Page 26

“I guess.”

Alyssa watched as Ford reached behind him and grabbed two cold beers. He stuck each cap in his mouth, popping the tops off with his teeth. He handed one to her and then one to John and Jace.

Mortified, Alyssa said, “I can’t believe you just popped that off with your teeth.”

“Better believe it, baby.”

“And girls actually like that down here?” Ford nodded with a half-grin. His boy next door charm was strong, his smile lit up his face.

After they chugged their beers, they deposited them into Jace’s bag. “Let me put these in the garbage and then we can get going. Sound good?” John nodded and took Alyssa’s hand, tugging her behind him until they got to their spot.

Hours later, Alyssa was having the time of her life. She laughed so much that her stomach ached and her cheeks burned. She had no idea what time it was, and she didn’t care. She was having a blast and didn’t want the day to end. Dirt covered the four of them from head to toe and her clothes were ruined. She couldn’t remember the last time she had any kind of fun with friends, and she had John to thank for that.

“Do you think I could drive it?”

After their tumble this morning, Alyssa wanted to keep things friendly between them, but when John reached behind his head and pulled his shirt at his nape and yanked it off, Alyssa couldn’t stop staring at his body. John was solid with slight indentations on his stomach and hips. She couldn’t believe she was thinking it, but him covered in dirt was pretty damn hot. She wanted to be the one to wash it away.

John hesitated before he nodded. “Let’s see what you got.”

He climbed on behind her, instructing what to do. John leaned in close, her back to his chest and grabbed the handle bars. The heat of his delectable body caused a flutter to hum through her and she fought the urge not to lean into him.

“Alright,” he drawled, “this is the accelerator.” John thumbed it to show her. “Here are the brakes,” he squeezed the bars. “And if you look down, this is the clutch.”

“This thing has different gears? Oh shit. I’ll never learn now.”

John chuckled, his breath tickling her neck. Alyssa fought to shake off the effect he had on her. “Yes, you will, honey. It’s easy. Now place your hands here and your feet on top of mine.” John scooted closer and her heart sped up. His bare arms boxed her in and his thighs hugged her from behind. The hardness pressing on her lower back could not go unnoticed. Her body lit up and moisture pooled between her legs. John’s hands rested on hers. He flicked on the ignition and cranked the gas with her hands under his. Gently, he eased into first gear and pressed on the accelerator.

“Listen to the engine closely. You can hear when it’s ready to shift into second gear. It kind of just reaches its max and you’ll know …”

Alyssa listened but wasn’t sure if she was hearing right. “Right there?”

John nodded. “Yup. Now, you’re going to flick the clutch with your foot and then gently apply the accelerator.”

Alyssa did as he said, petrified

she was going to screw up somehow and stall. “You’re doing great. Now just ride slow so you get used to it.”

John removed his hands from hers. He slid them up her outer thighs and placed them on her hips with a light squeeze. He wasn’t sure what he was doing or why, but he wanted to be as close as he could to her.

Alyssa curved around holes and passed hills, probably afraid to chance those. He began to massage her hips and lower back. Her body tensed at first, then slowly unwound under his touch. His cock was hard and he was pretty sure she could feel it, but teaching her to ride his ATV was hot as hell and it turned him on.

“You can go through a hole if you want.”

Alyssa nodded. She turned around, passing Jace who wore a grin on his face, and aimed for a large pot hole. Adrenaline tore through her as she took a deep breath and rode straight for the puddle. The opening was much deeper than she thought. Thick mud flew up and splattered all over and when they came out of it, she bounced off the seat. John wrapped an arm around her waist and then took over since she decided to stop riding mid-way.

Alyssa turned half way and smiled brightly over her shoulder. “That was so much fun! Can I do it again? Can I go faster?”

John stared back at Alyssa’s beautiful face, feeling her excitement. “Yeah, but only if you don’t let go afterwards. Luckily I was on here with you or else you would’ve sputtered and stalled.”

Her smile vanished and shoulders dropped. “Oh …“

“Hey—it’s all good. That’s why I’m behind you.” John gave a light squeeze to her hip reassuring her that everything was okay. Time stood still as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Lips parted and breaths mingling. They were just an inch away, lips ready to touch, when the roar of an ATV drew close to them.

Alyssa pulled back, thanking the heavens Jace broke the moment. She wasn’t ready to kiss John again just yet. His kisses did something crazy to her. They awoke a part of her, like a fuse igniting—once it started she didn’t want to stop. One kiss and she craved more. She was beginning to think the whole friend with benefits thing was a bad idea.

“Well, well, well,” Jace goaded.

“What?” Alyssa asked.