Riding with the Bad Boy (A Dark Motorcycle Club Romance) (10 page)

“
I
t would be
nice to have a decent meal. I don’t know the last time that I ate something that wasn’t ramen.” I smiled, relenting.

“
W
ell
, I promise this will be better than noodles.”

***

D
ean

I
gripped
the steering wheel a little harder, my hands white knuckling as I drove. It wasn’t because of the traffic, to be honest, the reason that I chose this city was because of how small it was. How easy it was to get to the country. To the woods.

N
o
. It was because I was sitting next to her. Another lonely soul. Except she didn’t even know what she was. She hadn’t experienced it yet. But she was close. So very close.

“
S
o
, tell me about yourself,” I said, unable to take the uncomfortable silence any longer. “You went to college here, but who are you? What makes you a special snowflake, as it were?”

“
M
e
? I’m not that special. I just work hard. Daughter of a single mom, you know the drill. Pretty typical if you ask me. Went to the local school, played on the softball and soccer team, got a scholarship to college. Nothing outstanding.”

T
he darkness
inside of me was threatening to take over right there in the car. I could feel the loneliness, just like always, tugging at me. I could feel it calling me. Trying to claim me.

I
t was
because she was there, so close, in the car next to me. My hormones were going out of control.

“
I
disagree
. You put yourself through high school, you got into college on pretty much a full ride, at least so I read, and you do a lot of community service. Without a court order.” I forced a laugh and then looked over at her.

T
he small smile
on her face was reward enough.

“
I
see
you’ve been checking up on me.”

“
W
hat employer doesn’t
? Anyway, it is quite an impressive resume if I do say so myself. I am the boss after all.”

“
Y
es
, I almost keep forgetting that.”

“
G
ood
, then I am making you feel comfortable in your new role. I’d like you to think of us as a solid working relationship. I want to get to know you, Ava. And I want you to know me.”

A
va

“
D
im Sum
?” The place looked like it was more than just a corner shop, upscale Asian, but still, it wasn’t what I imagined. A luxury Chinese place right in downtown.

“
W
hat
, you don’t like Dim Sum? Everybody likes Dim Sum.” I thought he was going to take me to somewhere, sophisticated. He smiled at me. “It was the best I could on short notice.”

I
tried not to smile
. He was cute, and a funny. I never would have expected him to go to a place that wasn’t all caviar and roast duck.

“
A
ctually
, I’ve never been to one.”

“
I
promised you somewhere good
. I swear to you, this is the very best Chinese place in town. Give it a chance, huh?” He opened the door for me and I smiled, entering.

I
could tell
by the smell that it was a hell of a lot better than Ramen. The spices, savory and sweet mixed together wafted into my nostrils. Damn, it was going to be good. I bit my lip and tried to hold back the shame of doubting him.

I
t only took
a few minutes at the counter and he had full meals for us to try. We sat down in a little booth in the corner of the cafe and I looked over my meal. It smelled amazing.

“
I
promise you
, it is going to be worth it. Trust me.”

I
wanted to trust him
, I really did, but I barely knew this man other than what I knew of his company, and of him as a CEO. Even though I didn’t know his name until a few hours ago, I knew the CEO was ruthless, quick to action, decisive and intelligent. Looking over Dean now, I never would of guessed exactly who he was.

B
ut it somehow fit with
his persona.

I
took
a bite of it and looked up at him. “Wow, this is… really good.”

“
S
ee
, I told you. Put some of this sauce on it. It will make it even better.”

I
grabbed
the sauce “What is this?”

“
T
hey call it moon sauce
. It is a soy mix, maybe some sugar. I don't know. But it is great.”

H
e was right
.

“
Y
ou come
to places like this?” I asked, this was not the kind of place I imagined a man like Dean would attend. It was nice, but it certainly wasn’t billionaire worthy.

“
I
’m not a snob
, Ava. I like simple things, and complex things. But I don’t care if they are expensive or not. I grew up quite different than you expect, actually.”

“
W
hat
? No silver spoons?”

“
N
o
, I actually inherited my fortune. Had no idea what this life was like until then.”

“
O
h
, wow, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“
D
on’t be
, everyone thinks that of me at first. Comes with the name.”

I
nodded
. He wasn’t mad, in fact, he seemed a little amused.

I
liked his man
. He was honest and kind. And hot as hell.

***

“
S
o
, what did you think?”

“
I
t was surprisingly good
!” I said as I walked outside the shop with him, towards his dark luxury car.

