“Atta girl!” He met my gaze through one of the rear-view mirrors on the bike. “It’s not as scary if you can see where you’re going.”
“You’re right. Thanks.” The nauseous lurch in my stomach was gone. Instead, I felt the same rush of adrenaline course through me that I’d felt in my flashback on the roller coaster. I felt free.
As my body began to relax, my mind registered other things. My hands could feel the muscular frame of Ethan’s hard body under his leather jacket. I could smell the intoxicating mixture of his aftershave and masculine scent as my face nestled against his shoulder. I felt the powerful vibration of the bike as my legs straddled tightly against his backside. I was immediately turned on and began to wonder how it’d feel to be touched by this dangerous and exciting stranger. I wondered how it’d feel to have his hard, naked body wrapped around me, on top of me, inside of me.
“Are you having fun?” His words broke through my fantasy, causing me to grow hot with embarrassment and shame for what I’d just been thinking.
“Yeah,” I managed.
It wasn’t until then that I started to take in our surroundings and noticed that we were in a neighborhood that I didn’t recognize at all. The houses were smaller and the streets were busier than the pristine, opulent houses that lined the neighborhood that Connor and I lived in. How long have we been on this bike? I live less than a mile from the museum. It should only take a few minutes to get back to my place.
“I think we’re lost,” I screamed through the rush of wind that blew at my face.
“No we’re not.”
“But this isn’t where I live,” I cried. I started to panic, realizing that I’d just allowed myself to be taken by a complete stranger without paying attention to where we were heading.
“Trust me.” That was all he said, and it sent a jolt of alarm through every nerve of my body.
Seconds later, my fear reached its peak. “Stop!” I demanded as I shook his back, urging him to listen to me. “I said stop!”
But he didn’t listen.
It wasn’t until we passed through a busy, narrow street that he’d finally slowed the bike to stop.
As soon as the bike came to a stop, I leaped from the bike, yanked my helmet from my head, and threw it into his arms.
“Where did you take me?” I demanded, trying to hide the alarm I felt inside.
He gave me a small smirk as he slowly took off his own helmet, making it clear that he wasn’t bothered by my outburst.
“You said you’d take me home!”
“And that’s what I’m going to do.”
His nonchalant attitude grated against my fear and made me more brazen. “This is not where I live.”
“Relax. I told you I’d take you home, and I will. But I didn’t say that I’d take you home immediately.” He flashed me a devious smile as he got off his bike. “I thought you’d appreciate a pit stop.” He motioned at the busy street that was lined with tiny mom-and-pop shops that appeared as if they’d been there for decades.
I crossed my arms, taking a step away from him as I glared at him. “I only agreed to get on your bike because I thought you were taking me home. Had I known this was your plan, I would have just got an Uber ride.”
He snorted as he walked up to me, closing the few feet that had separated us. “Come on, Liv. We both know that’s not true.” His voice was smooth and deep. “We both know that you wanted to get on my bike because there’s something about the idea of riding on the bike—and the idea of riding with me—that excites you.” His smoldering eyes were wild as his lips curled into a crooked smile.
Before I had a chance to object, to tell him he was wrong, to convince myself that he was wrong, he spoke again. “Now come on, let me show you around.”
He held out his hand. I looked at his hand and then up at him. When our eyes met, I felt my annoyance waver. There was something behind the spark in his dark, dangerous eyes that caused me to push past the apprehension I felt. I reached out and placed my hand on his. He grabbed my hand and led me down the busy street of tiny shops.
“Where are you taking me?” I struggled against his strong grip.
He looked at me and flashed an arrogant smile.
I knew he saw right through me. I wasn’t really hole-heartedly resisting him. Something about his unpredictable, take-control attitude did excite me—it was as if I was awoken to a heightened sense of curiosity and desire that I couldn’t remember feeling.
“Paesano’s. You’ll love it.”
“What’s Paesano’s?” I frowned as I looked around at the various hole-in-the-wall establishments—a cluttered spice shop, several markets with fruit and vegetable stands, a cheese shop, and a butcher shop.
“It’s a sandwich shop. They’re hands down the best sandwich shop in Philly.”
I frowned. “You took me to get a cheesesteak?”
He laughed and looked at me with pity in his eyes. “No, this is so much better than a cheesesteak shop.”
When we stopped in front of the door to Paesano’s, he studied me. “You seriously have never heard of this place?”
I looked at him skeptically. “Nope. And why are you taking me here? I didn’t say I was hungry.”
He smiled and opened the door for me. “Liv, if you haven’t had a sandwich here, you haven’t lived. And like I said, life’s waiting. I’m just making sure that when you’re hanging out with me, you live a little.”
“I…” I was about to tell him that I was living my life just fine, but I was stopped by the intense savory aromas that immediately hit me as I walked into the small crowded shop.
“You smell that, huh?” He beamed at me, his eyes twinkled with amusement.
I finally felt all my resistance leave me. My eyes lit up. “Yeah. That smells amazing.” My stomach growled, and it was only then that I’d realized I’d only really had the peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich today.
“Hungry?” He eyed me with amusement. Clearly, he also heard my stomach’s admission.
I smiled up at him and nodded eagerly. “Okay, you win. So what’s good here?”
He chuckled. “Well that was easy.”
I made a face at him.
“Well everything’s good here, but I love the Italian Beef Brisket with the Fried Egg in it.”
I frowned. “A fried egg? On a hot sandwich?”
He laughed. “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. Did you know this place was on the show, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and that sandwich actually beat Bobby Flay? Do you know how hard that is?”
“Oh. Wow.” I wasn’t sure how my mind worked, but I knew about this show Ethan was talking about. I couldn’t recall any episodes, but I had a feeling that I’d watched it several times. “Okay, fine. You’ve convinced me. I’ll get that.”
He beamed and swung his arm over my shoulder. “Had I known you were this easily swayed, Liv, I would have taken you somewhere else.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed him playfully. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m only agreeing to stay and eat here because I’m trying to be nice.” I kept my tone casual, but on the inside, I wondered where else he would have taken me if he knew I was willing. As I watched him place our food order, my body became increasingly sensitive to the fact that his arm lingered around my shoulder, and his seemingly-casual touch was sending waves of desire to ripple down my body.
Finally I took a step back from him and casually combed through my hair. “So you seem to really know Philly, Ethan. How long have you lived here?”
“About six or seven years now. What about you?”
“About two years.”
“Ahh, so you’re still a newbie,” he teased. “Good thing you have someone like me to show you around.”
I laughed.
“If you ever want some company or need a personal tour guide, give me a call.” He winked at me.
“Thanks for your offer, but that probably won’t be possible seeing as I don’t have your number. What a shame,” I said with a sarcastic tone and faked a disappointed face. Why did you just say that? I berated myself as I cringed inside. Why are you flirting with him?