“How’s Jude getting there?” I ask, and squeak when arms wrap around me from behind, my body melting into the embrace instinctively even as my heart pounds.
“You didn’t think I’d let Daddy have all the fun, did you?” Jude purrs in my ear. Knox clears his throat as his nostrils flare. “Maybe we could stop on the way and show him how much we like that leather jacket?”
My pulse picks up, and Knox grips his own helmet tight as he looks at us.
“Fuck’s sake, Jude. Now I have a raging boner and that’s just fucking uncomfortable when riding.”
Jude laughs like the loon that he is before releasing me to don his own jacket and helmet, and heads over to a beautiful teal and cream bike, an Indian if I'm not mistaken. He slings his leg over, turning to give me a wink before tearing out of the garage with a deep rumble noise.
“Ready, Little Bird?” Knox asks in a pitch not unlike that of Jude’s motorbike, and I see that he’s gotten on his own bike, a matt black Indian that makes him look hella sexy.
My lips split into a wide grin as I approach, taking up the position behind him and wrapping my arms around his waist as my thighs tighten either side of his.
“Ready.”
“Hold on tight, princess.”
It’s all the warning I get before he starts the engine, the vibrations beneath me doing things that they really shouldn’t, as he also peels out of the garage in a squeak of tires.
I scream in delight as we race down the road, the sound lost in the roar of the engine and the whistle of the wind as we make our way out of town, and soon we’re surrounded by forest with the mountains in the distance and the early fall sun beating down on us. I take a huge inhale of the sweet, fresh air, letting my lungs fill for what feels like the first time.
The freedom of being on the back of Knox's bike, the wind rushing past us is heady and unlike anything I've ever experienced. Before I can think better of it, I let go of Knox's waist, gripping tightly with my thighs and holding my arms out either side of me.
“Fuuuuuck!!!!” I scream into the wind, feeling Knox chuckle in front of me, his body adding to the vibrations of the engine.
The mountains and forest soon turn to rolling hills, and then we're pulling into a gravel drive, stopping in front of a beautiful, old-looking building that’s painted a soft, sage green. Tall leafy trees line the curving drive, and there's a huge columned balcony that makes up the front entrance. There’s so many large cream windows covering the front that I lose count. The whole place has a calm and peaceful feel, and as I take my helmet off, swinging my leg over the back of the bike to get off, I can’t help but take a deep inhale of floral-scented fresh air.
“It's beautiful here,” I whisper, and strong arms wrap around me from behind, the scent of cloves and motor oil surrounding me.
“I love seeing you so free, Little Bird,” Knox murmurs in my ear, pulling me in closer as he presses a light kiss to my temple.
Turning in his arms, I bring mine up and wrap them around his neck. “Thank you, Knox.”
“Anytime, princess.”
He lowers his face, his lips teasing me for a moment before he presses them to mine in a kiss that tastes like freedom and adventure. I kiss him back hard, inhaling everything he’s offering and letting it fill me up like a life-giving elixir.
The growl of an engine interrupts us, and I break the kiss to look over as Aeron's sports car pulls into the spot next to Knox's bike. The car has barely parked when the driver's door flings open, and Aeron leaps out, storming over and yanking me away from Knox, gripping my upper arms tightly.
“Hey—”
“Don't you ever fucking behave so recklessly again, Dove. Understand?” Aeron's eyes are wild, and he's trembling with fury. Or perhaps it's more akin to fright?
“Hey,” I say again, more softly this time as I free one arm, bringing my hand up to cup his cheek. “I'm okay, Devil Man.” His jaw works, his usually pristine hair ruffled as he stares at me.His chest is heaving against mine, and a twinge of guilt makes my own ribcage tight. “I'm sorry.”
He closes his eyes whilst taking in a deep inhale. “No, Dove, I'm sorry. I just—” He cuts himself off, opening his eyes to look deeply into mine. “I can't lose you. Not now.”
My breath catches and my throat constricts. I'm not used to this sort of affection, the kind that doesn't come in the form of a backhand across your face. “You won't.”
Won't he?
I shut that bitch down, not ready to face that reality just yet. I'll have to soon, freedom comes at a price after all, but not now.
He looks at me for a beat longer, then drops his lips to mine in a bruising kiss. Tingles race across my skin as he devours my mouth, and my hand moves into his hair, clutching it for dear life as he defies anything to try and take me from him.
Just as suddenly as he started, he stops, pulling away but keeping his firm grip on my arm.
“Let's go.”
