Page 21 of Skid
Besides, if she wanted a bakery, I could build her one. Not that I’d brag about it.
“Nothing as exciting as that. I . . . I only have a GED, so no bank is going to give me money to start a business.” Her eyes cast down before she shook her head and looked up at me. “I’m happy where I am, and Eddie needs me.”
Making the remark in passing, I wanted to plant a seed that would hopefully grow into more. “You could always come to Portstill with me. My sister would hire you on the spot with the level of excellence you put into your pies. She’s always on the lookout for talented bakers.”
As we walked out of the restaurant, she absently said, “I guess that’s something to think about.”
After securing her on the bike, I pulled into traffic and turned toward her house. When we were a few miles from her house, she yelled over my shoulder, “Can you take the next left?”
I nodded and made the turn, waiting for her instructions. Wherever Grace wanted to go, I’d be happy to take her. Every second we were together, I learned a little more about her, so I was eager to see what she wanted to show me. She pointed where to turn, and after another few minutes, she yelled, “When we get to the bridge, can you stop on this side?”
Giving her a thumbs up, I slowed down as the bridge came into view. It was a low-walled bridge crossing the river that flowed past Eddie’s bar a few miles away. I looked over my shoulder at Grace as I stopped the bike, and she confused me when she asked, “Can you drive slow across the bridge?”
Just as I went to put the bike into first gear, she stood with her feet on the pegs and leaned her legs against my back. Smiling to myself, I kept the bike under twenty as we rolled across the bridge. Her hands rested on my shoulders for a few feet, and when I saw her throw her arms out and tilt her face to the sky, I knew the feeling she was going for.
Wrapping one of my arms around the back of her leg and steering with the other, I yelled, “Hold on, darlin’.”
She leaned into me, so I increased the speed, and I could practically feel her joy as she laughed into the air. When we approached the other side of the bridge, I slowed down, and she grasped my shoulders before sitting back on the bike and wrapping her arms around me.
“That was amazing,” she yelled, and I patted her hand in agreement.
Being on a bike was freeing, and if my Grace was anything like me, she just wanted to fly. I took the roads a little faster than normal but made sure to keep her safe as I returned her to her house. Turning off the bike, she hopped off and took her helmet off as her laughter rang into the air.
“That was fucking amazing. I know why you like your motorcycle so much.”
I pulled her into me and kissed her until we were breathless. “Best fucking feeling in the world.”
I left it open as if I was either speaking of my bike or kissing her. They were tied as my favorite things to do, but I could see Grace quickly taking first place.
She asked with a blush on her face, “Would you like to come inside?”
Placing the helmets on the seat, I followed her into the small house, wanting to feast on her.
“Do you want some of your dessert now?” she asked, and I slowly approached her.
Her blue eyes ran up and down my body as I grew closer, and when she licked her lips, I decided to push my luck.
“I’d like dessert, but not the pie,” I stated, and her eyes met mine.
She could tell me to go, and I would leave, but if she gave me one chance, I’d show her my devotion. Leaving no room for error, I explained, “I want you, Grace, with a hunger I’ve never felt before, but I won’t push you for something you’re not ready for.” Stepping closer, I leaned over and felt her shiver as I whispered into her ear, “But if you say you want me as much as I want you, I’ll take you to paradise and make you mine.”
I saw her clench her knees together as he chest rose and fell and her pupils dilated. Something inside her gaze shifted and she stepped up to me, pressing onto her tiptoes to bring her face closer to mine. Thinking I may need to duck like Eddie reminded me, I held my breath in anticipation as she made her decision.
Her soft lips drew closer to mine, and I clenched my fists, not wanting to touch her until she said yes. She kept her eyes locked on me as her mouth brushed against mine, her whispered words an answered prayer.
“I want you so badly.”
Closing the short distance between us, I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her into the air as I slammed my lips to hers, tasting her want on my tongue. She moaned into the embrace as her arms snaked around my neck, and I encouraged her to wrap her legs around my waist. She felt right draped around me, and I knew, from that moment forward, she was mine.
Walking across the small living room, I sat on the couch with her straddling my lap as I grasped the back of her neck and brought her closer to me. Any space between us was too much, and when she began to make small twists of her hips over my hard length, I groaned, breaking the kiss.
Placing my forehead against hers, we panted into the air as her unfocused gaze met mine. I could see some hesitation in her, and I asked, “Are you sure, Grace? We can stop.”
She looked down at her lap and bit into her swollen lip. I gripped her hips with a squeeze, urging her to look at me. Her worried eyes met mine, and she admitted, “I don’t want you to think I’m easy. I know we just met, but—”
“I would never judge a woman for her sexual choices, Grace. If you want me and I want you, who gets to put a timeframe on whatwefeel is right?” She looked directly into my eyes, and I asked, “Do you want me?”
“So much,” she replied.
