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“It sure as hell ain’t gonna be out last,” he said, guiding me to the machine.
Full of butterflies, I nodded. “I’ve never been on a motorcycle at all before.”
“It’s easy,” Knox assured me as he handed me a helmet. “You’ll sit here, behind me,” he pointed to the seat right behind his. “On the bitch seat.”
Taken aback, I froze. “The what?”
Seeing my reaction, Knox shook his head. “Oh, don’t take it like that. It’s just biker lingo, nothing personal. You’ll need to learn the language if you’re gonna hang with me.”
Despite my initial offense, his easy demeanor and the playful twinkle in his eye softened the blow. I let out a small, reluctant laugh. My reaction embarrassed me. “I have young ears around always, so have to watch my mouth. I haven’t talked like that since college,” I tried to explain.
“There are no kids around tonight, Ms. Eliza,” he said, winking. “Your pretty mouth can do anything it pleases tonight.”
His words caught me off guard as he stared at my lips. I sucked them in, making them disappear as I looked him up and down. Knox was a gloriously handsome sight, as always. As if it were a uniform, and I figured it sort of was, he wore his leather vest, faded black jeans and big black boots. His leather jacket hid his rippling muscles. He was the kind of guy who could get away with a stylish haircut and still look masculine as all get out.
Putting my thick and seriously long hair back for the journey had been a must. I’d worn my best, tightest jeans, a tight white top that showed off my best assets, a smart jean jacket that fell at my waist just right and my own boots for the ride. I figured I’d end up at his biker clubhouse tonight at some point and had no desire to look completely out of place. Leaving my reading glasses behind, I wanted to show off my painted eyes and long lashes as well. It’d been such a long time since I’d had a reason to do dark makeup.
He showed me how to get on the bike properly. “Swing your leg over like this, perfect. Now, when we start moving, just hold onto me, alright? Wrap your arms around my waist.”
Leaning in, I hesitated for a fraction of a second before doing as he instructed, my arms encircling his broad frame. They settled, grasping the firm sides of his waistline. The leather of his jacket was warm against me, and I could detect the robustness of him beneath it.
“Hold on tight,” Knox said, turning to look at me over his shoulder with a reassuring smile. “I’ll take good care of you.”
Chapter 5
Eliza
As the engine roared to life beneath us, my heart skipped in sync with the thrumming bike. It was thrilling and terrifying all at once. However, as we pulled away from the curb and into the twilight, the wind whipped around us, and I felt a rush of freedom unlike anything I’d ever experienced. With Knox guiding us smoothly into the night, the world opening up before us, I began to understand the allure of this wild, untamed life on two wheels.
The motorcycle was loud and unyielding as it vibrated beneath me, but Knox’s confidence as he maneuvered through the streets made me feel secure. His back was a solid presence in front of me, and I held on tighter than perhaps was necessary, grasping his belt loops.
As we left the city behind, Knox took me along winding roads that cut through lush, rolling hills until he seemed to stop on a dime. He killed the engine, and the sudden silence felt heavy after the constant rumble. We dismounted, and I followed him to the railing, where we both leaned to take in the view. My whole body still vibrated. The wind hitting me was a shock after the warmth of being pressed against him during the ride. I visibly shivered, and Knox, on cue, shrugged off his jacket and draped it across my shoulders.
A gentleman indeed. I felt like I was in a 1980s flick. And the butterflies were loving every moment of it.
Trying my best to ignore the flutter, I took in the scene. The overlook was breathtaking, with the city lights twinkling below like a carpet of stars spread out just for us. Knox fell silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. I waited, sensing he was gathering his thoughts. Finally, he turned to me, the urban lights casting shadows across his face, giving him a brooding look.
“You know, being part of the Royal Bastards… It’s more than just riding and brotherhood. It’s a huge part of who I am,” he began, his voice earnest. “My Harley is as much a part of me as my arms.”
Encouraging him to continue, I nodded.
“I guess what I’m gettin’ at is I’m glad you came out tonight to ride with me.”
“I’m glad too,” I said and meant every word of it.
“It means a lot. A woman like you giving me a chance,” he went on.
“I’m nothing special,” I said automatically.
“Bullshit. I hardly know you, but you care about your class and your daughter. You thought twice about the likes of me. That’s smart. You don’t know how many women don’t think twice about datin’ a biker.”
He said, dating, and the butterflies kicked it up a notch.
With a view that stretched endlessly under the sprawling sky, we shared stories of our lives. It was there, with the world laid out before us, that Knox told me more about his past.
“How did you become a biker?” I asked.
“Dropped out of high school,” he explained.
