Hard Ride

by Opal Carew

  It didn’t take long to get there, and as they rode along the main street, she glanced around at the quaint buildings. It was a lovely town, with lots of outdoor cafés, planters full of flowers along the wide sidewalks, and colorful banners fluttering in the breeze. Shock pulled over to the side of the road in front of a tall brown-brick building.

  “It’s a pretty town,” she said as she pulled off her helmet.

  “I like it,” he said, as he took her helmet and stowed it in the saddle bag on his bike.

  “There’s a crafts market on the next street,” he said, pointing to the right, “a park a couple of blocks further down, right off the lake and, of course, you can see a lot of restaurants along Main Street if you want something.”

  He pulled his wallet from his pocket and took out some bills, then handed them to her.

  She frowned and shook her head.

  He took her hand and pressed the bills against her palm. “Don’t be silly. You can buy something for yourself, maybe have a coffee.”

  “I don’t want to take your money.”

  His big hands surrounded hers, closing her fingers around the bills.

  “Don’t make a big deal of it, Liv. It’s just a couple of bucks, and I won’t have you wandering around with no money. What if something happened and you needed to get back to the house on your own?”

  He was right. She was making a big deal over nothing.

  She grinned. “Why? Are you planning on ditching me?”

  He laughed. “I’d never do that.”

  She took the money and tucked it into her pocket.

  He smiled. “Good. We’re making some progress. Now, I’ll be busy until about five, and I’ve made reservations at this restaurant.” He handed her a card with the name Le Miroire. “As I said, it’s right on the lake. It’s just a few blocks from here, and you can ask anyone for directions. The people here are really friendly.”

  She tucked the card in her pocket with the money he’d given her. “Okay. So, are you sure you’re going to a business meeting and not just grabbing a beer and playing some pool?” she asked with a grin, eyeing his biker attire.

  He chuckled. “I’m sure. But maybe we can do that together after dinner.” He pulled her close and gave her a kiss. Deep and delicious. When he released her, her cheeks were flushed with excitement. What she’d really like to do now was get right back on that bike and return to the house, then drag him up to the bedroom. Though thoughts of walking into a pool hall with him, all badassed and with attitude, then strolling into the back room and him taking her on a pool table flitted through her brain. Then maybe some of his friends would come in and join them, and …

  Oh, God, what was happening to her? Her fantasies were becoming X-rated, complete with multiple big, bad biker partners.

  He smiled down at her, still holding her close. “So I’ll see you at five. But if you need me for any reason before that, the law firm is in this building we’re in front of, so just go in and tell them and I’ll be right there.”

  “I wouldn’t interrupt your meeting,” she said.

  He kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. “Don’t be silly. You’re more important than any business meeting.”

  Then he released her and walked into the building. She drew in a breath, then turned and walked down the street.

  * * *

  “Hey, you were on Main Street about an hour ago with Shock, right?”

  Liv glanced up from the bright-colored silk scarf she’d been looking at to see a lovely woman with a heart-shaped face, full lips, and big green eyes staring at her. She wore a tailored linen business suit and her long, chestnut-brown hair was neatly pinned up.

  “Uh, yes.”

  The woman smiled and stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Amy. I know Shock. I work for Brenner and Brenner, the law firm he uses.”

  “Oh, hello.” She shook the woman’s hand. “He’s meeting with them now, but I guess you know that if you saw us in front of the building.”

  “I guess you’re just hanging around until his meetings are done.”

  “Yeah, I’m looking around, and I want to buy something for Shock.”

  “Oh, I could help you with that.” She smiled. “You see, I know him pretty well.”

  At the woman’s suggestive tone, Liv wondered just how well.

  “I’m taking an hour break to enjoy the nice weather,” Amy said. “I was just going to head over to get an ice cream. There’s a place with the most amazing homemade ice cream near the park. Want to join me?”

  Liv hesitated.

  “Come on, I’d love the company, and we can stop by on the way to pick up something special for Shock. I guarantee, he’ll love it.”

  “Okay.”

  They stopped at a little shop where there was an artisan who made mind puzzles out of wood, rope, and metal. Amy assured her that Shock loved figuring out the trick to them. Liv bought him one that consisted of two metal rods with a series of interlinked rings. Somehow, he had to extract one of the rods from the rings.

  Next they walked along the tree-lined streets to a lovely little ice cream shop. They went to the counter and picked out the ice cream they wanted from the dozens of delightful flavors, then went out to the patio. Liv sat down on a decorative wrought-iron chair at a small round table, and Amy sat across from her.

  Liv dipped her spoon into her pink ice cream with chocolate chunks and cherries and tasted it. Her eyes widened. “Oh, this is delicious.”

  “Told you so,” Amy said, then enjoyed a spoonful of her orange and chocolate concoction.

  “So, how long have you been dating Shock?” Amy asked.

  “Oh, no, we’re not dating.”

  “Really?” Amy’s eyebrow arched. “Sorry, I saw the two of you kissing. I just assumed…”

  Liv shrugged, feeling her cheeks heat. “It’s just a casual thing.”

