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I stare at him. “Will there be a next time?”

He pauses, his fingers holding the straps under my chin. “I don’t have a car. Are you scared to ride it?”

“No.” Excitement flutters in my stomach. Wrapped around my sexy soul bond while going fast; what’s not to like?

“Good.” He continues to buckle the strap. “Hold tight, and lean with me.”

I nod obediently. He palms both sides of my head, staring at me intensely before closing the visor. The world outside blurs as he grabs my waist and lifts me onto the seat. My gasp fogs up the visor, and the fluttering in my stomach increases. He lifts my leg to straddle the bike and tucks my long skirt under my thighs.

This is more action I’ve had in months, and I hope I don’t pass out once he starts the bike. He arranges my feet on the pegs and steps back, sweeping his gaze over me.

My head feels light.

He settles in front of me, his big frame blocking my view. The muscles of his back flex as he moves, starting the bike. Vibration moves through my feet and up my body.

“Dang,” I breathe.

“Arms around me,” Archer says, raising his voice.

I slide my hands over his sides, lean against him, and lace my fingers on his stomach. It's my new favorite place to be, even though he hasn’t started driving. My legs are pressed against his, and I feel safe.

As he leaves the parking lot, I can’t help smiling. I’m ready for the adventure of having a soul bond. It’s difficult to read Archer. He’s quiet, commanding, and protective, so what’s not to love? I turn my head, resting my covered cheek on his back. He releases one of the handles and rests his hand on my thigh, cupping underneath it. My heart stumbles, opening for my mysterious bond. I should be more worried about Aria, but I know she's capable of protecting herself if she needs to. It will be a pain in the ass dealing with our parents, though. Even though she's capable, I won’t rest easy until I go to sleep and reach out to her.

Archer speeds up once the road clears of traffic, and I never want to ride in a car again. How did I not know how freeing motorcycles were? I imagine driving one, and I doubt I would be as comfortable driving myself. We just met, but I must trust him to take care of me. The heat of his palm soaks into my skin. His hands are big and capable. Everything Lace told me about him is true. I know he's going to resist opening up about his magic and life. I get it, but I want a true partnership. I'm far from helpless, although I love his protective side. He needs someone to stay by his side and accept all of his demons. I'll be that woman. Granny would be the first to say how stubborn I am, so that I won’t give up. I can give him time and earn his trust.

My thoughts turn to how angry she must be about having to deal with my parents, and I wish I could help her. She has many spells and is far from weak. She shielded me most of my life, and it’s irritating that I can’t be there for her. She's feisty, so she won’t give them any information. We knew at a young age to hide our spells. It doesn’t take long to know our parents didn’t want kids. Their greediness was obvious. They are self-centered and would rather travel the world. They use magic as a way to live easily, humans are just objects to them, in the world to serve their needs.

I’m distracted when Archer turns, and I remember to lean with him. My house is the last on the long road. Spreading my fingers, I enjoy the feel of him and the last few minutes of the ride. I left my car at the store, but I wasn’t going to mention it, just in case I would have missed holding him.

Brad is standing at his mailbox, and I sneer. His pretty wife is sitting on the porch drinking her nightly coffee. I feel sorry for her. She lives with a conceited man who doesn’t deserve her. I don’t wave; I would have to release Archer, and Brad isn’t worth it.

My little log house makes me smile. Trees surround it, and the driveway cuts between them. I'm sheltered enough that I don’t have a clear view of the neighbors. Archer glides up the path and stops. He shuts off the bike, puts down the kickstand, and I miss the purr of the motor. I wait, sliding my hands away, unsure how to get off without falling or flashing my underwear. I expect him to release me, but he grips my other thigh. Suddenly, he lifts me, swings his leg over, and I grab his shoulders. I’m locked against his back as he stands straight.

It's not wrong to be turned on by his strength.

He crouches. “Hop off, Wild One,” he rumbles.

I slide my hands down his back and put my feet on the ground. I clear my throat as he faces me, reaching under my chin. Staring at him, I’m almost regretful when he pulls the helmet off. He can see my flushed cheeks.

“I liked it,” I blurt, and his eyes crinkle.

“I could tell,” he says, brushing my hair away from my face. “You did well.”

“Thanks,” I grin, tangling my fingers in my shirt. “Can we do it again?”

“Yes,” he grins, and tilts his head. “Was that Brad?” He looks over my head.

“Yeah,” I grumble, shaking my head. “Come on.” I grab his hand and pull him toward the front door. Luckily, I don’t need a key. I tend to lose them, so I purchased a security system and added a bit of magic.

Home. I press my palm against the pad. Let me in. It beeps as it recognizes my fingerprints and my energy. Home sweet home. I flutter my hand over the wood, and it opens. I love being in my space and have used spells to ensure it welcomes me.

“Impressive,” Archer mumbles as he follows me inside.

“I take safety seriously.” I move to the side and wait for him, shutting the door. “It’s not fancy, but it’s home.” I look around. I don’t have many visitors. Mara and Lace have been here, but not many times.

“It’s nice.” He wanders through the space.

Leaning on the door, I nibble on my lip, watching him. Each area of the house has a different style and color, yet they all have the element of wood. My spells, like most witches, get energy from natural materials. The floor is wood throughout, and the large, round stairs to the left look like shiny tree trunks. The kitchen is to the right of the front door. The cupboards and island are made of dark wood with black accents. Beyond it is the living room, with a large door leading to the backyard.