Page 8 of A Wicked Dance of Obsidian and Light (Echoes of Darkness #1)

Kaiden materializes in the elevator, scaring the living shit out of me, making me scream murder while cramping the space with his big, muscly frame. He chuckles at my reaction. The sound and the carefree look on his stupidly gorgeous face melts the anger I was feeling before like an ice cube left in the scorching heat of the sun.

He’s wearing a leather jacket over the black T-shirt, and he isn’t barefoot anymore; black, worn motorcycle boots cover his feet. He looks hot as sin, and I want to get drunk on the Kool-Aid he’s selling. I narrow my eyes at him, trying not to smile, forcing the corners of my lips to stay in place.

“What are you doing?” I ask with fake annoyance in my tone.

He pushes the parking button on the elevator, still smiling. “I’m taking you home.”

“I can get home by myself, thank you very much. I’m twenty-three years old, not a freakin’ child,” I grumble while side-eyeing him.

“Trust me, angel, I know you’re not a child anymore.” His eyes feel hot on my skin, two pieces of burning coals sweeping my body up and down while he licks at his lower lip, his earlier demeanor forgotten. He looks like a dark-maned lion, waiting patiently for the opportunity to pounce on its prey. The small space in the elevator seems to shrink even further, making the pressure in my chest clamp down on my lungs as I expel a trembling breath.

Kaiden’s warm, spicy scent of rum and black cherries envelops me with static energy that tingles my skin. Angry swarms of butterflies take over my stomach, fighting for the small space, making me queasy with anticipation.

“You don’t have a phone or any money on you. How do you think you’re getting home?” Kaiden challenges, his voice gruff. He’s looking at the elevator door like it’s holding the secrets of the universe, my presence forgotten. But, at a closer look, the way his fingers flex as if he’s barely restraining himself betrays the fact that he’s as affected as I am by the enclosed space we’re in.

“I can manage somehow,” I mumble under my breath while staring straight ahead, pretending the electricity zapping through the air between us as my right hand almost touches his left doesn’t exist. I can’t resist, though, stealing a glance at the raven-soft hair touching his shoulders. I’m tempted to ask if he uses a hair mask and if I can borrow it. He looks like he just stepped out of a hair commercial . Why do men have such good hair with so little effort? It isn’t fair at all.

Blinking slowly, I imagine how it would feel if I ran my fingers through his soft strands or if I grabbed his locks greedily while he pushed me against the elevator wall to ravage me with a soul-consuming kiss. Molten lava starts coursing through my veins as the images assault my brain, making my heart skip a beat.

He’s a demon. He’s a demon. He’s a demon.

The elevator stops to a halt as the sliding doors finally open with a loud ding, pulling me out of my dirty thoughts. Kaiden gets out of the elevator quickly—as if I’m on fire and he’s doused in gasoline—leaving me no choice but to follow after him.

As I round the corner an d enter the parking garage, around twenty luxurious cars come into view. There’s also a big black motorcycle at the end of the row of parked cars. I spot a red Ferrari, an Escalade, a Lamborghini, and a Rolls Royce, and that’s where my knowledge of cars ends.

Jesus, are all the residents in this building filthy rich?

I follow Kaiden until he stops next to a shiny motorcycle. “Put this on; you’re going to need it,” he says while taking off his leather jacket, holding it up for me.

“If you think I’m going to get on that piece of death metal, you’re crazier than I thought, buddy.” I cross my arms over my chest, arching an eyebrow in defiance at him.

He’s still holding up the jacket for me, a challenging glint shining in his eyes. “It’s a Ducati, not a death tra p. I’ve been riding motorcycles my whole life; you’re safe with me. Now, c’mon, get your ass on here. I don’t have all day.”

I snicker at his boldness. “Um, yeah…that’s going to be a hard no for me. I’d rather walk home barefoot and naked like the day I was born than get on that,” I grumble while turning around, walking briskly toward the elevator.

“Dammit, Iris, stop being so fucking stubborn,” Kaiden spews angrily. He reaches me before I can even take three steps in and grabs my right arm. His touch sears my skin as he spins me around. “Either you put this jacket on and get onto that motorcycle, or I’ll do it for you. And trust me; you’re not going to like that,” he says while looking down at me over the bridge of his nose, his eyes two tiny slits, crimson streaks starting to take over the onyx color of his irises.

“I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before,” I mumble and turn my head to the side. My eyes burn a hole in the gray wall of the parking garage as I try to escape the strange connection I feel to Kaiden while his heated gaze sweeps over my face like he can stare right into the depths of my soul. I’m also mad at the fact that I have to admit I’m afraid of something. I don’t like feeling weak and out of control.

