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I’m fuming, despite a good night’s sleep. Being furious makes it difficult to think of anything else. To calm down, I pour myself a cup of wakey juice—strong, black, with one sweetener—and sit at the kitchen island, taking deep, calming breaths.

To say the journey with Vegas yesterday took place in awkward silence is putting it mildly. I’d never been so glad to get out of a truck in my whole life. Who does Vegas think he is? Someone special?

Oh, you are so wrong, Mister! I hope his pompous ass blows out a tire and he catches an STD from the club whores. Not at all over the top, Ashley, not at all!

My phone vibrates on the island. I pick it up and check. Sarah.

Sarah: How are you this beautiful morning?

Me: Fine!

Sarah: Liar, what’s up?

Me: Nothing, I’m fine

Sarah: OOOOKAY then . . . Next question–what to wear tonight?

Me: Do we have to, Sarah? I’m really not feeling it.

Sarah: Oh yes, you party pooper, we have to! Remember, Leo privileges are at stake for you here!

Me: Alright, alright! Nothing too dressy. I’ll be in jeans and a T with my knee-high boots.

Sarah: So nothing too dressy? I’ll see what I can come up with. Anything I need to know?

Me: I’ll give you a bit of background on etiquette before we go. The dos and don’ts.

I switch my screen and ringer off and start cleaning. This is my regular thing on a weekend off—I do a deep clean. Nathan is back this afternoon to pack his stuff for college, getting everything ready to leave tomorrow morning. Jamie is taking him to settle him in, so it will not be a late night for me tonight, since I’ll have to be up by seven a.m..

Jamie turns up at eight to load up the truck. With the housework all finished, and the house smelling lovely, I decide to go for a walk.

I’d love to walk at Lake Mud, one of my favorite places, but not having a car, the local park will have to do. I meander around the green space, watching children play soccer on the grass, lost in my own thoughts.

???

Two years earlier . . . I wish this shift was over. My feet are hurting, and Violets is crowded for a Friday evening. I need to find another job. Way too many weirdos here. I don’t get why people get such a kick out of being dominated, being lead around on a leash, calling someone ‘Master’, or getting strapped to what looks like oversized railway crossing signs. And this is just what goes on in plain sight of the bar. What was I thinking? Let’s hope the caregiver job at the disabled children’s home comes off after my interview on Monday. I can’t wait to get out of here.

Oh my god, is that Vegas walking toward me? No, no, no, no, no! Raven will go mad if he finds out I’m working in a BDSM club, even if it is only behind the bar and waitressing. Shit, I need to hide! Letting the other bar staff know I’m taking my break, I make a run for the staff room. He won’t be able to see me there. What the hell? Vegas? In Violets? I thought he was getting serviced by the club girls.

After thirty minutes, I need to get back behind the bar. I cautiously peek into the bar area and can’t see Vegas. Maybe he left? My relief escapes as a sigh. Safe for now.

I serve some customers at the end of the bar with a smile. When I turn around, a pair of steely gray eyes bore into mine. My knees turn to jelly. “A Maker’s Mark, please. And open a tab.”

That was not a drink order, that was a command. Who does he think he is? More to the point, why, oh why, does it send a tingle down my spine and cause my panties to dampen? Why do I want to reply with a demure ‘yes, Sir’? My thoughts are racing as I fix his whiskey and put it in front of him, and I can feel my cheeks burn.

“Ashley, what are you doing here? This isn’t a place for you.” Unbelievable!

“And what, pray tell, Vegas, is the place for me? Let me guess, sitting at home, twiddling my thumbs, maybe doing a bit of light quilting? I got news for you—rent doesn’t pay itself. Us normal people have to work for our money. We don’t get club accommodations.” My chest is heaving with barely constrained anger. “Did you get permission from your Prez to be out on your own?” I spit out at him.

