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It’s not until we’re in the garage that it clicks in her head what we’re doing. “I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle before.”
That satisfies the possessive part of me that wants to keep Athelia all to myself. If Cal and Wes knew what she just told me, this would immediately turn into a competition to get her to ride with them first instead of me.
I may not be the only man she’ll ever ride with, but this way, I’ll always be her first.
After helping her with the helmet I bought for her, I slip my backpack over her arms and settle it on her shoulders. Once it’s secure, we head out.
Athelia doesn’t even ask where we’re going, which is yet another sign that she’s still out of it. I’m not stupid enough to think it means she trusts me—we’re nowhere near that point yet.
As we ride, Athelia wraps her arms around my waist. I love the feel of her body against mine as I speed down the roads.
It only takes us about twenty minutes to get to where we’re headed. There’s a nice overlook that’s out of the way enough thatnot many people even know it exists. The sun will be setting soon, and we’ll have a perfect view.
My thinking is that the fresh air will be good for Athelia, and what girl doesn’t like pretty sunsets? Maybe she’ll even think it’s romantic or something.
I pull into the section of bare dirt that could hardly be called a parking lot. Once we’ve climbed off the bike and dealt with our helmets, Athelia looks around.
“What is this place?”
“You’ll see.” Taking her hand, I guide her toward a barely-there path that leads into a thin patch of woods.
Athelia stops. “You’re not gonna tie me to another tree and leave me here, are you?”
“No,ma belle.The last thing I want to do is leave you.”
I’m not sure she believes me, but she lets me lead her up the path. It takes us to the top of a cliff, where there’s a small clearing that gives us a view of the valley below.
“Oh,” Athelia breathes.
“It’s nice, right?” I take the backpack from her and toss it on the picnic table that someone brought out here years ago.
“It is.” She hasn’t taken her eyes off the view. The sky has just started to turn a variety of colors, serving as the distraction I hoped it would be.
We both sit with our backs to the table as we watch the sunset. It’s not lost on me that Athelia situates herself so close to me that our thighs are pressed against each other. With a smile, I wrap an arm around her shoulders while she nibbles on her sandwich.
Already, Athelia seems more relaxed. She leans into me, so I press a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“How often do you come out here?” she asks once she’s finished her food.
“Not as often as I should. I found this place when I was a teenager, and I came here whenever I needed to get out of the house. These days I use it as my place to process my emotions, I guess. I can show up here pissed as hell, and somehow, I always leave with a feeling of calm.”
“Is that why you brought me here?”
I nod. “Thought you might need a distraction.”
“Thank you.”
I’m about to reply, but just as I open my mouth, Athelia’s lips brush against mine. Whatever I was going to say vanishes from my consciousness when she runs her fingers through my hair.
I groan, which seems to be the permission Athelia needs to crawl into my lap. Instantly, my hands are on her body. Her waist, her hips, squeezing her ass through her black jeans.
“You’re gonna miss the sunset,” I say against her mouth.
Athelia pulls away slightly, and I regret saying it immediately. All I want is more. A better man would stop her—would say he doesn’t want to take advantage of her when she’s so emotionally vulnerable—but I’ve never claimed to be a good person.
She arches a brow in a challenge. “Do you want to give me a distraction or not?”
“Fuck.” I cup the back of her head and kiss her again. My lips move slowly against hers, but after a second, she pulls away and shakes her head.
