Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(14)

“I promise I don’t bite.” His smile widens as he leans forward, closing the distance between us to just mere inches. “I mean, unless you’re into that sort of thing,” he whispers, his eyes holding mine completely captive.

I can feel the heat rush my face, the crimson color fill my cheeks as his words wash over me. It slowly spreads through my limbs, warming every inch of my body.

“Well?” he questions, tilting my chin upwards with his hand, not allowing me to break the contact.

“Okay,” I breathe out my reply on a shaky exhale.

“Leave your bag, we’ll come back for it,” he says, grabbing it from the floor as he stands. “Would you keep this here for, Kimber?” he asks Jefferson who passes by us at that exact moment.

“Of course.” Jefferson nods and retrieves my bag from Decklan, stuffing it underneath the bar for safe keeping. Without another word he nods and walks away, busying himself with another group of customers who have just entered the bar area of the restaurant.

“Ready?” Decklan holds his hand out to me, watching me intently as I take it and allow him to guide me off of the bar stool.

Tucking his hand around my fingers, he leads me out of the bar, not stopping until we reach his motorcycle which is parked across the street. My feet falter the moment we approach the sleek black bike.

“Let me guess, you’ve never been on a motorcycle before?” he asks, releasing my hand to retrieve the helmet resting on the seat of the bike.

“Never,” I breathe, my insides twisting violently.

His smile only widens as he deposits the large black helmet on top of my head.

Everything in me is telling me to run. I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be leaving with a man I don’t know who could end up taking me God knows where, let alone getting on the back of his motorcycle.

But something about the way he looks at me silences that voice, reassuring me that I can trust him. But can I really?

“Should you be driving?” I stutter out, embarrassed to even ask the question. “I mean, you were just drinking,” I add on.

Wow, way not to sound like a total loser, Kimber. Smooth. Real smooth.

Decklan runs a hand through his messy hair, pushing the fallen strands away from his eyes as he settles onto his bike; hitting me with an amused smile.

“I only had one, and I promise you, I would never put you on this bike with me if I was in any way inebriated. I may drink and drive, but I don’t drive drunk.” His tone falls serious, and for a moment I almost feel bad for even asking the question.

“Aren’t you going to wear a helmet?” I can’t control the word vomit that continues to spew from my mouth, feeling my embarrassment grow with each moment that passes.

Shut up, Kimber. Shut up and get on the bike.

“I only have one.” He taps lightly against the visor of the helmet on my head, halting my movements when I reach to remove it. “You’re wearing it.” His tone is absolute. “Trust me, you are much more valuable than I am.” He winks, reaching for my hand.

I hesitate for a brief moment before I finally lay my hand in his. Stepping where he tells me to step, I fling my leg over the bike as I settle onto the seat behind him. Reaching around, he grabs my wrists securing both of my arms around his waist.

“Whatever you do, do not let go,” He instructs, firing the bike to life.

The vibration beneath me is enough to cause my breath to catch in my throat and sends my heart beating even more violently against my ribcage, fear coursing through my entire body.

I take a shaky inhale as I secure my grip, my hand skirting across his hard abs through his open jacket and thin black t-shirt as I do. Trying to ignore the sudden surge of electricity I feel being secured so tightly against him, I lay my head against his back and clench my eyes closed tightly; praying to God this isn’t the biggest mistake of my life.

I feel the weight of the bike shift as Decklan takes off and proceeds to weave through traffic. He handles the motorcycle with such ease that my nerves settle slightly after a couple of minutes. Even still I’m not brave enough to open my eyes for any of it.

By the time the bike slows and the vibration beneath me dies off, I feel like I am stuck in my current position from holding my body so rigid for so long. Decklan senses this and lets out a deep laugh, his back vibrating slightly against my chest.

“It wasn’t that bad was it?” he asks when I still make no attempt to move.

“I don’t think I can move,” I admit, not sure if I can’t or simply don’t want to.

“Here.” He unlocks my hands from his waist and slides off the bike, careful not to move me as he does.

Once his feet hit the ground, he turns, reaching up to unlatch the helmet and pull it off of my head before depositing it directly in front of me on the seat.

“There.” He smiles, pushing my wild tangled mess of hair away from my face. “Better?”

He reaches for me when I nod, lifting me under the armpits as he slides me from the back of his motorcycle and sets me gently to the ground just inches from him. Reaching out, he pushes my hair behind my shoulders before tipping my face upwards so that my gaze meets his.

“Glad I can say I was your first.” He gives me a wicked smile, laughing when he sees the blush once again take over my face. “Your first motorcycle ride.” He laughs again, clearly finding amusement in the fact that my brain doesn’t seem to function properly around him.