Authors: Christina Marie
“Fine! I got them at the rally. I lost a bet.” He still wouldn’t look at me.
“What kind of bet?”
He finally turned and faced me, “You really want to know?”
This couldn’t be good
.
“Yes.” I stared back at him.
“You can’t get pissed.”
Nope this definitely wasn’t good
. I stared at him waiting for him to continue.
“I,” he pushed a hand through his damp hair, “a...I...fuck. I let a lady suck my dick because she bet that she could suck me off within three minutes. WITH a condom on. I lost.” He was watching me waiting for my reaction. But I was speechless—shocked. “Say something.”
I shook my head, “That’s, sick. I mean some total stranger sucked your dick and you liked it!” I left the kitchen. Ryder mumbled some cuss words while he turned the stove off. He walked in the room and found me sitting on the bed.
“You can’t be pissed.”
“I’m grossed out Ryder!” I shouted. “What if she had herpes in her mouth?!”
“I HAD A CONDOM ON!” he annunciated each word loudly.
I shivered, still grossed out. “But you still liked it.”
He walked over and bent down, placing his hands on each side of my hips. “I never fucking looked at her, I closed my eyes and imagined it was you sucking my dick. I can’t even tell you what color her hair was.”
“Gross just Gross!” I pushed him away and went back to the kitchen.
We sat at the bar eating our breakfast in silence. Sarah walked in and looked like she hadn’t slept much. She waved at us then went to her room. After we finished eating I curled up at one end of the couch and watched TV. Ryder wasn’t happy about that so he picked me up, laid down on the couch so I was lying in front of him. With a throw blanket laying over us we both fell asleep. A loud knock at the door woke me up. I slid out from under Ryder’s muscular forearm and jogged to the door. I looked out the peep hole and there stood a flower delivery guy.
“Yes?” I opened the door.
“Harley Russell?” he looked at his clipboard.
“That’s me.”
He pushed a bouquet of red roses toward me, I opened the door further. Signed the paper then he left. The glass vase and flowers were absolutely beautiful. I plucked the card out of the massive bouquet and was about to open when Ryder placed his hands on my hips.
“Did your parents or Star forget that roses aren’t your favorite?”
“Um…” I opened the thick envelope. There was a sheet of notebook paper folded, I unfolded it and gasped. The note that I had written and stuffed inside of one of my books when I was twelve years old fluttered to the countertop.
I pulled the small card out of the envelope and read it;
Happy Birthday Harley. Looks like I’m not the only one that wasn’t 100% honest.
X-fucking-O
Hunter
I dropped the card on top of the notebook paper and run to my bedroom. I picked up one of the books that was on the floor, “Oh my god.” I felt tears sting my eyes.
“Harley?” Ryder sounded confused.
“He…he had to have been in my room.” The tears started to fall.
“How the fuck would he have been able to get in here?”
I shook my head and leaned back against Ryder’s chest, “I…I don’t know.”
Ryder turned me around and cupped my face in his hand, “You need to talk to the RA.”
Sarah walked into my room, “The birthday girl is loved!” she stopped walked toward me when she looked at my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Those flowers are from Hunter.” I sniffled, grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the kitchen. “I wrote this note when I was twelve years old and stuffed it inside this book,” I put the book on the counter, “This morning I noticed this one and another one on the floor then got this from Hunter.” She read the card, her eyebrows drew down together.
“How the hell would he have got in here?” she was not happy. “I’m finding the RA, I’ll be right back with her.”
Twenty minutes later Sarah was back with the RA, Veronica. “I have no idea how he got in here Harley. The emergency post was set off around twelve thirty, again. A blonde from another dorm said the same thing the others did. A guy has been wearing a ski mask, gloves, and all black clothes. He pulls them away behind a building and tries to have their way with them.”
“WHAT?!” Sarah and I both shouted—shocked.
“But every time they look for the guy he’s nowhere to be found. It’s like he just vanishes. The others can’t even ID him. He speaks in such a low whisper and obviously he’s covered from head to toe.”
