Thorn's Challenge - Brenda Jackson [17]
He shrugged. “Didn’t I? It must have slipped my mind.”
He then studied her outfit, a pair of jeans, a lightweight pullover sweater and a pair of short leather boots. It was the perfect riding attire and the outfit looked perfect on her. “It may get chilly later so you might want to grab a jacket,” he suggested.
Tara sighed. He had intentionally not mentioned dinner to her last night. A part of her thought of resisting, but she quickly decided not to start fighting him just yet. There would be plenty of time for that later. There was no doubt in her mind that after telling him what she needed from him, he would prove to be difficult. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Thorn went completely still and held his breath when Tara passed him to go up the stairs. He’d seen her in jeans a number of times before and always thought she knew how to wear them well, but today he couldn’t help but pay close attention to how the jeans fit her, especially the way the denim cupped her curvy backside.
And she was wearing her hair down and he liked that. He wanted to know how the silken strands would feel blowing in the wind as he tore up the road with her clinging to him.
“All right, I’m ready.”
He glanced back to the stairs and watched her come down. He looked at her intently before saying. “So am I.”
“Here, let me help you with that,” Thorn said, easing the helmet on Tara’s head and adjusting the straps to keep it firmly in place. “Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle before?” he asked as he tried to ignore how his body was responding to her closeness. As usual, whenever he was around her, a deep, sexual hunger stirred to life in his midsection. It was only at times like these that he remembered just how long he had been celibate, which didn’t help matters.
“No, I’ve never ridden on one before.”
He swallowed deeply. The low, seductive tone of her voice was only adding to his misery.
“But I have ridden on a moped. Does that count?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, that doesn’t count, so consider this your first experience,” he said as he assisted her in straddling the seat behind him. He tried not to think of how good she looked with her legs spread wide across the padded seat or how well her body fit onto it. Today he was riding the Thorn-Byrd 1725, a huge bike that had a passenger armrest and backrest to give a second rider added comfort.
“You, okay?” he asked as he placed his own helmet on his head and strapped it on.
“Yes, I’m fine, just a little nervous. This bike is huge.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, and I prefer building them that way.”
“I’m truly amazed.”
“About what?”
“The skill and craftsmanship that went into building this bike. You truly have gifted hands.”
A pleased smile curved the corners of his lips. He was glad she thought so and intended that she find out real soon just how gifted his hands were. But at the moment his main thoughts were on her hands. “Place your arms around me and hold on tight with your hands. And don’t hesitate to lean into me for an easier ride. Okay?”
“Why would leaning into you provide an easier ride?” she asked, in a confused tone of voice.
“You’ll see.”
Tara nodded, preferring to try and sit up straight with her arms around Thorn’s waist. But when he turned on the engine to a low, rumbling purr that escalated to a much louder growl, she automatically leaned forward, tightened her grip around him and pressed her body against the wide expanse of his back. His leather bomber jacket felt warm, cushiony, and so much a part of him. Pressing her face against his solid back, she breathed in the scent of leather and the scent of man. It was masculine and a mixture of shaving cream and a real nice-smelling cologne. This wasn’t the first time she had been aware of his scent. That first time he had kissed her at Dare’s wedding she had gone to bed later that night with his scent embedded in her nostrils. It had been both alluring and arousing.
It still was.
“Ready?” she heard him ask her over his shoulder.
She sighed deeply and closed her