Chapter 47 Evie
I rolled my bike up to the open bay door of Maverick Moto, the engine still humming beneath me. An hour on the road hadn’t cleared my head as much as I’d hoped.
But I was really trying to get myself on better terms with Ice Weasel.
Two weeks since my entire life shattered in front of me—everyone finding out about Aiden and me, Zack betraying us, finding out I was adopted—it had been too much, and the urge to cry still felt overwhelming.
Somehow I was grieving who I was while still being me.
Rook had helped, already giving Aiden and me constant glares and comments about Aiden going for his sister, who was off-limits.
It’s like nothing had changed for Rook, and I knew I had to follow his lead. Whoever my biological parents were didn’t matter. My parents—my real parents—had died protecting me, and I refused to betray them by questioning whether I was ever really their daughter.
But that didn’t stop the wild thoughts from clawing at me, trying to convince me I wasn’t really theirs.
I kicked the stand down and hung my helmet on the handlebar, walking into the garage.
The smell of motor oil and leather hit me as soon as I stepped inside the garage, the familiar scent settling something restless inside me. Laughter echoed, and I could see the entire group gathered around the couch outside my office window before a shadow moved in my periphery.
Aiden.
I knew it was him before I even turned. The heat at my back, the way my skin prickled in awareness, the unspoken pull that had always existed between us.
Then his hands were on me.
One second, I was walking in—the next, I was off the ground, lifted effortlessly as Aiden’s arms locked around my waist. I let out a breathless noise of surprise, but before I could get an actual word out, his mouth was on mine.
The kiss was rough, deep, claiming. He tasted like mint and salt, and like he hadn’t stopped thinking about me since I left. When he bit my bottom lip before dragging his tongue over it, my fingers threaded into his hair, gripping tight.
Someone groaned loudly. “For fuck’s sake, man.”
I barely heard who said it because Aiden kissed me harder, like he wanted them all to know exactly what was his, but I could already guess who it was.
“Are they done yet?” Mason muttered, sounding personally victimized.
Harper sighed. “Doubt it. He’s been pacing around waiting all morning for her to get back.”
Aiden grinned against my lips. “Suddenly, they can’t handle a little PDA, but they are all happy to take part in it themselves.”
Rook made a noise of pure disgust. “A little?”
I pulled back enough to smile at him. I wouldn’t tell him, but I still appreciated the way he stayed consistent in being my older brother.
“Aren’t you used to it by now?” I asked.
“My sister and best friend together?” His scowl deepened and he settled deeper into the couch, pulling Regan closer to him. “Trust me, Evie, I never will be used to it.”
I laughed, breathless, my body still pressed tight against Aiden’s as he slowly set me back on my feet.
And I didn’t miss the way his fingers lingered at my waist, like he wasn’t ready to let go yet.
Hero leaned back, pulling a doughnut from the box next to him. Harper reached out, trying to grab one for herself, but Hero leaned forward to block her.
“Back, you little demon,” Hero said, pulling the doughnut just out of her reach. “I’m not sharing.”
Harper leaned in, grinning. “Don’t you mean Jinx? You better be careful or you might choke on that next bite.”
He paused, the doughnut an inch away from his face before his hand dropped. “You did not just curse me into choking and dying on this next bite.”
“I did,” she said, leaning in and grabbing a bite of the doughnut in his hand for herself. “And now I saved your life. You’re welcome.”
Aiden pulled me in, pulling my attention away from the group and back onto him.
“How was your ride?” he asked.
“Good. I made it through town without falling over or stalling the bike, so a win all around.”
His chest shook with a small laugh against my back. “I’d say that’s a very good ride then. You know, we could ride together?”
“I needed a minute on my own.”
He kissed the top of my head, pulling me harder against him. “I know, angel. You’re doing great, though. With everything.”
I let out a slow breath, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “It doesn’t feel like I am.”
Aiden’s grip on me tightened. “I think you don’t see yourself the way I do.”
I blinked, shifting against him so I could look up, caught off guard by the unshakable certainty in his voice.
He dragged a knuckle along my jaw, slow, deliberate. “You’ve taken hit after hit, and you’re still standing. Still fighting.” His thumb brushed the corner of my lips. “That’s what makes you so amazing.”
