Mu barks again, finishing it off with a grumbling growl.
Smirking, I give the Samoyed a wink.“I know, Mu.Very rude.”
The woman with the red hair launches into a liturgy of apologies, but I stop her before she can get hopelessly entangled.
“Do you trust me enough to lift you?Or am I too creepy for that?”
There’s a definite heat radiating off her cheeks.
“At least tell me your name first.So we’re not strangers to one another anymore.”
ChapterFive
Luna
My ankle throbs so bad.And my right foot is this weird combination of pins and needles and numbness.I won’t be dancing the disco hustle for the next couple of days, that’s for sure.
I’m already wrapping my arms around the man’s neck as I ask for his name.My body shivers as my fingers lace through his long hair.
I’ve never been much of a smooth talker.But it’s worse now because I’m out of practice.Seven years with one boyfriend is to blame.
I’m amazed he doesn’t get offended at the nonsense I’m spouting.
The way I’m feeling reminds me of a party I went to in college.I took one sip of the homemade punch and the next thing I knew, my equilibrium was all over the place.I spoke too fast, all my natural shyness evaporated, and I believed I could fly if I tried.But it felt euphoric at the same time, as if I were wading underwater.
The punch had been spiked with a whole bunch of illicit things, but I have no idea what is spiking me right now.
I’m not dizzy from the way he hoists me off the ground and into his arms so quickly.The best way I can describe it is feeling exhilarated while being off-balance.
“I’m Dante.”
The man’s deep voice rumbles as his long strides eat up the distance from the forest to the road.He checks to see Muohta is running next to him and then addresses the dog.“Go home, Mu.We’ll see you there.”
He must have felt the spasm of fear that rippled through my body.I’m not ready for Muohta to leave me alone with the stranger just yet.
One thick black eyebrow lifts up as the flicker of a smirk breaks through his harsh features.
“I don’t think it’s wise for us to ride with the dog running circles around the wheels, do you?”
I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.I’m an artist.A college grad.I’ve never seen one of these machines up close.
He’s waiting for my answer.
“Um… yes?”It comes out sounding hesitant.Am I being rude again?“I’m Luna Blackwood, by the way.How do you know Muohta?”
For a moment, my world seems to turn upside down as he scissor-jumps smoothly over Ben Magoo’s three-feet-high boundary fence.His heavy boots crunch on gravel as we reach the verge of the road.
“He’s Tempest’s dog.”
He says it as though that’s meant to be all the explanation I need.
“You knew Tempest?”
He freezes, but then goes back to placing me gently on the passenger seat of his bike.The machine is black with flashes of chrome, a bit like Dante’s leather jacket.
“Knew?”
“I’m sorry.I thought you were local because you know Mu.Tempest is…”
