Night Rider (2 page)

“Oh hey Nick!” she said, eyeing the stylish man as he walked around a sleek motorcycle.
That's a Ninja isn't it?
“You're...you're into biking? Motorbiking?”
Of course he is stupid, that's why he brought it up last night!

His pale and immaculate face stretched into a cunning grin. “Best way to outrun the sun.” He looked up into the pinkening sky with a look that struck Eve as wearisome.

Eve's eyes drifted onto the strange gothic symbols embroidered onto his coat. “You're one of the Undying!?”

A brief look of panic flashed across his eyes. “Excuse me?”

“The Undying Brotherhood!”

His face calmed into a smile. “Oh yes...the club. I invented it.”

“No way.” Girlish excitement burst in her heart. The Undying Brother Motorcycle Club was known for its cult following after a few of its more criminal members dropped off the map. “Whatever happened to Jim Morton? I watched the chase on TV, the cops were right on him, and then when he came under the bridge...”

“Gone like a whisper in the dark.” Nicholas grinned.

“Oh come on. Tell me! I mean you weren't even connected to the heist-”

He walked up and placed a finger on her lips. “You never know who’s watching, Eve.” He came close to her ear and whispered, “Who’s listening.” His lips grazed her cheek, as he pulled away and said, “I'll tell you what. Come by my club on your lunch break. If you behave yourself, I might let you in on a few secrets.”

She hugged him tight and then let go. “I'd love to.”
Anything that gets me away from Barry.
Her skin tingled, and the hairs rose on her neck just being within Nicholas' presence.

He fitted his polished black helmet over his head and lifted the visor. “Oh and one more thing. Bring me a book.
The Life and History of Edmund Baiker.”

“Uhh...I don't think we have that. Sounds old. Might wanna try the antique store.”

He pulled down the visor. “Check. You might be surprised.”

***

Nicholas sat in the dark of his club, bathed in the violet-indigo glow of blacklights, far away from any windows or doors that led outside. His martini glass shook to the ceaseless strains of rock music from the main area, as it saturated his insulated walls. His fingers twirled around the rim of the glass, while his eyes flitted to paintings lined along his walls, taking in the fine brush strokes and delicate sweeps.

What are the chances? It must have been a century since that day. I could have made her mine...could have changed her.
His eyes fell upon a portrait of a gaunt, steely-eyed man, and his hand twitched with anger.
This time I won't wait. I'll be having the last laugh Edmund, you little f-

The door to his office swung open. “Sorry to disturb boss, but there's uh...a lady. She's for you.”
They're always for me.
Melancholy swept through his heart, as the faces of past lovers across the ages flashed through his head.

Nicholas flipped a switch from underneath his desk. The lighting in his office became more pleasing to the eye. Golden amber tones washed across the walls, highlighting their rich crimson fabrics and accentuating the opulence of his mahogany desk. “Thanks, Bill. Let her in.”

Bill backed away from the doorway. In return, Eve took his place. Her figure was backlit against the intense light emanating from the club's main area. His keen eyes perceived a richness of color within her auburn tresses that wasn't there, her reddish brown locks looked like molten copper against the deep black tones of her blouse.

Eve looked around nervously. Her face caught in wonder, as she absorbed all the room's peculiarities like a child at an amusement park.

Nicholas stood up and walked to her side. “Please, take a seat.” His flesh trembled when his cool hands slipped around her waist. Her mortal warmth was like a clarion call to all his baser instincts.
That scent again. Like a ghost from the past.

“I'm sorry, I couldn't find your book,” she said, as she sat down into one of his chairs.

The vampire reclined behind his desk. “Oh...it's only a book. I've always preferred more intimate sources.”

Eve nodded and leaned forward, a smile on her face. “So.”

***

“Pretty interesting place you got here,” she continued. “Never thought bikers would have an appreciation for the fine arts.”

Nicholas chuckled, as he pulled out two wine glasses from his desk. “They don't. Doesn't stop me from trying, however.”

She looked around the plush walls. She found plenty of racing trophies, city maps with multiple 'X' spots, and an obligatory, but tasteful, pin-up poster, but little else. “You don't have any photos.”

Nicholas poured a vintage red into a crystal goblet and slid it across the table. “No, afraid not. I'm not a photogenic person.”

She looked at his chiseled alabaster features and radiant dark flaxen hair.
Yeah right.
“You know...you don't seem like much of a motorcycle person. No offense.”

“None taken. It is fun, no doubt, but I'm into the hobby for more practical reasons.”

“Such as?” She brought the glass to her lips and felt the first drops of wine caress her tongue.

“Cocaine distribution.”

Eve choked, as she almost spewed out her wine. “I can't believe you said that!”

Nicholas laughed and threw his hands up. “Here I'm a king, darling. For some reason all the bugs and microphones in the world only pick up half of the conversations in this room...and in a court of law that makes me a free man.”

Well, of course, he'd be a criminal. If the bikers are, why not the boss?
She used a napkin to mop up the red spatter around her lips. “Why? Why do you do that?”

