Maybe I’m just losing my damn mind.
Our bodies touch for the entire song, and when it ends, he reluctantly takes a step back, puts his hand on my back, and walks with me back to the bar. His fingers scorch my lower back, burning into my skin. I’m so attuned to him that I can almost feel his every movement.
“Trill, we’re going to the next bar,” April says, touching my arm, but her eyes are not on me.
“Where are you going?” he asks her, stepping even closer to me. I can feel the heat from his body and fight the urge to sink into him.
“Dream. Why, are you coming?” she asks him boldly, arching an eyebrow.
He holds my hand and smiles. “I am. But I’ll bring Trillian with me.”
He will?
I shoot him a look for making decisions for me, but he only grins in response, looking amused.
“Have you been drinking?” April asks, glancing at him in suspicion.
He shakes his head. “One drink. I’m fine. I wouldn’t put Trillian in danger.”
April glances at me and smiles. “Your call, Trill. Are you going to meet us there?”
Am I?
I don’t reply.
April pulls me aside and says, “He’s drop dead gorgeous and can’t take his eyes off you. Live a little! I’ll see you at Dream.”
I roll my eyes. She doesn’t need to give me her usual speech because the words are already playing in my head.
She walks off and I stare after her, trying to remind myself why exactly I am friends with her.
“You can go with them if you want,” the sexy stranger says, looking a little disappointed. His hazel eyes dart from me to April, who is on her way out of the club.
“I want to go with you,” I say, realising it’s the truth.
Why not, right? It’s just a ride to the next bar. Dream isn’t far away, and maybe I’ll get to learn more about this mysterious man.
His slow spreading smile could light up the entire street. “Good,” he murmurs, lifting his hand and placing it on the side of my neck. “Do you want to go now?”
I nod. “Sure.”
Side by side, we walk outside to the car park, our arms touching. When he stops in front of an angry-looking black matte bike, my mouth drops open.
“Never been on a bike before?” he asks, sounding like he already knows the answer to that.
I shake my head and play with the strap of my handbag. “Never.”
He tilts his head toward his bike. “It will be fun. Come on.”
I take two steps toward his bike, and then stop. “I don’t know…”
“Come on, live a little, Trill.”
He heard April’s words.
And are we on a nickname basis, now? I don’t even know his name. I asked once, didn’t get an answer, and now am shy about asking again. I’ll find out eventually.
He puts his hands on my waist, and my heart races.
“Please,” he says, watching me.
How the hell am I supposed to say no?
“Okay,” I say, blowing out a breath. “Sure, why not.”
I can do this.
If I die, I’ll make sure to haunt him.
He smiles widely, takes my hand in his, and walks me to the bike. Grabbing the helmet, he puts it on my head and fixes it for me. “I like your hair. It’s beautiful.”
Why does this suddenly feel like a date?
It isn’t one.
I need to remember that.
“Thank you,” I reply quietly.
“Don’t thank me, it’s the truth.”
He takes off his jacket and hands it to me. “Put it on or you’ll freeze.”
I slide my arms into his leather jacket one by one then close the front. He reaches down and zips it up for me. “It’s huge on you, but it will have to do.”
It isn’t that big on me, but it’s nice of him to say it.
He straddles the bike, and then turns to me, holding out his hand. “You ready?”
I nod, accept his hand, and get on behind him. He reaches behind and takes my hands in each of his, wrapping them around his waist to rest on his abs.
And boy, does he have abs. His stomach is hard as a damn rock.
“Hold on tight,” he says before he starts up the engine. I held on for dear life, scowling when I feel him laughing, his body shaking with the effort. I lay my cheek against his warm back and close my eyes, enjoying the feel of him.
As he rides down the road, I open my eyes and look around.
I feel the wind on my face.
I like it.
I feel free.
I like that, too.
A smile appears on my face.
I don’t want this ride to end.
*****
The bike comes to a stop in the Dream car park.
I slide off, my legs a little shaky, take the helmet off, and hand it back to him.
“What did you think?” he asks after he gets off the bike and stands next to me, watching me.
I look down and then back up at him. “I fucking loved it.”
He smiles widely, his eyes lighting up. “I knew you would.”
“I’m serious, it felt amazing. So free. I was scared at first, but then I really enjoyed it,” I say, trying to explain the emotions I went through. I take off his jacket and hand it back to him. “Thank you.”
His eyes soften on me as he takes the jacket from my hands, our fingers touching. “My pleasure.”
We walk into the bar.
“I’m going to go see April,” I tell him, needing to be away from him for a moment. What the hell am I doing? Going on motorbike rides with strangers? This isn’t like me. I haven’t done anything like this in my life.