Page 7 of Brightness

“Where you off to in such a hurry?” Nycto grunts.

“Taking Ivy for a ride.”

“’Bout fuckin’ time,” he murmurs as we scurry outside, up the concrete ramp to where the club’s bikes sit in a proud line of sleek metallic paint and shining chrome. They sparkle in the heat of the midday sun, almost blinding me they are so freaking brilliant in their sheen.

Void leads me over to his ride. When he stands next to it proudly, I draw my bottom lip in with my teeth, and he grabs an open-face helmet from the fence and hands it to me. “You need to wear this.”

Void steps close and places the helmet over my long, chestnut hair. His eyes meet mine, while one corner of his lips turns up in the most devilishly gorgeous way.

“We’re really doing this?” I bounce on my toes.

“Yeah, we are.” He does the strap up firmly under my chin, then gently taps the top. “There… nice and safe.”

I crinkle my nose as he throws a leg over his ride, the move making my insides quiver. I’ve never seen a simple movement be so sexy in all my life. The way his strong, thick hands grip the handlebars, and the way his shoulder muscles pull taut with the positioning of his arms… the man’s fucking intense, but it’s a sight I need to witness more often. My thighs clench together in a futile attempt to dull the ache forming between my legs.

I’m not a stranger to this feeling. I’ve been turned on plenty of times. Being a virgin doesn’t mean I’m not attuned to my body. I am all too aware when something or someone is turning me on, and Void like this, on his bike and ready to ride, is definitely turning me on.

“You gonna hop on behind me, sweet thing?”

I raise a brow. “Sweet thing?”

“Don’t worry, I know you’re strong enough to break my teeth like taffy if I’m not careful. Now stop delaying and get your sexy ass behind me.”

I smirk, secretly loving my new pet name. Moving in, I shift my leg over the bike and jostle into position behind him. Wrapping my arms around his toned waist, I hold on probably tighter than I should, but I’m going to enjoy it while I can.

“Hold on the whole time, Ivy. Move with me. No jerky movements or letting go. Got it?”

“Mm-hmm,” I murmur, a sudden flush crossing my cheeks for no apparent reason.

“You’re not scared, are you?” he asks, looking over his shoulder at me.

Being wrapped around him, my front pressed to his back, with the power of his machine beneath me and the excitement of what’s to come is all more than a little arousing for me. My clit throbs in my panties as images of Void taking my virginity on this bike race through my mind. “No… not scared.”

Void grins. “Good.” He faces the front and turns the engine over, and the motor roars to life, sending vibrations all the way through to my bones. The energy seeps into my very soul as I clench my eyes tight, taking in the endorphins that seem to be racing through me.

“Holy hell,” I whisper, more about the fact my arousal is now in overdrive than anything else.

“I knew you’d love this,” Void calls out over the dulcet purr of the engine.

Void duck-walks the bike back, then slowly rides toward the front gate, where West is waiting. When he pulls the gate open for us, we ride through, making our way past the wrought iron fence, then Void hammers down, unleashing the bike’s full potential.

We speed off down the road at terminal velocity, which forces a loud squeal to escape me. I grip onto Void tighter and feel his torso moving up and down with his laughter.

My hair whips behind me in the breeze, and calm rolls through me. My eyes water a little from the windburn, but they soon adjust, and I take the time to admire the beauty that is Tampa.

With my need to be hiding out in the Cell, secluded from everything, I’d forgotten what it was like to be out in the sun. There’s a huge, wild world out here I was hiding away from. I’d gotten so caught up in the fact I didn’t want the life I had in Cuba that I’d made my life here all about sheltering myself away.

From the outside.

From the other members of the club.

Sure, I have Dash, Void, and my sister, but I hardly talk to anyone else. I mean, I do, but only when necessary. I hardly ever come upstairs. I found my home down there, but only because I was trying not to be the person I once was. In trying to find someone new within myself, I’ve created a person I’m not sure is completely healthy.

I need to get out more.

Talk to people.

Create a life that’s not all gloom and doom.

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