Winning Her Forever

She touched her helmet and scooted forward, keeping their bodies only a couple inches apart. She placed one hand and then the other on each side of Trent’s waist. Her lips lifted into a tiny smile. Holding on to Trent from behind felt safer somehow. He couldn’t see the pleasure on her face, and she didn’t want him to know how much she enjoyed touching him. Once again, she wished she could slip her hands under his shirt so she could finally feel his skin.

“All set,” she said loudly, so he could hear her over the engine.

Without warning, the motorcycle lurched forward, crushing her breasts against his back. Her arms looped around his waist and briefly settled on the tops of his hips, before she jerked them away.

“Hold on,” Trent commanded in a gruff tone without looking back. “I don’t want any accidents.”

“I will, and there won’t be any, as long as you go slow,” she retorted.

“I have to start moving in order to slow down, don’t I?”

She couldn’t respond. She was too busy trying to resist the urge to lay her cheek against the middle of his back, where the leather stretched over his shoulder blades.

He glanced over his right shoulder, a slight grin on his lips, as he revved the engine again. “Are you scared?”

The delicious thrum of the motor against her inner thighs and the challenge in his voice made her close the gap between their bodies.

“Not a bit,” she assured him, even though her heart was in the pit of her stomach.

“Good, because I would never hurt you.”

At his words, her heart melted. His body heat radiated through his clothes, and his masculinity draped around him, heavy and comfortable. She sensed she could snuggle up in his arms, fall asleep and not have to worry about a thing.

How she wished she could sweep everything that kept her up at night away from her mind, replace them all with a man that would sweep her right off her feet. She wasn’t looking for it, but she never stopped hoping for a second chance at love.

She inched even closer, until her... She could feel his abdomen tense up.

Oh, my, she thought, with a lick of her lips.

His muscles were deeply ridged. It was as if she could climb a mountain and grab on to them so she wouldn’t fall.

“That’s better,” he said in a gruff tone. “Hold on as tight as you’d like. I won’t mind.”

She nodded, inhaling the scent of his leather jacket. She had visions of him wearing it, and nothing else.

“Would you like to join me for a burger? It’s way past my dinnertime and I’m starving.”

She pursed her lips. “I thought you were going to take me home.”

“I will, right after we eat.”

She gave him a reluctant shrug, even as her curiosity to learn more about him was getting stronger.

“I don’t have much choice, do I? You’ve got me captured.”

He turned around. “I get the feeling that if you didn’t want to be here, you wouldn’t be.

“Then again, maybe it’s just fate,” she interjected.

He grinned and revved the engine. “You can tell me where you live when we get to the restaurant. I’m shy and I don’t know how to make conversation.”

She didn’t ask him where they were going, allowing him to take the lead and surprise her. The college was located east of Bay Point in a residential neighborhood, and the dining options were limited to fast food and strip-mall takeout.

She figured the most likely destination was downtown Bay Point, which, much to her delight, had been revitalized in recent years with an influx of new restaurants and shops. Most of which she’d been too busy to try.

When they reached Magnolia Avenue, which led west to downtown Ocean Avenue, Bay Point’s version of Main Street, Trent hooked a left and continued east. The road and the area was unfamiliar territory to Sonya, but she felt perfectly safe with Trent.

Tiny stars were just beginning to pop in the twilight sky as they rode silently through the moist autumn air. She wanted to open the flap of her helmet to smell the fresh air, but she didn’t dare let go of Trent.

What does a man think about when he’s totally alone? Wearing his helmet made her feel close to him, even though his thoughts and feelings were unknown to her. She was glad to have it.

About ten minutes later, they turned onto a gravel driveway. The roadside bar had no sign. Motorcycles and pickup trucks cluttered the parking lot. In the windows were colorful neon images of a martini glass, a bottle of champagne with the cork exploding and a frothy mug of beer.

In spite of the place’s quirky appearance, Sonya’s anticipation grew as Trent angled his cycle into a space. Before she knew what was happening, he was off the bike, and she took his hand as he assisted her.

She removed her helmet, handed it to him, and he put them both in the case and locked it.

She brushed her fingers through her flattened curls to bring them back to life.

The front door of the bar opened, and a man half walked, half stumbled out on the raucous notes of a classic rock tune from a jukebox.

He held the door open for the couple. “Enter, beautiful ones!”

Sonya blushed. Although she appreciated the compliment, the guy was obviously drunk.

“Thanks, man,” Trent said, a smile on his face. “Do you need a ride home?”

“Nope. Rocky took my keys and called me a cab.”

Trent patted the guy on the shoulder. “Good. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

They stepped over the threshold and heads turned.

“Hey, Rocky, got a table for two weary travelers?”

The bartender nodded and pointed to a dark corner. Many in the attractive, diverse crowd shouted hello and waved in their direction as they walked to the back of the restaurant.

Sonya nudged his elbow and he leaned in so close she could smell his aftershave. “Do you know everyone here?”

He put his arm around her as they shuffled through a glut of people dancing. “No, but they know me, apparently.”

Sonya wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Could it have to do with him being a so-called heartbreaker? She made a mental note to ask him later.

Trent pulled out one of the old bentwood chairs so that she could be seated first, impressing her with his old-school chivalry. The table was scarred with a variety of initials carved into the polished wood, and a couple of quotes that made her cheeks get hot.

“Are you sure we’re going to get out of here alive?” she asked, only half joking.

“You are perfectly safe here with me. I got you here, didn’t I?”