"How's that all going by the way?"

"It's...better." I thought back to last night's dinner, holding J.'s hand under the table to keep him calm. "He's trying, I have to give him that. And Randall's really gone above and beyond. Did you know he was over every week while J. was in prison doing house repairs for Mrs. Johnson?"

"Dang, no wonder Janelle fell for him. I love a man who's good with his hands."

"You just love men period," I clarified.

"Good point."

"It's just that it's bad memories. But every day is a little better. His mom keeps trying to guilt trip him into staying there, but he waves her off saying there's no room. Cause of me." I smiled at the memory of Mrs. Johnson clutching her side in a dramatic display of phantom pain. Since I'd convinced J. to see her again, all of her dire symptoms had cleared up overnight. "Luckily they all seem to like me."

"And the," Sammie made flapping motions with her hands, "...thing? That's not a problem?"

I squinted. "You mean the race thing?"

She sighed dramatically. "Yes, a.s.shole. Make me say it why don't you."

I laughed again. "I will. No one else does. It's almost eerie how quick people are to avoid it. I mean come on, it's obviously right there in front of you. I mean, I'm practically translucent and he's got that..."

"That skin," she finished for me, trailing off and looking dreamy. "When's he coming to see the new place?" she asked pointedly.

"Very subtle. Actually he'll be coming by in a few minutes. He's taking me on my first mandatory ride!"

"The f.u.c.k is that?"

"Sorry, biker club s.h.i.t. The club's going on a ride. All the way to Cape May."

She arched her eyebrows. "And you're going to have to hold on to J. the while way there?"

"Uh huh, poor me right?"

She huffed past me in a pretend pout. "I thought I was going to be renting with this meek little farm girl who stays in every night and wouldn't say boo to a ghost. Turns out she's actually a bada.s.s biker chick with a hot slab of meat for a boyfriend."

"Who're you calling a slab of meat?"

Sammie froze mid flounce, then burst out in open mouthed laughter to see J. at the door.

"Clearly you, Johnson. Jesus, don't you get tired of looking like a superhero in that leather outfit?"

"Never," he grinned. "It's got all my powers."

"Clearly," she drawled, poking her tongue into her cheek and letting her eyes wander down his frame.

"Okay, simmer down Samara June," I said, tugging her back from the door. "Hi J. Sorry about her."

"Used to it by now. Hey this place ain't bad." He ducked through the doorway and stepped into our tiny kitchen, looking extremely out of place.

"Not that she's going to be here at all," Sammie mumbled.

"I'll be here," I soothed. "Women aren't allowed to attend official club business. They kick me out."

"s.e.xist pigs."

"Ha!" J. scoffed. "Freakin' Emmy over here knows more about what's going on than I do. She's the one who reminded me of the ride this morning, I would have totally forgotten and got my a.s.s beat for it." He turned to me. "Speaking of which, are you ready Em?"

I ran over to the corner where I had stashed my overnight bag. "I am, but we had a few more boxes...."

"Oh whatever, I meant it when I said there were only a few." Sammie sighed dramatically. "Far be it for me to stand in the way of 'official club business.'"

J. strode over to where she stood and looked her in the eye with mock seriousness. "Thank you Samara. I owe you. How can I ever repay you?"

"Kiss," she tapped her cheek. "Right here."

He bent obligingly and she fell back into a mock swoon. I sighed and grabbed my bag. Then I ran to hug her goodbye.

"You'll be back tomorrow?" she asked as she recovered her footing and patted my back.

"Late afternoon," I promised. "We'll have the night together."

"Last night of freedom before it's back to the salt mines."

"I'm glad I was able to get into at least one cla.s.s with you. It'll be weird to be in the studios on my own."

Sammie hugged me close. "You're gonna be great Em. I'm so glad you registered. That took guts."

"She's definitely got those." J. was looking at me so fondly that I stopped in my tracks. I looked from him to Sammie, from Sammie back to him. We were a strange little family, and I loved being part of it. Unconditional love was still hard to accept, but I was getting better.

I blew a kiss over my shoulder as we stepped out onto the street. J. had parked in front of our building. Heat radiated from the pavement as I settled behind J. in my customary position, arms flung around his waist, body pressed close into his back. My overnight back was strapped down into the saddlebags, along with the tent and J.'s ever present toolkit. I tapped his side to let him know I was ready, and we surged into the street with a throaty roar.

We caught up with the rest of the Sons of Steel at the ramp onto the Ben Franklin Bridge. They fell into formation immediately, with Teach riding at the head. J. brought up the rear, keeping a watchful eye out for any problems his brothers might have. I watched them move with militaristic precision, and my heart filled with pride to see how well J. kept the club together. There was strength in their unity.

We took back roads as much as we could, riding two abreast through the Pine Barrens. Occasionally we would draw a crowd as we pa.s.sed through the small towns that dotted the landscape. I would always wave.

The Atlantic Ocean was a dark, murky blue and the sky was dappled with dark gray clouds when we finally reached our chosen end point. The light was iffy. Looking back to the west, I saw it was only going to get worse and knew I needed to hurry.

"Okay, how about against that wall?"

Teach leaned against the retaining wall and crossed his arms. "How's this?" The sea breeze played with his long dreadlocks and the sun peeked through a cloud, highlighting the sparkle in his wise old eyes I backed up and checked the light on my meter.

"Hang on, I want your bike in the shot." I stepped carefully around his chopper. The gleam of chrome lit his face from underneath, giving his craggy, scarred face a heroic glow. "That's perfect."

One by one the Sons of Steel posed for my camera. I could feel J.'s eyes in me as I snapped the portraits of his brothers. "My girl's an artist," he declared.

I searched my heart and spoke my truth. "I found my inspiration."

The End.

All your wildest fantasies, all your secret desires. Vivian Lux writes it all. Please visit my Amazon author page to see my entire steamy, s.e.xy catalogue.

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Also by Vivian:.

The Devil's Due:.

I didn't know what lay ahead of me. But I knew what I was in for if I returned. The devil I knew versus the devil I didn't.

I made my choice.

I would rather dance with the devils I didn't know.

When Lainey decides to leave Flint Springs, she doesn't look back. With her arms around the mysterious and terrifyingly s.e.xy Cade Turner, she is ready to leave her abusive stepfather and go-nowhere life behind. She's ready for the excitement and thrill of the open road.

But the world of the outlaw motorcycle club, The Devil's Due, is more than Lainey bargained for. Flung into the midst of a violent gang war, Lainey discovers secrets from Cade's past that threaten her newfound love. And when she meets the s.a.d.i.s.tic club president, Lainey must make a desperate bid to save an abused captive, the man she loves...and herself.

This book is a dark erotic romance and deals with serious themes including violence, coercion and murder.

end.