Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(68)

“You can, and you will. You’ll love it.” He places the helmet on my head and laces it tightly.

Throwing his leg over the seat, he starts it. The engine thunders to life, the exhaust loud and sexy at the same time.

Looking at the small amount of seat I’m supposed to sit on, I get even more nervous. I could fall off easily.

Glancing over his shoulder, he eyes me… waiting.

“Live a little, Rookie,” he baits me, and I can’t help but smile.

Here goes nothing.

Awkwardly, I throw my leg over the seat and sit.

Holding him at the hips, I pull myself up to him closely and put my feet on the back pegs.

He grabs my hands and pulls them around him, making me hug him.

“You set?” he asks over his shoulder.

I nod, and my heart races in fear.

“Hold on.”

“Where are we going?” I yell.

He either ignores me, or doesn’t hear me, because he pulls out onto the street.

I clench my eyes shut and squeeze my thighs with the fear of falling off or getting hit being too much to think about.

The bike vibrates beneath me, causing the skin under my thighs to oddly itch. Heat off the exhaust swirls around my ankles, and I set my feet as far out as I can.

It’s an amazing machine. Very sturdy. Very muscular. Very dangerous.

A warm hand grabs one of mine, our fingers interlocking. Opening my eyes, he gives them a squeeze. Lights blur past as he takes an on ramp.

Oh, my God, we’re getting on the freeway!?

I want to close my eyes, but now I’m too scared to even do that.

We fly past other vehicles, weaving around one car, then another truck. Lights dance around us, the air warm and dry. I haven’t died so far, so that’s a plus.

Ten minutes later, we pull off the freeway onto a side road. I’m not squeezing Zeek to death anymore and am actually starting to enjoy the ride.

It’s freeing. The ride cleared my mind, and actually relaxed me.

He heads down some dirt road, a bunch of cacti and boulders ahead. Dust and gravel form into a cloud behind us, and I have to squint to keep it out of my eyes.

Slowing down, he stops and drops the kickstand.

The moon is shining brightly; I can see every star out here.

He turns off the bike and looks over his shoulder. Taking my cue, I climb off the bike the same way I got on—awkwardly.

When he’s off, he helps me remove the helmet.

“Where are we?” I ask, looking around. A large lizard scurries across the desert quickly.

“The movies.” He smiles.

I furrow my brows, not understanding. I don’t see anything for miles.

He takes my hand and leads me to the boulders. He grabs onto one, and lifts his foot.

“We’re climbing?” I laugh.

“Come on, Rookie, surely you had to have some climbing during your training,” he taunts.

Shaking my head, I grab onto the rocks and start climbing. Almost taking it as a challenge, I try to get to the top first.

He’s so much bigger than me though, he makes it easily before I do.

Almost up, he reaches down and grabs my hand, pulling me past the last couple rocks.

Dusting my hands off, I look over the desert.

“Over here,” he whispers in my ear, pulling on my shoulder. I turn and that’s when I see it. Sitting afar is a large white billboard, with a movie projected on it. A drive-in movie.

A laugh escapes me, my hands cupping my mouth.

“It may not be public, but–”

“It’s perfect.” I smile. I think I like this more. It’s just us, and we don’t have to worry about getting caught.

He sits down on a large boulder and pats his lap. Stepping over, I settle myself right between his legs.

“Felix and I used to come here all the time when we were younger. We couldn’t afford to actually go to the movies.”

A frown hits my face. I bet he and Felix took all the girls here.

“You’re the first girl here, though.” Turning in my place, I look at him. He’s serious. I’m the first girl he’s taken here.

“I love it. All we’re missing is popcorn.” I laugh.

“Hmm. I might have something.” He pulls from me and I pout, my body instantly dropping several degrees.

He climbs down a couple of rocks before jumping down the rest. I hear his footsteps, but can’t see him.

I bite my lip, waiting for him to return.

“It’s not much, but I got these,” he pants, climbing up the rocks again.

He settles himself behind me and stretches his arm out. Turning his fist, he opens it, revealing a few Hershey Kisses.

I chuckle and take one.

“Why do you have these?”

Unwrapping one, he replies, “On the runs, we don’t get to stop very often. So when you’re hungry, you gotta resort to what you can stuff in your saddlebags that won’t go bad.”

I nod in understanding.

“I like the beef jerky sticks. Sometimes, it can get too hectic, and we don’t get to have dinner on the job.”

We look back at the movie, and a couple is having sex. A man with a chainsaw stands right outside their window. The couple is so into it, they don’t even see him.

It’s hot. In a weird, crazy way.