Page 73 of Pretty Little Shadow
"She said she needed someone to smuggle her cake without her mate knowing. I think everyone else was busy."
"Bonding over cake, huh?"
"I guess."
"Their place isn't far from here. I'll give you a ride."
"You have work," I pointed out.
"It's near the middle of my shift, so they owe me a break anyway." Darius stood up and offered me a hand. When I took it, he hauled me to my feet and pulled me to his chest.
He kissed my nose. "You'll heal faster if you bite me."
My fangs itched at the suggestion. "Theoretically."
"Definitely."
I made a face.
"I'll be right back." Darius squeezed my hip lightly and stepped back. "I want that lipstick on my throat alongside your bite marks when my break is over."
He still hadn't let me heal the ones that were now scarring, just like he wanted them to. I was pretty sure he'd gotten something from a spellcaster to make them scarmore, and faster, but I hadn't asked.
Anything the spellcasters created to work on scars was incredibly painful. I wasn't sure why. I'd tried one of the scar reduction creams a year or two after I got out of the cellar, but it hurt so badly for so many days that I threw the ointment out and never tried it again.
Tattoos were less painful, and the pain was over quickly, so I'd gotten an assload of those to hide my scars instead.
Darius went inside with the first aid kit, and returned a minute later with a gigantic chai latte. He draped an arm over my shoulder, and though I hesitated a beat, I tucked an arm around his back as we walked to his Ducati.
If anyone saw us, they'd definitely be taking pictures.
For once, I didn't mind.
"Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?" he asked.
"Nope."
"You'll either love it or hate it." He lifted me onto the bike and climbed on behind me, taking my latte from my hand and putting it in a cupholder in front of him.
"Have you ever ridden with someone on a motorcycle before?" I asked him, eyeing the setup and feeling less certain about it by the moment.
"Nope." He pulled his helmet over my head and leaned forward, squashing me toward the speedometer a little.
"It's not too late to book a ride," I called out, as he started the bike.
"It is. I want you to be my first," he teased, tickling my side lightly.
I bit back a laugh, squirming away from him. "Don'ttry that while we're moving."
"I won't." He kissed my shoulder before starting the engine, lifting part of both our shirts so his bare abdomen met a sliceof my back. "Probably should've put you behind me, but there's always next time."
"Wait, wha?—"
The motorcycle rolled forward smoothly, and I bit back a shriek as I grabbed Dare's thighs.
He laughed and called over the rumble of the engine,"I'll take it slow!"
"Fuck you!"
