Page 87 of Swan

CHAPTER TWENTY

SWAN

When Mum and Dad had walked me out to my car to say goodbye, they kept glancing down the street. Suspicion gnawed my gut. Mum simply smiled when I sent her a questioning glance, and then my breath froze in my lungs at the telltale rumble of a Harley.

Mum rushed to say, “By the way, Drake will be accompanying you.”

“What?” I all but squeaked.

“He’s got some business at the club there anyway,” Dad said.

“Wait, so he’s only following me to Caroline Springs?” My heart pounded.

Mum winced. “And taking you to and from work since he’s also staying at Ruin and Wolf’s.”

“Why are you making him do that?” I asked quickly since he grew closer.

“Humour an old man, kid,” Dad said. “Drake has some time off around here to do some ink work at the compound in Caroline Springs. This worked out perfectly.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked from Drake, who pulled to a stop, to my parents. “And Drake’s perfectly fine with babysitting me?” Frustration tickled under my skin. I wanted to shout at them, even though I understood why. Still, I didn’t have to act happy about Drake being forced into this. Even when the thought of alone time with him had my heart pounding.

“He’s just taking you to and from work in a town you’re not used to. If any problems arise, let him know, and he’ll take care of it.”

We left quickly after that—me with a tight smile at Drake as he nodded at me to jump in my car and get out of here.

I glanced in the rearview mirror again to the motorbike that followed me to Caroline Springs. We were nearly at Ruin and Wolf’s, and I still couldn’t believe that poor Drake got dragged into acting as my guard while here.

How did this happen? How on earth did this happen?

I wasn’t sure if I was still peeved they’d dragged Drake into looking after me or scared that he’d finally see I was crushing on him in a big way.

Of course, wrapped in all of that was my guilt for wanting those moments with him, but that feeling wasn’t gnawing at my insides anymore.

The guilt didn’t suffocate me any longer. Maybe I could begin to live again without it drowning me.

Drawing in a deep breath, I glanced out the mirror again. I’d grown up around many men on their motorbikes, but none had stolen my breath like Drake did on his. A flush rose at the thought of being on the back of his with my arms surrounding him.

So close, I would feel him.

So close, I could smell him.

A tingle spread through me. It started in my belly and went to my crotch. My body’s reaction to Drake was heady. One I hadn’t had with another. It’d been different with Lockland. He was familiar and sweet. With Drake it was raw and wild.

Love?

I’d talked myself out of it the other day, but I wasn’t sure I should.

God, what would Drake do if he knew I had feelings for him? That thought alone gave me a shiver of excitement but also a twist to my belly, fearing that Drake wouldn’t reciprocate them.

My heart took off in flight as I imagined Drake already liking me.

Blowing out a breath, I laughed at myself. I needed to calm down and not jump ahead.

At the gates of Wolf’s estate, I pulled to a stop for the guard and wound down my window. “Hi, I’m Swan Daniels, and behind me is Drake Marcus. We’re friends of Ruin.” Like I did the last time, I handed over my driver’s licence and waited.

The guard nodded and went back to the gatehouse with my information while another guard spoke to Drake and got his licence. They were quickly back to us and handing over our IDs.

“Go through,” the guard near my window ordered as he waved his right hand near his shoulder, and the automatic gates opened.

---