First Everything

Oh no. I knew I shouldn’t have come here.

I came where I don’t belong and now this amazing guy who stuck his tattooed neck out for me is the one who is going to suffer for it.

“Is there anywhere else you can go?”

“I’ll be fine, chipmunk. I can handle myself. I always have, always will. It’s you I’m worried about.”

“But…”

He steps forward and takes my hand, making all the words and thoughts in my spinning brain disappear.

He seems so sure of himself. So bold and confident. But I know that creep Scorpion won’t stop until he gets Colton back and he’s only in this situation because of me. It all becomes clear. I know what I have to do.

“I know where you can stay,” I say. “I know where you’ll be safe.”

He’s looking at me like no one else has ever looked at me and it’s making me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt before.

“My father has a lake house in Big Bear. We can stay there.”

“We?” His eyebrow raises.

I know this is a bad idea, but I can’t stop myself. There’s something about him that I can’t resist.

And it’s not just because I don’t want him to get hurt.

It’s more selfish than that.

I’m terrified of this night ending.

Of him dropping me off at home and riding away.

Of never having someone look at me again like he’s looking at me right now.

Or feeling the way I feel.

“I’ll go with you,” I tell him as the shakiness leaches out of me and confidence takes its place. I know this is the right move. Once it’s out there, there’s no going back. “We’ll both be safe there.”

He looks at me for a long moment and then a grin slowly appears on his sexy lips. “I won’t say no to that, chipmunk. Let’s go to Big Bear.”

I send my parents a quick text telling them that I headed up there with Joy for a spontaneous relaxing weekend trip. They’re not going to like it, but I’ll risk being grounded to keep Colton safe. I know he would do the same for me. Hell, he already did much more for me.

He sits on the bike and looks me up and down. Every time he does that, it makes my whole body tingle.

“You need to get on the 210,” I tell him.

“And you need to get on my lap.”

I look down at his jeans and my eyes dart back up when I think I see the long hard outline of his cock.

“I’ll sit on the back,” I say as I climb on. He chuckles as I wrap my arms around him. My palms press up against his hard stomach and I feel myself getting wet as the engine rumbles under my spread pussy.

I’ve never done anything like this before. Chauffeured limousine, yes. Back of motorcycle with no helmet, hell no.

I have my face close to his muscular back and I’m breathing in his masculine scent when he turns around with a grin. “Hold on tight, chipmunk. I like to drive fast.”

Before I can say another word, he takes off.

He drives fast, just like he promised.

I step off the bike with shaky legs when we stop for gas about an hour and a half later.

It’s getting late in the night and we’re far out of the city now, somewhere near Twin Peaks. It’s a quiet gas station that’s about to close in a few minutes. We’re the only ones around.

Colton goes in to pre-pay and I find myself staring at a moth that’s fluttering around the bare lightbulb beside the door.

The bulb must be burning hot, but the moth can’t seem to help itself. It just keeps slamming into the glowing bulb over and over again like it’s irresistible. Like it doesn’t care that it’s dangerous to be around. That it can get burned and even killed by being in the bulb’s intense blazing presence.

“I know how you feel, girl,” I whisper to the moth as it dives headfirst into the bulb once again.

That’s how I feel right now.

Colton is dangerous.

He’s wild and even though I don’t know him at all, we’re headed to my family’s lake house to spend the night. Alone.

I could get burned. I could get killed.

But just like the moth, I can’t help myself.

He’s irresistible to me.

I have to be in his presence no matter what.

The bell rings as he opens the door and comes out with two drinks. His tense eyes find me immediately and seem to soften and relax when he sees that I’m okay.

“Lemonade or Ice Tea?” he asks.

“What’s your favorite?” I ask, not wanting to pick it.

“That’s not what I asked,” he says with a grin as he narrows his eyes on me. “Lemonade or Ice Tea?”

I can’t help but smile. “Ice Tea.”

He opens it and then hands it to me. Our fingers touch and it sends every hair on my arm standing straight up.