“A RIDE?”
FEAR and excitement warred in Ryan’s eyes. He seemed intrigued by the idea but still cautious enough to think it over before jumping on.
“Do you have a spare helmet?”
“Is that a yes?”
“Umm…”
I smiled before unclipping the second helmet from the back of my bike. I held it out, and Ryan reached for it.
“How long have you been riding?”
“Since I was sixteen.”
“And how long ago was that?”
“Long enough.”
He pursed his lips as he peered past me to the bike again. “I really do want to go for a ride.”
“Then let me take you.”
The fear in Ryan’s eyes had been swallowed up by heated excitement. That wasn’t entirely due to the bike. There was a definite sexual pull between the two of us, and no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, every time I was around Ryan, it seemed to lure me back in.
“Okay,” he finally said, nodding. “I’ve been dying to try this since I saw you on it at the pub.”
“I know.” I’d noticed his interest then, and again when we were moving my things.
He grinned and bit down into his sexy bottom lip, then put the helmet on. “You won’t let anything happen to me, right? I assume you’re a safe driver, being a firefighter and all?”
I tensed at the assumption but did my best to brush it off. We were finally getting along, and I wasn’t going to fuck it up.
“No matter who you’re riding with, it’s always smart to wear protective gear.”
“Of course, but I wouldn’t just ride with anyone. I trust you.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say don’t, but I bit it instead.
“Right.” Ryan pointed to his head. “All secure. Now, how do we do this?”
I climbed on the bike and gestured to the spot behind me. “Hop on and I’ll show you.”
Ryan took a deep breath and climbed on, doing his very best to keep his hands to himself.
“Okay, now what?”
“Scoot your ass down the seat so you can use your legs as extra grip, then wrap your arms around my waist.”
Ryan’s eyes darkened, and my cock jerked in response. This was the closest we’d ever been to one another, and the idea of his arms and legs wrapped around me made my dick really fucking excited.
Ryan shifted forward until his thighs were hugging my ass. When his hands slid around my waist and tightened, I started to question my sanity for suggesting this.
“Is this good?”
It was heaven and hell all at the same time. But instead of saying that, I gunned the engine, and the bike roared to life. Ryan laughed as the throaty exhaust echoed off the concrete walls of the garage.
“Hang on,” I said, then I drove the bike out to the road and showed Ryan exactly what this baby could do.
“HELL YES,” RYAN shouted as I pulled into a spot in front of a quiet Italian place I came to on occasion. “That was fucking unreal.”
He climbed off the back and unfastened his helmet, all but bouncing on his toes with adrenaline.
“You liked it?” I didn’t really need the verbal confirmation, the dull ache in my head had come back from Ryan yahooing in my ear the entire way here. Not that I could blame him. I knew what a rush it was the first time. The freedom, the liberation—there was nothing like letting it all go and screaming at the top of your lungs as you flew through the streets.
“Liked it?” Ryan chuckled as I secured the helmets. “I think that might be better than sex.”
“You might be doing that with the wrong person, then.”
“I think you might be right.”
I walked past him to the door and pulled it open. “I’m definitely right.”
As the door shut behind us, we found ourselves standing in the narrow entrance of the hole-in-the-wall place. It was a family-owned restaurant, and they had some of the best pizza around.
“Hey there, guys,” one of the waiters said as he walked out of the kitchen carrying a deep dish that smelled like heaven. “You can take a seat wherever.”
“Thanks, man.” I gestured for Ryan to go ahead, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the view, because my new roommate had one hell of a fine ass. The more I was around him, the more difficult I was finding it to resist this attraction.
It’d been hard enough keeping my eyes on the road when he was all over me during the ride here, and now I had to sit across from him? This had trouble written all over it.
“Does this work?”
When he stopped by a table in the corner of the restaurant, I almost said no. It suddenly seemed too dark, too private, too…date-like.
“It’s fine.”
Ryan smiled, and my entire body reacted like the two were hard-wired to one another. My muscles tensed and my dick throbbed, and I quickly pulled out my seat and took it before Ryan realized just how fine I thought he was.
“I like this place. It’s homey.”
“Wait till you try the pizza.” I grabbed the menus and held one out to him, but Ryan shook his head.
“Nope. I’m leaving my pizza fate in your hands.”
I grinned and put the menus back. “Sure you want to do that?”
“Why not? You’ve been here before, and I eat just about anything, so what could go wrong?”
“I could pick the one thing you don’t eat.”
“Doubtful. But if you do, I’ll let you know.”
“How comforting.” I looked around for the waiter, who headed our way.
“Are you ready to order?”
“Yeah, I think so. Could we get the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and the classic deep dish supreme?”
“Sure thing. And to drink?”
“A Coke for me,” I said, and then looked at Ryan.
“I’ll have the same, thanks.”
“You got it.” The waiter reached for the menus.
“Thanks.” He disappeared into the kitchen, and I settled back into my seat.
“So, how’d you find this place?” Ryan asked.
“My old job. The station’s just around the corner from here.”
“Really?” Ryan looked over his shoulder as though he’d be able to see it. But luckily for me, I’d found a way to get here without having to pass it by. The less I saw of that place, the better. The wound was still too fresh, and I didn’t need the reminder.
“So you’ve always worked on this side of town? Then why did you live on the—”
When Ryan cut his words off, I finished his thought for him. “Then why did I live on the South Side?”
Ryan winced. “I’m sorry, that was rude.”
“Was it?”
“Well, I didn’t mean for it to be—”
“Then it wasn’t. You were asking a question, and here’s your answer. I lived there because that’s where I grew up. It’s what I know.”
A sheepish smile curved Ryan’s lips. “That makes sense.”
“I think so. What about you? You grow up in some fancy high rise downtown?”
“Hardly. I’m a suburbs kid.”
“Really? So, white picket fence? Tire swing in the backyard?”