Page 28 of Still Here Without You

I laugh before kicking out the stand and sitting down. “Climb on, baby.”

“If you ever say that again, I’ll nut slap you.”

I cringe while covering my balls. “Who the fuck says or does that?”

“I do,” she replies sweetly as she puts on the helmet. Holding my gaze, she raises her leg over the bike and slides on behind me.

“Duly noted.”

I wait for her to wrap her arms around me, but it doesn’t happen. Looking over my shoulder, I find her gripping the bars behind her.

Uh-uh. No way. I grab her legs and pull her forward, the motion causing her to lose her balance and fall into me. She instinctively grips my waist to secure herself, so I grab her hands and wrap them farther around me.

“That’s better. Let’s go.”

I twist the throttle, revving a few times before we leave, loving the combination of my bike's purr, the vibrations, and Delilah’s legs and arms wrapped around me. Though the engine is loud, I swear I can hear a faint giggle as I take off down the road.

I jump off first when we arrive, making sure to hold the bike in place so Del can dismount safely. She pulls the helmet over her head, shaking out her hair, andfuck me…

“You look damn good on a bike, Del…even better that it’s mine.”

She laughs as she lifts a leg over the seat and drops down to the ground.

“That wasn’t half as scary as I thought it would be.”

“That’s good to hear, because I definitely have plans to see you on there again.”

She crosses her arms in front of her and pops her hip out. “Well, I’m assuming you’re taking me home. Unless you’re okay with me going home with someone else?”

The sass on this one. Taking a step forward, I look her in the eyes and make myself clear. “You came with me; you leave with me. Let’s not pretend otherwise.”

Delilah leans back against my bike, and bites her lip. My eyes follow, drawn to the mouth that I’ve thought about kissing again every day since I last tasted her. I reach forward and pull her lip free from the grasp of her teeth before taking a step back. “Let’s go inside before I maul you out here.”

“Not going to happen, Joel. I haven’t agreed to your proposal yet.”

Proposal.Fuck! It sounds hot when she says it like that. Looks like I’ve got some convincing to do tonight. So much for just getting her out of her funk.

Chapter Eleven

Delilah

IcanfeelJoellooking at my ass when I walk ahead of him, just like I knew he would. Why else would I wear these pants if not to drive him crazy? What I didn’t expect was for him to be openly flirting with me. I’ve had a week to think about what he suggested, and while the idea is enticing, I can’t afford to become any more attached to him than I already am. I’m going to Paris.Paris! It may only be for six months, but I do not want to spend the entire time worried about a guy back here. Even if that guy is slowly worming his way into my heart. It can’t happen.

Reilly’s is busy for a weeknight, but I’m sure it has something to do with word spreading that the football team was here. Not like that should surprise anyone considering this casual college bar is their favorite hangout. We spend the first hour sitting around a table near the bar with Dylan and some of his teammates, though none really bother pulling me into conversation. I’m so wrapped up in chatting with Dylan and Joel that I barely notice anyone else is there, until they head to the bar and our gorgeous football captain, Thomas, steals Joel’s seat, flashing his greenish-bronze eyes my way.

“Hey, Delilah, right? You’re on the cheer squad.”

Call me impressed. We’ve only spoken a few times, but I didn’t think I’d actually given him my name.

I nod with a smile. “That’s me. How are you, Thomas?”

He smirks at my use of his name. “I’m good now. But I have a question. Are you and Joel a thing? I saw you arrivetogether,but you haven’t been actingtogether. If you know what I mean.”

“You mean we haven’t been attached at the hip and sucking face?” I internally cringe at the visual I just gave myself.Sucking face? Who says that?

“Exactly. You haven’t been sucking face.”

I laugh out loud.Thomas. Apparently, Thomas says that.

---