Page 91 of Best Part of Me

She tugs the helmet free from my grip and whispers, “You’re playing with fire.”

“I’ll play anything with you,” I tease.

She gives me a gentle shove on my back as she hoists a leg over the motorcycle and straddles the seat behind me. The warmth from her body instantly seeps into my back, and I revel in how perfectly she fits. On my bike, with me, in my life.

God, I want to keep her.

I say it in my mind like a silent prayer. It’s completely fucking insane. But it doesn’t stop me from hoping.

As she tethers her arms around my waist, her hands taking hold of my chest, I exhale like I’ve been holding my breath the last two days while we’ve been apart.

“Ready to get out of here?” I ask over my shoulder.

“Yes, please.”

Thepleasefrom her lips turns me inside out, almost undoing me. I take off from the curb and head for the mountains rather than my apartment, almost regretfully. But any time spent with her is a gift.

The air is crisp as I maneuver the motorcycle through the tight curves on the mountainous road. As Camille holds onto me tightly, I’m warm enough. It’s been so long since I’ve had a woman on the back of my bike. And forever since it’s been someone I actually care for. Sharing this with her is thrilling. The way she holds firmly to my chest and squeezes her thighs against me has me turned on. Camille’s arms wrap tighter around me, and she rests her head against my back.

For the rest of the drive, I try to savor this experience. It could very well be our only trip, and I don’t want to waste it by being down. It feels almost like how it was when we were on the road trip, each activity, worrying it would be our last. There’s so much I still want to do with her. There are places I want to take her. Places I want to show her.

There’s a clearing in the road where a wide field opens up to a backdrop of the towering mountain. I veer the motorcycle off the road and onto the pull-out where there’s a viewpoint sign. But luckily, we’re alone. It’s almost too perfect.

“How was it?” I holler after taking my helmet off and before I turn the key. I climb off the bike so I can help her, first taking her helmet and hanging it from the handle.

“It was amazing.” She smiles as I hold my hand out for her. “It almost makes me wish you would’ve brought the bike instead of the Jeep on our road trip.”

She slides off the Harley, her hand still held tightly in mine.

“Believe me, after one day, you’d be tired of it.”

“I’m not so sure about that. The rumble, the vibration, it really got me going.”

Her bluntness is something I appreciate and love about her.

I sweep her into my arms and haul her against me. “Yeah?”

“I think you’re gonna have to take a detour by your apartment on our way back to the city.”

“Or we could take advantage of being alone right now.” I waggle my brows. “I’ve got a blanket in the back of the bike.”

“I think sex in a hot spring was the closest to sex in public I’m gonna do.” She breaks free from my arms, goes to the back of the bike, and unlatches the bag. Pulling out our lunch and the blanket.

“Fine,” I groan and take the blanket, propping it underneath my arm so I can hold her hand. “I don’t care if we’re eating, sleeping, talking, or sitting in silence, as long as I’m doing it with you, I’m content.”

“Seriously, Mav, how are you still single?”

The question takes me by surprise, like a small punch to the gut. “Single?”

As if realizing what she’s said, she stumbles over her words. “You know. I didn’t mean... single. Because obviously, we’re together. But I meant, before me.”

I caress the back of her hand with my thumb reassuringly. “I know. It’s fine. And... I don’t know.” I rub the back of my head. “I suppose I was waiting for you.”

Camille stops walking and turns around to look at me. Her eyes dance over my facial features.

“Damn you, Maverick Mendes.”

Her words take me off guard. “What?”

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