Page 47 of Pining for Pierce
“It’s okay.” I know he’s apologizing for swearing, not for the weather. That’s out of his control, after all, and I nestle against him, feeling his left hand rest over both of mine for a few seconds, just before the heavens open. He moves his hand away, and I see him shake his head. “I’m gonna have to slow down.”
He does, easing up as we round a bend in the road. My legs are already soaked, as are his, but there’s nothing we can do, and I console myself with thoughts of having to get dry when we reach home, smiling as I contemplate removing wet clothes, and what we might do without them. It’s an enticing thought, and although neither of us enjoys riding in the rain, it might have its compensations.
We’re not far from Hart’s Creek, and we’re both soaked… and even if I don’t know how to tell him what I want, I think one of us needs to make the obvious suggestion.
“Shall we stop at your place, rather than going the extra six miles to mine?” I say.
“I was just gonna ask how you’d feel about that.”
“A lot drier.” He chuckles in my ear, and rounds the next bend, just as I notice a truck out of the corner of my eye. It’s coming from a turning on right, but it’s not stopping. In fact, the driver doesn’t even seem to slow.
“Pierce?” I cry as the truck comes straight out into our path.
“Fuck…” His voice echoes around my helmet. “Hold on, Harley. Just hold on.”
I don’t have time to reply, or even to react, as at that moment, I feel the bike fall away. Pierce has deliberately dropped it to avoid hitting the truck, and it slides from beneath us. I hear myself scream as the asphalt comes up to meet me, but right before it does… at the moment of impact, I feel myself being spun, Pierce’s hand joining mine as he twists me around.
Everything is a whirl of lights and rain, smudging my visor. I don’t know which way is up. I can’t tell the sky from the earth, and I open my mouth to scream again just as I feel Pierce haul me up into his arms, his body beneath mine. We’re spinning together, around and around, along the road, but I can’t feel a thing, because he’s holding me, and all I can hear is, “You’re okay, babe. You’re okay. I’ve got you…”
Chapter Twelve
Pierce
We come to a stop, sliding into the grass at the side of the road, over fifty yards from where I dropped the bike, and for a moment, I just breathe… in, out… in, out.
It only takes three breaths for me to come to my senses.
“Harley? Are you okay?” She’s lying on top of me, her back to my front, her body shaking. I can hear her breathing, so I know the comms are still working. “Talk to me, baby. Tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.” Her voice whispers in my ear and I let out a sigh.
“Don’t move. Don’t even try to move.”
“I can’t,” she says. “I’m too scared.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of. Not anymore. You’re safe. I promise.” I hold her a little tighter, in the hope it’ll help. “Does anything hurt?”
“No.”
“Okay. Don’t remove your helmet. Not yet. Just lie here. Lie here with me.”
She must be getting wet, but I don’t wanna move out from under her… not until I’m absolutely sure she’s okay, and for a second, I let my head flop back against the ground behind me.
Man… that was close. It was too damn close.
I’ve come off of my bike a few times before, but never like that… and never when I’ve been with someone I care about. Isuck in a breath, holding her closer, before I realize there are things I need to know.
“Can you feel your legs?”
“Yes. They’re wet.”
“Okay. And your feet. Can you move them? Can you wiggle your toes inside your boots?”
She falls silent, and then after a couple of seconds, says, “Yes. What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Tell me you can move your feet and wiggle your toes.”
