by Tia Siren
Once we arrived at the small bridal shop in town our conversation changed, partially because a lot of the details of the wedding were still a secret to me and partially because Duke and Axel had arrived as well.
“Hello,” I said, looking at Axel. I felt myself blush slightly.
He shot me an awkward smile as he pulled himself off his motorcycle. His bike was matte black; it looked old, but incredibly well maintained for its age.
“That’s a nice chopper,” I noted.
“It’s my favorite,” he replied.
“I’ve never ridden on one before. Is it dangerous?”
“Only if your driver is an idiot,” he replied.
I looked at him with the intention of asking the obvious question.
“I’m not an idiot,” he said plainly.
My mother ended the conversation by tugging me inside the store. I rolled my eyes and followed her in.
After twenty minutes of shopping around the store and trying on a couple of dresses, she settled on one that looked fine enough. I wasn’t incredibly impressed, but I knew I only had to wear it once. Granted, this would be the third time I’d have to wear a dress to one of her weddings.
I caught up with Axel as we were leaving the store. He was already throwing a leg over his bike.
“So, when are you going to take me for a ride?” I asked playfully.
He plucked a helmet from the back of the bike and offered it to me. I turned to my mom, waiting for a sign of approval. She just shrugged, letting me decide for myself. New experiences were always hard to turn down.
I grabbed the helmet and stuffed my hair inside. My mind was full of giddy anticipation. At the same time, being a nurse, I knew all the injuries that could come about. I wrapped my arms in a death grip around Axel as he pulled us away from the store.
I was scared to death as the wind rushed through my jacket, the cold biting my skin. Axel wasn’t wearing a coat and didn’t even seem to be shivering.
I lifted my head from Axel’s back and looked around. The landscape was open. Barely a single house could be seen. It was just rolling hills crashing into each other, with spotted fields of seasonal crops jutting from neatly trimmed rows.
I looked to the sky and saw the clouds making fun shapes, reminding me of the days I’d lain in the tall grass with my mother and given them all names as they’d passed by.
I inhaled what I would quickly consider my first free breath of air. There were no patients needing to be watched, nor doctors ordering me about; there was only the road and the wind, and the roar of the engine.
My apartment seemed like a refuge in my memory, something I entered to escape the outside world. But now I saw it as a prison cell that I tucked myself into to lock myself away from the rest of the world.
Time passed. I didn’t know how much of it, but I could see the sun beginning to make its way toward the distant horizon. Axel pulled us off the road and into a strip mall parking lot. I wondered where we were heading, but it became clear when I saw the shop.
He stopped the bike just outside the door and unlocked the shutter, letting us both inside before locking it again.
“This is where I work,” he said.
5.
“So why did you bring me here?” I asked.
He reached over and pulled a length of cloth off another motorcycle sitting nearby. The motorcycle was a sight to behold, its chrome and glossy new paint gleaming in the light.
“I’m building it as a wedding present for my dad,” he said.
I reached out and ran a hand along the length of it.
“This is a gorgeous bike; I’m sure he’ll love it,” I said.
He smiled. It was the first time I’d really seen him smile. The tense look I’d seen him wear the previous night seemed to disappear.
“Okay, there’s nobody else here. Are you able to talk now?” I asked.
He let out a sigh.
“I’ll take that as a no,” I said.
“I just don’t have much to say,” he said.
“You don’t have to say a lot. I just want to know why I feel like you’re giving me the cold shoulder,” I said.
“I didn’t think I was being cold,” he replied.
“Well, you were.”
“I have my reasons,” he said.
“So you admit that you were being cold,” I said, slipping him up.
“I have to be,” he said.
“And why is that?” I wondered.
“I can’t tell you,” he replied.
“I won’t stop pushing until you do. It’s what siblings are for,” I said.
He leaned against a nearby work bench and crossed his arms.
“You have to promise me that you won’t tell anyone,” he said.
I was a little intrigued that he would say something like that; he didn’t seem the type to be worried about saying what was on his mind. Nor did he seem to care what others really thought about his opinions.
“I promise,” I said, hoping he’d open up.
He waited a few moments to see if I was really telling the truth. Once he was satisfied with my answer, he opened up.
“I find you incredibly attractive,” he said.
I was surprised to hear that, and the shock of it caused me to be at a loss for words. Then again, I knew what I wanted to say, just not how to say it.
“What do you like about me?” I asked playfully.
“The first thing I noticed was your big blue eyes,” he said.
“Most people notice those first. Keep going,” I said.
“Then I couldn’t take my eyes off your long slender legs,” he continued.
“I do like to run when I can,” I replied, taking a small step closer to him.
“Then your luscious lips.” He exhaled, and I could see his breath in the cold workshop.
I moved in close and caressed his cheek with my hand.
“You know, we aren’t officially siblings until tomorrow,” I whispered into his ear.
