Head Over Wheels (Steamy New Adult Romance)

by Valentine, January

  “I don’t know, but if you start cursing in Spanish ... we’re in trouble.” I plucked his chin.

  I'd never felt so secure. I heaved a sigh, my spirit so airy, I felt like it could float across the room, out the window, into the wilderness and never stop climbing. I was giddy, high on love. "Stick with me baby. I'll teach you all there is to know about four letter words."

  Indigo chuckled softly, then buried his face in my hair. "I'm stuck. So what do we do now?"

  "Shower ..."

  WILDERNESS HIKE

  Everyone congregated in the kitchen. Pete had made coffee and set out cups and plates. We sat at the butcher block counter, plastering bagels with cream cheese and jelly, recounting the night before.

  "Kit Kat," Pete said, slapping his palm on the countertop. Shaking his head, he guffawed, repeating, "No way were those wolves. You may have been sleeping with one," he smirked at Indigo, who looked uncomfortable, then his gaze traveled a full circle, landing back on mine. "I doubt any wolves hang out in the driveway, Jewel. Not as pets or houseguests," he chuckled, "what you must have seen were the walkway reflectors."

  Taking my hand, he pulled me to the window which was directly beneath the bedroom where Indigo and I had slept ... made love. The rapture of the prior night still filled me. I looked around the room at my friends, at Indigo ... My life was perfect.

  I stared up at Pete, relief spewing through my lips. "Your reflectors almost gave me a freaking heart attack. I can deal with anything in the city, Pete. You know I'm not a wuss, but creepy woodlands are not my thing."

  "That's alright, Kit Kat. We can't all be up for a promotion." He ruffled my hair. I swatted his arm. He grabbed a bagel and threw it at me. I picked up the cream cheese, and the food fight was on until Emma stood between us, yelling, "Hope you two have fun cleaning the mess while the rest of us are relaxing."

  "Wait ..." I stood in the middle of the kitchen, a wet sponge about to be launched from my fingers, "you're up for a promotion?"

  "I'm losin' the blues, baby." Smug, he lifted his chin.

  I dropped the sponge and threw my arms around him. "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me, Pete?"

  "I've been waiting for the right time." He grinned.

  After wiping grape jelly from the side of Pete's face, we finished breakfast, which could have been lunch as it was already afternoon. Draping our bodies across the living room furniture, we lounged for a while, deciding what to do with the remainder of the day. Each time our gaze met, our hands touched, it was clear Indigo and I knew what we'd be doing that night.

  Pete and Casey rode their bikes through the many trails surrounding the house. The rest of us unhitched our bicycles from the car racks and kept to the road. Pete had visited the area since he was a kid, and knew his way around. We had no clue where we were.

  After riding, we decided to explore the grounds, which in daylight, weren't half as ominous as during the prior stormy night. With Pete as our guide, we set out for the lake behind the house, agreeing it would be a fantastic backdrop for photographs. We packed a cooler and were on our way. Intending to hang around outside until daylight faded, we brought our non-functioning cell phones just in case, and our iPods, along with all the snacks and beer we could carry.

  The lake was a glistening behemoth. Dropping our gear, we immediately started snapping photos. Before anyone realized what was happening, Derek had stripped down to his shorts, plunged into the water, and was swimming out to the float which had to be at least forty feet offshore.

  Yvonne started screaming, "You don't know what's in that filthy water, Derek! Get back here!" But after pulling himself onto what appeared to be disintegrating planks, he just goofed around on the float, calling the rest of us chickenshit, then started grooving. "I can see your goose bumps from here, idiot," Yvonne screamed. "It's freezing, Derek. I'm calling your mother." She tried everything to get him back, including flashing her boobs, but he was in his own zone, until we spread out blankets, grabbed sandwiches and handed out brews. I assumed his stealthy return was due to a combination of Yvonne's luscious breasts and the beer everyone began slugging.

  Crawling to shore, he snatched his clothes and tried to drag Yvonne into the woods, but she wasn't having it, so he disappeared to dry and dress.

