by Piper Stone
“I couldn’t agree more.” Richard stood, grinning down at her. His eyes sparkled as if he could see right through her, as if he knew about the riding course, as if he knew about Ned. As if he knew the hungry thoughts she’d had about him all week. “But you don’t want those leathers.”
“Why not?”
“They’re what we call run-me-over black. You sit on the back of a bike in those and, if it’s not a well-lit machine, you’re going to be invisible at night. Here, try these.” He handed her a black jacket with matching trousers. Both had long, vertical white stripes on them. The jacket had white insets on the front and back. “The white is reflective. It gives you extra visibility at night. Plus the stripes on your legs will show how long and slim they are.”
He was flirting with her, no doubt about it. Lauren focused all her attention on the riding gear. He’d even picked the right size for her. “They look okay.”
“They’re more than okay. But you won’t know that until you try them on.” He pointed to a change room.
“Now?”
“Were you planning on buying gear without making sure it fits?”
“Of course not.”
“I’ll be right here waiting for you.” Richard thought for a moment. “One last thing. Is there any chance your friend will want to take you out on a bike this weekend?”
Lauren nodded, unable to explain about the biking course now, even if she wanted to. The lie of a friend was going to have to stay.
“Then you’d better try these on over the leathers.” He went over to a display and picked up a set of waterproof jacket and pants. They were made from textiles that featured large yellow reflective inserts.
“Really? This doesn’t kill the sexiness of the leathers?” Lauren asked.
“There’s nothing sexy about someone who is soaked to the bone and so cold they can’t string a sentence together. Not that I want you to be sexy for whoever you’re riding with.” He grinned at her. The wolf was back in his smile, the very handsome wolf.
With her heart racing, Lauren took the waterproofs. In the change room, her fingers trembled as she stepped out of her business skirt and into the leather trousers. They were soft, molding to her almost immediately. Richard was right. She looked hot like this. She pulled her hair out of the carefully controlled roll she’d styled it in that morning, letting it cascade over her shoulders and down her back.
When she stepped back into the store, Richard was sorting through paperwork at the front counter. He looked at her and whistled.
“Okay?” she asked, wondering if the clothing with its padding and armor didn’t give her the Michelin man look.
“Better than okay. If I didn’t have to work, I’d take you out on my bike right now.”
Lauren flushed with pleasure, forgetting about every guy she’d ever known before Richard. This was it, the magic people talked about; the spark of certainty when you met someone who was right for you. She wanted him in a way she hadn’t wanted a man for years.
She fought the urge to suggest he take her out maybe another time, another day. “I’m sure Ashley wouldn’t want to hear you talking like that.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t,” Richard said. “But she’s just a friend, nothing more.”
Lauren stroked the soft leather of the jacket before flipping the tag over to confirm it was every bit as expensive as she remembered.
“I’ll take it all,” she said.
“Good. You can trust me. I’m only recommending what you need to stay safe. I like to look after my customers, some more than others.” He smiled and started folding the rain gear. “Is it true Sara and Terence have those Hawaiian parties every Saturday night?”
Sara and Terence, a single unit. The relationship was official in people’s eyes then, more official than Lauren had realized.
“Yep, every Saturday night until Sara gets bored. You should probably get in while the going’s good because the situation is likely to change without notice. One day Sara will find a better way to spend Saturday night and the parties will stop as suddenly as they started.”
“There’s one tomorrow night?”
“Yes.”
“How do I get invited?”
“Tell her I invited you.”
“You going tomorrow night?”
“Absolutely. I go every week.” Lauren closed the change room door behind her. She touched her cheeks, hoping to cool herself down. What was it about this man that made her burn?
When she was dressed again in her sensible navy suit, as anonymous as any young businesswoman anywhere, she handed the trousers to Richard.
He added them to her pile of purchases. “Do you want to join our frequent riders’ club?”
“What’s that?”
“A loyalty program. Fill out this form. Then every time you shop here, you get a fifteen percent discount. I’m feeling generous tonight. I’ll give you twenty percent if you sign up now.”
“Are you allowed to?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a lot of latitude here.” Richard flashed his megawatt smile. “A special discount for someone I hope is going to be a good friend.” He put the pen in her fingers, wrapping his warm hand around hers just a little longer than necessary.
With her skin pulsing where he’d touched her, she filled in the form. Richard made a big show of making sure he could read her phone number. Then he scooped up her purchases and followed her out to the car where he waited while she loaded them into the trunk. When she was finished, he stood close to her, close-enough-to-grab-and-kiss close. She smelled coffee on his breath and wanted to taste it with her own tongue.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night then,” Richard said, not moving. Backlit by a streetlight, with the rain washing over him, he looked like a rugged warrior.
“Tomorrow,” Lauren repeated blankly, settling behind the steering wheel, palms sweaty. “Yes. I’ll see you then.”
The next morning, the rain was drumming even harder. Lauren was the first student to arrive at the speedway. Dan and two assistants had lined up the bikes for the course in a sheltered mechanic’s bay. The small yellow bikes were battle scarred. Some were missing mirrors.
