Page 47 of Wolf's Whisper

Chapter Seventeen

Janelle

Icouldn't resist Onyx's invitation and eagerly agree to spend this weekend with her. The kids are heading over to Mouthpiece and Jenna's place. They have two teenagers and are excited to have younger company in the house.

I’m finishing up on my make-up in the bathroom when Onyx pokes her head in, “You are gorgeous with or without make-up.” She gives me a smile and winks at me.

I roll my eyes but can’t stop the blush creeping up my neck. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Onyx,” I tease, dabbing on a final touch of lipstick. “But if I’m going out on a real date, I’m putting in the effort.”

Onyx leans against the doorframe, her arms folded across her chest. She has that lopsided grin that always makes my heart skip a beat. "I'm not sure," she says, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "I'll watch all these people looking at you and wanting you."

I laugh softly, capping the lipstick and turning to face her. “Oh, please. You’re the one who’s going to have heads turning. Leather jacket, that confident biker swagger—trust me, you’ll be the show's star.”

She steps closer, her blue eyes locking on mine. “Don’t care about anyone else looking at me,” she murmurs, her voice dropping just enough to shiver down my spine. “Just want your eyes on me."

Damn it, how does she do that? One sentence, and I’m already melting.

“Well,” I manage to say, trying to sound composed despite my knees feeling like jelly. “You’ve got my attention. Now let’s see if whatever you’ve planned for tonight is as impressive as your smooth talking.”

Onyx grins and offers me her arm with a dramatic flourish. "Ma’am, your chariot awaits."

I loop my arm through hers, laughing as she leads me out of the house. Parked in the driveway is her motorcycle, polished to perfection and gleaming under the soft glow of the porch light. A second helmet rests on the seat, waiting for me.

“You weren’t kidding about the chariot part,” I say, eyeing the bike with excitement and nervousness. It’s been years since I’ve been on one, and never with someone I trusted as much as Onyx.

She smirks, grabbing the helmet and holding it out to me. “Told you, I don’t do things halfway. Are you all right with riding? We can take my truck if you’d rather.”

The thought of sitting that close to her, my arms wrapped around her waist as we ride into the night, sends a thrill that I can’t entirely hide. “I’ll take my chances,” I reply, slipping the helmet on and securing the strap under my chin.

“Good choice,” she says, pulling on her helmet before swinging a leg over the bike with practiced ease. She starts it up, and the engine roars to life, sending a vibration through the night air that makes my heart race for reasons beyond the obvious. She turns back to look at me, her eyes sparkling behind the visor and pats the seat behind her. "Hop on, partner in crime."

I take a deep breath, smoothing my dress before climbing behind her. My hands hover awkwardly, unsure where to put them until Onyx reaches back and grabs one of them, guiding it firmly around her waist. "Hold tight," she says over the rumble of the engine. "I don’t want to lose you halfway there."

"Like I’d let go," I mutter, primarily for my reassurance.

The ride was exhilarating in a way I hadn’t expected. The wind rushes past us as we weave through streets bathed in golden light from streetlamps. The city feels alive around us, but I can only focus on the steady warmth of Onyx beneath me and the sense of freedom that comes with being on the open road. I rest my cheek against her back, letting the rhythm of the bike and the scent of leather and faint cologne lull me into a strange sense of peace.

After a while, we pull up outside a cozy little restaurant tucked away from the main roads. Fairy lights are strung along the patio, casting a warm glow over the tables, and soft jazz musicdrifts through the air. It’s intimate, charming, and nothing like I’d expected.

Onyx cuts the engine and helps me off the bike, her hand lingering at my waist as I steady myself. "Well?" she asks, tilting her head toward the restaurant. "Impressed yet?"

I take in the scene, a grin creeping across my face. "I’ll admit it. You’ve outdone yourself."

"Good," she says, leading me toward the entrance. "Because I wasn’t coming here just for the food. I figured it should be somewhere special if I’m going to wine and dine you.”

I arch an eyebrow at her as we step inside, where the warm interior matches the charm of the patio. “Special, huh? Is this your go-to spot for impressing women?”

Onyx laughs, low and amused, shaking her head as she pulls out a chair for me at a corner table. “Nah. You’re the first person I’ve brought here. Usually, it’s just me and a burger joint if I’m lucky.”

I smirk as I take my seat. “So what you’re saying is…I’m special.”

She leans on the back of my chair, bending down to meet my gaze. Her blue eyes are so intense they make me momentarily forget how to breathe. “You have no idea,” she says softly before straightening up and sitting across from me.

The server arrives with menus, but honestly? I can barely focus on the words in front of me. My eyes dart at Onyx, watching as she casually leans back in her chair, flipping through the menu. This is no big deal; she didn’t just say something to replay in my head for the next week.

“You okay over there?” she asks, her lips twitching upward as if she knows exactly how flustered I am.

“Perfectly fine,” I reply, lifting my menu to hide my face—smooth Janelle. The server comes back, and we pick our entrées.Onyx chose water to drink since she was driving but encouraged me to drink a glass of wine since we don’t have the kids tonight.

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