Page 28 of Ashes’ Addiction

She frowned, not sure what he meant but she was more than willing to ride, and figured she’d figure it out eventually. He climbed on in front of her, started the engine, and before she knew it, they were back to zooming down the road.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As they rode, Ashes couldn’t help but think about her expression when she’d asked if he would want to go to Sturgis. She didn’t like the idea. He wasn’t surprised. Something like a big biker rally, when you’ve spent most of your life in a small desert town, could be a little intimidating. They had plenty of time for her to get used to the idea. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to go. It was just an idea he’d heard being tossed around the shop lately.

He could tell by how tightly she held onto him how she was feeling about the ride. On the straight stretches, where there were few cars around, she held him loosely, at least until he hit the speed. The grip around his belly got tighter as he approached a hundred, so he backed off on the throttle some. She leaned with him as if she’d been riding all her life. And when they hit the long straight stretch filled with dips and hollows, he kept his speed steady, just because he couldn’t be sure how she would react.

The light clear laugh that came over their coms was the last thing he’d expected.

“Having fun?”

“A blast. This is better than a roller coaster!”

He loved hearing her laugh. He would find more to make her happy because that laugh did something to him.

“How you doing?” he asked as they approached the intersection where he would need to turn.

“I’m good.”

“You need to stop? It’s now, or you wait another half hour. Unless you don’t mind squatting on the side of the highway.”

“I’m good. And it wouldn’t be my first time if I have to have you pull over.”

He eased the bike into the turn lane, then took the turn onto Highway 85. They’d been on the road for maybe fifteen minutes when he pulled off onto a side road. There was pavement for a hundred feet or so, then it turned to a dirt track. That was okay. Ashes didn’t plan on going that far. He just wanted to stop and talk to Miranda for a couple of minutes. He pulled to the far edge of the pavement, hit the jiffy stand, and propped the bike on it, but stayed seated.

“What’s up?” Miranda asked.

“Nothing. I just wanted to stop for a few.”

“Should I get off?”

“Nope.” He pulled off his helmet and hung it on one side of the handlebars. “Do you trust me?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course I do.”

“Give me this foot.” He tapped his left leg. She lifted her foot and set it on his thigh. “Now put both arms straight up. And don’t fight me. Just go with it.” Ashes crossed his arms, then reached up and lifted her by her wrists. He uncrossed his arms and swung her around, so when he set her back down, she was in front of him, sitting on the gas tank and facing him.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I wanted to see you.” He released the catch on her helmet, lifted it off her head, and reached past her to hang it opposite his.

“You see me all the time.”

“Yeah, but not like this.” He smoothed one thumb over her flushed cheek. “Besides. It’s been way too long since I did this.” He leaned in, giving her time to say no or push him away. She did neither. Instead, she leaned in meeting him halfway and surrendered as he crushed his mouth against hers. Her hands slid up his sides under his cut and tugged up his shirt until she could slip her hands beneath it. The soft brush of her hands on his skin only served to enflame him more. He shifted in his seat as his cock thickened, making his jeans tighter than was comfortable.

Miranda broke away and looked around as if searching for someone watching them.

“We can’t do this. Not here.”

Ashes let his hands drop to her hips.

“It’s the open, isn’t it?”

Miranda tilted her head from side to side. “Yes and no. It’s less the open country and more that we’re right beside a highway, and not one that’s never used. There have been a dozen vehicles pass since we pulled off.”

“So, you’d be up for trying something similar if there weren’t a highway right here?”

The light in her eyes told him she was interested, but leery.