me back.
I’d never enjoyed kissing like I did with Lila. Every time was sweet and hot as fuck. She smelled like soap and cherries and Lila, and I wanted to suck on her tongue, then lick a path up her throat and take a bite out of her.
When I pulled back grinning she laughed, all bubbly and filled with pleasure.
“Hello to you, too.”
“Christ, you’re hot.”
She glanced down at herself and frowned.
“You could be wearing a sack and you’d still give me a hard-on.”
She bit the side of her lip. “I remember a time you weren’t so excited to see me.”
I groaned. “Don’t remind me, Bambi. I was fucked off my face. It kills me to think about that.” Her legs had found their way around my waist and I pressed deeper. “Also makes me insane thinking about your mouth on my dick and not being able to remember it.” I brushed my mouth over hers again. “I’m so sorry, baby, you know that, right? I was in a shitty place and didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”
She nodded. “I know that now, I do.”
Knowing how insecure she could be, I understood how huge it was for her to come to me that night, offering herself. I’d decimated her trust that night. I hated that most of all. But I’d do whatever it took to get that back, to get us there again.
“That’s why we’re taking this slow. I don’t want you regretting anything we do together.”
What would she think if she knew what you did for the club, what you’d done to your own brother?
“Okay,” she said softly.
I buried my face against her throat and breathed her in. Her scent, the feel of her soft body pressed against mine soothed me like nothing and no one else ever had. I couldn’t lose her again. I’d keep her safe—and as far away from the old man as I could.
“You ready to go?” I said when I lifted my head.
The lovely pink of her cheeks deepened. “Yep.”
I reluctantly eased her down my body and picked up the leather jacket. “You’ll need to wear this.” I held it up and she slid her arms in the sleeves. I zipped it up to her chin. The thing swamped her smaller frame, but I wasn’t taking any risks with her. I led her to the bike and she was bouncing with excitement by the time we reached it.
I put a helmet on her and did up the strap. “Tap my stomach if you freak out or want me to slow down, okay?”
She nodded and I climbed on. Lila climbed on behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I didn’t let just anyone ride on the back of my bike. Sofia was family and I’d had to ride with her out of necessity, but that seat behind me had always been reserved for my old lady when I got one.
I wanted that to be Lila.
Maybe it was too soon to be thinking like that. I didn’t give a shit. I’d known it from the first time I’d laid eyes on her. Now I had her back and there was no way I was letting her go.
But for now, we’d take it slow. Lila was shy, needed time to adjust. Eventually, I’d introduce her to the club. I thought I could keep her and that part of my life separate, but that wasn’t going to work. I wasn’t going to rush it, though, and mess everything up. It had to be on my terms so I had complete control over the situation. Definitely not until I was sure my old man wasn’t a threat anymore.
Then all bets were off.
“Hold on, Bambi,” I said and started my bike.
The rumble of the engine filled the air, the bike vibrating under us, and Lila squeezed me tighter as I eased out and onto the street. I took it easy to start with, taking the corners carefully, before going a little faster. She seemed okay, so when we hit the highway, I opened the bike up.
Lila laughed and squealed in delight over the roar of the engine.
I grinned and reached down, covering one of her hands, giving it a squeeze, and she tightened her arms around me, hugging me back.
Right then, that moment, was the happiest in my entire life.
I was in love with Lila Cooper.
And there was no coming back from it, for either of us.
I didn’t go far. I didn’t want Lila to get cold.
I