checking behind to make sure no one was watching, then lifting my leg over the bike while trying to keep my skirt at least halfway covering my underwear.
Huck was right. And wrong.
It was like a bike-bike, but also completely different. It was more sturdy, more secure-feeling.
"Babe, scoot," Huck demanded, making me realize I had been stubbornly trying to keep my body from touching his.
But there was no way to sit back once he got moving. Sighing out my breath, I slid up against him, feeling my thighs meet the sides of his thighs, my crotch nestled right against his ass, and my chest pressed to his back.
"See? Already better than walking," he said in a light, teasing tone. "Arms around me too, babe," he demanded.
My hands moved out toward his sides, gliding over his ribs, wrapping around his chest. I swear it took actual effort for me not to lean forward, to rest the side of my head against his strong shoulders.
"Ready?" he asked.
"We'll see," I said, legs and arms tightening around him.
"If you need me to stop, just grab my leg, okay?" he said, turning the bike over.
"Okay," I agreed, heart starting to trip into overdrive.
My stomach felt like it bottomed out when the bike surged forward, but after the initial discomfort of unfamiliarity, I realized that I didn't feel like I was choking; my mind wasn't racing off to old, horrific memories.
I wasn't having a panic attack.
Huck drove us up and down the driveway a few times before pulling out onto the road, picking up speed.
I must have tensed, because Huck's hand left the handlebar, going down to rest on my thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze, something that made the tight grip on my heart loosen, allowed me to sink into the sensations as we drove down the street that was only vaguely familiar to me since I'd only traveled down it twice since moving in.
In the time that it would have taken me to walk to the train station, we were already pulling into Miami, the automobiles and foot traffic announcing themselves loudly, making me long for the long, quiet roads.
Without even realizing what my intentions were, I leaned forward, pressing my head against Huck's back, squeezing my eyes shut, letting myself drift away, ignoring the sights and sounds around us, and, more importantly, giving myself a couple of precious moments where my mind wasn't consumed with the anxiety about the event.
"Babe," Huck said, voice a smooth, sweet sound.
"Hm?" I asked, feeling oddly light, almost buzzing. Like a meditation high without all the annoying meditation.
"We're here, babe," he said, a chuckle in his voice, making me stiffen, straighten, my head whipping around.
And, sure enough, we were on the street just outside the gates to my grandmother's estate.
"These cars are fucking insane," Huck declared, pulling off his helmet, taking mine when I handed it to him. "I could make a cool half mill chopping these," he added as my hands planted on his shoulders, using him to steady my body weight as I carefully climbed off, making sure not to flash the couple that was making their way across the street. I didn't know them. They were just a couple more reasonably attractive people in designer clothes. New money, my grandmother would call them. You can always tell, she would add. And, damn her for making me see it, but you absolutely could.
"I kind of wish you were still in that business," I said, giving him a smile as he climbed off the bike. "It would be priceless to see them all come out to find their cars missing," I told him as I reached up to fix my hair, hoping for the best since I couldn't see what I was doing.
"I'm half-tempted to call the guys," Huck said, eyes dancing as he moved in front of me, reaching up to fix some of my hair.
"Is it all in order?" I asked, running my hands down my dress, hoping nothing had gotten too wrinkled.
"You look great, babe. If they don't see that, fuck 'em," he said, surprising me by offering me his arm. "Saw this in a movie once," he added when I stared at him for a long moment before linking my arm through, hand holding onto his bicep.
"Thanks for this," I told him as we walked down the street. "This isn't going to be fun for either of us. But it's kind of nice not to have to be here alone," I admitted, feeling the