Chapter 12

~ Declan ~

I was going to kill a motherfucker dead tonight. No questions asked. It was going to happen, and once I heard the door to Ever’s apartment slam shut in her haste to get up there and change clothes I went in search of the walking dead man himself.

Of course, the bastard had to take the wind right out of my sails by coming to find me first. “Shit, man. I did not mean to see that. Seriously, I think of her like a little sister, so if you think you’re pissed because I saw what you think of as yours, then imagine how I feel.”

Fuck! This bastard was going to make me laugh when I’d been homicidal only moments earlier. “I was so fucking shocked I couldn’t even lay your ass out before you ran off like a little bitch who’s afraid of tits.”

Zeke laughed and turned to go take a seat on the couch tucked off to the side of the lounge room. “Just be glad it was me in there instead of Kane.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“I know you’ve noticed, so no need to have me lay that out for you.” Zeke waved off the anger that started to build inside of me again. “Don’t even let that shit inflate your jealousy man. He is painfully aware of where he stands with that girl, and it sure as fuck isn’t with him anywhere in the running. At least not yet, anyway, so don’t screw it up with her or you better believe he’ll be swooping in.”

“Isn’t he Erin’s older brother?”

“Yeah, which means he has plenty of reason, other than working with her, to be around,” Zeke offered up, and Deck had the impression that Zeke was mostly just fucking with him right now.

“He’s had years though,” Deck pointed out.

“So have you,” Zeke countered.

“I’ve been gone for five, man,” he laughed out. “Kind of hard to woo a girl from half a world away, and besides, for most of that time she was too young anyway.”

“Same goes for Kane, at first he didn’t notice because she was too young, then when he did she was going through some shit. Now, she’s not really stuck in that rut as much anymore, and she’s starting to come into her own.” Zeke shrugged. “He won’t overstep, but he won’t fail to pick up pieces either, if you get my drift.”

“Yeah, I get your drift,” I growled out, much to Zeke’s amusement. “That’s a powerful tattoo you inked on her back today.”

“It is, and I’m hoping it helps her begin to heal. Hell, actually, I know it will, because I already saw the difference in her from when we talked after all of you left until the moment she brought me that image.” Zeke appeared pensive for a moment. “I just wish I could be there to see the unveiling of the tattoos. I hope these guys are prepared to actually face their own shit, and her pain, because otherwise I have a feeling all hell is gonna break loose that night.”

“I don’t think it will be an easy night, but I think it has to happen in order for everyone to move forward.”

“And you need her to be able to move forward with the club you’re in?” Zeke grumbled.

“Nah, I want her to be okay with everyone, because they’re supposed to be her family, but Ever is the girl you don’t mind walking away from everything for. Worse comes to worse, I’m prepared for that.”

Zeke grinned at me as he rose to his feet, clapped a hand down on my shoulder one good time and squeezed. “Fuckin’ glad to hear you say that, man.” With that, he walked away, and I felt like I had just gotten approval from Ever’s older brother or something. That was definitely an odd feeling considering I actually knew T-Bone, and his opinion wouldn’t have mattered as much. It was then I understood that my feelings toward my club brothers had suffered greatly because of Ever’s ordeal.

She came downstairs a few minutes later wearing jeans, riding boots, a tank top and her leather jacket. It was summer time, and she was going to sweat to death in that if I took her where I had originally planned to. Instead, I changed my plans to accommodate the girl, because as I’d just told Zeke, she was worth it.

~ Ever ~

“Did Zeke leave?”

“Yeah, just a minute ago,” Deck explained as he checked out what I was wearing. I wondered, briefly, if I’d been too presumptuous with my outfit. I just assumed we’d be going somewhere on his bike and I wanted to be prepared for riding. Not that I’d actually been riding on anyone’s bike before. I bought the boots and jacket a few years ago in the hopes that one of the guys would actually take me – back then I was thinking of Jay – but it never happened. My dad told me the only woman who got to ride on his bike was his old lady, of course, the next week my little sister had begged and pleaded her way onto the back of his bike too. So, it must have just been me that wasn’t allowed. My brother told me he’d never have a bitch on back of his ride. The boy of my dreams back then insisted on having each and every one of his girlfriends on the back of his bike, but never me, because that would send the wrong message. Once we were outside all those thoughts of the past faded away, because the excitement of my first ride started to cause a slight tremble in my hands.