  “Hey, no need to be embarrassed.” She smiled. “It was the same with us, actually.” She took a bite of her ice cream. “I mean, I wanted it to be something more.” She shrugged. “Who wouldn’t, right? He’s handsome, loaded, and … my God, no one is better in the sack than that man. And I mean no one.”

  Amy leaned in close. “So tell me,” she murmured confidentially, “did he do the whole sex contract thing with you, too?”

  Liv stiffened.

  Amy nodded. “I see he did.” She rested her arm on Liv’s forearm. “Well, you’re handling it the right way. Realizing it’s just a casual thing. Me”—she shrugged—“I fell head over heels for him. And like a fool, I actually thought he was falling in love with me, too.” She laughed. “Stupid, right?”

  “He had you sign a contract, too?” Liv said numbly.

  “Yeah.” She patted Liv’s hand and frowned. “Oh, sweetie, don’t tell me you’re falling for him, too?” She shook her head. “Look, I get it. He’s all badass biker on the outside, yet sweet and sensitive on the inside. It’s hard not to fall, and hard. But believe me, the contract means he wants to keep it on a physical level only.”

  She leaned in confidentially. “After it happened to me, I found out he’s done it with other women, too. He uses the contract to keep a distance, I guess.” She squeezed Liv’s hand. “All I can say is, enjoy the ride while it lasts.”

  * * *

  Liv walked along the street feeling numb. Shock had done this before?

  She approached the restaurant and saw his motorcycle out front.

  Oh, God, how would she face him knowing that she was nothing more to him than a fuck partner?

  She sighed. It shouldn’t matter. What they were doing was only meant to be a business relationship. He had been clear that he’d wanted her for a long time and this was a way for her to thank him. Her heart ached and she sucked in a deep breath to steady herself.

  But a part of her had been hoping he would fall in love with her.

  In fact, she had started to believe it was actually happening—proof that she was only seeing what she wanted to see, bas
ed on the way he treated her. The glow in his eyes when he smiled at her. His loving manner when he had sex with her. Even when he dominated her, there was a tenderness in his eyes.

  Of course there was. He was a nice guy. He had always looked out for her, in his own way. He was the type of man who would make sure she got home safely from a seedy bar, and would loan her money when she needed it. Even the huge sum she’d asked for. And when he’d found out what had happened to her, and that she’d never really been with a man … well, of course he’d been gentle and loving with her.

  But she couldn’t mistake that for being in love with her.

  Liv entered the restaurant and glanced around. She saw Shock sitting at a table beside the huge window overlooking the lake. As she walked toward him, her feet felt like lead.

  “Hi. Did you have a good time exploring?” he asked, picking up a bottle of white wine and pouring her a glass.

  “Yes, thank you,” she said as she sat down. “Did your meetings go well?”

  “Not as well as I’d hoped. There are still a few things I need to sort out, so I’m afraid I’ll have to go back for a while after we’re done here.” He rested his hand on top of hers and smiled. “I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”

  The feel of his big, warm hand on hers sent a shiver through her. Usually it would be comforting, but now she could barely stop herself from snatching her hand from his grasp.

  Slowly, she drew her hand away and took a sip of her wine.

  “Liv, is there something wrong?” he asked.

  Her gaze lifted to his, then dropped back to the stem glass in front of her. “No, of course not.”

  He could probably tell it was a lie. Luckily, the waitress came by and they ordered the lasagna, which Shock told her was a specialty of the house. While they waited, Liv managed to make small talk with him, telling him about the beautiful things she’d seen in the crafts market, then giving him his gift, which he loved. But when the meal arrived, she concentrated on eating.

  She debated whether to tell him she’d run into Amy, then confront him with the fact she was not the first woman he’d done this contract thing with, but her stomach knotted. What would be the point? He hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d been totally aboveboard about the fact that he just wanted a physical relationship with her. What could she do? Demand he fall in love with her?

  The fact that she was falling in love with him wasn’t his fault. He couldn’t help it that he was exactly the kind of man she’d always wanted. If things had happened differently in college—if she hadn’t been scared off of having a sexual relationship with a man—then she was sure they would have become romantically involved back then. Maybe at that time she would have had a chance with him.

  But clearly things had changed since then.

  “Liv, what about dessert?” Shock asked.

  She glanced up from her empty plate.

  “What?” She’d been lost in her thoughts. She set down her fork, and the waitress, who was standing by the table, picked up her plate.

  “No, thank you,” Liv said.

  “Just coffee,” Shock said to the waitress.

  But Liv didn’t want to sit here over a cup of coffee with him. Watching the sun sink over the lake. Talking with him as if her heart weren’t breaking.

  “No coffee for me.”

  But the waitress had already left.

  “I’m sorry, I just want to go.”

  “What’s wrong, Liv?”

  She bit her lip as she gazed into his concerned brown eyes.

  “I know you have a meeting, so I’ll just get a cab.”

  “The meeting’s not important. I’ll take you.”

  That’s the last thing she wanted right now. To have her arms wrapped around him, resting her cheek against the warm, supple leather of his jacket, breathing his musky male scent as they rode back to his big house. And the bedroom they shared there.