“So nobody knows how he got in here? That’s bullshit.” Ryder ran his hand through his hair.
Veronica narrowed her eyes at him, “
You’re
not even supposed to be in here.”
“I’d like to see you make me fucking leave.” He glared at her. His jaw set tight.
She rolled her eyes, “A security company is coming Monday to install cameras in a few more locations. The school is going to put out a public announcement Monday morning asking that all females walk together in groups of at least two. I’ll ask around and see if anybody would have seen him in the halls, but it was pretty dead in here last night. Are you sure it was last night though?”
I nodded my head, “Those books weren’t on the floor when we left.”
“Okay, just…be careful okay. Make sure Sarah is with you in the evenings.”
“Okay.”
We left the flowers and notes on the counter and went to the living room. I curled up next to Ryder and stared off blankly. “Do you have a picture of him?”
I grabbed my phone off of the coffee table and scrolled through pictures then handed it to him. “He was at the club when we got there last night. He was staring at me hard core right after we sat down at the table. I never did see him again.”
I started to cry again, “He’s turning into a stalker now. I thought since he hadn’t said anything to me that he had realized it was better for us to not be together.”
Ryder kissed me on the cheek then left the living room. “I’ve gotta make a phone call, I’ll go outside.”
Sarah nodded and scooted across the couch, “If I see Hunter he’s going to regret ever stepping foot on this campus.” She hugged me.
“I can’t believe this. Why can’t he just move on?”
“I don’t know Harley, I wish I could answer that for you.”
Rage, that’s the only word to describe how mad I was. I had to get away from Harley so I could call dad. I couldn’t be around her and not want to ask her a hundred questions about why she ever hooked up with such a prick.
“Sup birthday boy? We were just getting ready to call you.” dad answered his phone.
“There’s a problem here.” I told him.
“Okay, elaborate just a little bit. I already got a phone call from one very pissed of Bryan. You didn’t elope or some stupid shit did you?”
I blew out a breath, “No.” then I told him about the flowers and the note, and what the RA had told us. “He’s fucking psycho.” I finished.
“We need to find out more about him. I’ll call the dean and fill him in. He’ll be able to pull his records. In the meantime don’t let her go anywhere alone.”
“Didn’t plan on it. Fuck, he better hope I don’t find him first. What the hell is she going to do come Monday? She shouldn’t have to be in the same room as him.”
“Let me call the dean, I’ll call you later. Be careful Ryder.”
“Later.” I took a deep breath in and turned to go back inside. Harley was standing at the doors waiting to let me in.
“What did he say?” she asked when I walked in.
“I’ll tell you more when we get to your room.”
She grabbed my hand and held on tightly. I could feel her shaking so I wrapped my arm around her. Back in her room Sarah was pacing back and forth mumbling to herself.
“Okay tell me what Cade said.” Harley said.
I told her everything dad had told me before I had even come to campus.
“He knows the DEAN?!” She screeched. “Oh my god Ryder, I’m going to get in so much trouble!” Harley said with big eyes.
I stopped her by putting my hands on her shoulders, “Dad will handle that part, you need to tell your parents too.”
“Oh because dad won’t turn murderous or anything.” She shook her head. “I’m so stupid.”
Sarah interrupted her, “No,
Hunter
is the stupid one. We’ve had this conversation numerous times. I’m sure him seeing Ryder and you together last night only pissed him off more. I don’t know what all he’s capable of but the dean knowing will probably be a good thing.”
“What a way to spend our birthdays.” Harley wiped tears from her face. “I’m sorry.” She hugged me around my waist.
“I’m spending it with you I’m right where I want to be.” I kissed the top of her head.
“What the hell am I? Chopped liver?” Sarah winked at me and smiled.
Harley pulled away from me and hugged Sarah, “I love you so much, you’re the one that talked sense to me. OH, tomorrow is your big day too!”
