Batting my eyes and smiling at the male before me, I say seductively, “I’m LJ, and just who might you be?”
“I’m -” I don’t get to hear his name. Suddenly, I’m pulled backward.
“It doesn’t matter who he is.” Daxell wraps his arms around me from behind and pulls me away from the five.
“I think it does. Hands off, Dax. Your bimbo’s waiting for you.” I push my way out of his strong arms.
“She’s not my bimbo.”
I grin and say, “That’s what you say, but she looks plenty pissed to me right about now.”
“I made her no promises. Hell, we didn’t even exchange words. You, on the other hand, I owe a ride. You showed. I didn’t think you would.” His hands still rest lightly on my hips, his thumbs lightly caressing my waist sending tingles of pleasure coursing through me.
“If you thought that, then you have a lot to learn about me. I don’t back down easily, especially when it comes to something I want,” I say teasingly, a smile tugging at my lips, “and I want to go to The Underworld. You just so happen to be my ticket in.”
“Damn, honey cheeks, I thought you wanted me.” His grin is wicked and lights up his sexy as sin dark face.
“In your dreams, demon boy.” I pronounce and pucker my lips together for an air kiss.
“You want that ride or not,” he growls.
“Are you going to tell your girlfriend your ditching her?” I can’t help the quirk of my lips as I watch his response.
He turns to assess the female glaring daggers in our direction, and shakes his head, “No, I don’t think so. She looks pissed.” He chuckles and grabs my hand and pulls me after him. I turn to wave at the table of males that I didn’t even get to meet with a little shrug as I’m pulled through the crowd.
We navigate the mob that is building in the bar as the evening grows nigh and make our way to the elevator. The doors open with a ding and at least ten people spill out into the entryway of the tavern. Dax pulls me with him into the lift and in a matter of minutes, we are standing alone together waiting for the garage level.
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, breaking the heavy silence.
He squeezes my hand in his own, not looking at me, it’s as if he’s conflicted before saying, “You get that ride you wanted last night, and I get to stow my bike away in my garage. Then you trace us back to your place. I figure if we’re going to try to dig up information on this New Raven Order we need a central meeting place. It only makes sense that it's someplace that you and your family and friends know and are familiar with. I tend to be a loner, so what you see is what you get.” The elevator dings and the doors open. Daxell pulls me off the lift behind him and makes his way toward a sleek black and silver bike. He hands me the only helmet, and says, “I brought this for you.”
“What about you?” I ask, as I slide the helmet over my head and fasten the strap under my chin.
“Honey cheeks, I don’t need to wear a helmet.” He swings his well-muscled denim-clad leg over the bike and starts her up. Then he indicates for me to climb on behind him, pointing to the pegs toward the back of the bike. I don’t hesitate, bracing myself using his shoulder, I step up on the peg and swing my leg over to sit behind him. Dax looks over his shoulder with a smirk, “You may want to hang on tight, princess.”
He all but guns the engine, popping a wheely before tearing out of the garage. I barely have a chance to wrap my arms around him and plaster myself to his back. I’m almost unseated before I settle in. Looking over his shoulder, I see that the speedometer registers ninety miles an hour as we weave in and out of traffic, running red lights, passing everyone in our sight. I loosen my hold on his waist and sit straight up, flipping the visor open. I’m mesmerized as the lights of the city streak by us blending into ribbons of color, and for a moment I forget that we’re not dragon-riding, but racing through the streets of this northern city on a motorcycle. As we come upon the outskirts of the suburbs, we’re soon surrounded by trees and I let the exhilaration of the ride take over. Sitting straight up, I lift my arms over my head, skyward and laugh out loud, loving every aspect of this ride, and cry out, “YEAH!!!” I can’t help the laughter that spills from my lips. I’ve never felt this free.
About halfway through the ride, Dax slows down to a more leisurely pace weaving in and out of the curves of the two-lane highway. The road has become winding as we travel further into the wilderness. I leave the visor open so I can take in the scent of the woods around us. It smells different here, unlike the scents that surround my mother’s house much further south than this place. There are more pine and evergreen here, where at home we have more oak, maple, cherry, and sycamore. The smells of the woods are just different, and I love the earthy scent.
Slowly, Dax pulls onto a sandy, gravel road that leads toward the water. I can smell it. The place is in the middle of nowhere, and I can tell that this is his sanctuary. His place to go to find solitude. I’m surprised that he has brought me here. Dax slowly maneuvers the steal horse that we ride into the detached garage. He lowers the kickstand and waits for me to hop off. For a moment, we both just stand there looking at one another before I exclaim, “Oh
