Page 41 of Bad for You

I wanted that to be Lila.

Maybe it was too soon to be thinking like that. I didn’t give a shit. I’d known it from the first time I’d laid eyes on her. Now I had her back and there was no way I was letting her go.

But for now, we’d take it slow. Lila was shy, needed time to adjust. Eventually, I’d introduce her to the club. I thought I could keep her and that part of my life separate, but that wasn’t going to work. I wasn’t going to rush it, though, and mess everything up. It had to be on my terms so I had complete control over the situation. Definitely not until I was sure my old man wasn’t a threat anymore.

Then all bets were off.

“Hold on, Bambi,” I said and started my bike.

The rumble of the engine filled the air, the bike vibrating under us, and Lila squeezed me tighter as I eased out and onto the street. I took it easy to start with, taking the corners carefully, before going a little faster. She seemed okay, so when we hit the highway, I opened the bike up.

Lila laughed and squealed in delight over the roar of the engine.

I grinned and reached down, covering one of her hands, giving it a squeeze, and she tightened her arms around me, hugging me back.

Right then, that moment, was the happiest in my entire life.

I was in love with Lila Cooper.

And there was no coming back from it, for either of us.

I didn’t go far. I didn’t want Lila to get cold.

I followed the track down to the lake and stopped the bike.

Lila climbed off behind me.

“Well?” I said as I did the same.

She pulled the helmet off and beamed at me. “I loved it. No wonder you ride everywhere.”

It was ridiculous how pleased that made me. I wanted her to love riding. Living by my own rules, riding, the Ramblers, was my life and I wanted Lila to be a part of that.

“Come here, Bambi.”

She flushed and came toward me. Christ, I was constantly hard when I was near her. I only had to think about her and my body reacted.

“I’m glad you loved it.” I tugged her closer and cupped the back of her head.

She pressed her hands to my chest. “When did you first get a bike?”

“Been riding as long as I can remember. The old man started me young.”

“Does he ride as well?”

My gut gripped tight. “He’s a Rambler as well, different chapter, but yeah.” I didn’t want to talk about that asshole.

“You must be close?”

“Nah, we don’t talk if I can help it. Parted ways a long time ago.” A nice way of saying I hated the old fucker’s guts.

“Oh.”

I tucked her hair behind her ear. “How long have you ridden horses?” When we’d first met, she’d told me she loved to ride.

She stared up at me in that way of hers, like she was seeing way too much, but she didn’t ask anymore and I was grateful for it. “Same as you, from when I was a kid.”

Her hands slid up under my shirt, and I shivered. Lila was a mix of shy innocence and dangerous curiosity. There was some serious sass in there as well. She’d given me shit when I came back. Now she was touching me like I was hers, with no hesitation, and I fucking loved it.