“We don’t have to do this. We can take your car, or you can take your car and I’ll take my bike. I can teach you to ride some other time. No pressure from me. I’m just glad you’re willing to talk, so it’s your call.”
She was done pretending, at least to herself. The truth was, she’d been dying to ride on the back of Bear’s bike for months. She’d always had her car or he’d had his truck when they’d run errands or grabbed a bite to eat together. But it was like an extension of him, and she wanted to experience it. She might be putting herself into emotional overload, but what better way to rip off a bandage than to do it all at once?
“I want to ride with you on the bike.”
His lips curved up as if he were pleased with her decision, but his eyes remained serious. “You’re sure?”
She nodded before she could chicken out.
“Okay. After we get your helmet on, you’re going to want to press your body as close to mine as possible. Arms around my waist, like this.” He turned around, bringing his back flush with her chest, and took her hands, guiding them around his waist and placing her palms on his stomach. “Hold on as tight as you possibly can.” Clutching both her hands in one of his, he reached his other hand behind her and pressed on her ass, bringing them even closer. “Got it?”
Got it? All those muscles pressed up against her? She got it all right. The problem was, she didn’t want to let go.
“Yeah. I’ve got it.”
He chuckled and helped her on with her helmet and then onto the bike.
“Okay?” he asked, visually assessing her.
“I’m surprised at how monstrous it is.”
His eyes turned volcanic.
“Ohmygod. The bike!”
“If I have my way, this won’t be the last time you feel something monstrous between your thighs.”
He didn’t pause long enough for her to think past the memory of how huge he’d felt when they’d kissed last week, and on its heels, the reason she’d come to see David.
Tone serious again, he said, “If you need me to stop, I want you to pat my stomach once. If you want me to slow down, then do it twice, okay?”
She nodded, getting more nervous by the second.
“You’re safe with me, baby. I’ll never put you in jeopardy.”
She knew this, and more importantly, she believed it.
“We can take your car if you’re not ready.”
His expression was so serious, his concern so sincere, it took the edge off. “No. I’m good. Can you take me to the park on Eternity Lane?”
“At the other end of town? There’s a park around the corner. Want to go there?”
“If you don’t mind driving, I’d rather go to Eternity.”
“Buzz Lightyear, at your service.”
She laughed. How could a badass be so frigging cute? “I think he said ‘to infinity and beyond,’ not ‘eternity.’”
“Seriously? Boy, I screwed that up.” He climbed onto the bike, and before he put on his helmet, he said, “Try not to get too turned on.”
He wrapped her arms around him and reached behind them, pressing his hand to her ass and hauling her so close she felt like they were glued together. The bike roared to life, rumbling between her legs like a supersonic vibrator. Not that she’d ever used one, but there’s no way they’d have anything on this monster.
The bike rolled forward and she smacked his stomach. It must have been a reflex or something, because she didn’t need him to stop, but he did. Immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Go ahead.”
He waited until she was plastered against him again, her heart dancing a jig against his back. He drove across the parking lot and she slapped his stomach again.
He stopped and glanced over his shoulder without an ounce of irritation. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. It’s weird not being in control.”
He torqued his body, holding her arm. “Sweetheart, you are in complete control. You say go, I go. You say stop, I stop. I’m your driver. That’s all. But we can take your car—”
She shook her head vehemently. “No. I think I needed to know you’d stop.”
That earned her a sexy smile. “Babe, there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
Swallowing hard, she motioned for him to turn around and snuggled up to him again.
Peaceful Harbor wasn’t very big, and across town really meant driving only a few miles. Bear drove slowly, leaving plenty of room between them and the other cars, and checking on her at every stoplight. She was surprised at how freeing it felt to be on the bike, and how safe she felt with Bear. David had shed new light on the depth of her feelings, allowing her to acknowledge and feel them even stronger.
They drove down the winding side streets of her old stomping grounds toward Eternity Lane, passing houses she hadn’t seen in years. When he drove up the steep road that led to the park, her nerves flared to life again.
He parked in the lot and cut the engine, but her body continued vibrating. He took off his helmet and stepped from the bike. His long legs made it look natural and easy, but as she slung her leg over the motorcycle, she pictured herself looking like a spider trying to dismount from a horse.
Bear wrapped his hands around her ribs, lifting her from the seat and planting her feet beside his. He took off her helmet and set it on the bike. “What did you think of your maiden voyage?”
“It was a little scary at first, but then it was exhilarating. I needed it tonight. Thank you.” She looked up at the cloudy sky, glad it hadn’t rained.
He draped an arm over her shoulder, as if last week’s tiff had never occurred. It dawned on her that in all the time she’d known him, he’d put an arm over her shoulder or around her waist, keeping her as close as possible, rather than holding her hand like most couples did. Then again, they weren’t a couple, and Bear was definitely not a typical guy. Most guys would have either pushed harder for more a long time ago, or given up and walked away.
“What did you have in mind when you asked me to come here? A little no-pants dance in the grass?”
She laughed, and he pulled her against him, gazing into her eyes. She expected to see heat, to have to fend him off so they could talk, but she couldn’t have been more wrong.
BEAR TRIED TO keep things light and not let on about the worry mounting inside him. But he couldn’t stop thinking about her short-notice visit in the medical building, and he was curious about her friend David. How many times had his brother Bones, an oncologist, told him that a person’s health could change on a dime? Their father’s stroke had given him proof enough. Now, as he gazed into Crystal’s eyes, the spark of snark that usually glimmered back at him was dulled by worry, and that concerned him.
He touched his forehead to hers and his facade fell away. “I don’t want to joke around. Let me in, baby. Let me help with whatever’s stolen that spark from your beautiful eyes.”
“Bear,” she whispered.