Forever Faith: A Biker Romance Read online

  What the fuck? Gypsy has these girls acting like they are getting a job or a line of credit with me.

  “I don’t need that, you’re fine,” I say, handing her back her diploma and tucking her ID in my back pocket.

  “Do you remember me?” she asks, and I should say no, but I am honest.

  “Of course I do. You never forget the first time you saw the most beautiful girl in the world.” Cheesy, I know.

  Blushing and averting her eyes she says, “Oh. Ok. Umm, thanks, then.”

  “Let’s see how it goes with your crazy old man. He may have my balls for this.”

  Faith

  I follow Liam down the hall to his room. It is way bigger than I expected. It is a studio apartment, really. A small sofa and table with a long counter and sink. He has a coffee maker and a microwave, along with a small little fridge. The main feature is a giant king size bed with all-black linens. Off to the back is a huge closet and a bathroom. He opens the door and turns the light on, expecting me to walk past him into the bathroom to look it over, and I am frozen. That is super intimate to me. I freeze. Awkward.

  “We are going to be living together in this room, Faith. You have to get over being afraid to walk close to me. We are going to be in each other’s space. I would never make a pass at you, sweetheart. I don’t look at you like that. I feel … parental towards you. Nothing more. You don’t have to worry about me or anyone else around here. I will make sure of it. Hands off!”

  “Ok,” I say and scoot past him to go into the bathroom. Huge and very fancy, compared to how we live in the compound. A garden tub and double sinks, along with a separate shower stall. Mirrors everywhere, and I can’t help but cringe at our reflections everywhere I look in here. I am very disappointed in his little speech. I want him to see me as a woman, not as a daughter. I want more. I want him.

  He says he will make some space in the closet for me, but first we have to buy me some clothes. I panic and begin to explain that I have no money for that but he stops me and says he will take care of it.

  “In fact, let’s lay it out right now. I will take care of you like you are my own. We are going to find a way to send you to college, and you can go as far in life as you want. You deserve the best. You are a brave girl to walk away from everyone and everything. Don’t worry about food, clothing, money or anything else that you want or need. I’ve got you covered from here on out.”

  “Thank you. I will earn my way, and I will pay you back for everything. I promise. College is too much. I will get a job and save up for that.”

  “You’ll be forty by time you do that. We don’t have to talk about it right now. I am sure enrollment is closed for fall, anyway. What we do have to talk about is getting rid of that dress. It looks hot and itchy, and it’s probably the ugliest dress I have ever seen.”

  I lower my head. “It is all I have. I made this dress. It is modest and what we have to wear.”

  “Sorry. But if that is all you have, I’m glad you didn’t bring any clothes with you. We want you to blend in, and dressed like that, you stick out like a red flag. We can keep you modest, but cool and comfortable. We just have to wait to go shopping until we know things are cooled down and your old man isn’t hunting for you.

  “In the meantime, I will have Gypsy find you something to wear of hers or one of the other old ladies. You can tell her what kind of girl stuff you need and I will send her to Walgreens or someplace for toothbrush and all that crap for you.”

  “Girl stuff?” I ask.

  “Yeah, you know. Hair stuff, makeup, whatever you use every morning and every night. The shit that should fill all the empty drawers in my bathroom,” he says, smiling.

  “Oh. Ok. I really have never worn makeup, and only use soap and water, and I just need a toothbrush.” I still don’t know if he thinks I am some kind of freak.

  “My God. So beautiful and only uses soap and water.” He starts to leave the room, shaking his head. “Like I said before, you have to stick around in here and stay out of sight until we see how your old man is taking it.”

  “It won’t be him that comes looking for me,” I say, and he stops walking out to turn around and look me up and down with squinted eyes.

  “Who then?”

  “Russell Malone,” I say quietly.

  “Why Russell? I hate that son of a bitch. We have had a lot of run-ins throughout the years,” he says and he actually goes darker just talking about Russell.

  “He is mental, and I am supposed to marry him on Sunday.”

  “Not that guy, for Christ sakes! Anyone but him. He’s older than me! How are you going to marry him?”

  “Umm, I’m not going to marry him. That is why I’m here. Remember?”

  “He must be, like, twenty years older than you! He is violent and has an uncontrollable temper that gets him into fights almost weekly. Everyone in this town knows him and despises him. I can’t believe the church hasn’t kicked him out yet. Why would you agree to marry that prick?”

  “I didn’t. My Father… he thought Russell would be the strong hand I need to settle down. He promised me to Russell a few years ago. It took everything I had to stay in school and away from Russell. He is obsessed. Believe me. He will come looking for me.” And with that I feel a tear roll down my cheek. I hate to be a crybaby and weak in front of Liam.

  “It’s ok; don’t cry. It will never happen I promise you.” He strokes my tears off my cheeks. He bends and places a soft kiss on my forehead. “Your old man has a lot to answer for. But don’t worry, Church Girl. You are mine now, and no one is getting near you. I am going to take care of you and give you the life you deserve.” This time he walks out the door and closes it behind him.