I was confused, and waited for Harley to tell me what she was talking about. “Tomorrow we have to go with her to a boudoir session!”
“A what?”
Harley rolled her eyes, “She’s going to be photographed in super cute lingerie.”
“I’m sure it’s just what he wants to see too.” Sarah blushed.
“I’ll be there.” I wrapped my arms around their shoulders, “You two sure do know how to keep a man on his toes.” That made them both punch me in the ribs. “Jeez, give a woman a compliment and get a beating for it.” I backed away from them and went back to the living room. They laughed and went into Sarah’s room to get clothes or whatever Sarah would need for the photo shoot laid out for the next day.
I kept checking my phone waiting for a call or text from dad, my patience was growing pretty thin. Finally two hours later he called me back.
“Yeah?”
“You won’t believe this shit, that son of a bitch resigned Friday after class.”
“Are you fucking serious?!” I shouted.
“Dead serious, Clayton the Nomad is going to meet you at campus I want you and him to go by Hunter’s house. You still have that nine millimeter in your truck?”
“Yeah, fuck. I’ll get his address from Harley. I’d rather him not see my truck though he’ll know it’s me snooping around.”
“I’ve already called the Devil Riders MC, be at the clubhouse in an hour and they’ll let you borrow a ride. Don’t fuck it up cuz they’ll probably castrate you.” He laughed.
“Alright, I’ll keep you posted.”
“And Ryder, make sure the girls stay at the dorm. I don’t care if you tell them what you’re doing but they are not to leave the dorm. Keep the fucking door locked and don’t let anybody in unless it’s you and that Nomad. Got it?”
“Got it, do I knock on his door or what? I know what he looks like and he seen me at the club.”
“Nah, just scope out his place and see what the layout is like. Bryan and I will be down there first thing Monday morning.”
“Bryan knows?” I asked with shock.
“Hell yes he knows, he was there when shit went down with your mom and Ronnie. I won’t hide this from him.”
“Okay.”
“Later, love you boy.”
“Love you too.”
Harley walked into her bedroom, “What was that about?” she sat down on the bed beside me. “Ryder?”
“I need to talk to you and Sarah both.” I stood up from the bed and held her hand as we walked into the living room.
“Okay so here’s the deal.”
I explained everything to them, emphasizing the part about them staying at the dorm and not trying to follow me. “Got it! Door locked and don’t answer it for anybody only you and the nerd.”
“Nerd?” I asked confused. “You mean Nomad?”
“Sure,” she shrugged, “I have no idea what a Nomad is but I do know what a Nerd is.”
“I’ll explain it to you while they are gone.” Harley laughed. She handed me a piece of paper with his name and address written on it. She described what it looked like and what he drove. “Be careful Ryder, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.” She kissed me and hugged me tight.
“I’ll be back. You two
stay
.
here
.” I pointed at the floor. She and Sarah both nodded. I got a text from a number I didn’t recognize, it was the Nomad waiting for me next to my pickup. I kissed her again then left and waited on the other side of the door for the locks to click into place. I heard the snap of the lock and the chain slide into place and left the building.
The Devil Riders MC was located about ten minutes outside of town, nestled back in a tree line. A Prospect met us at the gate and let us in. Inside the clubhouse sat numerous guys that eyeballed me and Clayton as we walked through to the Church room.
Inside there was the President Big J and one of the members, Train. His name fit him perfect, the guy was built like my dad and looked like he could steam role over ten men without breaking a sweat. We all shook hands, “You boys want one of mine to ride along? We’re more familiar with the area.” The President asked.
“That’s fine, maybe it’ll be less suspicious that way.”
Train nodded his head, “My step brother lives in that neighborhood. I’ll let you use my 79 Sportster. You good with that?”
“Sure.”
Ten minutes later Clayton and I followed Train through town, down a couple of streets until we reached Bretton Lane. As we drove down the street Train lowered his hand from the handlebar and flipped his thumb toward Hunters house. A few houses later we pulled into a driveway. His step brother walked out of the house holding a beer, “Sup jack ass?”
