“It isn’t if it’s bothering you.” He rests his elbow on the shower door, looking down at me.
“I ran into a coworker today. She’s a bitch, and has the IQ of a Barbie, but…” I throw my hand up and roll my eyes. “She’s seeing another deputy in our department, and they went on a date, knowing they could get caught. She might have said something about how they didn’t care if they got caught, that they—”
“You want me to take you on a date,” Zeek interrupts, lowering his arm, causing his chest to tighten.
Inhaling a large breath, I look back at the sink. “It’s stupid. I know we can’t.”
“It is stupid.”
I risk a glance at him, but can’t read him.
“We can’t exactly roll up into a theater, because you and I won’t make it out of said theater without being noticed.”
My chest begins to ache.
“But I can take you out, we can go somewhere.” His body seems tense, his words so confident. It’s as if he wants to take me out, but is nervous as hell about it.
“It could get us caught, though.”
“It could. But if you’re thinking I’m not about taking risks, that this bitch got in your head and made you think you’re not worth that… then you’re mistaken, and I need to prove that to you.”
Grabbing me by the elbows, he runs his rough hands up and down my arms.
“Get dressed.”
He kisses my forehead and steps out.
My heart races, my body becoming sweaty.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see. Make sure you wear sneakers, and jeans. Oh, and grab that hoodie you had on the other night, too,” he hollers back.
SIXTEEN
JILLIAN
Stepping outside, Zeek clutches my hand firmly.
“This way,” he whispers, looking all around. He’s walking fast, and I have to take two steps to his one to keep up. I’m nervous. What if someone sees us together?
He takes me around the house where his motorcycle comes into view.
My eyes widen, and my feet slow. I can’t ride that thing.
“Um, Zeek, we can take my Jeep.”
Looking over his shoulder, he grins.
He grabs the helmet off the handlebars, holding it with both hands.
“Have you ever ridden before?”
“No.”
He smiles. “I didn’t think so.”
“I can’t ride that thing.” I point at the machine, my words getting caught in my throat.
“You can, and you will. You’ll love it.” He places the helmet on my head and laces it tightly.
Throwing his leg over the seat, he starts it. The engine thunders to life, the exhaust loud and sexy at the same time.
Looking at the small amount of seat I’m supposed to sit on, I get even more nervous. I could fall off easily.
Glancing over his shoulder, he eyes me… waiting.
“Live a little, Rookie,” he baits me, and I can’t help but smile.
Here goes nothing.
Awkwardly, I throw my leg over the seat and sit.
Holding him at the hips, I pull myself up to him closely and put my feet on the back pegs.
He grabs my hands and pulls them around him, making me hug him.
“You set?” he asks over his shoulder.
I nod, and my heart races in fear.
“Hold on.”
“Where are we going?” I yell.
He either ignores me, or doesn’t hear me, because he pulls out onto the street.
I clench my eyes shut and squeeze my thighs with the fear of falling off or getting hit being too much to think about.
The bike vibrates beneath me, causing the skin under my thighs to oddly itch. Heat off the exhaust swirls around my ankles, and I set my feet as far out as I can.
It’s an amazing machine. Very sturdy. Very muscular. Very dangerous.
A warm hand grabs one of mine, our fingers interlocking. Opening my eyes, he gives them a squeeze. Lights blur past as he takes an on ramp.
Oh, my God, we’re getting on the freeway!?
I want to close my eyes, but now I’m too scared to even do that.
We fly past other vehicles, weaving around one car, then another truck. Lights dance around us, the air warm and dry. I haven’t died so far, so that’s a plus.
Ten minutes later, we pull off the freeway onto a side road. I’m not squeezing Zeek to death anymore and am actually starting to enjoy the ride.
It’s freeing. The ride cleared my mind, and actually relaxed me.
He heads down some dirt road, a bunch of cacti and boulders ahead. Dust and gravel form into a cloud behind us, and I have to squint to keep it out of my eyes.
Slowing down, he stops and drops the kickstand.
The moon is shining brightly; I can see every star out here.
He turns off the bike and looks over his shoulder. Taking my cue, I climb off the bike the same way I got on—awkwardly.
When he’s off, he helps me remove the helmet.
“Where are we?” I ask, looking around. A large lizard scurries across the desert quickly.
“The movies.” He smiles.
I furrow my brows, not understanding. I don’t see anything for miles.
He takes my hand and leads me to the boulders. He grabs onto one, and lifts his foot.
“We’re climbing?” I laugh.
“Come on, Rookie, surely you had to have some climbing during your training,” he taunts.