Faithfully Devoted: Rage Ryders Templeton Read online

  This is a business arrangement, but I don’t want her to feel like she is stuck with me in all ways if that isn’t something she chooses for herself. We’ll have a lot to talk about on our wedding night, that’s for damn sure, I need to know where she sees us, where she wants our relationship to go. Do we move forward with each other, or do we keep it business only?

  I don’t want to feel trapped and I don’t want her feeling that way either. Fuck, this is a lot of pressure for one person to carry on their shoulders. I pull up to Ghost and Bristol’s place and park my bike next to his, I barely make it to the door before it’s swung open and Bristol is in my arms. They had a rough road getting to where they are today, but they survived and are stronger now than anyone could hope for, me included. She’s become such a close friend of mine, that making this sacrifice for her seems worth it at times, when I’m not lost in my head that is.

  “Woah, what’s all this, how are you doing, sweet girl?”

  “I’m good, Justice, Ghost told me what you’re doing for us, and I wish there was another way,” she says with tears in her eyes as she looks up at me.

  “No crying, sweet girl, it will all work out.” All the while I’m thinking that I hope it does.

  “I’m not crying, there’s something in my eye,” she says trying to make me believe it. About then, Ghost comes out on the front porch to join us.

  “Hey man, how’re you doing? Sweet cheeks, what happened, why are you crying?” he asks Bristol. She huffs and puffs for a second before she answers him.

  “I’m not crying damnit!” she stomps her foot and heads inside. Ghost and I look at each other and start laughing. Her temper tantrums are so adorable you can’t help but crack up, which eases some of the tension I’ve been carrying around for the past hour or so.

  “What brings ya by, brother? Not that you’re not welcomed here anytime you want.”

  “I have so much runnin’ through my mind, I just can’t seem to shut it up and was hoping that you’d be willin’ to lend an ear.”

  “Always brother, anytime you need me I’m there. Let’s head inside and sit in my office and talk this shit out.”

  “Sounds good to me…thank you.”

  We head inside and make our way into Ghost’s at-home office. Bristol brings us some beers and we thank her before she leaves us to ourselves.

  “Tell me what’s on your mind,” Ghost starts us off.

  “I can’t get it out of my head that I’m gonna end up being like my old man. It just won’t go away and it’s there on repeat, the memories, the failure and the shame.”

  “You’re not your old man, Justice, and you never failed, and the shame isn’t yours to carry. That burden lays at your dad’s feet, man, not yours.”

  “I know that’s the logical way to see this, but it’s what’s been ingrained in me so long in here,” I say pounding my fist to my chest, “and in here,” I say pointing at my temple on my forehead.

  “That’s not necessarily true though, is it, Justice?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “What I mean is, that if it was ingrained in you, to be abusive towards women, you would’ve already shown your colors with all the Ol’ ladies in the club. With all of their smart mouths and attitudes I’ve never once witnessed you lose your cool with them. You take everything they do and say in stride. You’re respectful to them at all times, otherwise they wouldn’t trust you or care for you the way they do. Think about it, you’ve become one of Bristol’s closest friends and confidant. She tells you things she’s never told anyone else, including me, and out of everyone, she’d spot an abusive asshole before anyone else coming their way.”

  “That’s different, they’re not mine!”

  “They may not share a bed with you, but they’re yours all the same and you know it.”

  We talk it out a few more minutes before I decide I need to think on our conversation. I leave feeling better about the situation than I have in a long time. Needing to feel the wind in my hair and the road beneath my feet I head out for a long ride. It’s nights like this that I feel closest to who I want to be, who I strive to be, just me and the open road.

  Lizzie

  Mom decided to take us girls to Paris for one last women’s shopping week before my pending nuptials happen. Genny and Rosa are accompanying us on our trip. Their husbands were good with them being gone for a week. They’re both pregnant, but not far enough along that their doctors are worried about them traveling.

  This is Genny’s second baby, and Rosa’s first. Giovanni is my nephew and he is such a daddy’s boy that we know he’ll be fine with his momma gone for a quick trip. Our goal is to find me a wedding dress fit for a queen, the only problem is that I don’t think we’ll find biker chick wedding attire in the city of love, but I suppose you never know.

  I’m mostly looking forward to spending some time with Momma and my sisters, I don’t know how much time we’ll all get once I’m married outside of the family. My sisters are at the house all the time because their husbands are in business with my father, but my new biker husband-to-be isn’t involved, and from what I overheard doesn’t care much for my father and his business, or associates.

  I’m happy about that on one hand, but on the other I will miss my family like crazy. We all still get together weekly for dinner, dressed to the nines like normal. I can’t see bringing my biker groom to a dress up dinner with them, he’d stick out like a sore thumb causing my father to possibly have a heart attack.

  Oh, but it sure would be fun to see the look on my father’s face throughout dinner. We took the family jet to make it to Paris, so we were able to stretch out and enjoy the long journey. Once we arrived a town car showed up to escort us to the classiest hotel. We’re in a huge suite with four attached bedrooms, each with their own bathrooms. There’s a living quarters, and an office and that’s all the exploring any of us did before we found our own bedrooms and called it an early evening.

