She shrugs. “I don't care what people think.”
To my surprise and delight, Willow stays with me for the rest of the day. We talk about the animals, the town and general things. Even surrounded by the crowds, I find I can relax with Willow. And when she brings up high school, I feel compelled to admit to her that I had quite the crush on her back then.
“What? You wouldn’t have noticed me. I saw the girls you went out with. I wasn’t pretty enough. Or wild enough.”
“I think you’re pretty. I thought it back in high school and I think it now. And I’m betting you could be wild if you wanted to be.”
Looking into each other’s eyes, at that moment the rest of the world could have exploded and I wouldn’t have noticed. It is like Willow and I are in our own little bubble. A bubble filled with electricity between us. The moment is spoiled by a baby goat headbutting me at the knees. But from then on we often glance at each other and smile. An understanding of mutual attraction. An excitement about things to come.
Towards the end of the day, all I can think about is getting out of there with Willow. A word with Thorne and he agrees to take care of the goats.
When I suggest to Willow we go for a ride on my bike she grins.
“You have your bike here in town?”
I shrug. “Thorne brought the goats down on his donkey trailer. I figured if I had to be in town all day I at least needed my bike in case I needed a quick escape.” And then I add. “Always the bad boy.”
She gives me a knowing smile. “You don’t have to be the bad boy anymore. None of us have to be what we were in school.”
I help her strap into her helmet, wondering if she ever got tired of being known as the good girl. And what I wouldn’t give to help her be bad.
Chapter 6
Willow
Willow Brookes on the back of Falcon’s motorbike. Holding on tight to his leather jacket, the wind rushing over me. One hell of an engine vibrating under me.
I’ve never been on a motorbike before. And after a couple of minutes of nervousness, I relax and start to enjoy the feeling of being so close to the road. I love driving on the winding mountain roads, through trees and nature. But on a bike it’s like you are a part of it all.
I feel like letting out a little whoop of joy. I definitely laugh, especially when he goes around corners or speeds up on the straight bits. Something in me feels reckless today. I want to throw my arms up in the air. I don’t care that my skirt is blowing about. I just hold tight to Falcon. My arms wrapped around his waist. Rock hard abs under my fingers. The strength of him comforts me. The smell of his leather jacket excites me.
I can understand why Falcon loves his bike so much. This feeling of freedom is hard to come by. He drives us up to a meadow clearing surrounded by trees with a view out over the town. Wild flowers are just starting to bloom.
Still feeling wild, I walk over to the outlook, the soft spring breeze plays with my hair. Falcon comes up behind me. Standingclose. It feels right after hugging his body the whole way up here. He takes off his jacket, laying it over my shoulders. It’s warm from his body heat and smells of him. We are quiet but anticipation fills the air. It feels thick, making it hard to breathe normally.
“It’s so beautiful up here.” I whisper.
“You are so beautiful, Willow.”
We are standing close together, so close that my elbow grazes against his chest. I can feel the warmth of his body. I can smell his aftershave. It’s a spicy, masculine scent. The touch of his breath on the back of my neck. If I were to lean back I would be leaning against him. His arms could go around me.
But I’m not alean backkind of girl. I’m not sure what to do. Where do I normally put my hands? I step away, putting some room between us so I can think straight.
“Do you bring all your women up here?” I ask.
“There haven't been any women for a long, long time. But no, I’ve never brought anybody else here.”
I look at him and I see a rare open honesty in his eyes. He looks…exposed.
Reaching out, he takes my hand. And with a gentle tug I step forward, closing the space between us.
Running his fingers gently across my cheek. He kisses me. Gently. Softly. Just a meeting of the lips. But to me it is amazing. Inhaling his scent. My hands on his t-shirt. Being so close to him is making my body start to buzz.
“You don’t have to be the good girl.” His whisper is low and husky and sends tremors of excitement racing through me. “You can be as bad as you want to be.”
I smile. He is so right. And right now, I don’t want to be good. All I want in the world right now is for Falcon to show me how to be bad.
This time when he kisses me it is with a hunger and urgency that has my heart racing. Grabbing at each other. Needing to be closer. Our clothes are in the way but he shoves his jacket off my shoulders. In one swift movement his t-shirt is gone. His hands on my ass, he drags me up his thigh. The friction has me on fire. He holds me against his erection as he kisses me hard.
