Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Gotta be a little reckless sometimes, I guess.”
She sniffed. “You’re not usually reckless?”
Our eyes locked, and I strode far too close to that line again. Words I hadn’t censored fell from my lips. “Oh, I’m reckless all the damn time lately, but at least this hobby won’t destroy me as badly as that little habit will.”
Slamming my helmet on, I slung a leg over my bike. “Have a good day, L—Sailor.” Cranking my key, the splutter of the combustion followed by the thunderous roar made me shiver with freedom.
Ah yes, I needed this.
I really, really needed this.
“Wait.” Sailor cut in front of my bike, holding Peng who definitely didn’t appreciate the racket like I did.
For a second, I panicked that I’d said something to give away my identity, but then she looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Take me with you.”
* 31 *
Sailor
Flirting With Freedom
WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?
What possessed me to ask that?
I held a squirming kitten and fought every instinct telling me to get away from Zander before Milton found me flirting with the neighbour, but all I could think about was that motorbike. The roar of it. The freedom of it.
With one snarl of that engine, whatever vixen lived inside me woke up, yanked on her riding leathers, and flung herself on the back of Zander’s bike.
All I wanted to do was clutch him close, say fuck off to the past and the man who’d hurt me, and tell my kind, slightly nerdy neighbour to go as fast as dangerous lightning.
He scowled, his helmet cutting his face in half.
For a second, I saw X.
I saw the same faint lines around his eyes. The same possessive, protective stare.
My heart skipped and tripped. It wasn’t the first time I’d wondered, but…with the full sunshine gilding Zander’s vibrant green eyes and pale skin marking him a natural redhead, he looked nothing like the black-haired man who’d appeared in my bedroom just because he’d heard me scream.
X brooded.
Zander smiled reservedly.
X protected me all while possessing me.
Zander flinched if I got too close and fumbled with his glasses.
The two men might have similar eyes—if one wasn’t rich brown and the other sparkling emerald—but they couldn’t have been more different in personality. I could never imagine Zander pinning me on my back or going down on me. I couldn’t imagine X blushing like Zander did when he’d touched Peng and realised how close we were.
The fear I had toward my neighbour was slowly melting away thanks to X’s help, but I could still hear the slurs of Goblin-Milton in my head.
All of that doesn’t mean you’re ready to gallivant around the streets on the back of a damn bike!
Peng meowed as he tried to get away from the snarling machine.
Zander killed the engine with a flick of the key and braced his legs on either side of the bike. Tugging his helmet off, the shock of fire-red hair tumbled over his forehead, making him seem so much younger than he was.
In that moment, I couldn’t see him as a doctor. He returned to the gawky teenager in the garden that day when Dad had broken my heart. He’d promised to take me to a local waterpark for weeks and weeks but then said he couldn’t be bothered.
If it’d just been that one time, I would’ve been okay. I was old enough to know that sometimes things didn’t work out. But his broken promises had become habit, and I knew better than to get my hopes up all while hating myself that I still did.
Zander was right that I’d been hurt that day. Hurt and well and truly over boys. Maybe that was why I’d let Milton into my life? Because I’d never felt connected to him. Therefore, he could never hurt me?
Emotionally at least.
I hugged Peng a little closer as I recalled Zander’s earnestness back then. How he’d steal my nana’s baking and laugh at her terrible jokes. He’d always be there, rain or shine, to do any chore she asked of him.
I blinked as all the pieces suddenly slammed together.
He’s always been a great guy.
How could I ever feel such terror when I looked at him? I’d literally never seen him hurt the tiniest bug, let alone me.
X had freed my body last night with the best orgasm I’d ever had.
And I had a feeling Zander could free the pieces that I’d lost well before Milton ever came on the scene by racing me through the sky.
“Stay right there,” I ordered. “I’m just going to set Peng up at my place.”
“No, wait.” His hand came up, already encased in a leather glove. “Sailor, stop—”
I didn’t obey.
Bolting up the garden path, I charged inside and deposited Peng in the kitchen where his litter tray and food bowls were. “I won’t be long, little Penguin. Just…Nana will look out for you. I’m sorry to leave you alone, but…I really need to do this.”