Page 101 of Haze of Obedience

"Red or white?" Dirk asks.

"Red."

"Way to be incognito."

"Fine, white," I snap.

"I was teasing."

I take a deep breath. "Sorry."

He sits on the red scooter, pats the back for me to get on behind him, and turns it on. I hold onto his waist tight, and we go several blocks before he veers into another parking lot.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

He rises, removes the helmet that's hanging on the handle, and puts it over my head, then buckles the chin strap.

"What are you going to wear?"

"There's only one. But I forgot to give you something."

"What?"

He leans down and kisses me. It's not deep. It's not long. Regardless, it sets me on fire like anytime his lips touch me and leaves me wanting more.

I close my eyes and whisper, "Dirk, I'm—"

He straddles the bike facing me, kisses me again, and this time, my toes curl. His hands hold my cheeks, and his thumb caresses my jawline. When he pulls back I'm dizzy. "We should go."

I squeak out, "Okay."

He repositions his body, reaches behind him, and brings my arms around his waist.

I hold him tight, my cheek to his back, more confused than ever. We ride down bumpy dirt roads in a country type setting for twenty minutes when there is a loud bang and the back tire busts.

"Zoe, hold on," Dirk yells as we slide.

I grip him and scream as he tries to maneuver the bike. When it finally stops, my heart is beating hard, and I'm shaking.

"You okay, my Little Diva?"

I inhale. "Yes. I'm fine. You?"

"All good."

We slowly get off, and Dirk looks where the tire was. The rubber split and several pieces lie on the ground.

"Guess we're walking," he states.

"Are we far?"

"I don't think so." He opens the map and points. "We're only a few miles." Dirk walks the bike to the side of the road and parks it, so it's not in the way of any traffic. Not that we've seen any for several miles. "Let's go."

We walk quite a while in silence. My mind spins, thinking of the previous night's conversation.

"I think that's Tinkers." Dirk points to a blue bungalow about a half a kilometer away. No other houses are in sight.

"When we get there, will you show me how to defend and kill?" I blurt out.