Forbidden Rider: A Lost Saxons Novel #5 Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Jessica Ames

  www.jessicaamesauthor.com

  Forbidden Rider is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Editing by Charisse Sayers

  Proofreading by Gem’s Precise Proofreads

  Cover design by Desire Premade Covers by Jessica Ames

  Cover image copyright © 2019

  Please note this book contains material aimed at an adult audience, including sex, violence and bad language.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for use only, then you should return it to the seller and please purchase your own copy.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under Copyright Act 1911 and the Copyright Act 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior express, written consent of the author.

  This book is covered under the United Kingdom’s Copyright Laws. For more information visit: www.gov.uk/copyright/overview.

  To Lyndsay and Mark, who show strength at every turn. You both inspire me.

  Contents

  THE LOST SAXONS SERIES

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Also by Jessica Ames

  Excerpt of Match Me Perfect

  About the Author

  THE LOST SAXONS SERIES

  #1 SNARED RIDER

  Ten days. That was all I had to get through. Then I could go home and forget Logan Harlow ever existed…

  A decade ago Beth fled Kingsley for one reason and one reason only: Logan Harlow. Sure, the man is a sex on legs biker who she wants to jump every time she's within an inch of him, but he's also a thief; he stole her heart and broke it. Now, she's back in town and has no choice but to face him.

  As Sergeant at Arms of the Lost Saxons Motorcycle Club, Logan is no stranger to risk. He's made a career of throwing himself head-first into danger, but when danger comes knocking for Beth he's determined to keep her safe—even if she doesn't want his help. She may hate him, and she may have good reason to, but this time he's not letting her walk away.

  #2 SAFE RIDER

  Rule #1 of getting life back on track: don't fall for a biker...

  A new life; a new start—that was what Liv needed after escaping her violent marriage. Moving to Kingsley was a chance to rebuild what was broken and show the world she wasn’t defeated by her past. No part of that plan involved falling in love with a biker.

  Dean never expected to want the sweet woman living across the street. She’s not his type, yet he can’t stay away from her. When trouble follows Liv, he’s one step behind, ready to defend her because his time in the Lost Saxons Motorcycle Club has taught him two things: how to ride and how to protect what is his. And Liv is his—even if she doesn’t know it yet.

  #3 SECRET RIDER

  For the love of my Club, I’ll give my life. For my love of her, I’ll die…

  A one-night stand: that was all she was supposed to be. She wasn’t supposed to walk into his bar a week later and demand a job. Wade is used to dealing with formidable women but Paige may just be his match. She’s fiery, feisty and he wants her, but before they can be together, he needs to learn what she’s hiding.

  Paige’s life is on a downward spiral. Her money is gone, her ex is in the wind and she’s looking down the barrel of a loaded gun. The only bright spot is Wade. The problem is she’s neck-deep in trouble and she’s not dragging anyone into her mess—least of all a man as good as him.

  But Wade has his own secrets. His Club is testing his loyalties and he’s not sure who he trusts anymore. Digging into his brothers’ lives could put his own at risk, but he needs answers and he’s not going to stop until he gets them—even if it destroys his ties to the Lost Saxons in the process.

  #3.5 CLAIMED RIDER

  The moment I met you, I was claimed by you...

  Liv survived a nightmare. She may have got her happily ever after, but things are still not perfect in her world. How can she prove to Dean that she's his in every way that matters?

  Dean doesn't care about Liv’s past. She’s his in every way that counts. She's in his bed, on his bike and they're building a life together.

  But claiming each other may be a bigger challenge than anticipated.

  #4 RENEWED RIDER

  Betrayal will destroy them, but love will renew them…

  Beth’s life has been turned upside down. Everything she thought she knew is a lie. The people she trusted have betrayed her, the world she grew up in has crumbled to the ground, and out of the rubble, she’s trying to forge something new.

  For ten years, the only thing Logan thought about was having Beth again. He didn’t expect her to return to Kingsley while his Club is in tatters. All he knows is he’ll do whatever he has to do to protect her from getting hurt. Nothing and no one will touch what’s his.

  But the Lost Saxons are more divided than ever before and bridging those gaps is not going to be easy. Beth knows she has to fix things before her family is destroyed and she knows the only way to do that is with Logan at her side. Together, can they renew the bonds of brotherhood and rebuild the club before it’s too late?

  #5 FORBIDDEN RIDER

  Their love is their secret, and it will destroy them...

  The Lost Saxons stole Piper’s future. They took her brother from her, put him on a bike and made him one of their own. Hating them was easy—until she met Jem Harlow. He’s irritating beyond belief, pushy, charming, attractive, and he knows it. And he won’t leave her alone. Worse still, she’s falling for his act. There’s only one problem: her brother does not want her anywhere near his club friends.

