Page 9 of Hell on Wheels

She wore a tiny little black tank top beneath the denim jacket she had on and skintight jeans that revealed every tempting inch of her figure and curves. A sexy little camel toe drew my gaze downward, and my mouth watered at the thought of gobbling her up and tasting the sweetness hidden between her thighs.

Fuck. I’d gone way too long since I indulged my desires or needs, and now wasn’t the time to let my dick call the shots.

“Life is too short to live in fear,” I rumbled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We make a plan and smart choices. Stay alive.”

She blinked. “What kind of plan?”

Those fuck-me lips of hers pouted and drew my attention a second time. I wondered if she gave head with the same passion and aggression. A woman who could rival my stamina in the bedroom. Damn. I sure wanted to find out.

“What’s your name, little dove?” Her creamy skin reminded me of silky white feathers. There was a sensual grace to her movements combined with a striking beauty that I appreciated on multiple levels. My cock agreed with that thought as I grew hard, pressing against the zipper of my jeans.

“Lark,” she answered with attitude. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not sucking your dick for a ride on your motorcycle.”

A loud laugh tumbled from my mouth, and I shrugged. “I wasn’t offering but feel free to let me know if you change your mind.” Lark. Interesting name. Fit the dove description perfectly.

I saw a dove overseas once. Prettiest bird I had ever laid eyes on, flying underneath a canopy in some rich asshole’s backyard. He kept her caged. Used his money to help terrorist organizations too. When we busted him and raided his place, I set the dove free. Her flight into the sky warmed something deep inside me that had been cold since I set foot on foreign soil. I’d never forget the feeling that settled beneath my skin.

Staring into deep pools of green, I had that same feeling of heat rushing through my body. I could swear I just warmed a few degrees.

She rolled her eyes. “I won’t.”

“Did expect a little gratitude, though.”

She smiled sweetly. “Thanks for pulling a gun and shooting my ex-boyfriend. Scared me half to death.”

Snarky little thing.

“I’m packin’ a bag, my dog, and my Harley and gettin’ the fuck out of here. Happy to drop you wherever you want to go.”

She stared but didn’t reply.

“It’s worth pointing out you should stick with me, but that’s your choice, darlin’. I’ll be leaving once it’s dark. I doubt anyone noticed we were the ones involved, but I’m not sticking around to find out. My house is only a block from where I found you. Gonna lay low for a bit.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “What dog?”

That was what she wanted to ask? “My service dog. Kane.”

Lark quirked a brow but didn’t ask what I meant.

“We’re takin’ a cage, so you can wait in my truck.” I clicked the fob on my keys and heard the locks disengage. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

The second the interior door was open, Kane was up in my shit, sniffing around and whining. He knew the scent of gunpowder and blood and caught a whiff of both. His cold nose nudged into my hand, and I had to make it right, or he would lose his shit in the truck. I stroked his thick, black fur and glanced down at the deep brown eyes that held a hell of an amount of emotion and intelligence for a canine.

“I know, bud. I’m alright. No worries.”

“He’s handsome.”

I turned abruptly to the sound of Lark’s voice. “I told you to wait outside.”

I liked her grit. Her sass. Not listening to me? Not gonna fly.

“And I got spooked,” she exclaimed.

Yeah, not buyin’ that at all.

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