Chapter 10 Isabella
ISABELLA
Ialmost trip over the sleeping figure when I open my door the next morning. Raiden opens one eye and peers at me.
“Good morning.”
He stretches and his t-shirt rides up, revealing the defined V-shape of his Adonis Belt and a hint of ink swirling around the side of his torso.
My mouth goes dry as I drag my eyes up to his. His hair’s mussed up, and he’s in the same clothes from last night.
“Have you been out here all night?”
He nods.
I don’t want him to notice how pleased that makes me, so I hide it behind a scowl. “I’ve swapped one prison for another.”
Raiden shakes his head. “You’re free to go anytime you like.”
I raise my eyebrows, because it sure as hell doesn’t look like it if he’s been standing guard outside my room.
“Then why did you spend the night here?”
He finishes his stretch and looks at me lazily. “Because if you’re going to leave, I want the chance to convince you to stay.”
I lean against the doorframe and study him closely, hoping he can’t tell how pleased his words make me.
“So are you leaving?” His expression is causal, but apprehension flickers across it. He doesn’t want me to leave.
“That depends.” I let it hang in the air for a moment, enjoying watching him. “Do you serve breakfast downstairs?”
He stands up, and my gaze follows him as he draws himself to his full six foot something height. I’m not a small woman, but next to Raiden I feel petite. He takes a step toward me and his look is hungry, like I’m on the menu.
“What do you want, princess? Scrambled quail eggs? Pomegranates and cinnamon yoghurt?”
He’s teasing me, and the smile that plays on his lips makes my core pull up tight.
“I eat regular food, you know. Poached eggs and hand caught wild Alaskan salmon will be fine.”
He chuckles, and I like making him laugh. He holds his arm out for me, and I link mine through his as we walk downstairs.
The restaurant won’t open for another couple of hours, and I sit at one of the tables while Raiden fetches cereal and milk and two bowls from the kitchen.
As we’re crunching on Cheerios, he sits back and looks at me.
“So princess, what do you want to do today?”
I look out the window at the mountain road and the quiet valley beyond. It’s so peaceful, made more so without the constant guards that follow me around.
I often wondered what it would be like to do normal things without my guard: go to a shopping mall, get my hair done without their presence. But there’s really only one thing I want to do today.
“I want to go for another ride on the back of your bike.”
Raiden raises his eyebrows, and I like that I’ve surprised him. But the bike ride last night was thrilling.
“I want to ride in the mountains where there are no people. No one to recognize me. No one around at all.”
Where it’s just him and me, I want to add.
Raiden gives me a pleased smile. “Your wish is my command.”
After breakfast, I grab a quick shower and meet Raiden out the back of the complex.
There’s a group of men near the bike garage, and they nod at me as we walk past. They’re respectful and friendly and not at all surprised to see me. It makes me wonder what Raiden said to them.
I slide onto the back of Raiden’s bike and hook my arms around his waist. It feels natural to hold onto him like this, as if we were meant to fit together.
The bike roars to life, and a thrill zaps through me as we pull out of the complex.
Raiden takes us further up the mountain, expertly maneuvering around the winding mountain roads.
Wind whips my hair behind me, and the cool breeze of the mountain road whips at my skin.
It’s exhilarating, riding like this. Like nothing else I’ve ever done, and I don’t know if it’s the thrill of the ride or the man on the bike in front of me.
Eventually we head down a dirt track and stop when it ends at a thicket of trees. There’s a crumbling wooden post, the only indication of the overgrown path that leads through the trees.
“Come on.”
Raiden takes a backpack out of his saddle bag and takes my hand in his. Our fingers link as we walk down the path.
The only sounds are the crunch of our footsteps, the rustle of leaves, and the birds singing around us. We speak quietly, talking like we’ve known each other for years. He tells me about life in the military and about the Wild Riders MC, becoming animated when he speaks about his club.
I tell him about my sheltered life, about losing my mother and life under my father’s strict gaze at the villa.
It’s peaceful, like I wanted, and for a moment, with this man holding my hand, I forget about where I am, who I am, and what my father is trying to make me do. For a while I’m just an ordinary girl, holding hands with a man who makes her stomach flip.
It feels like we’ve been walking for hours when we finally come to the end of the trail. It’s a lookout right on the edge of the cliff, a rusty railing all that stands between us and the sheer drop of the cliff face.
