The Perfect Gift
Emily looked over her husband’s former employee. Pepper was hired as a mechanic, though it became clear to Luke that Pepper didn’t have the needed skills. Luke taught him as they went along, but Pepper’s agenda was tying the Spawn to organized crime in the state. That came out in a very messy way, and after Luke found out his trusted employee lied to him Luke cut all ties. Though, officially Pepper was still a member of the Spawn, he hadn't shown up around the clubhouse in well over a year.
“Yeah,” said Pepper sheepishly. “Luke won’t have anything more to do with me. You know that, Em. I do sales here and the dealership lets me do some of the simple work on the bikes.”
“And what about your day job?” said Emily.
Pepper spread his hands. “After that mess with the Spawn, I rode a desk until I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m out of the undercover business for good.”
Emily shifted on her feet, not happy to be facing a man her husband considered a traitor. “I should be going.”
“No,” Pepper said too suddenly. “I mean, kook, Emily. I’m sorry how things came out. In my own screwed up way I was just trying to help Luke.”
“I know that. Luke knows that. But he sponsored you into the club, Pepper, and you should’ve been honest with him.”
“My biggest regret is that I couldn’t be. Luke was a great boss, and a better friend, and I wish there was a way to make things up with him.”
“I’m the wrong person to be talking to about this, Pepper.”
His face fell, and Emily wished there was some way she could make this right. Pepper, from what she understood, did everything he could to get the corrupt Witsec agent who killed Luke’s parents investigated. But Luke was still angry about all the events that arose out of that, including Emily’s kidnapping by the same man. In Luke’s mind, if the government had done their job properly in the beginning all the awful things that happened wouldn’t have.
“I mean, you should talk to Luke.”
Pepper shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, I should.”
From the expression on his face, Emily divined that the last thing Pepper wanted to do was talk to her husband. But that was Pepper’s problem, not hers.
“But maybe there’s one thing you can help me with. What kind of bike do you think Luke would like?”
Pepper scratched his head. “What Harley doesn’t he like?” he said. “Are you looking for new or pre-owned?”
“Pre-owned?” said Emily with a smile.
“Yeah, they teach us to say that.”
“Luke goes on about the new bikes, but whenever he looks at bikes online he’s always staring at the older models.”
“Any one in particular?”
“You would think that being the wife of the owner of a motorcycle repair shop I would know, but,” her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, “I don’t know the difference between a soft tail or a v-rod.”
Pepper chuckled. “At least you know there are differences.”
“How could I not? I do the books. I just can’t believe the names of some of the parts Luke orders. And that only some parts fit on some bikes but not others.”
“Welcome to our world,” said Pepper. “But don’t feel too bad. Even people who think they know about Harleys don’t have a good grasp of all the differences between models and sub-models, engines, and suspension types. Your husband, though, he can tell you down to the model year what part goes on what machine.”
“Yeah, he’s a freak like that.”
“So why are you looking for bikes for him?”
“Well, during all that immigrations stuff, Luke traded two of his bikes to his lawyer in exchange for fees.”
“Wow, which ones?”
“The only one he has left is the Touring bike.”
“So, the sportster and the Iron 883 gone?”
Emily nodded.
“That sportster was sweet. And I know he liked riding it.”
“He shed a tear on the day he signed over the title. But don’t tell him I said anything, though.”
“Don’t worry. Secret’s safe with me.” He glanced up at the ceiling a moment and then snapped his fingers. “We do have a sportster that came in on consignment. Want to see it?”
But Emily didn’t need Pepper to point it out. The orange paint alone was enough to call attention to the sleek bike with a dual chrome exhaust that ran the length of the machine.
“Where did this come from?” ask Emily.
“Um, I’ll check.” Pepper shot off toward the cash register area, and Emily inspected the bike. Something about the bike said “Luke,” and she remembered how much he enjoyed riding it.
Pepper came back. “The owner’s name is—”
“Let me guess, Matt Stone.”
“Yes.”
“How much does he want for the bike?”
“Twelve thousand.”
“Tell him I offer ten. And tell him who made the offer.”
Pepper smiled. “Sure, Emily. I’ll give him a call now.” Pepper left her alone with the bike while he went to make the phone call. Within a couple minutes her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw the name on the caller ID.
“Hello, Matt,” she said.
“Emily, it’s been forever. How’s Luke and the young ‘un?”
“We’re doing great. Robbie’s growing like a weed. Luke’s working hard as usual.”
“I hear you found the bike.”
“Yeah. What made you put it up for sale?”
“The Iron is enough bike for me. I don’t need two. No place to store them.”
“You can always rent storage at the shop.”
“So, your husband can stare longingly at my sweethearts? That just seems wrong.”
Emily laughed. “Luke stares longingly at all the bikes. I don’t take it personally, so you shouldn’t.”
“The salesman said you’re offering ten for the bike.”
“That’s my budget and my limit.”
“Damn, you drive a hard bargain.”
“No,” Emily said as she switched to her browser and pulled up bike prices, “that’s market price. Twelve is high. If I was driving a hard bargain, I’d say nine and let you talk me up to ten.”
“I tell you what. Nine-five and free storage for my other bike for three years.”
“Two years.”
“Ouch,” said Matt. “You’re a shark.”
