Seth (4 page)

I sit for a few more minutes at Starbucks before getting
a refill and heading back home. I have to bang out my story and turn in the
first draft to the ‘In The Cage’ editors tonight before I go on my date. Thanks
to my brother’s handiwork my little second page story on the website is going
to make headlines at the sites print edition. The magazine has about 100,000 in
readership so even though it’s not big, for a lowly website writer like me this
is huge. Plus I get paid a hell of a lot more. I get paid .05 cent a word for
everything I write for Inthecage.com, but for their print magazine I get
thirty-five cents a word. For the story on the Crusher’s death they’re paying
me to write 1,500 words. There are actually two stories here. The first about
the Crusher’s death and the second would be about the Soul Eaters and their
practice of awarding full membership only to those who kill for the club as my
brother apparently did. I’m just not sure I want to open that can of worms for
a few hundred dollars. I could probably get several stories out of this if I
was willing to contact my brother and get the inside scoop about life in an
outlaw motorcycle club. I know the website and the magazine are all about
martial arts and cage fighting, but many of our readers are motorcycle
enthusiasts, and some are probably in various clubs and gangs. I’m not sure I
want my name being known by outlaw biker clubs, even if they do like my
writing.

I’m not a real fast writer so it takes me forever to get
my story finished and sent off to the editors. Then I have to hurry extra fast
to get ready for my date. Marc will be there at…well he’s supposed to pick me
up at 7:45, but being that he’s a cop he’s uber punctual so he’ll probably be
knocking on my door by 7:20. That gives me less than an hour to get ready.

I charge into the bathroom, turn on the shower and start
stripping off my clothes. On the bed is my outfit. Tonight I’m keeping it
simple; black skinny jeans that ride low on the hips, and a crop top to show
that I actually do have abs. The neck scoops low enough to show that I do have
more than mosquito bumps in the all-important chest department. I decided to go
with a ‘damn you look good’ outfit rather than one of my ‘I may look easy but
I’m not’ get ups. Marc is an attentive lover and is blessed with a more than
average tool and staying power to match so I’m pretty happy with our intimate
life but I’m just not in the mood tonight. There’s just too much crap going on
between my ears lately to make me want to have anything going on between my
legs.

The second I see steam developing in the bathroom I
charge into the steam of hot water. I have to at least get out of the shower
before he gets here or I may end up having a lot going on between my legs after
all. Soon as I’m done with my business I get out and do a minimal amount of
drying before I slip on my bathrobe. At least I’ll have this much on when Marc
shows up. I sit on the bed beside my underthings when abruptly the doorbell
rings. I look at my watch; it’s 7:15. That’s a new record for early when it
comes to Marc. I skip my bra and panties and go to the front door. Like I was
taught long ago I look out the peephole to make sure it really is my date; it
is.

He gives me a peck on the cheek and flowers as I let him
in. Right away I know this is not going to be your typical date. Marc’s eyes
have yet to reach my face. I look down and discover why; hello nip slip. One of
my little brownies is poking out at him and he can’t seem to take his eyes off.

He is handsome tonight! I mean, he always looks good and
he cleans up amazing! He’s chosen a tight fitting black turtleneck, a black
belt, and a black pair of some type of designer jeans pressed and so sharp
looking. He has on a pair of black tactical boots to finish off his super cool
badass look. Here’s a man who’s ready to fight and he looks like he can totally
kick ass and he does from time to time. It doesn’t happen a lot, but when a
suspect takes Marc on they’re always surprised at how quick and strong he is.
He’s not a huge guy, but I’ve seen him take down guys five inches taller and
fifty pounds heavier when I did some ride-a-longs before we started dating. I
was duly impressed!

“Any chance you’re not real hungry?” Marc asks as he
shuts the door behind him.

“I’ve been on a three day cleanse so I haven’t eaten
solid food for 72 hours so yeah, I’m starved!”

I watch as his face literally falls, before he catches
himself and puts on a different expression. I give him a stern look for a
second before breaking out in laughter.

“Kidding!”

He takes a deep breath and sighs in relief.

“What makes you think we’d be doing anything but going to
the restaurant tonight?”

“Well you did answer the door like…like that.” He says
pointing to my breasts that I still haven’t covered up.