  Twelve hours later, I’m up and alert and ready to see the sights that are so different from those of home, the great state of Texas, US of A. I’ve always enjoyed travelling and hope those days aren’t behind me just yet. Who knows, maybe he’ll enjoy sightseeing and taking some adventures with me. He may not enjoy the fancier joints, but maybe we can still take in some of the great sights afforded to us.

  I don’t know if he has anything in mind for a honeymoon or not, but I wouldn’t mind taking a road trip and getting to know each other for a few weeks. My thoughts are everywhere as we head down to the restaurant in the hotel and have a nice breakfast. Once we step out disappointment hits, its pouring down rain outside. I shouldn’t be surprised, this must be an omen to this up and coming wedding. I groan out loud causing my sisters and mom to laugh at me.

  “Not funny guys,” I convey to them.

  “It’s Paris, sweetie, not even the rain can ruin this for us, now let’s go on the hunt for a wedding gown,” Mom says to me and we hail down a cab. We visit four boutiques before I find the dress that I feel will be perfect. It is perfect! It has a V swoop neckline which is trimmed in antique looking beads, it’s short sleeved and falls just below my knees which show off my legs nicely. It’s not traditional length which I find irresistible and will fit the Texas weather nicely. It’s white in color which is fitting seeing as I am a virgin. You have to be in our family with the watchful eyes that follow us around, making sure we keep our purity for our future husbands.

  I was never permitted to speak to boys growing up, I went to an all-girls school, so I didn’t even have the opportunity during my hours away from my bodyguards. The only men or boys I’ve ever know belong to Father’s business associate’s kids, but we were never left alone so I’ve never even kissed the opposite sex. When I was fifteen and reading romance novels I used to dream of the day I’d get my first kiss and how someone else’s lips would feel on my own.

  My life has been censored in so many ways that I’m thankful that Rosa would sneak me h
er books after she’d finish reading them, it was our small rebellion from Father. Mother would buy them and give them to Rosa since we weren’t permitted televisions in our rooms, and we were told what we could and couldn’t watch when we went into the family room.

  My life has been so sheltered that I’m not sure how I’ll fit into the biker world. I fear I’ll make a fool of myself once I get a taste of freedom.

  Two

  Justice

  I have to say I’m impressed with how the women transformed the backyard of the clubhouse for today’s events. Then it hits me in the chest and I have a hard time breathing all of a sudden.

  Today is my wedding day.

  The day I meet my bride for the first time at the altar. The day I tie myself to a stranger, a woman I’ve never even met.

  I do this for my club.

  I do this for my brother.

  I do this for her.

  She deserves to be out of that house of horrors she’s grown up in. I’m standing here waiting for her with Ghost by my side. I decided on only one groomsman, and since this is to ensure his future, I can’t think of anyone else that should be by my side.

  I look up and see the most stunningly beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. She’s tanned, dark hair—so dark it’s nearly black in color. I can’t see her eyes clearly from the end of the aisle, but from here they look to be hazel in color. The one thing that’s standing out to me right now is that she looks about as happy as I do to be here and meeting your future for the first time at the end of a makeshift wedding altar. I didn’t want to get married in a church, therefore we set it up in the backyard of the clubhouse. It’s nothing fancy, but the ladies did a good job making it something special for her.

  I hope and pray that she’s at least not putting me in the same category as her father. I suddenly want to prove to her that I am a good man.

  I’ll be good for her.

  To her.

  This I vow to her and myself, I will not be my father. My breath leaves my body as she heads towards me. Damn, all of a sudden, I feel this primal instinct take over and the word mine goes through my head over and over again. I’ve never felt this way towards another human being let alone a woman.

  Lizzie

  I can’t believe I’m actually going through with this! I hate my father more at this moment in time than I ever have in my entire life. Why does he get to pick who we spend the rest of our lives with? As I stand with him at the Rage Ryders’ clubhouse door leading into the backyard, I have the sudden thought to flee. Could I make it out of here, or would of one of father’s men catch me?

  Looking over at Father I can tell that if I pull one of my shenanigans today I will pay the price. A price I never want to pay again at his hands and cruelty. I decide to give fate a chance, there must be a reason this is happening to me...right?

  Once the wedding march begins, I watch as my sisters start their walk where they will be waiting on me once I make it to my destination. When my turn comes, I feel the butterflies start to fly in my stomach. Please don’t let him be some dirty, disgusting old man who doesn’t believe in maintaining himself. Even I’m not that good of an actress, for Christ’s sake! I can’t help but picture a greasy, long-haired, long-bearded toothless asshole waiting to make me his. I can’t help but shiver at those thoughts.

  Once we get to where I can see my future husband I am shocked and pleased with what I see. He very much does take care of himself and I find myself looking forward to my wedding night. He’s tall, broad and from what I see, very muscular. He’s got dirty blonde hair, which isn’t unacceptably long, it only reaches the top of his collar and is messy in a very sexy way. I want to run my fingers through it while he pounds into me. Holy shit, where did that random thought come from?

