Dare’s eyes scanned down the page. A list of some sort. He flipped through to the end of it, not yet making sense of what it was for. At the top, Haven had written:
To-Dos/To-Haves
Live Dangerously!
The second line made him frown. Living dangerously got people hurt, or worse. Just like what could’ve happened if Haven had been with the wrong kind of man last night when she passed out. Just like could still happen if they didn’t find effective ways to mitigate the risk this reward posed for all of them.
His eyes ran down the first few items, and then the first title of the list made more sense. This was a to-do list for Haven’s life. A bucket list. The thought set off an uncomfortable pressure in his chest. Her father had clearly denied her so much. So Dare had to give her credit for having dreams and goals. It had taken him a while after he’d come to his grandfather’s to feel safe, secure, and stable enough to start making any plans for the future. But here was Haven, a few weeks out from years of virtual captivity and already figuring out what kind of life she wanted to lead.
√Kiss a guy
Kiss a lot of guys! (√ ? )
√Have fun at a party for once
√Wear makeup
√Drink
Dare frowned as he took in that section of to-do items, most of which were checked off—and had probably been checked off last night, with him. Multiple reactions warred through him. She’d told him she’d never drank before, so did that mean all the things on this list were first-time experiences for her? And, if so, did that mean he was the first guy she ever kissed? And who the hell else had she kissed?
“Christ,” he bit out, sitting heavily on the edge of the bed. For the first time, a thread of guilt curled into his gut, because there wasn’t anything here that would help with this reward situation, which meant now Dare was just snooping.
But her words had snared him, and he couldn’t make himself stop reading. Some of the things she wanted to do were so . . . basic that Dare found himself shaking his head in disgust at her father. What kind of life did you have to have experienced to want to put making a mess and not caring on a life to-do list?
He turned the page, and his eyes couldn’t take in the words fast enough.
Ride a motorcycle
Learn to drive a motorcycle
Get a driver’s license again
√Have an orgasm with a man
Have sex. All kinds of sex. Everywhere.
“Holy shit,” he said, scrubbing his hand over his face and feeling even guiltier for continuing to read. But how was he supposed to walk away from the apparent knowledge that the orgasm he’d given her last night had been her first—with a man? Which of course suggested she’d had others that she’d given herself, and the mental image that plastered all over the inside of his brain had him rock hard in an instant. Especially when followed up by list items that had him questioning if she was a virgin and wondering if last night was her first sexual experience. Ever.
Because that rushed some serious protectiveness through his veins. And not a little masculine satisfaction. Annnd throw in some self-loathing, too. This was the list of a young person, bright and shiny and new. And he was a moody, hard-edged, guilt-ridden biker with demons too numerous to count and responsibilities that ought to be getting his attention.
He raked a hand through his hair as his eyes continued to devour the list. She clearly wanted to see the world (Go to the beach, See the Pacific, See a Broadway play, See the sun rise over the Atlantic) and have new experiences (Go to a dance, Go skinny dipping, Get a tattoo, Ride a horse, Go to a concert). For a split second, Dare’s brain started making plans, thinking of how easily he could make some of these come true for her.
“What are you doing, Dare?” he said to the empty room.
Because just last night he’d decided to put the brakes on anything else happening between him and Haven, and that wasn’t very likely if he was going to spend a bunch of time with her making her dreams come true. For fuck’s sake. Not to mention, despite the way reading this had softened his anger—and softened it when little else had, which hadn’t escaped his notice—he was still angry. And disappointed that she’d felt she couldn’t trust him with the information about the reward. And worried about his people.
He skimmed to the end of the list, and the last item punched him in the stomach: Belong to someone, in a good way.
He couldn’t help but wonder when she’d written that. Or hope that she’d been thinking about him when she had. Fucking ridiculous, all things considered, but that didn’t make it any less true.
Damn, this woman had him tied in knots. He hadn’t felt this out of control in decades, and never before over a female. Not to mention, the first people he’d ever truly, deeply cared about had died, which meant he needed to keep his shit in check, because he wasn’t going through that hurt again. Ever.
A motorcycle’s engine revved right out front. Dare stepped to the window, hoping his brothers were starting to arrive. Instead, he found Jeb sitting on his bike, his body turned toward Haven and Cora, who were both laughing and talking animatedly. Haven grasped a helmet Jeb offered her and settled it over her long hair, braided down her back.
Ride a motorcycle
Aw, hell the fuck no.
Dare shot out of the room, nearly forgetting to put the notebook back where he found it. And then he was hauling ass through the clubhouse. The roar of Jeb’s bike told Dare he wasn’t moving fast enough, and sure enough, he made it out the front door in time to see Jeb and Haven shoot across the lot and toward the winding road that cut across Raven Riders land toward the racetrack.
As he straddled his bike and started the engine, he gave Cora a nod. “Cora.”
“Hi Dare,” she said, looking at him like he had three heads. Awesome.
