Touch Slowly (Red Light: Silver Girls series) (17 page)

"Can't you hear the noise?" Shayla grinned.

Nova cocked her head. "The only thing I can hear is the rain."

"Come on." Shayla laughed. "It'll be fun and introduce you to how Idahoans in the Silver Valley like to go wild."

"Should I be scared?"

"Nah." Shayla rushed out of the car.

Nova opened the car door and held her purse over her head, failing miserably to stay dry.

Shayla ran ahead to a small group standing under a tarp someone had tied from Emmett's roof to Nick's truck, forming a canopy for people to seek shelter out of the rain. Nova hurried over the gravel and slipped underneath the makeshift awning, giving a small wave to Donna, Lori, and Caren.

Caren eyed Nova up and down and turned to Shayla. "She can't go out wearing those clothes."

She glanced down at herself. There was nothing wrong with what she was wearing. Her boyfriend jeans rolled at the ankle and a brand new hoodie with a scooped neck. What she chose to wear was beside the point. "I'm not going out."

She couldn't leave the park. Everyone would need to go without her, and she'd stay in Nick and Shayla's trailer until they returned.

"Nova, let's find you some other clothes." Shayla reached out and tagged Nova's hand.

She dug her sneakers into the rocks and refused to budge. "Why?"

"Everyone's going riding." Caren held up a motorcycle helmet.

"It's raining." She shook her head, wanting to stay at the trailer with Emmett. "How can everyone afford a motorcycle?"

"Really?" Shayla lifted her brows. "I can't believe you'd go there."

Caren snorted. "This is Idaho, girl. Don't assume anything. And, we're not taking motorcycles, we're riding ATVs."

She'd heard Emmett mention ATVs when he showed her the picture of the trailer park. Taken down a step, she crossed her arms. "I'm not going."

"I am, and so is Nick. That means you have to go." Shayla frowned. "Though my clothes have never fit you. Your ass and boobs are too big."

"I can't help her out." Caren planted her hand on her hip. "My clothes would be too big for her."

"Shut up, you two." Nova laughed. "I'm not changing my clothes or going on a ride. I don't ride motorcycles or ATVs."

That's when she observed all the women wore old unmatched clothing with rips and worn holes. She gazed at Shayla. In her excitement to come tonight, she never even noticed her cousin wore a pair of bib overalls that looked to be five times too big for her.

"Great, you're here," said Emmett behind her.

Warmth heated her back. She gazed over her shoulder and smiled. "Hey, you."

He kissed her cheek. "You're riding with me."

A tingle trailed down her spine. "I thought we could stay here—"

"She needs clothes, so she doesn't ruin what she's wearing." Caren lifted her brows at Emmett and brought her head forward. "Maybe you could give her something to wear."

"Sure." Emmett grabbed Nova's hand and pulled her back out into the rain.

She held on tight, splashing through the puddle in front of the steps leading to his trailer. Inside, she let go of him and wiped her cheeks. "I don't want to go riding."

"It'll be fun." Emmett walked down the hallway. From the bedroom, he said, "Pretty much everyone who usually hangs out here at night is going. You can ride behind me."

"I didn't even know you rode," she muttered.

"Everyone here rides." Emmett's voice muffled from his bedroom. "Nick even goes. He bought a...damn. My jeans are going to be too long. You'll have to roll them."

She stepped into his kitchen and looked at the clock on the stove. The last thing she wanted to do was ride around Federal and chance getting seen by someone who associated her with the Red Light. "It's ten o'clock. A little late to be riding, don't you think? Not to mention it's pouring outside."

"That's the best time to go out on the mountain. Well, except in the first snow." He returned to the main part of the house carrying a stack of clothes. "Go ahead and strip. I'll grab a tie-strap to use on the belt loops to cinch the jeans tighter."

She had one last plea available. "I'll embarrass you in front of everyone."

His head cocked to the side and his eyes narrowed. "Do you really think I give a fuck what anyone else thinks?"

"I really don't want—"

"You're going." He kissed her.

She pulled away with a groan. "Don't kiss me to shut me up."

"I need to get you a pair of gloves." Emmett turned around and strode back to his room.

