Shoving at his chest, I hissed, “Move so I can put some clothes on and we can get out of here.”
He let out a low groan as he levered off the mattress, and I barely bit back a whimper when I realized it hadn’t been a flashlight in his pocket that I’d felt pressed against my thigh...it had been his dick. The erection he was currently adjusting into a more comfortable position. Because I gave him a hard-on.
Nope. I wasn’t going there, or else I’d forget my seconds-old promise to myself to keep my hands off my friend’s older brother.
I scrambled off my bed and headed straight for my closet. After pulling on a pair of dark jeans, I kept my back toward Nova while I wiggled into a bra underneath my T-shirt. Once that was done, I tossed a black hoodie sweatshirt on, put on a pair of socks, and shoved my feet into a pair of black sneakers. Then I grabbed an old leather duffel out from under a pile of clothes on the floor of the closet. My dad had used the bag during every vacation we’d taken as far back as I could remember. Turning back around, I whispered, “I’m ready.”
“You got everything you need in there?” Nova asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, I was already pulling together a stash of stuff I wanted to take with me when I split before I found out what my stepdad was up to.”
“Smart.” Nova flashed me an approving grin as he stretched an arm out toward me. I handed him the bag and headed toward the door. He fisted the back of my sweatshirt, stopping me before I twisted the knob. “Hold up, angel. I go first, and you stick close behind me.”
I’d never snuck out of my house before, so I didn’t argue with his plan. I’d asked Arya for help because the guys in the motorcycle club had way more experience with stuff like this than I did, so it made sense to follow Nova’s lead as we crept along the hallway and down the stairs. I held my breath, afraid to make any sound until we were safely outside. When I spotted the classic Mustang parked across the street, I let out a low whistle. “My dad would’ve loved this car.”
“If we get out of here clean, I’ll think about letting you behind the wheel for part of the ride back,” Nova offered as he tossed my bag on the back seat next to another duffel.
I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. “Really?”
Those kissable lips of his curved at the edges. “Between the gas station and a drive-through for some food, sure.”
“That works for me.” I could have a lot of fun in the driver’s seat of this baby for even just a mile. My dad had taught me how to drive before he died, and he’d been proud of the fact that I was hell on wheels. But Nova would have to learn that about me himself—preferably while I drove his car like I stole it.
When he fired up the engine and was ready to pull away from the curb, a dark sedan slowed as it neared my house from the opposite direction.
“Fuck, get down.” Nova’s hand whipped out and pushed on the top of my head until my face was between my knees. “Stay just like that until I tell you it’s safe.”
I wrapped my arms around my calves and bit my bottom lip to stop myself from crying. We drove like that for about five minutes before Nova finally said, “You can sit back up now. He didn’t follow us, so he must not have seen you before he pulled up.”
I didn’t notice the car as we crossed the street, and he’d scanned the area before letting me come out in the open. The car must have turned into my road off the street a block away. “Who was it?”
“The Ukrainians have been driving by your house every two hours. I should’ve had plenty of time to grab you between rounds, but something must’ve happened on their end to change up the intervals.” His dark gaze slid toward me. “If I had to guess, they were thinking about making a grab for you soon, too.”
“Probably because my stepdad is trying to negotiate for an extra payment beyond what he already owes the Ukrainians. Apparently, virgins are worth a crap ton of money on the black market.”
Who blurted out their lack of sex life to the hot guy they’d fantasized about—and who they were absolutely not going to do anything with no matter how much they wanted? This girl right here, folks.
5
Nova
My hands tightened on the steering wheel, gripping it so hard my knuckles were white. I’d known Rylee was a virgin the minute I laid eyes on her sweet, innocent body. But hearing her say it out loud put me on the verge of coming in my fucking jeans.