Page 45 of You Are Enough

Their lips met, softly.

Leila could feel the tidal wave of emotions rolling off Adler and washing her fears and doubts away.

He pulled away and brushed some hair from her face. “Do you think your dad and stepmom can listen for Sky? I’d like to get you out of here for a bit.”

She nodded and grabbed the baby monitor. After talking with Diane and her father, she followed Adler out into the night. She didn’t know where they were going but getting out and getting some fresh air seemed like a good idea.

She stopped dead in the driveway. Adler didn’t come in his Mustang. He stood in front of his motorcycle. “Umm.” She looked at him, then back to the motorcycle and pointed. “Do you expect me to ride on that?” she asked as fear engulfed her. She didn’t like motorcycles, or what she referred to as “death machines.” “There’s no way I’m getting on that.”

He laughed that deep laugh as he hooked a helmet on her head. “Yes, you are. I’ll be careful. I promise. And we aren’t going far.”

She just stood there, not breathing, or at least it seemed like she wasn’t breathing. She couldn’t get on that. She couldn’t move.

“Hey.” He held her arms.

She moved her gaze from the monstrous bike to his deep brown eyes.

“I’ll be careful. Trust me.” He dipped his head. “Do you trust me?”

She searched his eyes and felt nothing but trust and safety. His hands caressed her arms. Did she trust him? She pushed her gaze deeper into his. Yes. She totally trusted him. She nodded and he kissed her, a quick, gentle kiss which wiped away the last bit of doubts she had.

Adler climbed on the bike and straightened it. “Okay. Just get on. Put your feet there and hold onto my waist. As tight as you want.”

Hold on to his waist tight. That wouldn’t be hard. She swung her leg around the bike, secured her feet, and wrapped her arms around his chest. His warmth instantly relaxed her. She scooted a little closer to him and rubbed her hands over his shirt, feeling his tight muscles underneath. Yeah, she would enjoy this.

“Mm. I like this already,” Adler said as he closed a hand over hers. “Hold me tighter if you need to.”

She kissed his neck and squeezed him tighter.

He kicked the bike to life, and a tingle started in her groin. Was it from the vibration of the motor, or the closeness to Adler? She didn’t know, but she held on tight for the ride.

Chapter 19

Adler wasn’t sure where he was going, but with Leila’s arms tight around him, it didn’t matter. As he rode, her grip loosened, and she relaxed. She still held her body against his, her chin tucked over his shoulder, and occasionally she would rub her palms against his chest, sending electricity through his body which settled in his groin.Ignore it Adler. Focus on the road.

He drove on and finally pulled off onto a gravel lane. He slowed, being careful on the rough terrain. He knew where this led and came to a stop at an overlook. He secured the bike and turned off the motor.

“Wow. Where are we? It’s beautiful.”

Leila was right, it was. This dead end road overlooked the sprawling valley below. The scattered lights of the small towns glittered like a Christmas village below them, and off in the distance, the light of the moon reflected off the water from the river that meandered through Orlinda Valley, the town that sat between his hometown of Copper Springs and Leila’s.

They dismounted from the motorcycle. Adler observed the growing wonder on Leila’s face, and a smile ticked at the corner of his mouth.

“It’s beautiful.” Her eyes danced in the moonlight.

She was breathtaking. The simplest thing brought her joy. He looked out over the cliff and saw things differently. It really was an amazing sight, made more so because of the company he was experiencing it with.

He took the helmet from her, laying them both on the bike, and led her to a fallen log. They sat there, and he watched her as she took in the scene around them. He could watch her forever, and he wanted to. The thought struck him like a slug to the gut. He inhaled sharply but couldn’t deny it. It was true and it shook him to his core.

“What’s wrong?” She turned toward him, and her brow creased.

His smile ticked up another notch, and he brushed her hair from her shoulder, grazing her neck with his knuckles. “Just watching you.” His voice came out in a thick, husky whisper.

The smile that played on her lips left him breathless. His gaze fell to those lips, and a need to kiss them filled him. He slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers as his pulse picked up speed. The spell that went between them was broken when Leila looked away. “This view is breathtaking. How did you find it?”

Fuck. He yearned to taste those lips again. To feel her skin under his hands. He was dying with desire for her. He closed his eyes and took in a deep cleansing breath, willing his body to calm itself. And shrugged. This was his place. His place to get away from the world. “I like to just ride sometimes when I need time to think.” He looked out at the sky, and it unfolded forever above them. It was a clear night filled with stars, and the moon was full. “I found it years ago. I don’t really remember when, but I come up here a lot by myself. It’s like my secret spot.”

She turned to him and lowered her eyes. “By yourself? You’ve never brought anyone here with you?”

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