Before the other students arrived, Lauren chose her ride, taking the one closest to the big mushroom heater. By the time the other students got there, she was sitting on it, having identified all the important components for her first day as a biker.
When the whole class was assembled, Dan pointed to her. “This is how I like to see riders dressed. Lauren’s got a top-quality helmet. She’s also got strong boots and clothing with good armor. What’s the motto for gear?” He turned to the students.
“ATGATT. All the gear, all the time,” the class recited.
“What else is important about Lauren’s choice of jacket and pants?”
No one answered, so she said tentatively, “It’s not run-me-over-black?”
“Exactly,” Dan said. “Her jacket and pants have bold reflective strips. However, I want everyone to take one of these safety vests. Any time you’re on one of my bikes, you better be wearing one of these. If I catch you riding without one, it’s an automatic fail and you can wait for spring to repeat the course.”
After that warning, everyone picked up a vest before eagerly climbing on the bikes. With both feet flat on the ground, they sat as Dan drilled them on the different functions. They warmed up the bikes in neutral. Then they shifted into first gear with no throttle to see how the bikes moved on their own. Soon, but not soon enough for Lauren’s liking, the bikes were rolling.
At last they rode into the rain, biking in small, slow patterns around safety cones laid out on the tarmac. Bikes stalled and started again. A couple were dropped.
Lauren marveled at the sense of power and control she had over this metal beast.
At the end of the first day, she was exhilarated. Forget Ned, she was going to get a bike of her own. She wasn’t going to play nice with him just so she could be a passenger.
Sett
ing Things Straight
After the day in cold, driving rain, Lauren luxuriated in a deep, hot bath before going to Sara’s.
“Where were you today?” Sara asked. “I could’ve used help with the shopping.”
“Sorry,” Lauren said. “I thought Terence was your wingman for party nights now.”
“Are you jealous?” Sara teased. “Terence had to go to a family thing today but look – he brought us all sorts of goodies.”
Sara was so keen to show off Terence’s generosity that she didn’t ask further questions. Lauren admired the spread of food before picking up a sushi platter and starting her rounds.
When Richard arrived, wearing the same boardshorts and tight tee shirt from the week before, his face lit up at the sight of her. She smiled, tongue-tied and blushing. He came straight to her side and kissed her neck.
For a while they talked to another couple about the hockey game that night. Then they claimed a corner of the sofa. Richard brought Lauren a drink, perching on the arm beside her. He leaned over to speak to her and his freshly washed hair smelled woodsy.
They talked about different road trips. She said she wanted to drive to Alaska someday.
“If you really want to see that country, you need to go by bike.”
“Really? How many thousands of miles is that?”
“It’s one of the freest experiences you’ll ever have. I’ve done it twice…” His sentence trailed off as he looked at the front door.
Lauren’s eyes followed his. Her jaw clenched.
Ashley sauntered in, followed closely by Ned.
Ashley smiled at the crowd, until she saw Richard. Her eyes went from Richard to Lauren and back again. She rushed over to Richard. “You bastard.” She shoved him in the chest while shooting a look of pure hatred at Lauren. By the time she faced Richard again, tears were spilling from her artificially-blue eyes.
Richard stood, spreading his hands in surprise.
Ashley interpreted that as an invitation and threw herself into his arms.
Mortified, Lauren headed out to the balcony. She stood there shivering, unsure what to do next. She allowed herself one last look back into the apartment.
In the dining room, Ashley was leaning against the wall. Richard, with his back to the room, leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Ned watched Ashley and Richard, his arms folded. As Lauren looked at him he turned, seemingly aware of her for the first time. He joined her on the balcony. “What the hell are you doing here?” More accusation than question.
“This is my sister’s place. I help out every Saturday. Is that your girlfriend?”
“Ashley? She rides with me from time to time.” He glowered at Ashley and Richard.
Lauren swallowed. She didn’t care who Ned dated, but the image of Richard talking to Ashley, kissing her forehead, pinched her heart.
When the balcony door opened, they both turned.
Richard stepped outside, nodding at Ned. “Your date’s waiting for you.”
Ned stalked inside.
“So, you know my brother,” Richard said.
“Your brother?”
“Ned.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know your last name. Or his. You don’t look at all alike.”
“Names wouldn’t help you anyway. Different fathers. He’s a Tozcak. I’m a Paparone. Ned sure looked like he knew you. Have you been riding with him?”
“Yes,” Lauren said simply, although she figured Ned wouldn’t be inviting her out again. An uncomfortable silence settled between them before she added, “Is Seth your brother too?”
“Seth?”
“The guy who owns Freewheelin’.”
“I own Freewheelin’. Who said it belongs to Seth?”
“Ned took me there to buy a helmet and Seth called him bro.”
Richard laughed. “That’s just a guy thing. Seth is my manager. He calls everyone bro.”
“He gave me family rates on my helmet.”
“Because Ned brought you in?”
“Right.”
“Ned is family and he brings in a lot of customers. As long as he doesn’t want family rates for all of them, that’s cool.”
