“I thought you said you were going to go slow?” This is such a bad idea. Mom would lose her shit if she found out I was riding a motorcycle. She’s as practical as I am, but even this would push her over the limit.
“We are,” he says. “What’s your address so I can put it into my gps?”
I rattle off my address as he types it into his phone. He places it in a small pouch thing between the handlebars and swings a leg over the seat. Seeing him on that motorcycle definitely increases his hotness factor. I thought he was before, but this takes it to a whole other level. Bad boys with bikes have never been my thing in the past, but that could definitely change after tonight.
“How do I get on this thing?” He has it balanced between his legs, and my mind shifts to what he would look like towering over me in bed. Get your shit together, Sophia. You will not attack him.
“Swing your leg over the bike, then scoot as close to me as possible, and wrap your arms around me.” He says it matter of factly, but the grin on his lips says he can’t wait to see how I react.
My legs are short, and it takes some work to get it over the bike. I almost fall off the other side with the momentum it takes to push my muscles to do what I need them to. Adrian’s arm reaches back and steadies me before pulling me closer to him. Hesitantly, I wrap my arms around his waist, and breathe a sigh of relief. Who knew getting on a motorcycle would require so much energy?
“Are you ready?” He calls over his shoulder.
“Yes,” I yell, unsure how much the helmet muffles my voice. It is so snug and padded that it blocks out some of the city noise. Inside, though, I’m terrified of becoming another traffic statistic. That would not bode well for my future.
Seconds pass and the motorcycle rumbles to life, scaring the hell out of me, and I squeeze his waist tighter. I can feel the vibration everywhere. My legs, chest, and arms. It’s not quite as jarring as I become used to the sensation. But I don’t let my grip on Adrian falter. He provides an attractive safety net. “Make sure to lean with me on the turns.” His voice can barely be heard over the roar of the bike, but I heard him loud and clear. I will not be the reason this piece of machinery tumbles to the ground.
He pulls out onto the road, and a car pulls out from somewhere behind us moments later. I glance back, and I can’t completely tell, but it kind of looks like the car from last night. I shake my head and focus on the street in front of me. It’s a coincidence. Surely, Dawson wouldn’t attempt to follow me when I’m with someone else. He can’t be that obsessed. A person like him can’t be taken lightly, though. As we get on the highway, I make a mental note to check back every once in a while, without letting Adrian know. He doesn’t need this level of crazy tonight.
* * *
Twenty minutes later and we’ve arrived at my apartment complex. The car that made me anxious didn’t exit when we did, and I can breathe easier knowing that we weren’t being followed.
Tonight, has lasted forever, and not long enough. It’s the first time I’ve felt normal, and like myself, than I have in ages. I would like to say it’s because of Adrian’s presence, but that’s not the whole reason. He did put me at ease, but it felt good to go out with someone that isn’t related to me. And, okay, someone who is of the male variety. Swearing myself off from dating in general after Dawson probably wasn’t the smartest idea. Now I’m left not knowing what to do or how to react. Do we shake hands, hug, kiss? I’m completely out of my element here.
He stops just inside the community gate. “Which building is yours?”
“The second right turn. It’s the building right on the corner.” My arms have not left his body. Before it was from fear of riding. Now… it’s because I don’t want to let him go.
In less than a minute he’s pulling into a parking space beside my car, and turning off the bike. The purr of his motorcycle cutting off brings on a deafening silence, and I’m not sure how to fill it. The complex is a ghost town at this hour. Everyone tucked into their beds not knowing that a romance could very well be forming right beneath their windows.
Adrian pushes the kickstand down before standing up to help me get off. “Be careful when you slide off. I don’t want you to get burned.”
“Thanks,” I mumble as I awkwardly get off and fall right into his arms. Righting myself, I pull the helmet off my head, and shake my hair out. Wearing that thing makes me feel like those bobbleheads people put on their dashboards, and the having the weight taken off feels so much better.
“So,” Adrian says. “Was the ride as bad as you thought it would be?”
At the word ride, an image of me on top of him flashes through my mind, and I shake it away. “Well, I didn’t die. So, there’s that.” Taking a step closer to him, I look up into his eyes. “But it wasn’t horrible.”
And it wasn’t. Being on the back of his bike felt freeing. All of my problems and insecurities shedding off of me as the wind brushed past. Is it something I want to do repeatedly? That’s still undecided, but next time, assuming there is one, I won’t be as apprehensive about it.
“Which apartment is yours? I’ll walk you to the door.” He holds out his hand, waiting and hoping I’ll take it. He’s such a gentleman even if the attitude and motorcycle say otherwise.
Placing my hand in his, I start toward the stairs. I’ve always hated living on the second floor until now. It gives me extra time with Adrian before he rides off into the night.
Mine is all the way at the end of the landing, and the light in the living room is still on. Damn, that means Jay is still awake. Maybe I’ll be lucky, and he’ll have fallen asleep with everything on. Then I can prolong this moment with the man standing before me.
I push a short piece of hair that’s fallen in my face behind my ear. “Thank you for tonight,” I say. “It was a lot of fun. Even getting on that thing you call a vehicle.”
Chuckling he moves closer to me. “I had fun, too. And that is my most cost-efficient way of getting around the city. I can bring my car next time if it will make you feel better.”
Holy shit, my heart beats faster with every passing breath. He said next time. That means I didn’t scare him off. Huh, I may not be as bad at this dating thing as I imagined.
“It’s totally okay.” I step closer. There’s only a couple of inches of space between us now. “I liked it better than I thought I would.” My voice sounds husky to my own ears. Did it sound like that to him? I’m not trying to be seductive, but it’s hard. He makes me feel things I haven’t felt in long, long time and heat consumes me.
“I’m glad.” He stares into my eyes waiting for something. What, I don’t know.
What do I do here? My hand is still in his. Do I wrap my arms around him for a quick hug? Or do I do what I’ve wanted to do since I saw him straddling his bike? I don’t let myself think about it much longer. Rising up on my tip toes, I place my lips on his, surprising him. Shit that was the wrong thing to do. I pull back, mortified. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”