Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 36

Maxine POV

“Maxi. Max, eat up.” Sticks pushed, I hadn’t got an appetite, worried about Tank being gone so long, and no word from them, and no explanation of where they were going.

The girls don’t even know.

The Prez refused to speak of it; it was men’s business.

“Sorry.” I half-whispered, this was all new to me.

Not that telling me would make much difference. Look at my ex, in the house, and still upstairs doing his thing with my sister.

I tried to push that thought aside and work on what I do know, which was not much.

“Eat.” Cricket pushed the girls around the table. They looked as worried as I was, and not eating and causing a fuss wouldn’t help them in their own pool of discontent.

“Does it get any easier?” I asked softly, lifting a fork of food to my mouth.

“No!” three voices answered at the same time, causing the tension to break, as they chuckled at answering together. “Guess we will have to think of ways to make our wait better,” I stated out loud, unsure how I could do that.

“Well, it was okay for most of the day, but when the night came, and they were not back, that was when we started to worry. It is not unusual for boys to go on a day trip, but they rarely go overnight and don’t let anyone know; they won’t return,” said Cricket, who had started to play with her food. Now, I feel guilty for bringing down the mood.

“Well, girls, let’s eat, leave plenty for the guys in the warmer, and go play pool,” I suggested.

Hope to learn more about each other yet, and maybe in the games room, the tension might be reduced, keeping our minds off the men.

“You know how to play.” Cricket perked up, looking hopeful at me.

“I have played a time or two.” I wasn’t going to tell her I used to be in pool competitions, that might burst her bubble, one thing the street kids got to play.

“I challenge you first, then.” Sticks jumped in before Cricket, or the others could say a word.

“Ah, you do that all the time, that’s not fair.” Cricket belly ached, good-naturedly. These girls were close, and they had included me in the family. I feel honored to have been included so quickly.

We finished dinner in a better mood, placed covers on the food, and put it in the warmer.

Sticks set up the balls, and I let her break, then I was mean and cleaned the table in one go.

“Seems like we got us a ring in, let’s do a competition against the guys, put five bucks to enter, and a bet on the side, what you say, girls?” The cheers went out around the room.

“They won’t know what hit them. Tank doesn’t know you play, does he?” A squeak came from the back.

“Nope, never played here before,” I replied, looking at the happy faces, because I could play.

“Good, let’s plan.” The girls huddled together to talk. I leaned back at the bar and watched.

“Sticks, where’s the bar staff? Did they see?” I asked, looking for the nom that usually was behind the bar.

“Most likely slacking off somewhere. When the main crew is out, they don’t work as hard, and Prez won’t come out of his office til they return. The guys know this and play up.”

“So no one saw me play?” I asked, still skeptical.

“Nope, the nom would be working the main bar, as none of the guys are back here in the games room, and wouldn’t bother with this room, it’s not one they expect us girls to be in. So they probably believe it is empty,” a girl I don’t remember answered, and returned to their conversation.

“Hey, Sticks, that guy Blaze, does he have a girl?” I asked, not waiting for Tank to get back to it.

“Nah, he likes to play the field, why? Thinking of dumping Tank so soon?” She gave me a sassy reply.

“My girl, Jenny, was interested and wanted me to get his number. But if he’s a love ’em and leave ’em guy, I would be uncomfortable, having her around, just for him to, you know.” I shrugged, not paying attention to the suggestion of dumping Tank, as if I would. It wasn’t worth biting into that one.

“Will find out if he’s interested in a girl more than a booty call, and let you know. When are they coming over next?”

“I can get them here anytime. A quick text and she would rush over. She knows this weekend we’re going on a ride, so that we won’t be there this weekend,” I replied thoughtfully.

“Leave it with me.” We all stopped talking and turned to the door, tilting our heads to the side.

The sounds of rumbling motorbikes filled the air, and the room changed; excitement and trepidation had us rushing out the door to await their arrival. Sticks holds back, waiting for the Prez, who I could hear his heavy footsteps, stomping out his door. Cricket was the first out the door, pushing others out of the way to get out. I chuckled at the sight. Getting out first wouldn’t make them arrive any faster.

I leaned against the wall and watched as the lights of the bikes came into view, the rumble of the engines as they got closer, made my chest vibrate. I recognized each bike as it arrived, having worked on nearly all of them over the years as an apprentice. Finally, near the rear of the pack, Tank came into view. I took a deep breath. An excitement I hadn’t anticipated ran through me, like a shiver from head to toe. My man was home and safe.

He parked his bike, and I glanced over and noticed how Cricket launched herself at Bruiser.

I was not so sure about that style of greeting; if they had a long ride, they could be tired and achy. I didn’t want to cause him discomfort. So I walked towards him. He threw his leg over his bike and half sat on the seat. Removed his lid and placed it on the handlebars, leaned down to remove his key, all the while watching me closely as I approached; his eyes looked longingly at me. As I got closer, he stretched his long legs out, and I walked between them. He reached for me and pulled me closer, almost crushing me, as his lips smashed into mine, a bruising kiss.

I was being devoured, in a way that took my breath away, my core throbbing, and an unexpected need, and if I were like Jenny, I would be trying to grind against him to get relief. Lucky he was holding on to me, one hand around my waist, the other on the back of my head, holding me in place, and not aware where my thoughts had headed.

Tank pulled back and rested his head in my neck, taking deep breaths, before pulling further back to look at me. As he did that, his stomach made a rather loud rumble.

“We have food in the warmer. Come, let’s fill that belly, before it starts to eat you from the inside out,” I whispered, chuckled, pulling away from him, and grabbed a hand as he started to let go of me, his hands sliding down my arms as I moved away. He didn’t resist as I dragged him away from his bike and into the clubhouse.

Giggles and laughter filled the clubhouse as we walked through. Tank moved forward to place his arm around my waist, keeping me close to him, as we navigated our way towards the kitchen. The noise of others, happy their man was home, echoed through the clubhouse’s main room.

“How about you take a seat at the table, in there, and I will bring out some food for you. Coffee or booze?” I asked, he nodded, and paused for a moment.

“Coffee, might be having a meet’n soon, best I have a clear head.” I left him to take a seat and entered the kitchen. Cricket was making a plate for her man and nodded when I went to do the same, even Sticks, because Prez never left his office till the bikes returned and refused to allow anyone in.

Giggling, Cricket, and I leave the kitchen, both holding a plate of food and drinks for our men. I was getting closer to Cricket; she was near my age, and we seemed to understand each other.

Placing the plate in front of Tank and his coffee.

“Thanks.” He said, he turned slightly, and pulled me onto his lap before he started to devour the food with one hand. I had to cut his meat a couple of times because it was too large, but he wouldn’t let me leave his lap, so I did it. Leaving me no choice but to do the cutting, and he did the eating.

“Finish up, Meeting,” Prez shouted into the room.

Groans from those still eating, and murmurs for five more minutes, but no one defied the Prez. They all got up and shuffled to the meeting room. I gained a quick peck on the lips before he left to go to the meeting, taking his half-finished coffee with him.