Page 12 of Property of Azrael

“Hey, if I have to carry some of her clothes, the least she can do is help me make some space.” He gives me a wink. “Tastes just like a knockoff Fruit Roll-Up. Trust me.”

“Thanks?” How am I supposed to respond to that? I mean, a biker just handed me edible panties like it’s no big deal.

“Ignore this asshole,” Van mutters while climbing back onto his bike. “He’s just testy over not getting a blowjob from grandma this morning.”

I again look at Azrael, who rolls his eyes.

“Come with me.” Gently tugging me by my elbow, he leads me toward the last empty bike at the front. Releasing me, he throws his leg over the seat and offers me his hand. “Slide your left leg over and then shift your body.” Following his instructions, I settle in behind him. Not exactly gracefully, but better than I thought I’d do.

“Is this okay?”

“You’re fine.” I watch as his fingers switch on the ignition, bringing his bike to life. The vibration is strong, even with a seat between us.

“You know, you never gave me your name.”

I hesitate, but I know I have no reasonable choice to deny him that information. “Hallie Palmer.”

“Well, Hallie Palmer, have you ever ridden on the back of a motorcycle before?”

I shake my head.

Leaning over, he takes my foot into his hand and places it on a peg. Switching sides, he repeats the motion with my other foot.

“Keep your feet up here. The engine can get hot, and I don’t want you burning the shit out of yourself. Scoot up closer to my back. It’ll be easier if you wrap your arms around my waist until you get used to riding.”

“My arms around you?” I gulp. I’ve written about so many first rides, but experiencing something like this is far more jarring than I expected it to be.

Azrael reaches back and tugs my hand around his waist. I follow with the other one and lace my fingers together. Even through his leather vest and T-shirt, I can feel the thick, corded muscles of his stomach. My chest heaves as I suck in a breath.

“Relax, Hallie. Just breathe. You’re safe with me.”

Am I, though? Because I’m seriously starting to wonder if I’ve lost my mind.

AZRAEL

If you’d askedme if this was the way I saw today going, I’d have said you were out of your mind. I had no intention of being the white knight on a metal horse for the woman currently clinging to my waist. In fact, I had no intention at all of having a woman riding with me at all this week. Yet here I am, doing all the things I hadn’t intended. Seems to be the theme so far on our trip.

Though, I can’t complain about the way Hallie feels against my back. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice how goddamn gorgeous she is. When Ash pointed her out on the road, I thought she was a mirage. Her shapely legs were on full display, with what I can only describe as the greatest shorts man has ever made. They hugged her curves like a second skin. Her body is a temple I wouldn’t mind worshiping.

Yet it was her eyes that drew me in. Not her cute button nose or her heart-shaped face. It was those emerald green orbs that bore right down to the darkest depths of my soul. Emerald eyes, like the expansive lush fields of Ireland. Her dark hair against them only made their hue brighter. Hallie is beautiful, and beautiful is going to be a problem. A big one. The last thing I need is to get attached, but one look at her and I was lost. I was determined not to leave that spot on the highway without her. It just wasn’t an option for me at that point.

If she is the proverbial damsel in distress, I don’t mind playing the white knight or the villain in the story. Not one fucking bit.

“You okay?” I ask over my shoulder. Hallie leans in closer, her chest pressing against my shoulder blades.

“I’m good,” she says loud enough for me to hear. “That storm looks really bad.”

“It does. We’re going to pull off here soon. One of the guys found us a hotel to ride out the storm.”

“Hotel?”

“Yeah. We can’t ride in weather like that. Too dangerous.”

I feel Hallie’s body tense against mine. Whether it be the storm barreling closer to us or the mention of the hotel, I’m not sure, but we don’t have a choice if we want to stay upright. Storms plus motorcycles equal wrecks.

Fox pulls up next to us, smiling like a fool at Hallie behind me.

“How was your snack?” he teases her. I scowl at him, but it only makes him laugh harder. “Hotel is at the next exit. Follow me.” Fox speeds up in front of the pack and leads us off the exit a few miles later. A decent sized hotel sits just off the exit next to a few restaurants. We find a space in the parking lot big enough to house our bikes and covered enough that should the storm turn vicious, the damage would be minimal. I kill the engine and pop the kickstand.

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