His eyes went wide, and he threw his arms around me. His powerful muscles picked me up from the ground with ease and sat me on the nearby bench.
Our ride together on the motorcycle had sent my head spinning in all directions, and the feeling of freedom I had gleaned from it made me want to try everything all at once, starting with the gorgeous man in front of me.
I could already feel my heart racing at his slightest touch, and the feeling sent shivers through every part of my body. He massaged his hand up and down my leg as he leaned in for a kiss that I readily provided. My lips hungrily searched for his whenever he pulled away.
The room was cold, but I didn’t mind in the slightest. I didn’t even mind when he unbuttoned my jacket and tugged it off, only to throw it in the corner. His skin was cool to the touch, but comforting. I yanked his simple white shirt off his chest to expose his rippling pack of muscles, running my hands along the curves and taught skin beneath.
With each kiss, I could feel myself getting more turned on. He hooked his hands under my shirt and tugged it off, exposing my tiny white bra, which he happily tugged off as well. My nipples poked out in the cold, only to be warmed by the touch of his hand and the heat from his lips.
He took each on in turn and suckled them. As he did so, I could feel my chest becoming flush. The sensation of his lips wrapped around my nipples shot pangs through all my nerves.
I reached down to his pants, sliding them down as best I could. He didn’t want to relent to me moving, as he seemed to be enjoying himself. His manhood fell out of his pants, and I was impressed by his size. I worked my hand along his shaft and felt him harden with each stroke.
He returned his lips to mine and pulled me in close to him with a hand on my lower back. The sensation was becoming unbearable in my pants; I had already soaked through my panties.
I think he knew, because he grabbed my leggings and, almost intentionally slowly, lowered them down my legs, along with my simple white cotton panties. I sat there
on the exposed metal bench, dripping all over his work space.
My hand returned to the engorged shaft I could feel myself begging for. I continued to kiss him on the lips as he lined his massive member up with my tiny slit.
The few strokes of his head in my wetness teased my nerves and tickled my clit, sending shooting pulses through my limbs.
I tried to push myself onto him, but I think he knew what I was trying to do, because he pulled himself back just enough to avoid it. Then he smiled at me wickedly and plunged himself inside.
I could feel myself parting inside, and I lost my breath for a minute with the suddenness of the movement. It seemed to never end, as he continued to push himself in farther than I thought he could go. My welcoming sex continued to beg for it, and I panted with each inch that pushed its way inside.
I held on to the work bench, gritting at the slight twinges of pain as he worked his way inside. Then it stopped. His massive member filled me more than any other ever had, and I was surprised.
He leaned in to me and kissed me on the lips while holding my legs in place. Then he started working himself in and out. I could feel my sex clenching around him, and he seemed to enjoy the sensation, as he let out a slight moan of pleasure. I did the same with each inch that left only to return.
It was a light sensation at first, but it gradually built up until he was pounding me hard. I normally didn’t like it rough, but he felt so good that I begged him to go harder.
I moaned and wailed with passion at each thrust, trying desperately to catch my breath in between, but I was just left panting.
I could feel a sensation building up in my stomach that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I hadn’t felt it with Mark; nor had I felt it with any of my other boyfriends. This was a raw passion that swelled with each passing thrust until I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
My breath left me altogether, and all of my muscles tense up, a surge of excitement running up and down every nerve in my body as I let out an unexpected, earth-shattering orgasm.
Then he tensed up as well and released himself inside my welcoming womanhood.
I sprawled out over the workbench, naked and sweating a cold sweat. My breath showed in the room with each exhale, and I laughed at the ridiculousness of it all.
I was surprised when he picked me up and flipped me onto my stomach. The workspace was already slick with my excretions, but I smiled excitedly, thinking he might already be ready for round two.
I couldn’t see what was going on, but I could feel it. He eased himself back into me, and instead of grinding me hard, he went slowly and gently. With his other hand, he rubbed my engorged clit.
The sensations were almost too much to bear at this point; I could already feel another orgasm starting to form. Unlike our first encounter, this one went slowly.
I didn’t last very long, and neither did he. Before long we had both collapsed in each other’s arms on the cold cement floor of his workshop.
I wanted to say something, but my exhaustion forced me to let go, and I fell asleep wrapped in his arms.
6.
When I finally woke, still crumpled up on the floor, I immediately realized how cold I was. I curled my toes and stretched my legs to get feeling back in them. Without waking Axel, I pulled myself up and started getting dressed.
I didn’t have a clue how to get home; nor did I have a means to get there. I figured I’d just wait until Axel woke up before bothering to figure it out.
My head was full of questions that I couldn’t sort out. I wondered if I was really that attracted to Axel or if I was just looking for something to take my mind off Mark. Whatever the case, I had made my decision, and there wasn’t any going back.
I wandered around the small shop, peeking through the doors and poking the various tools that were strewn about. Something odd caught my eye in the office. I couldn’t really make sense of it at first, but my name was on it.