  For the first time in a long time, a woman has turned Jem’s head. He can’t get Piper off his mind. She’s uptight, difficult, hates his lifestyle, and she’s the little sister of his club brother. He should run far and fast, but Jem’s never been one for following the rules and while he knows she’s forbidden fruit, he just can’t stop himself from taking a bite.

  Being together has the power to destroy their family—club and blood—but living without each other will destroy them both. What do you do when loving someone is an unforgivable sin?

  Forbidden Rider

  A Lost Saxons Novel #5

  Jessica Ames

  Chapter One

  Jem

  I wake with a pounding head, a dry mouth and the urgent need to piss. Throwing my legs out of bed, I stagger to the bathroom, still half asleep
and a little drunk. I hit the bottle heavy last night, trying to lose myself in booze to crush the kick of rejection she’d left me with. I sound like a whiny bitch, but I can’t help it. Piper’s under my skin. She’s burrowed so deep, I don’t know that I can ever get her out. What she did yesterday hurts and I don’t think it’s the kind of hurt I can just get over either.

  She fucked us both over, and I didn’t see it coming. I thought we were on the same page. I thought we were both heading in the same direction. I know she’s worried about stuff, her brother mainly, but when I left Manchester on Wednesday, she seemed level, good. I spoke to her Friday night and she seemed fine. For her not to come to the wedding yesterday was a kick in the teeth, and not because I give a shit about her being here to support my brother and Beth. That’s not the real reason I wanted her here.

  We’re supposed to be going public about us after the wedding.

  The fact she didn’t show, tells me everything I need to know.

  She doesn’t see an ‘us’.

  I’m not going to lie, that shit tears a hole in my guts a mile wide. Piper’s the only woman I’ve ever felt a thing for. I’ve slept with more than my share of people over the years, but I can count on one hand the number I’ve considered making a life with.

  Tripping on an empty JD bottle, I storm up a curse as pain flares in my foot. Fuck, I’ll feel that later.

  When I stumble inside the small en suite, I can’t help but wince against the brightness as I flick the light on. Christ almighty, my brain feels like it’s trying to burrow out of my eyes. No more alcohol for at least forty-eight hours.

  Blinking, I try to get the spots to vanish from my vision, so I can see enough to relieve myself. Once I’ve done that, I get in the shower. I smell like a distillery, although I’m not sure I can eradicate the smell with just one round of washing.

  I drank far too much last night, at least six pints more than I should have. I could blame it easily on celebrating my brother finally making an honest woman out of Beth. It only took the stupid bastard a decade to do it. I could say I was just doing what I always do—partying hard and living in the moment—but it would be a lie.

  I was drinking to numb my pain.

  I didn’t think it was possible for a woman to hurt me—me, Jeremy Frank Harlow. I didn’t think I would ever let a woman have power over me, but Piper Ellis-Wade-Hollander—whatever the fuck her bloody name is—crushed me yesterday.

  If I was thinking rationally, I’d get on my Harley, ride to Manchester and demand answers, but right now, I’m sure I’d throttle her.

  So, I opt to stand under the spray until the water starts to cool and I’m forced to step out from under it.

  Towel cinched around my waist, I wipe the steam from the mirror above the sink and stare at my reflection.

  Was it me Pip rejected yesterday, or was it the fear of coming clean to her brother?

  Honestly, I don’t know.

  Piper’s never had family, not really. I love Wade like he’s blood, but the brother did her dirty walking away from her like he did. Her stepfather’s a piece of shit who, if I ever meet him, I’m going to beat him senseless, and her mum sounds like a complete lunatic. Add to that a sociopathic bio-dad whose only saving grace is he has no idea she exists…

  Yeah, Piper lost the family lottery, so I understand why she’s desperate to cling to her brother, but Wade’s going to have to deal with the fact I love his sister.

  And I do love her.

  I’m in love with Piper.

  Fuck.

  I lean against the basin and take a deep breath. What I feel for her scares me, but it feels right, good. I’m getting tired of her pushing me away, though. Patience isn’t exactly my strongest suit, and I’m reaching the end of mine. I want her, but I’m done hiding what we have. Coming clean after the wedding wasn’t going to be easy, not by a long shot. Wade’s not going to be happy we’ve been lying, but it was necessary.

  The fact she didn’t show pisses me off.

  Is she that scared of putting us out there?

  Does she think our relationship isn’t worth fighting for?

  I’ll throw down against Wade for us, I’ll do it. I’ll stand against my Club, my brothers, my president—if it comes to that. But she couldn’t even get on a train and show up.