  After eating, we sat in a circle drinking beer, enjoying the fresh air. The forest was beautiful and so serene, we decided to take a nature walk. Splitting up, we chose our own directions. Indigo and I hadn't gotten very far when Yvonne stumbled onto our path, pointing and screeching, "Something's out there! It tried to grab my leg!"

  The blood rushed from my limbs. Derek must have heard the panic in her voice, because his head instantly popped out from beneath the lush boughs of a fragrant evergreen. "I'm sorry, baby girl .. I couldn't help myself," he said, but he was laughing hysterically, so she slapped him, screaming, "you almost gave me a heart attack, asshole," and the next thing I knew, they were chasing each other down the trail.

  Indigo and I strolled for a few, then he started tickling me, so I broke into a sprint with him hot on my heels. His intention might have been to pull me to an abrupt halt and into his arms, but after employing one of my self-defense tactics, I tackled him and we tumbled to the ground, with me ending up on top. We panted, we laughed, we kissed. Content as a fed, burped and freshly diapered newborn, I rolled onto my back with a sigh of glee.

  "You really know how to handle yourself." Indigo lay beside me, twisting and stretching. "My back's killing me."

  "Oh baby, I'm sorry." I leaped over him and pushed him onto his side. "Let me see. I'll kiss the boo boos." I lifted his shirt, rubbed his back, and began kissing.

  "I'm fine." Laughing, he caught me in a headlock and pulled me down next to him. "I'm teasing. I tell you, though. After listening to Pete's story last night. I look at you," he took my hand, kissed each finger, "already worrying about when you're on the force, fighting guys twice your size." His shoulders moved with an intentional shudder. "You're not as badass as you think you are." As I switched positions, his kiss landed on my forehead.

  "I can take care of myself." I lifted a brow. "I am so badass. You've just never seen me in action. I can handle dark alleys in the city, cuz I have a good idea of what I'll be encountering, but here ... there's something spooky about this place. Like what might be hiding behind the trees ... jumping out of the bushes. Too many horror movies, I guess." I shrugged, ran a fingertip along his parted lips. "So how did you learn to fight like that?" I loved touching him. I sifted strands of his hair through my fingers, dropped kisses on his cheek. "The night at the club ... you and that creep." I drew back to watch him; something else I loved to do.

  He was stretched out on his back, one arm beneath his head, the other crossing his forehead. His gaze disappeared into the branches above us. "I was raised in a family of Marines who liked to play rough." He sounded distant. "Used to get together with my cousins all the time. We're all scattered now."

  "Maybe you'll have a reunion sometime."

  "Maybe."

  "I have family all over the country, even in South America. Imagine the reunion that would be?"

  He chuckled. "You'd need to hire Madison Square Garden for that event." He ran a twig he'd been toying with down my back as I sat beside him, hugging my knees.

  "Jimmy ... why didn't you ever tell me about Danny ... about your family?" When he sighed, I was sorry I brought it up.

  “I never talk about Danny ... to anyone. He’s locked in my heart.” His lips twisted into a sad smile. “It feels like yesterday. I know we should celebrate his life ... he was precious ... and I do, believe me I do ... privately. Danny was a special little kid. I guess some things feel impossible to overcome.”

  “But it gets easier.”

  “I'm still working on that."

  "You keep everything buried?"

  "Nope. He's with me every day. Grief doesn't always bring people together, Jewel. Danny's death built a wall between my parents. I didn't w
ant to do anything to jeopardize our relationship. It's something I have to deal with on my own. Besides, grief and family issues aren't the best things to discuss on a date."

  "I thought I was more than a date?" I felt my entire face pull into a frown.

  He pulled me down beside him. Leaning on an arm, he draped his leg over mine. "Honey, you are. You're so much more. You changed my life," his fingers slid over the side of my face. "I was so bottled up inside, I didn't think I'd ever be able to love anyone. You made me realize I could ... I told you, you're my angel."

  I held back tears. "Jimmy. Don't ever feel you have to keep anything from me. I want us to be open ... honest with each other. That's the most important part of a relationship."

  He shook his head slowly. "Talking doesn't solve every problem, Jewel. Sometimes people have to work things out for themselves."

  "Especially guys." I pulled his hand to my lips. "I'm not sure I like that answer ... or the look in your eyes."

