Silver Runners MC

Limbo

At 9:06pm, a taxi pulled up to the fence around the clubhouse. I'd been passing a joint back and forth with Wolf, trying to think of the right thing to say. I wanted to say, 'hey, yeah, y'all are best friends but it's not going to happen because I'm going to make her mine ?' Yeah. Perfect.

Rilyn stepped out of the taxi, all long legs and red hair and gorgeousness. My breath hitched as I watched Wolf sprint to her side. He grabbed her up in a bear hug, her white dress slipping dangerously high up the tops of her thighs. She looked uncomfortable.

I walked slowly towards them, feeling awkward at their private moment.

"What the f**k are you wearing, babygirl?" Wolf growled, pulling her back at arm's length and staring at her like she was crazy. "It's short as shit." She didn't respond.

I involuntarily tensed at him calling her babygirl. "Damn. Lookin' hot as hell, Rilyn." I grinned, shoving my hands in my pockets. Her mint green eyes connected to mine and she gave me the most gorgeous smile I'd ever seen. It almost knocked me on my ass. She pulled away from Wolf and walked over towards me, hooking her arms around my neck timidly and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Have to show Aspen and the other hang-arounds a thing or two." She winked, laughing as she shook her hair behind her back. Wolf stumbled behind her, glaring at me, looking extremely dumbfounded. And drunk. Rilyn made no move to acknowledge him and he pushed past us, slamming my shoulder with his as he stomped inside.

"Aspen isn't a issue," I remarked quickly, taking her hand in the crook of my elbow (like a gentleman) and leading her inside, where the party was in full swing.

"Shame. Angel and Aspen sounded sorta cute together." Rilyn rolled her eyes, giving me a small smirk.

Liquor, beer, and red solo cups littered most of the tables and the long bar inside. Couples made out on the couch, and old Wes was dry humping some chick on the pool table. AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" blared through the club's speakers.

"It's been a while." Rilyn murmured, looking around with wide eyes. She eyed Trace at the bar, taking shots of whiskey with Cowboy. He didn't notice our entrance. They both laughed with some other dudes I didn't recognize.

"Hey," I whispered, my hand on her back as I stood in front of her. She looked up at me, still 6 inches shorter than me in her high heels. "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. You're not alone in this. Not tonight." Not ever.

Rilyn took a deep breath, blowing it out of her nose slowly. She looked up at me with a small smile, fluttering her eyelashes.

"Let's go out back and get some food." I whispered in her ear, her floral perfume spiking my arousal. I grabbed her hand, leading her out the sliding glass doors and towards the back yard. A huge garage was off to the right, leading out to the front of the large clubhouse. A swimming pool was set off far to the left, where half dressed girls and other brothers swam and horsed around. Through the center of the yard, a large bonfire was burning tall and hot. The grills and picnic tables beyond the fire pit were filled with grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit, chips, dip, liquor, sodas, and cookies.

"It all looks great. Really." Rilyn's voice was hoarse, her eyes lingering on the liquor and beer selection. I winced.

"I'll grab us plates, go get us some spots by the fire." I was afraid I sounded too demanding, but Rilyn nodded and walked towards the bonfire without protest. Maybe she's naturally submissive. That would be hot in the bedroom..

I loaded two plates with hot dogs, dip and chips, watermelon, strawberries, and grabbed us both a coke and water.

I turned back towards the fire, only to see Wolf directly behind me, shooting me daggers with his bloodshot eyes.

"Got a problem, man?" I asked, peering around him to watch Rilyn. She was rummaging through her big black purse.

"What the f**k do you think you're doing, Ash?" Wolf growled, his breath smelling strongly of whiskey.

"Uh, trying to feed Trace's sister?" I retorted, squaring my shoulders and using my extra inch in height to tower over him. I was following f*****g orders.

"She's not your girl, Ash. A girl like her will never go for someone like you." His words echoed through my brain like magma. My vision blurred red, hot.

"What the f**k does that mean? You mad that the girl you've been pining after has no interest in your roadburned STD d**k?"

