He ducked his head, slammed his mouth to mine, and delivered the swiftest, hardest kiss before pulling back just as quickly. “I promise you, I won’t die.” Tugging me toward the bike, he added, “And I asked you to stab me, remember? I almost got on my knees and begged. So...you have nothing to be sorry for.”
Before I could respond, he slung his leg over the machine and patted the back. “Get on.”
“What?” My mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m deadly fucking serious. And I don’t have the patience or life expectancy to argue with you.” He turned the key, fisting the handlebars as it snarled to life. “We’re getting out. Right now.”
I eyed up the space behind him, regretting my choice not to drive.
Thank God the pill protected me from the wobbles of anxiety because if not, I’d probably pass out at the thought of being on the back of a bike with a beginner. Adyingbeginner. “Please tell me you’ve driven one of these before.”
“Nope. But once again, we’re running out of time. So...get on.”
Whisper snapped his jaws at the roaring machine.
“Move,” Lucien commanded the panther. “I don’t want to run you over by accident.”
Oh God.
The giant black cat slinked sideways, hissing with flared whiskers.
“Get on the bike, Rook,” he barked, his voice swallowed by the engine’s growl.
I hesitated, not because I didn’t trust him but because I’d once again let him down.
Ishould be the one driving.
I’dstabbedhim for goodness’ sake.
“I’m literallyachingwith the need to get the fuck out of here.” His eyes flicked to the open gates as raw desperation bled through his temper. “I can’t wait any longer. Are you coming or not?” His gaze snapped back to mine and the murderous glint he wore like chainmail turned into yearning so deep, so tragic, it cut through my artificial coldness.
My heart skipped a painful beat.
“I can’t go without you.” His face softened as he held out his hand like a hero offering me a lifeline, instead of a broken villain who’d left the lawn littered with corpses. The fact that no girlshad come out. That Laura and the rest remained dry in their pavilions.
If I left...what would happen to them?
“Rook,” he snarled. “Get on the damn bike!” Snatching my wrist, an arc of electricity raced up my arm as he swung me behind him.
I almost fell off the other side.
Releasing me abruptly, he twisted the throttle the second I was sort of on.
Yanking my sodden black dress up my thighs, I wrapped my arms around his lean, muscular waist. His body was unnaturally hot, even in the storm and half-dead. It was like hugging a raging furnace.
Cranking his wrist, he fed far too much power to the engine. We shot forward like a bullet, almost ploughing over Whisper.
I whimpered and clung on for dear life.
“Shit,”Lucien cursed just as the poor cat bolted out of the way. “You alright?”
Whisper hissed.
“Don’t stay so close then.” Lucien tried again. “If you value having a tail, move.”
Whisper pranced away just as we bunny hopped.
I squeaked and burrowed my face against his shoulder blades.
