD t-shirt went over her head. On the other side
of one thin pup tent canvas was a nearly naked, completely gorgeous, damsel in
distress.

The pup tent next
to me was small in comparison to the pup tent under my sleeping bag. It was a
long hour before I finally fell asleep. And when I did, I dreamed about that
kiss by the side of the road from a runaway bride.

Jules

I thought I
wouldn’t sleep. Couldn’t sleep. But I did. Ryder had given up his getaway and
now his actual tent so I could be comfortable. And knowing he was outside the
zippered tent made me feel safe. For the first time since my Daddy had thrown
me into a drama that he controlled, I felt free.

As I dozed off, I
thought of the day. The mad dash away from the church, seeing Ryder for the
first time, and the way he handled my dad’s goons. I’d never seen anyone, not a
single soul, ever, stand up against my Daddy and his club. And Ryder did it
with a sexy smile on his face. He didn’t question himself or me. He just took
care of it. And me.

And he listened to
me go on and on about my designs. My dreams of designing for a living had no
place in the Devil’s Hawks.

In art school, we
all dreamed and shared and planned. But that wasn’t reality as my Daddy so cruelly
put it when I got home. I almost think he was glad that I had a “useless”
degree. He reveled in throwing it in my face. He wanted me to be dependent on
him. Trapped was his favorite position for the women in his life. He’d bullied
my Mom, and now it was my turn.

I messed up his
plans with Ryder’s help. But I knew that my plans were sketchy at best. Where
would I go? How would I survive?

I figured I had
three days to come up with something. Ryder had paid for three days here at the
camp sight, and he wasn’t kicking me out. That was something to hold on to. I
could stay hidden while the Hawks spun their Harley wheels looking for me.

So I closed my
eyes. I had three days. And I had a kiss from Ryder on my lips. I heard him
breathing outside the tent. It was amazing to me that he didn’t help me in
exchange for anything. He didn’t jump me or paw at me. He could have.

The truth was I
wanted him to kiss me again. When he’d lifted me over his shoulder and landed
on top of me, I’d held my breath. I thought I’d get another of his toe-curling
kisses. He held back, though. And crawled out of the little tent. It felt like
respect and I hadn’t had that from a man wearing leather my entire life.

Ryder was sleeping
under the stars, and I had my head in the clouds. I needed to figure shit out.
I also needed to sleep. So I did.

I awoke to bacon,
eggs, and my new friend at another open fire. He was quite the stunning sight especially
with a skillet in hand.

“Wow. That smells
good,” I said. Ryder looked as delicious as the food smelled. He’d ditched his
jeans, leather, and t-shirt and was, in fact, shirtless and dressed in board
shorts. He was spectacular. His abs were chiseled. His hipbones jutted out, and
I couldn’t help but notice the way he filled out those shorts. I had to stop
myself from staring.

I also felt
self-conscious for a moment. I couldn’t imagine what I looked like. Mouth open,
hair a mess, and the same jeans and t-shirt from last night. All of a sudden, I
wished I had a flat iron or even toothpaste.

“Hope you don’t
mind sharing a plate. I only packed one,” he said and indicated I sit at the
picnic table. I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to sniff my own
breath.

“I hope you don’t
mind, are you kidding me?” Ryder sat across from me and used a knife to spear
the bacon. He’d offered the fork to me.

“How’d you sleep?”

“Surprisingly
great. Thank you. How about you?”

“Not as great. But
not bad either.”

“You’re taking the
tent tonight.” I felt guilty as hell. He shrugged at my suggestion.

“So those the only
clothes you got?” he asked me.

“Yes. Daddy would
have been suspicious if I’d packed a bigger bag.”

“Do you know how
to swim?” He was firing questions at me.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Well, I’m going
for a swim this morning, thought you’d like to join me.”

“Naked?” I blurted
out.

“That would be my
preference.” He looked me in the eye and then his gaze followed down my body.
My face got hot.