Wolf smiled menacingly. He laughed out a breathy "feisty. The only d**k she wants is Rage's. We all know it. This will be pure f*****g hell for you."

I flinched back involuntarily. "What the hell ever, man."

Wolf laughed evilly. "You'll see, lover boy. Your job is to watch her, keep her safe. And I'll be there when you f**k up. I'm the one that's always been there. I'll be there when she realizes you're the club's killer, just like him. Because that's how it is with her. I'm the one she'll come back to." He rolled his eyes.

"Are you that in love with her that you can't tell her?" I asked point blank, watching as his face changed from murderous anger to shock.

"I'm not in love with her." He shook his head back and forth, maybe trying to convince himself. "I love Rilyn but she's a pain in the ass. She has chosen Rage over me and Trace and her family before. She'll do it again. But I'm still the only one she trusts." He jabbed his finger into my chest. "And you'll do good to remember that, Angel." With those last words, he turned on his heel, snatching up a bottle of vodka, and storming inside.

I watched him go, my thoughts on overdrive. At the thoughts of Rage putting his hands on Rilyn. Of this new pissing competition with Wolf. Of not getting what I already thought of as mine.

I slowly made my way to Rilyn, watching as she shook some pills into her hands from three different prescription bottles, shoving them hastily back in her purse. She swallowed the pills quickly, without water. I sat down heavily beside her, turning my chair so that her bare legs were pressed against my jean covered ones. I handed her the plate, eyeing her warily.

"What are you taking?" I was familiar with prescriptions medications, have worked in Fire and EMT.

Rilyn's eyes widened, I guess surprised that I had seen her. "Anxiety medicine. Ativan, naltrexone for alcohol cravings, some depression pill." Her cheeks flushed as she shrugged daintily.

I nodded in response. We started eating quietly, her eyes wandering up to mine and then around the yard. I kept my eyes on her the whole time.

"Is it hard being here, with all the alcohol around?" I asked, tossing my empty plate into the fire. I unbuttoned my flannel, the flames giving off too much heat for me.

Rilyn's eyes raked down my chest and abs, and she coughed, clearing her throat. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

I leaned towards her, my hands gripping the arm rests of her chair. "We can go to my room, if you want to get away from all this."

"Is that a line you use a lot?" Rilyn scoffed, her eyes sparkling at me like the idea appealed to her.

"Depends. Did it work?" I grinned at her, sitting back and loving the small blush creeping into her cheeks.

"Nah." Rilyn laughed, flicking her hair behind one shoulder. Her eyes shifted to my chest again.

"So what will it be, Death Reaper Princess? S'mores or me showing you off with my dance moves?"

Rilyn threw her head back in slight laughter. "Definitely smore's first. Dancing later, once everyone has stopped dry humping and passed out."

I laughed in response, grabbing some marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers from an abandoned chair by the bonfire. I found and handed her a stick and watched as she got busy roasting. She liked her marshmallows thoroughly on fire. I watched in awe as her red lips pursed to blow out the flames on the stick. Her plus fire was the hottest thing I'd seen in a while. Her marshmallow was crackling and molten black.

She caught me watching and rose an eyebrow. "What?"

I smirked, shaking my head. "Never seen someone make a flaming marshmallow look that sexy." I coughed awkwardly.

Rilyn smirked back. "I prefer my marshmallows like my men: smoking hot and, easy to blow.. out. Oh!" She laughed, rolling her eyes at the remark.

I laughed, enjoying myself. "Oooh. Same." I winked at her, watching the party carry on in the backyard. I kept repeating the words 'easy to blow' in my head until I was hard as stone.

Rilyn and I stayed silent, eating smore's and occasionally flirting back and forth until around midnight. I made her put on my red and black flannel to wear once I caught her shivering in her short dress. The party had mostly all come outside, to swim, wander off and makeout on the lawn chairs near the pool, or play beer pong on the long patio tables. Groupies were following around most of the brothers and friends of the club, whispering tricks into their ears. London was doing a keg stand near the barbecue area with Twitch. Cowboy was kicking a soccer ball around with Diablo and some drunk girls. Trace was off in the darkest corner of the large fenced in yard, petting his huge German shepherd named Killer, and talking on his cell phone.