I swallowed, my throat tight as I huffed a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “I think that’s hard to believe when everyone around me thinks I’m psychotic.”
Aiden’s grip on my waist tightened, his grin slow, deliberate. “I’m the only one that calls you psycho, so that’s different.”
“Oh? And how exactly is that different?” I asked, raising a brow.
He leaned in, his breath warm against my neck. “Because when I say it, it’s a compliment of how smart and brave you are.” His teeth nipped at my ear, making a shiver run down my spine. “And now it’s even a little reminder about how wild you like to get on my bike.”
My breath caught, as his grin widened. What an arrogant bastard.
Not that he was wrong.
I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, Hero let out an exaggerated gag from across the room.
“Can we all collectively agree that Aiden and Evie need a time-out from each other? It’s been, what? Five minutes? And they are somehow getting worse by the second,” Hero said, grinning.
Harper grinned, showing teeth before biting into her stolen doughnut. “You just wish someone would call you cute pet names.”
Hero scoffed. “Please. If someone calls me a pet name in that tone, I’m leaving town.”
“Noted,” Harper said, her grin widening.
Aiden exhaled against my skin, like he was barely restraining himself from throwing me over his shoulder and getting out of there. The tension between us had been a constant thing—always simmering, always pulling—but he wasn’t rushing anything right now. Neither of us were.
I think both of us were savoring every second of this new life.
I was still processing the fact that I could have this—that this was mine.
The thought settled deep, warm, something I hadn’t let myself feel in a long time.
Aiden seemed to sense it, his hand skimming up my spine. “Do you want to go for a ride later?”
I exhaled slowly, letting the warmth of his touch anchor me. “Yes, of course I do.”
“I do? Are you dropping hints about getting married again? Wow, Evie, so eager. I love it.”
I huffed. “You are terrible.”
“Terrible?” His brow quirked, eyes flashing. “I’m only here begging to be yours forever.”
I twisted in his arms, my lips inches from his now, but before I could argue, the roar of an engine split through the moment.
I turned in time to see Mason revving his bike, the sound reverberating off the garage walls.
Regan groaned. “You better be careful, or that bookstore owner across the street is going to come back over here and kick your ass.”
“Nightfall Books,” he quietly snarled. “Who the hells puts a bookstore across from a motorcycle shop? How is this my fault?”
“I think the landlord screwed her over, but either way, we did agree to keep it down,” Regan said.
“No,” Mason added, “you agreed. I didn’t agree to anything.” He pulled the bike out, hitting the throttle and letting it scream once before he took off, moving to the middle of the road and doing doughnuts. Smoke and burning rubber filled the air, the screech of his engine not letting up.
I saw the moment she stepped out onto the small porch, her hands on her hips.
Aiden’s breath skimmed against my ear, his voice rough with something dark, something dangerous. “Let’s get out of here.”
My pulse kicked, my fingers curling into his shirt. “Why? Afraid Mason’s about to drag us into something?”
His lips brushed my jaw, then lower, teasing, burning a path down the side of my neck. “No. I want you all to myself.”
A shiver ran through me, my heart hammering now for an entirely different reason.
I twisted in his arms, my lips a breath from his. “And where exactly are you planning on taking me?”
“Somewhere no one can find us.” His grip tightened, heat flashing in his eyes.
My stomach flipped, heat pooling low as he pulled me flush against him.
“Oh?” I murmured, trailing my fingers down his chest, feeling his breath hitch. “And what if I already know?”
His smile was lethal. “Then I’ll make sure you never forget.”
His fingers wrapped around my wrist, tugging me toward my bike as he leaned in, his voice low, wrecking me all over again. “Now, are you coming with me, or do I have to throw you over my shoulder?”
I laughed, breathless, already grabbing my helmet.
“Like that’s even a question.”
I stood with my hands on my hips until he finally realized what I meant. He groaned, leaning down and picking me up, throwing me over his shoulder as I laughed.
He finally set me down near the bike. He swung on and I jumped on behind him, happy to wrap my arms around him as he backed out.
I didn’t have to chase this. I didn’t have to fight for it. This love was ours.
Aiden was mine, and I was his.