by Paige Steele
I can’t help but to whisper back, “It’s the only one you’re getting while we’re sitting here.”
“Then it’s time to go.” She pushes back her chair to stand but fails miserably. As she tries to put her feet under her, she loses her balance and falls in my lap.
“Ready to go I see,” I chuckle, looking down at her. Standing up I cradle her, after we both say good night to everyone, I start to walk out of the restaurant.
“I can walk, ya know?” she says with a pout.
“I think it’s best if you stay right here. The wine might have gotten the best of you tonight.”
“You going to put me to bed?”
“I am.”
I’m standing in front of the elevators, waiting for one to arrive, as she starts kissing up my neck, letting her tongue drag across my jawline until she’s nibbling on my earlobe. “I was hoping you were going to say that.”
“Cupcake, when I take you to bed, you can bet your sweet ass you’ll be sober, so you don’t miss a thing.”
The doors open, I walk in, and she begins her attack all over again, pecking my neck with little kisses.
“Jesse, I won’t tell you no.”
“You might not tonight, but tomorrow might be another story.”
“Trust me, I know what I want and I want you.”
“You say that now, but remember we decided it was best to wait until you were really ready, not alcohol-induced ready.”
She reaches up, placing both of her hands on my shoulders before she begins to twist and turn, until she’s straddling me. The doors open, and I begin to walk us out as a couple heads in, smiling at us. I nod and continue toward her room.
“I think you are lying to yourself. I can tell that you’re as turned on as I am.” Wiggling her hips, she grinds against me as my hands try to hold her ass still.
“Maddie, I am a man, I have my hands on your hot ass, so fuck yes, I’m holding back with all my might not to take you to bed.”
Once at her door she tries a new approach.
“Key, Cupcake?”
“I’ll give it to you, if you give it to me.”
“Cupcake…key, now,” I growl out.
She giggles out, “Jesse…if you want it come get it,” as she sticks her key down her shirt.
“You’re going to drive me to drink tonight, you know that?”
“Nah, you won’t drink cause you have to race tomorrow, Mister.” She’s poking me while she slurs, “But you’ll need a cold shower and your hand to take care the bulge in your jeans, if you don’t take me to bed.”
“Key?” I let out a long breath.
“You want it, get it.” She leans in and kisses my lips quickly, then pulls back and smiles.
“You’re being naughty.”
“Punish me.”
“Girl, you drive me crazy.”
Holding her with one hand, I reach slowly in her shirt, trying to be polite. I know tomorrow she’s going to wake up and be mortified at the thought of what is happening here. Maddie may be a flirt, but I know her, and this isn’t the way she’d want this to go down between us, at least not for the first time.
My fingers graze her breast, causing her as well as myself to suck in a breath. I slip it out and place it in the door quickly. I need to deposit her in bed and get the hell out of here. God only knows what will happen if I don’t.
Swinging the door open, I walk over to the bed to lay her down, but she holds on tight around my neck and waist. Turning around, I sit on the edge of the bed with her straddling me.
“Maddie, I really need to go.”
“Just kiss me, then you can go if you still want to. Though I bet you that you’ll have no desire to do that after your lips have been on mine. What’s the worst thing that can happen? ”
She looks so innocent at me, like she doesn’t have another plan in mind. I play along because I know as much as it’s going to kill me to get up and walk out after this kiss, I’m going to do just that. I have to for both of our sakes.
I reach up, holding her face in my hands tenderly; I rub my thumbs across her cheeks staring in her eyes. I desperately want to lose myself in her tonight, but I know this kiss will have to be enough for now.
Leaning forward, I allow my tongue to swipe across her lips once before my l mouth lands completely on hers. She immediately opens up, giving me full access to her as her hands glide up the back of my hair. My own lace through hers as I deepen the kiss. As our mouths continue to collide together, I find myself needing much more control than I’ve ever needed. The fire between us has caused a stir in my body like I’ve never experienced before. She moans against my mouth, as I pull back enough to give her neck as much attention as I gave her lips.
“Cupcake, I really need to go,” I whisper.
“Please don’t.”
“I need to, and you’ll thank me tomorrow for it. I promise. Now if you tell me you have some Tylenol and where they are, I’ll get them and a glass of water for you, or you’re going to have a big fat headache in the morning.”
“Whatever, they’re in my bag in the bathroom,” she pouts, as she climbs on her bed.
After returning, I find her in just her thong and shirt, already asleep. I set them both on the stand closest to her, hopefully she’ll wake up at some point before morning and take them. Taking the blanket at the end of the bed, I cover her beautiful body, groaning slightly at the thought of getting my hands on her.
“Goodnight, Cupcake, sleep well,” I say kissing her cheek.
“Hmm, hmm.” Is all I get out of her as she snuggles down under the blanket more.
MADDIE
“Jesus, do you really need to sing so loud?” I say, leaning my head back as I recline my seat in the car, as we drive to the stadium.
“Haha, did someone have a little too much to drink last night?”
“Josie, I’m pretty sure it was more than a little.”
“It was more like three to four glasses to many. After you finished the first bottle, you dove into the next one like you hadn’t drank in forever.”