"How about that dance?" I asked, smiling as I stood up, extending my right hand out to Rilyn. She pulled her long hair up into a bun at the crown of her head and smiled up at me.

"Sounds perfect." Her skin was smooth against my calloused hand and I loved the feeling. The contrast. She was light and I was darkness. I gave her hand a squeeze as we stepped inside the cool air conditioned living room area of the club.

Rilyn dropped my hand as soon as she saw Aspen in the corner of the bar, sucking face with Wolf on a bar stool. Her eyes darted to mine, checking for my reaction. I wasn't at all bothered by it. I watched Rilyn's face smooth into a mask of blankness.

She moved towards them and I nearly followed her, not wanting her to cause a scene. The last thing I needed was to brawl with Wolf over Rilyn. He would lose, and it would end with him in a bloody pulp. She snatched up the iPod speaker near Wolf's turned back, connecting her own phone to it.

I studied her profile as she looked for a song to play. A girl's soft voice came loudly through the speakers.

Rilyn turned, ignoring Wolf. He had whipped around to stare at her like she was a monster for changing the old rock music.

I reached for Rilyn's waist as she got closer to me. We started swaying to the slower tempo song. "What's this?" I asked quietly in her ear, refraining from skimming my nose along the side of her neck.

"Now or Never, by Halsey." She blushed, her eyes not meeting mine.

I pulled her closer to me. "I like it."

Rilyn wrapped her arms tighter around my neck, laying her cheek against my bare chest. I caught a glimpse of her shy smile. "Me too."

We swayed through most of the album, now the only two in the room. Wolf gave us a dirty look after the first song had started, taking Aspen by the hand and leading her back towards the bedrooms. When Rilyn's back was turned, Aspen winked and blew me a kiss. I rolled my eyes. One night stands were meant as a one time thing.

The clock over the bar read 01:27am. Rilyn yawned quietly in my arms.

"You tired, princess?" I asked, my mouth moving over her hair, inhaling the scent of roses.

"Mhm," she hummed, tilting her head back to look at me.

I grinned down, walking backwards towards the dorms. "You can take my bed tonight."

Rilyn pulled away from me, shaking her head. "No, it's okay. I can get a cab home." She reached for her phone, disconnecting the phone and plunging us into silence.

"I don't think so, princess. Not alone in that big empty house." Not with Rage who knows where. Too many ghosts.

Rilyn paused, her green eyes widening as she thought about it. I wondered if she was thinking the same thing as me. "Okay then."

We walked towards my room in the clubhouse. I usually kept it unlocked because none of the guys would dare f**k with my stuff. I had won many bare knuckle backyard fights since I'd moved to this Silver Runners chapter. I opened the door quickly, turning on the lights.

The room was painted black, with thick blackout curtains. The only personalized item was a picture of my old fire house in Virginia, on the night stand. That was before I realized that I couldn't save people by being the good guy. It worked much better through the MC's way.

Rilyn looked around, kicking off her black heels and pulling back the king size bed's covers. The bed was dressed in black silk, with a large fuzzy Virginia college blanket on top. Rilyn snuggled in, pulling the covers to her chin.

"I like your room. It's cozy."

I shut the door, turning the lock. I leaned back against the door, crossing my arms over my bare chest. "Thanks." I spoke quietly, smothering down a yawn.

I watched her under heavy lids as she wiggled under the covers. "You know what it's missing though?" She smiled slyly at me.

I pushed off the door, walking towards the dresser. "Hm. What's that?" I asked, my back turned to her as I pulled out two large black t-shirts, boxer briefs, and some gray sweatpants.

"Flowers."

I turned towards her, crinkling my nose up in disgust. "They die too quickly. I've seen enough death."

