55. Adrian
Ivory bounded towards the curb as he rounded the corner, no doubt having picked up on the purr of his bike. Sunlight glinted off campus buildings and the clean smell of rain hung in the air.
Heaven knew they’d spent too many hours stressing this week.
Between Riley’s incident at the club and Ivory calling him about the Yu’s run-in with the police, he hadn’t gotten nearly enough quality time with his sweet witch. At least the latter incident would only be a setback for the Dragons, and Cortez verified it shouldn’t affect their plans. At dinner tonight, he hoped to get an official date from Raptor, then he could spend the rest of their weekend showing Ivory just how much he missed her.
She’d been a diligent student, both in her studies and researching what she wanted from their dynamic. Her lists came via email this morning, and it gave him all the inspiration he needed to make this weekend better than their last.
He rolled the bike to a stop and pulled off his helmet as she jogged over. She’d swept back her hair with the ribbon, revealing the cutest face on the planet. Her helmet rested under one arm, hips hugged by a pair of jeans, and shoulders covered by a lace cardigan.
“Hey,” she breathed, only able to get out one word before he pulled her into a kiss.
Painted her favorite wine-tinted purple, her lips tasted like heaven, supple, and more delicious than he’d remembered. She kissed him back and then happily let him take over, breath warm and enticing as he reacquainted himself with every last detail of her mouth. Damn it. He couldn’t stop—nor did he care if he should.
Life almost felt this radiant once before. Before the storm came. Before he stopped looking for the sun and started searching for secrets in every shadow. When the road had stretched out in front of him, and it could’ve led anywhere because he only needed to go forward.
And right now, just like then, the only place he wanted to be was right where he was.
A muffled laugh hummed between them as Ivory playfully pushed away and broke their contact. The world rushed back into focus: a crowd of students passing by on the sidewalk, the rumble of the engine, the loud thud of his heart. The morning clouds had retreated to reveal a deep blue sky, and for a few precious moments, he tricked himself into believing the worst was over.
“Hi,” he replied, remembering to greet her with words before snatching the helmet out of her hands and tugging her into his chest. He captured her lower lip between his teeth with a predatory snarl that felt much more suitable.
She moaned, then giggled until his dick started to get hard. Reluctantly, he let her go and fixed her smeared lipstick with his thumb. Ruining it completely would have to wait.
“Do I look all right?” she asked. “I wasn’t sure what to wear for dinner.”
Considering he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off her all night, he thought she looked more than all right. But that had less to do with her clothes and more with what he’d do to her once they were off.
“You’re breathtaking, as always,” he answered, hooking his fingers in her waistband. “As long as you’re comfortable, I don’t think Riri would care if you show up in rags. She’s less about appearances and more about spirit, and you’ve already proven yourself in that regard.”
“I have?” she asked, tipping her head and looking oblivious to her own virtues.
“Of course,” he chuckled. “How many women would follow their man into a bar, knowing two hostile biker gangs might break out in a fight any minute?”
She rolled her eyes. “You wouldn't have let me come if it could get that bad. And I would follow you anywhere.”
He arched a brow. “Nice try, but that statement works a lot better without adding sass. Remember that I’m keeping track of your punishments, sweetheart.”
She pouted. “Already? I don’t get one free pass?”
“Hm–-no.” He smirked. “And I’m going to enjoy every bit of leeway you give me.” He handed her helmet back. “Any other questions?”
She pursed her lips. “Any other warnings, sir?”
He laughed. “Just be yourself, Iv. There’s nothing for you to worry about…with me or with my family.” He slid his hand around her cheek, addicted to the feel of her skin and how her lips tipped into a smile despite trying to hide it. “You’re my entire world. You know that, don’t you?”
The heat of a blush crept up underneath his fingers. “Yeah,” she breathed. “And you’re stuck as my black knight, whether you like it or not.”
???
Twenty minutes later, after their first ride without wind or rain, they arrived in front of his sister’s house. Ivory stood as he secured both their helmets to the side of the bike, and he slipped his arm behind her as they walked up the driveway.
Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, he was struck by the impact of such a small gesture. Of walking beside her, yet being her strength and her paladin at the same time. Of protecting her from every angle while she gracefully shielded him from his own dangers. Of breathing in the spring air and feeling an empty space in his pocket where a pack of cigarettes used to be. Of seeing a place people called home and knowing his wouldn’t be dark and empty, or that tomorrow had the potential to be even better than today.
The door opened before they rang the bell, and Riley ushered them in while Raptor yelled a greeting from the kitchen.
“Ooh, look at you,” his sister said, already fawning over Ivory. “Making that wind-blown biker hair look sexy! Don’t worry, I’m serious. There’s nothing to fix.” Ivory tucked a strand of hair behind her ear while Riley shot him a pointed look, her own glossy hair falling in natural waves to her waist. “Please don’t tell me you’ve been dragging her around on that bike all winter. This is the first good day we’ve had, and she’s already a natural.”
