Born to Ride_A Clubhouse Collection

chapter One

I was enjoying the walk home in the afternoon sun. My boss had an assignment and she kindly gave me the rest of the day off. Maya, my six-year-old, was attending the school sleepover for her grade. I picked myself up some chocolate, a DVD, a bottle of wine, and Chinese takeout for dinner. Even better, my best friend, Deanna was coming over later to help me make the most of my relaxing night in.

I rounded the corner to my street and froze. My annoying, but too-hot-to-touch neighbor was standing out front of my other next door neighbor's house talking to Miss Bootylicious—the Campbell's nineteen-year-old daughter, Karen. I hung my head, ready to stride past, humming a tune along the way to cover their voices. Still, her high cackle broke through, as irritating as always. I was close to freedom and just past them, while deafening myself with my out of tune hum; when someone grabbed my arm and spun me back around.

“Kitten,” Talon said.

My eyes closed on their own accord to cherish the sound. It happened every time I heard his deep grumble of a voice.

“Uh, what? Oh, Talon?” I blushed and bit my bottom lip.

He laughed. “I asked where Maya was.”

“Oh, um, she's at school. Her class is having a sleepover,” I informed him. Though I didn't know why.

“Right. So...” he began, but stopped to look into my shopping bags. “We're watching 27 Dresses, eating Chinese, and drinking wine. Sounds like a plan. What time do you want me to come over? I could bring dessert.” He grinned mischievously.

I looked around him to Karen. She huffed something and stomped off. I then turned my gaze back to hunk'o'saurus and his messy, needs-a-cut black hair and dark brown eyes.

I'll never forget the day I moved onto the street and into my three-bedroom weatherboard home and learned that I was living across the road from the local biker compound. With their head honcho right next door to me. I had just moved with Maya out of Deanna's house after being there for four years. I was feeling frightened and overwhelmed, as well as a little inebriated after having a few welcome-to-the-new-house drinks with Deanna. Deanna left and I was in bed but Maya kept waking up from the loud music being played next door. After she drifted back to sleep once more, I went—armed with the confidence of the alcohol—next door, dressed in my pink nightie with a kitten on the front and combat boots. I banged on the door; a short, hairy guy opened it and raised his eyebrows at me.

“Who is the freaking owner of this place?” I demanded.

“Yo, boss,” the man called over his shoulder.

And I swear my heart stopped when my eyes spotted Talon walk his broad, muscular, wondrous form my way. Everything but him faded into the background.

“Whad'up, Cupcake?” He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his sizzling chest.

My eyes closed. Until I remembered I was there for a reason, and that reason was more important than Mr. Hotness.

Upon opening them, I went straight into a glare that could scare most young children. His mouth twitched. “I just moved in next door. I thought 'wow, what a nice place to start anew!' That was, until you’re stupid, bloody music started blasting on a freakin' Monday night. I have a daughter who is starting her new school tomorrow.” I stepped up closer. “Turn down the music. Now,” I hissed.

“Wow, boss, you have a f*ckin' wildcat living next door,” someone said from behind him. Manly chuckles began. I ignored the others and kept my glare on Spunky.

“More like a wild kitten,” he smiled, looking down at my nightie. “Don't worry, kitten. I'll turn down the music. But, it'll cost ya.”

I blanched and stepped back. “Wh...what?”

The men laughed louder.

“Just one kiss, babe.”

“Talon!” A woman growled from somewhere behind the laughing crowd.

“You're a... pig,” I said, and walked away. Not long after that, the music was turned down.

“Zara?”

I blinked back into the now and answered, “I-ah. No, I don't think. I mean, I'm not good company, and I have a friend coming over—”

“That's fine, just means we'll have to be quick,” he winked.

Rolling my eyes, I walked off, but not before he slapped me on the behind and then strode past me laughing.

I grumbled under my breath all the way up the steps, ignoring the other bikers across the road at the compound laughing, yet again, at me.

Two hours later, I'd had a bath and gotten into my pink with black kittens flannel PJs. The nights were colder now. Deanna texted an hour ago saying, 'Hey, twat head. Not sure if I can make it. I’ll let you know'.

So I sat down at my small, four-seated wooden table by the kitchen’s large bay windows to eat my re-heated Chinese. I have always found that Chinese tasted better when re-heated.

