Being on the back of someone’s bike was something I was still getting used to. After an hour and a half of riding, we stopped to eat and climbed right back on. We were lucky that Ma said she’d watch Cooper all night, so we were really free for a while. But my mind kept reverting to the shit going down in my life, and every time I closed my eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

As we pulled into a park, Cruz killed the bike. Climbing off, we moved over to the picnic benches as I laid my head on his shoulder. “Everything okay, Babe?”

“Sorry. My mind just keeps running. I try to turn it off, but it doesn’t help.”

He wrapped his arm around me as squeezed me tightly to him. “We’ll get it all figured out.”

“What about Mel?” Cruz’s body stiffened at the name, but I didn’t say a word. “She hasn’t signed yet. She can’t have my boy.”

“I was giving her the benefit of the doubt. I don’t know why, but I was. Now…” He trailed off squeezing me as he kissed the top of my head. “I’ll take care of it.”

“What about Babs?”

“That’s club business, Babe.” I nodded, knowing there was no more he could say. I respected that even though I wanted to know.

“I’d like to go back to Studio X full time again. You okay with that?” Asking him wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It just came natural.

“Yeah, Baby. You have to have a Prospect with you all the time, though.” I smiled.

“Becs is there a lot.” He stiffened. “It’s okay, Baby. I know you’re just looking out for me. I smoothed it over with Liv. But having him there will help. I’d just need someone to ride with me to and from.”

“Have one of the Prospects.” Nodding, I relaxed into him. I hoped that going back to the studio would allow me to get my mind off of things. Maybe if I did that, I’d be able to see a clearer connection with all of this. “What about Cooper?” he asked.

“I’ll see if Ma can watch him at the shop, and more than likely I won’t be going in till noon, so I’ll be with him until then.”

“I’ll be around a bit, too. We’ve got some runs coming up that will take me away for three or four days at a time, but I’ll do my best.”

“It’s hard being a 24/7 dad, huh?” I said, nudging.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I just always thought he’d be better with Mel. She’s supposed to love him and take care of him. But over the last year, it’s been going downhill.” He held his head down.

“When did you find out she was hitting him?” I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to that question, but it just fell out of my mouth. Part of me needed to know.

“A few weeks before you got out, I noticed something was up, but didn’t put my finger on it until about a week before you got out. Then when I saw her grab Coop in the clubhouse, I knew she couldn’t be around him anymore.”

“And having me around helped?”

“Of course. It just showed me the mom that Coop needed.” He squeezed tightly.

My heart warmed, not only that Cruz thought I could be the mom that Coop needed but at the prospect of being that person in Coop’s life. I’d never really thought of being a mom. I wasn’t the type to plan out my future or have these expectations. As far as I was concerned, a quick lay, my studio, and the club was all I needed. It’s a bit mind-boggling how much my life has changed.

I go from prison and alone to an ol’ man and a kid in a short period of time, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.

“You sure you wanna go tonight?”

“Absolutely. It’ll be good for you to get to know the ol’ ladies.”

“You know I’ve known Legs, Bubbles, and Flash for a long time, but this just feels different.”

“It’s cause you’re an ol’ lady, now. It’ll be fine.”

I smiled up at him as he leaned down, kissing me on the lips. I pulled his head tightly against mine, kissing him with everything I had. Before I knew what I was doing, I was straddling him on the picnic table, rocking my body up and down on his hard cock. “The ride get you all worked up, Baby?” he asked against my lips.

“What’d you think?” My hips had a mind of their own as they thrust and thrust. I was so close to coming.

“Take your pants off,” he barked roughly.

Looking around, I had a moment of panic. Here we were out in public for anyone to drive by and see us. My body froze.

“I’m not telling you again. Take them off.” I stared at him feeling my inner thoughts suffocating me. I wanted to make him happy, and I wanted to fuck him. Fuck it.

Hopping off of him, I stripped out of my leathers and boots. Standing before him, the hunger in his eyes took my breath away. He slowly stood enough to unzip his pants and pull his hard cock out. Licking my lips, I wanted him. The sun was bouncing off our skin making the flush I already felt ten times hotter.

“Get up here and ride me baby,” he said pulling my body to him. Not thinking twice, I climbed on, sinking him inside of me in one deep push. Up and down, I rode him as hard as I could in the position we were in. The table bumped my leg repeatedly, but I didn’t utter a single complaint.

Reaching down, I cupped Cruz’s face pulling him to me as I kissed him hard. He broke off the kiss, and I really started my movements using my legs to squat up and down quickly.

Throwing my head back, I felt the waves wanting to wash over me. I couldn’t hold back. I needed to come. “You there, Baby?” I asked him.

“Since when do you ask me that?”

“I just wanna come with you Baby,” I said, grabbing onto his shoulders for more stability.

“Faster,” he growled. Doing as he says, I felt his dick growing more inside of me. I knew it was coming, and I was there ready for him. “Now.” We came together, rasping each other’s names.

With Cruz still fully seated inside me, we tried to catch our breath. With the sun beating down on my naked ass, it pulled me back to the reality of where we were. My head darted up scanning the park. “Relax, Babe.” Pulling out, he smirked. “Get dressed.”

Rushing, I threw my leathers and boots back on, and fixed my braid. Relaxed now, I was ready to ride.

Pulling up to Bimbo’s bar, I couldn’t help a slight nervous flutter in my stomach. This would be my first test as an ol’ lady. Could I keep my temper in check? Could I fit in with these women who have been doing this for years? Could I be a good ol’ lady?

I wanted to. I really wanted to and make Cruz happy.

Walking into the bar, all eyes were on us. I felt them, but kept ahold of Cruz’s hand, following behind him closely. I knew I could defend myself, but this was different. I knew all eyes were on me because I was his ol’ lady.

Cruz led us right over to Zed, Legs, Becs, Bubbles, Dagger, and Flash, who were all sitting around a large table drinking and laughing. As soon as we approached, every single person stood, each one hugging and kissing our cheeks one at a time. The hugs from the women were tight and ultimately warm. The hugs and kisses from the guys were also warm, but each of them whispered in my ear.

Zed, “So glad you’re here.” Becs, “About time you became a patched sister.” Dagger, “You must be what Cruz has been waiting for.” It made me want to cry my eyes out, but I refrained.

After sitting, the waitress came by taking drink orders. I knew I’d only have one or two because there was no way I’d risk being drunk on the back of Cruz’s bike. It’s hard enough driving with another person on the back of your ride, add a drunk woman who’s isn’t thinking straight… not a good combination. Not only that, it would embarrass the shit out of him and me.

Having Cruz next to me, his arm wrapped around the back of my chair with his brothers and sisters was exhilarating. I guessed this was what happiness felt like.

“Brothers, let’s walk,” Zed said, lifting his chin, leaving me with the three other ol’ ladies. Looking around at the table seeing the women I’ve known my whole life, I couldn’t help but see them in a different light. They were my Ma’s friends. Now they are mine, my sisters. Considering I have no sisters and Casey was never around anymore and doesn’t answer my phone calls, I was excited and nervous all wrapped into one.