The valley is spread out below us. Neat rows of pine trees decorate the slopes, and the only sign of humans is the sawmill in the distance.
“It’s peaceful.” I sigh contentedly. This is just what I needed. A break away from everyone.
“The other side of the hill is prettier,” says Raiden. “Where the resort and the lake and Hope is. But if you want solitude and no tourists, then this is where to come.”
“It’s beautiful,” I say, looking down at the valley.
“Sure is.” When I look at Raiden, his gaze is on me. His eyes are full of heat as he takes a step toward me.
“Is this what you want, princess? Solitude?” His hand slides around my waist as he says it and I gasp, no longer able or willing to hide my feelings for him. “Is this the freedom you crave?”
His other thumb runs along my chin, the rough texture of his callused hand making my skin heat. How can I tell him that it’s him I want? That wherever he is I’ll be happy.
“It’s a start.”
His face is so close to mine that the heat of his breath skims my cheek as he chuckles.
“You’re hard to please.”
His eyes sparkle with mirth and desire, and it’s a heady mix. All he has to do to please me is close the inches between us and press his lips to mine.
“I don’t think I am.”
I’m breathing hard as he dips his head. My eyes close as our lips meet. The kiss is firm, but his lips are soft. I sigh softly because it feels so right. This is freedom, right here, kissing this man.
He pulls away and looks down at me, and there’s conflict in his expression.
“Stop worrying about my father.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not scared of your father, Isabella.”
“Then why are you holding back?”
“I’m old enough to be your father.”
Relief floods me. Is that all he’s worried about? “The age gap is nothing to me, Raiden.”
My hand slides up his leg, and he groans as I press my palm against his hard bulge.
“See what you do to me, princess.”
“I’m not a princess, Raiden. I’m a woman, and I demand that you touch me.”
He chuckles. “Spoken like a true princess.”
We’re both smiling as our lips touch, and this time there’s no hesitancy. His tongue forces entry, and I willingly comply. My body presses against his, and my core throbs with longing. I shudder against him as his hand slides up my leg.
This is what I’ve been waiting for. A man, this man, who’s brave enough to kiss me.
Sensation floods my senses, and I whimper against him.
“Touch me, Raiden. I need you...”
His lips travel down my neck, and his breath is hot against my skin. “As you command, princess.”
My eyes roll back in my head as his hands slide over my hips and to the front of my shorts. He undoes the button and slowly pulls the zipper down. My body’s on fire and I want him to hurry up, but I’m not sure what it is I need him to do.
His fingers graze my panties, and then they’re inside the flimsy fabric. I gasp as he slides through my slick folds, giving in to the sensation and letting his fingers work my body as his mouth devours mine.
He seems to know what I need without asking, expertly moving his fingers until I’m a bundle of nerves in his hand.
My back arches and my hair trails behind me like a waterfall. His hot kisses on my neck move to my breasts as his fingers keep strumming.
He doesn’t try to enter me but rubs small circles until my sensitive nub can’t stand it anymore.
“Raiden...”
I dig my nails into his forearms, holding on as my body trembles beneath his touch. The cool air tickles my hot skin, and the sounds of insects fill my ears as his fingers work me into a frenzy.
My orgasm explodes inside me, and I come undone on his hand. I cry out, scaring birds into the air and disturbing the peace of the mountain. For one glorious moment, I’m free. My spirit lifts and my soul soars, shattering into a million pieces before coming back together.
I’m breathing hard as I stand myself upright.
Raiden slides his hand out of my shorts, and it’s slick with juices. He brings his fingers to his mouth and sucks the juice off them.
“You taste delicious, princess.”
My mouth drops open at the dirtiness of what he’s just done. But it stirs something inside me and makes me want more. Raiden reaches for my shorts, and I think he’s going to tug them off, but instead he zips them up and redoes the button.
I can’t hide my disappointment.
“How about you?”
He cups my chin in his hand and kisses me hard on the lips. “We’ll have plenty of time to take care of me later. But those clouds aren’t hanging around.”
I turn to see where he’s looking, and thick rain clouds have rolled in over the valley.
“Come on.”
I’m still shaking from what just happened as he clasps my hand and we set off down the trail.
I can’t hide the happy grin that spreads across my face.
I’ve never let a man get even close to touching me like that.
No man has ever been brave enough to attempt it.
But Raiden’s not scared of me or my father.
I feel safe with him and cherished. With Raiden, I truly do feel like a princess.