“You don’t have to ask to join us,” I tell her and kiss the side of her head, curling an arm around her middle. “How’s your leg?”
“A little achy, but good. I’m just glad to not be on crutches anymore.”
I gotta admit, I like the way she curls into me andrelaxes. That and the fact she confides in me. That’s a damn good feeling.
“You don’t need to overdo it with your foot still healing,” I tell her, ignoring the fact that we still have an annoyance hovering, pouting because she’s not getting her way.
Carina looks over my shoulder in Britnay’s direction. “You can move along now,” she says placatingly, making all of us laugh.
I’m thinking when it comes to this woman, she’s gonna surprise me more often than not.
TWELVE
CARINA
I’ve never beenone for being jealous. Especially when it comes to a man, but damnit, I didn’t like Britnay touching Pyro. Not in the least. I wanted to rip her hands off him, but I kept my composure. I wasn’t about to get into a cat fight. Though I’m sure the guys would have found it hilarious.
No, I just plopped down in my mate’s lap and ignored the bitch as much as I could. I remember Britnay from school. She didn’t recognize me, and that’s a good thing. She was the worst back then and seems things haven’t changed. Once a hoe, always a hoe.
That’s not something I say lightly or against thosewho have the profession of sex workers. There’s a huge difference between the two.
“You ready to get out of here?” Pyro asks, his fingers glide along my thigh.
“Yeah.” I nod. I’m more than ready to get to his room at the clubhouse.
“Then let’s get going,” he says, standing with me still in his arms. Instead of putting me down, he shifts me so one arm is around my back, the other hooked under my legs. “You’ll have to ride on the back of my bike to the clubhouse.”
My heart quickens at the mention of riding with him in excitement. I’ve wanted to ride with him, to experience the thrill of it all, for weeks now. “Is it okay with me in my boot?” I blurt out, not thinking.
“Not ideal, but it’ll get you to the clubhouse. Once you’re out of it, then we’ll see about putting you on the back of my bike for a longer ride.”
“Awesome,” I breathe.
“You like the idea of riding with me?”
“Of course. I’ve never been on a bike before. Is it like flying? I love it when Baba lets me fly with him.”
Pyro stops just outside the bar and looks down at me, brows creased. “You’ll love riding on the back of the bike, but it’ll be even better when you fly with my dragon. From now on, we’re the only one you fly with.”
His eyes flash with fire, and I sense his dragon close to the surface. In the weeks past, I’ve been able to shield my thoughts from him, but I’ve also started to notice the sensations I feel coming through the link from him.
“Why couldn’t I fly with Baba?” Not that I would, but he’s my granddad, and I’ve always had a connection with him while we flew. Would it be better with Pyro? I’m sure it would be. I’ve seen the way my brother is with his mate. My Baba with Bamba.
“Because my dragon won’t have it any other way. He’s clawing at me to get out, even now talking about it.”
I haven’t seen his dragon since the day we first saw each other in the air. “I’d love to see him again,” I murmur before I can think better of it.
Pyro’s nostrils flare, and his eyes seem to glow fire. “You’ll see him, Sweets. You’ll get the chance, trust me on that. Right now, though, we’re going to get to the clubhouse, and you’re gonna prop your leg up and take it easy for the rest of the night.”
I’d much rather be doing something entirely different than resting. Instead of telling him this, I nod and lay my head on his shoulder as he carries me the rest of the way to his bike.
He surprises me by not setting me down next to it,but rather on the back of it. Pyro swings a leg over, cautious not to bump against my hurt one. Not even a full moment later, he has the bike revved and hits the throttle. I don’t really know much about bikes. Honestly, I don’t know anything about them. But when he pulls out of the spot and onto the road, I don’t care.
Riding behind Pyro, my arms wrapped around his waist, the wind whipping around us, I’m loving every bit of it. Nothing else matters. It’s like when I’m in the air on the back of my baba’s back while he flies. It’s beautiful. Thrilling. There’s nothing to it—complete freedom.
I love riding, and this is just a short ride at that. I didn’t think I could enjoy something like this, but here I am, enjoying it. Maybe it has to do with the fact I’m with Pyro.
The pull to this man, not just that he’s a shifter, or a dragon, but the man himself, grows with each passing day. Those first few weeks sucked because I felt trapped, ignored, and unsure of what was happening. After our conversation at my grandparents’, we’ve really gotten to know each other better. There’s still a lot we don’t know about one another, regardless, it doesn’t change what’s growing between the two of us.