“Ugh, why didn’t you stop me?”
“You were enjoying yourself too much.”
Throwing my hands over my eyes, “I’m cringing at all that I said to Jesse. Some things are a little bit blurry, but I’m pretty sure I made an ass out of myself.”
“Nah, I don’t think so. If you could have seen the heat going on between you two at the table during dinner, you know he was just holding back because he knew you were drinking.”
“Really?” I peek one eye over at her.
“Really. His hands were itching to touch you and his jawline was tight, showing me he was restraining himself. Hell, I half-expected to see him in your room when I came to ask if you were ready to go.”
“What if I tell you I vaguely remember him kissing me before I passed out?”
“I’d say you need to stay sober and get that kiss again, so this time you can remember all of it,” she says, giggling at me.
“I know right?” I say leaning my head back, closing my eyes and letting out a long sigh.
“Here we are, lady.” She puts the car in park, unbuckles, and looks over at me. “You ready to do this?”
“All I can say is the Tylenol I took better kick in soon, or the sound of dirt bikes will make my head explode.”
She laughs as she gets out. Opening the back door, she grabs her bag from the backseat, and I follow right behind her. Pulling my sunglasses out of the bag, I slide them in place as we make our way through the crowd. We are stopped twice along the way, to take pictures and sign autographs, before we make it to our tent.
Setting up doesn’t take too long, and before we know it, the gates are opening and we are flooded with people all around us. After about an hour of pictures, my headache has started to subside and I’m back to feeling somewhat like myself.
I glance over to see Jesse and his mechanic in what looks like an intense conversation. In between poses, I keep lo
oking over in his direction to see how things are going.
“Geez, go over there already,” Josie giggles.
“Not sure if I should bug him.”
“Bug him? Please, he’s hoping you’ll do more than bug him. I dare ya to go over there and give him a big good luck kiss.”
“Oh yeah, that just what he needs before the race.”
“It might make him go faster.” She continues to giggle through her words.
“Well, maybe you could give him a quick peck, and then give him the, ‘if you win you’ll get more than that’ speech, in his ear. It used to make him go faster last year,” Kenna says with a wink.
“Haha, remember when I told him he’d get to see what was under my skirt if he won?” We all start laughing at the memory. But honestly, it does give me an idea, so I make my way over to him.
As I walk under his tent, his eyebrows raise, a smirk forms on his lips, as his eyes rake me over from head to toe. I smile back at the sight of him. He’s standing with no shirt, pants undone, boots, and his hands on his hips. His chest is well-defined, but his abs are cut perfectly into a six-pack. If I’m being completely honest, I’d say my mouth is watering and my body is tingling just being around him.
“So what are you smirking about?”
“Watching you strut your stuff over here, all while being clueless that every guy you passed just about tripped over themselves trying to watch you.”
“Were they now? Maybe I don’t care who’s watching me and who’s not, maybe it’s just you I care about. Tell me, Jesse, were you watching?” I take a step closer, being a mere inch from his face when I pose the question.
“Cupcake, I always watch you. You should know this by now.”
“I’m pretty sure I do actually, but you’ve never told me…do you like what you see?” I spin in a circle on the heels of my boots. My skirt flies up and spins with me, giving him a sight of my boy shorts that hug by ass exquisitely.
“Maddie,” he says, as his hands land on my hips, stopping me from another turn.
“What, Jesse?”
“Please stop giving everyone a show. I need the team to work on my bike, not check out your ass.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yeah, really. Now did you come over here just to distract me?”
“Little ole me, distract you? I’d never do such a thing,” I giggle, “I just came over to wish you good luck.” I lean up, place my hands on his shoulders, kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear, “Oh and to tell you, if you win tonight then you’ll win a special prize.”
He doesn’t move away from me as he speaks closely to my ear as well, “I didn’t know there was a special prize being offered tonight.”
“There is. It’s an opportunity you’ve never had before.”
“Please tell me, Cupcake, what is my incentive tonight? Because I’m thinking the money just isn’t going to be enough?”
“How would you like to unwrap your Cupcake?” His fingers flex into my skin and I feel the pressure of his grip. My skin ignites more than before.
“If you’re sure, then I guess I’m winning tonight. Aren’t I?”
“Only time will tell, Mr. Anderson, so I better leave now so you can concentrate on your job.”
“Yes, you better, ‘cause I have a whole new incentive for taking home the win.”
I kiss his lips, letting mine linger against his longer than I have before, which provokes a growl from his throat before I turn to walk away.
“Oh…Jesse. Good luck,” I giggle again, look over my shoulder, blow him a kiss, all while I swing my hips a tad more than before.
“That one’s trouble.” I hear his mechanic say to him, only causing me to smile more.
“Tell me something I don’t already know.” Is Jesse’s response.
“Focus, kid, you’ve got a race to win.”
“Yes, I do.”
Mission accomplished.
