Losing Traction: Westbeach #1

  That’s a relief to hear, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to kick his ass one day for popping that question on me.

  I close the bathroom door and step into the double-headed shower. Holy hell, I need one of these and I need one ASAP. I make a mental note to text Blake and tell him I want one put in, well, a smaller version that will fit inside my house. Turning on the faucet, I take one of the soaps that are sitting on the rail. It’s hotel soap, but I guess it’d still be classed as expensive hotel soap considering this suite would probably range around fifteen thousand a night. I run the soap over my body, well attempting to do it the best I can. I can’t bend down and I can barely walk from my inner thigh pain. I turn the shower off, towel drying my hair. I’ll suffer later for washing it twice within a twenty-four hour period. Pulling out my panties and tight white destroyed mini cut-off shorts, I pair it with a lace white tank top. After applying some BB Cream onto my face and brushing my hair out, I put all my stuff back into my bag—including my dismantled underwear.

  That’s two the prick owes me.

  I walk into the kitchen, the smell of bacon and eggs traveling into my senses having my mouth water to life. “Mmm,” I say appreciatively, dropping my bag onto the floor beside the counter before sliding out a stool and taking a seat. “Need any help?” I ask, fluttering my eyelashes at him.

  He shakes his head with a smile. “No, you just sit. I need you rested and fed.”

  “Oh! Is that so?” I say jokingly to him.

  He smiles an enigmatic smile at me while flipping the bacon. This really is a sight to see. Ryder Oakley flipping bacon with nothing on but his jeans, which are unbuttoned, showing his perfect ripped muscles that line down his V line. He dishes out plates and pulls out some orange juice from the fridge along with two tallboy glasses, filling them with ice before taking a seat next to me.

  “You cook?” I ask him.

  He shrugs. “Bacon and eggs? Yeah. Anything fancy that doesn’t include mac and cheese? No.”

  I laugh, taking a drink of the cold freshly squeezed orange juice, the cold refreshing juice bringing my taste buds to life. “I don’t like mac and cheese, I’m more of a steak and carb sort of girl. So you’re safe.”

  “My girl loves steak? Who would’ve known,” he says with a smile.

  My eyes narrow and he throws his head back giving me one of his beautiful, carefree laughs.

  “By the way,” I say to him, taking a bite out of my English muffin, “you owe me two pairs of panties now.” I smile innocently at him.

  His face falls into a small smile. “I forgot about that. Eat. Then we can go shopping.”

  I shake my head, wiping my mouth with a napkin and swallowing the greasy goodness. “No, I didn’t mean we go shopping, I mean just…you owe me.”

  He laughs, throwing a grape into his mouth. “We may as well do it here.”

  “So I can wake up with more friend requests? No thanks.”

  “What?” he asks confused, cocking his head to the side. I forgot to mention to him last night about my Facebook account.

  “I checked my Facebook last night before I rang Blake, and I had a million fricken friend requests and notifications.”

  Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he places his hand out to me. “Can I have a look?”

  I nod, sliding my phone unlocked and passing it to him. He opens up my Facebook app, his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Shit!” He laughs lightly.

  I take my phone back off him and look down. “Holy fucking shit!” I gasp out in shock, “That has quadrupled overnight! No offense but your fans are a little crazy —and they scare me.”

  He laughs, pulling me under his arm. “That they are. Come on, I’ll have a shower then we’ll go.”

  I swallow down my nerves because this is going to be crazy. Talk about overnight celebrity. God, a lot of little girls are going to hate me. Just what I need. Shit! What about my family? It will only be time until the tabloids have dug into my past and see that I was raised in the arms of an MC. This is not good. My phone pings with a text and I slide it open seeing it’s from Melissa.

  Melissa: Okay bitch, I’m pissed.

  Me: I know, I’m sorry. It all happened rather fast.

  Melissa: You couldn’t text me? Holy shit. There are paparazzi outside your house and hanging around HQ.

  Me: Oh no. Blake will be pissed. I’ll call him now.

  Melissa: How’s the dick? Still good?

  Me: MELISSA!

  Melissa: I’m not even sorry.