“I’ll hang out
here. Thanks.”

“I thought as
much.” Ryder went over to his bike and pulled out a bag with the words Covert
Campground General Store printed on it. He tossed it to me.

“Nice catch,” he said,
and I untied the knotted handles of the bag.

Inside the bag, I
found a t-shirt with a silhouette map of Michigan and the words “unsalted”
printed on it, a travel toothbrush, a three pack of cheap cotton underwear, and
at the bottom, a red bikini. All items you could get at a drugstore, or in this
case apparently, the General Store of Covert Campground.

“They sell
underwear?”

“Everything you’d
need. They’ve even got Boones Farm. Another critical element to long-term
survival.” I wrinkled my nose at Ryder.

“This is nice.
Here.” I tried to give him cash like I had last night. But he pushed my hand
away.

“It’s on me. I
realize that the high-quality items you see, there would lead you to believe
that thousands were spent, but I barely broke a twenty.”

“You should take
it for gas money.” I already had hijacked his mini-camping trip. I didn’t want
to owe him money too.

“You should hang
on to all the cash you can.” He was right about that. I had no real idea where
I was going or how I was going to make money once I got there. The $5,000 I had
stashed in my bag could disappear fast.

“Well thank you.”

“You’re welcome.
Now I’m planning on going for a swim, maybe fish, and generally, appreciate
nature. You’re welcome to join me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Am I sure I want
a hot blonde hanging out with me all day? Yeah. I’m sure.” Ryder was a flirt.
No question about it. And the idea of getting close to him in the water had me
blushing

I took a quick
walk to the campground facilities. The bathing suit was tiny. Four triangles
and a few strings to hold it all together. I wondered if this was the only
option from the camp store or a deliberate preference on Ryder’s part. I kind
of hoped it was his preference.

I popped the
Michigan t-shirt on top over the teeny bikini and walked back.

I worried about my
bag and the cash inside. And at first, I didn’t see Ryder. I looked toward the water,
and there he was. We were isolated. There’s no reason anyone would think I had
my life savings in the pup tent, and it would be in my line of sight. I
carefully placed the t-shirt over my bag in the tent and walked toward the
water.

Lake Michigan was
gorgeous. I had grown up in this state but on the other side. My dad built us a
pool but wasn’t one to visit the lake. The President of the Devil’s Hawks
didn’t do family vacations. Looking at the lake, I realized how much I had
missed. It was spectacular and the color I’d imagine the Caribbean to be.

I put a toe into
the water, and a little gasp escaped my lips. Cold!

Ryder heard me and
turned to see me contemplating a complete retreat.

“Wow,” he said,
and a gasp of his own escaped his lips. I watched his eyes dart to each little
scrap of fabric.

“It’s a little small,”
I said. But then again I was not in the position to complain. This man had
thoughtfully provided me with a few things that I needed and didn’t have since
fleeing my nuptials.

“It’s perfect.”
Ryder hadn’t looked me in the eye since I’d showed up in the teeny bikini.

“Thanks,
” I said and took one more tentative step.
The sun was warm but this water. I wasn’t sure about.

“Come on.” Ryder
put a handout.

“It’s freezing.”

“It’s not
freezing. It’s invigorating.” I put my fingers in his, and he closed his hand
around mine. Then he gave a little tug to urge me forward. I took a few more
steps.

“Woo!” We were
quickly knee deep, and Ryder was relentless.

“Come on Princess
you won’t melt.”

“No, I’ll turn
into an ice cube.” I had my arms lifted above the water as we waded in waist
high.

“Sorry in advance,”
Ryder said, and a smile spread across his face that despite the cold water,
heated me down to my toes. Before I had a chance to ask what he was sorry for
he pulled me forward and off balance. He lifted me up and literally chucked me
into the lake! I went completely under.

It was cold, but
he was right. Going under at once was way better than my bit by bit method.

