Page 443 of Now and Forever

Chapter 168

“I’m outside,” Drake says and instantly hangs up without waiting for me to respond. We just arrived back yesterday and he woke me up an hour ago-thanks to my jet-lag, my schedule is now messed up-demanding for me to get ready. He doesn’t mention where we’re going.

Irritated, I grab my purse and go out the door.

What greets me is a total surprise.

Drake Tatum in black jeans, a black wife beater, black boots and straddling a black with red outlined limited edition Ducati. I stand there mesmerized at the very sight of him. His grey eyes smolder as he watches me walk toward him.

Oh, shit. I’m in so much trouble.

I haven’t seen him in twenty-four hours and I’m already drooling at the sight of him. Will I be addicted to him like I was eight years ago? I better not. I don’t think I’ll forgive myself if I go that route again.

“Want to go for a ride?” Drake asks with a heart-thudding huskiness.

Ride.

Yes, I want to ride.

Badly.

I stride over to where he’s sitting lazily on his bike and as he hands me a black helmet, I looked at him, lustfully. “I didn’t know you were a biker boy.” I’m wearing a short baby pink chiffon dress, how do I manage to hop on that testosterone machine?

“There’s a lot about me you don’t know, yet, Lil. As for your dress, just tuck it in between your legs once you’re seated.” Drake helps me put on the helmet. Before sliding the visor of my helmet down to shield my eyes, he stares and pauses as his eyes take me in. “You look fucking hot, Babe.”

I blush and give him a shy smile that he can’t see. “You look fucking delicious, too, Drake Tatum.”

He gives me a toe-curling, earth-shattering, heart-attack inducing kind of smile. I blush deeper and hop on the sex-hormonal-machine. I follow his instructions and make sure I tuck the ends of my dress underneath and in between my thighs. Once I’m done, I hug him a little too tightly.

“Scared?”

Hell to the yes. “A little. Go easy on me, okay? This is my first.” My voice is muffled inside the helmet.

I hear him chuckle. “I always go easy on your first times, Lil. You ought to know that by now.”

My hands go inside his jacket and caress the side of his hips. I sigh at the feel of his heated, hard body. Drake takes off his helmet and seizes hold of my right hand. He kisses it before he plants it back inside his jacket. “I missed you, too, Babe,” he says before he places his helmet back on and guns the bike.

If I thought Drake drove like a maniac with his sports car, he proves me wrong. The way he swerves and guns the bike is mental, coupled with insanity. It is terrifying and yet thrilling. Once in a while, he will try to reach in and squeeze my hand with his. Every time he does, my heart gives way.

I know I have to put a grinding halt to my emotions and possibly even have to end this sexual relationship I have with him, but I’m not ready, yet. Maybe a few more days? A week? Or maybe a couple weeks, who knows? Sooner or later, though, I eventually have to end it. I can’t risk losing my heart to this man. I just can’t.

Once was enough.

My thoughts are dominated by him during the entire ride, I barely notice when he turns into a parking spot and kills the engine. Sure enough, I didn’t even manage to read the road signs on the way, so I have no clue where we are.

I carefully hop off the bike before he does. He takes off his helmet and helps me with mine. He beams when he sees the state of my hair. “You look adorable.” His fingers try to fix the mess that my hair has become. Drake being attentive and sweet is too much. When he’s done, he holds the side of my jaw and kisses me. The kiss is heavy, loaded with everything that I could ask for, everything that I am scared of, and everything I have hoped for.

Lost, I am so lost in his kisses.

I’m drowning so quickly and I don’t know how I can stay afloat and fight this, fight him.

When our lips part, our eyes encounter each other’s as we both pant heavily. “Where are we?” I ask, breathy and a little unstable, but I have to break that electrifying bubble that surrounds us.

Drake grins and kisses my forehead before he responds. “Laguna Beach.”

“Okay. We live around the beach. Why did we have to go an hour away to be by the beach again?” I cock my head sideways while we leisurely stroll with the passing traffic. It is jam packed with people walking around with humming enthusiasm and excitement. Galleries, boutiques and restaurants are littered with artsy people.

“Thursdays are Art Walk. I come here whenever I get the chance, which is not very often. I wanted to show you, and at the same time, spend some time with you.” Drake takes hold of my hand, entwines our fingers and acts like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

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