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“Ow, motherfucker. That’s cheating. Your fist is the size of my ass cheek.” This guy…
“Good thing you’re not my type, then.” I get a strange feeling of satisfaction at his groan then turn to see if my girl…thisgirl… needs my help.
Her helmet is on but she’s having a hard time clasping the chin strap, her fingers never quite hitting the mark.
“Want some help?” Again, I don’t touch her and always, always, seek out her consent.
“I just… I don’t know how it works.” Her green eyes latch on to mine, and for a second, we don’t speak. We don’t even move. The moment feels important, like we’re telling each other every one of our secrets even though neither one of us is talking.
“All right. I’m just gonna take my girl home while the both of you do that… whateverthatis you’re doing right now. FYI, it’s creepy.”
I don’t even bother responding to Psycho. As if he’s never done weird shit in the name of love.
This guy practically won an Oscar for his stalking skills and he’s giving me shit? Fucking rich.
“Here,” I say, softly, so I don’t spook her. “Let me?” This time, it’s a question and that tiny nod she gives me feels like the greatest of victories. No matter how much I want to touch her, to brush my fingers up against what I imagine is skin like silk, I don’t. I fight the urge like I’m fighting an instinct to breathe.
It only takes me a couple of moves to have her secured in the brand new helmet we keep around the garagejust in case.
“I’ve never been on a bike. Won’t I fall?” From the dark secrets hidden behind her deep greens, I can see her fear is real, almost childlike, yet I’m damn sure she’s closer to my age than Mac’s.
“Nah, I’ll be careful. You can either hold on to me or…” I point out the small handle at the back of my bike she can latch on to. “I won’t go fast, I promise, Baby Girl.”
Psycho revs his bike just as he lets Mac pass us by then follows her out on a wheelie. I chuckle then frown when I notice Amy’s mouth drop open.
Then her head starts shaking and her legs back her away from the bike and from me.
“Amy.” I don’t use a domineering voice the way Psycho has perfected, that’s just not me. Instead, I speak as softly as I can but loud enough for her to hear me. “I don’t do that. I don’t know how and honestly, it ain’t something I want to learn. I promise, you’re safe with me.”
At my words, her head snaps back to me. The hesitation is written all over her face, from the slanted brows to the way her teeth are nibbling on her bottom lip. I think she wants to trust, but fear, probably deep-set trauma, is keeping her feet safe on the ground.
“Okay.” My sigh of relief at the sound of her one word is audible.
“Okay?” I repeat, checking to make sure I didn’t hear her wrong.
“Yes. Okay. But… just keep your promise, okay?”
Fuck me. I’ll keep all the things she wants me to keep, but I’m pretty sure my heart won’t be one of them.
After a short bike-riding 101 course, we set off to the address that no longer exists.
Just as she hikes herself up on what I’m guessing is a seriously uncomfortable back seat, I settle down and take a deep breath. This is the first time I’ve ever had a woman… or anyone, really, on my bike beside myself.
The idea that this complete stranger is the first person to ride behind me is kind of freaking me out. That being said, nothing good will come out of me losing my shit when I’ve got a woman behind me about to ride a motorcycle for the first time in her life.
It’s all good. We got this.
Turning to speak over my shoulder, I wait before I pull my helmet on. “If you want to protect yourself from the cold, you can press up against me. I’ll shield you.”
And that’s what I do as I rev the engine and take off without jolting her, making sure to ride at a reasonable speed so she doesn’t piss herself from fear.
The longer we ride, the more comfortable she seems. Ten minutes in, her arms are like vices around my torso, even though she can’t fully wrap them around me. Her legs are tucked in behind me and her head is resting against my back.
Why the fuck does it feel so good to have her there? The physicality of it is hot as fuck, but the intimacy of knowing she’s put her life in my hands is giving me some pretty clear feelings all of a sudden.
I’m a protector. This need to shield the ones I love is stronger than anything else in my life and right now, the urge to keep this woman under my wing is overwhelming.
I don’t know her and yet… I’ve known so many like her.