She stared at the pile of clothes. Besides coming to the trailer park when was the last time she'd spontaneous went out for fun?

He mentioned mountain. Nobody would see her in the woods.

Throwing caution behind her, she stripped off her hoodie and unzipped her jeans. Kicking off her shoes, she wiggled her pants over her butt and kicked them off. Her stomach fluttered. She had never ridden a motorcycle or ATV before. How hard could it be to hold on to Emmett and ride?

"Here you..." Emmet came to a stop and ogled her. "Go."

She looked at her pile of clothes she'd taken off and glanced over at his clothes. Not knowing which assortment to grab, she simply stood in her panties and bra in his kitchen.

"Um." She shrugged, refusing to cover herself. "You said to strip, so I did."

The corner of his mouth came up, and he leaned his hip against the counter. "I was going to let you use my bedroom, but the kitchen is good. Damn good."

His gaze traveled down her body and back up, lingering on her breasts. Her nipples peaked under his inspection, and she reached for the pair of jeans, and no matter how much she understood she'd better cover herself and stop what was happening between them, she couldn't make her body move any faster.

She liked how he looked at her unapologetically and appreciated her body. And, she could tell he approved because his eyes never wavered from the middle of her stomach as if that focal point allowed him to see every part of her without moving.

Her normal role of dictating the situation gone, she slowly slipped her legs into Emmett's jeans he gave her to wear and tugged them over her hips. The vulnerable position of being inside his home, half dressed and knowing without a doubt if he asked her to go back to his bedroom or even took her right on the linoleum floor of the kitchen, she wouldn't stop him. She'd help him.

"You're safe, Nova-girl," he mumbled dragging his gaze up to her face.

He'd mistaken her hesitation for fear. Fear was the last thing she was feeling.

She held up the jeans. The waist too big and the hips fit perfect.

Emmett stepped forward. "Here you go."

The back of his hand skimmed the bare skin of her stomach. She sucked in her breath at the contact. True to his word, he focused on the job of cinching the jeans tighter, while she concentrated on the wonderful throbbing happening between her legs.

Though she realized Emmett took his sweet time and when he removed his hands, he inhaled swiftly and lifted his gaze. A heated and aroused gaze.

She looked up at him and put her hands on the front of his shirt and whispered, "Thank you."

He growled low and leaned forward.

That was her only warning. He captured her lips and kissed her deeply. His hand at her hip squeezed, bringing her closer. Her whole body trembled in pleasure. The thin material of her bra somehow heightened her response.

He pulled back, holding her up. Her legs trembled, and she panted. Every muscle in her body aware of him holding her.

He stepped away and left her to stand on her own. "Dress, Nova-girl. We're going riding."

If she thought he was going to leave the house and let her finish, she was wrong. She put on the large T-shirt he'd given her, then the sweatshirt, and last the gloves. She took one step toward him and stopped.

"I forgot to roll the jeans and put on my sneakers." She laughed.

He kneeled at her feet. Her heart melted. It would've been easy for her to take off the gloves and put her shoes on herself, but he had already moved and kneeled in front of her.

Kneeled as only a confident man could do.

She smiled, feeling like a princess wearing her boyfriend's clothes, and that's how Emmett found her with he stood and grabbed her gloved hand. Smiling like a fool, willing to follow him anywhere.

And, that's what she'd done. Through him putting a heavy helmet on her head, setting her on an All-Terrain-Vehicle—not a motorcycle, and leading her into the dark with only one headlight to guide them, she listened to everything he told her and went riding.

She hugged his waist, pressed against his back, and looked over her shoulder. A caravan of other ATV riders followed them.

Through the trees.

Across the river.

Up a narrow trail.

She whooped and hollered with the others every time Emmett rode through a mud puddle splashing her and at every switchback, feeling brave and free. The top of the mountain within reach, she squeezed her legs and arms around Emmett and let him take her to the peak. Far away from the life that kept threatening to hold her to the ground.

T
he surreal view atop Granite Peak settled over Emmett. He stood behind Nova, his arms wrapped around her upper body, trying to keep her warm. They were both soaked and covered with mud from the twenty-minute ride up the mountain side.

