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I pause, then share, “Daisy.”

For some reason, Lucas’s eyes go wide, and then he laughs. “Holy shit. Small world.”

“Why’s that? Who’s Daisy?” I feel a pang of…something. Jealousy? There’s no way.

But he just shakes his head and says, “Not my story to tell. Maybe Scarlett will tell you one day.”

Scarlett. Nico’s girlfriend? What does that mean?

At the very least, the jealousy dies down. But even still, I feel the sudden urge to get closer to Lucas, to move his attention away from this Daisy.

This is going to take a little bit of wiggling, since Lucas is too big to sit like a normal passenger—not that I’ve ever had anyone on the back of my bike—but I slide my leg over and settle behind the gas tank.

I hear Lucas suck in a breath. Since he’s sitting in the driver’s seat, I’m pretty much sitting in his lap; I only kept a half inch between us when I mounted the bike.

But I can’t drive the bike from here, so after taking a breath of my own, I slide back that last inch.

When my ass comes into contact with Lucas’s lap, a groan rumbles through his chest and his hands grip my hips.

“Fuck, baby girl,” he breathes. “You sure we have to go for a ride? We could just go back to my place. Spend the night in bed, just like this.” His hands tighten on me, and he rolls his hips forward, simulating the motion in broad daylight.

A shiver rolls through my body, but I force my focus back to the task at hand. Even still, my voice is breathless when I ask, “You sure you want to give up the perks of letting me take you for a ride?”

I can feel the indecision in his body. I give him a few seconds, then put the key in the ignition and turn on the bike.

He sighs, his grip loosening slightly. “Fine. But we’re only doing one lap around. I can’t handle your ass in my lap for much longer than that.”

Chuckling, I lean forward to unlock my helmet from the handlebars. “Fine. One lap.”

Once the helmet is free, I twist to hand it to Lucas. It takes him a second to realize I only have one, and that I’m giving it to him to wear.

He lets out a snort and pushes it back toward me. “Over my dead fucking body, Charli. You wear it.”

It’s a testament to my feelings for Lucas that the order turns me on instead of off. I put on the helmet, hiding my smile.

It takes us a few minutes to get situated. I take a lap around the garage to get used to Lucas’s weight and realize that as long as he keeps his long legs up and he leans slightly with me when we turn, it’s easy enough to control the bike.

Once I feel in control, I pull out of the garage.

It’s the city, so I obviously can’t show Lucas the appeal of speed on a motorcycle, but I still take us over to the river to get a little less stop and go. When I peek at Lucas through my rear-view mirrors, I catch him looking out over the water.

“What do you think?” I ask when we’re stopped at a red light and I can hear his answer.

“I get why people like this,” he answers simply. “It really does feel like freedom.” He pauses. “It’s fucking terrifying, but I get it.”

My laugh rings out. “Why is it terrifying? We’re going so slow.”

“Because you have my life in your hands!”

“And you don’t trust me?”

“Obviously, I trust you. I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t.” Then in a quieter grumble, “I wouldn’t be sitting here with my knees up to my ears because I’m ten feet taller than you.”

I grin even though he can’t see it. “I do wish I could see the whole picture.”

He pokes my side, which makes me squeal. “Careful. Because as soon as we get off this thing, you’re mine.”

Another shiver rolls through me.