Page 26 of Devil Within

“That’s what she said,” he replied, nodding toward Shiloh.

“Did everything get resolved?”

“More or less,” he replied.

She knew that probably was code for something illegal. Or dangerous. Or illegal and dangerous.

With Jade pitching in, they finished for the night and locked the doors. At the bike, he handed her the helmet, and she settled behind him.

“Ready?”

She nodded.

They waved at Apollo and off they went, heading toward the diner. As they raced along the quiet streets, Shiloh finally admitted to herself that she was falling for the biker. They ate a very late-night dinner, then he took her back to Vette’s house. With her working late hours and Vette’s odd hours, she rarely saw her roommate anymore.

He turned off the bike, took off his brain bucket, and beckoned her with a finger. She mimicked him and placed the helmet on the backrest before stepping close to him.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he warned. “Are you okay with that?”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. A thrill filled her. Anticipation bled throughout her body. He lightly touched her lips with his, adding just a bit of pressure to make it a kiss, but not too much to trigger a panic attack. Then he pulled back, and disappointment filled her.

“Was that okay?”

He studied her, waiting, and she appreciated that he took his time with her. But now, she wanted more. Grabbing his cut with one hand, she pulled him in close, and this time, she was the one guiding the kiss.

Suddenly, her world rocked with the explosion of color. As if everything had been in black and white, and now burst into Technicolor life. This had been the kiss she’d waited her whole life for, back when she used to believe in happy endings. A kiss she felt all the way to her heart. His helmet clattered to the ground when he cupped the back of her head and took over. Everything the romantic poets had written about. The promise of a fairy tale love lay in that breath-stealing embrace.

When he finally lifted his head so they could breathe, all she wanted to do was pull him back for more. Naughty visions of them entwined in bed bounced in her head, and she realized with amazement that it didn’t fill her with fear. She didn’t want to run and hide under her bed so the monster couldn’t find her.

Perhaps Jade had just slain her demon.

“Come home with me tomorrow night,” he whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers.

It was time to truly turn the page.

“Okay.”

Chapter Nine

Come home with me...

The words tumbled around in Shiloh’s brain, keeping her awake. Insomnia was a bitch. In her high school days, she existed on about two hours of sleep, so she wasn’t a stranger to sleeplessness. Only, back then it was because she was afraid of her stepdad coming into her room while her mother was passed out.

When Vette rose, she decided she’d had enough of her own thoughts and got up to start the day. Her friend stood in front of the microwave, staring at the metal mesh screen, as if she could actually see the electromagnetic radiation bouncing around, unable to escape.

“You okay?” she asked.

Vette jumped and spun around, slapping her hand to her chest. “Good lord, almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Sorry,” Shiloh replied.

“Nah, it’s me,” Vette mumbled, then yawned. “I’m so tired. All I want to do is go back to my bed and sleep for a hundred years.”

“Then you’d be old and wrinkly, and your vagina will probably be as dry as the Sahara.”

Vette blinked. “That is an excellent point. Thank you.”

Shiloh grinned. “You’re very welcome.”