Page 23 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

“Trust me, Annie. You’re going to want to hold on.” He takes my hands and wraps them around his center. His hard abs tighten beneath my fingertips. I want to explore the dips and rises beneath his shirt. I don’t ever think this way about Chase.

I shouldn’t be doing this. Hawk is dangerous. Maybe not only in the sudden, fiery, motorcycle-death way, but in the sanity department.

The helmet is unwieldy, but when he starts the engine and the motorcycle rumbles to life beneath us, I turn my head to press against his back, squeezing my eyes shut and tightening my hold around him.

“I’m going to take it slow, baby girl. Don’t worry.” He touches my clasped hands. “You doing okay back there?”

I nod before I realize he probably can’t see me or feel me through his jacket.

“Yeah.” My voice is breathy, but I can’t help it.

He chuckles. “Hold on. We’re going to ride in the parking lot first so you can get used to it.”

The motorcycle moves, and I cling tighter to him, trying to remember what he said—not to fall off, and not to press my legs against the bike even though it feels weird and hot, sitting spread open behind him. The only thing between me and his slacks are my panties.

He sticks to his word and rolls the bike slowly through the parking lot, taking a turn.

“You feel that?”

“Feel what?” I ask because I’m feeling a lot of things I shouldn’t about a guy who isn’t my boyfriend. My heart is racing. My stomach dips. I’m warm all over.

“I’m going to turn again. All you have to do is hold on and stay straight.” He does and I do my best to stay still and not do anything to tip us over.

“Good girl,” he murmurs. His hand rubs over my knee.

Again, this shouldn’t be doing anything for me, but it’s like I’m being overwhelmed by all things Hawk. His warm, solid body pressed into mine. His scent filling me. His voice in my ears. And the nervous anticipation of the ride ahead of us.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Mm-hmm.” I squeeze my eyes tight as he speeds up.

The growl of the motor rumbles through me.

My arms tighten around him, as fear begins to overwhelm the desire he stirs in me.

We roll down the ramp to the road, then he increases the speed.

My stomach dips in a decidedly not sexy way.

The wind hits my legs, chilling me as I snuggle into Hawk’s warmth.

My helmet bumps against his as the motorcycle rumbles beneath us.

When he rolls to a stop, putting his feet down on the ground, his hand touches mine. “How are you doing, Annie?”

Freaking out probably isn’t what he wants to hear. “Good.”

We fly down the streets, and it feels like he’s speeding even though he’s probably going the speed limit or slightly below.

I’m afraid to open my eyes to see the pavement rolling beneath us.

Tension winds through me, and not in a pleasant way.

My muscles are stiff and my thighs and arms clench tight around Hawk.

I’m afraid to loosen my grip and open my eyes. To acknowledge how vulnerable I am right now. Anything could happen and I’m not wearing enough to protect my body from a fall on pavement. My head, yes, but the rest of me is squishy too. I try to keep the panic down.

True to his word, he takes us the back way to my house, which isn’t far from the school. But the fifteen minutes feel like an eternity. My heart pounds. Inside my brain is only flashing warning signs and screaming oh god, oh god, oh god . Such a bad idea. I don’t want to die.

He pulls up to my dark house and relief pours through me. It’s okay. So, I’m not going to be an adrenaline junkie anytime soon, but I probably didn’t need to ride a motorcycle to figure that part out.

The motorcycle slows to a stop and he turns the engine off. The constant buzz beneath me ceases and the rumble of the motor silences. We’re safe. We’re here.

Fuck, I don’t know if I can let go. All my muscles are stiff. I should release him, but I’m curled around him so tight. I need to stagger away from the death machine.

“You okay?” He strokes his fingers over mine.

My hands are clasped together, but little sparks light beneath his touch.

“I just need a minute for my soul to catch up to my body.” I lean into his warmth and let it seep into me. My legs are trembling. I don’t know if it’s from the cold or the release from fear.

“Take as long as you need, baby girl.” His chuckle sends heat pouring through me. “I’ve got you.”