  I am totally in love with him. I am certain now. I don’t know what to do with myself so I sit down on the small sofa and plan to pass the time daydreaming of Liam and wait till he returns.

  Gypsy and Megan burst in the room all excited and bubbly.

  “Oh my God! You’re staying here? In this room? With The President of the club? No one stays with him! How did this happen? I mean he doesn’t even speak! He fucks whores once and moves on! How did this happen?” Questions are flying so fast I can’t tell who said what. I am caught up in their excitement and laugh at them.

  “He speaks. He says a lot,” is my best answer.

  “No he doesn’t! He grunts and growls! There are members here that have never heard an actual word! Whores have fucked him and never heard one word,” Megan says.

  “Well, he talks to me, and I am staying here with him until we are sure it’s safe to move into his house later.” Feeling possessive and trying to stake my claim before Megan or any of the others get any ideas.

  “His house?” they both scream in unison.

  The three of us crack up, and I feel normal—like I am one of them—for the first time.

  We hang out for most of the afternoon, with them both wanting to snoop through Liam’s things and me stopping them at every turn. They both talk about their boyfriends, and it is way more info than I want. I guess they have been told that I am confined to the room for a while and are here to keep me company. I love these girls so much. I can never repay them for helping me get free and bringing me here. Around four or five, Gypsy says she is going to get me an outfit from her room and give me a makeover.

  It turns out to be a pair of shorts and a lacy black tank top. Nothing I have ever worn before, but not as skimpy as what Megan often wears. I have never worn a pair of pants, and certainly never shorts. I have to be braless, because my old-fashioned wide white straps are way bigger than the straps of the tank top. She gives me a pair of sandals or flip flops that are too big, but I love them. I have worn ugly, brown lace up shoes every day of my life, as far back as I can remember. Gypsy is going on and on saying how I have to get a mani-pedi and cut my hair and learn about make up. The girls seem more excited than I am. She brushes and does my hair, and ends up re-braiding it. But instead of the severe, tight brai
d going down my back, she makes a big, loose braid over one shoulder in front.

  I don’t recognize myself, but this is who I always wanted to be. All I can think of is I hope Liam likes it. I know that it’s foolish thinking and a waste of my time, but I have had a crush on him since I was fourteen years old and nothing has changed. Only, I basically live with him now.

  So, alone again, after studying myself in the big mirrors for way too long, I sit back down on the little sofa and wait.

  Liam lumbers into the room and I jump to my feet. He is a big giant of a man and his presence fills the room. He freezes and looks me up and down. I feel more exposed than ever by the look in his eyes. I shift my weight from one foot to the other.

  “I came to take you to the main room for some dinner, but now I am not sure. You look…” He stops like he is at a loss for words.

  “What? How do I look?” I am not sure if he is insulting me or what, but I feel humiliated. First, he said my dress was the ugliest he has ever seen, and now this is wrong too.

  “You are hot. Very hot. I am not sure if I like that. These guys have never seen someone like you before. Fights will break out. I don’t like the idea of sitting through a meal with all of the guys slobbering all over you.”

  “Oh. Well, umm, I am very hungry; I could put the dress back on,” I offer.

  “No. We’re burning that. But first thing in the morning you and I are going shopping. This is too much. You are going to give an old man like me a heart attack.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Thirty, almost twice your age.”

  “No. Not quite that much older.” I shrug and he takes me by the arm and leads me to the large room that has all the small tables put together for everyone to sit and eat a meal together. The table is weighed down with more food then I have ever seen. A lot of things I don’t recognize. Everyone stops talking and laughing when we enter. Liam sits down at the head of the table after putting me in the chair to his right. I don’t look at anyone else and try to hold Liam’s eyes to ease my nervousness.

  “Everyone, this is Faith. She lives with me now, and if you harm her or insult her in anyway, you are doing it to me. Now eat.”Liam looks at me and smiles. I feel like my face is on fire. I am trying to be invisible, and he shines a bright light on me and makes everyone look at me. I notice Megan and Gypsy are nowhere in sight. It would be nice to have some friendly faces around the table instead of being stared at like a zoo animal.

  Once everyone gets over the shock of me they begin talking and laughing. These guys are rude and loud and foul-mouthed. Totally different than what I am used to. I don’t feel threatened at all. In fact, I feel comfortable like I belong.

  Unsurprisingly, Liam has a huge appetite. The food is really good and I discover new things that I love. My favorite is buffalo chicken wings. The Family eats a lot of chicken, baked or fried all kinds of ways, but never just wings and never in the most delicious spicy sauce. Messy, but awesome. I lose count of how many I eat. My new life may make me fat. Liam enjoys my discoveries and continues putting more and more on my plate. I am ready to burst when I return to our room alone. Liam tells me to go to sleep and that he won’t turn in until very late. We will talk in the morning.

  By now, my father and Russell know I am gone. I wonder about my mom and my brothers and sisters. I hated leaving them, but I had no choice. They are all just like my father and totally brain washed.