  I roll my eyes hiding a laugh. I miss my girls so much. This tour has been great, but I can’t wait to be back in my house with my girls and my dog where things can just go back to normal.

  Somehow, I don’t see that happening.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask Blake once he answers his phone.

  “Yeah, it should be fine. They’ll go away eventually. They know about us, your family. All our shit is hidden deep, so I’m not worried about that. I’m concerned about what this could do to you, though.”

  “What do you mean, do to me?”

  “Phoebe, be smart. Rock God Ryder Oakley has finally found his woman, whose family is a part of a notorious Motorcycle Club. Does that sound appealing to you? He’s never been with anyone, but he picked you. You have a target locked on your back.”

  “Okay, so I’m going to get a lot of shit. I can handle it, Blake.”

  “No man is worth you feeling any less about yourself than what you really are, Phoebe, and that’s exactly what the media and his fans are going to do with you. To them? You’re no way good enough for him. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  I clear my throat. “I’m willing to risk it, Blake. Just catch me if I fall.”

  “Always, I will always catch you.”

  “No, nope…fuck that!” I hear Vicky in the background, “If Ryder Oakley fucks with you, he fucks with me. And let me tell you something, there’s nothing more dangerous in this damn world than a hormonal pregnant woman who hasn’t been able to see her vagina in six months!” I burst out laughing and Blake chuckles. “You heard that right? We all got you, Speedy. When you coming home?”

  “We’re flying for Madison Square today and I’ll be back in Westbeach on Saturday.”

  I cannot wait to be home.

  “I’ll see you then. I love you,” he grunts.

  “I love you, Phoebe!” Vicky yells in the background

  “I love you guys, too. Give Pipper a big cuddle from me, too.”

  “Will do.”

  Locking my phone back, I put it into my overnight bag. Ryder comes out of the room freshly showered in a black T-shirt and loose fitting dark denim jeans with black and white Chucks on. His hair standing around perfectly messy, and a little longer than it was last time. The top is anyway, the sides are still shaven.

  “You ready?” he asks and I shake my head. “Nope, not even slightly.” He laughs, pulling me under his arm as we make our way to the door. “It’ll be fine. I’ve rung Rufus, they’re going to be with us the whole time.” Nodding my head, I swallow, dropping my oversized glasses over my eyes.

  Once we get to the lobby, Rufus and three other large bodyguards are there waiting for us. We greet them and head out the door.

  “Are we driving?” I ask and he nods.

  “Yeah, we’ll drive into the city and walk down the strip.” Rufus is walking in front of us, another walking on one side and another behind us. Rufus pushes open the door to the mass of chaos outside.

  “Holy fucking shit,” I mumble under my breath. Ryder pulls me to him closer, tucking me under his arm. He lays a light kiss on my head, which was like pouring gasoline on the fire, as the entire crowd erupts in fits of screams.

  Rellik quickly jumps out of the driver’s seat, opening the door for us to get in. “Backup. Back the fuck up right now,” I hear Rufus’ deep voice say to the paparazzi that won’t move.

  Jesus Christ. When does this shit blow over?

  Once we reach the li
mo, I slide in quickly with Ryder slipping in behind me.

  “Fucking hell!” I say, shocked. Ryder closes the door and pulls me to him.

  “I know. They’re a little more on the crazy side since they found out about you.”

  “Where’s Rufus?”

  “He’ll be in the SUV in front, and one of the others will follow behind.”

  “Jesus, anyone would think you were the president. All you’re missing is the little American flags on the front of your limo!”

  Laughing, he shrugs. “I’m sure that could be arranged.”

  When we pull into the city with both SUV’s behind and in front of us, I ask Ryder, “Are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe we should just order them?”

  He shakes his head. “Nah, hell no. I told you we would, so let’s go.”

  I can’t be bothered arguing with him, so when he opens the limo door, I follow behind. Rufus and the other two bodyguards pull up next to us, and I can hear cars screeching to a halt behind the SUV that was behind the limo. Ryder turns around, flipping the cameras off.

  I laugh, shoving him in his arm playfully. “You’re such a dick.”

