When they did, I wasn’t surprised by the fact they wanted me to join them. I knew that shit was coming, but I never wanted that life. It’s why I was studying law, to bring those fuckers down. I know what it’s like having men who are emotionally unavailable in my life. My father and brothers are a testament to that.
Can I wait for Kevlar to open up to me?
As long as my family doesn’t find me first, I have all the time in the world.
KEVLAR
I spoke to Ethan about going over for dinner. Sadie was adamant that Jovie comes too. Initially, I was hesitant, but maybe this will be a good way to ease any tension between us about last night.
We still haven’t discussed it. I’m not even sure if we will. I need Jovie to understand my feelings about her haven’t changed at all, so I have to do this. If Sadie wants to see Jovie, then what my baby girl wants, my baby girl gets.
Striding over to Jovie who’s sitting with Cherry, Prinie, and Savanah, I amp myself up. The four women have been together talking for most of the day, so who knows what mischief they’re getting in to. I step into view, and they all peer up at me.
“Well, well… if it isn’t the devil himself?” Savanah declares.
“What the fuck?”
“We were just talking about you.”
“All day,” Prinie mumbles under her breath.
“I mean, honestly, how can one guy keep four women entertained for so many hours?” Savanah chuckles.
I furrow my brows as Jovie stands. “Ignore them. Are you okay?”
Reaching out for Jovie’s hand, her eyes meet mine. “I’m heading to Ethan’s for dinner. Sadie’s desperate to see you.”
“Me? She wants me to come to dinner… at your brother’s house?”
“Only if you want to. No pressure.”
She glances back at the three women who are wide-eyed and staring at her, desperate for her answer, though not as desperate as I am.
Savanah gives Jovie a light shove, pushing her closer to me.
I smirk as Jovie places her palm on my chest for support, and I grip her wrist while staring at her.
“Yeah, okay, I’d love to come to dinner.”
My pulse beats a little faster as I bob my head. “Then, I’m glad you’re wearing appropriate clothing because we’re leaving now.”
Her eyes bug open. “Appropriate… for what?”
I stifle a laugh as Cherry and Prinie shake their heads. “You’re going for a ride, Jovie. You have to learn while you’re here, you gotta be prepared to get on a bike at a moment’s notice.”
Savanah gasps as Jovie turns back to me. “Really? Are we going on your bike?”
“Hell, yeah, sunshine. C’mon, let’s go.” I grab her hand in mine, leading her toward the exit.
“Have fun, Jovie,” Cherry calls out.
“Go live on Insta while you’re riding, so I can live vicariously through you,” Savanah yells.
“I don’t have Insta. I’m on a burner, remember?”
“And it’s dangerous, Sav,” I add.
“Spoiled sport!” Savanah folds her arms over her chest in a huff as I race Jovie out of the clubhouse toward my ride. She’s giggling like she’s excited, which makes this easier. The fact I haven’t had another woman on the back of my bike since Em doesn’t get by me. But I need to push that out of my mind. I need to focus on Jovie. I’ve already let the ghosts of the past interfere with us last night. I can’t let Jovie think she’s competing with a dead woman. She’s not. This is all on me.
Her eyes glide over my bike as she exhales in delight. “She’s a real beauty.”
I bring my fingers up, sliding a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, she is.”
A flush crosses over Jovie’s face as I pass her the helmet, then move my leg over my ride. “Okay, have you ridden on the back of a bike before?”
“Uhh… nope.”
Somehow that makes my cock jerk against the seam of my jeans. Knowing I’m the first to do this with her makes it all the more special. “Okay, well, you gotta hold on around my waist, not too tight as it restricts me. Lean into the corners, but not so far, the bike topples over. But most importantly, don’t press your legs against the pipes. That shit stings.”
“Squeeze, lean, avoid. Got it!”
“All right, then, sunshine, slide on in here.”
“That sounded like an innuendo.” She waggles her brows.
I let out a laugh. “C’mon, let’s go, or we’ll be late.”
She leans in, and I do up the strap of the helmet under her chin, then bop her once on the head. “You look gorgeous.”
She grabs hold of my shoulders, moving in behind me effortlessly.
A perfect fit.
It’s like she fucking belongs on the back of my bike.
Her arms slide around my waist, gripping me to her as I start the engine. It roars to life, and her thighs clench tighter around me. I smile, knowing what that means.
She’s turned on.
Gotta love the power of a Harley.
I duck-walk the bike back, then slowly give my ride some power, edging her toward the gate. I wait for the gate to register my bike and automatically open. Then, once I have room to move, I rev my engine. “Hold on, sunshine.”
She tightens her grip on me as I pull back, taking off at breakneck speed, and Jovie squeals as we jolt with the force. My rear tire slides out slightly, but I catch it quickly as I ride faster than I probably should, seeing as I’m making my way to a cop’s home.
Jovie’s tight squeeze begins to loosen on me as she relaxes into the ride. With the breeze on my skin and Jovie at my back, it’s doing something to me. I wasn’t sure I would ever feel this again. Honestly, I’ve known Jovie all of a hot minute, but there’s something here. I knew it the second I laid eyes on Em too. It’s not the same emotion, though. With Em it was different, not better, not worse, just different. The last few years after Em died, I felt like a part of me died too.
Being with Jovie, it’s like not only a part of me has come back to life, but something else has awoken. There’s something about her that instantly has me feeling like I’m someone else.
Someone better than the man I’ve become.
That’s the sensation I had with Em.
She changed me into a different man.
But Jovie is changing me into a better man.
Damn, if it doesn’t feel fucking good.
I round the corner, probably too fast for Jovie’s first time on my ride, and she screams into my ear, not out of fear but in excitement. I laugh as she clings to me tighter.
“Woo hoo!” Jovie calls out, throwing her hands into the air as we take the long stretch down to Ethan’s home. I love this side of Jovie—she’s definitely Defiance material.
Dropping the gears, I turn into the pristine drive in the swanky suburb of River Oaks. Ethan lives in one of the richest sections inside the city of Houston. The image he wants to portray to the world says more about him than anything. So, me showing up here tonight on my bike, wearing my colors, is going to aggravate him to no end.
Because his neighbors will be watching—they always are.
Do I care? Not one bit!