Page 31 of Things I Read About

He laughs softly and puts his hand on my back, nudging me in.

I start to hobble across to my room.

“Wait.” He huffs. “Which room is yours?”

I point. “That one. It’s hanging in the closet. Do I need my boots?”

“Those are fine,” he says, eyeing them as he reappears with the neon purple monstrosity. He kneels down and holds out the legs so I can step in.

I put a hand on his shoulder and slowly move my left foot.

“What were they supposed to do?” He looks up at me, pausing his hand at the top of the combat boot.

“What?”

“You said the boots didn’t work.”

“I did?” All the blood vessels in my face explode with embarrassment. I watch, frozen, thinking as he pulls the bulky legs over my jeans. I can’t say out loud that I was trying to give myself a harder edge. That will give away the fact that I am normally all soft. I’m edgeless. Totally the safe little—

“They work.” He fastens the top of the zipper under my neck.

Wait, my arms are in already?Did he just dress me?

“The boots, Sally. I think they’re working.”

“Oh.” I can’t help but smile. “Thanks.”

He unbuttons and unzips the front pocket of the suit and tucks the wad I’d had in my back pocket inside.

“Did you…?”

“Just take your ID, credit card, cash and iPhone without you knowing? Yes. Have you learned your lesson?”

I nod.

He scoops me up.

I wonder what he would’ve said if I had said no. I should’ve said no. Maybe I could’ve asked for him to punish me.Sally! You don’t even really know him.

Oh, but I want to.

Everything about him intrigues me. Where did he get that scar? What do his tattoos mean? Where do they end on his back? Or his chest?

He sets me down outside, at the front of the hotel.

“W-what are we doing?”

He looks up toward a deep rumbling sound. “Sightseeing.”

I follow his gaze to his motorcycle.

His. Motorcycle.

It’s huge, and black, and dangerous, and so unbelievably cool.

And terrifying.

The very excited valet brings over two helmets. Nate motions to him, and he steadies the bike. Wordlessly, Nate picks me up and puts me on the seat. He takes one helmet and places it on my head, fastens the strap and gives me a once over.