“Whoa, whoa, chica, keep your hair on. I was just saying this doesn’t seem like your kind of entertainment. And did you ask my Prez what he thought about you working here?” Vegas smirks at me, winks, and then turns his back to me, surveying the main room in front of him.

He looks good in tight black jeans and a black button-down shirt which has the top three buttons undone, showing his tattooed skin. I can’t help but stare at his butt. It looks fantastic and makes me want to inspect what’s going on in the front. His Viking features and dirty blond hair tied in a top knot do things for me that shouldn’t be allowed.

He checks his phone and looks toward the door. A beautiful redhead in a red corset walks straight toward him, and I can see his posture change. He stands straighter, his body tightens as he turns toward her, and I can see that all smirking has left him. He looks stern. The beautiful woman falls to her knees in front of him, her palms on her thighs.

“Good evening, Master, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

“Did I give you permission to speak, pet?” he growls at the woman, who dutifully lowers her eyes.

“No, Sir, I’m sorry.”

“Your absolute obedience is required,” he adds sharply.

As he leads her to the main room, I watch in astonishment. I had no idea Vegas is a member, nor did I have any clue that he’s a Dom with a submissive. He blindfolds her and begins to flog her slowly as he ties her to the cross. He stops and leans in, talking to her, and she nods and replies, then he steps back and uses the flogger harder.

I turn around, half embarrassed, half turned on. I’d never thought this kind of thing could excite me. But then, I have zero experience, since my V-card is still firmly in my pocket. Raven would have his nose in my business if I attempted to rid myself of it. Not that there hasn’t been interest but bringing up Nathan and looking after myself is hard work. Raven offered to pay for Nathan and me, but the last thing I want is to accept money from a club that I hate, the club that landed my father on death row and my mother in an early grave.

My father going down had wrecked her. She started drinking and was probably on something as well. She lost her way, made dumb decisions, and left me holding Nathan. I have no time for fooling around, dating, or giving my V-card away. I work for our upkeep, stay away from the club as much as I can, and relish my independence. In a couple of years, Nathan will have finished school and started college, then I can live a little.

As I turn around again to face patrons at the bar, my eye finds Vegas. He’s looking straight at me while he has his mouth on her, his eyes locked on mine, and a small smirk appears on his face. My breath comes faster, and I can feel myself flush. I can’t do this with him here. I turn to my co-worker.

“Jane, I’m not feeling well. I need to go home. I think I’m coming down with something.”

“Sure, Ash, no problem. The biggest rush is over anyway, so I can manage. Let me know when you get home. I’ll worry otherwise.”

“Okay, Jane, see you tomorrow.”

“See how you feel, Ash. I’ll ask Suzie if she can cover for you. So just call in tomorrow at lunchtime and let me know, okay?” I nod, turn to grab my jacket, and leave. I jump in my old Honda Civic, praying it will start and not let me down.

As I park in front of the house and walk up to the door, my ears are assaulted by Nathan blasting Nirvana through the stereo to a point where the windows are rattling. Taking a deep, calming breath, I exhale slowly and walk through the door, kick off my shoes, and go straight into the front room, which, as usual, sits abandoned. Nathan must be in his room. Dog tired and wound up, I turn down the stereo and get ready for bed, all the while trying to push thoughts of that sexy biker out of my mind.

???

A little girl shrieking with laughter breaks my musings and pulls me back to reality. I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I didn’t even realize I sat on a bench and was staring into space. Best get going back home if I’m gonna fit in a relaxing bath before Sarah turns up. I jog my way back to the house and find Nathan in his room packing. There are boxes upon boxes in the hallway, ready to be picked up in the morning.

It’ll be strange not having Nathan around every day. He’s been accepted at the University of Minnesota to study computer science, systems analysis, and criminology, of all things. His dream is to work as a forensic computer specialist, though I’m not sure what that entails. It’s all a bit too technical for me. As long as he’s happy, that’s all that matters.

I knock on his door. “Nate, I’m gonna run a bath. I’m taking Sarah to the clubhouse for the party tonight. Do you want to come along?”