I take a deep breath and sit up, putting a little space between me and his tempting warmth. I don’t let go of him though.

“I’m going to lean the bike on the kickstand, okay?” he says.

“Okay.” My pulse is calming down. I can breathe.

He shifts the weight of the bike under me, and I return to full-on koala mode. He chuckles, but then he grabs my legs and draws them around his waist. “Put your arms around my neck, Annie. Piggyback style.”

I carefully move my arms to link around his neck.

“Good girl.” He shifts and lifts us both off the bike.

A squeal escapes me. His hands are under my knees and the shock of skin on skin finally hits me. All that fruitless energy swirls into a pit of desire low in my belly, shocking me.

“Put me down, please.” I don’t dare let go as he climbs the steps on my porch.

“It’ll be easier inside.” He holds a hand out to the side. “Keys.”

Mine are in my backpack on my back, but there’s a hidden one. I guess it doesn’t matter if he knows where it is, because tomorrow this won’t be our house anymore.

“Under the mailbox.”

He slides his hand under the mailbox and finds the spare key held by a magnet. “Sweet.”

After he unlocks the door, he ducks to bring us inside and flips on a light. He closes the door and walks over to the chair before sitting in it with me behind him.

“Are you able to let go now?” he asks.

I release my hands and for a second, he squeezes my knees before releasing me fully. When he stands, I quickly fix my skirt to cover as much of me as possible before he turns. He undoes his helmet and sets it on the coffee table before lowering to one knee in front of me.

His dark hair is too short to be ruffled, but my palms itch to smooth over it. To feel the soft texture teasing my skin. The smile he gives me lights me up on the inside. He’s pleased with himself.

When he lifts my face shield, our eyes meet. My breath catches. His green eyes are darker than normal. I’ve had every inch of me pressed against him. I don’t know that I’ve ever gripped anyone tighter in my life.

“I need to undo your helmet.” He tips my chin up. One hand wraps around the back of my neck with his thumb right under my upturned jaw. His other fingers work on the strap. That rush winds through me, but I try to ignore it.

It’s pretty hard to ignore a hockey player kneeling at my feet and touching me though. Especially this hockey player. He releases the strap and lifts the helmet off my head. Unlike him, I’m sure my hair is a mess. My hand automatically reaches up to fix it.

“Don’t, Annie.”

My hand stops on his command. His hand is still around the back of my neck.

His fingertips press into the soft muscles there.

Anticipation buzzes through my system. Back on high alert.

His thumb brushes back and forth against the corner of my jaw and I can’t seem to look away from his green eyes.

My thighs clench together against the aching pulse in the center of me.

“Do you know why I really waited for you, baby girl?” His wicked scent, citrus and leather books, weaves around me. Those words make that ache grow.

“No,” I say softly, but I don’t pull away from him. There’s something brewing inside me I can’t seem to push down. It’s wrong for him to touch me.

But it feels so right.

He smirks. “All that emotion and energy acting stirs up inside me? It needs somewhere to go.”

My pulse jumps against his hold. Can he feel it? “Kind of like runner’s high?”

“Yeah, but the thing I want to do isn’t allowed.” He’s so close I can feel his breath against my lips.

“Why not?” My eyes search his.

My heart trips over itself. I should stop this. I should pull away. Like last time, I need to turn my head. But I’m snared in his trap before I realized it was too late, knowing I’m the prey, he’s the predator, and there’s nothing I can do to avoid this.

Part of me is so fucking curious and doesn’t want to escape.

“She belongs to another.”

His mouth crashes down on mine before I can even think to get away. He drags me to the edge of the chair as he kisses me as if I’m his lifeline. As if I’m his Juliet. That death would be preferable to leaving me. It’s intoxicating, and for a moment, I give in to the feeling.

No one’s ever kissed me like this before.

He groans at my surrender and his hand tightens on the back of my neck. I gasp at the sensation, and he takes advantage of my open mouth, sliding his tongue against mine. Everything inside me wants more. So much more.