by Terri Lane
Thankfully, Troy didn’t bring up any more questions. He kicked the bike to life, the roar thundering, deafening her to her own thoughts. Then they were riding again, flying through the streets at a speed that could not be legal. Jessica’s breath was stolen from her lungs, the worries chased from her shoulders. The scent of leather and Troy’s musk filled her, the sound and feel of the roaring engine overwhelming her senses until nothing else mattered.
Jessica had tried to forget how good this felt. Tried to forget how great it felt to ride on the back of a bike, the freedom that came from no responsibilities. For one savage moment, she imagined that selling her house wouldn’t be so bad. No more rates to pay, no more needing to work her dead-end job that was taking her nowhere. No more needing to work double shifts to pay a debt that was way above her. Just freedom and the feel of the wheels on the road.
When Troy pulled up outside her house, she was jolted out of the fantasy that she had built for herself. Reality came crashing back, slamming into her and making her feel sick. Of course she couldn’t sell her house and leave this town. Where would she go? What would she do? It was insanity, and she wanted no part of it.
She stepped off the bike and handed him the helmet, “Thank you.” She wasn’t sure what she was thanking him for after he had just torn her life apart, but good manners were hard to break.
Troy looked surprised, but he recovered quickly and shrugged, “It’s fine.” He leaned against his bike, which he had dismounted from. His eyes were piercing and he stared at her for a long moment, “You know where to go for a loan?”
“Sorry?” Jessica frowned in confusion.
Troy sighed and shook his head, “A loan. You need a loan if you want to keep Ace off your back. Do you know where to get one?”
“Well, the bank…” Jessica answered, hesitance creeping into her tone when he looked at her like she was an idiot.
“No bank is gonna loan to you. You’re too far in the hole.”
Jessica swallowed. She knew that, but it stung to hear it none the less, “Well then what do you suggest?” She shot back.
Troy considered her for a moment, “I’ll look into it.”
“What?” Jessica couldn’t keep the surprise off her face this time, and Troy fixed her with a long stare, “You don’t want my help?”
“No, no, it’s not that… just…” Jessica wasn’t sure what she felt. Was this man here to help her, or tear apart her life? Was he her savior, or was he just here to drag her down even deeper?
“Why am I offering to help you?” Troy paused, before a slow smirk spread across his face, “Because it takes guts to stand up to Ace, sweetheart, even if it is stupid.”
Jessica wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or insulted, so for a moment, she just stood there, outside her house, staring at this man who she had only just met, but was making her feel so damn conflicted.
Eventually she found her voice, “Thank you.” Again, she wasn’t sure why she was thanking him, it just… seemed rude not to. Jessica was struck by the absurdity of that, how insane the manners of her polite society could be sometimes.
Troy seemed to think so too, because he laughed, “What, are you going to invite me in for coffee next?” There was a mocking lilt to his voice and Jessica felt herself bristle.
“As a matter of fact, I was. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Troy grinned and pushed himself up from where he leaned against the bike. The movement was predatory as he walked towards her, “Sweetheart, if you wanted me, you should have just said so.” His voice was low and it sent shivers coursing through Jessica’s body, a heat flushing her cheeks. She had forgotten the age old euphemism of inviting a man in for coffee. Stupid!
“I was just being polite.” Her voice was scathing, yet she couldn’t stop the tremor that crept in, “Why would I want you?” The comment was insulting, yet Troy never faltered. He didn’t buy it and Jessica couldn’t blame him. He moved in closer and, as Jessica stepped backwards onto her front porch, Troy wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in.
“Because, sweetheart… you’ve ridden on the back of a bike before, and I bet that’s not all you know how to ride.” His breath was against her neck, his voice in her ear and Jessica could not stop the shivers that ran through her, despite herself.
Troy continued, “Because I’m the ‘bad boy’ fix that you need, a break from that nice little polite world you live in.”