“I see, so you thought that was an invitation for
something else then?”

“Well it kinda looks that way.” He replies.

“What’s this look like then?” I ask as I loosen the only
thing keeping my robe together.

My belt falls to the floor and my robe parts the rest of
the way.

“May I see your nightstick Officer Long?” I ask in my
most seductive voice.

“You’d better behave yourself young lady or I may have to
beat you with it.”

I watch as Marc expertly kicks off his shoes, unbuttons
his pants and slips them down over his hips. I watch mesmerized as a large
white bulge appears in front of me. I reach out to touch but he catches my
hands and stops me. Then he let’s go and slides my robe off my shoulders and
lets it drop around my ankles. I love the feeling of the power I have over
Marc, or any man when all I have to do is get even semi naked and they’re good
to go in seconds.

I drop to my knees in front of his package, lean forward
and just breathe over his growing bulge. It’s true what they say about men and
a stiff breeze, except this one doesn’t even need the breeze to be stiff, just
warm and out of my mouth. Marc thrusts his hips forward hoping for contact but
I move my head back out of range. I put the palm of my right hand on his flat
stomach and push gently. I’m taking my time with this. A soft moan escapes his
lips. I lean in again and breathe the breath of life on his swollen member and
his package twitches in response.

I can feel my own body responding to his and I can feel
each beat of my heart between my velvety lips. I don’t know how much longer I
can tease before I’ll have to feel him inside me. I lean forward again placing
my mouth along his shaft and I can feel him throbbing against my lips. He
pushes against my face and I hold steady. He throbs, I throb, and suddenly I
can’t take it anymore. I grab the top of his briefs and peel them down over his
hips then I literally jump into his arms where he catches me and lets me settle
down onto his shaft. The feeling is so perfectly sweet that it’s almost too much
of a good thing. Using my arms and legs I ride his cock until we both explode!

Marc carries me over to the couch then falls back on his
back while keeping me in place on his cock where we go for round two. We’re
both healthy and strong and neither one of us tires easily. But when we finally
do we’re completely sated and hungry at the same time. I look over at the clock
as my stomach begins to rumble. We’ve just blown past our reservation. Guess
I’m cooking tonight.

Alright, that’s it. I can’t sit here in front of my
computer dozing off. I’ll never get this freaking article written. Marc not
only stayed for dinner, but he stayed half the night as well so know I’m super
behind in my writing assignments. I desperately need some coffee to wake me up.
Problem is I don’t have any. That leaves just one option; Seven Eleven. I guess
I could go to Safeway and get the beans and stuff but I don’t even know if my
coffee maker still works and I really don’t feel like driving across town at
one in the morning.

Ten minutes later I’m pulling into 7-11 with my fingers
and toes crossed. If there was such a thing as a good side of town in
Watsonville and a bad side of town, this would be the bad side. I’ve already
seen what I’m pretty sure was two drug deals go down right in plain sight under
the streetlights. 7-11 is deserted except for me so that makes me feel better.
I hate it when I come here at this time of night and there are other people in
here. Most people who show up at this time all look like drug dealers or
thieves. Since those other undesirable types happen to be elsewhere I decide to
look for something halfway healthy to munch on.

I’m so engrossed in my search for sustenance that I fail
to hear the door beep when someone else comes in. The first time I notice
anything is when I hear the last thing I want to hear.

“Dude just open the cash register and no one’s gonna get
hurt.”

Instantly my blood runs cold and my heart is caught in
the icy grip of fear! I know I’m a martial artist and I’m supposed to be
prepared for things like this, but at 1:30 in the morning, when I’m tired,
hungry, and I feel about as confident in my skill as a slug, the last thing I
want to do is fight for my life. Couldn’t this have happened on a day when I feel
good? Every other day I walk around feeling like I can handle most things and
most people I come in contact with. Not tonight.

“And don’t forget about that safe.” The thief orders.

“I-I c-can’t open it.” Stammers the cashier. “It’s on a
t-timer. N-next t-time I can open i-it is in four and a half hours.”

“No fucking way!” The thief roars.

Wait. That was a different voice. That means there are at
least two thieves in here.

“I swear it’s true. I c-can’t open it.”

“Really? Would you stake your life on that mutha fucka?”

