Page 14 of Rebel

“Yeah, okay. I will.” I had no choice but to take his warning seriously. Livvy relied on me and I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Ever. “I promise.”

That green gaze stared at me as if he could see and read every thought in my mind, which was slightly terrifying but even still, I couldn’t look away. “Good. Let’s finish our beers and I’ll walk you back to your hotel.”

I inhaled a deep breath before it escaped on a slow exhale as I nodded. “That’s nice but unnecessary.”

“It’s nice and totally necessary. I don’t want anything to happen to you Nikki.”

My legs went a little weak at that sweet proclamation and the heat in his eyes. “Okay, then. A walk back would be great.”

“Good.”

The walk through the festival was mostly quiet. I was lost in my own thoughts and Logan stuck close to me through the chaos. Eventually the roar of the music and the crowds faded as we left the festival grounds behind. “Are you staying nearby?”

“Nah, we’re staying at a place off the highway. Never can be too sure who attends these things.”

I stopped and turned to watch his face. “So in addition to being do-gooders you guys are into some serious shit too?”

He shrugged as if it was no big deal. “Not everything we do is exactly on the right side of the law, which attracts some negative attention. But we also help people the law won’t or can’t, which also isn’t exactly legal.”

Good point, dammit. “I’m just asking questions. Call it natural curiosity.” I flashed a half-smile and started walking again and he stayed right at my side.

His dark brows jumped up. “Yeah? Because it sounded kind of like judgment.”

“It wasn’t judgment, I just didn’t realize. There are too many motorcycle clubs with too many different purposes to keep track of. Given the topic of my show, I’ve heard about them all, and I just wanted to know which group the Steel Demons fell into.”

“We’re in a league of our own, babe.” His tone was teasing but I had a feeling he meant it too. “We have plenty of what you’dcallrealbusinesses, and a few we don’t talk about too loudly. Off the record.”

“Of course.” I rolled my eyes. “Do you like it?”

“Nah, I love it.” The way his face lit up was proof of his answer. “Those men are my best friends, my brothers. We have each other’s back even when we’re pissed off at each other.”

“That’s amazing. My friend Mia is that for me.”

His brows dipped. “What about your dad? I remember you talked about him a lot while we drank.”

He’d remembered that too, and I had to look away. “Dad died about three years ago.” He’d lived just long enough to meet his namesake granddaughter and get to know her. “Cancer came on suddenly and spread fast. And then he was gone.”

“Shit, Nikki. I’m sorry to hear that. It sounded like you two were close.”

“We were. He was all I had.” Until Livvy, but I couldn’t say that. Not yet. The conversation was becoming too emotional, so I smiled and stopped at the bottom of the steps of the hotel. “We’re here. Thanks for being my walking buddy.”

His lips pulled up into a crooked grin and I couldn’t look away. I remembered what they tasted like. His bottom lip was a bit plumper than the top which only made me hungrier for a taste. “You shouldn’t look at me like that.” His voice was a low, growled warning.

I felt that growl as it slithered down my spine and wrapped around my waist like a caress. I blinked away the fog of lust. “Like what?”

“Like you’re remembering.” One hand went to the braid that hung over my shoulder and he gave it a gentle tug. “That night.”

My eyes fluttered closed. “Maybe I am.” I had never stopped, and that was the truth.

“Nikki.” He grabbed the back of my head and lowered his lips. “Tell me to stop.”

“Okay,” I breathed. “Don’t stop.”

He growled again but it was abruptly cut off when his lips crushed against mine, kissing me as if we were long lost lovers. He kissed me hungrily, like he’d been dreaming about kissing me for a century and now that he had his shot, he wasn’t going to go easy on me.

My arms wrapped around him instinctively, my body pressed against his so tight that not even a breeze could pass between us, and I moaned as our tongues touched. He smelled like sandalwood, bergamot, and a pinch of citrus, and he tasted like beer and sexy biker. It was a heady, intoxicating mix that I found completely irresistible.

I wasn’t sure which of us pulled back first, but suddenly we stared at each other with wide eyes and heaving chests. “Fuck,” he bit out first.

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