Page 24 of The Magic of Discovery
I’m not kidding you, this guy was sin personified. Big black boots, tight black leather pants...Are you fucking shitting me?A long-sleeved black shirt and a leather vest over that with various patches on it. I pinched my arm. Was I having another episode like I’d had at The Pig?
Please let this be real. Please let this be real, I pleaded with whatever deity in the universe would hear my prayer and make this leather daddy not disappear when I opened my eyes again. Cam’s baritone chuckle made me snap my eyes open. I squealed, mentally fist pumping the sky.
“Please let what be real?” His velvety voice carried over to my ears, and goosebumps erupted on my skin.Fuck, I must’ve said that out loud.Heat enveloped my cheeks.
“Oh, you know. Just got a flat tire here, and I’m getting hangry. Still have about half an hour to walk back home since my bicycle’s busted, so I was just happy to see a familiar face.” I smiled big at him, hoping he bought that.
“Here, let me take a look.” I held my hand out so I could hold his helmet, and he stepped up to the opposite side of my bike, kneeling down to investigate the tire. His big ass hand squeezed the rubber, looking for whatever might have caused this travesty. “Ah, here we go.”
Holding his hand out to me as he stood, I took the nail he dropped into my palm.
“Great. Of course it’s not the kind of nailing I’m interested in,” I whined, stuffing the offensive object into my jean pocket. Its tire shredding days stopped with me!
Cam barked a laugh.Shit, I said that out loud too.Focus, Saige. Seeing Cam’s face, I laughed along with him, trying to hide my embarrassment.
“Let me give you a lift home. I don’t have anywhere urgent to be. I was just going out for a drive. No business, just pleasure.” He winked. Mave snorted. I creamed.Mother of the moon.My jaw slammed shut before I embarrassed myself further by telling him my new fantasy of having him wink up at me from between my legs.
“Oh, no. I don’t want to inconvenience you, Cam.” My fingers twisted in the straps of his helmet, unintentionally drawing out our time together. I wanted to be on the back of that bike, but I didn’t like putting people out. “It’s not that much further; we’ll be alright.”
“No way, Saige.” He stepped up right in front of me, reaching for the helmet. “It wasn’t a question, so let me rephrase. I’m giving you a ride home. What kind of man would I be if I left a woman stranded on the side of the road at dusk?” Cam gestured to Maven. “Grab the furry little guy. I’ll push your bike over against the fence here, and I can come back tomorrow with a fresh tire and change it out for you.”
Wow, okay then, bossy leather pants. Ididwant a ride home. Ididwant to spend time with Cam, and now that I was being given the perfect opportunity, I was surprised by just how true that realization was. That helped calm the initial struggle I was having about being maneuvered into doing something I didn’t want. My stomach jumped with joy as I scooped up Maven and turned to walk back to the stunning Harley. Spotless silver so shiny I could see my reflection in the metal and an impeccable paint job. Glittery purples, black, and blues swirled around each other, huge lightning streaks in whites and golds crackling against the dark backdrop. I let my fingers trail over one of the bolts, awed at how realistic it was.
Cam walked up beside me, and I flushed under the weight of his quizzical stare. “This is beautiful, Cam,” I breathed.
“Custom paint job, worth every penny. I love this fucking bike. Have you ever ridden one?” He had his arms crossed across the broad expanse of his chest, his feet just as wide as his massive shoulders.
“No, so you’ll have to tell me what to do. Maven can run home.” My foxy friend growled in response, but he could get over it.I’m riding this fucking bike!I set him down, and he took off down the road before cutting right into the fields.
Jumping up and down a few times, I dropped my bag onto the pavement and went to throw my leg over the seat while grabbing the handlebars.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?” A firm arm snaked around my waist, hoisting me right out of the damn air before I could sit. Cam pulled me against his front, and I spun around to look up at him, an innocent smile at the ready.
“I’m mounting this metal stallion! What’s it look like?” Of course, I didn’t think I was actually going to drive his bike, but he didn’t know that. And he was so easy to fuck with.
Cam looked at me like he couldn’t decide whether he liked my sass or wanted to squash it.I kind of want to find out which one it is, though. I like teasing him.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not. You’re riding on the back. Where you’ll be safe. You can’t think I would actually fit on that seat. I can’t even imagine how that would look.” He shook his head, exasperated with me, but his eyes were glittering with amusement.
Glancing at the smaller seat in the back, I couldn’t blame him.I mean, he does have a point.
“You think my ass is going to fit on that?” I raised an eyebrow at him, and he grinned as he secured his helmet. Safety first.
“I’m excited to see what your ass looks like hugging it.” His eyes flashed at the thought, and I realized I was still pressed right up against his hard body. Releasing me reluctantly, Cam left me standing with my mouth gaping once again and headed for the back of the bike where he lifted one of the flaps on a saddlebag and produced a second helmet for me to wear.
“This crown won’t fit right with that top knot, little witch,” he teased. Fingers easily finding the elastic in my hair, he tugged on it gently so it didn’t pull. My breathing hitched and his gaze heated when my hair spilled down around my shoulders and face. Tucking a few wayward strands behind my ears, Cam put the helmet on and buckled it, making some adjustments to be sure it was fitted correctly. Satisfied with his ministrations, he nodded once before turning me to face the Harley.
“Here, I’ll get on first and stabilize it, then you can climb up once I’m on. Put your feet here,” he directed, pointing to a small foot grip, “and keep your legs away from here. This gets really hot.” He continued to direct me as he put the kickstand away, his strong arms pulling the bike upright. With zero effort on his part, Cam stepped over the seat of the bike like he was merely stepping over a pesky little mud puddle. Quickly snagging my bag and dusting the dirt and gravel from the bottom, I slung it over my back. When he was situated with both feet flat on the ground, he turned to me. “Go on, then. I got you.”
For someone who’d been in a horrible relationship not long ago, it surprised me how naturally I trusted Cam. He made me feel safe, even from the first moment in The Pig, when he’d scolded Kai for possibly scaring me. The funny mage’s face flashed in my mind, and my belly flipped when I thought about how I also had a date tomorrow with Fischer, yet here I was, about to saddle up against an absolutely massive mage who could crumple me up like a pretzel.Not that I’d mind... Gran is going to flip her lid over this!
Poly relationships were accepted in the magical community, but there just weren’t any in Emerald Lakes, though not for Gran’s lack of trying to score herself a harem with unlimited members. Honestly, I’d never considered it for myself, especially since the options in town were insanely limited.
I wiped my sweaty palms down my jeans a few times. Placing my hand on his forearm for balance, I swung my leg over and wiggled to get into position, my thighs effectively squeezing his hips from behind.
As he turned the key, the bike flared to life. Whooping my excitement to the sky, I could feel Cam’s laughter, the vibration of his body adding to the bike’s revving. The engine quieted down to a low rumble, and he turned his head back toward me. “Wrap your arms around me and hold on tight. If we take a corner or a turn, lean into the turn slowly. Let it flow naturally.”
My arms snaked around his hard torso right where I could feel his abs rippling when he steadied the bike with his legs. He gave a little gas, and I held my breath in anticipation as he picked his feet up. We were doing it!I’m riding this big ass Harley with this big ass mage.
