He grins. “I never joke about bikes.”
“I've never been on a motorcycle.”
He pushes off and walks toward me, holding a helmet. “Then I'll teach you. This isn't my usual ride. She's got a wider seat, much more comfortable for a passenger.”
That small detail makes my stomach flip. He thought about my comfort before he arrived.
“Is it safe?” I look at the machine.
“I've been riding since I was fifteen.” He steps into my space, and I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. Without heels, the height difference is staggering. “I won't let anything happen to you, Emma.”
He lifts the helmet and eases it over my head. His fingers find the strap beneath my chin, adjusting the fit with careful precision. His knuckles brush my jaw, and I forget how to breathe. He's close enough that I smell sandalwood, see the faint stubble along his jaw. His eyes meet mine through the visor, dark and intent.
“Too tight?” he asks, his voice low.
I shake my head, not trusting my voice.
He holds my gaze a beat longer than necessary, then steps back.
He swings onto the bike. The engine rumbles to life, a low growl I feel in my bones.
“Hand on my shoulder for balance. Swing your leg over and settle in behind me.”
I take his hand. He pulls me up with surprising ease. Suddenly I'm pressed against his back, thighs bracketing his hips. The leather of his jacket is cool against my cheek.
“Hold on to me. Arms around my waist. Tight.”
I wrap my arms around him, feeling the solid warmth of his body. My hands press flat against his stomach. Hard muscle beneath the jacket.This was a terrible idea.
“When we turn, lean with me,” he says. “Don't fight it. Just follow my body.”
“Okay,” I manage, my voice muffled by the helmet.
“Ready?”
No.“Yes.”
The bike surges forward. I tighten my grip instinctively, the wind rushing past as we pull onto the street. For the first fewminutes, I can barely breathe. Then we hit the coast road, and the city melts away. The ocean stretches to our left, endless and glittering. Kai's back is a solid anchor in the rush of speed.
I lean with him into a curve, body mimicking his movement without thinking. The machine responds like a living thing. Somewhere between the first cliff and the second, the fear dissolves into exhilaration. I laugh, the sound swallowed by the wind, and I feel Kai’s stomach muscles tighten under my hands. He heard me.
We ride for forty minutes, the road winding through cliffs and salt spray. By the time he slows and turns onto a narrow gravel path, my cheeks hurt from smiling. The path leads to a weathered wooden building perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
“What is this place?” I pull off the helmet. My hair is a disaster, but I don't care.
“Best-kept secret on the coast.” He takes my helmet, sets it on the seat. “The owner's a friend. He agreed to open just for us today.”
“You rented out an entire restaurant?”
“I asked for privacy.” He shrugs like it’s nothing. “Come on. You’re going to love the food.”
Inside, the restaurant is small and warm. Ten tables at most, smelling of garlic, butter, and woodsmoke. An older man with silver hair appears from the kitchen, his weathered face breaking into a smile.
“Kaiden. It's been too long.” They clasp hands, and the man pulls Kai into a brief hug. “And this must be your friend.”
“Emma,” Kai says. There's a weight to the way he says my name, as if he wanted to add something but stopped himself. “Emma, this is Marco. He's been feeding me since I was twenty and didn't know the difference between real food and gas station sandwiches.”
Marco laughs, taking my hand warmly. “He exaggerates. Perhaps only a little. Come, I have the table by the window ready.”
