“Thanks,” I say shyly as he starts to pump the gas.
I take a sip and moan as I feel the cool liquid flow down into my chest.
“So, what do you do?” I ask as I watch him take the cover off the gas tank and start to pour.
“For fun or for money?”
“Both,” I say as I shift my weight from one foot to the other.
“I’m one of the lucky few who do both at the same time,” he says as he takes a sip of his lemonade. “I fix up motorcycles.”
“You’re a mechanic?”
“No. A mechanic repairs motorcycles. I’m more of an artist. I customize them and make them so much more.”
“Wow,” I say as I watch him in awe. I haven’t met too many blue-collar workers in my life. My parent’s circle has always been professionals, politicians, professors, and anyone else that’s on the same ‘level’ as them. My dad would never associate with someone like Colton.
“So, do you work in a garage?”
“No,” he says with a heavy sigh. His eyes fill with anguish and melancholy as they drop back down to the gas tank. “I have my own shop. Well, I did…”
“What do you mean?” I ask as my body tightens in alarm.
“I work in the garage attached to a house I rent,” he says with a shrug. “It’s either trashed, or looted, or burning as we speak.”
“It won’t be so bad,” I say, trying to find any positive in this. “The insurance money—”
He scoffs.
“Insurance is a your-side-of-the-tracks thing,” he says as the gas tank fills up. It clicks and he puts the gun back and screws on the cap.
“I’ll repay you,” I say as my back straightens. “Anything you need. I’ll make sure you get it.”
He’s staring right at me and the heated look gives me warm shivers.
“I’m not taking anything from you, Mackenzie.”
It’s the first time he’s said my name and it makes my whole body go on full alert. My pulse is racing, my heart is hammering against my ribs, I have goosebumps all over.
“That’s nonsense,” I say with my voice racing as I step up to the bike. He’s on one side and I’m on the other. We’re close enough to touch and I can feel the sexual tension charging in the air between us. “You saved my life. You’ll take it. You’ll have to take it!”
“I don’t want your money.”
I’m leaning forward, desperate for him to agree.
“Why not?” I ask as I lick my lips. “Then what do you want?”
He stares at me like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever seen.
“You. All I want is you.”
My lips part, my breath catches, and my eyes fall closed as he leans over the bike and kisses me.
It’s like lightning. His tongue is cold and lemony as he thrusts it into my mouth like he’s laying his claim that I’m his. His big strong hands cup my cheeks and I’m moaning and whimpering as the kiss intensifies.
His lips are softer than I had imagined. His hands are gripping me so tightly, yet they’re so gentle and loving.
I’m a bit embarrassed, but this is my first kiss.
It’s amazing and electric and so unexpected. I never thought my first kiss would be like this—with someone like Colton.
But now that it’s happening, I feel so happy and blessed that it hasn’t happened before now. I’m glad that he’s the one. The only one.
His hands slide down to my waist and his protective hold tightens as he tugs me forward. I wish his motorcycle wasn’t between us and I could melt into his hard possessive embrace.
He finally pulls away and my eyes are still closed, my lips still pursed—probably looking ridiculous as I savor every last second of it.
“Let’s go,” he says as he releases my body and climbs onto the bike.
I quickly climb on behind him and wrap my arms around his hard body. This time I give into my desires and press my cheek against his back.
My eyes are back on the moth which is still fluttering against the lightbulb, trying to be as close to it as she can without getting burned.
The engine rumbles and we take off into the night.
I still taste him in my mouth. I can still feel his protective hands on me.
He drives fast to get to the lake house, but this time, I don’t seem to mind.
Chapter Four
Colton
I finally pull up to the huge iron gate in front of the lake house.
Mackenzie jumps off the bike and runs over to the keypad where she puts in the code. She doesn’t even try to hide it from me. I guess she knows what I know: I’m the one for her.
The huge monstrous gates start groaning as they begin to open. My girl heads back to her seat on the bike, but I grab her arm as she passes.