“It’s like you read my mind,” he finally said as he reached over to grab something out of the saddlebag. “I brought my bike, so I’m happy to see you had the appropriate things to wear. Though, I don’t know why I’d think you wouldn’t since you grew up in a biker family.” He held a helmet out for me as he spoke.

I just smiled at Deck as I put the helmet on that he had ready for me. Then I proceeded to blow his mind judging by his flabbergasted response to my next question. “I’ve never actually done this before, so where should I put my feet exactly?” I was staring at the bike, thinking maybe they belonged on the tiny little pegs I could see sticking out near the back, but I wasn’t entirely sure. Worse, I felt heartsick that I had to ask this question after being around an MC for eight years. The truth was, I had purposely tried not to watch as I saw other women – the old ladies, daughters, girlfriends, and even club whores – hop on to ride with someone, because I was jealous as hell of them for being allowed to do what I couldn’t.

“What?” Deck finally asked as he managed to close his jaw enough to form the words.

I just stared at him, not sure he actually needed me to repeat myself. “What, what?” I double questioned him back, because I was honestly confused.

“How the hell have you spent all these years in an MC family and you don’t know how to mount a bike or where to put your feet?” His initial astonishment turned to a red-hot anger with each word he spat out of his mouth. Even though I didn’t think that anger was directed at me I flinched back, and glanced at the door to the tattoo studio, suddenly rethinking the idea of spending time with anyone even remotely affiliated with the club.

A deep male chuckle from the car parked behind Deck’s bike caught my attention before I could flee, and there stood Kane, keys in hand, shaking his head in admonishment while exuding an aura of bad ass man in his all black ensemble. His sleeved arms were protruding from the almost too-tight t-shirt he wore. His eyes narrowed on Deck. “You’re honestly surprised she’s never been on the back of a bike before?”

“Fuck yeah, I am.”

“Dude, she wasn’t even sixteen when shit went down with your families. When did you think she was going to do it?”

“Biker kids are on the back of bikes almost from birth, man. That’s something you don’t know shit about,” Deck spit out.

“Yeah?” He questioned then pointed directly at me. “I know that girl there has never been accepted by your fucking sorry ass biker family, and so I wouldn’t think a single one of those fucks would put her on the back of their bikes. Am I wrong sweetheart?”

I saw Deck’s hands curl up into fists at his sides whether because of the “sorry ass biker family” comment or the endearment Kane threw my way I wasn’t sure. Either way the answer to his question remained the same. “You’re right, Kane.” My response was soft spoken, and you’d have to be deaf to miss the note of dejection there.

“Fuck,” Deck hissed out, before relaxing those fists and reaching out to pull me into his body. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry, Ev.” His words were whispered on a warm breath against my ear as he tucked me close to him. I wasn’t sure if the move was one hundred percent genuine, or done to show Kane that I was his. Either way, I just appreciated being wrapped up in his arms in that moment, because seriously, I was about to turn into a total girly-girl and cry. How many more tiny little humiliations could my family continue to put me through without even having to be here to do it?

Ignoring the fact that Kane was still standing there watching us, and waiting to see how I would react Deck squeezed me tighter for a moment and then released me. “Let’s get you on my bike, babe. You’re going to love it, I promise.” With that, we made the effortless transition. He slid his leg over the bike and straddled it in the manliest pose I’ve ever seen. Then he guided my hand – which he still held – to his shoulder and squeezed it down there. “Use me to hold on to, and then throw a leg over. He pointed down to the pipes before I was able to move though. “Avoid touching anywhere around there, because unless the bike’s been sitting a good while they’ll be hotter than hell and will give you a damn good burn.”

“Okay,” I muttered as I swung my leg over. It didn’t feel as though the pipes would be that hot, but then again, he’d been inside for a while too. Before I could ask where to put my feet he was already sliding a hand down my leg, from thigh to shin, then grabbing hold and tucking my foot where it belonged. He repeated the same thing on the other side even though I had already tucked that foot in place. Then he pulled my hands around his waist and tightened his hold a moment. “Don’t let go, babe. Lean with me when we turn, sit close, and become a part of me, a part of the bike, and enjoy the ride.”

