The engine roared to life as he eased onto the street. He accelerated once they turned onto the highway, loving how her body felt against him. He wished they could keep going, keep riding until they ran out of gas. But he knew there was something they had to do.
He turned off the exit and headed in the direction of the university. The semester was over, but summer classes were in full swing, even at this hour of the day.
He slowed his speed as he entered the street that would take him to the center of the college. He stopped and backed into a parking space.
She climbed off and smiled.
“You look incredibly happy for someone who lost a bet.” He smirked as he pulled out a couple of towels from his saddlebags.
“Maybe it’s my new outlook on life.” She smiled as she began taking off her shoes.
“Have you heard from your parents?” He undid the laces on his motorcycle boots and pulled them off.
“I have. They want me to come back home.” Jayden’s heart stopped in his chest and he looked away. “And what do you want?”
“I told them I am home.”
He jerked his gaze to hers.
“I told them that I’m staying here in Arkansas, even after I finish college. I think I’d like to try my clothing line idea.”
“I think you’ll be a success at it.” His heart soared, knowing she wasn’t going to leave.
“So are we going to talk or are we going to go for a swim?” She eyed the fountain with interest.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the fountain.
They glanced around. No one was out and about and the campus security was nowhere in sight.
“We’ve got to be fast before security shows up.” Jayden tugged his shirt over his head. His hands went for his jeans and pulled them down.
Haley nodded and quickly undressed.
His eyes glazed over as she stood there without any clothes on.
“Jayden, come on. We don’t’ have time for that, not here.” She laughed as she pulled him into the fountain.
He hissed as the cold water hit skin. She shivered as she sat down, immersing herself in the water. He did the same. When they came up, there were two college girls gaping.
“Come on. Let’s go before we get arrested.” Jayden tugged her out of the water.
Laughing, they quickly dried off and threw their clothes back on.
“Hey, you two! Stop!” The campus security guard raced toward them.
Jayden tossed the helmet at Haley as he started the motorcycle. She hopped on behind him.
Ignoring the speed signs, Jayden raced through the campus and out into the road. When they hit the highway, he sped up even further.
Fifteen minutes later they were pulling into a well-known bar. He cut he engine and waited as Haley climbed off.
She gave him a cautious look. “What are we doing here?”
Jayden swallowed and rubbed his sweating palms on his jeans. “I think I owe you a game of pool and maybe a dance.”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t think you danced.
“I didn’t. Not until I met you. It seems there are a lot of things I didn’t do until I met you.”
Her eyes filled with unspoken emotion. “Oh yeah. Like what kinds of things, Jayden?”
He shoved his hand in his jacket and fumbled for the box. “For one thing, I’d never fallen in love until I met you.”
Her lips parted on a silent gasp.
“Haley, I’m in love with you. I’ve never felt this for another female. Ever. I can’t stop thinking about you, even when I’m working. And when I sleep I still dream about you. It’s like you have a part of me that I can’t get back.”
“Your heart?”
“Yeah. You have my heart. You fixed a part of me that I thought was dead. You brought me back to life.” He grinned as he took her hand in his.
“I love you too, Jayden.”
“Well, thank God for that.” He let out a breath.
“Why is that?” She grinned.
“It’s going to make this easier.” He dropped to one knee and pulled out the little blue box that he’d bought three weeks ago when he’d left the Guardian infirmary.
“Is that what I think it is?” Her eyes widened.
“Haley Guthrie, will you do me the honor of mating me and marrying me?”
“Both?”
“I want you any and every way I can get you. I have found you and I don’t ever want to lose you again. I want you bound to me forever. I can’t breathe without you, baby.”
She fell to her knees and took his face between her hands, kissing him deep. “Yes, Jayden, I will be both your mate and your wife. Forever.”
He laughed, feeling freer and happier than he remembered ever feeling before. He pulled the ring from the box and placed the big shiny diamond on her finger.
He stood, pulling her up with him.
“We’re not finished.”
“There’s more?” She grinned as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
He nodded to the bar.
“Are we going to play a game of pool?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight. Tonight I’m taking you dancing.”
The End