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She’s waiting for me at the gate, so I press the button on my bike to open the gate, and we both go through it.
Astra gets settled in her car, and before long, she pulls out onto the street with me behind her.
We weave in and out of the city streets before we’re back at her café.
I furrow my brows, wondering why she came back to her shop.
She parks in the alley behind her café, and I pull up behind her, turn off my bike, and get off it.
Sliding off my helmet, she’s quick to tell me. “See, I got home safe and sound.”
Licking my lips, I smirk. “Yeah, because I was behind you the whole way.”
She bites her bottom lip and looks right into my eyes, her face lit up by the neon sign of the bar across the street. “This isn’t a good idea.”
Meeting her gaze head-on, I lick my lips and tread carefully. “What isn’t? This?” I take a step closer to her, breaking the distance between us. “Because I’m not like the other men you’ve been with, Astra.”
Astra flinches at my words, almost like I just slapped her.
She holds my gaze, her eyes shimmering with what I think are unshed tears. “I don’t know enough about you to know if you’re like them.”
Ah, there it is—the pain, the uncertainty, the fear.
I take another step, pressing my chest up against hers, and stare down at her. “I’m not him, Astra,” I murmur softly, reaching a hand out to graze my fingertips against her cheek. “I’m not him, and I never will be.”
She shakes her head and backs away from me. “No, you don’t get to do that. I don’t know anything about you other than your name and a couple of small details you’ve told me.”
Anger starts to flash over her face, and I wonder what the hell I’ve just started. “What you heard wasn’t meant for your ears. It doesn’t mean you can swoop in and save me. I don’t need saving. I’m fine, and I got here all by myself. Hell, I don’t even know if you’re any better than him. People in biker clubs do horrible shit, right?”
She stands here, her eyes wide with surprise, as if she’s trying to figure me out.
I nod, confirming her suspicions. “You’re right. Some of us do. Me included. I’ve made some horrible mistakes, Astra, but it doesn’t make me a monster. It only proves that I’m man enough to admit to them.”
I watch her expression closely, see the acceptance in her eyes, and know she believes me.
I’m not a bad man, just one who has done some bad things over the years.
Astra doesn’t respond at first. She just stares at me with those gorgeous earthy green eyes of hers.
Without any warning, I decide to take charge and crush my lips onto hers.
I make sure the kiss isn’t overly forceful but shows the passion that resides deep in my soul.
Her lips are soft and warm, while bits of cinnamon and vanilla waft up from her.
She tastes like Chai lattes and sweets, and for a moment, I forget about her reservations about me.
I don’t know why, but I want to prove to her that I’m not some asshole who’s going to hurt her.
I don’t even know why I care so damn much, why I feel the need to prove myself.
Part of me thinks I knew I wanted her from the moment I saw her, and I did.
I pull away from her lips softly and look into her eyes. “I need you to know I’m not the kind of man who’s going to leave you high and dry. You’re not just a quick fuck for me, Astra. Forgive me for my bluntness, but I want to see if this could go somewhere because I think it can.”
Astra looked into my eyes with an unreadable expression. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
I smile softly. “You don’t have to say anything. Take a few days, think about it, and then I’ll stop by. Just get in the building, so I know you’re safe.”
