Page 55 of Worth the Risk

“Like I’m straddling something hard.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Ignoring his playful smirk, I grimace at the foreign feeling of a spin bike seat butting up against my ass cheeks.

“It is when it’s unwelcome.”

“Mmm.” He smirks, pressing against my mid back so I’m forward. He drops his hand down, just above my tailbone, and pushes, prompting me to tilt my hips forward. “I’m glad you didn’t make that face when you felt me then.”

And just like that, the tension between us is thick and charged. I look up at him, my hands gripping the handlebars.

“Don’t arch your back. Keep your hips tucked like this.” His hand lingers on my waist.

“What face did I make?”

He looks down at my cleavage that’s on full display in this sports bra, dragging his teeth slowly over his bottom lip with a deep chuckle.

“I’ll tell you after class, if you can beat me.”

He walks back to his bike, clipping in his shoes just as Cherry starts the music and launches us into the most agonizing and grueling fifty minutes of my life.

“Let’s add a full turn on the dial and get out of the saddle!”

Oh God, I’m actually going to die.

My breathing has never been this labored. It feels like I’m inhaling fire while a semi is sitting on my chest.

“Come on, give me a thirty-second all-out sprint!”

I pedal my legs as fast as they’ll go, my face beet red and dripping with sweat. I glance up, the rest of the room looking like they’re laughing and having the time of their lives while I try to save them from witnessing a live death onstage.

The lights bounce from red to dark to light to a mix, thankfully disguising the look of agony that I’m afraid might be permanently etched on my face. The rhythm finally slows and I lift my eyes, trying to subtly look at Austin, and when I find him, his eyes are already on mine.

“We have a brand-new rider tonight, class.” The bright light goes on full blast right above me. “Let’s all give Taylor a warm welcome for being so brave and joining us!” The room erupts into cheers. “And let’s kick it into high gear, speed and resistance now. Add it!”

I crank my gear, rising out of my seat and giving it my all. It’s only now that I realize two things.

One, she left the damn light on above me so that it’s like I’m in a spotlight. And two, I now understand why Austin asked earlier what I do in yoga because my flimsy bra can barely contain my tits as they bounce and jostle with my movements.

CHAPTER 16

Austin

Her legs shake and tremble like a baby deer when she climbs down from her bike. A few stray tendrils that have fallen loose from her ponytail cling to her neck with sweat.

“How was it?”

She nods, wiping her face with her towel. “Not too bad.”

“Yeah?” I can’t hold back my laughter. “You sure about that? Because you look like you’re two shades away from being a tomato.”

“I was pushing myself for the charity cause.”

One thing about Taylor, she’ll never admit when she’s wrong, but it’s cute.

“How’d your top work out for you?” I toss my towel over my shoulder as we walk out of the studio.

“Fine.” She glances down at her still red chest. “How’d it work out for you—you were the one staring.”

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