  We walk into Victoria Secret and I cringe. Jesus, too much fucking pink. It looks like someone shot a Barbie doll and her pink glitter laced blood sprayed all over the walls.

  Maybe I shot her.

  Maybe I’ll just shoot myself.

  I go straight to the racks that have blacks, whites, and blues when Ryder points to the racks I’m looking at. “Get all the shit you want.”

  I laugh at him. “Yeah, not happening. I changed my mind. Can we do this online? We can go get some lunch, though.” I look down to my watch. “We have to be at the airport in four hours anyway.”

  “No,” he says, walking over to the racks where I was, beginning to pile underwear and bras on top of himself. I laugh, watching this badass rock god piling his arms up with massive amounts of underwear. “Don’t laugh at me, unless you want a sore ass for another two weeks?” he states loudly and my eyes widen, looking to the two star stricken clerks standing behind the desk. Ryder rolls his eyes at me. “Relax, baby.” He walks to the clerks, dropping a ridiculous amount of underwear onto the counter, swiping his card quickly while they begin folding all his purchases into little white and black boxes.

  Once we walk back outside, the cameras are all there yelling out questions.

  “Ryder, since when did you like trailer trash females? I thought you had better taste.”

  Aaand…there it is…

  Ryder spins around, pointing to the photographer. “Shut the fuck up!”

  I wrap my fingers around his arm, directing him toward the limo. “Ryder, come on. Don’t let it get to you.” His chest is heaving and his feet are mounted to the ground, I attempt to pull his arm again and Rufus leans down to me, “You want some help with that?” I shake my head. “I got it. I’ll holla if I do, though. “Nodding his head, he smiles. I like Rufus, I always have. He’s seven foot tall and huge, massive, packing a lot of beef, and he’s been nothing but nice to me.

  “Ryder!” I snap and his head turns to me. I nudge my head toward the limo and he blinks through his anger, finally letting me pull him to it.

  Once we’re in, I take hold of his hand. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. Surely you knew that would happen?” I ask, trying to calm him down.

  “I did, but I didn’t know I’d feel the way I did when it did happen.”

  Running my hand through the back of his hair, he leans his head down into my grasp, his breathing calming and the smoke in his eyes clearing. “It’s going to be fine,” I say, trying to also convince myself.

  The truth is it may never be fine.

  After a long flight back to the US, we’re now safely on home turf. As soon as the jet doors open, I run out and down the metal steps, kneel down, star fishing out on the concrete.

  I sigh in appreciation. I love being back in the U S of A. Ryder walks off the plane with Ryker, Tommy, and Leo following close behind him.

  When Nettie gets off behind them, she laughs. “Phoebe, no! Get off the concrete, now.”

  “I’m sorry,” I mumble not moving, “but I never want to travel like that again.”

  They all laugh and Elijah comes down taking me in his arms. “It was fun, though? You have to admit.”

  Laughing, I swing my arm around him. “It had its times. Home stretch, baby!” I yell, throwing my hand into the air. Arms wrap around my waist and throw me up onto a set of shoulders. I look up from my position and see Ryder following closely behind looking pissed off at…Ryker!

  “Put me down.”

  He shakes his head. “I want a photo with my new sis-in-law.”

  “Oh my God, Ryker!” We walk through the glass doors where there are one hundred paparazzi standing, waiting, they all start flashing their cameras at Ryker. He stops, and stands there, posing like an idiot with me over his shoulder.

  I actually want to kill him.

  I am going to kill him.

  Ryder takes me out of Ryker’s hands artfully and glares at him, which only causes the cameras to flick faster.

  Great. I can see the headline now—’Trashy Motorcycle Club Girl Cheats on Ryder Oakley with Brother, Ryker Oakley—Stand-off Outside Airport.’

  My life is over.

  I tuck comfortably into Ryder, molding into him like a glove as we get into the Limo. “Nettie!” I yell at her. “Come with us!” She looks at me then looks to Elijah, who nods, so she comes running to the door. I almost see the smile back on her face, I still want to sac-punch whoever took it from her, though. Once we’re all piled into the limo, Tommy plugs his phone into the surround sound that’s hooked up inside and pushes play on Rammstein ‘Du Hast.’ Ryker pulls out a bottle of wine and shakes it.