When he said those words, “become a part of me,” a tingle went straight down my spine and left my entire body feeling like a hot wire ready to spark and ignite. Then he turned on the bike, and revved the engine beneath us. Holy shit! I’d heard the rumble of the Harleys before, even from up close as my brother pulled near me on occasion. I’d felt the ground tremble beneath my feet a bit, but I never imagined it would feel this alive as you straddled one of these beasts. I didn’t even want to think about what the vibration was doing to my lady parts as it seemed to bring to life the seam of my jeans that pressed tightly, vibrating now with the bike, right against my most sensitive spot. Good lord! No wonder the women around the club were always clambering to get a ride on someone’s bike.

As Deck pulled out of the spot he threw an arm up with a middle finger extended back at Kane. Kane just grinned and tossed me a quick salute, before Deck kicked the bike into a higher gear and jutted out of there, throwing me even closer to him and bringing my attention back to the ride rather than on the man we’d just left behind. I was only wearing a half helmet so I rested my chin on Deck’s right shoulder and enjoyed the wind blowing in my face as we cruised through town at lower speeds. It wasn’t until Deck turned on the highway and kicked the bike into higher gear that I got my first real motorcycle ride experience. The wind seemed to steal my breath momentarily, kicking in my adrenaline reflexively before I managed to tuck my nose down behind Deck’s shoulder. It was such an odd experience I didn’t know, for a moment, whether to be freaked out or elated. Then, I just let go of that brief question in my mind as I breathed in the smell of leather from his kutte, and the smell of summer – like a salt-water breeze – that seemed to cling to Deck no matter what he wore.

The scent of Deck enveloped me just as the higher speeds enthralled me. We blazed past slower traffic, the wind screaming past us as my eyes watered slightly, but I refused to look away from the world as it became our bitch. Everything, from the wind roaring by to the growl of the bike beneath us and the magnificent man I was wrapped around settled deep into my bones that seemed to lift all the weight that I’d had trapped there. It felt freeing. It felt like flying.

The only other experience I could even begin to equate it to was when my mom took me to go horseback riding a couple months before she died. A snake spooked the horse the man put me on when we were trotting through the field, and it took off at a breakneck pace. I just clung on for dear life, while also giggling the entire way. I had felt as if I was flying then too, and this was the closest to that moment as I’d ever gotten to again. My heart fluttered in my chest with the memory just in time for the bike beneath me to begin slowing as Deck turned off the highway and back into a different part of the city.

We weren’t exactly dressed for fine dining, but that apparently wasn’t going to stop Deck from taking me to Gallantry, one of the premier fine dining establishments in Charleston. “How did you manage this? I don’t think I even know a single person who has managed to get in.” The question just flowed from my tongue as I dismounted his Harley on wobbly legs. “Oh my God!” I hissed out as Deck caught hold of my arm to stabilize me while he climbed off his bike seemingly unaffected. “Wow, that was weird,” I offered as he chuckled.

“I forgot to warn you about the jelly-legs your first time riding. It’s been so long since I’ve experienced it, I honestly forgot.” It was my turn to chuckle at his admission. “As far as how I managed this, I happen to be friends with one of the owners, but let’s keep that a secret so everyone and their brother isn’t asking me for an in. I start getting everyone else a table here and I won’t be able to get us one when we want it.”

A warm tingly feeling was set loose on my insides as he made that statement. It was an odd feeling to know one simple word held so much power in my heart. “Us,” I whispered, without realizing I’d done so out loud. Deck just smiled at me.

“Come on, babe, let’s go get some food in you.”

“Wait,” I almost yelped out while tugging on his arm. “Aren’t we a little underdressed for a place like this?”

He glanced at me then, eyes seeming to darken as he did so. His pink tongue poked out to swipe at his lower lip before he spoke again, but his hand also moved from my arm to my waist and wrapped around my middle while pulling me close to him. “We are as dressed up as we need to be, babe, but I will gladly bring you back here another time all decked out so you can play dress up.”

I scoffed at that. “I don’t even have anything to play dress up in, so that’s a moot point,” I told him as I waved off the idea as ludicrous. I’d once had a dress and shoes ready for a prom I dreamed of going to, but never ended up attending. After everything happened in my life to ruin that moment for me I never bought another nice piece of clothing again. I thought planning ahead for something that was never going to happen was silly. Deck gave me an odd look, almost as if he could see that explanation written in my features even though it was no more than a thought.

