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“You look way too hot on that thing,” she said as I swung a leg over the bike. She stepped in closer, her voice dropping into that low, teasing siren call I loved. “Hey, Asher… can you, like, actually have sex on this?”

“You’re insane,” I said, grinning.

She leaned into me with that wicked little smile, twirling the helmet in her hand.

“I swear, every time I see you in those tight leathers, all I can think about is getting them off you.” Her fingers slid slowly up my thigh, lazy and deliberate. “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it, Pussycat,” she murmured, pressing in so close I could feel her breath on my ear. “Because… you’re kinda making it obvious.” She trailed a finger up my cock, and I jerked away.

I clenched the handlebars. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Why?” she hummed.

I shook my head, taking the helmet from her and putting it on her.

“Now, go and sit. And do not touch me.”

She gave me a wink.

“Yes, sir.”

37

MAKING HOME

ASHER

After a road trip to Atlanta and a flight, we were finally here. Diya’s home.

New York City.

It was busier, louder, and nothing like Hollow Heights. I loved it.

We booked a room near the airport, took a shower, and changed.

“Trina called. She’s waiting for us,” Layne said as we walked out of the hotel.

After a taxi ride, we walked into an empty restaurant, and a woman, who looked like Layne, greeted us. Trina.

“Asher. I already feel like I know you,” she said, looking at me with a smile, and giving me her hand. “We planned to kill you once. So…”

Smiling, she led us to a table.

“We’re not usually open for lunch,” Trina said, motioning us to the chairs.

“Where’s your sous chef?” Diya asked with a wink, and Trina’s face soured.

“Hopefully on the butcher’s block.” She blinked before she walked away. After a few minutes, she came out with a tray filled with bowls of soup.

My stomach let out a loud growl when she pushed a creamy bowl of mushroom soup toward me.

“Dee said you were dying to taste something good. Everything I make is extraordinary.”

“I told you, didn’t I?” Layne said with a cheeky grin. “She’s humble, our sister.”

“I mean, she has every right to be proud. This is so good,” I said, taking a spoonful of soup.

“A man who knows how to give a compliment… I was planning to give you a hard time for trying to kill Dee. Not anymore.”

I sighed. “I regret that. It wasn’t my finest moment.”