Page 33 of Forbidden Bond

After an assurance that I’ll get the goods, I hand the phone over to Katherine and she ends the call, giving me a weird look.

“It must be pretty nice to just say your name and have doors open up for you. Especially illegal ones.”

“Yeah, princess,” I say on a laugh. “It’s pretty damn awesome.”

She frowns, getting to her feet. I wait for her to gather all her stuff and we both head over to her car. The BMW 428i Gran Coupe is a pretty sweet ride, but I’m almost positive it’s not going to start tonight. I heard the way it sounded when she drove it in this morning. The car’s got some issues that she needs to let me look at. But Katherine’s Katherine and she won’t let me force her hand into anything. I have to wait for her to realize this stuff on her own.

When she starts the car, smoke billows out from under the hood. She groans, resting her head on the steering wheel, and I grin.

“You’re in luck, princess,” I tell her. “I’ve got two helmets.”

She doesn’t even argue. She steps down from the car and follows me to my motorcycle. There’s a gleam in her eyes as she stares at it.

“Go fast,” she tells me, grinning.

I chuckle. “Anything you want, princess.”

At least she’s not one of those chicks that’s scared to ride a bike. I straddle the seat and fit the key into the ignition before gesturing for her to climb on. I have to will myself to look away from the bare skin of her thighs as she hops on, tucking her skirt between her legs. She clamps her arms around my waist—not too tightly, but enough that I suck in a soft breath at our closeness.

“Where are we going?”

“Jameson’s apartment,” she whispers against my back, sounding a little out of breath.

“And why would I take you there and not your home?”

“In what world would I let you within a hundred feet of my house, Topher?” she returns.

Good point.

“Don’t you have any other friends I can drop you off with?”

I still remember that “friendly” dance.

Katie sounds amused. “I’ve been staying at Jameson’s house for the past few weeks, Topher. And no, I don’t have any other friends to stay with. Either there or nowhere.”

I groan softly before starting the engine of the motorcycle. It comes to life with a purr I feel all the way down to my toes. And then we’re off.

CHAPTER 11

Katie

“You know you don’t have to follow me inside, right?” I ask the infuriating man beside me.

We’re standing in front of Jameson’s apartment building and I’ve spent the past two minutes trying to convince Topher to go. My elation from the bike ride is already fading and now I’m just upset he’s being a stubborn asshole.

“A gentleman walks a lady to the door after dropping her home,” he says in a terrible British accent that makes me want to punch his face.

“Don’t be annoying, Topher,” I say with a sigh.

“Why don’t you want me to come up with you? Is there something you’re hiding?”

“Why do you want to come up with me? What could you possibly gain from doing so?” I counter.

He smirks. “I’m curious. I haven’t had the chance to get to know Jameson yet and our last encounter wasn’t great. Maybe I can see how he’s been able to capture your friendship.”

“I’ve known Jameson since we were in diapers,” I say. “He’s literally the only real friend I’ve got.”

“You’re hurting my feelings here, princess.”

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