I nod my head and spin around, happy to escape his piercing gaze. He sees everything, and right now I’m open and vulnerable. It’s not a position I like being in. I return to my room, close the door, and lay down where I proceed to toss and turn for the next couple of hours. I drift off as the sun rises high in the sky.
The next day is dreamlike. I’m still trying to decide if it’s a nightmare or not. I slip on the tight, black shorts and black tank top with the words Kings of Chaos scrawled across the front, below our emblem. After fluffing my curls and putting on some dark red lipstick, I study my reflection. I look different, like I’ve aged years in a matter of days. The frightened girl is gone. In her place rests a confident woman ready to figure out what the hell she wants out of life. I snag the black sunglasses, push them into my mane, and leave. I take the stairs two at a time, using my momentum to keep me from freaking out. I don’t like being the center of attention, and tonight all eyes will be on Wizard and me.
I hit the bottom of the stairs, and Wizard lets out a high-pitched wolf-whistle. “Looking good, Nevada. Did you dress up on my account?” His eyes sparkle with mirth.
I smile shyly. I’m not used to compliments from him. “Well, I have to make sure you look good, right?”
“You’re getting the hang of things already.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
He moves to stand a few inches away. “I know you are. Tonight, I want you to do something for me.”
Tensing, I ask, “What?” Part of me is waiting for the bottom to fall out from beneath me.
“I want you to have fun.”
“I always do.”
“No, you pretend.” He runs his fingers down the side of my face.
My heart beats overtime. He’s in my personal space. His gaze is focused on mine, and inside I’m melting.
“But it never reaches those green eyes of yours. I’ve known you a long time, Nevy. I know when you’re bullshitting.”
He sees me, the woman I keep hidden behind my barriers. It’s exhilarating and horrifying at the same time. “How can I have a good time when I know what’s going to happen?” I whisper.
“You let me worry about your father. He’s just trying to save some of the face he doesn’t realize he lost years ago.”
“You make it sound so simple,” I say wistfully. For him, it’s black and white. I never saw it that way.
“It is. Come on, green eyes, you know he can’t hurt me.” Wrapping an arm around my shoulders he pulls me to his side.
His presence is warm and mascu
line. His hardness complements my softness, and I can’t stop inhaling the scent of leather and man.
“I didn’t do this so you could tuck back into your shell. I want you to live for the first time, babe. We’re all about living free, yet you’ve been nothing but a damn prisoner. That stops tonight.”
I exhale and blow loose strands of hair away from my face. “You can’t just order someone to stop worrying.”
“Funny, I just did."
“Well, it doesn’t work that way. I don’t even know how to turn it off,” I admit.
“Then learn.”
His tone leaves no room for argument. I’ve seen him cut a man much tougher than I down, so I clamp my mouth shut.
“Good choice.”
Like you gave me one.
He drops his arm and smacks my ass. “Let’s go play our part for the night and get wasted. Plan on crashing at the clubhouse.”
His words make my pulse speed up. That means sharing a bed. He might not be tonguing me down in public, but he wouldn’t make himself out to be some celibate saint either. My stomach churns. He was easy on the eyes—I’d always had a crush—but the attraction felt wrong after the way we were pushed together. I didn’t want to lose my virginity to a pity fuck. Outside, we climb onto the back of his bike and I wrap my hands around his waist. It was symbolic, this ride. He starts the bike, and it purrs to life between my legs.
From now on, this was where I would belong, at Wizard’s back. In a few hours, I’d even have the Property of Wizard cut to prove it. He pulls away from the curb and I mold my chest to his back. The bottom drops out from my stomach. Whether it was from nerves or excitement, I can’t say. That’s what scares me most. I’m already getting lost in this ruse and it hasn’t even been a month. The wind rushes back, blowing my hair away from my face, and cooling the heat lingering in my cheeks and on my neck. It’s white noise. Nothing matters when I’m on the back of a bike. I close my eyes and inhale his scent, allowing myself to let go and enjoy this day.