Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 52(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 52(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
I rest my head against his back with my eyes clenched closed. Once we’ve ridden for a few miles, he grabs my hand and holds it against his chest. I take a deep breath and lay my cheek against his shoulder. I can almost feel myself weakening for him. I could get used to this. Being with Smoky makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. But almost instantly, my thoughts stray to yesterday and Kristy on his lap. Even though I try to stop it, I can’t. I try my best to distance myself from him on the bike, but with one hand he grips me tighter.
If nothing else, I need to guard my heart. I can’t physically distance myself from him, but I do mentally. The rest of the ride is tense.
He pulls into a gravel lot and stops outside a large building that looks like a warehouse. There are bikes lined up and down the side of the building.
As soon as he comes to a stop, I hop off the bike and barely catch myself before falling over. He reaches over to steady me before kicking the stand and getting off.
“What was that?” he asks me.
I can tell by the look in his eyes; I know exactly what he’s talking about. But I act like I don’t. “What?”
“You froze up on me. What’s that about?”
I just shrug my shoulders. I really don’t want to piss him off.
He steps toward me. “Honey, I can’t stay out here all night.”
“Sorry. It’s nothing, okay?” I turn to walk away.
He grabs on to my arm. “No, it’s not okay. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
“I’m sorry. I freaked out a little bit, but it’s none of my business, so forget about it,” I tell him hastily.
He just shakes his head, but doesn’t release his grip on me. “Tell me.”
“I started thinking about Kristy grinding on you and it made me think about how many other women have been on the back of your bike.” I pull away from him and undo the tie from my hair, then shake it loose, doing my best to pretend that he’s not staring a hole in me right now.
He crowds me again and I keep walking backward until my back is pressed against the wall and he’s fitted himself standing between my thighs.
He puts his hands on the wall on each side of my head and looks right into my eyes. “You. You are the only woman that’s been on the back of my bike. And I’ve done some fucked-up shit in my day, stuff I’m not proud of, but it’s different now.”
I don’t catch myself before I roll my eyes at him.
He grips my chin in his fingers and pulls me toward him. “You have no reason to trust me now, but I’m going to prove to you that I can be the man you want… the man you need.”
I look up at him with shock in my face. “Smoky… I just met you yesterday. You can’t make promises like that.”
He shakes his head. “I can and I just did.”
He bends down to touch his lips against mine, but before he reaches me, I put my hand on his chest and push him away from me. I know he can overpower me, but he doesn’t even try. He steps back, seemingly unfazed that I pushed him away.
He grabs my hand and starts toward the entrance. I’m running hot and then cold with all of this and wish I was home in my bed to try to figure it all out.
With his hand on the door, he pauses. “Stay by my side until I get you to Keeper.”
When he pushes open the door and ushers me in, well, I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. There are tattooed bikers everywhere. Women are walking around in clothes that barely cover them. Even though I shouldn’t, I grab onto Smoky’s arm and hold on to him. He puts his arm around my shoulder and walks me to the bar. The man pouring a drink looks up at us and a smile fills his face.
“So this is her?” the bartender asks Smoky.
Confused, I look over at Smoky, but he looks as confused as I am.
The man wipes his hands off on a towel and then gestures toward me. “The prospect you sent to watch her last night told me all about her. He’s right, she’s beautiful.”
My cheeks flush, until I realize exactly what he said. I turn to Smoky. “You had someone follow me last night?”
Smoky shrugs his shoulders like it’s nothing. “Yeah. I had to make sure you got home safe.”
I just shake my head at him before turning back to the bartender. I hold my hand out to him. “Hi. I’m Harper.”