Train shook his head, “Let’s go inside.”
So we all went in the house, “What can you tell me about the guy down the street where that Dodge is parked?”
“Not much really, I think he’s a professor at the college. There was a hot little blonde in and out of there up until a week or so ago. Now it’s like a revolving door of women, he’s one lucky fucker.” Mike said.
“Nah, he’s luck is about to run out.” Train told him.
“Do I even want to know?”
Train grinned, “In time you’ll figure it out. In the meantime, if these two show up here let them chill here for as long as they need to.”
“Mi casa su casa!” he laughed. We shook hands and walked out.
When we pulled out of the driveway and started down the street toward Hunters house, he was walking out with a blonde haired lady that looked to be about my age. At first glance she looked like Harley. Obviously he liked blondes I muttered to myself.
Back at the clubhouse Big J and Train offered Clayton and I each a drink. We took them up on a beer. Big J had talked to Dad while we were gone. “I’d bet my left nut that he’s the one trying to rape these girls at the campus. They’re all blondes, and either passing by her dorm or live there. I can’t see a reason for his resignation other than a student teacher relationship is highly frowned upon.”
“We have to figure out how he got in their dorm. I’ll shoot the son of bitch if I catch him in there.”
The guys all laughed and tapped their bottles against mine.
Once I left I called Harley to let her know I was headed back to the dorm. She didn’t answer, so I called right back only to have it go straight to voicemail. For some stupid reason I didn’t have Sarah’s number so I tried Harley’s phone again. A number I didn’t recognize beeped in while I listened to the voicemail, “Ryder?”
It was Harley, “Where the fuck are you?”
“I’m so sorry I was in the shower and tried to answer your call. I sorta dropped my phone…in the toilet. So I called from Sarah’s phone.”
“Fuck, scare me half to death. I’m about to pull into the parking lot.”
“I’m sorry. We’ll meet you down there. Love you.” I could hear her smile.
I smiled, “Love you too.”
I invited Clayton up to their room with me, Sarah’s eyes about bugged out of her head when she looked at him. “Clayton, this is Harley and Sarah.” They both shook his hand then we went to the living room. That was the quietest Sarah had been since I had showed up on Friday. Honestly I think it was the quietest Clayton had ever been around me too. We ordered pizza and watched TV, Harley asked if we had found anything out. “Nothing really, he seems to like blondes though.” I told her about what Mike had told us and about the woman walking out of the house with him.
“Well, at least he’s moving on.”
“We can only hope.” I kissed her.
Clayton left before dark to go back and meet up with Rail Riders and do more research on Hunter. We listened to Sarah gush over him for an hour before I finally dragged Harley to her bedroom. While I showered, Harley sat on the counter and talked to me about my work. When I got out she stared at me from head to toe. “I really, really, like your hair being long.”
“And?” I smiled and stepped between her legs, “What else do you really, really like?”
“The, the uh…piercings.” She was trying not to blush.
“Want to put them to use?” I asked.
“Can we just cuddle tonight? I’m a little tender down there still.”
“No problem.” I kissed her then pulled my sweatpants on. She changed into a tank top and a pair of white cotton panties. “Is this your way of testing me?” I grumbled as I climbed into her bed.
She laughed and climbed into bed. I spooned her from behind, my fingers tracing back and forth across her stomach. “Ryder, I’m scared.” She whispered.
“Of Hunter?”
“Yes, what if the MC doesn’t get to him before he gets to me again?”
“Don’t you worry about that. My dad and your dad will be here Monday morning, the other MC is going to step in too. They don’t take this kind of shit lightly.”
“I wish you didn’t have to leave Monday.”
“I don’t have to, I can stay for a couple of more days. I’ll talk it over with dad and see if he thinks I should.”
“Okay. Night.”
“Night.”
“I love you.” She whispered sleepily.
“I love you too.” I kissed her shoulder. Her breathing leveled out, shortly after she had fallen asleep so did I.