“It’s lightweight and it isn’t for warmth. It’s protection,” he told her adamantly.
She sighed and put her arms into the jacket, letting it swallow her upper body. It obviously belonged to Kade. “It smells like you,” she said dreamily, his scent surrounding her.
“Sweetheart, if I hear you say something like that in that f**k-me tone of voice again, I’ll be compelled to make you come right here in Max’s driveway,” Kade threatened, his words a grunt of warning.
Asha’s gut clenched in reaction, a pulse of electricity flowing from her belly to her pu**y. Her panties dampened as she pulled the lining of the jacket to her face and inhaled, but she stayed silent.
“Woman, you’re pushing my buttons,” Kade cautioned in a low, vibrating voice as he rolled up the sleeves of the jacket and zipped it.
She was swimming in the coat, the material coming down to her thighs. It was way too warm, but she didn’t complain. Asha reveled in the way that Kade was watching out for her, protecting her. “So what do I do?” she asked, slightly intimidated by the large motorcycle.
“Hold on,” Kade told her jokingly, but went through the basics.
Once they were situated on the motorcycle, Asha wrapped her arms around Kade and scooted up against his back.
“Tighter,” Kade ordered huskily. “And don’t let go.”
The helmets had Bluetooth, and Kade had already explained it, but the sound of his voice in her ear still startled her.
Once the bike was in motion, Kade didn’t have to tell her to hold tight. She started with a death grip around him, but tried to relax and stay neutral in position like he’d asked her to do. Most of her fear fled as she experienced Kade’s competence at riding. His motions were smooth and fluid, and he rode with a confidence of a man who had been riding for a very long time.
“You okay?” Kade asked quietly.
“Yeah,” she breathed softly. “This is great. Can we go faster?” Asha trusted Kade, and the feeling of freedom she felt from riding in the open air was exhilarating.
She heard Kade chuckle. “No, we can’t, my little speed demon. I’m doing the speed limit. I’m carrying precious cargo.” He hesitated for a moment. “We can get on the freeway. I know a place where we can go faster safely.”
“Yes,” she agreed readily. “Go.”
The speed on the freeway was heady, and Asha clung to Kade, enjoying the ride with unrestrained abandon.
“I’m getting off at this exit,” he warned her after they had gotten out of the city, letting her know they were going to slow to a stop.
“Where are we?” she asked curiously.
“You’ll see,” he answered mysteriously.
After driving for about five minutes, they arrived at what looked like a large arena. Kade stopped at the gates and punched a code into a panel, waiting until the gates opened enough for them to slip through. They moved down a narrow passage that opened into a large, paved racetrack.
“Do you know who owns this?” she asked inquisitively, excitement in her voice.
“Yes. Quite well. He happens to be my brother. This is Travis’s track. He races cars as a hobby. He’s a damn good driver.”
“He doesn’t seem like the type to do anything like that,” Asha answered, stunned that a conservative man like Travis had a dangerous hobby.
“One of his few quirks,” Kade answered jokingly. “You ready? We aren’t doing anything crazy. And if you get scared, just tell me.” He pulled the bike onto the track and started to pick up speed.
“Okay,” Asha agreed, her heart accelerating with the motorcycle. The track was composed of long straightaways where Kade accelerated quickly and had them flying down the linear areas, and slowing down for the corners. Nevertheless, Asha was laughing with pure delight as he sped down the track, making her feel like she was flying.
“Scared?” Kade asked as he slowed for a corner.
“No. I trust you,” she admitted in a breathless voice.
“Fuck! You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that,” Kade answered in a graveled, serious voice.
“Can we go faster?” Asha begged.
“No. Neither one of us is dressed appropriately and this bike isn’t meant for racing, my fearless woman. I think you need a trip to Disneyworld. You’d love it,” Kade remarked as he slowed, bringing the bike to a stop on the side of the track.
“I’ve never been to any amusement park,” Asha confirmed, trying to finger comb her hair below the helmet into some semblance of order.
“Why am I not surprised,” Kade grumbled unhappily.
Asha got off first, Kade steadying the bike as she dismounted. He removed his helmet and then removed hers, stowing all the gear, including his leather jacket, in the saddlebags. “We can grab something to drink. Travis keeps his fridge stocked here.”
“Kade?”
He took her hand and guided her toward what appeared to be garages. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for this. That was wonderful,” she told him genuinely. “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. One of the few things.”
“Do I want to know about the others?” Kade asked, stopping at the door of the building.
“I can only think of one thing that felt more incredible.” Asha grinned at him. “And I experienced that with you, too.”
“That so?” he asked dangerously, pinning her against the door with his body.
Asha wrapped her arms around his neck, desperately needing to feel Kade skin-to-skin with her. “Yes.” She looked up into his smoldering blue eyes and her heart skittered. He looked tense, the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced, and she wanted to sooth him, comfort him, make him lose himself in something other than the negative emotions he’d been experiencing for the last few months. In that moment, she hated what she’d had to do to get herself together. It was obvious that Kade cared. He might not love her, but he definitely stressed over her, worried about her. And she’d caused him pain.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you,” she told him gently, smoothing the circles under his eyes and the lines of tension on his face. “I didn’t mean to.” Her hand slid down his chest, over his ripped abs and finally stroked over his jeans, caressing the sizeable erection trying to burst through the seams of the denim. “You’re so hard.”
“Fuck!” Kade captured her roaming hand in his own and went into the garage, tugging her behind him. “I need that drink to cool off. Don’t start something I can’t finish,” he rumbled in an ominous tone.