Page 61 of Darkness of Mine

The trail in the forest is uneven, roots and dirt holes littering the surface. Normally I’d find the smoothest path, but Eli does the opposite. He jolts over every raised root, aiming for the most ragged areas of the track and each juddering turn shoots straight to my core. Add that to the heat of his back against my chest, my nipples tingling with every shift, and the feel of his stomach flexing under my hands and I’m quickly becoming a mess.

I try to focus on my breathing, on the wind whipping past us, but all I can feel are the vibrations grinding against my core and the arousal soaking my panties.

When Eli turns off the beaten track and cuts off the engine I practically moan at the loss of friction.

He takes off his helmet and I grab onto the handle on the seat behind me as he straddles the bike backwards and removes my helmet too.

“You alright there, kitten? You’re looking a little flushed.” The cocky bastard smiles.

“It’s been longer than a minute,” I bite out as I catch my breath.

“Time starts when my fingers touch your cunt, remember?”

I half laugh, half groan, trying not to squirm against the hard seat. My core is still buzzing, and I ache deep inside. I need him to touch me.

Eli doesn’t make me ask for it. He unbuttons my jeans and slides his hand under my panties.

My hips jerk into his palm, my breath catching.

“Start counting, kitten.” He delves into me, one finger curling inside until he hits that sweet spot while his thumb massages my clit.

I grip the handle tight, my hips lifting into his touch.

I don’t even make it to thirty.

“Such a dirty girl, coming on the back ofmybike. Are you going to drench me, baby?”

“Fuck. Yes,” I pant. A rush of arousal floods out of me as my core clenches around Eli and soaks his hand. He plays with me slowly until my ass lowers back to the seat then he eases out and licks his fingers clean.

Smug and satisfied like the cat who just got the cream, Eli straps my helmet back in place. “Looks like I’m driving. Hold on tight, kitten.”

I should be pissed that Eli found a loophole, but it doesn’t take me long to realize that while having Eli behind me on my bike feels good, riding on the back while he drives is even better.

When we get out onto the open roads it’s like flying. Having someone else take the turns makes them that much more exhilarating and my adrenaline skyrockets in the best way. The part that I really love, though, is how my body curves around his. My front presses against his back as I cling to him like a spider monkey and every now and then he reaches back and runs his hand down my leg.

I decide very quickly I could spend hours on the back of Eli’s bike.

Not that I’d ever tell him that, of course. Joey is mine. But sitting like this, my body fitted perfectly to Eli’s, I can almost let myself believe that he’s right, that here with Eli, River, Jude, and Oz, is exactly where I belong.

27

FREYA

“What are we doing?” I laugh as Eli tugs on my hand and ushers me to keep low as we cross the driveway towards his bedroom window on the far left of the house.

He shushes me and taps on the glass. The blinds roll up and Jude opens the window with his good arm, the other tucked away in a sling. He grins at Eli. “Welcome home, lover boy.” Jude winks at me before stepping back as Eli climbs into his room.

After he’s up Eli kneels on the window seat and reaches back, offering me a hand, and I follow him inside.

“What’s with theSpy Kidsentrance?” I ask.

Jude just smiles. “You’ll see.”

Eli’s room is the same as I remember with walnut wood paneling on the bottom half of the walls and his hat collection and lasso hanging in the space above. My cheeks warm as I remember how exactly Eli used that lasso last time we were here and when I catch him watching me with hooded eyes, I know he’s thinking the same.

I look away, my gaze landing on a fancy, flat rectangular box on the bed. A notecard is tucked under the black ribbon tied around it, my name spelled out in calligraphic lettering.

The card is thick and textured under my fingers as I pick it up and flip it open.