Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
I close my eyes, and the bike surges forward, smooth but sudden.
A shriek escapes me, and the sound of Eros’s laughter drifts through the speaker as I tighten my grip on him. It’s contagious, and it helps me relax enough to open my eyes again.
He navigates us out of the garage and onto the street, and I shiver as the vibrations rumble through our bodies.
We set off into the night, the wind pressing against my back, the heat of his body soaking into mine as the world narrows around us. The city, the cars, the lights—they all fade away until it’s only me, him, and the space between our heartbeats.
Surrendering to his control and trusting him so completely is intoxicating. I didn’t think I would like this, and it’s a bittersweet reminder that there was a time I only experienced this with Romeo.
He was always my protector, and with him by my side, the world never felt safer. I doubted I’d ever know that sense of security again, but Eros has given it back to me.
It takes a minute to register that I’m enjoying this so much I don’t want to stop. When he nears the penthouse, I find the courage to use my voice to ask for something simply because I want to.
“Do we have to go back right now?”
“Have I Stockholm’d you already?” A touch of humor slips through his voice.
“Maybe.” I smile against him.
“Duly noted. Subject likes velocity.”
He takes off, and my body melts into his as he turns down another street and picks up speed. Adrenaline floods my veins, drawing a wild, breathless sound from my lungs as he shows me the true power of the bike.
It feels like the city is our playground, and with every rush of acceleration, something inside me comes alive. I don’t know where we’re going, and I don’t care—as long as the night doesn’t end.
Eventually, Eros rolls to a stop at Alki Beach.
It’s late, and the sandy stretch is deserted, the water lapping at the shoreline as the city lights reflect off the Sound.
He helps me off the bike, pausing to rub my arms as he looks down at me through the helmet. “Cold?”
“No. I’m okay.”
He nods, taking me by the hand and leading me to a quiet stretch of the beach near the lighthouse. We find a spot in front of a pile of driftwood, and he pulls me down onto his lap, helping me take off my helmet. After a moment, he indicates he’s going to remove his, and I keep my gaze forward.
When he’s done, he shelters me with his body, wrapping his arms around me to keep me warm.
His face is so close to mine, it would only take the slightest turn to catch a glimpse of him. It’s tempting, but something still holds me back. Right now, we’re existing in a perfect bubble, and I don’t want it to burst.
Everything will change if I find out who he is. It could ruin what we have, and something in my gut tells me it might.
So for now, I settle against him, enjoying the quiet as we stare out over the water. There’s something so peaceful about it, and I wonder whether Eros knows it calms me, or it’s just a coincidence. Either way, I try not to think about it too much.
“Question for a question?” I ask.
“You first.” His words brush against my ear.
“Biggest regret?”
His grip on me tightens subtly, and he doesn’t answer right away, which only makes me more curious. Usually, he has a sarcastic response ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. But this time, he doesn’t.
“Hurting someone to prove I don’t care.”
I let that sink in, and despite my resolve to remain casual, I can’t help feeling a sliver of jealousy. It makes me think this someone could be connected to the mystery behind his username. If it is, it’s probably better that I don’t know.
“You?” he asks.
“Well.” I stare down at my fingers, twisting them together. “I already told you.”
“Is this about your megalodon?”
I shrug noncommittally.
“I bet if he were here right now, he’d tell you to let it go,” he says solemnly. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Maybe.” I try to push those thoughts from my mind. “But I don’t want to talk about that right now. It’s your turn to think of a question.”
He releases a rough breath, and it sends goosebumps down my neck. “You do another one.”
“Okay.” I think it over for a second. “What’s a real-life horror scenario for you?”
“You ignoring my texts.”
I laugh, and he nips at my ear. “You always think I’m joking. You have something better, little shark? Tell me what horrifies you.”
“Phone calls. Small talk. Ordering food. Unexpected hugs. Forced social interactions. Hmm…let’s see what else? Oh, saying something wildly embarrassing by accident in front of a large group of people, and now you have to replay it in your mind until the end of eternity.”