Chapter 15. He’s Easy on Me

Ava

I left the scooter in the driveway, helmet dangling from my fingers, and took the side gate to the garage.

The door was already cracked open, just enough for the smell of motor oil and his cologne to slip out. I pushed it wider with my hip and stepped inside.

Adrian stood by the workbench, back to me, sleeves rolled high, forearms corded as he wiped a wrench clean with a red rag. The overhead bulb buzzed, throwing gold light over the ink on his skin. He didn’t turn around.

“Close it,” he said, voice low, steady.

I kicked the door shut behind me. The click echoed.

He set the wrench down, slow, deliberate, then faced me. Sunglasses gone. Eyes the color of storm glass. “Take the hoodie off.”

I let the helmet drop to the concrete with a clatter. Unzipped the hoodie one tooth at a time, watching his jaw flex.

When it fell open, the black lace caught the light, sheer enough to show the dark peaks of my nipples, the dip of my waist