Page 67 of Rear View
“Hey!” Stan said, approaching from the side of thepsych building, his words barely audible over the howling winds. “You can’t be here!”
Xavier gave him a stiff wave before, like the first time, he pulled off my hat and stuffed it into his pocket. Taking the second helmet, he dropped it over my head and tugged my coat’s collar all the way up. Lifting my bag from around me, he strapped it across his chest, then climbed on in front of me.
Warmth spread through my limbs. No one had done anything like that for me before. Ever. Scooching closer, I set my helmet against the wall of his broad back before I slid my arms around him.
Safe. I was safe. With him.
His hand landed over mine and offered a squeeze before he gripped the handles. “Hold on, darlin’,” he said, the words muffled through the helmet. “Gonna be a rougher ride this time.”
He hit the throttle, and I glanced back. Stan stood, his face in shadow as he creepily watched us go.
Xavier cut us across the campus athletic fields, then aimed for College Street. Hanging a right, he rode the ditch alongside it. The snow deepened and he shifted his weight to counter the drops and rolls of the path he broke. I followed, legs burning as I helped as best I could.
The cold seeped through my coat, and my arms ached from my hold on him, but I didn’t care. Xavier was there, and that was all that mattered.
I didn’t know how much time had passed, but before long, he pulled us up to my apartment. I sat there for several long seconds, trying to steady myself before I climbed free.
Removing my helmet, I inhaled, slow and steady, when I reached for his hand and tugged. “Come in.”
He flipped his visor up. “You sure?”
So damn sure.“I am.”
His helmet dipped in a single nod before he pulled it off. I passed him mine, and he shut down the machine, then followed.
I entered my security code, and we crossed into the entryway, the rustle of us stripping our jackets and gear off filling the void as we climbed to the second level. I let us into my apartment, and exhaled as I hung our things off the hooks along the wall.
Xavier’s hair was a sexy, tousled mess. His dark gray hoodie fit him well where it framed his shoulders. He peered around, taking in the kitchen and living room before he set a hip against the counter.
I combed my fingers through my own rat’s nest. “Thank you for coming.”
“Wasn’t about to leave you stranded,” he said, his tone rough. Heated. “If I say I’m coming, I’m coming.” He dropped his stare to my mouth, then tracked it back up.
He really was everything. I’d never felt for anyone the way I felt for him—withhim. Butterflies flitted around my chest, their delicate wings teasing my heart. My tongue traced a slow line along the inside of my bottom lip. “Your race looked great this weekend.”
“Saw that, did ya?”
I gave a soft nod.
“The pacing’s a shit ton faster than we’re used to, and we made a few mistakes, but we’ll get it next time.”
“You were one second off the leader, Xavier. You did amazing!” I was still learning the sport, but the announcers were pretty hyped about his and Alec’s debut, so I took that as a great sign. My face heated. “Can I get you something to drink?”
He shook his head. “Storm’s expected to get worse. I shouldn’t stay long.”
My stomach dropped at the idea of him going back out there alone. After everything that’d happened, I was unequivocally not ready to say goodbye. I advanced toward him a step. “Don’t go. Not yet. Please.”
His mouth pulled to one side before he ticked his chin my way. “Answer me something, yeah?”
I swallowed around the dryness in my throat. “Yeah.”
Hand held loose, he gestured between us. “What is this, darlin’?”
My skin grew sensitive, my breaths quickening as I asked, “What do you want it to be?”
His mouth arced higher. “You first, dream girl.”
Dream girl. God, he was too good to be real. A fiery blush seared my skin while my heart pulsed in my ears. I trailed a finger along my collarbone as I drew on every ounce of courage I had. “What would you say if I told you I wanted more?” I pulled my lip through my teeth. “Wanted you?”