“L-look, here’s everything in the register. T-take
anything else in…in t-the store. I swear I-Ill even wait ten minutes b-before
I-I call the p-p-police.”

“Don’t fucking move a damn muscle!” Booms a voice behind
me. 

Shit! I very nearly have a heart attack right here in
7-11. I don’t dare move so I can’t see who is behind me or what kind of weapon
he has if any. I don’t have to wait long. Pretty soon a tall African American
man wearing a black ski mask comes around in front of me. In his right hand is
a small silver revolver.

“Move your ass!” He yells and directs me to the front of
the store with a wave of his gun.

Stunned, I march myself up to the front of the store
where there is two other black guys arguing with the terrified store clerk. One
of the men has a shotgun and the other one appears to be unarmed which is
surprising to me.

“Get behind the counter bitch.” He commands.

No freaking way I’m going to resist. Problem is, the
clerk, a middle-aged Asian man, seems to be at the end of his sanity rope and
is about to completely lose it. If he does I’m a dead girl. I just better be
ready to hit the floor behind the counter when the bullets begin to fly.

“Listen up old man.” The thug who seems to be the leader
says. “I don’t care what you have to do mother fucker, but you have exactly
five minutes to get inside that safe and get me the fucking money.”

“I told you I can’t open the safe until six.”

I glance over at the clerk. He’s getting bold now. He
stopped stammering and he looks like he’s about to do something stupid like
resisting. If he does that I’ll surely die.

“Mother fucker old man.” The leader rages. “I’m gonna
blow your fucking head off in about three seconds!”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Says a completely
different voice. The owner of that voice is supremely confident. There’s not
even a hint of fear and his voice is rock steady.

I look up and to my shock and amazement; it’s the hot
biker from the MMA fights. He is just standing there looking at the thugs
without as much as a fork for a weapon.

“Who the fuck are you?” Asks the leader with the shotgun.

“You point that fucking gun at me again and I’m going to
take it away from you and beat you to death with it.”

“Didn’t nobody eva’ teach you how to count?” The leader
asks. “Not only are you outnumbered three to one, you ain’t even smart enough
to bring a gun to a fucking gun fight!”

“What did I just tell you punk?” The biker asks.

“Don’t know and I don’t fucking care so take your pussy
ass and your bike outta here before I blow yo-”

He doesn’t even get to finish his sentence. In one
lightning fast sequence, hot biker knocks the barrel of the shotgun to the side
with his left hand, simultaneously grabbing the barrel as he steps towards the
guy inside the weapon so if the thug does get a shot off it’ll find nothing but
air behind him. At that same moment hot biker strikes the thug in the throat
with the knuckles of his right hand crushing his airway. He easily rips the gun
from the dying thug’s hands, racks him across the temple area with the wooden
stock and the guy sags to his feet.

It happens so fast the other two guys are caught with
their pants down so to speak. When the guy with the revolver finally reacts
it’s far too late. He swings his pistol around to point it at the biker and
gets his arm broken for it as hot biker swings the shotgun, striking the thugs
forearm with a loud, painful crack! The pistol falls from the man’s numb
fingers. Before the thug can even register that his arm is broken and he’s
dropped his weapon, he takes a mighty blow across the side of his head and is
unconscious before he even hits the ground. The third thug doesn’t even protest
and dashes out the door without a word.

I can’t believe what I just saw. In like two seconds hot
biker guy has laid out two armed thugs and scared off the third. Not only was
that...incredible, but it also makes me feel like a coward. Here I am, the
trained martial artist and some biker just steps in and takes care of business
like it’s nothing. Hot guy biker turns to the store patron and hands him the
thug’s shotgun.

“Think you can hold down the fort till the cops show up?”

The speechless clerk, still in shock just nods and
accepts the gun. Then hot biker guy turns to me, nods his head and turns and
leaves the store. Now wait a second. He just can’t march in here and do…do
whatever he just did and just leave without even a word to me the traumatized
female! Angrily I follow him out and catch up to him as he’s getting on his
Harley.

“Hey wait a second.” I shout. “What was that?”

“Did that really need an explanation?” He asks.

