7. Language

~ COLTON's POV ~

This was not part of the plan, but Colton was improvising. Somehow in his mind it made sense that he goes and ditch the party with Sierra. He figured Henri Ascott would always be there. He could always come back later and finish his mission. But in the meantime, his priority had shifted. Somehow it became important for him to help this girl avoid the guards and all the shitty guys in that second floor ballroom. 

“You’re kind of crazy, you know that?” Sierra laughed at his offer.

“So I’m told,” he let out a smirk. “But I have a feeling that you are too,”

Suddenly, there was a glint in her eyes and she was looking at him with a look he couldn’t decipher. That look made him feel kind of nervous. Colton swallowed hard and hung for her answer. 

She probably won’t do it, he thought to himself. I know her type. She’s too much of a goody-goody. She won’t have the guts.

“Miss Sierra! Where are you?!”

The guard’s voices were getting so louder. They were definitely nearby. Sierra looked back and quickly looked at him again.

“You know what? Let’s do it!” she exclaimed suddenly. “Let’s go cause some trouble!”

Colton was caught off guard. He didn’t think she’d actually take him up on that offer.  He froze for a moment before finally coming to his senses. 

“Let’s go!” he said finally, pulling Sierra by her hand, just seconds before the guards came around to them.

Colton and Sierra ran as fast as they could, slipping through the shadows of the garden until they made it out of the building. Luckily for them, Colton knew the ins and outs of this place. He scouted it before. He knew exactly where the guards would be posted. 

“Over here!” 

Colton led her towards the parking garage where there were rows of cars and a big motorcycle parked nearby. Without thinking about it, he jumped on that motorcycle and Sierra followed suit. She was having trouble trying to get on it with that dress, but somehow she made it. Meanwhile, Colton took out a pocket knife and he slashed some wires open.

“Is this your bike?” she gaped when she saw what he was doing.

“Nope,” he said simply. He managed to jumpstart the engine using the wires and the motorcycle roared to life.

“Colton!” Sierra scolded, but it was too late. Colton took off the brakes and the motorcycle blasted out of the basement within seconds.

“Hold on tight!” he ordered.

“Woah!” she squealed. She linked her arms around his stomach instantly. Otherwise, she’d have fallen to the ground.

The motorcycle roared out into the streets as Colton speeded through the city blocks. He felt her grip around his stomach tightening and it only made him drive faster. He liked the feeling of her arms around him and he wanted more of that.

“Oh my God, Colton! I can’t believe you just stole someone’s bike!” she shouted through the raging wind. Her hair was flying everywhere and her chest was flushed against his back.

“It’s not just a bike, princess,” he responded with a laugh and picked up the speed even more, causing her to squeal and scream. “It’s a magic carpet ride!”

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~ SIERRA's POV ~

What the hell have I gotten myself into?!

“Colton, slow down!” she pleaded with him, but Colton wasn’t listening. Sierra had no option but to keep her body and head close to him, for fear of falling off the motorcycle.

Oh my God, I’m gonna die out here!

Sierra held onto his body for dear life. The wind was blowing so hard on her face, it felt like she was diving headfirst into a storm. She buried her face to his shoulder as her nails dug into his suit. Sierra could feel his broad and rock-hard body and somehow she was blushing to herself. If she wasn’t afraid of dying on this motorcycle, this wouldn’t be so bad.

“Alright, we’re here!”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Colton stopped the engine and the motorbike pulled up in front of a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. Sierra looked up in confusion as she stared at the shop’s window.

“What is this place?”

“Why it’s only the best Chinese food in town,” he said as he got off the bike swiftly and gracefully. Then he lent out his hand to her. “You haven’t eaten anything all night. You must be starving,”

“How do you know I haven’t eaten…?” she asked as she took his hand and he helped her down.

Colton didn’t bother answering and he just went inside the shop. Sierra frowned and followed him inside.

“Laoban (Boss)! Ni hao,” Colton greeted the restaurant owner who was standing by the counter. The middle-aged Chinese man quickly beamed in excitement.

“Colton!” he chirped and proceeded to speak some Chinese words to him. 

Colton answered him back in Chinese too and they seemed to be friendly. Sierra could only watch with a confused look. Moments later, the Chinese men withdrew into the kitchen, leaving Colton and Sierra at the entrance. 

“You can speak Chinese?” she asked.

“Among other things,” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“What other languages do you speak?”

“French, Italian, a bit of Spanish and…”

“And?”

“The best language of all, body language,” he winked.

Sierra naturally blushed, but she rolled her eyes trying to hide it.

“Here you go,” The Chinese man suddenly returned with a white shopping bag filled with takeout boxes. Colton handed him a hundred dollar bill and he took the bag from him.

Wait, is Chinese food really that expensive nowadays?

“Xie xie, laoban,” Colton thanked the man and pulled Sierra out of the shop. “Let’s go,”

“Wait, we’re not eating here?” she asked.

“I promised you a magic carpet ride. You don't think it’s gonna be in Chinatown, do you?” he stifled a laugh.

Sierra was bewildered. Who was this man and how was he so… smooth?

“Come on,” he nudged her to get onto the bike again. Sierra had no option but to comply.

“So where are we going?” she asked as he was jumpstarting the wires again.

“You’ll see,” he said simply, and the engine roared to life again. 

Sierra knew that she had to hold onto him quickly, so she did. She linked her arms tightly around his body and smiled as she buried her face onto his shoulders.

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- - - - - To be continued - - - - -