Chapter 5
ROWAN
We went to Spider's room and I asked him if he could take me to my place.
I needed to see whether it had been trashed. I hadn't even thought to ask. And I needed clothes, and… maybe a toothbrush. I smiled as that thought floated through my mind.
"Why are you smiling?" Spider asked.
"Happy that shit's all gone, I suppose."
"OK. Let's ride."
Outside, we walked to his bike. I hadn't taken in the details last night. It was just a ride out of trouble.
"Mmm. Road Glide Special," I said, circling it. The look on his face…
"Bassani two-into-one. Fourteen-inch T-bars." I kept my eyes on the bike, but I could feel his gaze sending heat from my toes to my neck. "Tan leather Saddlemen seat." I ran my hand over it like I was patting a kitten.
I could feel his smile. And when I brought my gaze up to him, it was big and beautiful, like the fucking sun.
"You know your bikes," he said, shaking his head slowly side to side.
"I know lots of things," I replied. "Lots."
The ride to my place was too short. I almost gave him the wrong directions just to make it last, but I had faith there would be more.
Every time I leaned forward to point out the next turn, he turned his head just enough to look at me and... God, he was something else.
I showed him around my little apartment. Everything was untouched. It felt strange that none of the Road Devils had been there, but I was happy they hadn't. I didn't know what I would have done if my space had been violated.
Spider told me there was a celebration at the club that evening and maybe I could stay in his room again.
Fuck yeah, Woody.
"Sure," I said. "I'd like that. I'll just get a change of clothes and a few things."
I threw some clothes into a backpack, went into the bathroom, and when I picked up my toothbrush I looked in the mirror and… fist-pumped a silent fuck-yeah.
Spider waited in the living room while I got dressed in my bedroom.
It was a hot day, so… cropped black tank and matching Daisy Dukes.
The look on his face when he saw me again.
"You're fucking killing me," he said.
"Maybe use a different word."
We got back to his room as the party continued downstairs.
"So," I said. "What's the name on your birth certificate, big guy?"
"Webb. Last name's Webb."
I froze. Then a laugh ripped out of me so hard I choked on my own breath, coughing and wheezing while I tried to pull myself together.
"Are you…” I squeezed my eyes shut as another wave hit me. "Wait…sorry. Oh my God, I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. Well, I am, but… Jesus." I pounded my fist against his chest, trying to breathe. "Are you fucking with me right now? Tell me you're pulling my leg."
"Nuh-uh. You've got yourself a real-life spider web," he said.
"God help me. You're full of surprises." I wiped a tear from my eye, still gasping. "What are you going to pull out next?"
He looked down at his crotch, then back into my eyes with a filthy look on his face.
And it was all on.