Page 83 of Shadow's Surrender
“Just telling like it is.” Shadow cleared his throat. “You need a ride so damn bad. I’ll meet you in front of your building in fifteen minutes.”
“I thought you were working until five.”
“I was, but I can come in earlier tomorrow.” As if anticipating her protest, he added, “And don’t argue with me. Fifteen minutes. See you then, babe.”
Scarlett put the phone on the passenger seat, turned the ignition, and headed to her place; she wanted to change from heels to flats and swap sunglasses. Just the thought of fresh air rushing past her, the feeling of flying, and her arms wrapping around Shadow made her press harder on the accelerator.
When Shadow was talking on the phone, it was as if his heart touched her, and she could feel his affection … hislovepouring through and filling her. The things Shadow did for her spoke volumes about his feelings for her. Even though Scarlett craved to hear those three short words—I love you—she knew how hard it was for Shadow to say them. Something had hurt him badly in the past, enough to keep his rational mind in constant battle with his heart. But at the end of the day, the words didn’t really matter, it was the way he treated her, looked at her, kissed her, and made her feel safe and adored without conditions.
Scarlett pulled into the underground garage of her building, then after parking in her space, she rushed over to the elevator and went upstairs to quickly get changed.
She was waiting downstairs, leaning against the marble column when she heard the roar of Shadow’s bike. Excitement shivered down her spine as she walked over to the curbside grass.
The bright sunlight cast a blue sheen to the wind-blown mess of Shadow’s black hair as he approached her. The yellow metallic motorcycle gleamed under the late afternoon rays, and Scarlett noticed a few people stopping on the street to stare as Shadow pulled to the curb.
Scarlett didn’t move, instead, she sucked in a deep breath and took him in. He lifted his sunglasses off his face and slipped them into the front of a white T-shirt that tugged at his solid chest. Ribbons of hair fell casually into eyes that were the color of gathering storm clouds. Shadow’s gaze seared hers with a glowing intensity, and a flow of tingles rushed to her core.
She walked toward him, their eyes still locked on to each other’s. When she stopped near the motorcycle, he reached out and yanked her to him, then kissed her deeply. At that moment, nothing mattered but Shadow and how incredible it was to kiss him, to be near him, to be a part of his life.
“Ready,” he said against her ear.
“Ready,” she replied. She gripped his shoulder and swung her leg over the leather seat, then looped her arms around his taut waist. The rumbling purr of the motor turned to a roar as the bike pulled out into the street, weaved in and out of traffic, and rolled through a couple of stop signs. The wind whipped through her hair, the bike vibrated between her thighs, and the events at the club soon became a blur once they were on a narrow two-lane highway taking them away from Pinewood Springs. With her body pressed to his, Scarlett could feel Shadow’s back muscles flex against her chest as she leaned with him then came back to center when he did. With each bike ride, she became more familiar and comfortable with his movements; it was like dancing with a partner, only much more exhilarating and freeing.
“Faster!” she yelled.
Shadow glanced back at her, grinning. “Hold on,” he said before the wind carried away his words.
She tightened her hold as he opened the bike and they surged around twists in the road. Laughing, she tilted her head back and watched the clouds scuttle across the sky; it felt like if she reached out she could touch them.
All too soon, the bike slowed down before turning into a parking lot in front of a small eatery. Scarlett kissed Shadow on the back of the neck before sliding off the bike.
“That was exactly what I needed,” she said.
“It’s the best way to get rid of all the shit bouncing around inside your head.” He tugged her to him and dipped his head down. “I like the way you feel pressed against me on the back of my bike.” He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip.
His breath fluttered warm over her face, and she tipped up her mouth. And then they were kissing. She looped her arms around his neck, and he lifted her up a bit onto her tiptoes, their lips never breaking contact. The space around them evaporated, and for a moment, everything in her world was just perfect; sneaking around and dating Shadow seemed worth the struggle, worth the tension with her parents and the whispered gossip behind her back.
“You don’t know how much I—” But his lips smothered her words as he deepened the kiss.
A short while later, Shadow’s hand slipped down to squeeze her behind, then he playfully smacked it.
“Let’s go inside, babe,” he said, snaking an arm around her shoulders.
“Okay.” She leaned her head against him as they crossed the lot and went into the restaurant.
The place was packed and noisy, and Scarlett clung on to Shadow’s arm like a vise as he weaved them through the labyrinth of people. They walked straight out of the roadhouse to the back patio, and he stopped at a table next to a railing in the corner. The rush of the Colorado River echoed through the valley, and she held on to the wood bannister and looked down at the clear water as it wended its way between the wildflower-dotted sloping banks.
“The water is lower than usual,” she said, pushing away from the edge and joining him at the table.
“It’s because we haven’t had any rain for the past couple of months,” he said.
“It’s strange not to have our usual afternoon thunderstorms. I heard on the news last week that it’s been one of the hottest summers on record. That’s crazy, huh?”
“Yeah, well, I won’t go into my theory about that.”
“Let me guess—conspiracy all the way.” Scarlett poked his upper arm lightly.
He laughed. “You know me.” He held up his middle finger. “To the establishment.”