The pits are shut down to the general public, giving the racers enough time to regroup and concentrate on the race that they’ll be facing shortly. Practice and qualifying already took place, and of course Jesse was first to set the pace for both, giving him first gate pick as they enter in for the main race. Cooper and Ryan were killing it out there as well, taking first in both of their heats too. Thank goodness they didn’t have to race against each other to make it to the main. It’s tough watching them go bar to bar. Next year, Jesse will be racing right alongside of them as he’ll move up to the 450 class; also known as the big bikes. At that point, I might not be able to watch them all on the track at the same time; my anxiety level might be through the roof.
I see Jesse take his gate. I stare directly at him. His mechanic is pushing his bike in place as he stands behind him, watching. He’s holding his helmet and goggles in one hand as he waits to take his place on the seat. While drinking him in, I notice just how good he looks in yellow and black. He walks up to his bike, as his mechanic starts it and keeps it going by pulling down on the throttle. Jesse swings his leg over, sits down, and lifts his helmet to put it on, just as he does, he glances over and our eyes connect. He winks at me before sliding it down. My heart might have stopped for a moment or two. Geez, I’m feeling like a schoolgirl having her first crush. He really is extremely hot, the boy next-door hot, like why do I bother wearing panties hot, so you can see why it’s important to see if our connection is as strong as I think it is. And that can only happen if we push ourselves to take the next step in all that is going on between us.
Josie is taking her place at the start line with the Main Event sign that she’ll carry in front of the racers at the starting gates. As she makes her way across the entire track, to the other side and back again, I see her glowing with pride as she was asked to do this for the first time. Besides the attention you get from the crowds of people in the stands, you usually also get a close up on the Jumbotrons they have in the stadium. The millions of viewers that watch at home will also see you as the TV cameras sweep the forty racers to show who picked what gate.
I make my way to the AMA official that is standing about fifty feet from the starting line. I’m getting into position to hold up the board to let the riders know that their gate will drop soon. The sign begins the countdown of thirty seconds on it, and at the last few seconds I hustle out of the way, as they come flying out at full speed to the first corner.
Jesse comes full speed ahead as the gates drop. He has gotten to be the hole shot king, so it’s no surprise as he makes it to the turn with ease. Once all the bikes make it around the first lap, I see Jesse is still out front as he passes by me. A nervous feeling settles in my stomach, it’s a good nervous as I remember what our bet entails.
At lap ten of fifteen, Jesse’s back tire gets clipped by another bike and he goes down. My breath is caught in my throat as I see him jump up immediately. His bike is still running so he throws his leg back over the seat and starts hauling ass straight ahead, until he’s again right on the back fender of the bike that took him out. He better be prepared for a payback, Jesse isn’t going to let this go. Off the track he might be Mr. Nice Guy, but on the track he’s Mr. Don’t Piss Me Off. He’ll prove his point soon, I’m sure of it. In the very last corner before the finish line, Jesse doesn’t let the opportunity go to waste as they take it side by side; he takes the rider high, sending him over the hay bales off the track. Allowing Jesse to cruise over the last jump, winning the race.
His bike comes to a stop, just off the track, after his parade lap around. He rests his forearms on the handlebars as he drops his helmet-covered head in his hands. He is instantly surrounded by his team, slapping him on the back, congratulating him. I stand back, watching. I won’t go to him, it’s something you don’t do while working, but I’ll be under his tent when he’s done doing his interviews, accepting his trophy, and receiving the large check that is written to the winner of the hole shot.
While Jesse is finishing up, the 450’s are making their way into the starting gat
es. Now it’s my turn to walk in front of the riders on the line. I’m handed the Main Event sign, and off I go to strut my stuff in front of everyone. As I make my way back, Kenna picks up the thirty second board this time and takes her place in the center of the track.
The gates drop and there’s a pile up in the first turn. I’m having a hard time seeing who’s in it. I’m dancing around people, along with Kenna, Josie, and several other girls to get a better view. This is Cooper and Ryan’s race, so of course they are the only two bikes I’m looking for. I finally see them both out front, leading the other riders around the track, and I can now take a breath.
“Thank God.” I hear Kenna say with her hands pressed together in front of her mouth in a prayer position.
“Look, our boys are out front,” Josie squeals with excitement.
“Yes, they are,” I respond.
As they fly around the track, at speeds that are ridiculously fast, I will never understand how they do it. I do understand, however, why they do it, the adrenaline rush of just watching them is intense, so racing must be like nothing short of amazing.
Cooper fell back to third when he is checked hard in the second corner by another rider, which causes him to stop abruptly, losing his position. Ryan is still out in front and has a safe lead ahead of the rest of the pack behind him. As the race goes on, there are a few crashes at different places on the track, but the large triple jump seems to getting the best of several riders.
In the end, Ryan takes first and Cooper ends up staying in third as he crosses the finish line. As they make their way over to the podium, Ryan and Cooper hand their bikes off to their mechanics, as does the second place rider. They walk up the ramp to where the announcer is waiting for them. As Ryan is interviewed, I notice Cooper having a few words with the guy that almost took him off the track. Cooper’s jaw is clenched together tightly as he speaks closely to his face. Oh, he’s pissed.
Back at the trailer, we are finishing picking up when I feel a set of hands on my hips, pulling me backwards. Looking down, I know those hands.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“Oh, sir huh? I like that.” I feel his breath close to my ear.