  Once it is known that I walked away of my own free will, I will be dead to them. That’s just the way it is. I have spent the last few years weighing this out in my mind, and I had to do this, no matter what it costs me. I just hope my father and Russell don’t make a fuss to bring me home.

  I enjoy a wonderful hot shower and put on one of Liam’s black Harley tee shirts that comes to my knees. I take one of the pillows from Liam’s bed, along with a quilt I found in the closet, and settle down on the small sofa for the night. His pillow smells heavenly and I inhale deeply. All of those years ago, he was the first man I ever smelled. Maybe the only man I have ever smelled. I fall asleep feeling the deep, warm, wonderful way I only feel around Liam.

  Liam

  I’ve drunk too much and smoked too much, trying to put off climbing into bed with Faith. I know in my mind that I don’t want her. I want to help her and protect her. I would never mess with her. She is too young and way too pure. I want to show her she can trust me to take care of her and not hurt her. Her life has been so fucked up, even if she doesn’t realize it yet. I would never add to that. I will show her men aren’t abusers and users. Besides, I am not the least bit interested or attracted to her.

  I keep telling myself this, but my dick has other ideas. She fucking gets me hard every time I am near her. I feel a softness towards her. And ask any woman I have ever fucked, I don’t do softness. I like rough, hard sex. I like to dominate and control. But this girl, she has my heart for some reason. The sooner I can send her off to school somewhere, the safer we both will be.

  When I enter my room, there is only the soft light coming from the bathroom. I see her curled up on the little sofa. She looks like a baby. I scoop her up without waking her and put her on the bed. I maneuver her under the covers and on my pillow as she snuggles in without waking up. She smells sweet and good and I want more. Shower time. Cold shower time.

  Faith

  I peek through my lashes as Liam comes out of the bathroom drying his hair with one towel while he has a second towel wrapped around his waist. I almost squeal. He tosses the pillow from the sofa onto the bed next to me as he sits on the side of the bed. His back is covered with a large tattoo and so is one of his arms. There is more across the top of his chest and shoulders. They don’t repulse me. In fact it is the opposite. They only add to his hard manliness that I love about him. I see that there is a little horseshoe-thing going through one of his nipples. He is tan and sculpted and beautiful. I want to see him all over with the lights bright where I can study him. I try to control my breathing so he thinks I am sound asleep. He finishes drying off and goes to get some clothing out of his drawers. He whips off the towel with his back to me and bends to pullout a pair of black boxer briefs. Yum. I never knew a man could have a beautiful backside. If my father and Russell hunt me down and kill me, I can die happy now. He is perfection. I wait for him to slide in next to me, but instead he lays on top of the covers and turns away to sleep. Oh well, a girl can’t have everything.

  I wake up hours later to someone banging on the door, yelling, “Wake up Prez! You better come down here. We have a problem.” I am wrapped in Liam’s arms. He is under the covers with me and our legs are tangled. I don’t know how or when this happened, but I love it.

  ”I’ll be there in a minute!” Liam yells back, but continues to hold me. We stare at each other a long minute and he says, “Good morning,” and gives me a kiss on the forehead before getting up and heading for the closet. I am dumbstruck and continue to lay there in the exact same position. He throws on jeans and a black tee shirt and boots, not bothering with socks. He comes back to his side of the bed, where he bends down to reach for something. He raises up with a gun to slide in the waist at the back of his pants and walks out the door turning the lock first.

  I am wide awake now and run to the bathroom to get washed and dressed. What could be the problem? Why does he need a gun?

  All washed and teeth brushed, I put on the same outfit I wore yesterday and sit down on the sofa to do my hair and wait.

  Liam

  “Morning Prez,” Jury greets me. “These gentlemen are here looking for one of their church members who’s missing.”

  “Hmm,” is my way of asking for more details as I look into the eyes of my new enemies, Faith’s father and goddamned Russell Malone. Son of a bitch.

  “It’s my daughter. She’s only eighteen and she has made friends with this guy’s girl.” He motions to Jury.

  “I told you letting her go to school and being around these worldly kids at that high
school would ruin her. Now she is into God knows what with God knows who,” Russell pipes up.

  Jury lets him have it. “If she is friends with my girl, she is eighteen or nineteen which means she ain’t a runaway. She just left! She is old enough to go where she wants and do what she wants at that age so it’s a big fuck you to you two! I know where my daughter is, so don’t drag her into your shit!”

  Russell is red and fuming. Jury goes again. “You say she’s your daughter, Holmes, but what does it got to do with you, Malone? What are you doing here?”

  “That girl is my bride. She’s mine. Demonic and all. I will get her back and teach her obedience. She won’t run again,” he brags and I want to lay this mother fucker out so bad.

  “You say she’s eighteen and demonic. You may be better off without her. I think you better go on home and call it a day. Go on now,” I say, and a crowd of the Horsemen have circled around. We won’t have a problem today.