Page 98 of Torn

Kenzi

It means like wow

Speak English. I’m old, remember?

Kenzi

You are not. You’re so cute

Please don’t call me cute

Kenzi

But you so are!

I’ll see you in the morning, Angel.

Kenzi

I can’t wait! <3

No one’s ever sent me a heart in a text message before. I touch it lightly with my finger, the knot in my stomach fraying and unraveling with threads of hope. Her love and excitement are contagious, and I honestly don’t want a cure. I want to die of this sickness, if I can. Nothing and no one has ever made me feel as happy and content as she does. Not even playing or riding has been able to reach far enough into me to pull me out of the bitter state of mind that I’ve been dwelling in for years.

But she has. Without even trying.

The moment I try to relax into this new feeling of contentment, the ugly monster of the situation rears its head again, sinks its claws into my heart, trying to tear it away from her, laughingat me for being naïve enough to think spending a day with her would be okay.

She comes out of the house when she hears my bike pull into the driveway looking all sorts of cute and sexy in jeans, a black long-sleeved shirt with a big yellow smiley face on the front, her hair in a long braid with a little skull clip at the end. And those damn black leather boots that for some crazy reason always seem to turn me on. I’m starting to think maybe I have a foot or shoe fetish I never realized before. I quickly shove the thought to the back of my mind to be dealt with later. I want today to just be a day for us to spend time together alone, to see how it feels to just spend a day with her with no labels on us. I don’t want to think about our past or the future or Ash or anything else except just us.

She approaches me with a big smile and kisses my cheek.

“You’re on time. I’m impressed,” she says, pulling her helmet over her head. I don’t wear a helmet but there’s no way I’m letting her go without one.

“Hop on.” I nod to the small seat behind me and she grabs on to my shoulder as she climbs on and sets her feet on the pegs.

“A few rules,” I say, turning toward her. “I don’t want you falling off, so keep your hands on me.”

“That won’t be a problem,” she replies with a playful tone, wrapping her arms around my waist.

I stifle a laugh. “Behave yourself. Being on the bike is serious. This isn’t a big two-wheeled vibrator. Pay attention and move your body with mine, okay?”

Her arms tighten around my waist. “Seriously, Tor, you just said vibrator and told me to move my body with yours while I’vegot my legs and arms wrapped all up around your amazing bod. I’ll do my best to behave given all those circumstances.”

I lean back against her and lay my hand on hers clasped over my stomach. Having her so close, with her perfume enveloping me and feeling the warmth of her thighs pressed against my legs, is making my blood rush through my veins like liquid fire. I thought a ride in the mountains would be safe territory but now it’s turned into a subtle act of foreplay.

Am I complaining? Hell no.

“Well, when you put it like that, Angel, enjoy the ride,” I tease back, starting up the bike before she can throw more fuel onto the flames. I’m not used to riding with a woman or feeling anything but the rush of air in my face. It figures she would be the first to turn this all around for me.

And again, I’m not complaining one bit.

I’ve ridden these roads for almost my entire life. First, on the back of my old man’s bike when I was a little kid, and then on my own when I was old enough to ride alone. Today I take it slower than I normally do, and Kenzi keeps her arms around me, loosening up her embrace just a little as she starts to feel more comfortable. I’m not sure when the last time she was on the back of Asher’s bike, but I’m guessing it’s probably been over two years.

When we get farther up the mountains, I pull over onto a small area for parking and kill the engine, motioning for her to hop off before I put the kickstand down. She gives me a squeeze before she gets off and takes her helmet off while I take a bottle of water out of my saddlebag.

“You having fun?” I ask her, taking the helmet from her hand and resting it on the back of my bike.

She nods, her eyes dancing with the same happiness I’m feeling. “I really am. It’s beautiful up here.”