Page 58 of Shades of Silver City

“So no car, huh?” I ask.

“It’s easier to navigate the city like this,” Archer says.

I quirk a brow. “You mean easier to outrun the Scouts?”

His responding grin is wholly mischievous.

My gaze shifts from the bike to him, and I’m grateful for the tinted visor in front of my face, because now I can gawk at him, fully and unabashedly.

He’s damn sexy next to his bike, dressed in all black, with his tousled dark-blond hair and tatted fingers. His jeans, leather jacket, and combat boots make sense now—protection from the road, should he crash.

It’s less about style and more about safety and practicality.

A knot forms in my stomach, and I find myself unexpectedly worrying about his safety. I hope he doesn’t ever have to put his denim and leather to the test.

“Looks expensive,” I say awkwardly, trying to fill the silence.

He bites his lip and glances away, rubbing the back of his neck as if he’s embarrassed. The response is so cute and innocent, so not what I expected, that laughter bursts out of me. I shake my head, then laugh even harder at how the weight of the helmet slows my movement down.

He grins, and his features come alive. My breath stutters, catching in my throat. Sirius save me, he is damn handsome.

He doesn’t respond to my comment, so I quickly turn away from him, saying, “Put your damn helmet on.”

He does as I tell him. Then he swings a leg over the bike and settles onto the seat. He presses a button and squeezes the handles, and the engine purrs to life. Unlike some of the motorcycles I’ve heard roar past, this one isn’t very boisterous.

“Get on!” he calls over the bike’s seductive hum.

Gingerly, I throw a leg over the bike and plant my ass as far back as I can possibly get without falling off the seat. I clutch the back of his jacket in my fists.

His body shakes with laughter. He releases the handles, reaching back to grab my wrists. Then, tugging my hands around his body, he plants them on his abs.

“Keep your arms around my waist and hold on tight!” he yells. “And scoot forward so you don’t fall off!”

Gritting my teeth, I slowly move forward until my body is flush against his. I tighten my arms around him and lean forward. His belly expands with a deep breath. Then all the air rushes out, and he goes still.

“Ready?”

“Yes!” I call back.

“Hang on tight!”

Before I can gather my thoughts, the bike vibrates to life and takes off, shooting through the parking garage.

“Oh my Gods!” I shriek with glee as I squeeze him even harder.

My head grows heavy with the inertia.

He slows for each turn, weaving us down the ramps and out onto the main road. The world whizzes past as he accelerates. The hair peeking out from the bottom of the helmet whips around my face, getting knotted. I can only giggle.

Adrenaline courses through my veins, and my heart pounds so frantically that I’m convinced Archer can feel it against his back.

Gods, I’ve never felt like this before.

So alive.

So free.

So untouchable.

---