Page 5 of Wild Tangled Hearts

“What do I do with my hands?” I ask loudly over the rumbling.

He takes my hands and wraps them around his waist.

Oh my god.

I can feel his hard abs under the cotton of his t-shirt, the warmth of skin through the material, and my insides turn to molten lava.

With a gentle rev of the engine, we pull away from the curb and onto the open road. The wind rushes past us, whipping my long hair around in a wild dance. I can’t help but feel exhilarated, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.And heat.Intense, crazy, wonderful heat as my body is pressed tightly against his.

The scenery blurs into a colorful mosaic of lights and sounds as we cruise through the city streets. No wonder people do this.It’s intoxicating. Damien’s confident control of the bike and the feel of his muscles beneath my fingers fill me with a sense of danger and excitement.

A tinge of disappointment washes over me as he finally eases the bike’s speed and guides it to a stop, parking it by the side of the road.

As we dismount, my legs feel wobbly, and I’m grateful for the solid ground beneath my feet.

“You okay?” Damien asks, a hint of concern in his stormy gaze as he helps me with the helmet.

I nod, trying to steady myself. “Yeah, just a little shaky. But that was…incredible.”

“First time on the back of a bike?” He asks, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

“Well, I had a tricycle when I was four, but I don’t think that counts.”

He laughs, a deep, throaty sound that sends warmth spreading through me. “Well, you handled yourself like a pro, princess.”

I grin. “I’ll just add ‘extreme motorcycle enthusiast’ to my list of unexpected hobbies.”

That crooked grin of his makes my knees wobbly for a whole other reason as he moves closer. “Well, maybe I’ll turn you into a biker babe in no time,” he teases, his voice laced with irresistible charm.

His fingers brush a stray lock of hair away from my face, and he leans in even closer, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. “Glad you liked it. It’s been a while since I’ve taken someone for a ride,” he says, his lips dangerously close to mine.

“I doubt that,” I say, chuckling, taking a small step back before I fall permanently down the rabbit hole of Damien Blackwood.

His stride follows mine, eyes narrow, and he places his fingers under my chin, lifting my face as he studies me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I swallow hard. “Well, look at you. I doubt you spend many nights alone. And I’m pretty sure if this date goes bad, you’ve got more than a dozen other girls on speed dial.”

His brows furrow briefly, then he sighs and drops his hand. “So you think this is a game to me?”

“That’s not what I meant.” However, it’s precisely what I’ve thought since I saw him at the coffee shop. Guys like him don’t date girls like me. I don’t think they even date.They play. And I knew that coming out tonight.

“You’ve got me all figured out, huh?” He tilts his head, studying me like he can read my thoughts.

“Come on,” I say playfully, “you ride a motorcycle, wear a leather jacket, and then there’s this whole mysterious, bad-boy aura you have going on.”

He lets out a deep, throaty laugh and shakes his head. “God, Bella. I knew I was going to like you.”

A smile curls on my lips, and a fragment of my defense softens with those words.

His fingers graze my skin, feather-light, as they trace the delicate curve of my cheek. I meet his gaze, and those stormy, mysterious eyes hold me in a hypnotic trance.

“Not saying my life isn’t complicated. You’re right to be guarded. But I won’t hurt you.” I swear I catch a slight hint of vulnerability in his words.

Careful, my brain warns.

But a part of me wants to believe him. Maybe he is more than just a one-night stand and a heartbreak on a motorcycle.

Or maybe he’s just really, really good at this game.

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