Throttle Me (Men of Inked, #1)(37)

“Well, if nice means you feel her up, I’d say you were very kind to her.”

“Suzy, listen to me. I called you and asked you back out. You blew me off. What was I supposed to do? Sit home and wait for you to call?” Breathing escaped me as he closed the small space between us.

Tears began to stream down my cheeks as I took in the enormity of the situation. If City hadn’t stopped Derek would I have been able to get away from him? He just saved me and I was being a total bitch. The sob tore through my chest as I broke down. City wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. He felt so right against my body. I felt safe and comfortable with him no matter how much we didn’t seem to fit on paper. He said nothing, but made sounds to calm me as I buried my face into the soft material of his t-shirt. My fingers found the piercing on his nipple as I toyed with it and tried to catch my breath.

“Can I take you home, sugar?” he asked with his face buried in my hair.

“Yes,” I whimpered, clinging to him like a lifeline.

Without speaking he drew me into his arms, carrying me across the parking lot. I melted into him, resting my head against his shoulder. The thought of Kaylee still stung, but I couldn’t be mad at him anymore. He saved me from a totally f*cked up night and for that, he earned my forgiveness. The jostling movement as he placed my bottom on the cool seat of his bike made my stomach churn. I said nothing as he put the helmet on my head and fastened the harness against my chin. He had the right mix of pissed off male and swoon worthy alpha to make any girl’s heart go pitter patter.

“Can you hold on?” he asked as he held my chin between his fingertips.

“Yes.” My tone was breathy and betrayed me with the sound of need.

He climbed on the bike, scooting his ass between my legs and gripping the handlebars. I molded my torso against his and interlaced my fingers. The usual jitters I felt anticipating the ride ahead didn’t register.

“Hold on, sugar.” He throttled the engine and took off for the short drive to my house. The cool air whipped my hair around as I nuzzled against his warm back. My mind grew blank with the movement of the bike and only the roar of the engine. I allowed myself to get lost in the moment and the sensation of the vibrations from the bike and feel of City between my legs.

Lost in the City coma I didn’t notice as we pulled into my development and weaved through the winding streets to my house. Maybe I’d drifted off, but I wanted to stay like this forever – wrapped around his body, in a stress-free haze of contentment. I mumbled against his shirt as he turned off the bike, placing his feet on the ground, securing it and tapping my hands. “Sugar, we’re here.”

“Mm hmm,” I said into his back before raising my head and looking through blurry eyes at my house. I sat up, letting go of his chest before wiping the drool off my lips. “Thanks, City. I don’t know what would’ve happen tonight if it weren’t for you.” I started to climb off the bike but didn’t have the energy and plopped back against the seat with a ‘Oomph.”

City laughed as he climbed off, pulling me off the bike, cradling me in his arms. “Can I come in?” he asked, brushing his nose against my cheek.

“Depends. You mad at me?” I asked, praying he said no.

“I’m not mad. We gotta talk, Suzy.” His eyes begged me to let him in as his brows furrowed together.

“Okay.” I rested my head against his hard chest and rubbed my palm against his pec.

I handed him the keys as we approached the door. Anger was no longer visible, but the tilted grin I’d grown accustomed had vanished. He kicked off his boots before he walked across my white carpet, placing me on the couch. The couch dipped from his weight, but I couldn’t look him in the eye. I fiddled with my fingers as the silence became deafening. The alcohol-induced haze had started to wear off and I felt a small buzz.

“Why the hell didn’t you call me today? I thought we made plans. What the f*ck did I do wrong?” His words made me cringe; sadness was evident in his voice.

“I wanted to put distance between us. You didn’t do anything wrong.” I shook my head meeting his eyes.

“Distance? What for?” The space between his eyebrows drew together as the skin wrinkled in between.

“I just don’t think we’ll work out” I shrugged.

“Woman, you think too damn much and it’s f*cked up. Blew my ass off for that douchebag tonight and how’d that shit turn out for you?” He paused before continuing. “What makes you think we don’t have a shot?”

I looked away from him, unable to look him in the eyes. “We’re just so different, City. I don’t see a future between us and at my age, I’m looking forward. I don’t live life by the seat of my pants like you. We have nothing in common and we run in different worlds.” Water clouded my vision as I stared at the wall across the room. I blinked trying to clear the tears from my eyes.


Sighing he reached for my face, touching my cheek and pulling my face to look in his directions. “Look at me, sugar.” His eyes moved around my face. “I don’t know how you think I live and you sure as hell don’t know who I am. We’re getting to know each other, but you shut me out without a reason. You said it yourself, Sophia and Kayden are opposites but they work. Why couldn’t we?”

I drew in a shaky breath his words making my heartache. “I know I said that, but I don’t know, City.”