I’m seething mad!The most irritating part is that I can’t storm off in a huff because of my ankle.
I’ll be damned if I wait patiently for him to carry me inside.Releasing my grip on his waistband, I flex my stiff fingers to get the blood flowing.I’ll crawl up the stairs if I have to.I don’t want his help.
My face starts to prickle as the heat flows back to my cheeks.
“Couldn’t you tell that I was petrified?!Or are you some kind of sadist?”I know I’m scolding, but I need to vent.His riding is crazy dangerous!
I hope he can tell how pissed I am when he looks at me.That’s the problem with having pale eyebrows; no one can tell if you’re frowning in the dark.
The way he eases himself off the seat tells me he’s done this a million times before.He gives me a calculating look as he inspects me.
“No, you weren’t.”I must look confused, because he explains.“You weren’t petrified with fright on the bike, Luna.I could tell.”
I open my mouth to contradict him, but he holds up his hand.
“The fear gave you a buzz.That’s why you’re angry now instead of weeping.You’re upset—because you liked it.”
Muohta trots around the corner, yapping and purring when he sees us.Ignoring me, he goes to lick the man’s hand.
What I just went through finally catches up to me.I was trapped in a snare like a small, furry prey animal.I recently moved to a new house, a new town.And now I’m being forced to recognize that a tiny part of me might like sitting on the back of a motorcycle with my arms wrapped tightly around its rider.
“Go be a clairvoyant on someone else’s time, Dante!You wouldn’t know fear if it kicked you in the groin.”
He seems amused as he helps me climb off the bike.“And why is that?”
The moment my feet touch ground, I am back to my sassy self.
“Fear is a very healthy reaction.So is anger.You could do with a lot more of both if you want to avoid accidents.”
But he’s right.I feel far more excited than afraid.Only twenty minutes ago, I was sniveling in the middle of a forest with my ankle in a vice.Now, I’m back home.
Against all odds, this man rescued me.I suppose I must be grateful for that.
Begrudgingly, I accept the helping hand he holds out to me, but the minute I reach the door, I hop away from him.
“Thank you.Have a good evening.”
A flash of white as he gives me a quick smile.It’s almost as if he can read my mind.
I don’t want to open the door while he is standing next to me.I don’t want to invite him inside.
Cocky and confident, Dante stretches out his arm and twists the door handle open.
“You left it unlocked, right?Tempest used to leave it unlocked as well.”
Fuming, I nod my head.Better get this over with.He brought me this far.It’s not likely he would have brought me home if he wanted to murder me.
“I won’t come in without an invite, though.”
The question comes out of me like a sigh.“Do you want to come in?”
He nods.“That would be the polite thing, don’t you agree?But I’m still waiting for that invite.”
The corner of his mouth curves up.He waits.This only elicits another long sigh from me.“Fine.Would you like to come inside my house, Dante?”
Pushing the door open with his shoulder, Dante shoots a wry reply at me and then moves to turn on the light.“Thanks, sweetheart.Don’t mind if I do.”
I find his brisk manners inexplicably charming.He moves too quickly for me to be able to inspect his face closely under the porch light.
