Page 45 of Brightness

Jumping on my toes, I voice a small squeal. “Can we?”

“Of course. Let me get the second seat installed, then you can take her for a ride around the block,” Paul states.

Void jumps off the bike, letting Paul do his thing. He kicks out the stand, then wheels it away.

I’m giddy like a freaking schoolgirl as I grab both of Void’s hands. “I had no idea buying a bike could be this exciting!”

Void leans his forehead against mine. “Normally, it isn’t. But with you here, it’s fucking thrilling. Like I’m making plans… never thought I’d be that kind of guy.”

I lean up on my tiptoes to kiss him again, but it’s only a brief peck. Poor Paul doesn’t need to witness us making out any more than he has already had to put up with. Void and I slowly walk around the other bikes, casually strolling, but nothing takes our fancy like the Breakout. I hope it rides well for Void.

Eventually, Paul looks around the corner, motioning for us to follow, and we know the bike’s ready to take for a spin. We head out the back, and it looks even better with the bitch seat attached. Paul hands the keys to Void, who moves over to the ride and throws his leg over the seat again, looking so fucking good on it. Then he holds his hand out for me. “You ready?”

I slide into position behind him, and Paul hands us helmets.

Void mumbles under his breath, but he places the helmet over his head anyway. I pull mine on as he starts the engine. It roars to life, sending a thrill straight through me. Vibrating even more than his old bike, it instantly has my panties wetter than I was anticipating. I cling to Void, my thighs clenching around him as he duck-walks the bike backward. “Hold on, sweet thing.”

I grin so fucking wide as he pulls back on the throttle, the noise near deafening, and we’re off. The wind whips at my hair, the sun shining down on us only making this even more fucking amazing. Void’s handling the bike perfectly. It’s like we’re both in sync with this new machine, and I love every damn second of the ride. I just wish I could have a shot behind those glorious handlebars.

At the corner, we turn, and I catch a flash of a person in white watching us, but then Void takes my attention as he suddenly swerves as if he’s pulling over. I crease my brows as he comes to a halt down an abandoned road. Void cuts power to the engine and taps my leg for me to get off. I have no idea what he wants, so I do as he says and jump off, then stand on the sidewalk as he slides off too.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I’ve been making a fucking hell of a lot of bad decisions lately.”

I relax my tense muscles, reaching out to grab his arm. “Hey, don’t be too hard on your—”

“No, what I’m saying is… I’m about to make another really fucking stupid decision.”

I drop my hand, fear creeping through me. “Void?”

He clenches his eyes shut like he’s debating something in his mind, then nods his head toward the bike. “Get on.”

“You have to first.”

He exhales. “Not if you’re riding, I don’t.”

“But I don’t have a valid US license…”

He shuffles awkwardly, putting his hands in his pockets. “I know.”

My grin grows. “But we’ll be breaking the law,” I whisper.

He looks at me with an intensity that takes my breath away. The muscle at the side of his jaw works as he clenches his teeth. “I know.”

“You’re still gonna let me ride?” I squeal like some mad woman, my hands flying out in excitement. I’ve ridden a bike before, but it was a much smaller one back in Cuba that belonged to a friend. So, I know a little something about riding, but not much, and certainly not on a powerful bike like this. Void is putting a lot of faith in me.

“There are conditions…” he says, and I nod frantically. “You let me keep my hand on top of yours on the throttle at all times. You don’t go too fucking fast. And if you get scared, or if you think you can’t handle it, you tell me, and we pull over. And finally, if you ever tell anyone I rode bitch…”

I rush forward, wrapping my arms around his waist so fucking tight. “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but I really, really, really want to show you my appreciation.”

Void chuckles, pulling me off him. “I don’t need you talking about sex right now. I’m gonna need to concentrate real fucking hard so we don’t crash a bike I haven’t even bought yet.”

I run my fingers up his chest while gnawing on my bottom lip. “You’re a badass, you know that?”

He groans loudly as he rearranges his crotch. “Stop it or I’ll fucking change my mind.” I laugh, turning to move to the bike. “When you get to the end of this road, I’m gonna need you to pull over so we can swap back. And we’re gonna do this slow.”

“Okay.”

---