Page 54 of Blade

Tearing my gaze away, I climbed on my bike and held out my hand to her. Feeling her hand in mine hit me in the gut,as I realized this was the first time we had touched each other since she returned home.

It felt like the last puzzle piece slid into place.

She climbed on behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist like she did when we were kids. All those times riding around town never felt like this. Feeling her squished up against me on my dirt bike had my horny teenage dick standing at attention, but this?

This felt like peace.

The ride home was way too fucking short because before I could blink, we were sitting in the driveway, her arms still holding me.

I turned the key, killing the engine and tapped her leg, letting her know she could get off. She moved her hands to my shoulders and slid off the bike.

I climbed off after her and walked her to the door.

“You gonna be ok?” I asked.

She looked up at me. “I think so.”

“I don’t want you to have nightmares.”

She had nightmares about everything when we were growing up.

Scary movies?

Nightmare.

Carnival rides?

Nightmare.

Arguing with her mother?

Nightmare.

“How do you know I get nightmares?”

Shit, I needed to watch what I said to her.

“I know when women get attacked, they often blame themselves and that guilt can manifest as nightmares. Don’t blame yourself for this. I don’t want you to have nightmares,” I explained, looking down at my boots.

“Well, maybe you should give me something else to dream about.”

I jerked my head up, surprised by her words.

“What?”

Looking at the door to the kitchen, she confessed, “Tonight was a nightmare. I shouldn’t have gone out withhim. I thought I knew him. I realized tonight that I never really did, despite having met him so long ago.”

She paused and looked back at me.

“I don’t know you either, but Grams and Rachel do. They both trust you and I trust them. So, you must be a better man than him.I want you to kiss me and give me something to dream about.Something other than what happened.”

“Beck, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I voiced. My eyes on her full lips.

It was a terrible idea, but I couldn’t tell her that. I couldn’t tell her that if I got a taste of her again, I wouldn’t let her go this time.

“Ok, I’m sorry, I know you don’t like me. I just thought maybe… since you came for me, there might be something in me you were ok with.”

She was standing before me with her arms wrapped around her middle, looking so small. She was reading me completely wrong if she thought I didn’t want her.

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