Page 39 of Chaos & Carnage

Cade grinned, the smile pulling across his angelic face and his green eyes still noticeable, even in the shadows cast by the streetlight.

“Not been on one of these before, have you?”

I shook my head, still staring at the metal contraption in front of me.

“No more slippy than a car.”

“Really? Do you know what the stats are if you fall off one of these? How easy it is not to survive or the type of injuries you could get?”

Cade’s grin faded, hanging the spare helmet back onto the handlebars and swiping a hand through thick blond hair.

“I do,” he said flatly. “I do.”

There was more to the answer to my question, much more. But out here, on the cold street, icy air clinging to my legs and a bag of kittens with no mother to snuggle up to, was not the place to ask for an explanation.

“I’m gonna keep walking. Meet me there?”

Cade’s lips moved, an acknowledging smile, not quite chasing away the stillness on his face. Then he tugged on his helmet, the only part of his face left unobscured was those eyes. I waited, bracing myself for the roar of the bike’s engine, knowing it would make me jump, no matter how many times I’d heard it now. He kicked the stand back, his fist turning. The quiet street was disturbed by its call, the sound vibrating off the rows of terraced houses standing opposite each other like sentries. Cade nodded, and I walked forward, feeling the low rumble behind me as he followed, escorting me home.

Cade positioned the motorbike under the streetlight just a few doors down, squeezing it in the gap between cars, where it sat snug, lulling over to one side as it rested against the stand. If the neighbours were bothered by the noise of the engine, they didn’t seem to show it. Not a curtain twitched at the surrounding windows, not a sliver of light peeking out into the street, watching. The engine seemed to rumble on for ages, the guttural vibrations even reaching my feet where I stood waiting on the pavement. In my hand a kitten mewled, the cold ruffling baby fluff, and even I shivered in response.

Eventually, Cade secured the Harley, pulling the thick chain and padlock through the back wheel. He stood, the tight leather of his trousers gripping his arse, the emblem on his back, glaring back at me, and I dropped my eyes, feeling like the three skulls could see right into my soul.

“Come on, Al,” he breathed, pulling off his helmet, the blond hair underneath even more ruffled, locks falling over his forehead.

The orange glow of the streetlight caught over his face, shadowing his cheek bones, contouring him in darkness, yet still his eyes shone through, like there was a light in them all their own. Mesmerising. Haunting. Captivating. And there in the dark I don’t think I’d ever met a man more beautiful and handsome all at once.

“You ok, Al?” he touched my elbow with his gloved hand, just a little nudge, pushing me towards the door.

“Uh-huh. I…let’s get inside. It’s cold.”

“Brassic, babe.” Cade chuckled, low and velvety.

I wasn’t so cold anymore. The touch on my elbow, the rugged, mussed up hair, the gravelly purr of his voice and the smell of him behind me. The stairs creaked under our feet, obscenely loud in the silent house.

“Your flatmate home?” Cade asked.

“No, she’s out.”

“Good.”

We reached the top of the first set of stairs.

“Where do the kittens sleep?”

“With me.”

“Better take them up to bed then, hadn’t we?”

I giggled, the sound releasing from my lips before I had a chance to stop it.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, tilting his head sideways as if he could understand me better that way, his hair flopping to one side with him.

“Nothing. We sound like parents…” I stopped, suddenly conscious of what I had just said, that those words might frighten him away.

“What is it now, little Al?” Cade’s face straightened, looking at me with concern. “Why did you suddenly stop mid-sentence?”

“I didn’t mean to sound like that.”