Lauren bit her lip, wrapping her mind around the next thought before she said it. “Ashley seems to think that you’re more than friends.”
He said, “I’m sorry she tried to make a scene. She’s a collector, a biker groupie. Until I met you last week, I didn’t mind going out with her occasionally when she wanted a date, but she was nothing more than a placeholder for me. I was a trophy for her. Fair exchange.”
He lifted Lauren’s chin to make her look at him. “The minute I laid eyes on you, all that changed. She knew it. I knew it. As soon as I was interested in someone else, she decided she wanted me for keeps.” He waited for a minute. “I just gave her a goodbye kiss and then she asked me to get Ned to take her home.”
He pulled Lauren closer. “Now I hope I can convince you to stop riding with my suicidal brother. Please come out with me. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
Lauren searched his eyes. Fiery honesty shone back at her.
“I never thought you’d ask,” she said.
Finding Adventure
Richard lifted Lauren’s hand to his lips and kissed each finger, one by one, unleashing a storm of desire in her. Her body trembled, her breath shortened. Her pussy clenched, wet and hungry. She guided his hand to her mouth, sucking his fingers, one after the other, drawing them deep until he moaned and pulled away from her. He hugged her, raising her to tiptoe, bringing her mouth to his. Her lips opened for him and his tongue pushed into her mouth, licking her teeth, wrapping around her tongue. Lauren pushed back against him, feeling his cock rising hard in response. His mouth left hers, feathering her cheek with kisses before sliding down her throat, as though tasting her, memorizing her through the touch of his lips on her skin. He kissed up her neck, breathing into her ear. When he nibbled on her earlobes, Lauren sagged against him.
“Let’s go to my place,” Richard said hoarsely.
“Where’s that?”
“Fairfield.”
“But I’m just down the hall.”
“You don’t live with Sara?”
“Hell no. We’d kill each other.”
Richard grabbed a fistful of her hair, bending her head back, before delivering another bruising kiss. Panting, he said, “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you.”
Lauren nodded, overwhelmed by her own desire. The rest of the world ceased to exist. There was only this moment in time. Here and now with Richard. She would give him anything he wanted. Anything.
As he took her by the hand and led her back into the party, her surroundings blurred. If anyone spoke to them, she didn’t hear. Afterwards, she remembered picking up her key from the top of the fridge but not the exact moment he swept her off her feet and carried her down the hall.
Inside her apartment he delivered her to the bedroom, before gently setting her on her feet. “Strip,” he said. “I want to see your beautiful body.”
When she hesitated, he slapped her bottom playfully. “I’m very bossy. You better get used to it.”
Self-consciously she lifted the cover-up over her head. He stood, arms folded, watching. When she dropped her bikini top, he closed the distance between them. He dropped his mouth to her breasts, easing her down to the bed. Her nipples hardened as he sucked and bit at them. One hand teased her free nipple that was as hard as a rock. His other hand moved down her stomach to her thighs. He pushed her legs apart and reached under the fabric of her bathing suit to find her sweet velvet folds, now juicy with hope. He paused, long enough to rip off her last piece of clothing while shedding his own on the floor. Then he was between her legs. He opened her lips while his tongue found her pearl. When he licked it, she convulsed with orgasm and he laughed.
“Wait for me,” he said, plunging into her.
They made love more times in the night than Lauren could remember.
The thought of getting up to go to bike school nagged at her. She didn’t want to share her secret, not even with Richard. How would she get away in the morning? She’d think of something, she decided, as she drifted into contented sleep.
At 7:00, Richard’s phone buzzed. He read the screen before rolling over and kissing her.
“Damn. A problem at work,” he said. “I’ve gotta go now. Dinner tonight?”
Lauren murmured yes, wrapping herself in a blanket and following him to the elevator so they wouldn’t have to part until the last minute. He kissed her tenderly, sucking her lower lip into his mouth and brushing her breast with his hand.
“I could take you again right now.” His voice was thick with lust. “I’ll call you.”
The moment the door whooshed shut behind him, Lauren ran back to her apartment. She showered, put on her riding gear and headed out to the speedway. Another day in the pouring rain didn’t worry her. In her heart the sun was shining brighter than ever.
She parked beside a beat up pickup truck, the only vehicle there. Turning the corner into the mechanic’s shed, she came face to face with Richard who was lining up the bikes for the day’s session.
They stared at each other wordlessly before breaking into simultaneous laughter. Richard wrapped Lauren in his arms. “Thank God,” he said, his breath warm on her ear. “I thought you bought all that gear to ride with a no-hoper like Ned.”
“What’re you doing here?”
“I own part of TruBiker.”
“Get out.”
“I do. Dan’s wife went into labor this morning so I’m taking the class.” He grinned, showing his canine teeth. “I’m going to be your teacher. You’d better behave yourself.” He smacked her bottom. “You can help me get all these bikes set up. And bring out the safety vests.”
Lauren laid a safety vest on every bike but the one she intended to ride.
“Where’s yours?” Richard asked.
She pointed to her waterproofs. “I’m almost blinding in all this reflective material. I don’t need a vest.”