The engine roared to life, and I realized that in a short amount of time, that sound had started to ignite a fire within my soul. It fueled me with energy, and electricity coursed through my veins as soon as the hum of the motor flowed through to my skin. I imagined the vibrations to be as addictive as narcotics, or maybe that was the man who brought the noise to my ears and the rumble between my thighs. It was raucous and should have startled me with as frazzled as I was after the encounter in the parking lot, but it calmed me with the anticipation of the freedom I found on the back. The solitude, the lack of noise except the rustle of wind, the inability to communicate with anything other than nature-it trumped yoga, chocolate, and my little experience with sex. Ryker didn't have to ask me twice to hop on. The moment he put that helmet on my head, I was ready to ride.And then he took a right out of Swank's parking lot rather than left. I leaned in while he could still hear m

I stood there in stunned silence, absorbing everything he'd said. The heat from his palms burned through my shirt, searing my skin beneath the fabric. My hands shook uncontrollably as I pushed Ryker away. Every nerve ending in my body frayed, leaving me raw and agitated. I'd worked too hard to stay clean from these people. All I'd ever wanted was to get out of Glendale Heights and Dacon, Illinois. And if what Ryker had said was true, the moment I'd agreed to help Ma, I gave all that up. Tears pooled in my eyes, and I fought like hell to keep them from falling. It wasn't sadness those drops expressed; it was full-blown fury. My head turned from side to side in utter disbelief as I seethed. No one's mother should ever ask their child for this sort of ransom, yet mine had offered me up as a sacrificial lamb. Ryker invaded my space against my will. I could hear myself mumbling, although I didn't know what the hell was actually coming out of my mouth. I couldn't make sense of my thoug

Nikki walked toward my Harley while I locked the door. When she picked up the helmet she'd been wearing, she glanced back."No bike today."She appeared surprised and set down the helmet. "Are we walking?" Confusion was cute on her. "SUV." I pointed toward the black Tahoe two spaces over. "My mom can't stand to see me on a motorcycle. Plus, I'd hate to mess up your hair before you got there." I winked, and she scoffed. Nikki met me on the sidewalk, and I led her to the passenger door. "If you have an SUV, why do you always ride the motorcycle?""Chicks dig it." I closed her inside and then rounded the front.When I got in, she said, "You're insufferable.""You've mentioned that once or twice."The remainder of the ride was uneventful and quiet. Nikki didn't say a word, not even to mouth the lyrics on the radio or try to talk me out of forcing her to go with me. If she had noticed the detour I took back to our neighborhood, she didn't mention it. I had hoped to catch C

When she pulled back a fraction, I sighed, sad to let her go. But she didn't pull free. No, in fact, all she did was create enough room to explore my chest and shoulders with her fingers. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to absorb her touch, and I basked in the swell of my heart. Every stroke of her nails was like a shot of scotch that warmed its way down my throat and then coated my stomach in relaxed bliss. With each caress, Nikki became more brazen. Her hand dipped a bit lower on my abdomen or inched a tad higher on my jaw. I itched to have her, to take her and claim her. I didn't know a damn thing about the girl, but she'd eaten a hole into my heart and then waltzed right into it and set up shop, made it her home. That shit was dangerous, but I'd be damned if I didn't want it all the same. I stilled to keep her from meeting my growing erection, but if she kept up this pattern of delicious torture, there would be nothing I could do to spare her the introduction. Basketball sho

I gasped, sitting straight up in bed. My heart hammered against my sternum, and it took me a minute to realize I wasn't at home nor in any danger. At least not immediate, imminent danger. Clutching my chest, I took several ragged breaths in an attempt to calm my racing pulse."Babe?" Ryker sat up next to me, clearly concerned by my sudden burst of panic. "What's wrong?"The sun hadn't begun to rise, leaving the room as dark as Egypt. I wanted nothing more than to turn on the overhead light to soothe my erratic soul, but I was being irrational. I knew that, yet I couldn't stop the feeling of impending doom. His arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and he hauled me into his lap between his legs. "Talk to me." The husky rattle of his voice should have scared me, but I relaxed into his embrace instead. The rise of his chest against my back began to soothe my trepidation.I shook my head and cradled his arms in mine. "Just a bad dream." One that felt as real as his touch.