“No way! I have too much to do. James will be here early, and you know what he’s like if I keep him waiting. You have fun, sis. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he says, chuckling. He refuses to call Raven by his road name. To Nathan, he’ll always be his big brother, James.

???

Hearing Sarah’s classic Beetle turn into the drive, I open the front door for her. Seven-thirty on the dot. If nothing else, she’s punctual. I watch her get out of the antiquity and my jaw drops. Did she not get the memo about casual dress? A tight red dress shows off her voluptuous figure, and she’s piled her hair into a messy bun high on her head, errand tendrils of her red locks framing her face. She looks stunning. And those shoes! Six-inch, red suede Manolos . . . in a biker clubhouse!

Staring at her in shock, I inwardly groan, imagining all the bikers with their tongues hanging out. And here I thought we could stay unnoticed. Suddenly, I feel woefully underdressed. In my tight black jeans, knee-high low-heeled black leather boots, and Rolling Stones cold shoulder T-shirt, I feel like a fish out of water in comparison.

“Wow, I feel overdressed,” mutters Sarah while taking me in.

“I told you, it’s not dressy. We’re talking a load of bikers here, loud rock music, beer, and whiskey. Come in, coffee’s ready in the pot.” Sarah takes her shoes off by the door, plops herself on one of the oversized couches, and sighs happily.

“This thing is so comfortable.”

“Thanks, that’s why I bought them.” I grin, handing Sarah her cup.

“Okay, so what gives? You’ll have to prep me. I’ve never been to a biker party.” Sarah leans forward, waiting for me to give her the lowdown.

“Okay, so, for starters, at the Saturday parties, all the family members bring a food contribution. I prepared a large salad, bought a couple of pies at Ally’s, and made a humongous amount of garlic bread. There’ll be a BBQ with all the food outside in a gazebo. Everyone just helps themselves.”

“Who cooks all the food?” Sarah gives me a quizzical look.

“The old ladies, which will be Ally, Debs, and Helen, who is Pennywise’s mother, who everyone calls ‘Mom’ since she’s like a mother to all the guys. Sometimes visitors bring food, too. If Auntie Ellen and her husband, Laffo, are there, she’ll bring rolls or something like that to go with the BBQ, since Laffo delivers bread for a living when he’s not partying. The club bunnies are supposed to, but we’re all better off if they don’t. Food isn’t their strong point. Last time, Ebony made prawn salad and lots of people got sick.”

“Club bunnies? What on Earth is that? I thought of rabbits, pets, but I presume that’s not the case.”

I’m laughing so hard, I cough. Pets . . . that’s a hilarious thought!

“Oh god, I can’t breathe,” I manage between bouts of laughter. “Club bunnies are girls who live at the clubhouse. They . . . shall we say service . . . the guys, take care of their physical needs, and for that, they get free room and board. Before you ask, they’re there voluntarily. Some would like to bag an old man, but that rarely happens. Others just like the sex and the variety. They all have their own reasons for being there.” Sarah looks at me, red-cheeked and embarrassed.

“Are you trying to tell me they get laid by bikers for a living?” I snicker at her and continue.

“Yes, that’s exactly what it means. That’s what club bunnies do. A lot of the guys are single and real man whores. They call them ‘club pussy’. But saying that, the ones with old ladies treat women, especially theirs, with a huge amount of respect.”

Sarah wrinkles her nose. “How old do you have to be to be an old lady, and how old are the old men? Is there anyone under fifty? Sounds like a league of old folks. I work as a caregiver, but not for the elderly,” she grumbles, which has me laughing even harder after I’d just calmed myself.

“An old lady is the biker term for a committed girlfriend. Being an old lady is like being married in the citizen world. Bikers are picky, and they don’t claim someone as their old lady unless they’re one hundred percent sure they’ve found the one. It’s an honor to be an old lady. Those men are no angels, far from it, but when they love, they love hard, fast, and true. They can be crazy protective of their old ladies and families.”

