The ding of the doors broke the tension building like a storm between them. She dropped her arm and they stepped inside.
“Tell me what you like to do,” Monster urged.
“I—I don’t know. Leaving the compound wasn’t something that happened.” She stared at the carpeted floor of the elevator, humiliated by the by the lack of living she’d done.
The cart came to a stop and the door opened with a ding.
“That’s going to change.” His nostrils flared.
She stepped back, feeling slightly wary.
“When I think about how much you’ve missed, it makes me want to kill someone. Those are your basic fucking rights. People think we’re the devil and we wouldn’t dream of doing any shit like that. It’s all about living free. I want to you experience that. To see what life should be. It’s the whole reason the brothers and I ride.”
They walked out of the complex and stopped in front of his massive black and chrome steed. Her modern day black knight with his brutal honesty, coarse language, and distorted visage. He mounted the motorcycle, handed her a helmet, and put on his own. “I’ll show you how to get on. Grab my shoulders, put one foot on this kick stand, and swing your leg over.”
She clutched his shoulder, awkwardly launching her body up behind him.
“Now, wrap your arms around me and hold on tight.”
Symone looped her arms around his middle.
He ran his fingertips over the back of her hand. “You can do better than that.”
She held him closer.
“Now, you’re getting it.” He brought the bike to life.
The growling beast shook her from the inside out. The vibrations shifted something in her lower belly that made her want to squirm.
“I’m going to make you love this life as much as I do. Wait and see.” He pulled away.
Symone gasped as they propelled forward. Her stomach bottomed out and she pressed her chest against his back. The wind whipped at her, greedily pulling her close and caressing her face. The world passed by in a blur.
Monster expertly maneuvered the bike down the streets between cars.
As time passed, her anxiety faded and she began to enjoy the ride.
The signs above changed from English to scrawling symbols she couldn’t make out. They pulled in front of a large glass window with gold lettering and a slanted green roof. The Jade Duck?
He parked his bike and they removed their helmets. “This is my ace in the hole. We’ve been coming here since I was a kid. Best Chinese food you can come by in this city. Have you ever had Dim Sum?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“No better place to be introduced.” He took her helmet and stored their gear in a saddlebag. He held his hand out to her and helped her from the bike. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her beneath it.
She couldn’t help but smile at his openness. He fed the starved space inside her. They walked inside and the smells made her stomach rumble. The scent of cooked meats, savory vegetables and mouthwatering spice wafted up into her nostrils. Roundtables were covered with crisp white linens and napkins folded into the shape of fans. Waitresses walked around pushing carts with round bamboo baskets. She looked on with interest, taking in the beautiful jade accent pieces that decorated black shelves placed along the warm beige walls.
“Hayes!” a heavily accented voice cried out. “It’s been too long since I saw you. Oh, I see you brought a special friend.” A petite woman with strands of silver mixed into the black hair she had pulled back into a bun, rushed up and patted Monster’s arm.
Hayes?
“I know, Ms. Fong, it’s been too long. This is my girlfriend, Symone.”
“Ooh, girlfriend!” She beamed. Her almond-shaped brown eyes sparkled.
Symone smiled.
“He’s never brought a woman here. You must be very special. Please, let me take you to your usual seat. How’s your brother?”