I
was nervous
. What was this? A date? I didn’t know, but the way he was looking at me told me he wanted more.

A
nd deep
inside I knew I wanted to give it to him and more.

T
he dark swirling
green of his eyes pulled me in, like a moth to the flame. I wanted his touch, his warmth out there in the cool air of the evening. I wanted to be that couple that everyone looked at and envied.

S
o when he
dipped down and pushed his hand up on my neck at the edge my hair it took everything I had not to moan into his ear, I had to resist the urge to ask him to take me right then and there. Too much, too fast, and I know I would have lost him.

I
would have lost
it all. The job, the guy, everything.

B
ut I didn’t melt
into him. Not yet. Not until he kissed me.

H
is soft lips
against my thick ones, and I was done. Gone. Completely engulfed into his world. This crazy, sexy, deep, brooding billionaire. Like a damn fantasy world. This couldn’t be happening, it couldn’t. Why would he do this, why would he kiss me like this?

F
inally
, he tore his lips away, and I could hear it, just the slightest little bit of growl.

“
Y
ou don’t want
to do this.” He said suddenly, his eyes looking me over. “I’m not the kind of man you should be kissing, Ava.”

“
W
hat kind
of man are you?”

“
A
dark one
. One that you shouldn’t even be looking at. Not like that. But dammit, Ava. You are just so beautiful. Smart. Talented. I can’t help myself.” He bent down and kissed me again, and I wanted to resist, I really did, but as soon as his touch met mine it carried me away again.

H
e was so damn tempting
.

I
pushed myself away
. “Dean, I…”

“
L
ook
, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have kissed you, but damn, ever since you walked, well, hobbled, into my building, it is all I wanted to do.”

B
efore he could say
anything else I was on him, kissing him, taking charge. And as much as he seemed like a strong male, he let me. He let me kiss him and take him for a little ride with my own mouth. Before I knew it we were tangled up in each other, right out there in the middle of the sidewalk. I broke again.

H
e pulled away again
. “Look, don’t. You don’t know… you don’t know what I am.”

“
I
don’t care
what you are, who you are. I just, I can’t help but feel this.”

W
e were entwined again
his arms wrapped around me until I was the one to pull away this time.

“
I
’m sorry
,” I said, and then I turned from him. “I should really head home.”

“
W
ait
. Let me take you. Please. If I walk you home we can call this a date. Maybe I can get another out of you? A real one? I promise I won’t take you to another mid-level joint. I’ll do it right this time.”

I
couldn’t say
no to his smile.

D
ean

I
t was
the so hard not to take her home, not to show her what I was. Who I was.

N
ot yet
.

“
T
his your place
?” I asked as we pulled up to a small complex of apartment buildings. The ones she plugged into the GPS.

I
t wasn’t much
, probably wasn’t even that safe.

“
Y
eah
, this is it.” She said, smiling.

“
L
et me walk you up
,” It was all I could do to keep from revving the engine and pulling her out of that place and back to my house.

“
N
o
, that’s alright. Really. I’ll, I’ll see you at work tomorrow?” She slid out of her seat as she opened the door and looked at me. Those big brown eyes deep and soul searching.

“
Y
es
. Tomorrow.” And just like that, she was gone.

T
he feeling I knew
, the one where our souls connected. It was real. And I wouldn’t let it get away.

I
knew one thing
.

T
omorrow I would sweep
her off her feet.

***

A
va

“
H
ere
, I had an overnight bag made up for you, your size and all.” It was the first thing he said to me the moment that I walked into the office. He had the bags up on his desk

“
W
hat
?”

“
W
ell
, you need clothing, I have a nice fat account. I packed it up for you, made sure it would fit.”

“
W
h-why
?” I asked, more out of curiosity than anything.

“
I
have
a surprise business meeting in New York. I wasn’t expecting it, got a call this morning. Had my personal shopper pack these up for you. She is an excellent judge of clothing, picks out most of my own. We have to get going, the company jet is scheduled for the afternoon, have a team flying out to Kyoto.”

“
Y
es
, but I’m… plus size.”

“
T
hat doesn’t matter
. She shops for men. I had the Margie guess your sizes, she is great at that, by the way. So if nothing fits, let me know, we’ll get you some new things in New York.”

“
O
h
, okay. New York? Wow.”

“
I
told
you there would be travel in this job. I mean, it was right on the description, Ava. Are you having second thoughts?”

“
W
hat
? No, of course not. I am just excited. I mean, I just started yesterday,”