Uneasily, I eyed the dangerous-looking machine. “We’re going on this?”
“Yeah.”
“It suits you better.”
He cocked a provocative brow at me. “Because of my ink? That’s prejudiced, you know.”
I laughed, trying to stifle my uneasiness at riding a bike. “You have to admit, it fits your image.”
Max shook his head, helped me put on the helmet, then threw his leg over the seat. “Climb on.”
I sat behind him and, about to wrap my arms around his waist, I moved them to his chest instead. I traced his nipple piercings beneath his shirt. He stilled. Smiling, I slid my palms down, absorbing every defined muscle until I settled low on his rock-hard abs. It felt so good to do that, to touch him.
A low groan escaped him. “You’re killing me, Logan.”
A smile touched my lips. I pressed my face to his back and hugged him. “You killed me that day in the bathroom with this body.”
His rough laughter vibrated through me. He kick-started the bike, and in a roar, took off from the alley.
And I inhaled deeply at this unreal moment—a dream. But the anticipation coursing through me felt very real, and a whole lot scary at the huge step I’d taken. I was riding on the back of a monster bike and taking a chance with Max. A former player. Two things I never thought I’d ever do.
Max
Finally, I had her. I was never letting her go. Shutting the door behind me, I followed Logan into the apartment. My stomach had been in knots from the moment she’d let that asshole tag along. But I was damn glad I’d gotten over the main hurdle. And she’d agreed to…a sex only relationship? Yeah, right.
This girl? I didn’t kid myself. It wouldn’t be easy. I was willing to do whatever it took to winallof her. Sure, I had a tough road ahead, but I never backed away from a challenge.
And this was Logan. She was mine. Now, I needed time to make her believe it.
She slipped off her coat, dropped it on the armchair, and turned to me, a smile on her mouth. Grasping my shirt, she tugged me down and kissed me. Christ, her mouth—it was heaven. I wanted to devour her. Before I lost whatever fast-fading common sense I possessed, I eased back. She took my hand and headed for the stairs. “Logan, wait.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why?”
The front door flung open. Ray barged in, looking all wild-eyed and ready to kill.
“That’s why,” I muttered under my breath. At the club, I’d managed to cut off Ray’s pursuit and asked her to let me see to Logan. She reluctantly agreed. It’d surprised me that she’d held out this long, considering how fiercely protective she was of Logan.
And now I understood why. Emotionally, Logan was fragile and so scarred from her break-up that she’d locked herself behind a mile-high wall. And Ray was the pit bull guarding her.
“Ila, you okay?” Ray tossed me my jacket I’d forgotten at the club and darted in front of me, effectively separating me from Logan. “What did the sea-snake do?”
Logan grimaced as she pulled off her heels, dropped them to the floor, and flexed her feet. “He didn’t do anything.”
“Then why did you run out?” she demanded.
I remained silent, wanted Logan to tell Ray the truth about us. She cut me a quick look where I stood behind her sister then back to Ray. “You worry too much.” She rubbed her sister’s arm and headed for the kitchen. “Everything’s okay, honestly.”
“Don’t lie.” Ray followed on her heels like a bloodhound.
“Okay, Ryder did act up,” she said. “I realized I made a mistake, letting him accompany us. Anyway, Max made sure I was all right and brought me home.”
No mention of us.
Right. Blowing out a rough breath, I dropped my jacket on the couch and followed them. At the entrance, I stopped and leaned a shoulder against the kitchen doorjamb.
“Good. I’m glad Max was there. Thanks, Max.” Ray cut me a grateful smile. I nodded. No way was I going to give weight to the lie that Logan and I were just friends now.
She put the coffee pot on and glanced at Ray. “Are you going out again?”