  “Don’t you fucking dare!” I warn, narrowing my eyes. He smirks as the song turns up with the baseline pumping through. He pops open the cork and the expensive bottle of champagne explodes, spraying everywhere. “Ohhh Ryker!” I squeal and Nettie laughs, taking the bottle off him and taking a long swig of it, before handing it to me. Snatching it from her hands, I level my stare at Ryker, taking a large drink of it while keeping my eyes locked on his smirking face and give it back to Nettie, where we keep it tossed between us, straight from the bottle. All class we are. The song continues to pump through the speakers, pulling me to life from the inside out. Ryder pulls me onto his lap, turning me so I’m straddling him.

  “Ryder,” I warn and he chuckles.

  “What? Clothes are on baby.”

  I steal the bottle off Nettie and take another drink. Ryker pulls out another bottle, passing it to Nettie and another one for me, taking the flat one away from me. I pop it open and drink the contents, getting off Ryder’s lap, but making sure to stay close enough to him. I peek up into his stare and if eye fucking were possible, he would be going home on me right now. My cheeks heat as the contents of the wine flow through my body.

  Ryder takes the bottle out of my hands, wrapping his lips around the rim and takes a drink. “Should you be drinking? Tomorrow is a huge night?”

  He shrugs. “Probably not.”

  Ryker lights up a cigarette. “You’re coming tomorrow night, right little T?” His eyes swing between Ryder and me.

  “Yep, I am.”

  Ryder gives the bottle back to me, keeping his eyes locked on Ryker. There’s obviously some sort of silent communication going on between the two of them.

  “Listen,” Ryder says to me, bringing his eyes down to min., “Rufus will be with you the whole time, okay? And you have a spot at the very front, away from the fans. Nettie can go with you.” I nod my head and Nettie squeezes my knee in excitement.

  This should be all kinds of fun…

  “Seriously,” I say to Nettie, “I’m not exactly foaming at the mouth to be here. A bunch of horny ass girls and women pining after my man? I’m not cool with that.”

  “Come on, Phoebe. We have front row seats! This is pre
tty awesome,” I beg to differ. I’d rather be at home with Ryder, where it’s just me, him and his tongue.

  The crowd is loud, cheering for Twisted Transistor, and I’m praying that those chants don’t haunt my dreams tonight. The lights drop, darkness filling the sold out stadium of Madison Square. The crowd erupts in cheers again when the light shines onto the stage with the boys at their instruments. Ryder smiles up at the crowd, my stomach does a backflip and double ollie. I smile back, even though he’s not looking at me.

  You’re lame, Phoebe.

  “How’s it going, New York!” he yells into the mic and the entire stadium roars into screams, so loud that my ears pop.

  I stand still, watching and glancing around. These girls are simple creatures, there’s so many more important things in the world than lusting after a….well…I can’t talk…I’ll just stop right there.

  “Now, the song that we’ll be opening up for you tonight is a little different to what we’re used to singing. It’s a little on the slow side…just a little. It will be on our new album. It’s about a girl.” The crowd erupts again into fits of screams and he smiles, adjusting the mic.

  Shit…

  He brings his eyes directly to me, locking my eyes with his and throwing away the damn key.

  I’m going to need that key…

  My world slows, my pulse thickens and all the screams die out around me.

  “See, this one girl, she raced into my life and blew my fucking mind away. This song’s for you, baby.” He points to where I’m standing and my eyes bug out as the entire stadium turn to see where he’s pointing. My cheeks heat, and I bite down on my bottom lip to hide my embarrassment. As much as I want to strangle him for putting me in the spot right now, I smile at him, blowing him a kiss. Ryker pretends to catch it, shoving the kiss down his pants. I flip him off, and he throws his head back in laughter, with the crowd joining in with him. I shake my head with a smile.

  Ryder scoffs, unfazed, as Ryker begins the strum of his guitar starting the song. The lyrics and Ryder’s sensual voice with just the guitar strumming a beat, vibrate through the speakers, cloaking me in his seductive voice, pulling my listening deep into the lyrics.