I open my eyes, and Freya’s there, straddling her bike at the top of the ditch with her mouth hanging open. And wouldn’t you know, from this angle her legs look amazing. They’re long, smooth, and tanned, and I’m pretty sure they are begging for me to touch them. She hops off her bike and kneels down beside me, balancing herself on the side of the ditch so she won’t topple over herself.
“Are you okay?”
I wiggle my fingers and toes. “I think so. But I need to know if that looked as cool as I think it did?”
“Not at all.” She’s fighting a smile that wants to be exposed, and at my expense, no less. “You looked like a bird that hit a window mid-flight. It was pretty horrific to witness, actually. I should call 911 to help get you out of here?”
I grab her outstretched hand, laughing. “Don’t you dare. I know people there.”
Freya whips out her cell with her free hand. “Don’t test me.”
Joking, I jerk on her wrist. It’s meant to be a soft and playful move, but somehow things go from bad to worse—and quick.
I tug again, and Freya does a little wobble and loses her balance. I didn’t realize how precarious her positioning was until it’s way too late. I watch her face change from serene amusement to shock and horror in a matter of milliseconds as her feet slide out from underneath her and she tumbles down, landing square on top of me. Both of us are now lying in this slimy ditch that stinks of rotten eggs, but hey…sheison top of me.
To think I was trying for romance.
Freya's face unfortunately lands with a loud thwack on my chest. It’s my turn to fight my laughter as she lifts her head to look at me, a giant patch of mud on her right cheek. She’s absolutely perfect.
My turn to check on her. “Areyouokay?”
She nods, closing her eyes as she sits up on her knees in front of me and rubs her head. I sit up but stop mid-lift when my eyes suddenly come to a rest and focus on her lips. How have I never seen them before? They are full, bowlike and smooth, and the sweetest shade of soft pink I have ever seen.
And I need to kiss them.
I angle myself so I’m sitting upright, and now we’re evencloser. Her eyes are still closed. This gives me another moment to really look at her—her cheekbones, her skin, and those beautiful lips. I don’t even have the energy to stop myself when my hand automatically reaches out to push away some stray pieces of her hair that have fallen across her face.
At the same time I reach out, she opens her eyes and puts her hand up to brush away the same strand of hair, and her hand comes to a rest on mine. We lock eyes, so intensely my stomach thuds and my body shivers. I can feel her hand press into mine, firmer. The slam I feel in my stomach rages with excitement. I don’t want to break this moment. I take my fingers and snake them around hers, intertwining them. This feels like home.
I feel her breath on my cheek as she leans in closer. Her free hand comes down next to my shoulder. It’s as if she’s stabilizing her body, bringing her even closer still.
I take this as my sign and move in.
I lean in to kiss her as she suddenly thrusts herself backwards. She’s on her haunches holding something in her hand and then she waves it in the air—her cell phone. “Sorry. I had to grab this. I dropped it when you pulled me down with you.” She wipes off the screen with her shirt before she dials. “Good thing it didn’t go in the ditch. Looks like that front tire is jacked now, so I’ll call Maisey to come get us.”
“Sounds good.” I can only agree as I stand up and attempt to brush myself off. I’m covered in mud and about to give up when she hangs up her phone, disappointed. “She’s not answering. I’ll text her and we’ll see if she answers me.”
I see this as a sign from the heavens. We’re still in the ditch, but we’re in it together, our bodies so close I feel the heat of her body. Freya giggles and shakes her head.
“This would happen to us, wouldn’t it?” she says with a grin.
“Hundred percent.” I grin back. “Sorry I took you down with me.”
“There’s no place else I’d rather be.” The laughter now gone, she searches my eyes as she licks those full and luscious lips of hers. I groan inwardly as I try to pull my gaze away. Do I want this so badly that now I’m seeing things?
I go back to those kissable lips and, dragging my gaze up to meet hers, I’m stunned when I think I see—no. I know I see—she’s staring at my lips, too.
This is happening.
I didn’t think it would happen tonight. She just got back, and now here she is in front of me and I’m going to plant a kiss on those lips that will take her breath away. I’m going for it. I move in just as she closes her eyes?—
And that’s when I hear the horn honk.
“Is that you, Wyatt Hogan?”
Spinning around, I see Dub, of all people, in his truck pulled over on the side of the road. He hangs out the driver’s side window pointing to our bike carnage. “Looks like you guys need some help. Good thing I came along.”
“Oh, lucky for us!” I hope he can detect the sarcasm there.
