AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His expression shifted to a look of surprise before his eyes narrowed again. “I see. It doesn’t change the fact that you shouldn’t be driving in your condition. Let me give you a ride. I promise I’ll get you there safely.”
I hesitated, weighing my options. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t refuse his offer. “I could call someone else—”
“Clover. Get on the damn bike,” he commanded.
I scoffed, not willing to be swayed so easily. “I barely know you. What if you’re some kind of psycho?”
Declan’s eyes darkened, his fist clenching as he leaned in, his breath tickling my ear. “Even psychos take nights off,” he whispered, his words laced with both heat and peril.
My heart raced, uncertain if he was serious or if I was playing with fire. The gleam in his eyes stirred a blend of fear and desire within me.
“Come on, Clover,” he said, his voice taking on a more earnest tone. “I won’t harm you tonight. I just want to help.”
I hesitated, the weight of his intentions still hanging in the air. But the sight of my battered truck pushed me toward a decision. “Fine,” I relented, mustering a feigned confidence. “But don’t you dare try anything funny,” I warned, crossing my arms defensively.
Declan raised an eyebrow, an arrogant grin playing at the corner of his mouth. “Who, me? I’m the epitome of innocence,” he teased, although the mischievous glint in his expression betrayed his words.
“I’m not joking,” I retorted, my voice firm. “I’ve had a rough night, and the last thing I need is more trouble.”
He held up his hands in surrender, his voice tinged with sincerity. “Alright, I promise, no funny business. I just want to make sure you’re taken care of. You’re in no condition to be wandering around alone.”
I regarded him skeptically, the wariness still lingering within me. “Why do you care so much, anyway? You barely know me.”
Declan’s expression softened, and he sighed. “I’m not a monster. Any decent guy wouldn’t leave a woman out here alone.” But I knew Declan wasn’t the typical decent guy; there was an aura of danger emanating from him that was hard to ignore. He stepped closer, his dark eyes filled with a fierce rush of power. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
I considered his words for a moment, torn between the logical choice and the captivating pull of the unknown. In the end, practicality won over curiosity. “Fine,” I relented. I really needed to get to Laura’s house. Not to mention, I didn’t want to be stranded here while Avery was out at a party. “Laura lives off Dire Lane by the grocery store and that rundown bar. You know where that is?”
“Sure, Wildflower,” Declan replied, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.
As I climbed onto the back of his motorcycle, a mixture of apprehension and excitement coursed through me. The engine roared to life, vibrating against my body as I tightly gripped onto Declan. The night air whipped against my face, blending with the adrenaline rushing through my veins.
Casting one last look at my battered truck, we started moving into the cloak of darkness.
CLOVER
As we twisted and turned along the road, I found myself clinging tighter to Declan. The heat from his body seeped into mine, igniting something new within me. I felt a wild sense of curiosity bubbling up, testing the line between caution and recklessness.
Our ride was quiet, filled only with the sound of our breaths and the steady rumble of the bike. Everything else seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us wrapped in the thrill of the ride and the strange attraction pulling us together.
I couldn’t resist running my fingers along his back, feeling the hard muscles underneath his shirt. Our silent connection deepened with each new discovery my hands made. His body’s subtle responses were a clear warning sign—we were crossing into terrifying territory.
When the headlights of the bike revealed a local bar instead of Laura’s house, I was taken aback. “Why are we here?” I asked, trying to keep my annoyance at bay. We were just a couple of blocks away from Laura’s place, my original destination.
A playful grin spread across Declan’s face. “Relax, Wildflower,” he said in a low, soothing voice. “Thought we could use a drink.”
Without missing a beat, I retrieved my phone from my pocket, fingers dancing over the screen to text Laura about the car trouble and consequent delay. Not a cloud of doubt about Declan’s intentions hovered in my mind.
I suppressed an eye roll. The idea of a hard drink seemed appealing after the whirlwind evening. Hell, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him. Something about Declan Wilder captivated me. As we sauntered into the dimly lit bar, the murmurs dipped and heads pivoted, Declan drawing interest and speculation like a magnet.
Upon reaching the bar, Declan gestured for two neat whiskeys, the bartender nodding without questioning, as if already aware of his choice. Declan’s silent command over the space was intense. The liquor’s bite and subsequent warmth brought a welcomed flush, spreading from my throat to my chest.
Catching Declan’s unwavering gaze, I felt a heat creep into my cheeks under the weight of his scrutiny. “What?” The word escaped me, laced with an unexpected shyness.
He shrugged casually, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “You fit well on my bike, Wildflower.”
His comment made goose bumps spread across my skin, challenging me in a way I hadn’t expected. I swiftly tried to deflect his comment. “So, what’s a guy like you doing in our quiet town? You seem out of place in a local rodeo like Dust Devils.”
His eyes lit up before a shadow briefly crossed his features. “Just passing through,” he said vaguely, focusing back on his drink.
