“Hey, stranger! Wanna dance? I’ll even let you do the running man!” Melissa smiles at me.

  I chuckle lightly, shaking my head. “Nope, I’m good. Thank’s, though.”

  She huffs out, dropping to my seat with Nettie and Meadow following suit.

  Meadow hands me a bottle and smiles. “Come on, Phoebe. Let’s drink a little,” she says with a smile. Just as I’m about to reply, the loud rumble of bikes shake the atmosphere and our seats, the sound chillingly comforting.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I whisper, “Beast is here.”

  “Beast?” Melissa asks with a sultry smirk. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Melissa, no. Please don’t. Put your lady bits away. He’s special.”

  “Special, huh? Special as in huge dick special, or special as in chode size dick special?” All the girls crack up laughing and I bite down on my lower lip to stop myself from joining them.

  “Uh, nope, I’m not even going to justify that with an answer, but no. Not a chode. Not that I know, but he is…complicated.”

  When everyone walks over to Beast and his crew of…ten? I put my head into my hands and exhale. “I need to pull it together. I have the circuit and Ryder. Who, by the way, has been amazing.”

  Meadow nods her head, taking my hand in hers. “You’ll get through it, Phoebe. For someone who’s biggest fear is to lose those closest to her, you’ve made great progress,” she answers before her eyes drift up to the crowd. Her chest inflates as she sucks in a large amount of air, the color of her face evacuating to the nearest exit.

  “Meadow? You were saying?” I say to her, but she doesn’t move. She doesn’t flinch, and by the looks of it…Yep, she’s not breathing. Her eyes close and her head drops to the wooden table smashing her face against the wood.

  “Holy shit!” I screech.

  “Meadow!” I jump out and pick her head up off the table. “Meadow! What in the holy Lord were you looking—”

  “Hey, Speedy…” a low rough, raw, and severely damaged voice vibrates through the air.

  Beast. Shit.

  “Hey, how have you been?” I leave Meadow in Melissa and Nettie’s safe hands as I make my way up to him. He pulls me in for a hug, picking me up off the ground like a weigh nothing before placing me back down to the floor.

  “Yeah, good.” He looks back to Meadow and Nettie.

  “Shit.” His face pales and his eyes narrow.

  I look to Meadow, who’s coming out of her gaze. She looks up to Beast, gulping down before quickly dashing inside to the clubhouse bar.

  What.

  The.

  Fuck?

  “Okay, what the hell is that about?” I ask Beast as his gaze follows Meadow.

  “Shit,” he repeats, dragging his tongue across his lower lip.

  “Beast, talk to me. How do you know my best friend?”

  “Best friend?” he asks in shock.

  “Yes, best-fucking-friend.”

  “Shit,” he repeats.

  “Beast…”

  “I killed her dad,” he answers, eyes still locked on the door Meadow dashed through.

  “Oh...you’re the neighbor?” I squeak out.

  He looks to me horrified, before his low voice asks me, “She told you about that?”

  I nod my head. “She’s my best friend. Oh my God! I don’t know whether to kiss you or slap you!”

  Ryder comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him. Lowering his voice so only I can hear, he growls, “I’d rather you slap him.” Rolling my eyes, I turn in Ryder’s grasp, kissing him roughly on the lips and to my surprise, my body ignites into flames. That’s good to know. I haven’t felt quite like doing anything that makes me happy lately. This is progress.

  “Beast, this Ryder…Ryder, Beast.”

  Beast grunts and shakes his hand before turning his attention back to me. “I’m going to go and...” He flicks his big hands toward the door. I nod, letting him pass. This is bizarre and crazy. What a damn coincidence. I turn back in Ryder’s grasp, sinking my head into his chest.

  “I’m sorry that I’ve been a little crazy.”

  “Hey,” he grips my chin with his fingers, running his thumb over my bottom lip, “I’m here baby. I will always be here, okay?”