He smirked and she could feel his lips brushing against her neck, “Because it’s boring, and I’m sure as hell not.”
Jessica could feel the shivers working their way down her spine, making her head spin as she stepped back again, her hand finding her front door. Troy’s hand stayed firmly around her waist and Jessica couldn’t find the words to say no. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to.
With trembling hands she managed to get the key into the lock and the door swung open. She would have tumbled through the door were it not for Troy’s grip. She could feel the way he chuckled against her, “So…”
He moved through the door and the next thing Jessica knew, it was shut and she was inside her home, pressed between the door and Troy, “How about that coffee?”
Then his lips were on hers and the rest of the world seemed to melt away into nothing. Troy tasted wild, like liquor and freedom and Jessica felt heat flush all the way through her.
His kiss was passionate, possessive as he ravaged her lips with his own, and Jessica found herself responding, despite the warning bells that were sounding in her head. It had been so long and Troy’s tongue was on hers, hot and insistent, and she was beginning to feel light headed. Jessica moaned, a soft sound, but Troy caught it.
“Seems like you do want me…” He whispered in her ear, smugness dripping from his tone.
Before Jessica could reply, his lips were on her neck, sucking her skin, his tongue, hot and slick was running down the curve of her skin. Before she knew it, the buttons of her blouse were being undone, revealing her bra. To her horror, Jessica realized she didn’t want him to stop.
She thought she’d had enough of this type of guy, a guy that would probably leave you in the dust, leave you for dead without a second thought. Hot, wild, confident. Damn, she wanted this.
Troy lifted her from the wall, reaching back to unclick her bra. It fell away and Jessica shimmied out of it quickly, her blouse dropping to the floor. Her hands gripped his jacket and Jessica realized that she didn’t want him to take it off.
She shuddered and arched against him, her fingers curling tighter in his jacket as she pressed against him, the cool air ghosting her breasts.
Her breath caught in her throat, “Troy…”
His body was strong and warm as it pressed against her, the leather of his jacket brushing against her breasts. They were moving so fast! Jessica had no time to contemplate this, before he was stroking her nipple with his thumb, teasing the sensitive bud as he nipped at her collarbone, pressing close until Jessica melted against the door, feeling the smooth wood against her back.
The heat between her legs was betraying her. She grabbed his jacket, letting go only to tangle her hands in his shirt, pulling it up to reveal the toned muscle beneath. A soft moan escaped her as she pushed up against him, her breasts rubbing against his skin.
Jessica could feel a bulge in his jeans, and she pressed against him with wild abandonment. Her heart was pounding as if she was on a bike, the same kind of reckless freedom coursing through her veins. Troy moaned against her neck, hands reaching around, down the curve of her back to grasp her behind in strong hands.
Jessica gasped as she was pulled onto her tip toes, arching as he lifted her almost off the ground. The heat was growing unbearable and she wished she wasn’t wearing pants because she wanted Troy more than she had wanted anyone in a very long time.
Troy seemed to be reading her mind. He skimmed her legs with his hand, finding the button and undoing it quickly. Jessica didn’t bother to resist as her pant
s fell from her skin, dropping into a heap on the floor and leaving her dressed in nothing but a pair of panties. Jessica squirmed as Troy’s hand moved between her legs, stroking the warmth that lay there. Bold, passionate. When his fingers moved to pull aside her panties, Jessica thought she might never start breathing again, her head dropping back against the door.
Skillful fingers stroked her thighs, his breathing growing hot and heavy against her skin. Her body tingled, her breasts pressed tightly between them as his fingers hooked into the fabric of her panties.
She groaned softly as he tugged them down. She felt the soft cotton of her underwear give way, slipping down her skin. She tried to close her legs, push them closer together, even as she felt a dampness against her thighs.
She felt him breathe against her neck, voice low and insistent in her ear, “Better part your thighs for me.”
Jessica couldn’t help but respond and Troy pulled them down until she stepped out of the fabric, leaving her wearing nothing at all.