  That cuts deep.

  I towel off and pull on my jeans, a clean tee, shirt, boots and lastly my kutte. The leather is old, worn and fits like it was moulded to my body. It has been through years of wearing it. I feel complete with it on my back. I’m Lost Saxons and will be until the day I draw my last breath—something I’m not sure if Piper completely understands. This isn’t a choice for me. It’s my life. It’s family. It’s everything, which makes what I’ve done to Wade a huge deal.

  But what did I expect? She’s never really been a fan of my way of life. When Piper first came to Kingsley, she wasn’t exactly receptive to the Club—although most of that was because of Wade and their past. She’s come around a lot since, but maybe not as much as I thought. Maybe she’s got cold feet about the whole thing. If she can’t accept me, the Club, all of it, then we really don’t have a future together.

  Heading back into the bedroom, a cloud of steam following me, I snag my wallet, keys and phone off the bedside table. Then I make my way down to the clubhouse’s dining room.

  I expect it to be empty, given it’s not even midday, but it’s filled with brothers and old ladies—both my Club brothers but some of the out-of-towners who stayed last night for the wedding.

  The smell of fried bacon and eggs is heavy in the air, and through the serving hatch to the kitchen I can see my mother, Dorothy, and Sammy’s gran, Jeanne, at the stove.

  I give chin lifts as I pass a couple of people, and pat the shoulder of Foz, one of the Devil’s Dogs—another MC we’re allied with.

  The Manchester Devils have their clubhouse not too far from where Piper lives—but they have bases all across the UK. We’ve known the guys for years and stop by their clubhouse any time we’re in their patch. I’ve been remiss in my visiting, since I’ve been to Manchester more times than I can count over the past few months, but no one except Piper and her roommate, Cami, know about my stays.

  “You have a good time last night, Fozzie?” I ask.

  Their Road Captain smirks as he runs a hand over his bearded chin, full dimples coming out.

  Foz is a good bloke, although he’s a fucking crazy bastard. Don’t be fooled by the smiles. He’s lethal. His red curly hair looks wild this morning and I wonder if he bothered to run a comb through it before coming down for breakfast. Feral fucker.

  “Yeah, bro. You boys certainly know how to put on a party, and your mum makes a fucking good cooked breakfast.”

  Mum is an amazing cook, so I can’t argue with him on that. He points at his half-devoured plate of sausage, beans, hash browns, toast, bacon, black pudding and tomatoes. I groan, a hand going to my stomach. I can’t stand food right now.

  “Feeling delicate, flower?” Weed asks from his seat a few places down the table as he stuffs a piece of toast into his mouth.

  He’s sandwiched between Axel, another of the Devils (who is sitting with his old lady Harper), and Adam. They’re all tucking into their own food.

  “Not too delicate to punch that smug look off your face, fuck nuts,” I smirk back at him, pulling a chair up to the table and sinking into it. I don’t really feel like bantering, but I put my game face on. I don’t want these nosey fuckers prying into my business.

  “Always so aggressive. You should really talk to someone about your anger issues, Jeremy.”

  I snag a coffee mug off the table and reach for the coffee pot. While I don’t want food, I do need caffeine, lots of it. My hangover is making itself known painfully in every cell of my body.

  “Call me Jeremy again, Noah, and I’ll bury you in the woods.”

  He wrinkles his brow at me using his birth name. I don’t blame him. I hate my real name almost as much
as he hates his, although he has darker reasons.

  Foz arches a brow. “It’s like being in a fucking playground.”

  “You have no idea,” Adam mutters.

  Normally, I would scruff my little brother’s hair for that slight, but I’m not in the mood for messing around this morning. I check my phone instead. No missed calls. No messages. My jaw clenches.

  As soon as I’m steady enough to ride, I’ll be on my bike. Enough of the pity party. I need to know what is going on with my woman.

  “Any sign of the bride and groom this morning?” Weed asks.

  I suck back a glug of coffee, and regret it immediately. I expected it to be cool, but it’s scalding. No matter. I need caffeine to wipe out the effects of the booze, so I can ride.

  “Nope,” Wade chirps up from further down the table.

  My back stiffens of its own volition.

  He’s sitting with Paige, the bulky brother’s arm around her shoulder as he sips on his own mug of caffeine. He’s demolished a plate of food already by the looks of things, while she’s made her way through a smaller helping. Not for the first time, I wonder what reasoning Piper gave him as to why she’s not here.

  I also wonder if he’s pissed at her.

  I want to ask, but me asking would seem odd, so I hold my tongue. I don’t want to do anything that could make things difficult for Piper, in case there is a genuine reason she isn’t here.