  Swallowing, I nod my head as the final trust barrier that I had against him drops to the ground.

  I’m sitting outside the circuit, waiting for Phoebe to drive back around. She and I have been through a lot of fucking hurdles since we met each other, but I know without a doubt that I want to be with her through it all.

  “Tessa!” I hear my pleasant beauty yell to one of the race girls as she gets out of her car.

  “Tessa, change those tires. They’re not going to last long on this track.” Tessa nods her head, dashing toward the garage to talk with one of the mechanics. I smile at Phoebe, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

  “Come here, baby. You look like you need a hug.”

  She walks to me, her arms stretched wide. “I do. I really do. Why are these girls being difficult? It’s go time in two hour hours, and none of them can get their A into G.” Her eyes light up and then narrow. “It’s you…you’re their distraction!” She glances behind herself, catching a few girls quickly going back to work after being caught out.

  “Ryder…” she growls. “Go and sit in the bar with the rest of the boys.”

  I smile at her, pulling my bottom lip into my mouth, catching my lip ring between my teeth.

  “What?” she asks. I nudge my head toward the side garage, lacing my fingers with hers. “Let’s go.”

  “Ryder, I can’t leave!”

  “This shouldn’t take long.”

  I walk her to the large garage and push open the metal doors.

  “Ryder…”

  Pushing my lips against hers as soon as we get inside, her arms flying up around my neck and the sexy little skirt she has on lifts up as she hitches her leg around my hip. I push her up against the metal wall, grinding my hips into her in a circular motion until her grip turns tight and her teeth bite down on my lip.

  “Ryder,” she moans into my mouth and I squeeze her ass, lifting her up onto me while holding her weight against the wall. Pushing her top over her bra, I skim my hands over her raised perky nipples, her back arching in response.

  I run my hands down the front of her tight toned stomach and under her little white lace panties before lightly skimming my thumb over her nub. “Always so fucking wet and ready for me.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  Pushing her panties down, I drop to my knees throwing her leg over my shoulder and taking a grip on her hips, pulling her pussy down onto my face. She moans out in approval as I keep to a teasing pace, slowly licking her in rough circles, savoring her, showing her just how much I love her with my tongue. I bring my hand under, pushing one finger inside her as I caress her G-spot with my index finger. It’s not long before she’s clenching my fingers tightly, her breath catching and a small gush comes trickling out of her.

  I drop her leg and come back up to her, looking into the beautiful brown eyes I’ve grown to love so much. Brushing away her blonde hair, she smiles up at me before bringing her hand down and gently massaging my dick through my jeans. The feeling of her soft hand rubbing circles on my cock is enough to want me to come right here in my pants.

  “Feel better?” I ask her, my voice raspy with need.

  “Much better.” She begins pulling my pants down and I stop her.

  “Baby, that was for you. You can have me later.”

  She drops her lip and I laugh, lacing my fingers back into hers. “Come on. You have an event to throw.”

  Ryker, Tommy, Leo, and Rellik are all sitting outside on the large porch waiting for the race to start, and the place is packed out with dollar signs everywhere. A lot of people come over to introduce themselves, but for the most part, they stay away. The whole world knows Phoebe is with me, so I’m guessing the introductio
ns is for business purposes only.

  Ryker rubs his chin with his left hand and looks at me with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  “I can’t wait to dip into this honey bucket.”

  Laughing, I shake my head, kicking him under the table. “You promised Phoebe that you’d stay away from her drivers, Ryker.”

  Tommy chuckles, taking a large swig of his drink. “I would not fuck with that, man.”

  Rellik nods his head, adding, “Dude, the girl has a mean right hook. Don’t go there.”

  We all start laughing at the memory of Phoebe punching him in the face when she found out about what he’d done to Nettie. That day was one of the worst days of my life. My feelings were all over the place and I felt like I truly lost control—if there really was any—of my feelings where Phoebe Rendon was concerned.