She moaned as she shivered and her body responded traitorously, parting her thighs. Troy didn’t hesitate, his fingers exploring the heat between her thighs, pushing slowly within her and making Jessica gasp with desire, biting her lip to hold back the cry.
She shivered, arched, hands reaching for his jeans, forcefully unzipping them, fumbling as she undid the button.
Troy chuckled against her skin, but his breathing was growing as shaky as hers, “Damn…”
Jessica gasped, bucking her hips as his fingers pushed deeper within her. Her hands grabbed at Troy’s jacket, thrilling at the feeling of the leather tangled in her fingertips. Her breathing was shaky as the burning pleasures rose inside her. Troy braced one hand against the door and Jessica could see, even through the leather, how his muscles tensed.
“More.” She moaned, nothing more than a whimper torn from the depth of the desires now lighting up her skin.
“You asked for it sweetheart.” Troy’s voice was strained and before Jessica knew it, he had was lifting her up, back pressed against the door. Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck, his broad shoulders, her legs wrapping around his hips to brace herself.
Troy groaned and Jessica bit her lip as she felt Troy’s girth press against her, hot and ready and oh so impressive. A gasp left her as he slowly entered her, the heat building within her to a fever pitch and making Jessica feel as if she was about to pass out- and he had not even started yet.
He was gasping too and Jessica tightened around him, thrilling at the way it made him groan. He had one arm around her, holding her up, the other braced against the door. She could feel sweat trickling down her spine.
Then Troy began to move, and all she could feel was him. His thrusts were strong, strong and in control and it was all Jessica could do to hold on. The way their hips rocked together was delicious and Jessica arched into him in time to his thrusts, gasping and moaning as he claimed her, mind, body and soul.
Faster, harder, all consuming. Every thrust made Jessica feel light heated. The pressure between her thighs was building. The pleasure was welling up within her. It was too much, and all she could feel was him. Troy, and a burning desire unlike anything she could remember feeling.
Leather and gas, sex and sweat and Jessica was loving every moment of it. Polite society be damned, she had never felt so free.
Jessica’s climax hit her hard and fast, the expert way Troy pushed against her giving her delicious friction. Jessica couldn’t help but cry out as wave after wave of pleasure slammed into her. Troy climaxed soon after, holding her tightly, pushing her tighter between him and the wall until she barely had room to writhe with the pleasure that was overwhelming and all consuming.
Slowly, slowly, the pleasure eased from her, leaving her with the warm bubble of the afterglow inside her. Slowly, Troy shifted and set her back down on her feet. She leaned against the door, feeling too shaky to keep herself upright.
Troy shifted, disposing of a condom that Jessica didn’t even realize he’d used. Worry flushed her skin at the lapse. She’d been so caught up in the pleasure, she hadn’t even thought about it.
Troy zipped up his jeans and Jessica was suddenly struck by her own vulnerability. For some reason, it sent a thrill down her spine.
“Where’s your bed?” Troy didn’t seem in a hurry to move far from her.
“Just… up the hall.” Confusion swirled in Jessica’s mind, still a little overwhelmed by everything that had just happened. Troy nodded and, before Jessica could protest, she had been lifted into his arms and carried to her bedroom. He set her down with surprising gentility and pulled the blankets over her.
“I’ll see what I can do about that loan.” He smirked, and maybe it was just the light, but it seemed softer than before, “I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
And suddenly, it was all over. The day that Jessica had was still swirling through her head, the night she had still burnt through her body. But Jessica was too tired to deal with any of it. She shut her eyes and drifted into sleep as she heard the front door shut with a final click.
She knew that she should be angry with Troy, should hate him. But she couldn’t find it in her heart to hate a man who made her feel as free as Troy did.
She’d never been able to do that.