“I’m just looking out for my husband’s business interests. But look, you put your bike for sale in this store, and it’s not fair that we short them the commission. I’ll pay ten and bill you for the storage.”
“Okay,” said Matt. “To tell you the truth I didn’t know if I could sell it at all.”
“Keep talking and the price drops.”
“Okay, okay,” laughed Matt. “Let me speak to the salesperson.”
Emily handed her phone to Pepper and they talked a few minutes. Pepper handed the phone back to her.
“Matt?”
“Yeah, the salesman said he had to run it by his sales manager.”
Emily nodded. “They all say that.”
“But I told him if they tried to mess with you I’d yank the bike.”
“Don’t worry. The salesman’s a friend.”
Matt laughed. “I don’t think you have many enemies, Em.” He chuckled again. “Good doing business with you. To tell you the truth, I’m glad Luke’s getting at least one of the bikes back. I felt bad taking them from him.”
“And you a big, bad lawyer.”
“Hey, some things you get emotional about. I’ll see you around, Emily.”
“Speaking of which, do you want to come to a Christmas party?”
***
Emily couldn’t help but be excited about the purchase. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Luke’s face on Christmas morning. She bounced into the shop with bags for Luke’s lunch.
“Baby!” she called out cheerily. “Lunch!”
“Just a sec,” called Luke.
Water ran through the pipes, telling her Luke was washing up. She cleaned off the desk and set out the food. She gave him a big smile, bursting with her secret, and immediately a look of suspicion filled his handsome features.
“You look full of mischief,” he said. “What’re you up to?”
“Oh, nothing,” Emily said with playful innocence.
“Nothing?” he said, arching an eyebrow. He backed her against the desk with a hungry look in his blue eyes. “You look like you’re hiding something.”
“Am I?” she said, throwing her arms around his neck. Her nose was assaulted with the scents of stale motor oil and his musk. It was all Luke, everything he was to her, male and dangerous—sex personified. And it made her hot for him. “It’s a Christmas secret, never to be revealed under the most relentless torture.”
Unexpectedly, Luke gave her nipple a hard tweak with his fingers. Pain and pleasure shot through her. She decided if he was going to play dirty she would, too. She leaned her hips into his and was rewarded by the rising bulge in his jeans.
“I have to tell you, you won’t break me. My husband subjects me to much worse, every night.”
“I’ve heard about this husband of yours,” Luke husked in her ear. “He’s unyielding in the pursuit of your pleasure. But I guarantee you, I will have answers.” His fingers trailed down to the front of her pants and ripped the zipper of her jeans down, then slipped his hand into the tight space between her jeans and panties.
She moaned, unable to stop herself.
“Ah,” he said with satisfaction. “Wet, I see. Even now you desire to be punished.”
People said that married people stopped getting excited for each other, but in nearly two years of marriage Emily hadn’t stopped getting butterflies in her stomach or excited when she thought about him.
“Torture me all you want. I won’t talk,” she said, tossing her head back dramatically as his fingers slipped into her panties and found their way down. He bit his lips as he played with her clit. Sparks flew up her nerve endings, and she moaned.
“Maybe not, but I’ll make you scream.”
Emily sobered for a moment. “Here? What if we’re discovered?”
“Good point.” He pulled away, much to her regret, and moved to the front door and locked it, shutting the blinds on it and the two large windows front and side that gave a clear view of the inside of the office.
“Wait,” she said, “where’re Crash and Saks?”
“Saks went home. Crash never showed.”
“Then we’re alone?”
“Yes. No one can save you now.” Luke descended on her neck with sizzling kisses and nips that alone had her squirming under his touch.
She leaned her head to the side to give him more access.
“What did you do, woman?” he said menacingly as he pulled up her t-shirt and yanked her bra up to reveal her perky orbs. He tweaked a nipple again, this time flesh on flesh.
“It’s not what I did,” she said coyly. “But what I can do.” She placed her hand on his shaft through his jeans, rigid and straining. Her fingers stroked it and he moaned.
“I swear,” he said. “I could come from your fingers alone.”
“Shall we test that theory?” she teased. Emily pulled his zipper down and wriggled her fingers under his briefs to grasp the velvet steel of his cock. Pre-cum moistened the head, and she coated the tips of her fingers to spread it around. “See who else is wet,” she murmured.
“I admit to being defenseless to your charms,” he groaned. “Oh, baby,” he sighed as she stroked him with firm pulls. He liked her to touch him like this, and the silken feel of his skin always amazed her. How could something seemingly as hard as steel be like velvet under her hand?
Luke jammed his hand back inside her jeans and strummed her clit like a fine musical instrument. Neither too hard nor too soft, he knew she loved it like this. The thin fabric of her panties provided a small measure of protection against his work-roughened digits, letting her enjoy the pressure of his fingers working with her natural juices.
Their lunchtime romp would be a warm-up for tonight, something they would both think of for the rest of the day. And when she came, she had to keep from screaming because she didn’t know if anyone could hear them outside. But even that thought added to her heat, causing her to moan and push herself into Luke’s hand, seeking more pleasure. Luke’s breathing sped up just as hers did, and his spunk covered her hand with a great gasp and a moan, just as white fire spread through Emily and stars burst in behind her eyes.