Manifieste Una Espléndida Vida Exitosa
It’s MUEVE, the charity that Cleo told me about.
The charity for helping young foster adults get back into society. The place where Cleo volunteers.
My heart melts, and I fall in love a little bit more. It’s two days to Christmas, and instead of drinking and partying and overspending, my girl is spending all her spare time helping others. And she’s bought them baked goods.
My girl is a fucking saint.
9
CLEO
When I get home from MUEVE, Kray’s still working on his bike. He’s got grease all over his hands, and he wipes them on a dirty rag and stands up when he sees me.
“Is it fixed yet?”
He gives me a lopsided grin that makes my panties melt. “Hop on and we’ll see.”
I bark out a laugh until I realize he’s serious.
“You want me to get on the back of that thing?”
Kray shrugs. “Sure.”
A nervous thrill goes through me. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before, and the possibility thrills me. But it’s cold and about to snow, and he’s been fiddling with it all day.
He senses my hesitation and pulls a helmet out of his saddle bag.
“Put this on.”
He holds it out to me, and I take the helmet and turn it over in my hands.
“Is the bike really fixed?”
“Yes,” he reassures me. “It’s not going to fall apart. I’ve just been doing an oil change.”
Kray swings his leg over the bike and pats the back seat.
“Come on, Cleo. I’ll drive safe, I promise.”
Slipping the helmet onto my head, I slide onto the back of the bike.
There’s nowhere to sit but straight up against Kray. Even through his leathers I can feel the warmth radiating from him.
I breathe in deep, taking in the scent of leather and grease. I long to rest my head against his solid back, but he’d probably think I was being clingy.
Kray guns the engine, and the bike vibrates beneath me. A tremor goes through my body, adding to the heady sensations of being this close to Kray.
“Hold onto me,” he calls over the roar of the engine, and I thread my hands around his waist.
As we ride out of the parking lot, Fitzy is standing by the trash, bag in hand. She gives us a wave, a wide grin on her face.
It must match my own.
The bike feels amazing. Wind whips my hair and makes my eyes water. The ground zooms past as I cling onto Kray. It feels like we’re flying, and I feel safe with him in control.
It’s exhilarating, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the bike or because of the man I’ve got my arms around.