Her regret melted as she lifted her eyes to Nate’s. He was looking down at her wearing his jacket and even Lily with no experience whatsoever realised the look in his eye was something intensely possessive, untamed and very, very dangerous but in a good way.
She gulped.
“Here’s the helmet.” Laura had arrived on the scene.
With great spirit, deciding instead to focus on her unexpected treat, she took the helmet from Laura, giving her a throwaway smile. Lily pulled back her hair and expertly donned the helmet while Nate pulled on his own and threw his muscled leg over the bike and Lily noticed, not-at-all-distractedly, how his jeans tightened against the muscles of his thigh when he did this.
His visor was down and he turned his head to her. She didn’t hesitate just in case he changed his mind at the last moment. While he watched, Lily wriggled her skirt up, shaking her h*ps and bouncing on alternately bent knees. When she had it up to her hips, enough to straddle the motorcycle, she slung her leg around the bike and settled into position behind Nate. She gave a jaunty wave to Laura and Victor and without even thinking she wrapped her arms around Nate’s waist just like she’d do with her Dad.
“I’m ready!” she shouted and her voice both ricocheted around in her helmet and was muted by it.
Nate gave a short nod, started the bike with practised movements, movements that never affected her when her Dad did it but seemed, somehow, impossibly male when Nate did.
Then they took off.
And her arms, wrapped loosely around his waist, tightened. Because Nate didn’t ride like Will did. Nate rode fast and Nate rode hard.
As they rode her tightened arms tightened even further until she was pressed against his back, the tops of her thighs pressed under the bottoms of his and her nether-regions were pressed against his backside.
She didn’t care. She gloried in it.
She was riding with Nate and that was all that mattered.
She rested her chin on his shoulder and she loved every minute of it.
They arrived at where they were going and Nate stopped the bike and settled it on its stand as Lily hopped off and wriggled her skirt back down. When she straightened her body, Nate was also off the bike. She could tell he was watching her through his dark visor and his hands were lifted to take off his helmet. She tore off her own helmet, shaking her head to clear her hair from her face.
“That was great!” she cried, still lost in the thrill of the ride. She had no idea her smile was shining on her face and her eyes were bright and carefree.
And then something happened that she would never have guessed, never have planned for, never have dreamed, not even wished for and never would have known would ever, in a million years, happen.
With his helmet dangling from the fingers of one of his hands, Nate’s other arm snaked out, hooked around her waist and pulled her forward with a controlled violence that stole her breath.
She slammed against the wall of his body.
Then his mouth came down on hers.
Hard.
At this, she made a little surprised sound which came from the back of her throat.
As she felt his body heat seep through the leather, her br**sts crushed pleasantly against his hard chest, she relaxed into him. Her lips relaxed, her hands lifted to rest on his shoulders and she pressed herself against him as her belly did somersault after somersault after…
His head came up just as abruptly as it went down.
It was the first time she’d ever been kissed and she couldn’t breathe.
“After dinner, we’re going back to my flat,” Nate stated in a voice that caused shivers to go down her spine and all along her skin.
She didn’t even think to refuse him, she simply nodded mutely.
He tugged the helmet out of her hand and, both helmets in one of his, her hand held firmly in his other, he guided her to the restaurant.
And finally, on a great whoosh, she let out her breath.
* * * * *
“Let’s walk.”
Lily was standing out on the sidewalk gazing up at Nate.
The sun was still lighting the sky and even after all her years there, she couldn’t get used to the long summer days in England.
They’d had a lovely, delicious dinner with her doing most of the talking. Nate didn’t say much and anyway, she was nervous, very nervous mainly because of the idea of going back to his flat after dinner but also because of the way he kept looking at her.
“To the flat?” Nate asked, looking down at her, his handsome face relaxed, a smile playing about his lips.
“No, just a walk. I feel the need to stretch my legs.” She used the words Sarah often said after a meal and she tugged at his hand, a strong, long-fingered hand that was holding hers. She’d already noticed his hands, powerfully veined and well-formed with tapered fingers. Lily rather liked his hands but then again, Lily rather liked everything about him. “Come on,” she urged.
She started walking, felt resistance on her arm when he didn’t and looked back. She gave a little, inviting jerk of her head and an encouraging smile.
Nate relented and started moving forward.
The smile she directed at him deepened.
He immediately stopped, tugged on her arm and she stumbled backwards, whirled and fell into him.
His arm closed around her and he bent his head and brushed her lips with his.
Even though it was feather-light, she stared up at him dazed and, she noticed vaguely, her knees were going weak.
He seemed satisfied by something then said, “Now we can walk.”
She shook herself out of her daze and fell into step beside him.
“I’ll hold one of the helmets,” Lily offered.
“I’ve got it,” Nate returned.
“No, really –”
“Lily, I’ve got it.” His voice sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
“Okay,” she gave in, somewhat disgruntled that he found her funny when she wasn’t trying to be.
They walked hand-in-hand down the sidewalk until suddenly they reached Hyde Park.
Lily knew London well, had been there many times but Hyde Park (which she loved), regardless of its enormity, always seemed to creep up and surprise her.
“Let’s walk in the park.” She changed direction not waiting for him to answer or refuse her and entered the park. To her astonishment, he followed without argument.
They walked more and she realised that she had never been so content, so happy, in her entire life.
And she’d had led a contented (mostly), happy (mostly) life.
She sighed with pleasure.
After awhile she felt conversation was in order. Not because she was uncomfortable but because she was curious.