“Liar.” He set his cup down and crossed his arms. “You’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Then prove it.”
I glared at him. “That’s a terrible argument.”
“It’s working though, isn’t it?”
Damn him, it was. Because the truth was, I was curious. Terrified, but curious. I’d watched him ride away so many times, watched the easy confidence in the way he handled that machine, and some small part of me wondered what it would feel like.
To trust him that completely.
To let go.
“One ride,” I said finally. “And if I hate it, you never ask again.”
His grin was triumphant. “Deal.”
Ten minutes later, I was standing in my driveway, staring at the motorcycle like it might bite me.
“It’s not gonna hurt you,” Stephen said, amused.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do know that.” He handed me a helmet. “Put this on.”
I took it with shaking hands. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Believe it, darlin’.” He helped me fasten the helmet, his fingers gentle under my chin. “Trust me?”
I looked into his dark eyes and saw nothing but certainty. Confidence. The absolute conviction that he would keep me safe.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Then get on the damn bike.”
I climbed on behind him, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. He pulled my arms around his waist, settling my hands against his stomach.
“Hold on tight,” he said. “Don’t let go.”
The engine roared to life beneath us, and I tightened my grip instinctively.
And then we were moving.
The first few seconds were pure terror. The wind, the speed, the feeling of nothing but air and asphalt rushing past. I buried my face against his back, squeezing my eyes shut, certain I was going to die.
But then... something shifted.
The terror began to fade, replaced by something else. Something wild and free and exhilarating. I opened my eyes and saw the world rushing past in a blur of color and light. Felt the wind against my skin, the rumble of the engine, the solid strength of Stephen’s body in front of me.
I wasn’t scared anymore.
I was flying.
We rode for twenty minutes, taking back roads through the countryside, and by the time we pulled back into my driveway, I was grinning like an idiot.
Stephen cut the engine and helped me off the bike, pulling the helmet from my head.