  Phoebe is standing at the starting line, searching for someone, and when she sees us her face lights up like Christmas.

  Oh no, what has she planned? This girl has my balls on a leash. She walks up to us, that same smile very much present.

  “Ryker, you know I love you, right?”

  Ryker’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “Yeah…”

  “Well, I was thinking…How do you feel about getting a little…um…naked?”

  He slams his palm on the table. “I’ll fucking do it!”

  She laughs, pulling him up by his arm. “Thought so. Come on big boy.”

  Shaking my head, I stand from the table and whistle out to her. “Baby!” I yell and she slowly turns in place, smiling sweetly at me.

  Yeah, that smile is not fooling anyone.

  “Why didn’t you ask me?”

  “Nuh-uh. I can’t be getting into a cat fight on my premier night.” She winks before taking a too keen Ryker down to the start line.

  I smile at her, before sitting back down on my seat.

  “Dude, you are so fucking whipped it’s not even funny,” Leo states, chuckling to himself.

  “Dude, I don’t give a fuck. Are you telling me that you wouldn’t let that whip you?”

  They all look to Phoebe in her tight little mini skirt that sits tight around her waist and her crop top. Bringing their drinks up to their lips, they all mumble, “Point taken.”

  There’s so much more to Phoebe than meets the eye, though. She’s fucking stunning, that much is obvious. But she’s also compassionate, loyal, loving, and has a fucking big heart.

  She deserves the world laid down at her feet, and I’m willing to give that to her.

  We all bring our attention back down to the start line.

  She brings the megaphone up to her mouth. “Ladies, I have a treat for you all today…”

  She looks to Ryker, who’s standing there with a smug as fuck smirk on his face.

  “This is Ryker Oakley, as I am sure you’re all only too aware…he’s sort of a big deal. He’s going to send you off today.”

  The cars rev and the crowd behind me of horny housewives that came with their husbands, yell out in fits of screams. And women think men are perves, I think they’re taking the piss.

  Ryker removes his T-shirt, unbuckling his pants, and ready to pull them down. Phoebe’s face turns to panic, and she clutches Ryker’s hand shaking her head with a laugh.

  “What?” he mouths to her and I can’t help the laughter that raises up from my chest. “You said get naked,” he mouths to her and she laughs harder.

  “I said semi…Jesus fucking Christ, do you have no boundaries?”

  “Uh….no?”

  We’re all chuckling as the helicopters begin flying over our heads. Maybe for once having the paparazzi follow my every move will work in my favor by bringing in new clients for Phoebe. Not that she needs it, it’s packed up in here.

  Ryker takes the megaphone off her, they look like brother and sister fighting over a toy. He shoos her away and she narrows her eyes at him.

  “All right, ladies. Are you ready?” he asks with a smirk.

  “Set?” They rev their engines and Ryker puts his hands down the front of his jeans, grabbing his crotch.

  “GO!”

  The cars zoom past Ryker and he smiles back at Phoebe throwing her the megaphone. She shakes her head but the small smile on her lips shows she approves.

  He makes his way slowly back to our table, throwing his T-shirt back on.

  “How’d I do?”

  We all laugh and shrug. “You did good, Ry. Sit your ass down before it gets beat by Phoebe.”

  After a long day, I am ready to sink myself into a bath and forget about the world. Today was a success, we made well over what we were expecting to make and this is only day one. One more day tomorrow then that’s that for two months. I’m not sure what I’m going to do to fill in my time, but I’m thinking of investing some money into something else as well. I’m not sure what, but something. After locking up the glass doors, Ryder pulls me into his embrace.

  “You did so well out there, baby. Fuck you’re amazing. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thanks,” I say warmly to him.

  We begin walking toward my 2015 Nissan GTR Godzilla. It’s metallic gloss black with black rims, black lights, and black tints. She’s pretty damn impressive and my pride and joy. I haven’t driven her since before I left on tour.