I swallow hard, and for the life of me, I don’t know why the next words leave my mouth. “I, um, I…I was in a car accident when I was fifteen, and I lost my mother and all my memories. I’ve always been afraid of getting in a car or on a motorcycle since then. Given the loss of my memory, you would think that since I don’t remember the accident, I shouldn’t be afraid…but I am,” I say softly, almost whispering while keeping my eyes tightly shut. I don’t want him to see the tears gathering in my eyes and blurring my vision.

I didn’t even get my driver’s license when I turned sixteen, like everybody else. I refused to learn how to drive despite my aunt’s insistence. She offered to teach me many times, but I couldn’t get behind the wheel. I had a panic attack every time I tried. I was so crippled by what had happened in my past that before the age of twenty, I couldn’t even get in a car without the dread making me breathe like I had just run a marathon. I don’t even know why I told him about all of this. The only people who know about it are my aunt, Sam, and Noah. It got better with time; I don’t have a panic attack anymore when I’m not the one behind the wheel. It’s not a pleasant experience, though.

“Fuck,” is the only thing Kaiden says as he softens the hold he has on my arm. He then takes my hand in his and tugs me into his arms, embracing me and squeezing me tightly. I am so shocked that I open my eyes and just stand there with my arms hanging limply. The swarms of butterflies escape my stomach, taking over the entirety of my chest.

Electricity starts zapping all my nerve endings. It fries my neuronsand leaves me in a puddle of goo on the floor. I can’t get out of my head how well we fit together, like two pieces of puzzle. Inhaling deeply his warm, spicy scent that is now mixed with that of leather, I pick up some notes I didn’t before—fresh cloves…maybe tobacco.

My heart lodges in my throat when he pulls back and frames my face with his big, rough hands, his warmth radiating through me. His thumbs caressing my cheeks make all the tiny hairs on my body stand up at attention. Kaiden’s eyes search mine like he’s trying to tell me so many things through them. Only a breath separates us, and I can’t move. I’m frozen in place, pinned by his piercing gaze.

I suddenly get the feeling deep into my gut that I know him.

No, that’s impossible.

Jesus, what’s wrong with me? We just met. Why am I feeling this crazy connection to him?

“I’m so sorry…if you want, I can get the keys to one of my cars and drive you home. I thought it’s a waste not to ride the motorcycle in this weather. The feeling you get from riding a bike is like nothing you have experienced before. I’m not going to ride too fast. I would never let anything happen to you, trust me,” he says solemnly, regret and something else shining in his eyes, something I can’t quite put my finger on.

My breath hitches in my throat, and my heart does a backflip at the cadence in his voice. A strange feeling creeps into the center of my chest, squeezing my heart. Words evade me as I stare into Kaiden’s eyes, like a raft lost in the sea of emotions I can’t read, pulled under by the unrelenting currents.

Sawing my bottom lip between my teeth, I honestly can’t believe the next words that leave my mouth. “Fine! I’ll ride with you on the motorcycle. But, if I die in a terrible accident, I’m going to come back as a ghost and hunt you for all eternity,” I huff while narrowing my eyes at him.

Kaiden winks and offers me a roguish grin so beautiful it steals the air in my lungs, and I forget how to breathe for a second. “Trust me, I would enjoy that more than you think.” Then he steps back. Immediately, I miss the warmth of his hands on my face as he turns around, walking the few steps to where the motorcycle is parked. He takes the leather jacket resting on the bike and holds it up again, waiting patiently. I follow him and spin around, my back facing Kaiden as I put my arms through its holes.

Oh my God!

As soon as the leather jacket touches my skin, Kaiden’s sexy, decadent smell surrounds me like a blanket and makes my head spin. I fight against the instinct to take the lapels of the jacket to my nose and sniff it like a creep. He then takes a helmet out of the saddle bag, puts it over my head, and snaps it in place. I shiver when he touches the skin under my chin unconsciously.

“Aren’t you going to wear a helmet?” I ask while Kaiden mounts the bike and looks at me.

“I only have one; I’ve never needed an extra until now. I don’t need it anyway. Hop on,” he says, excitement evident in his tone.

My heart does a somersault and starts crawling its way up my throat.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I can’t do this.

“I, um…I don’t know if I can do this.” I lower my eyes, looking at my feet while gulping hard. It pains me to show weakness again, but my stomach sinks all the way to the bottom of my feet as jitters take over my body.

“Iris, look at me. You can do this. If at any moment it becomes too much to bear, I’ll stop,” Kaiden’s words are soft, soothing the anxiety that’s creeping in the back of my throat.

My eyes snap back at him as I nod in response before swallowing a lungful of air. “Okay. All right. I’m a badass bitch, and I’m not afraid of anything,” my voice wavers as I mount the motorcycle with trembling legs. Keeping as much distance as I can from the hard, hot body sitting in front of me on the small seat, I look for something to grab onto, but I can’t find a place for my hands.

