A car horn startled Danny into pulling away, remembering they weren’t somewhere private. “You have a bar to run.”
“I have a mate I want to get to know better.” Ash jerked his chin toward the curb. “We could go for a ride. No strings or pressure, honey bear. Just you, me, the sun and wind, and the rumble of an engine under us.”
Great. Ash thought of him as just a friend. Danny glanced toward the curb.
And holy mother of all things chrome and leather, what sat there wasn’t just a motorcycle. It was a beast. A monster. A two-wheeled middle finger to the laws of physics.
All sleek lines and raw power, the Harley gleamed under the afternoon sun, its chrome pipes catching the brightness like liquid metal. The thing was huge, bigger than any motorcycle Danny had ever seen up close. Black leather seat, silver studs running along the edges, handlebars that curved back like horns.
He’d never seen anything look so dangerous and inviting at the same time, all aggressive angles and powerful curves. The seat looked wide enough for two people, which made Danny’s stomach do something complicated.
“That’s yours?” His voice came out more like a squeak.
“That’s my baby.” Ash ran a hand along the gas tank with evident pride. His fingers traced some kind of tribal design that looked like flames or maybe wings. “She purrs like a kitten once you get her all warmed up.”
Why did Ash have to make it sound so dirty?
Danny had seen motorcycles before, obviously. Had watched them roar down the streets of Crimson Hollow, all noise and speed with riders who looked like they’d never been afraid of anything in their lives. But standing this close to one, knowing Ash expected him to actually get on it, his mouth went dry.
“I’ve never—” He cleared his throat. “I don’t know how to ride one.”
“You don’t have to know how.” Ash picked up the helmet, turning it in his hands. “That's my job. All you have to do is hold on.”
Hold on. Right. To Ash. While flying down the road on a death machine.
“What if I fall off?”
Ash stepped closer, helmet still dangling from his fingers. “You think I’d ever let anything happen to you? Not in this lifetime, honey bear.”
There was something about the way his voice curled around the words, like that promise extended beyond a bike ride. Danny wanted to point out how nobody could promise that, how accidents happened all the time, how trusting people got you hurt. But Ash said it like a fact, like the sky being blue or water being wet.
“It’s safe?” Dumb question.
“While I’m driving? Fuck yeah.” Ash held out the helmet. “What do you say? You ready for a thrill, sweetheart?”
Danny stared at the helmet. Black with a tinted visor, it looked expensive and shiny, just like the bike. And very tempting.
Pressing his lips together, Danny reached for it. The helmet was heavier than he’d expected, solid in a way that felt reassuring. He turned it over, examining the padding inside, the chin strap, buying time while his pulse picked up speed.
“How do I—?”
“Here.” Ash took it back then stepped behind Danny. “Tilt your head back a little.”
The helmet slid on easier than Danny had expected, Ash’s fingers brushing Danny’s chin as he adjusted the fit. Heat radiated from where their skin touched, spreading through Danny. The world narrowed to what he could see through the visor, everything slightly tinted but somehow clearer.
“Too tight?” Ash’s sultry voice was muffled but close.
Danny shook his head then realized that probably looked ridiculous with the helmet on. “It’s good.” He gave a thumbs-up, wondering if he’d completely lost his mind. His false bravado was going to get him splattered on some road.
Ash moved back around to face him. “Perfect.” A hint of seduction colored his tone.
Was he talking about the way the helmet fit? Somehow Danny didn’t think so.
Ash swung his leg over the seat, the machine groaning under his weight. “You coming?” A hint of a smile played at the corners of Ash’s mouth. A mouth Danny was dying to kiss, only longer this time.
Blowing out a deep breath, Danny climbed on but was unsure where to put his hands.
“Right here, cub.” Strong fingers guided Danny’s arms around Ash’s waist, giving a gentle squeeze before letting go, and with a swift kick, brought the beast to life. The loud roar of the revving engine and muffled rumble of the exhaust drowned out all other sounds.
