“East’ll be here soon, and I got Alexa. Come back at nightfall.”

  Hound gives me a chin lift and jogs back the way he originally came from. There’s not much traffic out here but one never can be too careful.

  “I hate you,” Ruthie seethes.

  I look straight through her as if she’s not sitting here. She wants attention, but I’m not wasting another breath on the lousy bitch.

  “You won’t get away with this. You’ll go down. You’ll see.”

  Alexa walks out the cabin and goes straight to Ruthie. No words pass from her lips she straight up rears her fist and lets it fly at my ex-wife’s face. Not once but three times. Ruthie cries as blood drips from her nose and split lip. “First one was for taking my grandkid. The second was from me, and that third one was for Wylla Mae.” My crazy assed woman doesn’t stop there. She grabs her by the hair then spits in her face. “You’re nothing. After today James nor will I ever think of you. We won’t speak your name. No one will. You’re dead.”

  Ruthie laughs. “He used to fuck me before he’d come to you. Hope you liked tasting my pussy all these years.”

  “Maybe but whenever he was inside you, he was thinking about me. It’s the only way he could get off. We’d laugh about it behind your back.”

  “Fuck you,” Ruthie spits out.

  “Yeah. My man is gonna take me home later tonight and he’s gonna fuck me hard while you burn in hell.” Alexa smirks and blows Ruthie a kiss.

  “God damn, pretty girl, you’re damn sexy when you’re pissed.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah, but I need you to stop getting kidnapped when I leave you alone.”

  “Oh fuck off.”

  “Gimme’ that smart mouth.” I pull her in for a kiss, squeezing her ass, not giving a damn that Ruthie is watching. Let the cunt enjoy the show. “Just so you know she’s full of shit. I haven’t had my mouth anywhere near her pussy since I first tasted yours.”

  Alexa rewards me with her smile. “You sucking up to me.”

  “Nope. Just wanted you to know that I reserved that for you.”

  “Hmmm,” she muses. “I don’t want to talk about the past anymore. I’m ready to plan our wedding. Don’t think you’re getting off easy. I want the fairytale.”

  “Whatever you want, babe. It’s yours.”

  “Good.” She kisses me again.

  East and Wylla Mae come flying up the hill in his truck. He barely has it in park before my daughter is jumping out and rushing toward us. “Where’s my baby?”

  “Right here.” Alexa opens the back passenger side door of the jeep. “She’s fine.”

  Wylla checks over her daughter then stares at me with tears burning in her eyes. “Thank you, Daddy.” Her arms swing around my neck and her lips hit my cheek. “I love you.”

  “Love you too, princess.” I give her a pat on the back. “You and your mom take the jeep back to the clubhouse.”

  “I’m not leaving till that bitch is dead,” Alexa says.

  “Me either,” Wylla Mae digs in. “I’m tired of her hurting our family.”

  “Guess you do take after me more than I thought, but its best if you aren’t here. Anything goes sideways I want it to land on me. None of this shit touches you.” I release her. “Go on. Take Mila out of here. You too, East. Get them to safety. You got a family to think about. Your mom and me got this. Ruthie is our problem.”

  “You sure, Prez?”

  “Isn’t this sweet. Look at you one big happy fucking family,” Ruthie smarts off.

  My daughter storms toward her. “You’re poison. You’ve always been toxic. I’m not a violent person but you deserve whatever you get. I would say I hope my father cuts out your heart, but you don’t have one. You’re hollow.”

  “Let’s go, baby.” East guides her toward the driver’s side of the jeep. “You good to drive?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Let me know when you make it to the clubhouse,” I tell him.

  “Will do, man.” East starts toward his truck then turns back around. He stalks toward Ruthie. “Didn’t get to kill Grudge,” he mutters then unsheathes the hunting dagger he keeps strapped to his boot. Ripping open Ruthie’s shirt, he stabs her in the chest, carving out the shape around her heart. She screams, but he caps a palm over her mouth. “Guess you have a heart after all.”

  Epilogue

  I can still smell the fumes from the fire embedded in my nostrils days after I helped Murder and other members from the club stage the cabin like a homemade Meth lab. As for Ruthie...she got what was coming to her. Bitch passed out when East took his anger out on her. James put her in the bed of the cabin and put Grudge’s body on top of hers. Both of them stripped naked. Put her fingerprints on the shotgun and placed it in the bed next to her.

  Ruthie came to as we doused them in gasoline. She cried, begged, and screamed for mercy but there was none to be found. Not for her. Not after everything she had done. There was no redemption to be had. The woman was pure evil. The daughter of a true demon. She was truly her father’s daughter. Everything she did was to keep us apart. She didn’t want a baby. She wanted to hurt us. And now...now there is nothing left of her but charred skeletal remains. In this life you reap what you sew. I lit that match and know one day I will pay for my sins, but it won’t be today.

  When I close my eyes, I can hear her screams as she burned alive before the cabin exploded. The flames dance behind my eyelids and the heat of the fire licks across my skin like a forbidden lover. I shouldn’t smile at the thought of anyone dying, but I fucking hated her.

