Page 43 of Tender Wild

“That’s how she shows love. Food and aggressive mothering.” He watched as Miguel swung his leg over the motorcycle, the leather of his jacket creaking with the movement. “I think she’s already planning your next visit.”

“As long as there’s cake.” Miguel patted the space behind him as the last streaks of sunset painted the sky in bands of fading purple and deep blue.

Jared climbed on, his body fitting perfectly against Miguel’s back, the position already familiar despite how new it was. His arms wrapped around his mate’s waist, fingertips grazing the warm strip of skin where Miguel’s shirt had ridden up.

He would never get enough of admiring his mate’s sexy body.

The engine roared to life beneath them, vibrating through both their bodies. Jared leaned forward, resting his chin on Miguel’s shoulder, close enough that his words wouldn’t get lost in the wind. “Did you really have a nice time?”

Miguel turned his head slightly, just enough for Jared to catch the quirk of his lips. “After my initial thought that your mom was luring me into a trap, yeah.”

“She would never do that.”

“Sure, kitten.”

“Think you know her that well?” Jared arched a brow. “Already making a move on becoming her favorite, are you?”

“Says the guy who bit my neck less than twenty-four hours after we met.”

Jared’s face heated. “Technically, we met a week ago.”

“My mistake.” Miguel chuckled. “A whole week. We’re practically an old married couple,” he said as they pulled from the driveway.

While they cruised down the quiet suburban street, familiar sights slipped past—neighbors’ houses with lights glowing from within, cars parked neatly in driveways, kids’ toys scattered across lawns.

“I’m exhausted.” Jared yawned as they stopped at a traffic light. “I’m gonna sleep like a log tonight.”

Miguel’s laugh rumbled through his chest. “Let’s get home first.”

Home. Jared liked the sound of that.

The light changed, and they accelerated again, the bike hugging the curves of the road leading back to Blackthorn. Miguel’s body telegraphed each movement before it happened so Jared could lean with him. He pressed his cheek against his mate’s back, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath leather and cotton.

The town limits of Riverside faded behind them. Darkness gathered between the trees. Streetlights became sparse, then nonexistent, leaving only the motorcycle’s headlight to carve a path through the night. The breeze picked up, carrying with it scents of pine and earth, the open road connecting territories stretching before them.

He pressed close to Miguel, his arms wrapped tightly around his waist, fingers splayed against the rigid muscles of his abdomen. Stars dotted the velvet sky above, bright against the night.

Soon, Jared relaxed into the rhythm of the ride, the steady thrum of the engine beneath them, the solid warmth of Miguel against his chest.

Then it hit him. A prickle of awareness, though he didn’t know why. His cheetah stirred uneasily. Danger hummed in the air like an electric current, an unsettling sensation that made Jared’s nails dig into Miguel’s sides.

His mate must’ve felt his tension because he glanced over his shoulder. Jared squeezed Miguel’s side, hoping to convey the message that something was wrong.

A set of bright headlights appeared in the side mirror. Jared squinted, unable to make out whether it was a truck or SUV through the glare. Just a large, boxy shadow bearing down on them with alarming speed.

“Someone’s following us!” he shouted against Miguel’s ear, the wind snatching at his words.

His mate’s head tilted slightly in acknowledgment, his body tensing beneath Jared’s hands. The motorcycle surged forward as he opened the throttle, engine roaring louder as they picked up speed.

The vehicle behind them accelerated too, riding so close Jared could feel the heat of its engine, and hear the growl of its motor competing with their bike.

“Too close,” Jared yelled, heart hammering. During their visit, Miguel had told them how he’d gotten his scars. A motorcycle accident. This had to be a nightmare for him, knowing they were being pursued and could possibly wreck.

Please don’t let us wreck.

Without warning, Miguel twisted the throttle, the motorcycle lunging forward with a surge that yanked Jared’s breath right from his chest. Trees and road signs blurred into streaks of color as they sped along the curve of the road.

Yet the vehicle kept pace, its bumper nearly kissing their back tire. Jared risked another glance, catching glimpses of a dark truck, but its high beams were blinding.

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