“Maybe you need one then.” I begin. “I’ve been in this
town for like, six months and I’ve rarely seen your guys riding around and
suddenly in the last three days I’ve run into you and your crew like four
times. What gives?”

“I’m sorry ma’am; I apologize for not clearing private
club business with you before acting.”

“That’s not what I meant. It’s just that I know what you
guys stand for and-”

“What do we stand for?” He asks.

I’m a little taken off guard and I don’t really know what
to say here. It’s probably not wise to accuse the man who just saved your bacon
of drug dealing.

“What’s your name?” I finally ask.

At first I think he’s going to refuse to answer, and then
he surprises me. “Blink.”

“Excuse me?” I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear him right.

“Blink.”

“Now I thought that’s what you said. Okay I’ll play
ball.”

Like a complete idiot I stand here at 1:45 am blinking
like an idiot. He looks at me for a second confused, then breaks out laughing.
His reaction to my reaction to his command is…is refreshing. The sound of his
laughter is about the last thing I would have expected from a hardcore outlaw
biker. And now that I think about it, I would have expected his voice to sound
like he’s been gargling with gravel and not the smooth, suave sophisticated
voice I’m hearing right now. Dare I say…he actually sounds like an educated
man.

Abruptly he turns his back on me and fires up his bike.
I’m about to protest indignantly when I catch the sound of sirens in the cool
night air. Just as he pulls out of the parking lot he turns around and flashes
me an award winning smile. What an odd night.

I decide I’d rather not talk to the cops either so I
follow hot biker’s example and jump behind the wheel in my own vehicle and
spurt out of the lot. I’m about three blocks from the store when a line of
about six cop cars fly by me. One more time I’m glad Marc only works nights
occasionally. That keeps him out of most of the trouble that goes on around
this town of 300,000.

Ten minutes later I’m pulling into my driveway. My reason
for being out at night at almost two in the morning completely escapes me when
I look in my rearview mirror and see a lone Harley parking behind me. Right
away I know who it is and I’m not sure if I should be afraid or just indignant
at being stalked like this. I open the door and get out. No point in playing
hard to get here. It’s not like I can stop him from doing anything to me if he
has nefarious designs on me.

As I get out he kills his bike’s engine and gets off. He
walks up to me and takes off his helmet.

“Blink.” He says to me.

“Fine,” I say to him. “I’ll do it one more time but you
gotta tell my why it’s so damn important that I blink.”

He waits for me to blink then explains himself. “It’s my
name.”

“I’m so sorry. Your parents must have really hated you.”

He actually laughs again and the sound is music to my
ears. I really don’t understand how a person like this ever gets into a
motorcycle gang like the Soul Eaters.

“My name’s Seth actually. My brothers gave me the other
name.”

I think about it for a second. “So how’d you end up with
a name like that? I would have expected something more on the lines of Killer.”

“Did you not see what I did tonight?” He asks me
pointedly.

“Ah…in the blink of an eye. Yeah I get it now. So where’d
you learn that stuff? I’ve been taking Aikido for years and I can’t even hope
to come close to doing what you did or being that fast.”

“I actually studied Sho Shu, a Chinese system of martial
arts that gets its moves from the way the different animals fight.”

“Damn…I’ve been wasting my time obviously;
and
a
lot of money.”

“Sho Shu is a very difficult art. I earned a black belt
in two other disciplines and thought I would breeze through Sho Shu; was I ever
wrong.”

Now to get to the heart of the matter. “So why are you
following me?” I finally ask.

“Haven’t you ever heard of a segue?” He asks.

“I like to be more direct.” I reply.

“I guess you do.”

Funny thing is I was prepared to loathe the guy then he
has to laugh at me. I screw my face into a frown and force myself to think
about the night his people awarded my brother membership just for killing that
other fighter. Now I feel better. Just thinking about my brother makes me angry
because I’m sure they must have brainwashed Caleb or he wouldn’t have wanted
anything to do with them.

“Oops…you’re mad now. What did I say?”

“It’s not what you said.” I reply. “It’s…it’s…”

I’m really having a hard time staying mad here. All the
guy has to do is open his mouth and laugh or talk and all my steely nerves and
defenses just disappear. I have to force myself to remember I’m dating a cop.

“I think you’re just here to hit on me and you’re the
last person I’d ever go out with.”