Page 164 of The Invite
Unable to resist the pull, I reach out and caress the shiny tank. The coldness of the smooth metal seeps into my skin. An undeniable thrill shoots down my spine at the thought of riding it in a few short moments. But when I glance at the passengerseat, I worry about how I’ll get on it without being awkward and looking like a fool. It doesn’t help that it’s sloped upward at the end.
What if I fall?
I jolt when a warm hand covers mine resting on the bike while one curls around the back of my neck, pulling my focus to a set of intense eyes.
“I’ll keep you safe,” Augustus murmurs.
Once I nod, he squeezes me once before his grip around my neck slackens. I watch him grab the helmet from the handlebar. Instead of slipping it on, he twists toward me, making my eyes go huge. I involuntarily take a step back.
“Come here.” His tone is soft. “Wear this.”
I stay put. “What about you?”
“Your safety comes first,” he says firmly, and tugs me to him. The first thing I smell is him after he gently slides it on and secures the strap under my chin.
He keeps my hand in his as I shift to the back and cup his shoulder with the other. His hold tightens briefly, taking a bit of my weight as I hop on behind him.
A soft breath leaves my lungs. Despite sitting at a higher altitude, he still towers over me, which makes all my feminine parts sing.
Placing my hand on his hard thigh, I hear him zip up his jacket. I push down the need of wanting to see him from the front. Butterflies flutter behind my ribs as he wraps my arms around his abs with a command. “Don’t let go.”
Adrenaline spikes in my veins, my grip tightening involuntarily as he leans forward slightly. The engine starts and he revs it. The loud purr of the beast vibrates my thighs, echoing down the deserted street, and I huff a small delightful laugh.
Augustus’s core clenches as though the sound shocked him too.
I feel his head tilt toward the rearview mirror and our gaze locks. Without breaking our connection, he throttles the engine, longer this time, causing a smile to erupt on my face.
“Ready to fly, little prey?” he rasps over the purring noise.
“Yes.”
Turning my head, I close my eyes as he guns the bike and peels down the driveway. When he takes a turn down the end of the street, my heart gallops to my stomach and I clutch him harder, flattening my palms against his lower abs.
I think I feel him skim his fingers over my hands clasped around him, but I’m too lost in the wind blowing on my body and ruffling my hair peeking from under the helmet to pay attention.
I’m on a cloud, with no intention of landing on the ground.
Once we’re on the highway, he accelerates, making us zoom past the bordering woods. My eyes widen because I didn’t think we could speed any faster. Yet I’m proven wrong. It truly feels like we’re flying. Like we’re on the top of the world. Untouchable.
Is this what he experiences whenever he drives? No wonder he’s addicted.
The rush of cruising down the road makes me feel alive and invigorated.
My only center of gravity is Augustus.
My masked monster-turned-devil that I’ve sold my soul to.
Breathing in his scent, his thundering heartbeat underneath my palm, our bodies fitting like a glove, he can take me to the ends of the earth and I won’t stop him.
CHAPTER – 41
Nessa
The bike ride ends too quickly for my liking. Even though we drove for almost two hours to a nearby town and my ass is numb.
My displeasure shows because an amused chuckle reverberates off Augustus’s chest when he literally has to peel off my arms from around him. I’m holding him in a death grip, unwilling to let go.
“Just a pit stop, Nessa,” he says to lift my mood.
