“Why should I lie?My mom probably didn’t even notice I was gone.She went out on a date with Ben.”
We bump over the verge and onto the thin tarmac, which makes me hug Theron tight.His skin is icy in the balmy evening breeze.
His chest rumbles as he stresses the importance of our deception.“It is forbidden for any of the MC Riders to fuck the guests, Aila.And I would appreciate it if you tried to see things from my point of view.”
“Met you just now and you offered to give me a lift back to the inn.Got that.”
Taking his eyes off the road, Theron shows me that he’s smiling.“Thanks, darlin’.You’re a real li’l angel.”
I wonder who is in charge of road maintenance on Landslide, because the place is a bit of a dump.Everything—the road, the overgrown reeds, the wonky fences—could do with a good dose of TLC.Maybe Landslide and I have something in common.I feel like a million bucks after all the orgasms I had.
I wanted Theron to stop somewhere for me to swim, but Landslide by night makes the water look black and uninviting.We are riding with the headlamp off, which gives the moon a chance to shine.I like the way it glitters on the dark ripples.
All that glitters is not gold—it’s silver.
I must learn to focus on the bright side of life.Mypast can’t catch up to me here.
The only blot on today’s memory is when Theron said he loved me.I know it doesn’t count because he was obviously referring to eating me out, but then why did he want me to say it back to him?
A tiny voice inside tries to reassure me.There is really nothing to worry about.He’s a dominant guy who probably feels overexposed after saying it.Don’t imagine there is any pressure to say it back to him… ever.
Theron Rabane is not big and cuddly like a teddy bear.He’s not that kind of large.There is an intimidating element to his size, and yet he made me feel like a precious princess when we were alone in the grotto.
What was it that petrified me again?
Doesn’t matter how hard I try to find the memory of what scared me, I can’t.
He cuts the motorcycle’s engine and the bike coasts to a stop outside a window.It’s the sash window to my bedroom, the one I left open.
“If you stand on the bike, you can climb back in without anyone seeing you.”
“Excuse me?I’m sorry, but I didn’t realize I was back in high school, Theron.Shouldn’t I wash my hands and clean my teeth first so that momma can’t smell the sneaky cigarette I smoked?”
It’s a joke, but Theron is not in a joking mood anymore.
“Keep your voice down.”Damn, but he sounds pissed.
He waits for me to clamber through the gap.It’s a stretch, but eventually my toes touch the ground inside my bedroom.“Okay, I’m in.”
I wave from the other side of the glass to let Theron know he can ride off into the sunset, no regrets.It’s weird, but now that I am back on my own turf, the fog seems to lift from my brain.I am the old, independent Aila once more.
“When can I see you again?”
Theron doesn’t seem to feel the same way I do.I think he wants more.
Keeping my tone light, I shrug nonchalantly.“I’m guessing Luna will have Mom and me on some kind of a work schedule, Theron.Raincheck?”
Theron shoots me an enigmatic look as he backs the bike away using his legs.
He seems to melt into the darkness without even a gleam of chrome to show me where he went.
ChapterTen
Theron
“You got yourself a real sweetheart there, Hunter, but watch out she isn’t the one who ends up bitingyou.”
Luna is waiting for me in the storage room.