  He smiled and ran his thumb along my jaw line. "You're sunrise remember? Turn that frown upside down. Let me do the worrying."

  "But I don't want you to worr ..."

  He pinched my lips closed. "Do you always have to get the last word?"

  "Bsh."

  He laughed and dropped down beside me, bringing my hand to his lips, kissing my fingers. "I love you, Jewel." He let out a sigh.

  I rolled onto my side, dropping kisses all over his face. "Not as much as I love you."

  "Want to make a bet?" Gripping the back of my hair, he brought my lips to his.

  "Sure." My words were muffled. "Loser takes the bottom for a week." I chewed his bottom lip and pulled.

  "You're on. Can I have my lip back?" He chuckled softly. "It's not easy talking with half of my mouth occupied."

  "Then I'll take it all."

  He slapped his hand over his mouth. I giggled and pulled it away, sucking on his mouth until our lips made a popping sound.

  He brought a hand to his face. "Do I still have lips?"

  "The most beautiful lips." I sighed and cuddled beneath his arm. "This place is really something. You can barely see the sky through the trees."

  "You sound poetic."

  "When I'm with you, I feel poetic."

  I'd just gotten the words out when the rustle startled me. "Did you hear that?" If I were a dog my ears would have spiked, along with the hair on the back of my neck.

  "I did." Indigo sat up beside me.

  "If that's Derek, I'm gonna strangle him."

  "I'll do more than strangle him." Indigo's voice was unnervingly cold.

  A bit more rustling, and a smoky gray snout poked through the underbrush. The wolf's eyes were amber, and they were intense. His jaw was tight, then it slackened and he began to pant.

  "Oh my God," I said as both Indigo and I scrambled to our feet.

  "Don't make any sudden moves," he whispered, "just back out nice and easy." He put me behind him. My hands were on his shoulders. His palms were on my butt. As I peeked around him, my pulse sped up, my stomach dipped.

  "Stay calm. He's not gonna hurt us as long as we don't hurt him."

  Relying on his movements, I closed my eyes, remembering my childhood fears. "He's gonna eat us." Through one eye, I squinted.

  "He's not going to eat us," Indigo sounded so calm I wanted to slug him. "We used to roll around on the ground with these guys in Cub Scouts."

  "Really?"

  "No." He chuckled and kept edging us backward until we reached the clearing. When I fully opened my eyes the wolf was gone.

  "That was close," I breathed, "I never thought to bring my pepper spray with me."

  "It looked like a pup. Mom could've been nearby." He raised his brows. "You know what they say."

  "What?"

  "Don't get within ten feet of mama and her babies." He tweaked my nose. "We're lucky she wasn't around, or she might have eaten both of us."

  I jabbed his ribs, then turned serious. "Jimmy ... maybe the reason he was panting ... I hope he wasn't running from a hunter." Anger surged through me.

  "Not sure if this is the season, but I doubt hunting would be permitted here, regardless."

  "Maybe we scared him. This is his turf, not ours, you know?"

  "I know, honey. Whoever said let's have a restful weekend in the country obviously hasn't been around these parts. I'm thinking about hitting the road." He patted my head as if I were a child. "What do you think, tamale?"

  "I think I'm ready for Fifth Avenue. I feel the need to hit some sale racks."

  He laughed."I feel the need for another makeup session."

  "Makeup?" Confused, I stared up at him, then it hit me. "I'm great at starting fights, if that's what you're in the mood for."

  "You're a little mind reader."

  We reached the lake, gathered everyone together, and after comparing notes, agreed the woodlands belonged to the creatures who lived there. Pete's inheritance included hundreds of acres he'd never let anyone develop or build upon. The A-frame would remain the only house on the road, and the surrounding forestland would be a sanctuary.

  We made a unanimous decision; we'd pack our stuff and head for home at dawn.

  * * *

  Bright and early the next morning, bikes hitched, cars loaded, we left nature and the A-frame on the dusty road behind us.

  In the Wrangler, we followed Pete and Casey onto the Interstate. After riding in silence, Indigo reached for my hand. "All things considered, it was a nice getaway. I needed it." Again, wearing aviator sunglasses, he looked hotter than ever, and relaxed.

