Page 31 of In Knots

Chapter 9

His gaze sweeps over my form, taking in my dress and my heels. Then he shrugs off his leather jacket and slings it over my shoulders. It completely dwarfs me, my hands lost in the sleeves and the bottom trailing down by my thighs.

I look up at him sheepishly.

“A bit big, princess,” he grins, “but it’ll do for now. And I like you in my leather.” He grabs the lapels and drags me in for a kiss that undoes all the nastiness of the past few hours. “You ever ridden on a bike before?” he asks, leading me over to his.

“Never.”

Unhooking his helmet from the handlebars, he hovers it above my head.

“You need to grip with your thighs and lean into the movement of the bike. Go with it, not against it.” He pushes the helmet down onto my head. “And hold onto me, princess, tight.” He grins again and swings his leg over the bike, kicking up the stand and righting the machine. Glancing over to me, he pats the space behind him, and I’m propelled towards him, gingerly climbing up onto the seat and resting my palms on his waist. He reaches around him to pull me in closer, flush against his back, and tugging my arms tight around his body.

The engine revs and below me the bike thrums into life, the vibration racing right around my body.

Then we’re gliding, through the city streets, under the stark lights, passing traffic and party goers, shut up shops and darkened houses. I cling to him, warm against me, firm between my legs, alive with scent and energy, and soon we break free of the city and out into the freedom of the countryside, the bright moon our only companion, stars joining us one by one by one.

I feel like an astronaut, in my helmet and oversized jacket, like I’m flying through the infinity of space. I tip my head right back and it’s as if I’m floating among those stars.

His left hand leaves the handlebar and comes to rest on my bare calf, caressing and stroking my skin as we sail further away from the city.

I lean my chest against his broad back, the leather of his jacket soft, his fingers on my calf soothing. He drives the bike with such ease, it’s like it’s a part of him, and the movement isn’t as violent as I expected but smooth and natural.

All too soon the magic is over, though. Swerving off the main road, we duck under the cover of heavy leaves, the headlights illuminating ghostly trees that crowd around us. We weave through them, the bike swaying to the left and to the right. Then we slow, arriving at our destination; a dirt car park where other bikes and trucks sit empty.

I slip from his bike reluctantly. Lifting the helmet from my head, he gazes down into my eyes. I’m sure they must be sparkling.

“You enjoyed that, princess?”

“Yes,” I say breathlessly, “I could ride with you all night.”

“Happily, princess, happily.”

But then there’s the crunch of dead leaves under foot and Buzz is striding towards me. I shimmy off Ryan’s jacket just as he reaches us. He slides his hand around the back of my neck and kisses the crown of my head.

“You OK, baby?”

“I am now.”

He steps back, although his hand still rests on my nape, and examines my face. Once again eyes land on what must be a bruise on my forehead. His jaw tenses and his eyes flick up to Ryan’s.

“The same alpha,” he asks his pack mate.

“Yes,” Ryan replies.

“I need to know his name, Omega.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”

“We won’t. We’ll simply have a few words with the man–”

I grab hold of the sleeve of Buzz’s t-shirt. “You mustn’t. He’d want to know how you know me and then …” The two pack mates exchange looks again, an unspoken message passing between them. “It’s OK, really. I’ll tell my parents what happened and I’ll never have to see the creep again.”

“I don’t like it,” Ryan growls lowly.

“Me neither,” Buzz says. “The bastard should pay.”

Shyly, I trace my palm along Buzz’s forearm, his skin electric under my touch. “I just want to forget all about it. Please.”

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