  We get into our seats, putting our seat belts on. I look to him, resting my head on the headrest. “Thanks for today, thanks for everything, Ryder. I think, in-between everything that’s happened, my body and heart decided to forgive you for leaving me, without my permission I might add.” I shake my head to myself behind a smile.

  “It was a bad move, Phoebe. Rellik has been better too.”

  “That’s good. I just wish all this shit with the Russians would fly over so I can rest easy at night knowing that Abby can have some sort of justice.”

  I start my car, putting her into first before driving out and back to my house. Once we get there, we both slip out.

  “What are you doing for Christmas?” Ryder asks me as we’re walking up the steps.

  “Um, probably just hang around the clubhouse. We do it every year, decorate it with Christmas lights and one of the old fellas usually dresses up as Santa Claus for the kids. Why’s that?”

  “I want you to come home with me, meet my aunt.”

  “Really?”

  He nods his head and smiles. “Really.”

  “Okay, that sounds good. I’ll have to buy the kids some extra presents, though, and we have Kalie and Ade’s wedding this month, too. So as long as we don’t miss that, I’ll be good to go.”

  He smiles. “Whatever you say, baby. Come on, bath time.”

  Once we get to the bathroom, he runs the bath and removes his shirt. I stand in the doorway just admiring him. He really is stunning. “When are you recording the new album?”

  “After Christmas.”

  “So, I get you all to myself for five weeks?” I say with a grin.

  “You do.” He smiles back.

  I remove my clothes quickly and step into the warm bath. My body relaxes instantly, my muscles throbbing from the release of the tension.

  I could get used to this. Oh yes, I could.

  Three weeks later

  “Baby, I trust you, I really do. But if we get snapped going this fast on a highway, the media will jump all over it.” I’ve been in the car many times with Phoebe, and every time is as exciting as the last. My girl is fucking crazy behind the wheel, but I know she’s experienced enough to handle it and smart enough not to push it too far.

  She giggles. “Relax, Ryder. We’re in the BMR, the cops in this town know that I own it.”

  “Of course, they do.” This doesn’t surprise me at all. One thing I have noticed since spending all my time here is the level of respect Phoebe and her family have in this town. It’s not a small town either, and I know that most of them are just scared to death of her affiliations. But I also have come to understand that between the Sinful Souls MC and the Coleman brothers who own CLM
Security, this town is well taken care of. Which brings me to my next thought.

  Pushing my hand into my pocket, a little black box slides over my fingers, in which sits a huge rock that Beyoncé herself would be envious of—only the best for my girl.

  We pull up to a huge mountain with cobble gate edges that look like the wire gate has been removed. On the cobble, it has a sign that reads ‘Point Hellers.’ Shit. I know what happened here last time with her in this car.

  “Are you okay with this?” I ask her as she swallows down and smiles.

  “I’m sure. I need this for closure. I’ve always wondered about coming back here. The truth is I had many great memories up here. I need to not let that horrible one taint the rest.”

  Fuck she’s incredible. The strength that one little person can have just amazes me.

  “All right baby.”

  She smiles and looks at me with a cocky grin. “You ready?”

  “Always.” I smile at her before she slams it into first and we begin soaring up the mountain. The view is a sight to see on your way up, and when we reach the very top she stops for a second gripping the steering wheel. Her eyes glass over as her gaze fixes on one particular spot in the middle of the carpark.

  I get an idea. “Come, come with me.” I open the door, rounding hers, popping it open and pulling her out.

  “Wait. I don’t think I can do this. I shouldn’t have come here. This was a mistake.”

  “Hey…” I lace my fingers with hers, pulling her into me, “…come here.” I spin her around, brushing the hair out of her face. “I love you. You know that right?”

  She gulps, nodding her head. “I love you, too.”

  “Good. So don’t say no.” I smirk and her eyebrows cross in confusion.

  Dropping to my knee, I grasp her fingers in mine while caressing her hand with my thumb.