Cars and trucks passed by doing their daily thing. A few horns blew as well as idiots yelling stupid stuff out the window at her, but she paid them no attention until the sound of a motorcycle in the distance reached her ears. She knew the sound of that bike anywhere. Dammit, she didn’t want them to think she took off hoping someone would come running after her. She wasn’t one of those girls.
“I didn’t leave so anyone would come chasing me down.” Jill stopped walking when he pulled up beside her. “I’m just taking a run since we didn’t work out this morning.” She had tied her shirt together in a half shirt showing some stomach so the ripped part was closed.
She turned to start walking again, but he rode along side of her. Dammit, why did he have to look so damn handsome sitting on that bike with his faded ripped blue jeans, plain black t-shirt that fitted him like a second skin. That and the way he sat on the bike like it was nothing to have all that power between his legs, made her heart skip. His corded arms stretched to the handlebars where his strong capable hands controlled the speed and power of the bike. Damn, it was hot out today. She rubbed the back of her neck. She felt his eyes on her and chanced a glance.
“Get on,” he ordered, stopping, his large muscular leg on the ground, holding the huge bike up.
“Slade, I’m good.” Jill even smiled; it was fake as hell, but it was a smile. “I just need a minute to reflect on some stuff. I’m not going to off myself by jumping in front of a car or anything. I just need to cool down. Really, I’m fine.”
That was everything she said aloud, but inside her mind, she was smacking herself by being stupid enough to pass up a golden opportunity to straddle herself behind this awesome hunk of man, for him to take her anywhere he wanted to take her. Her arms would be wrapped around his hard torso, her hands clutching his ripped stomach. Yet there she was saying no, because she needed Jill-time. Fuck Jill-time, she wanted to scream and make it Slade time, but her mouth and body just did the dumb thing and said no, Mr. Hot Warrior, leave me be. What in the hell was wrong with her.
A truck full of men slowed down, yelling obscenities and making gestures at Jill. Slade turned his head with a loud growl, flashing his fangs at them. One of them banged their head on the doorframe trying to pull his head back in the truck window. The truck peeled away, running the red light ahead almost broadsiding another car.
“You almost caused an accident.” Jill raised her eyebrows at him. When he didn’t answer, she turned to start walking again.
The bike revved up to a roar as he pulled up on the sidewalk blocking her way. “Get on the fucking bike.” Slade lifted his sunglasses to stare at her. “Now.”
It was a battle for only a few seconds. Knowing she was going to lose anyway, she walked up to the bike, grabbed his shoulder as she lifted her leg over, and then put her feet on the pegs. “Since you asked so nicely.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have a helmet.”
“I’ll be careful.” He was looking down to make sure she was ready. “Where in the hell are your shoes?”
“At the warehouse.” She wasn’t going to say any more than that, but thought what the hell. Might as well get it out there in the open. “I didn’t want to interrupt yours and Jax’s conversation, so I left them.”
She felt him stiffen at her words as she wrapped her arms around him, but he kept quiet. Revving the engine, he carefully pulled into traffic. Once cleared with the open road ahead, he opened the bike up and Jill never felt freer in her life. If she ever made enough money, she was definitely getting herself a bike. Although, if Slade bowed down and agreed to be her driver for life, she would reconsider, because having her body pressed against his was pure heaven.
“Why are we here?” she asked, a little disappointed when he pulled into the warehouse.
“To get your shoes.” He kicked the stand down and then leaned forward so she could slide off before he swung himself off in one fluid motion, heading toward the door.
“Oh,” Jill replied, feeling stupid. What did she expect, a long ride to somewhere private and beautiful where they could sit and stare lovingly at each other? Jill actually smacked her forehead trying to knock some sense into herself, and then noticed he was watching her through the reflection of the glass door. “Bug.” She passed him without looking when he held the door open for her.
Spotting her shoes, she went to get them without turning on the lights. Turning, she walked back out, but stopped because Slade’s silhouette outlined the doorway.
“You’re not going to quit.” His deep voice surrounded her. His golden eyes glowed in the darkness of the room.
“I’m not planning on it.” Jill held her shoes to her chest. “But I think your liability rules need to be changed. It’s totally unfair.”
Slade stood still as stone, not moving. “It is unfair, but it is the way it is.”