  James grins at me as he slides onto the bar stool next to mine. “What are you so damn happy about,” I ask.

  “I talked to your doctor.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah the surgeon who handled your gunshot wound.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re full of shit. He never said you can’t have any more kids.”

  “James...”

  His finger goes to my lips to silence me. “Babe. I want to make another baby with you. I want it all. My brand inked on your skin, my ring on your finger, my baby in your belly. Gonna give you the life I promised.”

  My heart skips a beat. Tears burn in the backs of my eyes.

  “So.” He removes his finger. “You gonna save yourself the trouble and agree to it all now or do I need to take you upstairs, tie you to my bed, and take what I want?”

  “Damn, can I get a vote?” Pam starts in. “Because fuck me that was hot as hell. Girl, tell him no and enjoy the punishment.” She cackles.

  My filthy talking biker chuckles.

  I cup James’s face. “I love you.” I plant a kiss on his lips.

  “I would too if I were you.”

  “Asshole.” I kiss him again then lean in to whisper in his ear. “What if I want you to tie me to your bed and to say yes to negotiating this baby fever you seem to have?”

  His eyes go big and he says nothing. Hoisting me out of my seat and over his shoulder, my filthy biker takes me to bed to get started on all his demands.

  Keep reading for a note from the author!

  Author’s Note

  I hope you enjoyed Tempting The Biker. Alexa and Murder’s story doesn’t end here. Save the date, coming February 2021 Keeping The Biker, a Royal Bastards MC, Charleston, WV wedding novella available for pre-order. And I have more books in the series on the way. Viking, Holy, Sandman, Hound, and Rio could all possibly get their own books too. More to come about them at a later time. If you want to know more about Papa you can read his story Papa Noel by Nikki Landis.

  Thank you for reading,

  Glenna

  Playlist

  Wanna know what songs I listened to while writing Tempting The Biker? Check out my playlist on Spotify

  Acknowledgments

  Writing Tempting The Biker was a true labor of love and about drove me insane. No joke. I love these characters so much. I lived and breathed all their heartache for the past six months. I poured all I had to give into this story and the days I wanted to give up, all my people were there to cheer me on and push me to keep going. Of course my main man, Brett is always my number one supporter. I couldn’t do any of this without him by my side and picking up my slack in the real world while I exist in my fictional one.

  This was a challenge, as I started writing this book amidst the Covid19 outbreak. The world changed for us all. Home schooling, trying to juggle life, and all the changes thrown at us—my oldest child beginning college and sharing my office with my youngest child. It’s been an adventure I won’t forget.

  Nikki Landis thank you so much for allowing me to collaborate with you for Papa and Colter.

  To my awesome friends. Thank you. Tina and Andi this book would have never gotten completed had you not checked in on me and gave me the push to write the ugly, raw, beautiful book that is Alexa and Murder’s love story. Andi keeping me sprinting till the end. Tina talking and messaging for hours with me over the fine details. Nickie and Tempi for being part of my support team and just being there when I needed a friend on the hard days. Dawn my partner in crime kept me stocked with all my favorite snacks all summer she will never admit it, but she is one of the most caring and thoughtful people in this world. Morgan who has been with me for every single book hearing every vent and crazy idea with our much needed daily phone chats. She’s the only person who can get me on the phone, ha.

  To all of my fellow Royal Bastards MC authors for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing world, many thanks to you guys. The bloggers and readers who share, review, and buy my work ya’ll are the best, and I am so glad to have you be an integral part of my village. Jennifer and Jessica the excitement you two had for this book made me smile so much, thank you for loving my words.

  I know I have missed someone, and I promise it is not intentional. I blame my writer brain. All these places and characters take up so much space in my head I do good to remember my own name some days. But I hope you know I value you.

  Keeping The Biker Glenna Maynard © 2021 all rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, business, establishments, locals or events is entirely coincidental. Any reference to real events, business, organizations or locals is intended only to give the fiction a sense of realism and authenticity. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise – without prior permission in writing from the author.

  The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Dedication

  ~ To Brett~

  My very own dream maker

  Suggested Reading Order

  The Biker’s Kiss

  Lady & The Biker

  Tempting The Biker

  Keeping The Biker

  The Biker’s Lucky Charm

  Taken By The Biker

  Bewitching The Biker

  The Biker’s Cherry

  Claiming The Biker

  ROYAL BASTARDS CODE

  PROTECT: The club and your brothers come before anything else and must be protected at all costs. CLUB is FAMILY.

  RESPECT: Earn it & Give it. Respect club law. Respect the patch. Respect your brothers. Disrespect a member and there will be hell to pay.

  HONOR: Being patched in is an honor, not a right. Your colors are sacred, not to be left alone, and NEVER let them touch the ground.

  OL’ LADIES: Never disrespect a member’s or brother’s Ol’Lady. PERIOD.

  CHURCH is MANDATORY.

  LOYALTY: Takes precedence over all, including well-being.

  HONESTY: Never LIE, CHEAT, or STEAL from another member or the club.

  TERRITORY: You are to respect your brother’s property and follow their Chapter’s club rules.

  TRUST: Years to earn it...seconds to lose it.