It was a slip of paper, crudely written, with my name and others that had numbers listed next to them. If I had to say what I thought it was, I would say there was some kind of bet happening that had to do with me.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t see that,” Axel said, pulling his jeans on.
“What is this?” I asked.
“I don’t think I should say, but all you should know is that I put a stop to it,” he replied.
“Really, Axel, I need to know,” I pleaded.
He sighed and leaned against the door.
“Some of the crew was taking bets on who would sleep with you first,” he said.
I turned back to the page and felt disgusted just looking at it. I started ripping the page into smaller and smaller pieces out of rage.
“What the hell!?” I screamed.
He didn’t say anything. I walked over to him and pounded on his chest. He barely moved, just accepted whatever punishment I could dole out.
“I told you, I put a stop to it,” he said.
“How?” I asked, tears starting to form behind my eyes.
“Didn’t you see all the bruises on the guys last night at the bar? Why else do you think most of the guys left you alone? I made them scared to even get close,” he said.
I wiped a tear from my cheek.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said.
“I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”
“Why did you want to?” I asked.
“Because you deserve better than those creeps,” he replied.
“Are you saying you did it because I should be with you?” I asked.
He didn’t say anything, but I could see from the look in his eye that he wanted to say yes.
“Just take me home,” I managed. I didn’t have the strength to fight anymore. I just needed to sleep in a regular bed and feel at least somewhat refreshed before tomorrow.
He passed me the helmet from the previous day, and I stuffed my head into it.
I didn’t say a word the entire ride, and neither did he. I preferred it that way. Before long I was sitting in my motel room, wishing I could relive the past two days. I just wanted to be back home, snuggled in my pajamas, eating ice cream and forgetting the world.
7.
“Are you serious?” she asked over the phone.
“I already tore up the page, but they were seriously taking bets about who would sleep with me first,” I replied.
“I’m glad you’re only there for the weekend. You must have the patience of a saint to still be there for your mother.”
“I know,” I replied. “I’m not going to stay here a minute longer than I have to.”
“But you still slept with Axel, right?” she asked.
“I really don’t know what else to tell you, Joyce. It just kinda happened,” I said, trying my best to reassure my friend that I wasn’t some kind of pervert.
“Okay, that’s seriously creepy. This guy is going to be your stepbrother tomorrow, and somehow you’ve already slept with him?”
I paused for a minute and just exhaled into the phone.
“Okay, I know that you disapprove, but he’s gorgeous, and he is amazing in other ways as well. What am I supposed to do?” I asked, pleading for an answer that I knew she didn’t have.
“Hellen, you’re just getting out of a relationship with Mark. I’m sure this is all stemming from that. Maybe you just need to get out of there and back to some kind of normal life,” she said.
“But I don’t want that. I want to spend more time with him. I want to sneak off and go for a ride with him, maybe end it with something fun for the both of us,” I said.
“After tomorrow, that won’t be possible.”
“I know,” I sighed. “I know.”
“Then end it now, before it becomes more of a problem,” she said.
I knew she was right, but I just didn’t want to do anything about it. I wanted to just let things go and see where it took me, like the open road had made me feel the other day. I wanted that freedom, and now it was being taken awa
y.
“Why is it that I find a great guy and it turns out my mother is marrying his dad?” I asked.
“That’s quite a mess.”
“All right,” I said, “I’m going to take care of this.”
“Good. Then come home. We are all missing you at the hospital! See you soon, Hellen!”
I clicked off the phone and lay back in bed. My mother would be marrying the father of the one man I was interested in right now.
I wondered why I was really that interested in him. He was gorgeous, yes, but he had about as much personality as a belt sander.
I really didn’t want to think about it right this minute. It was getting late, and I had to be up early to help with the wedding.
I would have to make the decision tomorrow.
8.
The next morning I met everyone at the small chapel after a long shower and plenty of time spent deep in thought. I wanted to ask my mother for advice, but I knew what she’d say. There were things you just shouldn’t tell your mother, and I was pretty sure this was near the top of the list.
I went about helping them decorate the chapel with some streamers and simple decorations. After about an hour the only thing that could be heard outside was a steady stream of motorcycles buzzing about.
I popped my head out the door and joined a couple of the other bridesmaids as they watched the club circle the chapel. This would be the third time my mother had married at this church, and I hoped it would be the last.
Then I saw Duke and Axel riding down the road, both of them wearing well-fitted suits. Duke looked funny in his, with his heavy stomach pushing the pants down a little lower than they should be. Axel, on the other hand, wore his well.
It was hard to take my eyes off him. I thought he could tell, because he shot me more than a few looks while people lined up for wedding photos.
My mother looked fantastic in her dress. She was long past the days of wearing white, but the color still suited her. I wondered if I would look the same in a similar dress. But, at the rate things were going in my life, that might never happen.