Page 20 of Lured By Shadows

He didn’t respond right away.

When he did, his voice was low. “I would not be the one to presume your judgment, but I will never be the source of your harm. That I know with certainty.”

Something about the certainty in his tone drew me in despite myself.

“You’re lucky you’re entertaining,” I said. “I guess, though… I don’t wanna feel like I’m using you, so please let me know if there is anything I can do.”

His smile spread slowly. “There is something you can do.”

I raised a brow, bracing myself.

“Where do you live?”

That was it?

“Third house on the right,” I said flatly, gesturing down the street.

He nodded and handed me the helmet. The scent found me again, warm and spiced, and before I could stop myself, I lifted it slightly closer. Whatever cologne he wore ought to have been illegal.

As the engine roared to life, he called over the sound, “It will not take us long.”

“Duh,” I muttered, assuming he couldn’t hear me.

“Feisty little lamb,” he replied anyway.

I stiffened, looking away. I was starting to think he genuinely enjoyed irritating me.

When the motorcycle moved, instinct took over before I could think it through. My arms wrapped around his waist, pulling me flush against him. Heat rushed to my face as I pressed my cheek against the helmet, letting his scent surround me again. The wind tore through my hair while the world blurred into streaks of gray and green. For a moment, everything narrowed to the steady vibration beneath me and the unmistakable awareness of his body just in front of mine.

His body was cool beneath my hands, the contrast sending a shiver through me and stirring something far more unsettling than I wanted to acknowledge. I tightened my grip, fingers curling into the fabric of his jacket, silently hoping he couldn’t feel how much his proximity affected me.

Too soon, we pulled into my driveway.

I dismounted quickly, tugging the helmet off and drawing in a breath, but it wasn’t the air that left me dizzy.

It was him.

“You appear to be mildly flushed,” he said, brushing his fingers along my cheek.

I froze.

He stepped closer, and my body leaned toward him before my mind could protest. When I opened my eyes, his green gaze was already there, close enough to make my pulse stumble.

“Oh, uh, yeah. I’m fine,” I lied, gently lowering his hand from my face.

The moment his skin left mine, an ache settled low in my chest. I instantly told myself not to let him touch me like that again unless I wanted to feel completely empty from the inside.

“I haven’t ridden on something like this in a couple of years,” I added, forcing a smile.

“You owned a motorcycle?” he asked.

“No, a dirt bike,” I said. “My Pa used to take me fishing. We’d race down the trails. I always lost, but I lost on purpose just so he could win.”

“That sounds… refreshing,” he said, and the softness in his voice made me wonder if he truly listened or if he was simply that skilled at sounding as though he did.

“Anyway, thanks for bringing me home,” I said, just as the front door creaked open behind us.

“Honey, who’s this?”