  NEVER RIDE OFF: Brothers do not abandon their family.

  Keeping The Biker

  Save the date. You’re invited to attend the wedding of Alexa and Murder, Royal Bastards MC style.

  They said we’d never last. He was a married man. Off limits.

  Now after all these years Murder is mine till death do us part. I’ll do anything to keep my motorcycle man. For him I risked it all and now comes the reward. His ink branded on my skin and his ring on my finger. Today is the first day of our forever.

  Please note for best enjoyment the Charleston, WV Royal Bastards MC books should be read in order of release.

  The Biker’s Kiss

  Lady & The Biker

  Tempting The Biker

  Keeping The Biker

  The Biker’s Lucky Charm

  Taken By The Biker

  Chapter One

  “What’s wrong with my couch?” I stare James down.

  “One, babe, it’s fuckin’ mustard yellow and reminds me of baby shit. Two, I don’t want to think about the possibility you might’ve fucked someone who wasn’t me on that ugly ass shit. Three, I want to spoil my woman with all new shit for our new place. Four, I don’t need any other reason, but if you need me to be convincing...” James grabs my ass, giving me a rough squeeze. “Why don’t you take these jeans off and let me get started on an early supper.”

  “I mean, maybe you can persuade me to change my mind.” I smirk then kiss my man.

  With his mouth still fused to mine, James maneuvers me onto the bed in his room at the clubhouse. He rolls over my body, pressing his weight down on me. “What ya got planned for tomorrow?”

  “Mmm.” I stroke his furry jaw. “Nothing till dinner with Wylla and the girls.”

  “Better not be no damn male strippers.”

  “There could be. I don’t know what Pam planned.”

  “Fuckin’ Pam,” he grumbles. “There’s gonna be naked men.”

  “Well, there’s only one naked man I care about.” I slide my other hand along his bare shoulders. “Besides. You can’t tell me that you won’t have some clubwhore rubbing her shit all up on you.”

  “They fuckin’ know better. Know I got me a fine piece of ass in my bed.” He grins and I scowl.

  “Is that all I am?”

  “Who said I was talkin’ ‘bout you?” He chuckles as I shove at his chest.

  “You’re a real asshole.”

  “Oh, pretty girl, you know I love it when you get mean and call me names. Makes me hard.” He thrusts his hips.

  “Fuck off. Let me up.”

  “Don’t think so.” My jerk of a man cups my breast. “Haven’t got to play with these yet.” He slides my shirt up over my bra and dips his head to capture one of my nipples with his mouth.

  I bite my bottom lip because damn that does feel good, but then I remember I’m mad at him. “You’re cut off.”

  “You gonna deny me of what’s mine?” he raises a brow giving me a funny look.

  “Yup. I have stuff to do if you want me to marry you.”

  “As if you have a choice.” James’s voice drops all husky and sexy.

  “You keep pissing me off, and I won’t be there.”

  “You’ll be there if I gotta hogtie you to the back my Harley.”

  I roll my eyes.

  His gaze softens. Those brown eyes of his hold me hostage under his stare. “Babe?”

  “Yeah,” I whisper.

  “You given any more thought to what we talked about?”

  He’s been after me for the past few months to have another baby with him. I love James more than anything, but we’ve done that, and both failed miserably at the whole parenting thing. I’ve just gotten back to a good place with our daughter. We have a granddaughter to spoil. I’m selfish enough to want my man all to myself.

  “I don’t want to fight with you.”

  “Why does it have to be an argument? I’m asking you one last time. Whatever your answer is I’ll accept it and make my peace with your choice. All I am asking is yes or no. It’s simple as that.”

  “It’s not simple as that.”

  “Either you want to have a baby with me, or you don’t.” He rolls away from me to sit on the edge of the bed, going for his boots.

  My stomach drops. I don’t want to fight.

  “Honey...” I sit up and wrap my arms around him from behind.

  His shoulders sag, but he drops his boots with a thump and grips my wrists. Dipping his head, he kisses both my palms. “I wanna know why you can’t give me a straight answer?”

  “I don’t know. Part of me wants to give you anything you want, but do you really want to start over and raise another kid?” I kiss the side of his throat. “Can’t we just see what happens. It’s not like you haven’t tried. Your pullout game is weak.”

  “Nothing about my game is weak.” He twists around, shoving me back down. “Seems like you need reminding.”

  “You gonna prove me wrong?” I quirk a brow at him. “When have you ever fucked me without coming in me, hmmm?”

  “Sounds like a challenge.”

  “I tell you what. My answer is if it happens it happens. I won’t try to prevent it. If it’s meant to be it’ll be.”

  That earns me a flash of his teeth before he pins me to the mattress and strips me of my clothes. “Let’s find out how many times I gotta fuck you to knock you up.”

  I don’t have the heart to tell him that I’m certain his swimmers aren’t as strong as they used to be or that his beard is sprouting some grey whiskers.

  James makes quick work at teasing me with his fingers and mouth between my thighs. The wiry hair of his beard rubs over my sensitive skin. “Nothing better than this.” He grips my hips, holding me in place. “Don’t know what I did to deserve such an angel,” he murmurs.