  “No … please. I’m not feeling well. I’d rather take a cab.”

  Shock turned thoughtful, but he didn’t argue. He asked the waitress to arrange for a cab and soon Liv was sitting in the back of a taxi, feeling more alone than she had in years.

  * * *

  Liv sat in the chair by the large bedroom window watching the sun set over the lake, her knees to her chest, her arms curled around them. Shock still hadn’t returned from town.

  She had to get used to the idea that this month was about sex and nothing more. They even had guidelines written down so they both knew the parameters, and although at first she’d been uncomfortable with the breadth of the acts he’d included in the agreement, she’d come to see very quickly that he would never push any of them on her if they made her uncomfortable. They were simply things on the table they could try. And that meant she could trust him totally.

  She had to keep a tight rein on her feelings for him.

  She would concentrate on enjoying this month of physical intimacy with him. Allow it to help heal her.

  There was a knock on the door and she glanced at it. Was it Raven coming to check on her again?

  “Liv, it’s Shock.”

  She drew in a breath, then dried her eyes on the hem of her T-shirt. She was surprised he’d knocked. It was his bedroom.

  “May I come in?” he asked.

  “Yes, of course.”

  The door opened and he stood there, so tall and sexy with his leather jacket unzipped, the shirt underneath stretched across his broad chest. And in his hand was the sorriest-looking bouquet of pink roses she’d ever seen.

  “What’s with the flowers?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “I knew something was bothering you, so I wanted to bring you these to cheer you up.”

  He closed the door and walked toward her, holding them out.

  “Watch for the thorns,” he cautioned as she reached for them.

  She nodded and took them from his big hand, then sniffed the poor crushed flowers.

  “Sorry, I rode with them inside my jacket. It didn’t work too well.”

  She lifted her gaze from the blossoms to his face. “It’s okay. They smell lovely.”

  She noticed pink petals still clinging to his black T-shirt and reached for one to pluck it free. As soon as her hand touched him, he covered it with his own, pressing her fingers to his hard, muscular chest. She could feel his heart pounding.

  “Liv, I’m sorry if I did something to upset you.”

  She shook her head. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Then what was bothering you?”

  She compressed her lips. “I guess I was just feeling a little homesick,” she lied.

  “Look, sweetheart, if you want to go back home, just say the word.”

  No, she didn’t want to lose one day with him.

  “I want to stay here.”

  He stroked her hair back. “If it’s about the agreement, I’ll tear it up right now. You know that.”

  “No, I like having this time to get to know you better.” She dragged her fingertip along his lips. “And I love having sex with you.”

  His eyes brightened. “I like that, too.”

  She drew in a breath, trying to suppress the feelings rising inside her. Drowning in her need to throw herself in his arms and tell him how much she loved him.

  She drew away and walked to the en suite bathroom. Shock followed on her heels. She laid the flowers at an angle in the sink, then filled it with enough water to keep them fresh until she could put them in a vase.

  She loved these flowers. They were crushed and a little broken, but they still smelled sweet and looked beautiful to her. Even more so because Shock had brought them for her. He’d cradled them inside his jacket, close to his heart, to keep them safe and protected.

  She could see his reflection in the mirror behind the sink, watching her, a frown on his face.

  “So you’re totally comfortable with the agreement? Even when I command you to do things? Or restrain your hands so you can’t escape?”


  Her breath caught. “Actually, I find that very exciting.”

  “And what about some of those things that made you uncomfortable?” He moved closer.

  “What if I turned you around and leaned you forward?” He did just that, pressing her forward and leaning her over the vanity. He glided his hand over her ass and cupped. “And pushed into you here?”

  He pressed his fingers against the middle seam of her jeans, leaving no doubt he was talking about anal sex. Her inside muscles tightened and anxiety rippled through her, but she calmed herself.

  “It would be fine. I’ve never done it before, but I trust you to guide me through it.”

  His reflected gaze locked on hers and his pupils dilated, making his brown eyes go almost black. “You trust me.”

  “Of course.”

  He pulled her against his chest, his arms wrapping around her waist, and held her. The deeply serious look on his face as he stared at her reflection stirred something deep inside her.

  “I want you to trust me. I want you to know I’ll never hurt you.”

  She nodded. “I do know that.”

  He turned her to face him and swept her into his arms, then their lips met and she got lost in the sweep of emotions that emanated from him to her, sending her senses reeling.

  Their mouths parted and his lips brushed against her temple.

  “I want you to promise if I push something too fast or too far … if I do anything to make you uncomfortable … you’ll let me know.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  She smiled and gazed down at the flowers lying in the sink. “I love the roses. Thank you so much.”

  He tightened his arms around her and she kissed him again, melting into his embrace.

  She curled her arms around his neck, staring up at him. “I can’t believe you remembered I like pink roses.”

  He took her hand and led her back into the bedroom.

  “How could I forget how much you gushed when your sister sent you some on your twenty-second birthday?”

  She laughed and stroked his chest. “So I have a question. Would it break the terms of the agreement if I were to kiss you, then initiate sex?”