He stared back, unamused. Ivory got a compliment and he got an accusation? But he’d expected no less. “Nice to see you too, sis. What else am I supposed to use, a car that I’ll never drive?”
“Well, you’d drive it now,” she shot back. “Women need to have some creature comforts, unlike men who think the rougher and tougher, the better.”
“I heard that,” Raptor shouted from the kitchen.
Something sizzled in the background, and mouth-watering spices wafted through the air. It smelled like his mom’s recipe.
“You know tougher is better,” Raptor added.
Ivory laughed, then spoke with a faint blush. “I really don’t mind the bike. I admit I was terrified at first, but it’s growing on me. You ride, too, right?”
Riley’s grin stretched from ear to ear. She’d heard the magic words. “You bet I do. Wanna see my beauty? And I don’t mean just in looks, but those, too. Just wait until it gets dark. I have pink LEDs under the frame.”
Ivory glanced over, and he kissed her on the top of the head before Riley could whisk her away. “Go have fun.”
His own smile appeared as she gave him an apologetic wave. From the moment they’d been invited over, he knew this would be inevitable. Riley may have been able to whip a room full of bikers into shape all by herself, but the prospect of adding another woman to their ranks had his sister acting like a kid again—she’d always been the first to make new friends and wasted no time showing off whatever she thought was cool at the time.
Ivory would have fun, though. He didn’t need to question whether Riley would give her enough space while providing a warm welcome. Some one-on-one time would benefit them both.
He ventured into the kitchen, hoping Raptor had improved at cooking since they were teenagers. “You’re in charge of food tonight?”
A laugh filled the room, and Raptor stepped away from the stove to pull Adrian in for a proper greeting. “Wouldn’t that be something,” he replied. “No, Riley did all the prep work. I’m just following instructions at this point.”
“Any word from Cortez?” Adrian asked, taking a seat at the table.
“Two weeks, Friday night.” Raptor returned to his post by the steaming pot. “At the abandoned factory out by old town. The Dragons agreed to all the terms, so looks like it’ll be a fair fight.”
Adrian breathed out in relief. “Good. Two weeks then.”
“Yep,” Raptor agreed, pausing for a beat. “Listen, man, I don’t need to know why you went after Jace, and I’m not asking…but whatever you got on him and the Dragons, is this gonna solve it?”
Adrian looked down at the table and flexed his hands. Scratches marred the shine on his gold rings, unlike the polished silver ring that connected the Yu’s to his father.
Closure was a fickle thing. For so many years, the hole in his life had felt so large, an impossible void that could only be filled with sin of equal magnitude—but then it was eclipsed by something, or someone, even greater. Figuring out who killed his father would only be valuable if it meant he could keep his family from further harm, and that meant not putting them in more danger.
“Yeah,” he finally replied, looking up at Raptor as he closed his fist. “I figured out who my enemy is, but that doesn't mean I’ll become them. Better to preserve life than take it.”
The corner of Raptor’s lips turned up as he nodded. “Can’t disagree, and you gotta a helluva lot that’s worth preservin’.”
“Sure do,” Adrian agreed.
They fell into a short silence, his stomach grumbling as the food continued to simmer.
“She ready for all this?” Raptor asked. “Ya know your girl’s gonna want to be there, right?”
Adrian felt himself tense before he registered his reaction. The thought of Ivory anywhere near a gang fight put him on edge, but Raptor was right. She’d want to be there, and he had no right to stop her.
“You letting Riley come?” he asked instead of answering.
Raptor sighed. “I’d never let Riley come under the circumstances. But if she listens to me, that’ll be a first. All I can do is make sure my guys stay close enough to get her the hell out if shit blows up.”
Before they could continue, both women barged back inside through the garage door. Riley had the same wicked grin plastered on her face, and Ivory trailed close behind, holding a purple bandana and looking much more relaxed than when she first arrived.
“I swear, if you don’t keep this one, I’m adopting her,” Riley announced as she took a seat across the table.
“No offense, but I’m not fond of sharing.” He claimed Ivory’s hand and guided her into his lap before she could take a seat of her own.
Ivory laughed and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, looking down through her lashes. “Who’s keeping who? I don’t think I’m giving you a choice.”
He tightened his grip on her waist and shook his head, leaning in close to whisper, “That’s two.”
She shivered but straightened and asked, “Oh, by the way, do you have plans tomorrow morning?”
“Tomorrow?” He glanced over at Riley and narrowed his eyes. He’d been serious about not sharing. “No, but I work from nine to two.”
“Perfect.” Riley swiveled towards the stove with a spoon in hand. “Then I call dibs on taking her to the shooting range.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he looked back at Ivory, who had sprouted a mischievous grin. “Sounds like you two are getting into more trouble than I anticipated,” he muttered.