Page 16 of Bound by Destiny
“Hey.”
His smirk turns into a full grin as he hands me a helmet. “Gorgeous, put it on, we gotta go.”
Butterflies swarm in my stomach. This isn’t the first time riding a motorcycle for me by a long shot, but it is the first time that I’ve been on the back of someone’s bike that I’m attracted to. This should be interesting.
Buckling the helmet, I swing my leg over and grab Jacks’ sides. He doesn’t give me a moment to situate myself because he grabs my hands and wraps my arms around his strong, hard body. The action pulls me against him. My heart beats wildly in my chest. Lord, save me know.
He pats my jean-covered thigh and takes off. The ride is short, but the quivering in my body is driving me crazy. Having my crotch right against his ass, along with the rumble of the bike, is turning my body on something fierce. The pavement passes under us, and my fingers relax against the material of his shirt where I can feel his abs flex under my touch. The wind against my skin, the vibration of the motor under my body, the press of my inner thighs around him; it’s all sensory overload. I feel this fire deep in my belly of desire.
I shift in the seat trying to elevate the building pressure, but unable to get there. Fuck.
Jacks’ body shakes like he’s laughing, and I pinch his stomach. Hell, I try to pinch it, but it’s so damn rock hard I can’t find an inch of skin to do it. This doesn’t help my situation one freaking bit.
We pull up and Austyn turns to me, a wide smile on her face. I return it looking at my—our—new homes. Ryker did a hell of a job here, and there’s no way I’ll ever be able to repay him.
Jacks kills the bike, but doesn’t move—so neither do I. “You like it?” he asks, tilting his head back to me.
“It’s perfect. Look at that pond! That’ll be the perfect study place.”
His warm hand rests on my thigh heating me up more than the bright Georgia sun. Breathing in and out, I take in my new home. The house is smaller than Ryker and Austyn’s, but it’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. I can’t wait to see the inside, which I have no doubt will be exactly what I need, which isn’t much. I just need a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen and I’m set.
I’ll probably spend most of my time outside by the pond. Damn, it’s beautiful.
Bikes come up all around us, and I wave at everyone and get some suspicious looks. My mother raises her brow at me, and I shake my head. She thinks Jacks and I are a thing just because I’m on the back of his bike. While I’m crazy attracted to him, that’s as far as it’s going to go. It’s an honor and a place of respect to be on the back of any member of Ravage’s bike, but I’m not going to read into this. That is a recipe for disaster since it’s not like Jacks has a car and he was probably sent to get me.
Austyn comes running out of the house and straight to me. “Did you see it!”
“It’s beautiful.”
She grabs my shoulders and hugs me hard. I feel Jacks balancing the bike as she pulls away. “This is so awesome.” Then she looks around at the entire Ravage MC surrounding her. “What’s goin’ on?”
“Get your ass on Ryker’s bike. Family ride,” Cruz, her father, calls out as Austyn smiles wide. This is everything to her, and I love that her life is working out in her favor for once. That woman needs nothing but happiness from here on out. As much as I want to rush inside and see my place, this is family. Everyone has done so much for today to even be possible. It’s time for us to celebrate Ravage style and that’s on the open road.
Austyn climbs on Ryker’s bike and Cruz takes off, my father and mother behind him, then Cooper and Bristyl. We all fall in line behind them, and it feels strange. I mean, my father took me on a couple of family rides when my mother didn’t want to go. This though, feels different and I can’t put my finger on what that is.
The power of the machine and the man wraps around me like a cocoon of safety, comfort. Everything is forgotten as we move together in unison. Each curve we lean into together, each stop we settle as one. It’s majestic to feel the earth around you as you move.
The ride is beautiful and we spend hours on the road, making a few pit stops for food and fuel. The miles move under us, and it’s as if time stands still. The wind in my face, the air hitting my lungs, and the calm of Jacks in my arms soothes me, fills me like never before. It’s when everyone veers off in different directions at the end that a feeling of sadness hits me that the ride is over. It’s like I just found this piece of myself and I can’t let it go. Ravage is family, without a doubt, but this moment—this is my moment of clarity. I don’t want to be without this in my life.
Jacks doesn’t take me back to my apartment, though. No, he takes me to my new house, and it washes the sadness away as the excitement builds to a point I can’t contain myself. He parks by the front door and I hop off, taking the hard helmet off and setting it on the seat. For a minute, I have to stop and steady myself as my legs are like jelly from riding so long.
“Come on!’ I tell him, turning toward the house. It takes a moment, then I hear boots crunching rocks behind me and excitement pulses around me.
True, I didn’t own this place, but Ryker said it was mine for as long as I wanted it. Maybe I should feel bad that he gave me a handout. Maybe I should refuse and stay in the apartment. I’m sure many people have different opinions on the subject. Some calling me a spoiled brat or a taker. It’s not who I am though, and if they really know me at all they would know that.
I plan on working for this. Ryker just doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll mow the grass, clean up the yard, and work on the bushes. There is no way I’ll live here without putting in something to contribute to him and Austyn. My mother didn’t raise a woman who doesn’t give back.
Not to mention, she’d smack me upside the head if I did.
Ryker has given me a wonderful gift, and I’ll do everything in my power to repay him as much as I can. This is why I don’t feel guilty or like a mooch because my contribution will help them out, and I’ll give back all I can.
Opening the door, my breath catches and a sense of awe comes over me. It’s magnificent. The open floor plan connects the living room, dining room, and kitchen. This place looks small on the outside, but doesn’t feel small one bit. There are hardwood floors everywhere except for the living room is carpeted in a dark gray that looks incredibly soft.
There’s crown molding in a dark cherry wood that extends into the kitchen cabinets. The countertops are a light swirled gray that almost looks like granite.
Everywhere smells of fresh paint and cleanliness.
“I can’t believe he did this for me.”
