Her nickname pierced her heart and warmed her all over.
True to his word, once he’d started the engine and she was comfortably holding onto his waist, he shot off down the length of the courtyard. The gates opened for them, and he weaved onto the public road.
It was exhilarating to be on the back of a bike again, but to be riding with Sebastian, feeling his heat through her fingertips and howpowerfully he managed the motorcycle, was a thrill she’d missed so much.
The journey was over far too soon, but the shock of their location now had her attention.
“We’re in the suburbs.” She remarked, climbing off the bike and looking up and down the cookie-cutter street with perfect lawns. Undoubtedly, the HOA had a hand in saying how long the grass was kept. It was late, almost three a.m., so she wouldn’t expect to see any neighbors, but the street was nicely lit, almost invitingly cute.
“Yeah,” smiled Sebastian, unlocking their stuff; he shoved both over his shoulder and prowled toward the cute house with the three front steps leading up to a wrap-around porch. “Where better to hide than in plain sight?”
“I thought it would be out in the sticks.”
“We have places out there, too. But this is better.”
“It’s not even far from your house. You could go home.”
He whipped around before he unlocked the door.
“I’m not leaving you alone. Not for a second. Don’t suggest that shit again, Sunny. Let’s get in; I’m wiped, and you must be tired.”
After turning off the house alarm, he spoke to the voice-activated system, and the lights came on.
“Everything is safe, but stay here while I do a walk-through. Kick off your boots and jacket,” he told her. Tired and not wanting to get on his bad side so soon, Sunny remained in the hallway while Seb jogged upstairs. He returned quickly and shrugged out of his jacket, tossing it over the newel post. “I aired this place a few days ago and got enough groceries for a few meals, turned on the boiler, and changed the sheets.”
“That sounds like you planned to come here.”
“I was being prepared.” He stared her in the eye and then cocked his chin. “Do you want food or to get some sleep?”
“Sleep.” But then she caught sight of his hands and gasped, stopping him from moving. Each knuckle was bruised, and crusted blood coated each finger. “What happened?”
“I beat that little prick to a pulp.” He growled.
“Well, you can’t sleep with hands like this, or they’ll get infected, and I’ll be forced to perform an amputation with a penknife. Find a first aid kit.”
He chuffed a laugh, gently running his thumb over hers, and she quickly dropped his hand, burned by his touch. “Sunny, it’s a flophouse, not the Beverly Wiltshire.”
She scowled, but had to admit he looked delicious with his dark hair in his eyes. She used to fix his hair, but now she could only hold her hands in place.
“Bikers come here because they’re in trouble. It will have a box full of things to patch them up. Look, please.”
She waited in the kitchen, and sure enough, she heard him stomping down the hallway, carrying a clear container. “I found this in the bathroom.”
“Sit there,” she pointed to a bar stool, having a rummage, pleased she found antiseptic cream. She dabbed the cuts lightly with warm water first. His hands were huge compared to hers, and every time she looked at him, he was already staring, making her nervous, especially when he rubbed his thumb on her palm.
“All done,” she breathed minutes later once she’d treated his knuckles. “You should have whacked him with a piece of wood, not your hands.”
“I’ll remember that for next time,” he chuckled, towering over Sunny. “Let’s head up to bed.”
A sentence she never thought she’d hear him say to her.
And because she had a stupid heart that still belonged to him, she shadowed his steps and hoped there was a time she wouldn’t mindlessly follow Sebastian Priest.
ELEVEN
Sunshine
“This is convenient for booty calls.” She remarked as she followed him up the staircase. The adrenaline was wearing off, and she was suddenly swaying on her tired legs.
