She stopped, staring up, a gasp of delight escaping her lips. “Oh my god!”
I shook my head to clear it, then went over to see what had delighted her so much.
She was looking up, her head bent back so her hair fell almost to her ass. I wanted to touch it. Her hair or her ass—even better, both.
I glanced up at the bicycle hanging from the rafters. It was old, the seat wide, with a basket on the front. I remembered my mother going to Littleburn, returning with groceries she’d picked up in the basket. Sometimes, it would be filled with wild flowers or berries she’d pick.
“The bicycle?” I asked.
Charly grabbed my arm. “Oh, Maxx. Could I borrow it? Please? I would take good care of it!”
Her reaction was surprising. It was just an old bike—she seemed more excited about it than the car.
I rubbed my chin. “I’ll have to replace the tires, and you’ll need to clean it up, but yeah, if you want it.” I looked at her. “You don’t want the car?”
“Of course I do. But with this, I can explore and get some exercise at the same time.” She flicked her hand in the direction of my exercise area. “I don’t like that kind of workout.”
I reached up and lifted the bike down, inspecting it. “I’ll check it out, and once I’m sure it’s safe, you can use it. The chain is loose, so I need to tighten it.”
“Can I paint it? I’ll polish it all too.”
It needed a good coat of paint and some TLC. “Sure.”
She rubbed her hands together. “Oh good, a project.”
I had to chuckle over her enthusiasm for the old bike. I set it to the side. “I’ll order a couple of tires and check it out.”
She beamed at me. Her smile was wide and bright, completely disarming me. It was honest and real, and I found myself smiling back at her. Without thinking, I pushed a curl back over her shoulder, stopping at the feel of the silk of her hair on my hand. I froze, threading my fingers through the curls, rubbing them between my fingers. Our eyes met and locked, the instant heat from earlier returning. I tugged on her neck, bringing her close. She sighed, her eyes drifting shut as I lowered my head and kissed her. Slowly, our lips moved, tasting and giving. I ran my tongue over her bottom lip, and she opened for me, her body quivering as I brought her tighter to my torso.
How she affected me so quickly, so deeply, I would never understand. I wound my free arm around her waist, needing her closer. Wanting to taste her more. Feel her body molded to mine. Despite the height difference, we meshed as if sculpted for each other. Her breath filled my head, fed my lungs, nourished my soul. I bent, lifting her, and she wrapped her legs around me. I stumbled to a covered chair, sitting down, Charly straddling me. Our mouths never separated, our groans mingling, our passion growing, morphing into a living, tangible bubble of heat around us. I ran my hands over her legs, slipping my fingers under her shorts, feeling her readiness. She rolled her hips, making me hiss as she slid against my erection. My tongue explored her mouth, discovering all of her. She whimpered as I undid the ties on the shirt and cupped her breasts. Our fingers grasped and fumbled, and moments later, I was inside her, the heat of her wrapping around me.
“Fuck,” I gasped. “Condom.”
“On birth control,” she assured me, licking at my neck. “Safe. So, so safe.”
She moved and I cursed. I grabbed her hips and guided her, lost to everything unique and perfect about this small piece of time.
The sunlight in her hair, the way the dust motes danced in the beams around us. The way she bit her lip as she rode me, tiny gasps of pleasure escaping her mouth. The feel of that glorious hair brushing my knees as I watched her tilt back her head and find her release. The feel of her, all around me. The sights, the sounds, the sensations of this moment, forever locked into a memory. Knowing I would never again see this barn the same way or look at this chair with simply a passing glance. She would be etched into all of it.
She cried out, gripping my shoulders and calling my name. I thrust into her heat, holding her down as I came, a long, low groan rumbling from my chest. Tendrils of pleasure shook me, wrapping around my spine and exploding in bright shards of light behind my eyes.
She fell forward into my chest, her head buried in my neck. I brought her close, resting my chin on her head. Neither of us spoke, lost in our thoughts for a moment.