Page 15 of Wild Tangled Hearts

I love when he calls me that. But I wonder how many other girls shared the nickname.

“Hi.” I don’t resist when he pulls me towards him and gently kisses my lips.

My knees do that wobbly thing that they do whenever he touches me, and I let out a shaky breath against his mouth.

Wow.

He grins down at me. “Ready for an adventure?”

I meet his gaze with a playful grin, my voice teasing as I reply, “I don’t know. An adventure with you seems like it could be dangerous. Should I be prepared for anything?”

Moving closer, he whispers against my ear, “I promise to keep you safe, Bella.” With a playful wink, he adds, “And thoroughly entertained.”

I laugh, my heart fluttering. “Well, in that case, Mr. Mysterious, lead the way. I’m all in for whatever you have in store.”

“I knew you were my kind of girl,” he says, chuckling.

Damien helps me onto the back of his motorcycle, and I wrap my arms around his strong, hard body, feeling a delicious shiver of excitement as we speed off towards a nearby park. The wind in my hair, the thrill of the ride, and the tantalizing mystery of Damien Blackwood — he’s turning out to be an adventure in every sense.

An irresistible, intense, mysterious, and dangerously attractive adventure.

I’ve always been the type to play it safe, reside firmly within my comfort zone, and steer clear of anything that might be deemed too risky. But with him, there’s a shift in my perspective.

That’s not to say that my rational mind isn’t screaming at the top of its lungs with warnings and cautions. It is. But at least for today, I’m determined to embrace my buried wild side, to venture beyond the boundaries I’ve set for myself.

We drive out of town, my cheek pressed against his muscular back, my arms wrapped low around his waist. And as we race down winding back roads, maneuvering between cars, a spontaneous hoot of exhilaration escapes my lips, and in response, Damien’s rich laughter rumbles through the air.

I could get used to this. The thrill of the ride mixed with the comforting presence of Damien — I feel scared and safe all at once.

As he starts to slow, I realize we’ve arrived at an overhanging cliff that looks out over a serene lake, the same one my mom and dad used to take me to when I was little.

“Thought this place would be a perfect spot for a picnic,” he says, helping me off the bike.

I take in the view, the large oak and pine trees surrounding us, and the dark blue lake glimmering in the sunlight.

“I haven’t been here in years,” I say, reminiscing. “We used to come to this lake when I was little.” I point to a spot further down. “There’s a public beach over there. We’d swim all day, and my dad would cook hotdogs and hamburgers on this portable grill he used to have. Some of my best childhood memories were made at this lake.”

Damien’s fingers graze a loose strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. His touch is delicate, almost reverent, sending a shiver down my spine. “Sounds like you had good parents.”

“Yeah. They weren’t perfect, but I was pretty lucky. What about you?”

His smile falters, and he looks away for a moment. “Let’s just say I’m pretty sure our childhoods didn’t have many similarities.” The dark, brooding look returns, but then he shakes it off and starts unpacking things from the motorcycle’s side compartment.

He lays out a checkered picnic blanket under a massive oak tree, and I watch him, thinking about what he said about his family. The puzzle surrounding Damien only deepens, and I can’t help but wonder what lies beneath that rugged exterior.

“You know,” I begin, sitting and giving him a teasing smile. “I never expected a bad boy to be such a romantic.”

Damien’s chuckle is a low, sexy rumble. “I have my secrets,” he says, a mischievous glint in his eyes, before reaching into his backpack to unveil a thoughtful surprise — sandwiches, a bottle of sparkling wine, and plastic champagne flutes.

I raise an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at my lips. “I can only imagine the secrets you have,” I tease, accepting the glass Damien hands me with a twinkle in my eye.

He pours the wine, and as the bubbles effervesce, he leans closer. “Andyoudon’t have any secrets?”

I meet his gaze with a teasing grin. “Nope. I’m an open book. Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you.”

His voice lowers, laced with intrigue. “Anything? Are you sure about that?”

I chuckle, enjoying the flirtatious banter. “Absolutely. Try me.”

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