Shattered Dreams (The Believe Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

starts to move to the music. “I never said,” he says. “Since high school and I’m not even going to answer the other question.” 
    “But why didn’t you ever say anything?” I ask.
    He shrugs and looks away. “Rick,” he simply answers and looks back at me. I nervously bite my bottom lip. His pupils dilate and he groans. “Don’t do that,” he moans.
    My brows furrow. “Do what?” I ask in confusion.
    He reaches up and runs a finger across my lower lip. “Bite your lip,” he answers. “You have no idea what it does to me.” He leans close to my ear and lightly nips my lobe. “By the way,” he adds, “I drive a 1979 Harley Shovelhead Wide Glide.” Then he pulls back, his lopsided smile is back, the one that really shows the dimple and I feel myself really start to respond.
    “Oh god,” I moan and my knees go weak.
    “Wanna get out of here?” he asks, “Go for a ride?”
    I’m looking, wide eyed, as he reaches up to my face again, releasing my lip from between my teeth. I didn’t even realize I was doing it again.
    “What about Shannon?” I ask in a labored voice. I notice then that his chest his also rising and falling quickly. He’s as turned on as I am.
    “Jareth took off after her,” he tells me. “She’s good in his hands.”
    I nod then. He smiles again, takes my hand, guides me out, and down another set of stairs. I don’t question him. I don’t remember Gage as being someone to be afraid of. He was so sweet and quiet in school. However, Gage the man has my insides all twisted in knots. Why didn’t I see him like this in school? Rick , I think to myself. I was blinded by his fake charm and good looks.
    Gage opens the door at the bottom of the stairs. “After you,” he says with his hand on my lower back and guides me through.
    I smile and step out into the night. The moon is large and bright tonight, but it’s the street lamp that lights the way. My eyes focus on the bike parked below it and I freeze, covering my mouth with a gasp. Without looking at Gage I whisper, “You weren’t lying.”
    He chuckles as he moves closer towards it. “No,’ he says, “I didn’t. You ready for that ride?”
    I nod as he walks towards the back of the bike. “Yes,” I say.
    “I only have one helmet,” he starts to say, “But I want you to wear it. I hate them myself, but I’ve seen too many bad crashes when I was a beat cop.”
    I glance at him and see that he has slipped a leather jacket on. I knew he was talking, but my attention was drawn back to the design on the gas tank. There are red flames in the background, the words Ride Free , and around it is a very familiar drawing of a dragonfly.
    “What’s this?” I ask in a voice just barely above a whisper and look up at him.
    He frowns as he makes his way back towards me. “What’s what?” he asks then stops when he sees what I’m pointing at.
    “Oh,” he says, “that. It’s, uh, it’s a symbol to remind me of someone I cared for long ago.”
    I start to shake my head. “No,” I breathe, “I know that drawing.”
    He nervously laughs. “You should,” he says, “I rescued it out of the trash the day you tore your locker apart. It’s your drawing, Alicia.”
    “But, why,” I ask. I just can’t wrap my mind around what he saying. Did I choose the wrong brother all those years ago? Did I make the biggest mistake of my life? Did I destroy my chance at happiness? Too many questions and not enough answers.
    Gage steps closer, turning me towards him. “I fell in love with you as a boy,” he says. “I would like the chance to see if Gage the man, loves you just as much as the boy once did, still does.”
    I opened my mouth to speak when his lips crashed down on mine, stealing my breath. My knees trembled and I grip his upper arms to keep standing. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer as his tongue slips inside my mouth. I slide my hands up and around his neck, running my fingers through his hair and