Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I doubted you’d keep me safe.”
“Honey, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I can go with Clutch if that’s what you want me to do.” It was hard to put myself in someone else’s hands, but Pain had saved me. If he said I should go with Clutch, then that’s what I’d do.
Pain stared at me for a long moment, searching for something in my gaze that gave him whatever answer he was looking for. Finally, he turned away and walked toward the truck. He opened the back door and pulled out a black helmet before stalking back toward me.
He held out the helmet to me. “You ever ride a bike?”
“I’m assuming you don’t mean a bicycle.” I took the helmet. Pain snagged my hand again, giving it a squeeze.
“You’d assume right.” He jerked his head toward one of the bikes and tugged at my hand. I followed without protest. “Get your helmet on. I’ll show you where to put your feet.”
He mounted the bike, then I climbed on behind him. He reached back and grabbed my ass, pulling me closer to him. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have…” He cleared his throat. “Just get as close to me as you can.” I did, keeping my hands on his shoulders. “Wrap your arms around me. I don’t want you falling off the back.”
“It’s OK.” I said, swallowing nerves. Because, oh my God, I was sitting behind Dr. Ford Raven on a freaking motorcycle!
“What’s OK?” He looked at me over his shoulder.
“That you grabbed my ass.” I have no idea why I said that, but out it came.
“I see.” His lips twitched before puckering slightly. Then he gave up entirely and chuckled. It was the first time I’d ever heard him laugh. At the hospital he was always professional. He might smile, but as a rule when he was in public he showed little emotion other than kind compassion when it was called for.
“That came out wrong,” was my lame reply.
“No, it didn’t. You were right to call me out. I only meant to pull you closer. It’s intimate, but necessary.” He still looked amused.
“Just don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“Wouldn’t think of it, sweetheart. Wouldn’t think of it.”
Chapter Six
Nadine
Holy shit, was I really doing this? My heart raced as we roared down the highway, Pain’s body a solid presence in front of me. I never imagined I’d be here, on the back of a motorcycle with a man I barely knew, but there I was.
The wind tugged at my clothes. I almost wished I could take my helmet off just to feel the wind in my hair but, hello… nurse. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but it was laced with more exhilaration than fear. This freedom, this rush of adrenaline that coursed through my veins… it was addictive. It also made me all too aware of the man in front of me.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the scents of the open road. Gasoline, exhaust, and the faintest hint of freedom hit me like a welcome cool breeze on a hot summer night. I tried to imagine this was a teenage rebellion instead of being on the run from God knew who. Working in a high-security prison I’d been in a few dangerous situations, but this… this was on a whole different level.
Pain’s muscles bunched under my hands as he took us closer to safety. Why was a guy on a motorcycle so Goddamned sexy? Why was riding behind a man on a motorcycle so Goddamned sexy? And fuck me, but why was Pain on a fucking motorcycle so God. Damned. Sexy? I didn’t like the vulnerability that came with trusting someone I didn’t know to navigate at high speeds on something I wasn’t safely buckled into, but I couldn’t seem to dwell on it like I should.
I expected the adrenaline crash to hit me hard, but I think the exhilaration of riding the bike let me down easily. It was either that or the warmth of the man whose back I was pressed so intimately against. I wanted to lean my head against him, to take in his scent while I could because I was under no illusion I’d ever be so close to this man again.
Two bikes pulled up on either side of us. I tightened my grip on Pain fractionally, startled by the sudden company. Which was my own fault. I should have been paying attention instead of being in my own little world.
Pain gave them both a two-fingered salute before squeezing my knee reassuringly. We continued on for another hour before we rolled into a gravel parking lot in front of what I assumed was their clubhouse. Several men poured out of the main building while a few more came from the garage.