He shook his head and uncrossed his feet, standing to his full height. He cocked his head and studied her. Cara swallowed harshly against the lump in her throat, he was looking at her as if it was the first time he saw her. He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, and she felt as if an electric current had passed through them. She wondered if they’d always feel that pull, even when they were old and the years had passed them by.
“It felt great out there today, on the road.” He said as he kept his hand on the strand of hair he had safely tucked away. “But something was missing.”
She squinted and forced herself to try and focus on what he was saying. She was too distracted by the way the moonlight danced in his blue eyes. “What was missing?” She said, finding her voice.
“You.” He said simply before smiling softly at her. “It’s not quite as fun, as it is when you’re wrapped around me.”
She laughed, if only she was immune to his charms. He glanced down and remembered the helmet he had for her. He lifted it and slid it over her wild locks of hair. She tucked the loose strands behind her ears and he fastened the strap under her chin. He yanked it, making sure it was tight enough before bending his knees a bit to be eyelevel with her. He laced his fingers with hers and peered at her.
“Go for a ride with me?” He whispered. Cara was taken aback by the question in his voice, and the emotions in his gaze. Her tongue snaked out and ran nervously along her lower lip before she managed to nod. He processed her answer for a moment and then grinned. He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers, in the softest of kisses.
When he straddled the bike she took her cue and climbed on behind him. She wrapped her arms around as tightly as she could, leaning into his body and breathing in his scent. He stole a quick glance at her from over his shoulder before he peeled out onto the open road.
The wind swept through them, and they became alive against the dawn of a new day. They drove and drove as they did on their first ride. The bends in the road were familiar to her, and she swayed against him, when they took a turn. She could feel his heart beat under the thin fabric of his T-shirt as her hands laid flat against his chest.
They had ridden for a little bit less than an hour before Jake turned onto the dirt road that led to their spot. When he turned off the engine, part of her didn’t want to get off the bike. She wished they could ride forever, locked away in their bubble of happiness. Jake climbed off the bike and placed his hands on her hips, he lifted her off the seat and she swung her leg over. When he set her down on her feet, her body brushed the length of his. He smiled down at her and took one of her hands, he walked backwards not taking his eyes off of hers.
When they reached the cliff that overlooked the train tracks, he moved around her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. They took in their surroundings, and remained silent in their comfortable embrace. The sky was changing colors right before them as the sun began to peak.
“You remember the first time we came here?” He said against her ear.
She smiled as she remembered and leaned into him. “Of course I do. You declared this place ours.” Her voice was wistful as she pictured that day in her head. They had sat on those rocks to the left of where they stood now. It was the birthplace of their contingency plan.
He ran his hands down her arms, and she could feel how sweaty they were. She looked over her shoulder at him. He wasn’t sweating, and didn’t look as if he was suffering from anything other than nerves. She turned in his arms and reached up to touch his cheek.
“Are you okay?” Her eyes searched his for the answer to her question. He didn’t answer though. Instead, he blew out a strangled breath and looked down at his feet. Her fingertips traveled his jaw and tipped his chin upward. He smiled crookedly, almost sheepishly, as he met her gaze.
“What’s the matter, Jake?” Her voice cracking as her nerves began to take over. She couldn’t remember a time when she had seen him this nervous.
He licked his lips and stared at her, before he slowly took the hand she held to his face in his. He looked down at their joined hands and then back up into her eyes.
“Cara.” He began, and then he cleared his throat. When he started again, he sounded more like himself, but still his voice was raspy. “You’ve been my best friend. You’ve been my lover. And you’ve been my pillar of strength.” He exhaled sharply and smiled as she cocked her head. She didn’t know where this was going and she was a beat away from interrupting him and rambling nonsense just to shut him up.
“I was wondering if you’d be willing to add one more thing to that list.” He said as he raised an eyebrow and was grinning like an innocent boy asking for another cookie from the cookie jar. He looked so young right then and there, so carefree and full of life. She felt the vice on her heart loosen a bit and laughed.
“You just name it.” She said and she heard the relief in her voice.
“You sure about that?” His face suddenly grew serious.