He tore out after Jeb and Haven, across the lot, down the wooded driveway, and out onto the roadway that curved down the mountain to the track. Dare pushed the bike hard, leaning into the curves aggressively. It didn’t take him long to catch up to Jeb, who clearly was riding easy so he didn’t scare Haven.
Dare shot in front of them on a straightaway and skidded to a stop.
Jeb slowed to a roll and put his boots out to brace the bike. “What’s wrong?”
“I need Haven,” Dare said, not meaning the words the way he’d said them. Or maybe he had. Shit. “I’ll take her from here.” Over Jeb’s shoulder, Haven peered at him through the flip-down shield of the black helmet, and Jesus if she wasn’t sexy as fuck straddling a bike in a pair of jeans and that pale-blue T-shirt he’d seen her wear before.
“Uh, okay. Sure.” Jeb reached a hand around and helped Haven off. She lifted the helmet off, but Jeb shook his head. “Keep it. I’ll see ya back at the clubhouse later. Or you can just leave it on the bar.”
“Okay, thanks,” she said, tucking it under her arm.
Jeb looked between Dare and Haven like he wasn’t sure what was going on. Well, hell. Make that two of them. Dare nailed the prospect with a pointed stare, and the guy finally got the hint, pulled a U-ey, and headed back the way they’d come.
Which left Dare sitting on his idling bike and Haven standing there like a deer in the headlights.
“What’s the matter?” she asked. Sunlight spilled through the trees hanging over the road, and golden light made her hair and face even prettier. He wouldn’t have thought that possible.
Dare should’ve said what needed saying right there. He knew he should’ve. But that feeling from back in her room still had its claws in his brain. It was stupid and maybe even reckless (Live Dangerously!), but he wanted to give her something from that list. Giving her a ride? That was easy. And if she was going to have that particular experience, it was going to be with him.
Like that wasn’t fucking confusing. Because bikers attributed as much significance to who shared their ride as they did to who shared their bed. Maybe even more. What Dare couldn’t stand was seeing her on another man’s ride, arms around another man’s waist, her thighs wrapped around another man’s ass, her laugh spilling into another man’s ear. It didn’t matter how innocent it all was. Not when Dare had tasted her, been inside her, heard his name moaned in ecstasy from her lips.
So instead of manning up and confronting her, Dare just nodded his head. “Get on. If you want to ride, you can ride with me.”
NERVOUS EXCITEMENT RIPPLED through Haven’s belly as she approached Dare. His brow was furrowed and his eyes were narrowed, his whole expression painted with an intensity she couldn’t read. But, oh my God, did he look hot sitting on that bike. Strong thighs straddled the motorcycle. Lean, cut arms stretched to the handlebars. Long hair all blown back from his face.
Wild. Hard. Raw.
As excited as she’d been to ride with Jeb, she was about a million times more ecstatic to ride with Dare. After last night, arousal flowed lazily through her just to look at him. So getting to be so close to him when she wasn’t sure that would happen again? She couldn’t have been happier.
“Okay,” she said, slipping the helmet back on. Dare wasn’t wearing one, and Jeb hadn’t either. Weren’t they supposed to wear helmets? Wasn’t it dangerous not to? But his face was wearing that serious, shuttered look he sometimes got, the one that wasn’t much open to answering questions, so Haven didn’t ask.
He gave her a hand on, and then she had no choice but to wrap her thighs around the outside of his and press her front against his back. She rested her hands lightly on his hips, suddenly feeling awkward about holding on to him the way she’d done so innocently with Jeb. She was probably way overthinking it, but what had felt easy with Jeb felt more weighted, more significant with Dare.
“You ready?” he asked over his shoulder.
“As I’ll ever be,” she said.
Dare pulled her hands around him, making her embrace his chest. Their closeness shot butterflies through Haven, because he felt so good in her arms. “Hold on to me, Haven,” he said, beckoning even more butterflies. And then he took off, slowly at first, like Jeb had done.
She couldn’t believe she was touching Dare this way, but between their closeness, his hard heat, and the ride, Haven was grinning into her helmet. They rode down the mountain at an easy pace, Dare leaning them gently into the curves.
Haven loved the openness of the ride, the way the warm air rushed over her skin. It made her feel like she was flying, like she could go anywhere, like she was free. When the road flattened out into a straightaway, they passed a big parking lot and stadium—the racetrack she’d heard people talking about. A huge mural filled one whole exterior wall—the words Green Valley Racing painted in green over a waving black-and-white checkered flag. She’d never seen a car race in person, but she would love to. Maybe that was another thing for her list.
And, oh man, the fact that she got to check another item off after having done it with Dare absolutely tickled her.
Which made her wonder again why Dare had come after her and Jeb.
I need Haven.
His words came back to her, making no more sense now than they had when he’d said them. What did that even mean? What did he need her for? Did it have anything to do with what happened last night? Haven didn’t know whether to be excited about that possibility or scared—after all, Cora had said he’d seemed agitated. What if whatever had agitated him was why he wanted to talk?
