Chapter 10

The Ride

After changing clothes and saying goodbye to her other band members, Elizabeth headed to the opposite side of the bar where Johnny and Jason sat. They were talking low about something so she decided to hang back a little. She didn't want to intrude. When the bartender motioned between them toward her, both men turned around.

Her face was scrubbed clean with the lightest hint of soft pink gloss on her lips, she looked like heaven. Her eyes were still a little dark but she had managed to get most of the smoky shadow off leaving just the dark liner on her top lid and the mascara.

Her hair was pulled back into a long ponytail and just her bangs and a few light wisps of hair that she missed on the uptake were hanging down. She had on a Metallica v-neck t-shirt, a pair of black jeans and simple black hiking boots.

"Sorry if I am not dressed for wherever we are going. I was planning to go play some poker and drink beer with the rest of the band. It's kind of tradition for us to wind down and discuss how the show went." She said acting almost embarrassed of her casual appearance.

"You look beautiful" Jason replied standing up to get closer to her. After seductively dancing seemingly solely for him, he had an unbridled urge to be within touching distance.

"They play poker? Can anyone join?" Johnny said looking to the other side of the bar where the band sat drinking and talking with a few lingering patrons.

"Sure, if they invite you? Anyone can join in but you have to be invited. We had some problems with people overhearing us and just showing up. Band sluts." She said matter of fact.

"Well I doubt they would think I am trying to get in their pants. Just their wallets. Do they play for real money?" Johnny asked.

"Well, that depends on what you call real money. We don't play with pretzels or monopoly money if that's what you are asking but we have a limit on the pot of $50 and no one can bet more than at a time $5 in one hand." She stated a bit curious as to what HE thought was real money.

"Cool, see ya Jase. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He laughed as he headed toward the group on the other side of the room.

Turning her attention back to Jason she said, "Ready to go?"

"Don't you want to rest a bit and maybe have a drink?"

Well, normally I would but I already said goodbye to the guys and that kid over there that I danced with earlier is still here. He kind of gives me the creeps."

Glancing over to where her head had nonchalantly pointed he furrowed his brow, "Spinelli?"

"Who?"

"Spinelli, the one with the knit hat on. Is that the kid you are referring to?"

"Yes, do you know him?"

"Yes, actually he works for me…..and lives with me." He said kind of into his chest.

"Lives with you! What?"

"Well, he is a computer genius. When I found him, he was running from a very dangerous man. I let him stay with me till the coast was clear and he kind of never left." He said ending with a bit of a chuckle.

"There's that word dangerous again. What exactly do you do?" she queried.

"Umm, lets take that ride and we'll talk about all of that later."

Stopping him with her hand to his chest, she moved in closer to him so that she had to lift her head skyward. Looking directly into his eyes, "I don't like liars. I have known plenty of them. If you don't want to tell me something and it isn't directly hurting me, then fine. Just say so. I don't have a problem with that. Whatever you have to talk to me about won't make me run away like a scared little girl. Tell me now or tell me later but I would like the chance to get to know you. If you want to…….Now, how about that bike ride."

After hearing all of that, all he could think was that he wanted to grab hold of her, pull her tight into his arms and never EVER let go. Grabbing her hand in his, he made his way toward the back door through the alcove with Elizabeth close behind.

As soon as they got outside he spun around to face her and leaned in with assurance and confidence and kissed her. Softly at first but then harder. More animalistic. He licked her lips with his tongue until she allowed her mouth to open just enough for him to enter. He quickly found her tongue with his and touched it. Pulling back and away from her lips to catch his breath he crashed back down, this time grabbing the small of her waist and pulling her body firmly up against him from chest to thigh.

He kissed her and held her to him for what seemed like hours exploring the recesses of her hot wet mouth with his tongue. When the door opened and one of the bar-backs came through with a bag full of garbage, they broke away from each others lips. He leaned his forehead to hers and softly whispered, "I have wanted to kiss you all night. Well, actually since you left The Red Door two weeks ago."

Trying to catch her breath and float back down to earth she breathed, "Well why didn't you?"

"I just did." He said, "I just did." He said it so softly, Elizabeth could barely hear him but felt his words warm her face.

They made their way to the bike. She didn't think she would make it without falling on her face, though. Her knees were weak. Jason's kiss was a drug and she was lightheaded from it. She kept trying to focus and touched her free hand to her mouth to see if the tingles would flow through to her fingers.

Once they got to the bike, Jason held out a helmet. "You don't have to wear a helmet in Florida, and I never do. I figure with the brain damage and all, what does it matter. However, I always have one with me in case I decide to ride up into Georgia or I am giving someone a ride and they prefer to wear it."

