Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 12

Maxine POV

My worry about sleeping with Tank disappeared. One moment, I was shaking, nervous about being in his bed, not scared, more like I was uncertain, would he keep his word, to only hold me, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his hard chest, his warmth enveloped me, I felt his need hard against my thigh. Still, he didn’t act on it. Soon, after a few brief questions, I was out like a light.

I woke early, as I would with my daily morning routine. With my work starting early, it was almost an everyday thing, except Sundays, when the shop was closed, though we occasionally worked overtime. But even on my days off, I would wake up the same time, been like that for years, early starts at school, as I walked to school most days, and then starting work, had to be at work by seven, and walked there too, until I got my bike license. Then everything changed for me, with newfound freedom, a way to get away from home, and not having to walk everywhere.

It was five in the morning.

I quickly showered and put on the clothes I wore last night.

Leaving Tank to sleep.

Finding my way down to the kitchen, I popped on the coffee pot to start a brew and quickly found my way around, pulling out food to make breakfast. I remembered Sticks telling me last night that if I stayed here, I had to cook breakfast for at least 50 people. Possibly more, depending on how many wake before lunch.

Opening a big packet of bacon, and put that in the heat to cook, and then started the scrambled eggs, added some herbs and finely chopped capsicum into a large mixing bowl with two dozen eggs and beat it, before adding that to a pot, the same time that was cooking, I started the six-slice toaster, and began the bread. I was turning over the bacon when Sticks and Cricket arrived.

“Maxi Max, you started already, did you sleep at all?’ Cricket squealed as she came to stir the eggs.

“What time did you start to get all this done already?” Sticks asked as she took over the toaster. Then, while the next lot was toasting, she started getting out plates and utensils, placing them on the long table and setting out the condiments, cups, and everything else you could think of. I put on some small sausages and hash browns.

“My body clock wakes me at five in the morning, a habit.” I shrugged as I continued to plate the bacon on paper towels and start the following item.

‘Damn girl, I complain getting up at seven, to feed the hungry mob, that’s insanely early.” Cricket complains as she places the cooked eggs on a platter and grabs more mixture to make more.

“So how did it go last night?” Cricket asked, both women staring at me, waiting for an answer.

“What do you mean?” I acted dumb; I knew what they wanted to know, but I wasn’t going to give it out easily. I like to tease.

“Did you and Tank get down and dirty?” Cricket wiggled her eyebrows, and Sticks nudged her.

“We snuggled and slept,” I stated casually, as if it was nothing, they wouldn’t understand that being in bed with him was a massive step for me.

“Just slept?” Cricket sounded disappointed.

“It was almost half past one when I got to bed. I was too tired for much else.” I replied softly, not that I would have let him; I don’t trust easily, and I am not there yet, even with the girls’ encouragement to get in and do it.

“What? So you have had what three and a half hours’ sleep, and down here working, how do you do it? I can’t function with less than six hours of sleep.” Sticks looked at me with shock, expecting me to look a mess, I guess, but I have worked on less than that before.

“You look amazing, and functioning well, for someone who barely hit the sheets and was up working again.” Cricket complimented me.

“When you have lived in my house, you would understand that sleep was a privilege, not a right.” I shrugged, not wanting to go into details.

“That sounds like a story for another day, when I have had a few drinks under my belt.” Sticks said, looking at me with sad eyes.

They stopped pushing me for answer when two more woman arrive groan out a good morning and got to work in the kitchen, soft music was put on, and the chatter around the kitchen, was nice, like a large family, no bickering, or fighting, no complaints other than how handsy some guys are, but nothing stressful, no nasty comments about me still wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

They talked about last night, laughed at something Alice had done, and how she was thrown out on her arse. Someone said she called a taxi but had to walk to the gate because the cab was not allowed into the compound. It made my day, in a way. I would have loved to see her face when she was ditched and had to walk to the gate, then wait for the taxi at that time of night.

“Hope your friend doesn’t get any flak for what happened to Alice.” Cricket chimed in when the laughing died down. Eyes turned to me, to see my reaction, but I had learned over the years to hide my emotions; it was not worth the ribbing if they saw you upset.

“Let’s hope not. I will let you know when my girlfriend contacts me.”

We had just finished plating all the food onto the tables when bodies started arriving. They grabbed a plate and left to eat, wherever, nowhere in particular, as long as it wasn’t in the kitchen, since there wouldn’t be room to accommodate them all. Prez and the master of arms arrived, filled their plates, but they both stopped talking and turned to look at us in the kitchen.

“Thank you, ladies.’ Then left, they were the only ones to thank us, that was, until Tank arrived. We had refilled the bacon, toast, and eggs twice by the time he arrived.

Tank came straight to me and gave me an award-winning kiss, right in front of the girls, gaining wolf whistles from them and the few guys that walked in.

“Morning, you should have woken me. Have you eaten?” He picked up a plate and was loading it, and stopped to look at me, when I hadn’t answered.

‘Not yet.” Ignoring his complaint about not waking him.

‘Come grab a plate and eat with me.” He said, offering me the plate he had just loaded up.

‘Go girl, you’ve done enough, we can handle the rest.” Sticks said, urging me to leave.

‘Tank, she was down here at five this morning,” Cricket added, dobbing on me.

Then you are having a break, and eating with me, and I won’t take no for an answer,” Tank said, grabbing both plates and heading out. I had no choice but to hold the utensils and two coffees and follow him out the door.

He led me to a table by the pool, where the Prez was sitting, discussing something with Bruiser. When he placed the plates on the table, he also set the coffees on it, pulled out a chair, sat, and pulled me onto his lap. Dragged a plate in front of us, and then the other, and waited for a knife and fork.

‘I am not eating this with my fingers, hand them over, wench,” Tank grumbled when I delayed handing them over.

I gave him what he wanted, and he started digging in, and after a few seconds, I started eating too. A groan came from Tank’s lips as he chewed on a mouthful of egg.

“What did I leave some shell in the eggs?” I asked, panicking that I had made a mistake.

“You cooked this?” Bruiser asked, his plate nearly full of scrambled eggs.

“Yeah, most of this I prepared, and I was bored. Is it that bad?” I looked between the men, wondering if I had put too much of something in the eggs. I hate plain scrambled eggs and have always added something to give them flavor, but I guess not everyone has my taste.

“Not at all, it was the best eggs I have tasted in a very long time. I hope you cook more often.” The

Prez answered before Bruiser did.

“Yeah, what he said,” Bruiser added with a mouthful of eggs.

“Looks like our number one mechanic can cook, guess we might need her on some of our rides, can fix a bike if one breaks down, and cook us some food, when we stop. Win-win, if you ask me.”

Said a guy, I don’t remember his name, who came to sit at the table about the same time we did.