Page 117 of Diary of a Biker Queen

I knew what he meant. As prospects, the new guys, we were bottom of the rung members. We were working day jobs on the side of everything we did behind the Slayers’ gates. We were the ones who poured drinks during parties, who cleaned up after them, who did menial jobs, like babysitting the entrances or doing the grocery shopping. I never minded. I was just grateful to have a roof over my head and something to belong to.

I think that’s how most of us felt. Not that we were in the habit of having deep and meaningfuls, but none of us complained about being the club’s shitkickers. We would do our time, and then we’d be patched in as full members, and some other dumb newbies would take our places. That was the circle of life in a club and right now, guys like me and Chirp and Herb were in our infancy. We had dues to pay, experience to gain, and then if we were lucky, we’d have a brotherhood to belong to for the rest of our lives.

I wanted that with every fucking breath I took. I saw what War and Hawk and Fang and the other longtimers had, and knew deep in my gut this was where I was supposed to be. That all the shit we’d gone through escaping Ethereal Eden had been necessary because all of it had led me here.

I leaned over and dragged the guitar case up between us. “Ain’t nothing for us to do right now. Play something?”

Chirp shook his head, his almost black hair falling over his eye. “Maybe later, when I’m drunk enough to not feel stupid about it.”

That was fair enough. I wasn’t in the habit of pushing people to do things they didn’t want to do and if Chirp didn’t want to play, I wasn’t going to badger him into it.

I sat back and sipped my beer instead, each mouthful tasting a little bit better than the last, and watched the sun sink, casting pink-and-purple light across the canopies and people around us. There was no need for Chirp and I to make idle chitchat, there was plenty going on, with people all finishing up with their campsites, and emerging from them in every sort of clothing imaginable.

My eyes widened at some of the choices, and Chirp laughed at me. “You’ve never been to one of these, huh?”

I shook my head. “That obvious?”

“You look like a deer caught in the headlights. Have another beer.”

It seemed like good advice. In the distance, a gigantic Ferris wheel started turning and I watched it go round and round, while the music and excitement around us seemed to swell.

The wind picked up again, lifting the hair off the back of my neck and bringing welcome cool relief with it. Chirp noticed too, and swirled his finger in a circle. “Windy. You know what that means.”

“A break from the heat?”

Chirp just shook his head and grinned at me. “The wind brings out the crazy. Welcome to Riot Valley, Kyle.”

2

KIKI

Amber and I were no strangers to getting naked in front of each other after being roommates for as long as I could remember. So we both cycled through the festival outfits we’d brought along, both of us indecisive as hell, trying on different articles of clothing and asking the other’s opinion before pulling them off to try something different.

I smiled to myself at the simple act of girlhood, grateful for the woman the Slayers had brought into my life. I loved having a best friend, another woman who always had my back, even though we were surrounded by men almost twenty-four seven.

We’d been a trio once, years ago, long before Kyle or Chirp or Herb had even been a part of the club. It had been me, Amber, and Siren. But Siren had betrayed the Slayers, and War had rightfully kicked her out, forbidding all of us to speak with her. It was a particularly brutal form of punishment, to be excommunicated like that, but Siren had been lucky to walk away with her life, after what she’d done. I couldn’t blame War, and I was grateful to him for not ending her life, the way any other prez would have.

But I still missed her.

I pushed the sad thoughts away. I hadn’t seen Siren in years, and this wasn’t the time to dwell on what was lost. I just wanted to celebrate what I did have. A best friend, laughing and singing and trying on clothes with me, a super-hot biker boyfriend, who was sweet as hell and treated me like a princess, even if I never returned his I love yous, and a festival full of music.

I finally settled on my outfit, one of the more risqué ones I’d brought along for sure, but it was the first night. I wanted to go all out. The more comfortable, tame outfits would have their time during the days or later when my feet were sore and I just wanted to relax.

But tonight was for showing off.

I pulled on a black, sparkly bikini, the triangles barely covering my tits, but they were fake, so they sat nice and perky despite having no support.

Matching bottoms came next, the thong sitting between my ass cheeks and showing off the months and months of work I’d put in on my glutes at the gym. A sheer dress covered me up, though only just, the hem kissing the tops of my thighs. It took the whole thing from beachwear to nightwear, the belt around my waist cinching me in, accentuating my hips.

I added beaded necklaces and bracelets, chunky boots and more body glitter than anyone had a right to if they weren’t swinging around a stripper pole. Dramatic makeup finished the look, and I tamed my dark bangs, praying they’d behave in the blustery evening wind that rattled the tent around us.

Amber found her outfit for the night, a country inspired white skirt, cowboy boots, and a crocheted top that had big enough holes to give a peek at her nipples.

She would fit right in. We’d both been to this festival more than once, and the fashion was half of the fun. I’d see more tits and ass over the next few days than I would at Psychos on party night.

She linked arms with me. “Ready to go?”

I grinned at her. “Lead the way.”