Looking down at the helmet, she asked "are we going on the highway or some really busy streets?"

"No, I was going to go take you along the river and maybe over to this cool old fort I found."

"You mean Fort Ferdinand?"

"Yes"

"I loved that place when I was little. The state still takes care of it but they don't keep it up or have tours anymore."

"Well, I usually tour things without asking the State for permission."

Climbing on behind him laughing at his last comment and shaking her head no to the helmet, Elizabeth smiled. Jason hooked the helmet back onto the side of his bike and reaching around to grab both of her hands, pulled them around his waist and patted them both onto his mid section.

He rode out of the alley with a smile on his face. She was a bit nervous and he could tell. Riding a motorcycle causes you to learn more about body language. She was trying hard to sit up straight. Trying even harder not to move her hands from where he had placed them. The tell-tale sign was when her knees tightened against his thighs when they pulled onto the street and he accelerated.

He took it slow at first, and he could feel when she finally felt comfortable and let go.

She quickly learned to lean with him in turns and he smiled when she started to laugh and pulled herself closer into his back. He felt her hands start to move across his taut abs and could hear her inhale when she put her nose into his back and breathed in his essence. He felt is cock harden slightly when she pressed her breasts into him. 'Whoa boy' he thought to himself 'not now'.

Once they got onto the open two lane road heading toward the fort he relaxed his frame and dropped one arm to his thigh. Feeling him relax she started to move her hands from his midsection and he immediately grabbed her one hand with his free one and laced his fingers in hers and pulled them back to his thigh.

"This is awesome" she screamed as the wind brushed past her face. And he smiled even wider.

Turning down the road leading to the fort he stopped on top of the old cobblestone bridge and cut the engine. Putting the kickstand down with his foot, he gently leaned his Harley onto its support. Holding out his hand to assist her off the bike, he had to quickly jump from it himself when her legs gave out and she started to fall to the ground. Scooping her into his arms and silently thanking God that he caught her he looked down at her and said, "I seem to keep catching you from falling."

"Yeah, I didn't realize how tense my legs were through the ride."

"I did"

"You did?"

"Yes, I could tell from your body language that you were a little nervous putting your life into Pearl's and my care."

"Who's Pearl?"

"Why that's my girl!" he said while pointing to his bike.

"Oh" turning to the bike Elizabeth curtsied, "Nice to meet you Pearl"

They both laughed at her antics and he slowly let go of her when he felt sure her legs were steady again.

"The rest of the way is a hike. I am glad you wore sensible shoes." He said taking her hand and heading over the bridge toward the fort. They walked the quarter mile hand in hand and both enjoyed the silence.

"Oh my" Elizabeth gasped as she saw the stars overhead. "I have never seen the sky look like that."

"It's the magic of Pearl. The sky always seems clearer and the stars closer and brighter after a ride."

He led her around the fort along the brick and mortar wall. They got to his favorite part of the wall and he ushered her to take a seat. The wall was about three feet wide and had the most beautiful view of the river flowing by. He held her hand tight while she bent down and took a seat and then sat himself close beside her. Both of them dangled their feet over the edge that must have been a thirty foot drop to the water.

She shivered slightly from the cool air and he immediately took off his signature black leather jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Thank you. I guess I should have brought a jacket."

"You can wear mine, I don't feel the cold."

"Oh, because you are from New York and Florida cold doesn't come close?"

"Well, that may be true but it's another effect from my accident. I can tell that it's cold out but my body doesn't register that it is cold."

"Wow that could be dangerous."

"Yeah, that's why I wear the jacket all the time. It's a promise I made someone a long time ago and I guess I have kept it for the most part." He stated casting his gaze over the water.

Elizabeth noticed a slight change in his voice and his demeanor at his last comment so she asked, "Did you love her?"

"What? Who?"

"Whomever you made the promise to."

"When I made the promise I did. Now?... I guess I still care about her but I don't love her." He dropped his chin to his chest at the admission of his last statement.

"Does she still love you?"

"I doubt it. She's been gone for eleven years."

"She's dead?" Elizabeth asked shocked and putting a hand to her heart.

"No, she lives in Paris. We never see each other or talk anymore. She did something that I don't think I can ever forgive."

"You have to forgive yourself before you can forgive someone else."

He thought about what she had just said. This incredible beauty beside him seemed to have an insight like no one he ever knew. He clasped onto her hand and pulled her closer into his shoulder. She sighed contentedly at just leaning her head on his shoulders and looking out over the river.

They sat there in silence with her head on his shoulder and her hand in his for the rest of the night. Happy to be as close as they were and reveling in the newness of their awakening feelings for each other.