But I wasn’t going
to admit that to him! I charged. I got as much leverage as the sandy bottom
would let me. I was going to get him under or die trying.

Ryder laughed as I
jumped up to his shoulders and pushed down. He then pretended I wasn’t there.

“Ah, lovely day at
the lake. I’ve got the sun and the water and the fish are biting.”

“You will go
under! You will pay.” He laughed again and grabbed me around the waist. His
skin was warm against mine. He drew me in close. His arms circled around me,
and my body pressed up against him.

He had me lifted
up and our lips were inches away.

I closed the
distance. There was no reason, if I wanted a kiss, that I shouldn’t have one.

I put my lips on
his. He let me kiss him, and it blinded me. I don’t know about love at first
sight but maybe love at the second kiss.  Whatever it was it was like
lightning.

His tongue probed
into mine. I held on as our kiss deepened. We were in the water, and he
supported my body. I rubbed against his hard muscled chest and wanted more. The
strings of my suit were flimsy at best, and I felt him slide them to the side.
There was nothing but a tiny wet bit of fabric between him and me. He separated
our mouths and looked down at me, nearly naked in the water with him.

He locked eyes,
and I nodded. More than yes. That’s what I wanted to say. But all I could
manage was a nod.

Ryder’s mouth
trailed down my neck. I wrapped my legs around him and did everything I could
to get closer. He used his teeth to trap my already hard nipples and I almost
came right there. Right then. I was insane for more. I could feel his hardness
pressed up against me. It almost hurt in the most delicious kind of way.

Ryder nudged the
triangles of the bikini top to the side and exposed both my breasts. He buried
his face in me, and his tongue and teeth teased me mercilessly. I squeezed my
thighs around him and kissed his ear, his jaw, and his mouth. I couldn’t wait
any longer I had to have him inside me.

I slid my hands
down around his hips and slid the top of his shorts down just a little. Just
enough to feel him spring free.

“Don’t play with me,
Princess,” Ryder growled the warning into my ear. His breath was hot and heavy.

“Please. Fuck me.”
I didn’t mince words. It’s what I wanted and what I needed.

“Dirty mouth for
such a white dress,” he said and pulled up hard on the side of my bikini bottom
before tugging one string completely free.

Ryder somehow maneuvered
me right above him. The tip of him teasing me like his lips had earlier. The
combination of his hot skin and the cold water made me crave the heat of him.
He held me by my hips over him, and I tried to get lower, take him in, make it
happened. But he was in control. He slid me down slowly, inch by torrid inch,
and I moaned loudly into the air. God I hoped we were as alone as I thought we
were.

He was almost too
much. He pushed my hips down so I was filled with him. I cried out again as he
clamped his lips down on my breast and rocked into me. Then slowly I felt him
lift me and slide almost out. I clenched for him with my hands, with my core,
with everything I had.

“I love watching
you come apart. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” He told me and then pushed
my hips downward onto him again.

The water slowed
the motion down enough to have me desperate. I was at the mercy of his hands
lifting me and pushing me down onto this length. I couldn’t rock against him
with no gravity to help me. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced. His hands
roamed from my hips to the back of my cheeks, and he squeezed them hard.

All the while he
gave both of my breasts attention with his tongue. I was overwhelmed. Out of
control. Out of my head. We were in the open air, in the morning sun, and I
didn’t once think once about anyone catching us.

He slid me up
again almost away. And that’s when I snapped.

“I’m begging.
Please. Let me. Now. I can’t hold on I can’t,” I said, and he gave me a smile
that was almost cruel if it wasn’t so damn sexy. He looked like a wolf, ready
to eat me whole.

“Come.” Was all he
said and then he pushed me down again. He was deeper than anyone had been with
me before. Maybe it was my position on him. Maybe it was the water. I don’t
know. He lifted me and rocked me at his own whim. I felt light explode in my
eyes. I felt tremors run from my center to my toes as he finally sealed my hips
to his. His hard up tight against my soft.