Page 101 of The Quarterback Sneak

“Where’s everyone going?”

“To the five-course dinner. I’m assuming we’ll be stuck at the table with Jamie and a few other debutants.”

“Come on, it won’t be that bad. I’ll play footsie with you under the table.” I giggle and flick my gaze to the debutants. Being in there with Zach is the last thing I want to do.

I jerk his arm to stop him from following the crowd. “I’ve got a better idea. Let’s get out of here.”

“What?”

Raising my brows, I look at him with challenge. “You brought your bike, right?”

“Yes, but what about your parents?”

I shrug. “What about them? They were more than happy to arrange my life with Jamie without my consent, so now I’m leaving without theirs. Besides, I’ve already ruined their well-made plans. If I go back in there, I might embarrass her more.”

“Are you sure?”

I drag my hand down to his, waffling them. “Never been more sure of something in my life. Come on, we need to get out before everyone’s seated.”

Knocking into a few debutants on the way, I drag Zach through the crowd. He silently lets me lead, and the valet tries to stop us when we get outside.

“Where’s your bike?”

He tilts his head behind me. “Over there. I didn’t trust the valet.”

“Don’t blame you.”

When we get to the bike, he looks down at my dress, then back to his ride. “They aren’t saving this for your wedding, are they?” He draws me closer before his hands drift down the tulle of my skirt.

I shake my head. “No. It’ll be left to rot in the back of my closet now.”

“Good.” Still holding onto the tulle, he drops to his knees. “Sorry about this,” he mumbles before pulling at the fabric, shredding it off me. I squeal as he rips layer after layer of tulle until I’m left with shredded fabric at my mid-thigh.

Zach looks fondly at his work. “There, now you can sit on the bike.” He opens the top box, pulls out two helmets, and handsme one. As I pull my hair out of its chignon, I notice a small blob of yellow among the shiny black of the helmet.

“It’s a bee?”

He smiles coyly. “Thought you deserved your own helmet after everything.” He grabs his jacket and tries to pass off that comment as nothing, but he got me my own helmet. That means he expects me to be on the back, right? He drapes his jacket over my shoulders and takes the helmet from me. “Put it on. You’ll get cold with your boobs on display like that.” He gestures to the sweetheart neckline of my dress, and I can feel myself blushing as I push my arms through the holes as he puts the helmet on me.

“Sorry we had to mess up your hair.” Holding back an amused smile, he asks, “Do they call that style a beehive?”

My eyes widen because that reminds me. Pulling my dress forward, I push my hand into my bra. “Whoa, Honeycomb, we’re in a parking lot. I know it’s been a while, but I think they might have security cameras.” I pull out his gold necklace, and his smile softens. “There it is.”

“Where did you think I put it?”

“I had no idea, but today was the first day that I saw you without it, and I didn’t want to admit how shit that made me feel. But I shouldn’t be surprised. This is your mom’s fancy ball, after all. A fifty-dollar necklace would have ruined the look. That dress probably costs more than my scholarship.”

“Will you help me put it back on?”

“Sure.” Taking the necklace, he walks behind me, draping the gold across my neck and clasping it. “There you go.”

He gets on the back of the bike, watching me expectantly. I’m hesitant at first because I’ve never been on a bike, let alone been on one while wearing a wedding dress. “Do you need help?”

“No. I’m good.” I have no idea what I’m doing, but how hard could mounting a bike be? Throwing a leg over, I sit comfortablyon the black leather, leaning forward until his hard body rests between my thighs.

Squirming, I try to adjust because the only thing coming between Zach’s body and my center is a thin lace thong.

Zach takes my hands and places them firmly against his stomach. “Relax. Can you feel my body?”

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