“I’m going to make it happen one day, Princess.” I sucked in a breath at the endearment he chose to use. I’d never been called that before other than in the derogatory way the other men of the club used it to basically call me the unwanted redheaded stepchild of the MC. The Other Princess. Deck seemed to know what my sudden intake of breath meant though, and he just hugged me closer as he started shuffling us closer to the door of Gallantry where there was an honest to goodness red carpet and a man in a suit befitting the most formal of occasions there to open the ornate arched front door for us. My nerves caused my stomach to do a little flip as I took in the fact that the front door was far too fancy for my riding leathers, so no doubt the inside of this place would be far more luxurious. Deck had told me not to worry about it though, so I followed along as he guided me, hand in hand, into the candle-lit dining area.

The carpet beneath our feet was a plush burgundy color that appeared to be perfectly clean, which was surprising since this was a restaurant. It kind of made me feel sorry for any of the servers who might accidentally drop a dish at some point. There didn’t actually appear to be any electric lighting in the place, although I was sure it was just cleverly hidden for when the romantic ambiance wasn’t necessary. The ornate iron wall sconces that were placed between each table and booth lit the shadowy areas while tiny little iron chandeliers hung above each table casting gorgeous soft candlelight around the diners. It was a breathtaking sight to see for the first time, and it definitely made me feel like I should have my old prom dress on to be here, because it had been the most fancy dress I had owned in my life. This place deserved that at the very least. I blushed thinking about how out of place my jeans and leather jacket were.

It didn’t seem to matter to Deck though. He strolled through Gallantry like he owned the place, his clothing and the attitude that matched only making what should have seemed wrong appear so right together instead. We were seated at a cute little table for two near the back of the restaurant. The table itself was made out of the same sturdy, dark wood as the rest of them, but the high back upholstered wooden chairs were a work of art with their burgundy, velvet seat cushions and backs that were so tall they gave off an overwhelming air of privacy. Deck pulled my chair out for me and slid it back in to a comfortable position before taking his own seat across from me.

I watched him for clues that might fill me in on what this dinner was all about, because this seemed like too fancy of a place to take a person to drop bad news on their shoulders. It also seemed a bit unlikely that this was a date, even though my heart sped up and battered my ribs at the thought. I supposed he could just be trying to make up for all the hurt his biological and biker family had caused me by doing something nice.

“What are you thinking about?” He finally asked after a few moments of watching me trying to figure him out.

I shrugged my shoulders, and thankfully, the waiter who arrived to take our orders cut off my answer. I never did get up the guts to ask what this was all about as we sat and ate the most scrumptious food I’d ever put inside my mouth. Every bite was a taste explosion, and desert was a dive into chocolate decadence that I would probably not survive a second time. This was definitely something I would compare future dates too, even if this hadn’t actually been a date, because it was still perfect in its own way.

As we left the restaurant the sun was setting, leaving a warm orange-pink glow in the sky. The night had cooled a little, but just so that I was not uncomfortable in my jeans now as opposed to how I had felt earlier when I first stepped out of the shop in them.

“I was going to take us on the sunset sail, but I’m pretty sure we missed it,” Deck informed me as he tossed a leg over his bike, straddling the thing as if it were a second skin he was putting on. It was such an effortless task that I was suddenly in awe, because now I knew what it felt like to have to situate my body just so. I placed my hand on his solid shoulder, and repeated the motion, throwing my leg over the bike. It took me a minute longer to get sorted, and when I thought I was doing just fine, I learned I was so very wrong. Deck took hold of both of my thighs with his hands and pulled me forward so that our bodies were molded to one another, my front to his back.

“Oh!” I called out in surprise, thinking back to our ride over here where I definitely hadn’t gotten this close until the speed of the bike sort of forced me to settle in a bit more than when I had originally gotten on.

“Now we don’t have to worry about you sliding around. You can hold on to me with your arms and these thighs of yours,” he added as he gave each of my legs a quick squeeze before turning the bike on.

“It’s okay about missing a sail I didn’t even know about, Deck.” My response was late, but my brain seemed to be operating at half its normal speed as my heart pumped all the blood in my body to tingly places instead of the brain I normally hid behind. “That was the most amazing dinner I’ve ever had. I don’t think even a Carolina sunset from over the water could compete.”

Deck turned his head enough that I could see the grin on his face as I put my helmet on and strapped in. “Good, I’m glad you enjoyed it, babe. Now, let’s get you back before we end up ruining a good thing.” He swatted his cheek. “Damn mosquitos are coming out with a vengeance.”