Her shoulders sagged at the thought.
They came to a stop sign at the edge of the racetrack’s long driveway, and Dare looked over his shoulder at her. “Wanna take it fast or slow? Your call.”
Something in his eyes made her belly flip. “Fast,” she said.
The corner of his eye crinkled. “Was hoping you’d say that. Hold on tight.”
Dare pulled a left onto the country road that ran in front of the racetrack. They went up a rolling hill, around a big bend at the foot of the mountain, and then hit a long straightaway in the valley beyond. And that’s when Dare took off like a shot.
Haven screamed and then laughed as the bike tore down the road, and she couldn’t stop laughing. Holding on to Dare for everything she was worth, a feeling of elation rolled through her unlike anything she could ever remember experiencing. It was a light, buoyant, expansive feeling that filled her chest with a warm pressure.
And Dare was the one to make her feel this way.
“You okay?” he called over his shoulder.
“More than okay,” she said, grinning. Then she hugged him tighter, her front now plastered against his hard, broad back. “Can you go faster?”
One of his big hands pressed hers more firmly to his chest in answer, and then the bike was roaring down the road, cutting through green, rolling farmlands. The setting was tranquil, peaceful, beautiful, but the ride was fast and loud and a little scary in the same way the roller coaster she’d once ridden was.
Good scary. Fun scary. Do-it-again scary.
The thrill of the whole experience bloomed into arousal for the man she was holding on to. Her nipples hardened against Dare’s back, the friction of their bodies making her breasts achy and sensitive. Her core clenched and tingled from the vibration of the ride and the way her thighs were spread around his. She fought the urge to rub herself against him, to let her hands wander down his body, over his abs and his parted thighs, to that part of him that was most male.
The road became more hilly and curvy, and Dare slowed the bike as they started through the forest covering another mountain. A few minutes later, he turned onto a narrow road that was part of a park according to the wooden signs posted here and there. The surface turned to gravel and then opened up into a small empty parking area. Dare pulled the bike to a stop and cut the engine.
“Where are we?” Haven asked as Dare helped her off the bike.
He dismounted and stowed her helmet for her, his gaze running over her face, her hair. She probably looked a mess from the ride. Wisps of hair had been blown out of her braid and hung all around her face. But she didn’t regret it for a minute.
“Someplace . . .” He shrugged with one shoulder, but she couldn’t tell if the gesture was casual or uncomfortable. “Just someplace I thought you might like.”
Well that was unexpected, and really sweet, too. Her heart thrummed against her breastbone, pulsing excitement and nervousness through her in equal measure. They walked side by side down a wide dirt path that opened after just a few minutes to reveal a big dark green lake. A long, narrow beach stretched down toward the left. Sun sparkled off the gently rippling surface, and trees rose up and up majestically to frame the whole scene.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, her gaze drinking in the site. She walked onto the sand, wishing she could feel its softness between her toes. “How did you find this place?”
Hands in his jeans pockets, Dare looked out over the water, his gaze almost distant. “I’ve explored every bit of the area at one time or another, and this is a nice place to be alone, to think.”
And he shared it with her.
Haven nodded. “Do you mind if—”
His gaze swung to hers, intense and penetrating. The request died in her throat. “What?” he asked, voice tight.
She didn’t understand the odd intensity rolling off of him, or the seriousness carving hard angles into his harshly attractive face. “Uh, I just wanted to take my shoes off.”
His gaze flipped down her body and slowly dragged back up. He gave a single nod.
Haven toed off her ratty sneakers, one of the few things she’d left Georgia with, and then reached down and rolled up the denim. The sand was cool between her toes and made her smile. “You should take your boots off,” she said, grinning up at him.
One eyebrow arched up in answer.
“Oh, come on,” she said, planting her hands on her hips. She wasn’t sure why she was poking at him, given the odd intensity he was projecting, except that maybe being playful would make him happier, too.
“I’ll pass,” he said.
Haven shrugged. “Suit yourself,” she said, walking down to the water. At first, she let just the tips of her toes get wet. “When I was a kid there was a river near my house where everyone went swimming. Little schools of minnows would dart around your legs, and it was ticklish. God, I haven’t thought of that in so long.” She stepped in a little further, until the water danced cool and soft around her shins.
When Dare didn’t say anything, Haven glanced over her shoulder at him and found him blatantly staring at her. Feet spread, shoulders tense, arms folded tightly over his chest in a way that made his biceps pop. Like he was there to protect her. And, in a way, she supposed he was.
Which, hmm, was kinda hot.
But a part of her really wanted to crack that hard-edged façade. A mischievous thought flitted through her head, something she never would’ve done before. In her old life, in the life that really hadn’t been living at all. Before she let herself think better of it, she turned on a heel and kicked a little spray of water right at him.