Rilyn's eyes glazed over at my words. She muttered a low "yeah." She turned on her side, her back to me as she reached to turn off the bedside lamp. Tension rippled through the room.

"I'm going to take a shower." I spoke as quietly as I could, tossing the extra black shirt I had grabbed onto the bed next to her. I shut myself in the adjoining bathroom, setting the water as cold as it could go.

When I came back into my bedroom, Rilyn seemed fast asleep, her dress and bra crinkled on the floor next to her. I smiled to myself, liking the fact that she was sleeping in my shirt.

I made my way towards the door, reluctant to leave her in here alone, where she could sneak out the window. Reluctant to leave her at all. It was my job now to look after her.

I turned the knob but stopped at her soft voice calling out to me.

"Angel?"

"Yeah?" I replied too eagerly, turning to drink up the sight of her in my bedsheets.

"Can you stay? I don't like to be alone. Not anymore."

I thought about what a bad idea that was. But I couldn't resist. And wouldn't.

I walked towards the bed, setting the bedside alarm quickly for 6am. I laid down on top of the covers, just using the Virginia Tech blanket to cover me. I don't think I could control myself if I felt her bare skin on mine. I faced her, watching as she studied me too, in the darkness.

"Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. It made it a lot easier. It was real sweet of you." She yawned quietly.

"No problem, babe." I smiled, leaning towards her and giving her a kiss on the forehead. Her breathing stopped. She stared at me for a few moments before turning back on her side. It didn't take but a few seconds before her breathing evened out, signaling sleep.

I shut my eyes tightly, trying not to think how that the girl I wanted was one foot away from me, half dressed, in my bed. This should be a dream come true, but I had a job to do. Keep her safe, even if that meant from me.

Sleep didn't come easily and my alarm beeped loudly through my dreams all too soon. I hit the button, shutting it off with a huge sigh. Rilyn had barely moved from her side of the bed, snuggled deep into the covers.

I got up, quickly dressing, grabbing my duffel bags and things I needed for the run. I left the bedroom door cracked as I took my stuff out to one of the trucks the prospects would be driving for the trip. A lone daisy near the perimeter of the parking lot caught my attention. I ran quickly over towards it, picking it carefully. I sprinted back inside, ignoring the questioning grumpy stares from the guys stumbling around in the front foyer. We were almost ready to go. I grabbed a pen and paper, scribbling on it quickly.

I tip toed back into my room, watching Rilyn's silhouette in the darkness and committing it to memory. The note and flower lay on the pillow I had used last night.

"I like you in my bed. -Ashton"

---

We had been driving for about two hours. Trace's plan was to surround and scout out the Raging Bastards MC, follow them from there and ambush their drug run. We were banking on them transporting the h****n from their compound.

We pulled off at a gas station a few miles from the club in Augusta. I filled up my army green Harley Roadster, my thoughts on Rage.

Wolf walked over to me, his eyes on my bike. He crossed her arms over his chest, his blonde hair back in a messy bun. He looked like s**t.

"Why was Rilyn in your bed last night?" His voice was hoarse, his face looking a little hurt and a lot pissed off.

"Why do you f*****g care?" I snapped, replacing the nozzle back into the gas pump.

"Did the president tell you to f**k his sister? He'll have your head on a f*****g platter."

I laughed to myself. "Not your business or your place to tell me how to do my job, Wolf."

"I'm your VP, so yeah, it kind of is." Wolf retorted, scratching his neck roughly and looking around.

"Riiiiight." I replied in my most sarcastic tone. "Since this is club business. We just slept next to each other." Wolf visibly relaxed. "She didn't mention you at all." I jabbed, trying to get a rise out of him. It seemed a lot of men thought Rilyn was their's.

Wolf smiled in return, satisfied. "Yeah, Whatever."

"Tell Aspen I said hi, by the way." I smirked to myself. He strode away and hopped on his own Harley, riding the idling clutch and revving the engine deafeningly. Dumbass.

Trace walked out of the gas station, a Red Bull in hand. "You good?" He asked through a mouth full of hot cheetos.

"Let's ride brother."