Page 158 of Sincerely, Butterfly

“What?” Her brows pull together.

“Get on the fucking bike, Nola.”

She opens her mouth, like she wants to argue, but lets out a heavy sigh before stepping closer. I shift forward, giving her room.

“Put this on.” I pull my helmet off, shaking out my hair before handing it to her.

She bites her lower lip, and I hate how my cock twitches with the way she stares at me.

There's a tiny smile playing on her lips as she takes it. Once she has it on her head, I hold back the groan at the sight of her. She looks good, too fucking good.

“Get on,” I grind out.

She gets onto the back and wraps her arms around me.

The feeling of her body pressed up against mine, the way her hands grip my shirt under my leather jacket, causes my heart to stutter.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Angry about how this girl affects me, I turn the bike around, bringing it back onto the road, and take off. I don’t take her home like I should. Instead, I force her to come on this ride with me.

We drive and drive until we’re away from the city.

I don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m taking her, but the idea of just dropping her off at home and leaving doesn’t sit right with me.

Every second that ticks by, I become more aware of her body being pressed up against mine, her hands gripping my shirt under my leather jacket.

She shouldn’t be here with me right now. This isn’t something we do. We don’t hang out. We don’t spend time alone together.

We’re not friends.

We can’t be.

Even though I really fucking wish things could be different.

I want to believe that maybe there's a chance she could be ours, that by some miracle she could survive in our world.

And maybe she could. But then the sun goes down, and our desires come out to play; that's when the reality of why this can’t happen kicks in.

She deserves better than men who want to hunt her. She deserves someone who will treat her right, love her body, respect it, and make her feel cherished.

Not three monsters who want to see her in tears, hear her screams, and enjoy her struggle.

Not three monsters who want to tie her up, hear her beg, and take what they want from her.

Not three fucking monsters who want to use her like she only exists to please us and our sick little games.

She deserves better.

Will she find it? No.

Because we won’t allow it.

Is it fucked up? Yes. Is it cruel to never allow her to be with another man, even though we won’t allow ourselves to be with her? Also, yes.

Do we care? No.

Does any of it make sense? Absolutely not.