Page 92 of Double or Nothing
“Get on,” I shout. “Your ride’s here, baby.”
She doesn’t hesitate or ask questions. In a split-second, she’s tugged up her sexy as hell white dress, flashing her lacy panties to the whole crowd, and crawled on the bike behind me.
“Perfect timing, as always,” she says into my ear, a smile in her voice that sets my pulse racing.
Her hands slide around my waist, uniting us in thrill-seeking passion. I gun the engine and head back toward the front doors.
A wall of security guards materializes before us to block our exit; their faces hardened, muscles taut, walkie-talkies crackling with shouted instructions. I don’t slow down, confident they’ll move. They won’t challenge the crazed energy of the motorcycle.
When I speed up, they scatter like birds before a storm, tripping and falling over each other in their haste to get out of our way.
Jade’s infectious laughter rings out, the sweetest sound I know.
“Hold on,” I yell over my shoulder, feeling her tighten her grip on my waist. She trusts me and I won’t betray her.
In one fluid motion, I roll the throttle back, pushing the limits of the motorcycle as we hurtle toward the top landing of the grand staircase.
The marble steps, an obstacle on the way up, now transform into a launching pad for our escape. The motorcycle roars as we’re suddenly airborne over the steep marble steps, suspended in a moment of weightlessness, the rush of air against our faces.
I laugh in exhilaration, enjoying the highest of highs.
Jade has never asked many questions about my job or exactly what I do when I head off to work. I didn’t want to worry her and never mentioned it.
I guess she knows now.
I’m a daredevil, a modern Evel Knievel, and the craziest motherfucking stunt driver in Vegas. The thrill of the jump, the roar of the crowd, the connection with the machine…God, I love this shit!
And even more, I love the girl laughing like a maniac in my ear; her joy a wild, uncontained force, a storm that sweeps everything bad away.
I love her.
She’s my everything, the spark to my fire.
A pang of fear suddenly stabs me in the gut. What if something goes wrong? What if I accidentally lay the bike down on the asphalt and shred the flesh off her bare legs? She’s wearing a short thin dress, her skin exposed, while I’m clothed in thick leather and jeans.
Fear is something I haven’t felt in years, and the sensation is cold and unsettling. But it passes quickly when the tires of the bike hit the pavement smoothly at the bottom of the stairs. My hands are steady and the engine purrs beneath us.
“Fuck yeah, baby!” I shout in joy to Jade, who shrieks right along with me.
I’m in complete control and won’t let any harm come to my girl.
I don’t slow down. We’re in the thick of it now, weaving through the glittering streets of Vegas, the world a blur of lights and motion.
Together we’re unstoppable.
She leans closer, her breath warm on my lower neck. “We did it!” She shouts, her laughter ringing in my ears again.
The taste of victory is sweet and we’re drinking it in.
We fly down the city streets, making sharp turn after turn, cutting through parking lots and deserted back alleys. I make one last turn and spot the 18-wheeler truck up ahead, parked just where we planned.
The crew has switched out the license plate and changed the truck’s logos to a fake bottled water company. The back doors are open, and the ramp is down, waiting for us.
I drive up the ramp, and they slam the doors shut behind us. Jerking off my helmet, I slide off and take off Jade’s helmet too, urgency in my movements. Grabbing her face with both hands, I kiss her hard on the lips, desperately trying to tell her everything I feel in one quick kiss before drawing back.
“Goddamn!” I yell, my breath ragged. “Was that a fucking rush or what?”
“You’re amazing!” she says, grabbing the back of my neck and jumping up in my arms, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
