Page 46 of Savage Rule

“But you like it?” I waggle my brows.

“Too much.” She leans in and licks my earlobe. “I like all of you too much.”

“Right back at ya.” I pat the seat again. “Get on.”

Her smile suddenly vanishes, replaced by a frown as she stares at the spot. “Can I trust you?”

There’s no need to elaborate further. She wants to know if she can trust that I won’t drive her straight into the heart of the alliance.

In the end, she seems to throw caution to the wind, something someone with her skills would never do. Another contradiction.

I reach over and grab the helmet hanging from her handlebars and place it on her head. Once I’ve pulled out of the garage, she shuts the door and gets on the bike.

Starting the engine, I slowly back us out onto the street. “Ready?”

Scarlet snakes her arms around my waist and her knees tighten to my hips. She sighs and presses her face into my back. That’s when I realize she’s trembling.

“Are you okay?” I turn to look at her.

“This is the first time I’m riding with someone. I won’t have control of the bike.”

“I’ve been riding since I was ten,” I assure her.

“And you might still ride like a ten-year-old.”

This makes scowl and she laughs in that contagious way that forces me to laugh too.

“You hurt my ten-year-old feelings,” I mock.

Patting my arm, she says, “I’m sorry, Dimples. It’s that, believe it or not, I’m scared of dying.”

“You’re an assassin.”

“Isn’t it ironic?” She chuckles and tries to brush it off as nothing more than a joke.

But, I see past what she’s just said, because when she did, fear crept into the green of her eyes and reflected the truth. She’s not only scared of dying, she’s terrified of it.

An assassin that fears death.

“Stop it,” she tells me when I stare at her too long. “I’m messing with you. I’m not scared of anything.”

I take her hand and squeeze. “Yes, you are. But don’t be afraid of me.”

She huffs. “You’re what I have to fear the most.” Her arms come around my waist again and this time, she has her trembling under control. “I’m ready.”

We head down the street leisurely. Soon enough, though, we’re riding full speed. She squeezes tighter, and I can’t say that I hate it one bit.

I’ve always believed there’s nothing better than a long ride with only the sound of the wind in your ears to drown out everything else. That was until this moment, when out of the blue Scarlet decides to let go.

She tightens her thighs and extends her arms out slowly, testing her freedom. When they’re fully out, the wind blowing through her fingers, she throws her head back and shouts, “This is fucking amazing!”

I join her hoots of excitement and think thisisfucking amazing. Only in my wildest dreams have I imagined anything like this.

However, when I catch myself avoiding familiar streets, circling neighborhoods I know are dense with Sinacore men, I realize thisisa dream. A fragile one that I can wake from at any moment.

The thought is sobering enough.

Scarlet must sense the change in me, because she brings her arms in and places her chin on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

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