Page 45 of Christmas Wish
Savannah put her drink down and Ryder reached over and drew her to him. He lowered his lips to hers for a sweet, lingering kiss, just to enjoy how warm and soft they felt on his. She tasted like sugar and cocoa, and it took every ounce of willpower to break away.
“That was nice,” she said softly, picking up the mug again. “Aren’t you going to take a sip?” She pointed to his mug.
He picked it up and licked the froth from his lips. “Damn, that’s good.” The pillow had fallen to the floor, and his gaze followed hers as it landed on his noticeable hard-on. Savannah looked away quickly and fumbled with the robe’s sash.
“Don’t mind me, darlin’. A gorgeous woman just kissed me.” He took another sip then stretched out his legs.
“Uh … can I ask you something personal?”
Ryder stiffened.There’s no way I’m talking about Afghanistan or Dana. Not tonight.
As if sensing his discomfort, Savannah tilted her head to the side and scrunched her face. “I don’t mean to be nosy or anything, but since we’ve been … you know … kissing, I wanted to know some things about you.”
Brandi—that’s what she wants to know.He relaxed. “Go ahead and ask.” He watched as she squirmed and then tugged at the sash of her robe before she fixed her gaze on the table lamp behind him.
“Do you and Brandi date? You told me she’s a club girl, but I’m not sure what that means. She seemed really into you, and you weren’t exactly acting like a stranger.” Her gaze shifted to his.
“We’re friends with benefits sometimes. She lives at the Insurgents’ clubhouse, and she’s one of several women there who … have fun with the club members. It’s nothing serious at all. I’ve never taken her on the back of my bike.” Shrugging, he splayed his hands on his lap.
Savannah’s brows knitted as a look of confusion etched her face. “Is that a big deal to have a woman on the back of your bike?”
“Fuck yeah, woman. A lot of bikers don’t let just any chick on their bikes, only the ones who matter.”
“How many haveyoutaken?” she asked softly.
“One, but that was a long time ago.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“How often do you and Brandi meet up?”
“Not that often. Sometimes she comes over here, but usually it’s when I go to the parties at the clubhouse. The brothers have parties like all the fucking time, but I only go once in a while. I like being alone.”
“What do the club girls do at the clubhouse?”
Ryder shook his head as he scrubbed his face. “Are you sure you wanna know? Most citizens don’t get it when they find out.”
“I’m presuming I’m a ‘citizen,’ but try me anyway.”
“They service my brothers here as well as brothers from our other chapters and different MCs. Even if there isn’t a party, they’re expected to be available whenever a brother wants them. The Insurgents don’t force a club girl if she doesn’t want to fuck, but it’s sorta one of the conditions in order to get free room and board and a monthly stipend. The girls want to be there. They choose that life.”
“I see.”
Ryder couldn’t read Savannah; he didn’t know if she was repulsed by what he said or what. “Are you disgusted?”
“No. Why would I be? Everyone knows the score. It’s not like a member forces himself on one of them. That would be disgusting and unconscionable.”
He saw tears well up in her eyes, and she turned away, rubbing her eyes as if pretending that something was in them.
“Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Severity had crept into her voice.
“I hope I didn’t upset you. I want you to know that Brandi was nice to me after all the shit went down with my leg. It took me a long fucking time to even think about being with a woman, but we don’t have any feelings other than friendship.”
“I think she likes you a little more. I could tell by the way she looked at me.”
