Ride Wild (Raven Riders 3)

“Let’s do it,” she said, arching a brow of her own.

He suited her up in a lightweight jacket and a helmet, and then he pulled on a brain bucket of his own and a pair of shades. Sitting astride his bike was like coming home, and then he helped Cora on behind him. She had to sit close and tight, because he had only a slim two-seater, which he’d customized from the original solo seat so that Kim could ride, too. Though she’d enjoyed riding when they’d first been together—hell, they’d met at one of the Ravens’ race nights at their racetrack, so she’d known he was a biker from the very start—her interest in it had declined after the kids were born until she no longer wanted to ride at all.

“This is so freaking awesome,” Cora said, chasing away his thoughts. Because she clearly wanted to ride, and that rushed a deep satisfaction through him. “I hope I don’t fall off.”

Slider chuckled and peered over his shoulder. “Well then, sweetheart, I suggest you put your arms around me and hold on tight.”

Gladly, Cora thought as Slider revved the engine. She’d no more scooted flush against him and gripped his chest then he’d pulled out of the driveway and onto the road in front of his house.

And then they were off.

The rush was almost enough to make her forget that he’d called her sweetheart again. The endearment threatened to pull her right back into his bed, his sleep-roughened voice saying it for the very first time. Did he even realize he’d said it again?

Cora let it go, because it felt like they were flying, even though she suspected they weren’t going that fast. But it was absolutely exhilarating, freeing, and so much damn fun. The thrill of it made her laugh and laugh, as if she were a kid riding a roller coaster that she never wanted to get off.

Every once in a while, Slider grinned back at her, and if the genuine pleasure in that smile hadn’t been devastating enough, the total package of him right now was an absolute killer. The shades and matte black helmet over the five-o’clock scruff. The badass Ravens’ cut layered over a long-sleeved black T-shirt. The chunky black motorcycle boots. And, damn, the bike.

It was like sex on wheels. That had been her first thought when she’d walked into Slider’s garage. It was sleek and aggressive, sexy and cool, utterly masculine, and looked fast as hell, too. Seeing him stand behind the machine, it totally fit—this man and this bike. And it was as if a new piece of the puzzle that was Slider Evans clicked into place.

And he wanted to share it with her.

“Okay?” he called.

“Can we go faster?”

He laughed. He actually laughed. And then did exactly as she asked.

Before long, they’d skirted around the Ravens’ big tract of land, and then Cora recognized where they were. The twisting rural road that Dare lived on. Sure enough, that was his destination. The bike tilted as he pulled into the driveway next to a two-story, log-cabin-style home, and they found Dare on his knees working on his bike.

“I just need five with Dare. You mind?” he asked.

“Not at all. Gives me the chance to see how Haven is settling in,” she said as he helped her off the bike. When she removed the helmet, her hair was a wind-blown mess, but she just shook it out and laughed. No sense worrying about it when they still had the ride home yet to do.

Wiping his hands on a rag, Dare got to his feet. “Hey,” he called in that super serious way he had. Cora couldn’t decide if it was funny or really freaking endearing that Haven had ended up with such a gruff and frankly intimidating man when she’d once been so shy it was almost painful, but it just went to show how far her bestie had come.

“Hey,” Slider said. The two men clasped hands, and Dare’s gaze was all over Slider’s cut, the bike, her.

That expression seemed like Cora’s signal to give them some privacy. “Haven inside?” she asked. When Dare nodded, she made herself scarce. “Knock, knock,” she called, as she knocked and opened the front door at the same time.

“Cora?” Haven called from upstairs.

“Yep. I can’t stay long though. Where are you?” she asked, making her way up the steps.

Haven stepped out into the hallway. “Hey. I was just unpack—” She blinked. “What are you wearing? Is that a motorcycle jacket?”

Cora grinned. “Slider took me for a ride.”

Haven’s eyes went wide. “Slider’s on his bike?” She rushed for one of the front windows. “Wow. Wow, Cora. What is going on?”

“He’s . . . I don’t know, he seems like he’s doing better. Not sure what he and Dare are talking about though, but Dare looked pretty surprised to see Slider wearing his vest.” The two of them had their faces pressed to the glass like little kids.