Then the doorbell sung. Maybe Deanna can make it after all. I walked through my small lounge that was furnished with a three-seated floral couch and one chair. A television sat on a long black unit against the wall, and a wooden chest acted as a coffee table in the center. Nothing matched and that was the way I liked it. I'd saved and bought all of it myself, so I loved every piece in my house. I smiled before opening the front door.

“Kitten,” Talon said as he looked at me from top to bottom. With a grin he moved fast, because the next thing I knew, he was kissing me. My eyes sprung wide when his hot mouth touched mine.

“Talon,” I mumbled around his lips, trying to shove him back. Unfortunately, well, not really, but still, yes unfortunately, when I spoke, it gave Talon's tongue the chance to sneak in. As soon as it hit mine, I melted on a moan of abso-freakin'-lute pleasure. My abdomen clenched, and my nether region quivered. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave back as good as I was getting. In return, I received a groan. He picked me up, stepped inside, and kicked the front door closed.

Holy crap, Talon's kissing me. ME. God, he is good. Wait, why is he kissing me? ME?

“Hot damn. I need some popcorn for this,” I heard my best friend say.

I pulled away; my arms dropped and he let me step back. Both of us were breathing hard. I took another step back, looked over Talon’s shoulder, and found Deanna with a huge smile, standing at the front door she'd opened.

“Girl, you said he was fine, but you didn't say he was f*cking F.I.N.E.”

Talon raised his eyebrows at me and turned to face Deanna. In all his tight jeans and white tee glory.

“I- I've never said anything,” I muttered.

“Hey, Talon. I'm Deanna, Zara's best mate. I've been waiting for a glance of you for two f*cking years. Oh, and I'm the one who will whip out some whoop-ass on you if you f*ck her over. Biker dude or not,” she said with the most pleasant tone, and smiled sweetly at the end.

Talon surprisingly didn't laugh. He looked her over and looked back at me. I knew what was running through his mind. Deanna and I were complete opposites. I was on the short side, had curves and lightly tanned skin, from my Mexican background. I was sure Talon had the same sort of mix in his blood, only his skin was a little more like cocoa with a dollop of milk.

Anyway, back on track. I had long, wavy, dark brown hair, and dark, forest green eyes. Deanna was tall, thin, and was lucky enough to be bestowed with a great rack. She had blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and freckles upon her nose to make her look that much cuter. Whenever anyone heard her over the phone without seeing her, they always thought she was a black chick with 'tude. It was all a front, of course. We'd both been though our own personal hell. We were just lucky to have found each other at the end.

“Nice to meet you, Deanna; and you have nothing to worry about.”

What does that mean?

Deanna glared at him and then smiled. I felt, for a second, a pang of jealousy. Her smile has been the end of many men over the years, and right now, in her black pants and hugging tee that read 'watch'em bounce', she looked great.

“I better not. Alrighty, wait 'til I get some popcorn and you two can continue what you were doing.” She clapped her hands together.

“Uh, no. We can't. That-nuh-uh,” I shook my head, “shouldn't have happened.”

Talon turned to me and said calmly, “It's been a hell of a long time coming.”

“Wh-what?” I shook my head again.

“Come on, Zara, give the shmuck a chance. Then at least if it doesn't work out I get to kick his bad-boy-biker ass. A cute one at that; right again, lovey.” She nodded at me.

I glared at my ex-best friend. “I have never said anything about his behind. Deanna, dovey, a word in the kitchen.” I gestured with my head. Then I looked to Talon. “Uh, maybe you should go.”

“I think I'll stay, kitten.” He grinned and made his way to the couch. He sat down and propped his feet up on my chest (the wooden one) and turned on the TV.

I pulled the smiling Deanna down the hall, into my bedroom, and closed the door. Then I frantically got changed into jeans and a tee. Talon had already seen me in my PJ's once, and that was once too many.

I spun to Deanna, put my hands on my hips, and glowered at her as she sat on my bed grinning.

“Oh, don't start. You need to live a little, girl. And I think biker boy can help you along the way.”

“Deanna,” I hissed, “I see nothing but danger with him around; and for God's sake I am nowhere near his type. Look at me,” I said, waving my hands up and down.


“And?” Deanna asked while looking at me like I was a loon.

