Page 79 of Ridin' Free
“That’s my girl.” He traced his knuckle along the side of my jaw as he murmured, “That was one hell of a secret, baby.”
The longer I focused on Ben’s handsome face, the easier it was for me to keep a lock on most of my darkest memories. Certain talking more about what I shared would likely drudge up things I did not want to revisit that night, I sought to change the subject.
Without stopping to consider where we were or who might see us, I grabbed hold of either side of his kutte, yanked him toward me, and pressed my lips to his. Before he could make his next move, I made my desires known as I licked my way across the seam of his mouth. He opened up for me instantly, grabbing hold of the back of my head as he tilted his andownedme with his kiss.
It wasn’t long before the only thoughts on my mind were of him and him alone.
The way he felt. Bearded and hard.
The way he tasted. Salty and sweet.
The way he smelled. Wild, like a cowboy. Wild, like the Stallion he was.
I couldn’t get enough.
I was so wrapped up in him, I didn’t notice when our server arrived with our dinner. It was Ben who pulled away with achuckle, taking hold of my chin as he muttered against my lips, “Let’s eat, sparky. Promise I’ll fuck you later—just not here.”
He gave my thigh a squeeze, and I realized I’d wedged it between his. The laugh that bubbled out of me as I noticed felt good, and I hid my face in his neck as I indulged my amusement. Ben held me until I calmed down. When I peeked up at him, the humor that gleamed in his eyes reminded me of our first night.
Then, it annoyed me how much I liked it.
Now, I just loved it.
“Okay, brown-eyes. Let’s eat.”
We didn’t talk much as we ate, but it wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable. It was easy. Ben didn’t dig for more secrets or ask me to expound on the one I shared—he merely accepted what I gave him and moved on.
When we were both finished with our entrees, he pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it on the table. He didn’t even bother waiting for the bill before he said, “Wanna show you somethin’. Let’s ride.”
I slid out of the booth, took his hand, and followed after him without a single question. We mounted his hog and rode forty minutes I didn’t know where. Not that it mattered. The freedom I experienced out on the road—the wind whipping through my hair, and the warm evening breeze against my skin—it was everything.
As Ben exited the highway, I realized he was taking me to a park of some kind. There was a reservoir surrounded by trees, and he rode up a hill overlooking the water. He pulled down a dusty trail off the beaten path before he came to a stop, and the view was stunning. Tall, green grass. Thick, full trees. Pretty, blue water.
“Where are we?” I asked as he cut the Harley’s engine and lowered the kickstand.
“State Park just outside of Pine Haven.”
He held out his hand, and I knew this was my cue to step down, so I did. He dismounted, too, then slung his arm over my shoulders as he came to stand beside me. When he didn’t immediately seek to fill the silence with conversation, I didn’t either. The night was a beautiful one, and it wouldn’t be long before sunset.
“Ben?” I murmured after a while.
He looked down at me in response.
“Why’d you bring me here?”
He smirked underneath his mustache. “I don’t need to tell you I’m no romantic, but that dress deserved a response. This is the best I’ve got. I come out here, sometimes, when I need to take a ride and think.”
I leaned into his side and teased, “Are you tellin’ me this is your secret spot?”
“Never really thought of it as a secret, but I’ve always come alone. Until tonight.”
Smiling up at him, I pressed into his side and murmured, “Well, that’s pretty fuckin’ romantic if you ask me.”
He chuckled, grazing a bent knuckle under my chin. When my face was where he wanted it, he leaned down for a kiss, and I didn’t deny him. Quite the opposite. I parted my lips invitingly, pressing up on my toes as I snuck my arms underneath his kutte and around his back. It wasn’t long before the taste of our desperation was so poignant I was convinced I could smell it. Unlike at the restaurant, Ben didn’t slow us down. One hand buried in my hair, the other cupped around one side of my ass, he held me close and drank from me. The whimper that spilled out of my throat was on account of the fact that I wanted more. The ache I felt was unlike any I’d ever known.
“Fuckin’ hell,” he all but growled as he brought both hands to my waist and picked me up with ease. Two steps and he had me planted on the seat of his hog. As his mouth descended towardmine once more, I hitched my knees on either side of his hips and grabbed a fistful of his shirt, unashamed of my longing.
“Ali?” he asked between kisses.
