“Look,”he embellishes, and every bit of me adores how he’s trying so hard to communicate with me, even though I’ve told him he didn’t have to. It makes it easier for me to move past this brief hiccup and remember why he has my stomach so giddy inside. I enjoy watching his mouth far too much, however, so I seem to miss part of what he says when I get transfixed on his lips and not the actual words leaving them.“I’m sorry. I meant what I said, okay? I’d never hurt you. Ever. I don’t want any of those chicks at the club. You’re the only one I’ve had my eyes on since you showed up.”
I can’t help but smirk in triumph. It feels good having him admit as much, even being surrounded by naked women, he only notices me. Granted, I take my clothes off too, but still, he wants me and not any of the other beautiful women I work with. “You want me to dance for you?”
“Only if you want to, but I’m not going to lie, I’d love for you to. You dance like a goddess.” He runs his palm over his shaved head as his gaze skirts me from head to toe. He likes what he sees, I can see it plain as day by the desire swirling in his gaze. Powerhouse is sin and sex and everything else made to draw me to him.
My cheeks warm from his sweet compliment, and I pause a beat, staring when he holds his hand out to me. My eyes flash tohis—warm, safe, sexy—before I place my palm in his. He threads our fingers together and gives me a gentle tug until I’m walking close to his side, back toward the bar and the way I came from moments before. He reaches across with his free hand, tucking part of my hair behind my ear as we continue to make our way to the parking lot located in front of the strip club. There are several motorcycles parked, a few bikers, and some of the girls I work with waiting around, most likely for us.
I can’t seem to stop glancing at Powerhouse.
So big.
Strong.
Gorgeous.
He catches me staring and offers a wide smile. How can such a powerful, intimidating man be so open and gentle with me? His smile says he’s the sweetest guy in the entire world, yet everything else about him screams of danger and vengeance.
I miss what’s being said between him and the others. They’re moving around, shifting toward their motorcycles and talking with their backs to me so I can’t see their lips move. I manage to catch parts of words, but it’s too fast, so nothing makes sense as I stand around and watch them. This is one of the things I hate about being deaf the most—having to make peace with the fact that I miss a good portion of what is said around me. I have to remind myself that if it’s important enough for me to know, they will get my attention and fill me in. At least Powerhouse will; there’s something about him making me not doubt his personal integrity nor the sincerity he directs toward me in each of our interactions.
“Slow night at work. They’re coming with us to the clubhouse,” he says, so I can read his lips. He nods to my coworkers who are climbing on the backs of the motorcycles with the other guys.
His big paws are on me in the next moment, landing on my hips. With his amused grin and my gasp of surprise, I’m being lifted through the air. I shriek in the process, as he picks me up without warning and places me on the huge motorcycle, I’ve seen him riding before. He’s a massive dude, so it should come as no surprise, I suppose, that he rides an oversized motorcycle as well. At least it feels larger to me than what an average man would ride. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before, so what do I know?
He climbs on, twisting my way so I can see part of his face again, and signs as he speaks the words,“Hold on to me, shortcake. Tight. Never let go.”I think he means to say don’t let go, but I could be wrong.
Chapter Nine
Raven
The vibrations overtake everything, as the rumble from the motorcycle physically shakes my body. It makes the inside of my nose and ears itch, and I can’t help but laugh at the sensation. He revs the bike, the power radiating through my thighs, and I quickly scoot against his back, wrapping my arms around his waist. He’s trim here, especially since the rest of him is wide. His chest and shoulders easily fill a doorway, his height towers over others, and his thighs are like tree trunks, yet his waist and hips are narrow. He truly is built for power, like a fighter.
Our bodies are close enough to each other I can’t help but inhale deeply, taking in his scent. He’s all man. His smell is laced with laundry detergent mixed with exhaust. There’s a hint of leather lingering from his cut, the material is crisp, and the patches are bright. There’s also something distinctlyPowerhouse, reminding me of the woods along with his natural pheromones. All of it mixed together seems to distinctly be designed to drive me absolutely wild for him. I shouldn’t lose myself so easily over a man I barely know, but here I am. Literally smelling him multiple times as I clutch onto his bulk for dear life.
He gives my leg a quick, supportive squeeze as the bike begins to roll forward, but then it’s gone in a flash, making me instantly miss his comforting touch. I hold onto him like a lifeline, and then we’re flying down the road. I scream at first, but it quickly turns into giggles as the wind tickles my eyelashes, making a sense of freedom wash over me.
So this is why they ride. I get it now.
Everything drifting through my head doesn’t seem uncertain any longer. Rather than worry about anything at all, I feel utterly free, riding with the wind for the first time in I don’t know how long. My mind begins to become clearer and clearer of my too many cluttered thoughts as I take in the surroundings around me.
The cool air whipping through my hair, making the strands fly everywhere. The lingering warmth from the setting sun’s rays on my face before the chill of night takes its place. The Texas humidity always wraps me up in its gentle hug, making me feel at home.
It’s December, one of the mildest months, so it’s cooled down a lot. However, in central Texas, it’s still beautiful during most days, and then it’s cold at night. I wonder if Powerhouse will keep me warm once the sun goes down completely? I sure hope so, because I want to feel him everywhere, and this quick trip on his motorcycle has only made the desire stronger.
Our ride is much shorter than I was anticipating, as he pulls off the road, the others following closely behind. He eventually parks in front of a one-story building with brightlights all around the parking lot. We’re losing daylight fast, but it’s dusk, and at the point where I can still easily make out smoke coming from the back somewhere. The air has the crisp notes of winter, along with the embers from a bonfire, and somewhere mixed in is the scent of roasting food.
My stomach grumbles, twisting a bit as it reminds me, I didn’t eat anything for dinner yet. I don’t know if I can eat in front of Powerhouse right now; he has my nerves going haywire at the moment. He did say he wants me to chill with him, but I still don’t know what that means exactly. I didn’t make it a habit of going to any guy’s houses growing up, nor since I’ve been an adult. I didn’t have many friends, and those I considered were in ballet with me. Our days were full of dancing, practicing until we were too tired to consider doing anything outside of our training.
Powerhouse lifts me off his motorcycle, setting me in front of him again. He wears a wide—and dare I say it—proud smile. “Fun?” His brows are raised as he waits with bated breath, reminding me of a little kid eager for my approval. He doesn’t know it, but he absolutely has it. Not only on the ride, but in the way he attempts to respect and care for me in the only ways he knows how. He’s not like other men I’ve met; he’s big and overwhelming, but also sweet, like a puppy.
“I loved every minute of it. I felt free. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
His irises sparkle with my response, happiness shining brightly in his expression, then he’s yanking me to him. He squeezes me tightly for a beat, peppering a kiss to the top of my head before stepping back to give me my space once more.
“What’s with the smoke?” I gesture to the roof.
“There’s a bonfire out back. The brothers will be drinking, grilling, and relaxing. They’ll be inside too, partying. You ready for this?”
I shrug. Am I ready? I’ve seen his friends before, but it was at work. I had my mind in the zone and paid them no attention aside from what’s required of my job. They’ve all seen me naked, or close to it, and honestly, I’m not too sure what to think about it.
