Chapter 8 #2
Leo took a long pull of his cigarette before leaning forward to blow it away from me. “Right. Because she told you to play nice.”
I threw my head back as I held onto my bike and let out a dramatic groan. “I do not have the energy for you today. What do you want, Leo?”
He shrugged, and I saw that twinkle in his eye, the one that told me he was going to make my life difficult. “I want to know why you’re not wearing riding gear, and I want to know why you sped away from me that night. I thought I was going crazy, but it was you, wasn’t it?”
There was something inside me that wanted to put on my helmet, and then bash my head against the brick wall.
Something that wanted to tie the bricks that fell out around my ankles, and sink myself into the ocean.
But I didn’t do that, because Minnie would be disappointed in me, and frankly, drowning sounded like it really sucked.
Instead, I leaned in. The scent of smoke and musky cologne made me want to take a bigger breath. I hated that I didn’t hate it. Apparently, I was one of those non-smokers who actually enjoyed the smell of cigarettes. Go figure.
“You would be so hot if you weren’t so fucking annoying,” I purred.
My patience fizzled out, and my honorable restraint had slipped.
His cheeks turned pink, all the way up to his ears, and his head jerked back as if he’d been slapped.
Leo was in rare form—he was speechless. The expression he wore was so satisfying, I pondered the punishment of making him writhe even more.
Mercy, Alex. Give the man some mercy, so you can get the hell out of here.
“I forgot my gear because you and the VIA decided to upend my life, and I’m in distress.
At least I remembered my helmet, so we’ll take that as a win.
I drove away from you that day because in case you forgot, we’re rivals at best, enemies at worst. You’re not someone I want to sit down and have a heart to heart with.
Does that answer all your questions for the day? ” I cocked my head and smiled sweetly.
Leo paused, the wheels turning in his head.
I saw the exact moment he decided to challenge me.
He leaned forward on his hands as he dipped down to level with me.
We were so close, our noses nearly touched.
I refused to back down first. Brown and red swirled in his gaze, simmering embers, lit with intrigue.
Don’t fall for it, Alex. You’re stronger than this. Toxic men are only attractive in books. Stay cool.
My internal pep talk did nothing for the goosebumps that traveled over my skin. Leo glanced down to my lips before cocking his head with a smirk.
“Rivals at best, enemies at worst,” he hummed. “… but you think I’m hot? Sounds like a romance novel, Sweetheart. What have you been reading?”
My face flushed. Leo had unknowingly discovered a very intimate secret.
Romance novels were excellent inspiration for late, lonely nights.
With my ability, I could have any man I read about, inside my daydreams. You know, when I wasn’t drowning in my sorrows, or whatever. But that wasn’t any of his business.
“Get off my bike,” I whispered, finally reaching the end of my rope. “And actually, I think I prefer it when you call me a sloth. It’s less… unsettling.”
Leo scoffed before standing up, towering over me. “So much for playing nice.”
“Awe, did I bruise your ego? Sorrows, prayers, I’ll light a candle in your honor,” I cooed as I lifted my leg.
He reached out and caught me by the ankle, nearly throwing me off balance as I yelped. I stood there on one foot, glaring, and waited for an answer to his madness.
“You’re not riding this thing,” he said finally.
Play nice. Play nice. Play nice. Play nice.
The mantra repeated in my head as I forced a grin onto my face. “I need to get home, so I will be riding this. Unless the agency needs me, in which case, I’ll be riding it to headquarters. Either way, I’m riding the bike that I paid for. Now, pretty please, let go.”
Leo lifted his chin in defiance, tightening his grip on my ankle. “Nope. I’m not letting you get into an accident and shred that pretty skin of yours. Joon would come back from the grave and haunt me.”
For some reason, the mention of his name didn’t make my world collapse. I was too irritated, too fired up to become frozen. “Awe, you think I’m pretty. Let go before I run you over.”
“Go ahead and try,” he smirked.
“I’ll kill you.”
“I’d love to see that.”
“You’re a menace.”
“I never claimed not to be.”
My face burned, and for a moment, I wished I had Leo’s ability. The bastard would be up in flames by now. I held my breath, ready to scream, or explode, from frustration. He batted his light lashes, daring me to keep struggling.
“Do I need to go to headquarters?” I ground out; a simple question that only needed a simple answer.
“Yes,” he stayed smiling.
Alright, at least we’re getting somewhere.
“Then hop on.”
He finally dropped my leg. My hip popped on the way down, and I grunted as my foot hit the pavement.
“You can’t be serious,” Leo balked.
I turned the key before he could snatch it away and leaned forward, ready to take off. “Deadly. Get on, and shut your mouth, or stay here, and scream into the void. Your choice.”
“So we both die, then?”
I shrugged as I slipped my helmet on. “I thought you were a big bad Hero? Save me if you need to. But I’m riding this bitch into the sunset whether you approve, or not.”
Leo’s eyes went from my face to the side of my bike, right where I’d put the name Hopper. His shoulders sagged, and his face softened before finally, mercifully, he relented.
“You got a real mouth on you, you know that?” He grumbled before sliding behind me.
Leo wrapped his arms around my waist, and I couldn’t help but snicker. A six-foot-something guy latched onto me, atop a bike that could pass as a toy compared to his size. Comedy gold. I made a mental note to ask the security guys for the camera footage, later.
He leaned in, tucking his chin on my shoulder to make sure I heard him through the helmet, and I held my breath.
“Hopper,” he hummed. “I like the name…it’s nice. Joon would love it.”
For the first time, I actually agreed with Leo.