I laughed at that as I wrapped my arms around his body and held on tight to his chiseled abs while the bike roared underneath us as Deck pulled carefully out of the lot and back onto the road. Once again, I lost myself in the ride, the feeling of gliding through the air overwhelming my senses and dimming everything else out as we moved through the light traffic heading back towards the side of town the shop and my apartment were on.

Once we were back, we took the stairs on the side of the building up to my apartment. I unlocked the door and looked back at Deck expectantly. I didn’t know if he was coming in, or just making sure I got inside safely since it was already after dark by the time we arrived. What I didn’t expect to see was the heat in his eyes as he looked at me. They were damn near molten as his gaze dropped from my eyes down to my lips and lingered there. Without warning his arm shot out around my waist pulling me into his body while the other hand tugged up on my neck as his fingers curled into my hair at the base of my skull guiding me where he needed me. My head tipped back slightly with the pressure of his hand tugging on my hair and then his lips were on mine, warm and soft as the hint of stubble on his face abraded the tender skin around my lips.

The sweet kiss lasted only a moment, one that seemed like an eternity, and then, with a swipe of his tongue across my still sealed lips, it heated and became something far more. My mouth parted slightly in surprise and Deck did not hesitate to swoop in with his tongue, hot and delicious, exploring my mouth as I tentatively started returning the favor. Our mouths suddenly finding themselves in an all out war as we jockeyed for position, dominance, whatever it was we were each searching for in that kiss. A vibration between us caused him to pull away from me reluctantly. I watched in a lust-induced haze as Deck plucked a cell phone from his pocket, swiped the screen, and announced, “Yeah?” His voice was rough, almost like I would expect it to sound after a full night’s rest, but slightly more interesting and intense. “Shit,” he hissed out, his eyes telling me more than that one word he’d spoke about how he regretted picking up the phone. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

He clicked off the phone, stuffed it back in his jeans, and ran his hand back behind my neck and under my hair again. His fingers trailed there for a moment, sending shivers up and down my spine as he did so. Deck grinned at me. “Our next date won’t be interrupted, I promise!”

My hand inadvertently went to my lips, tracing the tingly sensation left behind by Deck’s. “Date?” I asked dreamily causing his eyebrows to scrunch in confusion.

“Yeah, date, babe. What we just did…” He let the words trail off as he watched my face.

“Oh, I’ve never been on a date before,” I muttered around my finger that was still trailing across my kiss-swollen lips.

“You, what?” They were just two words, but the surprise in them startled me back to the here and now with Deck.

“I’ve never been on a date before, Deck. Never been kissed either,” I admitted foolishly. I watched as Deck’s eyes grew larger, rounding out in surprise, awe, or something I just couldn’t wrap my head around.

“You’ve never?” Deck looked away quickly, running his hand through his hair as he released me. “Shit, if I had known…” Again, his words trailed off and I wondered if it was a good or bad thing for him that I had never been on a date before him, or been kissed. “I will make this night up to you, but unfortunately, I have to get going, babe. And don’t think we won’t be talking about the fact that this was your first experience for both.” He moved, heading down the stairs of my apartment as I stood on the landing watching him go.

“Is that a good thing, or…?”

The answering grin he threw back over his shoulder stopped my heart for a minute. “Babe, it sure as shit isn’t a bad thing from my perspective. Now, get your ass inside before I go. I want to make sure you’re safe so I don’t have to worry while I’m out.” I got myself inside the apartment, and watched through the window as Deck took off for wherever that call was sending him. I figured it was club business, and so I knew better than to ask. Not that anyone told me anything anyway, but I knew that was the rule of the club. Women don’t ask questions unless they want to hear the generic, “club business” excuse bantered back to them before their men roll out to parts unknown.

As soon as Deck was out of sight I moved to the bathroom to look at my face. My lips were actually slightly swollen giving them that bee-stung look so many women pay a fortune to achieve. Then there was the slight bit of reddening on the skin around my lips from Deck’s stubble. Holy crap! I had beard burn on my face. I giggled at the thought, because just a couple hours before I was the girl everyone loved to hate. The one that had never been on a date with a boy, and now I was the girl who had her first date and first kiss with a man instead. Things were starting to look up in my life for the first time in a very long while. I realized as I looked at myself in the mirror that Zeke had been right earlier. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw a smile on my own face, and I had to admit I enjoyed seeing it. Apparently, I was beautiful when I smiled.