“I've never ridden one before,” I say and then wonder if that was a mistake when his brows go up.
“Never ridden a motorcycle before,” Royal starts and then his grin gets a little wider. “So you're a virgin biker, eh?”
“I'm not a virgin anything,” I say and then almost get caught up in his laughter when he chuckles at me. I can sense a dangerous energy, something that deep down that screams Don't fuck with me! from a primal level. At the same time, his humor's infectious. “You should know that.”
“Oh, should I?” he asks as an unbidden smile curls my lips.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I ask again. “And how did you know where I lived?” I mean to sound angry and indignant, but it doesn't work. I've already forgotten about Brent and the feds and the missing VP.
What a big mistake.
“I stopped by your office today and found that pretty blonde sister of yours. She has a big mouth, that one.”
I purse my lips and narrow my eyes. Kailey gave Royal my address. It should surprise me that my older sister would give an outlaw biker that kind of information, but it doesn't. Not one bit.
“You came all the way over here to ask me if I wanted to ride on your motorcycle with you?”
“Reality check, Pint-Size,” Royal says, grabbing a helmet off the leather seat of his bike and tossing it to me. “I'm not asking. This is an order. Change into some leather and denim and get your ass on that bike.” He grins while he says it, but I get the idea that this is a man who isn't used to having his orders ignored.
And I'm a woman who doesn't like to be told what to do, especially from sexy British men with too many tattoos and a leather jacket with a snarling wolf's face on it.
“I have a date tonight,” I lie—I'm getting a little too used to lying lately—but then decide to make it the truth instead. “With a bottle of wine and a jar of pesto.”
“Sounds smashing. We'll break into that when we get back.” Royal gestures at my house with a jerk of his chin. “Your gear's on the porch, but if you want to invite me in, I can help you slip into it.”
“I haven't agreed to anything yet, Mr. McBride.”
“Mr. McBride?” Royal says, his dark eyes twinkling. “So we're back to that? I thought proper etiquette suggests that any man who's seen that naughty little red thong of yours gets to be on a first name basis?”
“Etiquette would suggest,” I say in my most haughty voice, “that any man who's seen said thong in question would refrain from mentioning it in the lady's front yard.”
“My apologies, Pint-Size. It's just … ” Royal runs his tongue across his lower lip. “That thong … and all the deliciously little naughty bits beneath it have been on my mind since yesterday. I kicked myself all day today for letting you leave last night.”
“Letting me leave? Look, I don't know how these groupies of yours act around you, but I'm not the kind of woman who anyone lets do anything.”
“And I'm not the kind of man who takes no for an answer,” Royal says, stepping towards me and sweeping his arm around my waist. Before I can protest, his mouth is covering mine, hot and desperate and wanting, turning my entire body into a greedy mess. I want him so bad I can hardly breathe, my fingers sliding up the leather front of his jacket and curling around his big shoulders. This is probably a bad idea, making out in my yard like this. Trinidad might be growing at an exponential rate, but it's still got that small town feel. A lot of my neighbors know my dad's the mayor.
But right now?
I. Don't. Care.
For the first time in a long time, I don't give a shit about anything but what's happening to me right here, right now. Royal tastes freedom, like rebellion, like a million other things I've never experienced. I've planned my whole life out from birth to death. I know what I want to do, what I want to achieve, where I want to live.
I just never knew I wanted this.
Lyric's tiny body trembles in my arms, but I don't think she's even aware of it. All of the suppressed need in this girl is stifling in the best of ways. I want to let it sweep over me and drag me under. And then I want to scoop her up in my arms and take her over the back of my bike.
Maybe later.
Right now, we're going riding.
I let my hands roam over Lyric's body, enjoying the way she presses her breasts into me, wiggling that soft, curvy body against mine.
“Go get your gear on,” I murmur against her mouth and her eyes snap open like she's just realized I'm feeling her up in her front yard. Lyric pulls away and wipes her arm across her mouth like that'll get her to forget me. “It's going to take a hell of a lot more than that,” I growl, grabbing her around the waist again and pulling her close.