Free Burning Ember by Darby Briar Page B

weak smile and a quick hug but then heads further down the bar. Goose stops behind Dozer and rests his hand on Dozer’s shoulder. “I appreciate it, man. But I think maybe now I owe you one after that.”
    Dozer shakes his head and lets out a long breath. “It needed to happen. Was just a matter of time.”
    Goose peeks down the bar at Lily talking to Rigor. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my woman so pissed off before. Had to take her to our room before she stormed in there and told Mav off. Don’t know why, but she really likes you, Pumpkin. Wants you here.”
    My heart swells a little.
    “Guess the old ladies are really givin’ her hell, huh?”
    “Yeah, I guess. Maybe all of them except Bethany and Kendra,” Goose answers.
    Dozer grunts then waves Rigor down.
    Rigor saunters over. He grabs two beers, puts them in front of Goose and Dozer, and then rests his hands on the bar. “What’s up?”
    “Lil’ still get a razz of shit from the old ladies? You two are all buddy, buddy. She tell you anything?” Dozer asks.
    Rigor glances warily at Goose and then looks back to Dozer. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. Maybe he’s choosing his words wisely. “She’s gettin’ her fair share. Maybe a bit more than that. Nothin’ she can’t handle though. You step in. It’s gonna get worse, especially since a brunt of it’s comin’ from Nick.”
    Goose and Dozer share a look. “Let it ride out? She did the same thing with Kendra. But they’re tight now. Probably just testin’ her,” is Dozer’s response. Goose gives a curt nod.
    The guys talk amongst themselves for a minute and I listen while also looking around the club and taking in my new surroundings. Until something Goose says brings my focus back to the conversation.
    “So . . . she’s gonna be our little house mouse until the party?”
    Lily comes over. She’s been speaking with one of the other women. She pats my arm and takes the seat beside me.
    Dozer takes a pull on his beer. “Yeah. Best I could do.” To me he says, “That means you gotta cook, clean, shit like that, babe. And I’ll spread the word you’re hands off until the party. Do your part though, and don’t put yourself in a bad situation. Don’t go roamin’ around alone. One of us, me, Goose, Lil’, or even Rigor here needs to be with you at all times.”
    Rigor nods, but as he walks away he mutters, “Like I don’t got enough trouble tryin’ to keep my eyes on Lil’.”
    Goose chuckles under his breath. “Part of the job, man,” he hollers down to Rigor, who flips him off good-naturedly. Then he turns back to us. “What about at night?”
    Dozer shrugs. “She can sleep in my bed.”
    Smirking and palming his goatee as if in deep thought, Goose replies, “Yeah? Thought she was hands off?”
    “Shut up, fucker. Don’t mean nothin’. Just don’t trust any of these cocksuckers to leave her alone. She can have my bed. And I’ll crash in one of the spares.”
    Awkward silence fills the space between the two bikers, Lily, and me.
    Dozer turns toward me. “Umm . . . you got a problem with the other thing? Being Edge’s little gift at the party?”
    My gut clenches.
    I’ll be breaking my promise to myself. The one about loving the next person I have sex with, since I didn’t get to do it the first time around. But what choice do I have? Beggars can’t be choosers. Right? At least that’s what my mom used to say. Seems to be the theme of my life.
    I know I can distance myself from the act. Escape mentally, if I have to. I straighten in my chair. “As long as someone’s not hurting me,” or trying to tie me up , “I’m fine with showing my appreciation to the club for letting me stay.”
    “You’re gonna have to prove yourself, babe. Mav’s not gonna let up where you’re concerned. I’m sure he’ll be watchin’ and waitin’ for you to fuck up.”
    I huff. Part laugh, part sigh. “He can watch and wait. But it’s going to get pretty boring pretty