Page 37 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

“Yes.” He replies simply and tosses me a helmet.

“You want us to ride to town on that?”

I glance at my dress that seemed a good idea at the time for my date with Mason. Wholesome, pure and selected by my cheerleading wannabe self. It’s totally impractical for a ride on a steel beast because my legs will be exposed to my thighs. I already gather that.

He sits astride the beast, looking like every wet dream I ever had as his hands grip the handlebars, the tattoo straining against his knuckles. The fact he turns me on is irrelevant because I willnotlet myself fall for a guy like him.

“Jump on, princess. I promise not to be reckless with your safety.”

He tugs the helmet over his face, and I quickly do the same because he doesn’t need to know that I’m smiling right now. For some reason, his care for my safety lit a light in my heart.

Chivalry is something I crave. A soft look, a tender touch and consideration are powerful weapons to win my heart and as Islide in behind him, he grasps my hands and pulls them around his body, saying in a husky whisper, “Hold on tight. If I’m going too fast, tap my chest and I’ll slow down.”

The fact my skirt does the deed and rises up, exposing my bare leg, is overlooked by him and I appreciate that. Sarcastic comments aren’t something I deal well with and as I adjust to my current situation, I kind of get satisfaction knowing that if Frankie could see me now, all hell would break loose. He may even enact my revenge for me, but then again, I kind of hope he doesn’t find out either. This is a delicious secret that is entirely mine and I don’t get to enjoy many of those.

The bike roars into life and nerves flutter inside me because for all my bravado, this is a new experience I never expected today. I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle before and I’m frankly terrified. He doesn’t need to know the details, so I tighten my hold and shift a little closer behind his back.

We soon leave the gates of Rockwell behind and as we tear through the lanes surrounding the academy, I bury my face against Luca’s back and hold on tight. After a while, I relax when I discover it’s not so scary after all and turn my head to view the scenery that passes in a blur.

If anything, the ride is exhilarating and I try to ignore the voice in my head that tells me it’s down to the driver. I hate that I’m interested in him. I suppose from the moment our eyes connected, I knew it deep down. We are similar in many ways, and I am resisting that side of me. It’s almost a homecoming which bothers me—a lot.

Luca is from a rival family, but this is no Westside Story. It could end badly though for both of us, yet here, in this moment, it’s as if we are flying above our problems and I experience a freedom I never expected to find with a guy like him.

He pulls up outside the Italian restaurant in town and I gaze around me with interest. It’s a small town with a few shops, barsand a diner. I spy a dress shop and a hardware store, which reminds me of Mason. I’m guessing it would be a completely different experience with him than this one and it surprises me that I’m happy to be here instead of at the cafeteria playing at being Troy and Gabriella.

I push down the image of us more like Romeo and Juliet and slide off the bike, tossing Luca the helmet while I rearrange my clothing along with my hair.

As Luca secures the bike, I peer around with interest, already loving the fact we are outside the academy. My parents would throw a hissy fit if they saw me now and as for my brother—it drags a smile onto my face and Luca chuckles softly.

“Not so bad after all?”

“The place. The jury’s out on the company.”

I remind him I’m still angry with him, but that is fading the more he ticks all of my boxes.

He reaches for my hand in a surprise move and as his strong one closes around mine, I hiss, “What are you doing?”

“Making my move.” His eyes flash and reel me in because he is gazing at me with desire heavy in his eyes. I’m speechless for once as his thumb caresses my wrist, and he says softly, “You have a bad opinion of me, because I remind you of a world you are here to forget. Has it ever occurred to you I want the same?”

It hasn’t and his declaration surprises me as he opens the door to his soul a little, revealing we may be more alike than I thought.

“Do you?”

I cock my head to one side and search his expression for bullshit and he tugs me a little closer and whispers, “Freedom is a drug we rarely get to experience. It’s why I choose the bike. It offers me an escape from it all. I’m guessing you could also use a little time out and perhaps now we can relax and discover we are not that dissimilar after all.”

“I hate that you’re right.” I admit, and his lips curl into a soft smile.

“I’m not the enemy, Summer. I’m a victim the same as you are, and it’s how we deal with it that counts.”

“I don’t believe you’re a victim, Luca.” I roll my eyes and yet the sadness that sits behind his smile pulls on my heartstrings.

“Some beginnings are hard and affect you more than you realized.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I hold my breath because this is a side to him I never expected to see.

“Maybe one day. Pillow talk perhaps.”

---