“Just take a ride with me. BestBuy is thirteen minutes away, we’ll barely get past 35MPH,” I tell her, my eyes giving puppy dog mode.
She huffs and shoves her keys into her pocket. “I’ve never ridden before,” she says, walking out of the house and pulling the door closed.
“Just don’t crash, I’ll cry,” she says, locking up and spinning around.
“Do you trust me?” I ask her suddenly, and she looks up at me, eyes meeting mine.
“Yeah, Harley, I trust you,” she says, hopefully accepting that I'd never put her in harm's way intentionally. My smile can’t be restrained. I walk down the steps, pulling the helmet off and turning as she approaches.
“I only have one helmet on me,” I say. “I really didn’t plan to go anywhere today.” Lifting the helmet over her head and pulling it on her snuggly, I fasten the clips, tightening it so that it fits as best it can. Her head is obviously smaller than mine, but it will do for our quick ride.
Looking down at her, my heart feels loud. I know we kissed, and snuggled on the couch, but we haven’t established anything between us. I can be her friend if that’s all she needs.I don’t want to just be your friend, Ember.
I turn back to the bike and hike my leg over, getting comfortable and turning it on. Ember’s eyes go wide, and she looks down. I swear I see a little red in her cheeks. She bites the inside of one, almost like she’s trying to hide a smile.I know the bike has that effect on women.
“Alright, see that silver peg back there?” I adjust, pointing back to the silver pegs. “Step up onto that with your right foot, and swing thatleg over.” She goes to step up, grabbing my hand I’m holding out for support, and swings her left leg over, settling behind me. “You’re going to have to hold on, Ember.” I can’t stop the smile that fills my voice, and I start to feel the faint tickle of flutters in my belly.
She timidly grabs the sides of my shoulders, and I throw my head back and let out a loud laugh. “You’re going to have to do better than that.” I start rolling the bike onto the street. Once we’re on the road, I pull off and she screams, wrapping her arms tightly around my shoulders. “Baby, you’re going to have to go under my arms, so that I can steer the bike.” She moves hesitantly, shifting her arms to sit under my own, falling low onto my torso.Shit. That feels good.I feel her lean into me and relax, and I feel my body coming alive.
We were so young the last time our bodies had any connection. We never made it past second base, but my body certainly felt like it had. I will myself to ignore the pulse I can now feel in my cock.Just be her friend,I try to remind myself.
Pulling into BestBuy, I will myself to push the thoughts out of my head that are just downright dirty. My senses are overloaded with Ember. Her smell that is surrounding me. Her soft body pressed into my back. Her little hums of excitement.
We pull into a spot, and I cut the bike. I twist to offer a hand and help her off before I get off. Her legs look a little wobbly, but she's grinning.
Unclasping the clip, she takes the helmet off and sets it on the bike. “That was fucking amazing, Harley!” She’s excited, and my nerves fall away. She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the store.
CHAPTER SEVEN
EMBER
Feelingthe hot air blow down onto us as we walk through the doors, I smile. That was way more fun than I expected it to be. More relaxing than I thought it would be, too. It definitely made it better that the whole ride, I got whiffs of Harleys cologne.He smells like home,I find myself thinking, before pushing it out of my head, and just enjoying the rest of the ride.
I grab Harley’s hand and pull him into the store, his hand still firmly hanging onto me. We head toward the section with floodlight cameras and Ring doorbells. We go through and look at all of them.
Since I’d just decided last night that I wanted to get them, I haven’t researched them yet. I’m going in blind, so hopefully the sales guy doesn’t fuck me over just for a sale.
I let out a sigh, starting to feel overwhelmed with the options.
“This set will connect to wifi, and will keep data backed up in the cloud.” Harley surprises me from beside me.
“Do you have one of these?” I ask, looking at the one he mentioned.
“No, I looked at a few while you were getting ready,” he says with an almost shy tone and a light blush on his cheeks.I love his possessiveness. Even if we aren’t anything but friends right now.I smile to myself.
Just as I turn around, a sales clerk approaches us. He answers all my questions before I decide which one is going to be best for me. Harley asks a few questions, ones I certainly wouldn’t have thought to ask. I’m not stupid by any means, and I need all the facts, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn’t been distracted by Harley’s presence.
“Alright, let's get you and your wife checked out up front, and we can send a team to install today.” My stomach does a somersault, and my cheeks grow red.
“Perfect, thanks man, but I can install them.” Harley grins, cutting his eyes down at me. “Gotta get the wife home and get some lunch in her before she gets hangry.” He laughs, and I throw an elbow as I roll my eyes.
The checkout guy gives me the total and I shuffle through my purse, locate my wallet, and slide my card through the reader. It’s easy with Harley, and it feels good to have him around. But, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous about starting anything and setting Dean off. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s run a man off. Harley could absolutely handle himself, so I wasn’t worried about him, but Harley couldn’t be around all the time and it wasn’t his responsibility to keep me safe.
I sigh, letting the joy slip away. We get back to the bike, and I grab the helmet. Harley secures the bag to the bike so I don’t have to hang on while we ride home.
“Do we have to go back now?” I ask, not wanting to go back home just yet.
Harley leans down with a smile. “We can go anywhere you want, pretty girl.” He tucks pieces of my hair behind my ear andslides the helmet over my head. “Anywhere in particular you want to go?” he asks.
