Page 13 of Heartbeats & Highways

Savage wasted no time–hedidn’t even let me into the motel room to grab a spare change of clothes.

“I’ve got shit you can sleep in. Get on.”

I wrapped my arms around him, pressed close, and soon we were zooming off into the night. As he maneuvered through the streets, my mind buzzed.

He was still a stranger, and yet when I was with him, I felt safe.

Yeah, he was a biker, and he fought in an illegal fighting ring . . . but I knew bad men.

I’d been married to one.

And Savage, for all his choices about how he lived his life, was a good man. Sure, he may have had his own moral code, but he’d literally placed his body over mine to protect me from rogue gun shots.

My arms tightened around him.

Apprehension curled through me when we arrived at a closed metal gate. Two men in jeans and leather cuts opened the gate and waved at Savage as he drove us through.

He parked in a gravel lot next to several other motorcycles and cut the engine.

I slid off the bike and unclasped my helmet. “Where are we?”

He took the helmet from me. “The clubhouse.”

“The clubhouse?” I frowned. “You don’t have an apartment?”

“Nah. Single guy like me doesn’t need one.” He lifted his leg and climbed off, setting the helmet on the seat.

I heard the faintest traces of music, but I couldn’t depict where it was coming from.

“There’s a party going on,” he said as if answering my silent question. “Doubt it’s rowdy yet since it’s only just past midnight, but by two a.m. it’s gonna be a rager.”

He clasped my hand in his and led me toward the porch.

“I don’t want to go to a party,” I protested.

He looked at me over his shoulder and grinned. “We’re not going to the party.”

I relaxed.

“Sorry about the mess,” Savage said as we stepped into the clubhouse. The kitchen and living room were an open floor plan and there were dozens of beer bottles, empty red cups, and bottles of liquor.

Toward the back of the clubhouse, I heard the screen door open and then close, followed by the clacking of high heels on wooden planks.

Two women with heavy makeup, teased hair, and short skirts entered the room. The brunette smiled in surprise, parting red lips. “You’re here!”

“Yeah,” Savage said easily. He tightened his hold on my hand and gently tugged me into his side.

“I’ve missed you, baby,” she purred.

My spine snapped straight, and I attempted to put distance between me and Savage, but he wouldn’t let me go.

“I’ve missed you too,” the blonde added. She linked her arm with her friend’s, her greedy gaze sliding down Savage’s body.

They didn’t even see me.

“Want to have a private party? With just the three of us?” the brunette asked, reaching over and gently cradling her friend’s breast.

I let out a squeak and my cheeks flamed in embarrassment.

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