Page 66 of Eagle
“Innocence? Stupidity? Naivety?” he grinned.
“Yeah, all those words work,” I pointed out with a smile. I turned to head back out. “I’ll go move my car. Then I’m taking a shower. I have a date tonight.” A hot date.
His brows shot up with surprise. “With who?”
“Eagle is taking me on a ride.”
“On his bike?” He picked up one of the boxes. “Be careful.” He began to follow me out the door. “By the way, I’ve left the rent and bill information on the counter for you.”
“Thanks.”
“You won’t have any trouble paying, will you?” The screen door slammed behind us as we made our way to our cars. “I know you just started your job.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, getting in my car to move it.
Once back inside, I left Ron and headed to the bathroom to get a shower, unsure what time Eagle would show up, wanting to be ready for him when he did. I was pulling up a pair of tight jeans when Ron and I said our goodbyes with my bedroom door between us. I slipped into ankle boots and a new top I hadn’t worn before. The georgette material was thin and breezy, hanging off my shoulders and clinging to the shape of my breasts. I did my long hair in a messy French braid and finished my look with the hoop earrings I favored and a spritz of Aerin perfume. I loved the subtle floral and citrus notes.
I was just putting a light coat of neutral lipstick on when I heard Eagle’s bike outside. An easy smile spread across my face. I felt good about him. About us. But before we got too far into a relationship, I needed answers, and I intended to ask him the questions that were on my mind tonight if the opportunity presented itself. I didn’t want another repeat of what I’d gone through with Johnny.
I refused to be the second woman again.
A loud knock at the door indicated that Eagle had arrived. I stuffed my phone into my back pocket and snatched up my keys before answering the door. And there he was, looking all badass and sexy with a smile on his face and the glimmer of a wicked promise in his eyes.
“Hi,” I said in a slightly breathy tone.
“Hey, beautiful.” His gaze moved over me in an intimate way that made me tingle all over. I could tell that he liked what he saw.
“Do you need to go home before we leave?”
He shook his head. “I cleaned up before I left the clubhouse.”
He didn’t step inside. Instead, he reached for me by curling an arm around my waist. He pulled me sharply against him just outside the door. I caught my breath as my head tilted back, and Eagle took the invitation to slam his mouth down over mine. An instant rush of arousal surged through my body, and all my senses came alive.
His hand slid over my bottom and squeezed. His mouth was demanding, the scruff on his jaw rough yet stimulating. And his scent... I loved how he always smelled like leather, smoke, and the light aftershave that he always wore. I could taste something warm and dark on his tongue as it thrust against mine. It didn’t take long for us to work ourselves up into a frenzy of wanton lust that demanded so much more than a single kiss.
A sharp moan of frustration passed through my lips when Eagle pulled back, but the arousal on his face revealed that he was feeling everything that I was.
“You ready?”
I nodded and closed the door behind me. “I’ve been looking forward to another ride on your bike since you mentioned it the other day.”
With my hand in his, Eagle led me to his bike. When he reached for the only helmet and turned to place it on my head, I asked, “What about you?”
“We’re not going far. And I don’t want to take any chances with you.”
My gaze moved over his handsome features as he buckled the chin strap for me. He had a strong, masculine face. When he was like this, concentrating on what he was doing, his mouth was set firmly in an unyielding line that made me want to reach up and smooth it over with my thumb. His square jaw was carved with a stubborn edge to it, but when he raised those cool, mercury-colored eyes to mine, I couldn’t explain what they did to me inside. It wasn’t love. It was too soon for that. But it was something.
“Let’s go.”
Eagle climbed on his bike first, then straightened on the seat so I could get on. I used his shoulders for support and settled behind him. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” was all he said. “Wrap those arms around me, darlin’, I don’t want you falling off.”
I did as he instructed, recalling the first time I’d ridden behind him when he’d taken me to the clubhouse. That had been a short ride, and I hadn’t been able to get into it because of the circumstances. I’d been too worried about Brew and my brother, both of them heavy on my mind. But today was different, and I was able to fully enjoy being on the back of Eagle’s bike. He handled it with a finesse that revealed his experience and confidence, and I felt completely safe with him. I locked my hands together against his lower torso and watched the countryside go by as we rode further away from Georgetown.
Eventually, Eagle slowed and turned onto a dirt road that was hardly bigger than a bike path. It led into the woods and directly to a lake surrounded by evergreens and birch trees. He parked beneath the canopy of trees and turned off his bike.
“It’s beautiful here.” There were clusters of wildflowers, marigolds, creeping dogwood, and red columbine. With Eagle’s assistance, I climbed off his bike. My hands automatically went to the strap beneath my chin, but Eagle beat me to it. I returned his smile. “Did you bring me here to take advantage of me?” I teased.