  I make it to where he is standing waiting for me and I am suddenly mesmerized by the sky-blue eyes looking back at me. I wonder if he likes what he sees as much as I do. I work hard to take care of myself and it shows. I’m not trying to be vain, but I’m not naturally skinny so I have to work hard to where my body doesn’t look bad in my clothes. I’m still no skinny minnie, but I am proud of how hard I work to make myself look presentable where he shouldn’t be ashamed of me. I hope he likes all of my natural curves.

  “Who gives this woman to this man?” I hear asked and turn my head to the man who asked the question. I nearly laugh out loud when I see it’s another one of these motorcycle men who is officiating. I read his vest thing and it says Wasp, President. So, this is the head honcho here. He’s a pretty good-looking man himself, a little older than I like, but he has kind eyes and a nice smile.

  “I do,” my father says, not we do, as if he’s the sole reason I was born. I’m ready to get this going so I don’t have to see his smug face on a daily basis. I stay facing the man performing our ceremony as he continues.

  “We are gathered here today…

  Justice

  We repeat our vows as they are laid forth before us, tying each to the other one for the rest of our lives. I’m mesmerized by her voice, it’s so soothing that I can’t wait to hear her talk more. I’m like a robot repeating each word after Wasp. I can’t take my eyes away from hers, we’re both staring into one another’s and we are lost in time, it stands still until I hear those words, “you may now kiss your bride.”

  I lean down and kiss her lips for the first time, and there is an explosion of emotions that hit me all at once. I start off slow, brushing my lips with hers then adding my tongue and swiping it across her bottom lip, begging for entrance. She gasps and opens up her mouth slightly, but that’s all I need to insert my tongue into her mouth. I can tell she’s inexperienced which drives me wild.

  I grab the back of her neck and bring her closer to me, so I can get as deep and personal as possible, I want this kiss to be one she remembers for the rest of her life. She moans into my mouth making my dick stand to attention immediately. If she makes these sounds with a kiss, I can’t wait to hear the sounds she’ll make when I’m buried deep inside of her.

  I can’t wait to make her mine in all ways known to man, to feel the way her pussy clamps down on me as I thrust inside of her. Hearing her scream out my name in pleasure is now a goal I can’t wait to meet. She pulls away from our kiss and her cheeks heat, I have a thing about the pink tinge that now rests upon her. I can’t help but wonder if she turns this shade of pink all over her body.

  “Hi,” I say to her, stupid word for the first one I know, but I am at a loss for words.

  “Hi,” she repeats back to me, and I like the smile she is wearing at this moment.

  “I guess we should get these festivities going, everyone is watching us to see what we’ll do next,” I inform her, causing her to look around like she’s just realized it’s not just the two of us. As she looks back at me she throws her head back in laughter and I want to memorize that sound and carry it with me everywhere I go.

  “I guess we should,” she declares to me still wearing that beautiful smile upon her face.

  I grab her hand and we walk down the aisle, followed by Ghost and who I assume to be her sisters. They all look alike to me letting me know they’re definitely kin to each other. As we pass by her parents, her mother is wiping away tears and smiles at us as we pass, her father however is wearing a scowl upon his face. Fuck him! She’s mine now, and if I want to kiss her the way I did he has no rights to say differently any longer. She’s mine!

  The evening drags on, pictures, dinner, cutting the cake and the best part, our first dance. I know what people think when they look at me, how on earth can a biker know how to dance? Easy, my mom use to dance with me in the living room, in the kitchen wherever and whenever the mood would strike her. Mom enjoyed to dance, and I was her sidekick, I learned the waltz when I was only ten years old.

  Those are some of the only good memories I have from my hellish childhood and I thank God, every single damn day for those that I do have. The song that plays however isn’t one I can show of
f my waltz moves to…it’s Aerosmith’s I don’t want to miss a thing, but I can slow dance with her cuddled in my arms and that’s worth me not showing off my moves.

  It's the first time we’ve gotten a moment alone, I take advantage of that and lay a slight kiss upon her lips. She reciprocates and the next thing I know we’re standing still in the middle of the dance floor lost in each other.

  I place my hands on her cheeks making the kiss more intimate and personal. I want to show her that she’s special and that even though we were forced into this arrangement, she won’t be treated as such by myself. I hear whoopin’ and cat calls which bring me out of the trance I’m under. I smile at her and she returns the smile, lighting up the room and my heart. How is it even possible that I’ve only met her a few short hours ago and I already feel the way I do about her?

  It’s as if she’s put some type of spell on my broken, shattered heart and it’s waking up for the first time in many years. I have a feeling she’s going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life. She was meant to be mine and I am meant to be hers, it’s like fate threw us together and I want to treasure this gift it has bestowed upon me.

  I grab her hand and walk us back to our table, it’s in the middle of the others to where everyone is surrounding us any way we turn. Her family is all behind us and my brothers take up the rest, I notice for the first time that her father brought some of his business associates with him, none I know personally, but from the research we’ve done I know that they are all dangerous men in their own rights. I make a mental note to find out which ones I need to keep an eye on more than the others. I don’t trust these motherfuckers, especially with my wife’s protection…my wife, God I have a weakness for the sound of that.