Nova leaned her head back against his chest. "It's beautiful."

"Yep," he whispered, warmed from the ride and having her body on his. "That's the trailer park straight down with all the lights. Then, you can see the interstate on the other side and if you follow the road to the left, the next bunch of lights is Federal. The farthest ridge is the Idaho/Montana border. You should see everything during the day. It's even more impressive."

"I don't think that's possible." She sighed. "I grew up near the Pacific Ocean. There was always something inspiring about the length I could look from the shore and only see water. It made the horizon stretch on forever. I get the same feeling here. I feel like I’m on the top of the world and the sky...God, I wish it wasn't raining, and I could see the stars."

"Then, that's what we'll do another night." He kissed her temple. "I'll bring you up on a clear night. Just the two of us."

She rubbed his hand and stared straight out into the night without answering him. He had no right to plan for the future, even next week or next month. Her stay in Federal would be over soon, and he wasn't ready to admit that having her with him was temporary.

"I'm freezing my ass off," said Shayla.

"Want me to keep it warm." Kirkland chuckled. "I've got two hands."

Nova turned her head. Her body shook in amusement.

"Jesus Christ," said Nick. "You do know it echoes up here, and that's my sister you're talking to."

Nova burst out laughing, and Emmett joined her. Soon everyone who came on the ride talked and threw in their opinion on whether Shayla and Kirkland should shut up or go down off the mountain. Emmett gathered Nova's hand and helped her navigate the rocks in the dark back to the ATV.

Once he had her helmet on her, he called Nick over. "Lead them down the trail. We'll hang back and follow everyone. I'll give you a head start, so we're not swallowing your mud the whole way."

"Sure thing." Nick knuckle bumped Emmett.

The others started their ATVs, and one after another began the ride down the mountain. He waited until the noise grew quieter and then stepped behind Nova and guided her hips closer to the quad.

"You're taking me down." He patted her ass. "Hop on."

"I don't know how to drive one of these things." She turned in his arms and faced him. "We'll crash or go off the side of the trail and die."

"I won't let you die." He chuckled. "I'll be sitting right behind you and can take over if you get scared."

"It's slippery," she said.

"It's 4-wheel drive."

"There's a reason why you made me wear a helmet, and I'm sure there's a sticker somewhere on it that says 'Experience Needed'." She tried to step around him.

He blocked her escape. "You can do it. I'll be right there with you the whole way."

"Emmett." She hummed in defeat.

He recognized her giving in to him and smiled.

"Fine but if I kill us both, I will bitch and bitch at you through eternity. I will make eternity last forever." She climbed on the ATV and sat down. "Forever. You got that?"

"Loud and clear." He sat behind her. Now was not the time to laugh or tell her he was pretty sure eternity was forever, but he got the point she tried to make. He wouldn't let her die.

"You'll want to hold on to the handlebars. On the right one, you'll feel a lever by your thumb, go ahead and push it," he said.

"I moved it," she said.

"That's your throttle. The only thing you need to do is push with your thumb. Now with your left hand, straighten your fingers and find the bar in front of the handle."

"Got it."

"That's the brake. Squeeze it when you need it." He patted her thighs. "Lift your feet for a second."

He slid his boots under her feet and kept his toe off the right foot brake. All she had to do was concentrate on using her hands, and he'd take control of the foot brake in case she needed help. Though he wasn't going to tell her that he planned to keep them both safe. She needed to feel the joy of riding herself.

"I'm going to start the ATV and put it into gear. When you're ready to go, go slow, and get the feel of the trail. Once you're comfortable, you can play with the speed a little." He turned the key, pushed the ignition, and shifted the gear to low.

Her body tensed. He rubbed his thumb against her thigh. The headlight lit the trail.

After several minutes, the ATV jumped forward and stopped. He yelled over the engine, "Keep it steady with constant pressure."

She nodded, bumping her helmet against his.

The next time she tried, she caught herself before the quad could stop and kept it creeping forward. He leaned to the side and shouted, "Good girl."

She turned her head to look at him, and the bike veered to the right. He grabbed the handlebar and corrected her mistake. "Look straight ahead."