  "Does all things considered mean us?"

  "Everything, I guess. I feel so much better, Jewel. It's got to mean something ..."

  "Huh?"

  "What we've been through ... our ups and downs. We care enough to disagree and not just walk away."

  Sunlight pulsed through the trees, piercing the windshield, my eyes. I pulled my purple shades down from where they'd been resting on my head. "Things got rocky for a while, but we're solid," I said lazily, peace falling over me. I gazed at Indigo, then looked out the window, watching civilization reappear and dwindle as we passed rest stops and small towns. "The weekend flew." I was so mellow, I could have drowned in the beautiful wave of exhaustion sweeping over me. Closing my eyes I left myself drift, leaving my present, my future, in Indigo's hands.

  The good times usually do.” He cradled my hand. “In a way, I’m sorry to see it end. It was fun sleeping with you.”

  “So that’s what you call everything we did ... fun?”

  “You know what I’m talking about.” He clicked his tongue. “You and that temper. You’re always ready to attack me.” His hand dropped to my kneecap and he squeezed, which made me scream. “You love stirring the pot, don’t you?”

  “You’re so cute when you’re trying to defend yourself, and I just love making up with you.” I giggled. “And you have to admit ... you do have a way with words.”

  “Are you implying I need a lot of understanding?”

  Shaking my head, I sighed. “Is climbing Mt. Everest a challenge? Speaking of which, I’m ready to answer that question now.”

  “Now you’re really confusing me.” He didn’t turn his head, but I was still able to see his smile.

  “Join the club.” I laughed. “Remember our first date?”

  “How could I ever forget? You scared the hell out of me.”

  "As if." I burst out laughing. "After getting to know you better ... you are a challenge.”

  "I was being honest." He ran his hand up and down my thigh. "I liked having you in bed me with me. I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight ... without you."

  I studied his face to see if he was serious, but he was unreadable. I gulped. "I guess I could get used to it too."

  "Hey, how about dinner tonight?"

  "Sure." I was thrilled he wouldn't be dropping me off at my apartment and leaving. I'd been giving quite a bit of thought to the walk of shame, wondering if t
hings would be the same between us once we got back to the city ... and here was my answer. He didn't want to leave me any more than I wanted to leave him.

  "I'll cook for you." He glanced at me and smiled. "Sound good?"

  "Sounds great." I burrowed into my seat, clutching his arm, feeling so content. "What's on the menu?"

  "To be decided." He chuckled, running his palm over my thigh. "And ..."

  "And what?"

  "I was thinking. How about staying the night?"

  "You've been thinking, huh?" I giggled. Excitement escalated, along with my butterflies. "The worst thing about a getaway is going home with the blahs, you know what I mean? Like the holiday letdown."

  "Is that a yes or a no?"

  "A definite yes. I'd love to spend the night at your place. I'd be lonely ... after ..."

  "Tell me about it." He squeezed my hand. "Yeah," he sighed, "things are looking better and better ..."

  "I'll drink to that. How about some tunes?" I reached for the radio, passing stations until I heard something I could fall into. "Ahh. Now that's relaxation." I started grooving, tossing my hands around, singing, really hamming it up. I grabbed my travel mug from the cup holder and toasted to the beat.

  Indigo stole several glances, shook his head, then began to laugh.

  "What's so funny?" I sang to him, bobbing my head.

  "You have to ask?" As his fingers tapped the wheel, he started rocking out.

  "Look at you, all cool over there, singin' and groovin'." I laughed. "Is that how you looked in high school? All hot and handsome. An arm hanging out the window, picking up girls?"

  Shaking his head, he looked too hysterical to even drive. I reached for his abs, and he shoved me away. "Stop it or I'm gonna have to pull over."

  "Truth or dare."

  "No."

  "How old were you when you bagged your first female?" I reached for his abs again. "Did she wear one of those cute little school uniforms with a pleated skirt hiked up to her panties? Showing off her bum bum?"

  "What's in that mug?" While steadying the wheel, trying to keep his eyes on the road, he grabbed for it.