“Well, Ash, that doesn’t sound so scary then.” Sarah giggles.

“When we get there, let me introduce you to the old ladies first, Sarah, and we stick with them. That makes it clear to everyone where we belong and will keep unwanted attention at bay. You can talk to anyone, of course, but remember, these guys can be rough around the edges. I’ll introduce you to some of the nicer ones. Just stick with me and the old ladies, and you’ll be fine,” I reassure her.

“Don’t you dare leave me alone. Can I borrow some jeans and a T-shirt, please?” she begs.

“Sorry, hon, no time to get changed, and you’re a different size than me. Your backside is bigger and your legs shorter, so my jeans won’t fit.” I shoot her an amused glance. “Come on, kiddo, let’s do this. Grab the bowl of salad for me, and I’ll grab the pies and the garlic bread. Let’s go, let’s go!” I usher her first into the kitchen to grab everything and then out of the door. We struggle to fit everything on the backseat of her Beetle, but at last, we’re on the road. I turn the radio on to drown out Sarah’s incessant chatter on the way. She’s nervous, and I would rather be anywhere else but here.

???

As we pull in fifteen minutes later, the parking lot is full to bursting, so we park by the gate near the bikes. Half-pint and Eli, two of the prospects, are on gate duty tonight. I clear the spot with them, and Eli offers a hand with taking the food out of the car and to the gazebo near the BBQ. I’m grateful for his help, as Sarah, in her six-inch heels, is going to struggle on the rough ground outside. She totters after us, swearing when her heels get stuck in the grass. Eli and I exchange a smirk, and I roll my eyes.

“She won’t wear those shoes again. Lesson learned, I think.” I grin at Eli, and he nods and chuckles in response.

“Good to see you, Ashley. You haven’t been around much lately. How’s work?”

“Busy, busy, Eli. How’s prospecting? Any closer to finishing yet?” I tease. He groans, puts the salad and pie he was carrying on the table, and mock salutes before making his way back to the gate. I look behind me and see Sarah has nearly caught up. More than one pair of eyes follows her progress. Dougal and Sparks are busy with the BBQ, but as they spot me, they come over and wrap me in bear hugs.

“Ash, so good to see you. Where have you been? My heart’s broken, I missed you so much,” Sparks banters.

“Leave her alone. She’s my princess,” says Dougal as he mock-headlocks Sparks.

“You just wait ‘til I tell Ally you hit on me. Your life won’t be worth living,” I tease him.

“Oh, no, please don’t.” He coughs. “I like my balls where they are, thank you very much.” I smile at the two wackos, then I turn and introduce Sarah, who’s staring at us open-mouthed.

“Sparks, Dougal, this is Sarah, my friend from work. Sarah, these two idiots are Dougal and Sparks.”

“Welcome to the crazy, Sarah,” Dougal greets her.

Sparks sends a pleading look at her. “Please don’t tell on my flirting, or I’ll have to sleep on the couch again,” he begs, causing Sarah to burst into fits of giggles.

“I like those two,” she states, pointing at them, less nervous now.

“Are you hitting on my sister? Do I need to give them a beating, princess?” Raven snuck up on us with no one noticing, and I’m sure he was ninja in a former life. I throw myself at him.

“Hey, big bro, so good to see you. Handsome as always. They’ve been behaving themselves. No beating needed. Yet . ” I smile up at him. I love my big brother. He’s He single-handedly turned this club around and got them out of all the illegal stuff they were doing while Mom was alive and before Dad went to prison.

“Is Nathan all packed up?” he asks.

“Yup, he was just finishing earlier. There are boxes everywhere. Do you think he’ll be alright?” I have to ask because it’s bothering me that Nathan is going to be away from home, even if it isn’t too far away.

