Free The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] by Lorie O'Clare Page B

actions. He was very, very tall, and even broader through the shoulders. His golden hair capped his head in curls and she had the sudden urge to run her fingers through their softness.
    “I’ve something to show you, I do.” Darius walked in the direction of his bike, which was parked next to the shed. The very same shed which harbored her bike!
    Tara fought the urge to rush forward and throw open the doors to check on her beloved cycle. Instead, she took the time to appraise his motorcycle. It was much larger than her bike, and was of Gothman style with its long narrow seat that came up in the back. She could tell it was not designed for speed. Instead it was large and sturdy—obviously made to handle the rough terrain it traveled each day.
    Instead of showing her his motorcycle, Darius opened the shed door.
    “Look at this, if you will, my Lady.” He walked into the shed and pointed. “Have you ever seen anything like it?”
    “Both are very nice. Are they yours?” Tara noticed the shed wasn’t locked when he pulled the door open.
    “It’s a Runner’s bike, it is.”
    Darius sounded proud as he ran his hand over the bike that Tara had cared for lovingly all these winters.
    “Can we ride it?”
    “Ah, I wish we could, I do.” Darius looked at her. “It has some kind of lock on it. I haven’t figured out how to start it yet, but I will. You can believe me on that one.”
    “I do believe you.” Tara stroked her bike. She was glad to see it wasn’t damaged during its ride on the truck. It didn’t appear tampered with either. Her eyes did a mental inspection as she fought the urge to squat next to it and reassure herself that all was still in working order.
    “Let’s go.” Darius walked out of the shed and shut the door after her.
    Reluctantly she followed him to his bike. Tara turned to face the Gothman cycle and stifled a gasp when large hands encircled her waist and lifted her onto the bike.
    “Goodness, girl, you’re heavier than you look, you are. You’re quite the thin one, I’d think you’d be light as a feather, but every muscle of yours is built up like a man’s.”
    He looked at her with deep gray eyes, so unlike any eyes she’d ever seen before. They held her captive although she tried to look away. His hands still stayed around her waist, and Tara wriggled from the unaccustomed sensations his nearness was causing. When he dropped his hands to his sides, she almost wished he would put them back.
    “I’ve worked hard all my life.” Tara finally forced her gaze to the ground.
    “I’d like to hear about that life sometime, I would,” he spoke as he eased onto the bike in front of her.
    Tara stifled a gasp as the smooth leather of his pants rubbed her inner thighs. The man didn’t offer her a lot of room behind him, and her body was forced up against his backside. Her legs spread wide to accommodate him, which caused her dress to slide up, exposing a fair amount of leg. The position left her feeling incredible vulnerable, and she wasn’t sure she liked that feeling. At the same time, being smashed up against this virile man’s backside sent a rush of heat through her that she couldn’t deny. She’d never been aroused while exposed in such a way before. She didn’t have time to sit and evaluate her conflicting emotions however.
    “Hold on tight, my Lady.” Lord Darius started the bike and took off quickly…very quickly.
    Tara’s inner thighs locked against him, while her arms tried to squeeze the life from his chest.

* * * * *
    He grinned and knew he would enjoy the mission of exposing this Runner. And yes, she had to be the Runner. Any Gothman woman would have fallen off the bike and landed flat on her back from his sudden acceleration. Yet she’d remained glued to him as his bike left the ground to fly over the uneven, rocky ground.

* * * * *
    If Tara hadn’t been an expert rider, he would have killed her right there on the spot.
    She wondered for a moment if that