“I have hips, I have a pudding belly, and I have dark brown hair. Not blonde and skinny, like he's always with and...Jesus, what the hell am I explaining myself for? There's danger all around him. Danger, Deanna. I can't go back to that. You'd have a better chance with him. Not that I want one.”

She ignored my last statement. “You sound like that f*cked up robot off...shit, what's that show you like?”

“Lost in Space.”

“That’s it. Zee, hun, you don't know that. Sure he's a badass, but he ain't nothing like that other jerk-off. Nothing.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “You don't know that. I have to think of Maya. She's my number one priority.”

“What about you, though? When will you let yourself be happy?”

“I'll wait till Maya's twenty. Then I can think about myself,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

“I bet—” Deanna was cut off by a knock on the front door.

I looked to Deanna and raised my eyebrows. I didn't know why; maybe I thought she magically knew who was at the front door. She shrugged her shoulders, and then we both heard.

“Who the f*ck are you?” Talon growled.

We bolted from my bedroom and ran down the hall. We somewhat got stuck in the hall doorway together until I managed to squeeze through before her. I looked over my shoulder, about to poke my tongue out as if to say 'Neener, neener, I got through first', only to stop when I saw Deanna raise her hand to cover her grin.

I focused my eyes on who was at the front door.

Oh, hell.

“Um, hi, Michael.” I waved over Talon's shoulder because he hadn't moved from the doorway. He still held the door with one hand as if he was ready to shut it on Maya's teacher from last year’s face.

“Hi, Zara.” Michael smiled.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, and tried to open the door wider to get it from Talon's grip. But he wouldn't budge, so I gave up.

Michael produced a bunch of wild flowers from behind his back. “I saw these and thought of you.”

“She don't want them,” Talon said.

“Talon!” I scolded.

“And who are you?” Michael asked.

“Her man.”

I coughed and sputtered. “Ah, no you're not.”

“Hot damn,” I heard in the background from Deanna.

“Yes. I am.” He turned to me, his form taking up my view of outside and Michael.

I put my hands on my hips. “Since when?” I glared.

“Kitten,” he smiled. “Since I stuck my tongue down your throat and you curled your body around mine, moaning for more.”

I was sure my eyes popped out of my head and walked off, then skipped with my heart down the path.

“Hot-double-damn!” Deanna laughed. “You'll have to give her a minute. Sorry, Mike. I think you're about ten seconds too late.”

Talon shut the door in his face. Which broke me out of my trance.

“Goddamn it, Talon. That was rude. And I am not your woman!” I opened the door and stomped down the front steps after a retreating Michael.

“Michael, I'm so sorry about that Neanderthal. That was very sweet of you to bring me flowers.” Though, I didn't understand why he had since I'd told him 'no' fifty times already when he'd asked me out.

“Don't ever do it again,” Talon warned from the front porch.

I glared up at him. He winked and smiled down at me.

“I can see I've come at the wrong time. Maybe I should come back?” Michael asked.

“Uh...” was my response.

“No,” came from Talon.

“I wouldn't bother,” from Deanna.

I turned to them and sliced across my neck with my finger. Really, I was prepared to kill the both of them.

Spinning back to Michael, I smiled. “I'm sorry, Michael, but right now, at this time, I'm not ready for anything—”

A scoff came from Talon.

I continued, “The thought was very sweet, and I think you're a great guy—” God I hated doing this; I always felt bad. Especially with a guy, who was still holding flowers for me. “And you never know, maybe in the future—”

“Try never,” Talon growled.

“Ever.” Deanna giggled.

I winced; what was with the running commentary from the loco-train people? “Sorry, Michael.”

“That's okay, Zara. I'll come back in a couple of weeks, see how things are.”

I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Is that the future?

“You come back, I'll kill you.” Talon started moving from the front porch towards us. I quickly ushered Michael out the front gate and closed it.

“Everything okay, boss?” Griz asked. Griz was short for Grizzly. He's built like a bear, in a cuddly sort of way. Not that he had a belly; he didn't. He was just tall, with very wide shoulders, arms, and legs. Griz was stalking across the street toward us. Two others, whom I hadn't met, were standing on the other side of the road, legs apart, arms folded across their chests, looking menacing. I'd only met Griz because he helped me one day when I was attacking my lawn mower with a sledgehammer when it wouldn't start. He jogged across with an amused expression and asked, “Can I help, lady?” I let him, of course, or I'd be in jail right now for murder. I would have found a gun somehow.