“Ash, stop worrying. He’s almost a grown-up and can look after himself. He’ll be fine” Raven gives me a tight squeeze. I know he’s right. “Hey, Sarah, nice to see you.” He and Sarah have met before when Raven picked me up from work. She gives him a little wave, just watching the interactions between all of us. We’ve all known each other for most of our lives, so the banter is second nature.

I watch Rusty approach, limping on his crutches. He’s seedy, brash, and deeply unpleasant, and he’s given me the creeps for years. He’s a dodgy character, but he’s Raven’s VP, so I stay out of his way and have nothing to do with him.

“Come on, let’s go, Sarah. I need a drink.” Linking my arm with hers, we walk toward the clubhouse, and I not to Rusty on my way past. He just ignores me, which is fine.

Inside, the room is heaving. I see Auntie Ellen and Laffo on the dance floor amongst a throng of other people, and spot Ally and Debs at a table in a quieter corner. I pull a couple of chairs over and plop down, and Sarah follows my example.

“Hello, ladies.” I grin at them. Ally hugs me across the table, and so does Debs.

“Who’s your friend?” Ally questions.

“This, ladies, is Sarah, my friend and partner in crime at work. It’s her first club party, so be nice,” I tease them. “Sarah, this yellow-haired ray of sunshine here is Ally, Sparks’s old lady. You met him by the BBQ. And this here is Debs, Spen’s old lady. I haven’t seen him yet, so I’ll introduce you to him later.”

“I hope Sparks behaved himself, or do I need to make him sleep on the couch again?” Ally asks with a twinkle in her eye.

“No, he was well behaved, I promise.” Sarah winks at Ally. “Oh my god, how do you survive with all this hot man meat around you?” Sarah asks with slightly glazed-over eyes.

Debs giggles and fills her in. “Years of practice builds some immunity, and hey, we can enjoy the view, even if we can’t touch.”

“Anyone want something from the bar?” I stand to make my way over.

“Let’s do shots!” Ally shouts excitedly.

“Tequila!” adds Sarah,

“And aspirin,” Debs states with resignation on her face.

The bar is mad busy as I wait to be served. Poor Greg is trying to keep up but is failing miserably. Just then, I spot Mom and Vegas arriving to help Greg. I’m hoping Vegas serves on the other side and am in luck when Mom spots me and comes over.

“Hey, Ash, long time no see. How are you, sweetheart?”

“Yes, Mom, I’m fine, thanks. Nervous about Nathan leaving for university tomorrow but fine otherwise. We need to get together and go for lunch to catch up.” She nods in agreement.

“What can I get you, hon?” I give my order, and in no time, a tray with three tequilas and a Coke is in front of me. One of us has to be the designated driver because there is no way I’m staying here.

“Hello, my lovelies, so good to see you.” An excited Caroline comes rushing over, hugging Ally first and then the rest of us. Ally does the honors of introducing Sarah.

“Caroline, this is Sarah, Ashley’s friend. Sarah, this is Caroline, Dawg’s old lady. They only recently joined us. Dawg is Nomad but has been here for three months now. Looks like he may be growing attached to this lot of reprobates.” Ally laughs, and Caroline nods vigorously.

“I think he wants to catch Raven tonight, to see if there’s a chance of patching in.” She smiles and bounces excitedly in her seat.

“Well, if you’re staying, do you want to join me and the girls? The Wild Pixies would be glad to have you. I know you ride more than you use a car.” Ally winks. “It’s not like a male MC. We go to rallies, have fun, ride out together, are there for each other, and, if need be, protect each other.”

“That sounds great, Ally. I’m in, providing we can stay.”

Caroline is a lovely person, and a fab fit for the Wild Pixies. She told me she and Dawg go to lots of rallies whenever they can, and they ride every day, each on their own bike. She will ride on the back of Dawg’s bike for Souls Rides MC rides or functions and when required but prefers to be her own woman. It wouldn’t surprise me if she loved her custom Sportster more than Dawg. I smirk to myself. She’s good people, and I like her.