“Why not? It offers something for everyone, whether you be rich, poor, stupid, or smart.”

“No, I mean why do
you
do it? The Undying Brotherhood has been around for years. I mean, haven't you had enough? When do millions more matter when you've made millions already?”

He took a deep breath and his face lost its mirth. “A man needs purpose, Eve.” He got up from his desk and moved to her side. Thrills ran down Eve's back to his powerful aura. “The Undying Brotherhood is my family. And what does a man do for his family?”

“Provide?”

“And protect. I found a scattering of bikers at the lowest point in my life. They are the brothers they never had, and I am their father. Leading them saved me, gave me purpose...made me feel alive. Do you know that feeling, Eve?”

Eve turned her face down. She'd dated men, traveled a few places, but never felt as vital as the way Nicholas spoke of it. She felt a gentle finger bring her chin up into his brilliant blue eyes. He continued, “I've felt it twice. The Brotherhood has recaptured only a flicker of what was taken from me.”

“And what was that?”

Nicholas set his wine glass down and raised Eve from her seat. “Love.” His fingers swept behind her neck and grabbed her hair. Eve yelped, as she was brought into his lips. He pressed her close against his body, and she moaned into his mouth.

Her body quivered to the pent-up temptations he had instilled over their meetings. Her hips grinded against him and she gasped when she felt her groin flush with moisture. His kisses ran down from her lips to her sensitive neck.

His hands swept up the back of her thighs and cupped the rise of her bottom. Her head tilted back, her eyes closed, while sonorous moans of approval rose from her throat. Their lips resumed play again, and this time she felt his tongue. And something else.

Something thick and hot nudged against her legs. Her hand traveled down and massaged his masculine tool, still hidden behind thick black cloth. Something so familiar struck her about this moment, but before their heavy petting could continue further, a loud knock rapped against the office door.

Nicholas put her down back in her seat with frightful agility. “What is it?” he said, as he wiped Eve's lipstick from his lips.

“Mr. Kelway is here, boss. He had an appointment.”

Nicholas sighed. “Damn,” he said under his breath. “I'll be right out!”

Eve looked up to him with longing. The fires of lust stoked, but not quenched. “Is it that time?”

Nicholas nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. “I'm afraid so. When my affairs are concluded, I'll meet you at the library tonight. We'll look for my book together.”

“And then what?”

“And then I'll do what I should've done years ago.”

“What's that?”

Nicholas grinned slyly. “A secret.”

***

“You should really get Tivo. I don't have to watch the clock or run home.”

Eve looked out the window, taking in the darkening sky. The dusky blues choked out the florid pinks, and like the night before the heavy clouds promised a moonless darkness. “It's not that, Barry. It's something else.”

“You can tell me.”
I really can't.

Well, maybe I can. Just not the whole thing.
“It's a guy.” She felt him deflate like a balloon. “And sort of about a book.”

“Which one?”

“The...Life of Edmund Beeker? Barker? Something like that. The one I was looking for before lunch.”

“Oh. That. Yeah, we probably don't have it.” All of the sudden the chatter from the college professor upstairs stopped, and an eerie silence filled the air.
He's usually not that quiet until the end of the night.
Barry tensed and looked up the stairs, relaxing when the talk resumed again. He swiveled his chair back to her. “So, he a student or something?”

“No, he's just a man.”

“Older man?”

“Don't think so. Looks like he's in his 30's.”
He doesn't act like most men in their thirties though.

The door to the library entrance flung open, and a cold breeze fluttered into the stale air. Crumpled, golden-orange fall leaves preceded heavy footsteps. Eve thought it odd that she didn't see a shadow, but chalked it off to the dimming light.

Speak of the devil.
Nicholas swung around the corner with a grin on his face and his shiny helmet under his arm. “Eve!” he called.

Barry shrunk into his seat and slouched his shoulders at the sight of Nicholas' towering magnificence. His wispy frame was like a corn stalk before the pale biker's gothic bearing. Eve rushed up to the man and wrapped her arms around him in a hug, her hands taking in his thick back.

“So good to see you...” she breathed, more intimately than she intended. She pulled back and looked into his brilliant, crystalline blue eyes. “I... uh... we-” she gestured to Barry, “were just talking about your book. The one with Edmund Barker-”

“Edmund Baiker. Did you find it on a second go?”

She looked down and sighed.
Didn't really look a second time. I mean it's not like it's just going to appear on shelves is it?
“No. I'm sorry, but I just don't think we have it.”

Nicholas shrugged and patted her on the shoulder, but his hand did not leave. It drifted down her smooth back with airy grace before settling around her soft hip. Eve caught Barry's eyes lingering on Nicholas' hand and then snap back to his computer screen.
Oh great. More fuel for the passive-aggressive fire.

Her co-worker had made romantic overtures in the past, but Eve knew well enough not to reciprocate. He just wasn't her type, but that didn't stop him from trying.
Maybe Nicholas will have a calming effect on him.