Page 34 of B-ry
CHAPTER TEN
Laurel
“What are you doing here?” I asked with a little more attitude than need be as I walked out of the back door of Royally Brewed.
I would never have admitted it, but I was glad he was there. I had a closing shift and since I had no car that meant I had to walk home. I didn’t have money for things like cabs or Ubers. I didn’t even have money to ride the bus, not that it ran this late. Besides, it was only a few blocks away. But I didn’t know any sort of self-defense and I didn’t even carry any kind of weapon.
Nights that I closed, it was a very tense walk home, to say the least. I hated it. And I hated that I didn’t have any other choice.
So the sight of Bryan sitting there on his bike looking like he was waiting for me was a welcomed one. I was still trying to play it cool even if inside my heart was fluttering and my stomach felt like it was tripping over itself with excitement.
He brushed off my attitude and gave me that panty melting half-smirk.
“Your chariot awaits, your Majesty,” he said, low and all sexy like.
I hated it.
I hated him.
Okay, no I didn’t really.
But it was just sad how quickly this man could turn me into a puddle of goo. And with that, I had a hard time keeping my guard up. I had myself to protect. I knew what this was and it wasn’t what I wished it could be. Still, as sad and pathetic as it might have seemed, I would have rather had a part of him than nothing at all.
Besides, it wasn’t like anyone else was knocking down my door. I wasn’t exactly the hot commodity that I had once been. If Bryan was willing to overlook that then maybe I should have just been grateful.
I rolled my eyes at him.
“Some chariot,” I said, a hint of playful irritation in my tone. “It looks more like a kid’s toy with a motor.”
I knew that would get him and I tried my best to hold back my smile as his face went hard.
“Besides, real men can afford something with four tires.” I couldn’t help it. I just kept pushing. It wasn’t that I believe that. I mean, really. Bryan sitting on his bike was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
Continuing to play the game, I turned around like I was going to walk off. I wasn’t all that surprised when a second later his arms were around my waist and I was being lifted in the air. Nor was I shocked when he planted my ass, hard, on the back of his bike and shoved a helmet on my head.
“Who am I?” I whispered right before his lips crashed into mine.
The kiss was raw and violent. We fought with our mouths, both of us trying to prove who had the control here.
“Caroline Mathilde,” he said once he pulled back and looked into my eyes.
“And who does that make you?”
“Johann Struensee.”
He said nothing else as he swung his leg over and mounted his bike. I felt the vibrations through my whole body as he started it up. I wasn’t sure which sent more of a thrill up my spine, the ride ahead or the way the bike felt between my legs. I could see how this was addicting and we hadn’t even taken off yet.
“Arms around me. Feet up on the pegs. Don’t move them. Pipes get hot and I wouldn’t want you to scar your perfect legs, princess. Move with me, though I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that one.”
He tilted his head to the side and winked. Yes, winked!
With a slow, calming breath in, I did as he said, wrapping my arms tightly around his midsection and scooting in as close as I could to him.
The smell of leather and man filled my nose instantly. I was pretty sure I was smiling. I held the squeal in the back of my throat as he took off like a shot down the narrow alleyway. Instinctively, my arms attempted to squeeze the life out of him for fear that I would fall off.
He didn’t take me straight back to my place. Instead, he drove around for at least an hour, I would have guessed. Time seemed to slip by whenever I was with him and it wasn’t like I was wearing a watch. Or cared, you know. I loved it, even if I would never admit that to him. Though the air was hot and sticky, it felt amazing whipping around me. It was thrilling. It was invigorating. It was intoxicating.
I felt alive.
