After a while, we all say goodbye and I tell Liz to call me so we can meet up later in the week. I tell Nick that I will talk to him when he gets the papers ready for me to sign. Then, I get in my car and drive home.
WHEN I GET home, my dad and uncle came out on the front porch and had me follow them around the side of the house to the garage. When we got there, I have no idea what is going on until they pulled the tarp off a shiny, black motorcycle.
They explain that it’s a 2011 Ninja 250r. It’s a small bike—perfect for my height and weight. It also doesn’t have as much power as a bigger bike, so there is less of a chance of me doing damage to myself or someone else. I only half listened to them. I mean, I have a motorcycle. How flipping awesome is that?
Uncle Joe tells me that one of his buddies bought it for his son whenhe wanted to learn to ride. Now, he is upgrading to a Harley so he’s ready to sell it. I’m instantly in love. I love it. He also hands me a white helmet with hot pink and black airbrush writing that saysbaby girlon the back. I jump up and down when he hands it to me.
They show me how to ride for over three hours after I’ve changed into jeans, boots, and a leather jacket. Then finally, they let me go out on the road.
I feel free. It’s amazing. The landscape passes by quickly as I drive down a long stretch of...
In the country, there is no traffic. You might come across a truck or two but normally you are the only car on the road for miles at a time. It is perfect. I am in love and know that I will be doing this often just to clear my head.
When I start up my dad’s driveway, I see Asher’s jeep and my good mood leaves just as quickly as it came. “Great,” I whisper to myself. I pull up in front of the garage. I get off the bike, take off my helmet, and shake out my hair. Asher walks up with Beast following behind him. He is wearing a red thermal and a pair of dark jeans with his brown boots. He’s also wearing a white baseball hat with black writing. I have never seen him in a hat before and he looks hot. Well, hotter than normal.
“Hey,” I say and start pushing the bike into the garage. He takes over and pushes it all the way in then takes the cover from me and tosses it over the bike.
“So, I guess this is one more thing that I have to worry about?” he asks, and even though I know what he’s talking about, I still ask.
“Sorry?”
“The bike,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes on me.
“My dad and uncle got it for me. I like riding it and I’m going to keep it.” I cross my arms over my chest, copying his stance and daring him to say something stupid like, you ‘can’t keep it’. Then I will have to inform him that he is going to be the only thing not kept if he thinks he can tell me that I can’t have my bike.
“Just promise that when you’re on this shit, you’ll always wear a helmet, jeans, boots, and a jacket.”
“Promise,” I smile and his eyes narrow on my mouth.
“Now tell me why you were out with Nick.”
“I wasn’t out with him,” I say, completely exasperated. “I went to his dad’s firm, he asked me to lunch and I said no thank you and that I had plans. I felt bad, so I asked him if he wanted to go with me and Liz for coffee.”
“Uh huh,” he says, pulling one of the belt loops of my jeans, forcing me to take a step in his direction.
“Uh huh?” I repeat with a raised eyebrow.
“Where are you sleeping tonight?” he asks, pulling me closer and dipping his head towards my neck.
“In bed,” I answer but my brain is being dragged into an Asher-fog with the way he kisses the skin below my ear.
“What bed?” he whispers as he bites my neck.
“What bed am I supposed to sleep in?” I breathe deeply as he starts nipping on my earlobe.
“Mine.”
“Hmm,” I moan as he presses into me.
“So, where are you sleeping, November?” He growls and his hand is fisted into the back of my head, his mouth hovering over mine. My eyes flutter open. “Where are you sleeping, baby?” he asks against my mouth.
“With you,” I whisper, feeling powerless against him.
“That’s right. Always with me.” My brain registers his words but before I can make him clarify what he means, his mouth is on mine and my brain goes deeper into the Asher-fog. His kiss feels desperate, like he is branding me with it. When he pulls away, he presses his forehead against mine. I run my hand along his jaw and his eyes open at my touch.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Better,” he says and gives me his cocky grin. He thinks he’s just gotten his way. I want to tell him that I have no problem sleeping withhim. The only thing that worries me is that I can be a little clingy. My mom and my ex told me the same thing. They may have told me that so I wouldn’t nag them about where they were going or how long they would be gone. But I know I’m a people person, and if I know someone is around, I want to be where they are. I worry that I might be what my mom and ex say I am, and I never want Asher to feel like I am crowding him.