Kaiden laughs at my mantra of self-encouragement and grabs my hands with his, pulling me tight around his back while circling my arms around his middle and interlocking my fingers. The whole front of my body is pressing hard into his back. My nipples harden at the contact, a simmering heat unfurling in the bottom of my stomach.

“This is where you’re supposed to keep your hands. Hold on tight,” his voice deepens, proving I’m not the only one affected by the way our bodies are pressed together. He then starts the engine, and I can feel the vibrations right at my center, stimulating my clit, making it throb with need.

Shit, this thing is like a giant vibrator.

If I don’t end up with a huge wet spot in the center of my crotch, it’s going to be a Christmas miracle.

Concentrating on the vibrations and the way Kaiden’s body feels against mine, I don’t even notice when he takes off. I squeal when the realization kicks in, and I tighten my arms around his body in a vise-like grip while shutting my eyes hard. I’m sure wrinkles form at the corners with the pressure. I only open them when we exit the building, feeling the sun warm up the leather jacket on my back while taking in the sounds and smells of the city.

We start riding on the streets as Kaiden glides the motorcycle smoothly and effortlessly in between cars. I should be scared shitless, but oddly I feel safe with him, like something deep within me knows that I can trust him with my life. Well, he did save me, so that’s where this feeling must come from.

From the tall modern skyscrapers we’re passing, it’s pretty obvious he lives in the southern part of Ashville. A few years ago, a huge dump site on the edge of the city was bought by a developer who transformed it into a luxurious neighborhood with tall buildings, high-end stores, restaurants, and cafes. My apartment is on the opposite side, where historical four-story buildings are the norm.

Kaiden swerves right and takes the scenic route, exiting the city toward the beltway. There’s a mountain road that circles Ashville completely on its outskirts. Once we reach the beltway, he speeds up, the pine trees becoming a blur, the coldness of the mountain air mixing with warmer currents, burning the tip of my nose and filling my chest with pine-scented air. The snow-capped mountains are visible in the distance, and I realize he took this route to make me appreciate the ride and the feeling of the bike between my legs even more.

I don’t want to admit it, but Kaiden was right; I’ve never experienced this feeling before. I feel like someone just opened up a cage and let me spread my wings and fly for the first time in my life. It feels different than being in a car. I don’t feel trapped like the carrosserie is going to close in on me. I start smiling a huge, goofy grin as I feel the anxiety ebbing away bit by bit. I probably look stupid as fuck, but I don’t care.

Kaiden slows down as he enters the city again and rides through the narrow cobblestone streets in the oldest part of town, where my apartment is. As we almost reach my apartment building, the thought that I haven’t told him where I live pops into my head. In between being terrified and embarrassed by the deep scars left by my past and getting excited about the ride, the feeling of freedom coursing through my veins, I completely forgot about that.

How in the hell does he know so many things about me?

Kaiden stops the engine and I get off the motorcycle, losing my balance, my legs feeling too heavy all of a sudden as the soles of my feet touch the pavement. He grabs my arm softly, balancing me, only letting me go when he’s sure I won’t fall.

His gaze flits to me while he’s still on his bike. “It’s always harder to keep your balance after the first ride; your legs are going to be sore tomorrow.”

I nod and clear my throat loudly. “Thank you, um, you know, for the ride home…” I suddenly feel awkward, not knowing what to do with my hands or what to say next.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I was ready to beg him to fuck me against the wall in his dressing room earlier today, and now I feel like a schoolgirl with a crush. Remembering I still have the helmet and his jacket on, I slide the leather jacket off my shoulders and unclasp the helmet. I pull it slowly over my head in a failed attempt to not put too much frizz into my hair. Welp, at least I tried. I can only hope I don’t look like I lost a fight with an electrical fence.

“So, did you enjoy the ride?” he asks with a lopsided grin as he takes back his jacket and helmet from my outstretched hand. Our fingers brush slightly, and my heart leaps at the contact.

“I did. I felt like I was flying,” I say softly, looking down at my feet, still feeling awkward.

“I’m glad I was the one to give you that experience for the first time.” His words pull my gaze back to him. He already has his leather jacket back on, looking like the rock star or the bad boy of every woman’s wet dream.

No, scratch that.

He isn’t a boy; he’s all man, with his shoulder-length raven hair and the five o’clock shadow on his marble-cut jaw, all topped off with the distressed jeans, leather jacket, and worn boots to go with the powerful motorcycle between his legs. Wet dream personified indeed. He puts the helmet back in the saddle bag and starts the engine.

“Kaiden?” I’m not sure he can hear me over the loud rumble the engine is making, but he turns his head slightly. The look in his eyes makes me weak in the knees. “Thank you…for saving my life,” I say sincerely. “I’ll consider what you asked—to not tell anyone from the Order about the portal.”

He nods instead of offering me a reply and takes off, revving the engine, the vibrations reverberating in the sidewalk where I stand, looking after him until he’s a tiny blob in the distance.

So, I guess it’s back to reality now.