I saw Michael studying Griz; he was in his full motorcycle ensemble, including his black leather vest with a Hawks patch sewn onto it, their club’s name.

“Y-y-you're a member of Hawks,” Michael stuttered.

Griz stopped beside Michael and stared down at him. “Yeah, what of it?” He snapped.

“N-nothing.” Michael turned back to Talon. “He, he called you boss.”

Talon grinned his wicked grin and I grabbed the fence for support as Talon said, “Heard that did ya?”

“Um.” He looked to the ground. “Zara, I don't think I'll be back. Bye.” He quickly marched off to his car. I was surprised his car didn't fly off squealing down the road.

Damn. He took my flowers with him.

Deanna burst out laughing and walked toward us.

I sighed and ignored Talon's close presence beside me. Instead, I turned my attention to Griz. “Hi, Griz. How's things?” He looked from me to Talon and then back.

“Great, Wildcat; and you?” he smirked.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes and watched behind him as the other two bikers disappeared into the compound.

“Now that's what I call entertaining. Girl, I gotta come to your house more often.” Deanna grinned.

“Deanna, I think from now on I'm going to be a regular visitor at your place.” Just like I have been.

“Kitten—” Talon began with a tone of warning.

“Pfft. Don't you ‘kitten’ me,” I said with my back to him. He slipped his arms around my waist and pulled me close against his front. I held off a sigh of pleasure and tried to move away. It was impossible. I looked over my shoulder at him and bit my tongue to hold the moan. He looked gorgeous, even though his eyes told me he was annoyed. Still, they were laced with a little bit of lust as well.

Griz laughed, but covered it with a cough when Talon glared at him.

“Oh, girly, we need to celebrate this. Let's get smashed,” Deanna said. “Lord knows I need it.”

I doubted I was supposed to hear that. I looked over at her and knew she was hiding something from me, but what was the mystery?

“And what are we celebrating exactly?”

“You and Talon gettin' it on.” She gave me the 'Duh' look.

I went to move again, but didn't get anywhere. “Uh, No. There is no Talon and Zara.”

“Uh-huh.” She smiled and looked at us from top to bottom. Okay, so to some it could look different. Because I may have relaxed against Talon's warm, hot weight and my arms may be...okay, were resting on top of his, which were still wrapped around my waist.

Holy crap, I'm in Talon's arms.

He moved an arm from around me and swept my hair aside; then he kissed my neck, which involuntary arched so he could have better access.

Holy schnitzel, Talon's kissing my neck. In front of people.

That didn't help my side of things. I nudged his head away with my own, and with some force, wiggled my way from his—wanted...so much needed...No!—unwanted and unneeded comfort.

I made my escape to Deanna's side.

Oh my god, was my breathing heavy again? Yes, yes it is. Damn him and his sinful body.

“You,” I pointed my finger at him and glared, “stay over there. This—” I gestured between the two of us, “can't happen.”

Deanna scoffed. Griz laughed.

“Kitten, I know you want me; your body doesn't lie. It's only a matter of time before I'll be in your pants...” He trailed off as Griz's phone rang.

Griz flipped it open. “Yo? Yep.” He closed it and looked to Talon. “Business, boss. Later, ladies.”

“Bye, Griz,” I smiled. It wasn't his fault his boss was a chauvinist-ass-hat.

“See ya, hot stuff,” Deanna purred, causing Griz to look over his shoulder, confused. He couldn't understand that Deanna was attracted to older men, and Griz was definitely older. Deanna and I both sat at twenty-six; my guess, Talon was mid-to-late thirties, and Griz, with his long, muddy-brown with gray hair, and hard-aged eyes seemed to be hitting early forties.

“Kitten, I have to go. But if you two are having drinks, why don't you come by the compound later. I'll have a couple with ya.” With that, he grabbed my chin, kissed me hard and quick, before my knee had the chance to hit his groin, and left.

Of course, I watched his muffin-of-love ass walk away, and I was sure he knew it.

“Yeah, you keep fighting that, hun.” Deanna laughed, and walked off into the house.