***
The next few days seemed to pass in a blur, everything moving too fast for Jessica to keep up. Between work, late night shifts and discussions with Troy, she didn’t seem to get any sleep. Troy was true to his word in helping her get a loan. He acted casual, acted like he didn’t really care one way or another, but Jessica could tell that he was working hard for her and the thought sent flutters through her.
However, as the days dragged on, there was still no sign of a loan, and no sign of anything else that might get her out of this situation. Jessica spent hours sitting in her home, unable to sleep, despite her exhaustion, mourning everything that once was. She didn’t like this house, this house with all of its painful memories, but it was still the only life she knew, the only security she had, and the thought of it being taken from her cut her deeply.
Exhaustion started to work its way into her soul, deeper than her bones as the week drew to a close and there was no resolution. She knew that Ace had no legal right to force her to sell the property, seeing as it wasn’t exactly the most legal lone in the first place, but she knew that she would pay either way, and the cops would be no help at all.
Even Troy seemed disheartened when he showed up at her door a few days later.
“Look, Jessica…” He started as soon as she opened the door, “I think your best bet is to plead your case with Ace again.”
“What?” Surprise surged through her and confusion followed soon after, “But you said that was a stupid move.”
“So you do listen to me.” He grinned, folding his arms across his broad chest, “Look, don’t go arguing with him– that’s stupid. Get your shit together, let him see exactly how you plan on paying him back.” He shrugged, “Not saying it’s gonna work, but it’s the best shot you’ve got.”
Jessica nodded, feeling trepidation swirl in her stomach, “When should I meet him?”
“Tonight.” Troy’s reply was instant, “I’ll arrange for dinner at the club house, just us three.” He looked her over, “Hope you’re good with your mouth.”
Jessica blushed at the dirty innuendo, crossing her arms as she stared him down, “What time?”
Troy shrugged, “Seven-ish. I’ll pick you up.” He grinned, “And wear something nice, huh? Ace is always more relaxed when he’s had a couple drinks and is talking with a pretty girl.”
Stubbornness reared its head inside her and Jessica considered wearing the least appealing clothing she owned, just to make a goddamn point. Instead, she shot back, “You didn’t seem to mind what I was wearing last time.”
Troy chuckled and shrugged his shoulder, “Yeah, but I have better taste than Ace does.” He turned and headed towards his bike, calling over h
is shoulder, “Around seven. Be ready.”
Jessica spent the rest of the day getting ready, despite the stubbornness that made her want to throw it all away and tell them to all go to hell.
Instead, she gathered her finances, worked out what she could pay them, and how often, and tried to make it sound better than it was. She spent a few hours doing that, getting everything in order for the dinner, wanting to be well and truly ready for whatever came her way tonight.
Once she had finished, she glanced at the clock and realized that she still had a few hours before it was time to meet Troy and head off to the meeting.
For a long moment, she debated not getting dressed up at all. Then she thought of Troy, as smug and offhanded as he was being, she also knew he was risking his reputation, at least, by setting up this meeting for her. The least she could do was honor his advice and get ready like he suggested.
So Jessica did something that she had not done in what felt like years. She pulled out all of the stops. She lit a few pretty smelling candles that were gathering dust on an old shelf, she grabbed a towel, and she got to work.
Stepping into the shower, Jessica started by lathering on a mask on her hair and on her face. She grabbed the body scrubs that had been languishing at the back of her cupboard. She scrubbed every inch of her skin with the sweet smelling lotions until her skin glowed and shone as if it was fresh and new. She let the mask soak into her hair, which she had let become drab and dull over time.
She hoped that the mask would take care of the exhaustion that seemed to cover her face at all times, too. Jessica grabbed her razor and started shaving her skin, getting to all the neglected places that she had not touched in months. After all, what was the point when you were working multiple shifts with no social life to speak of, let alone a dating life?
The razor glided across her skin, leaving her feeling fresh and preened. She had almost forgotten how lovely it could feel to take care of herself. Jessica rinsed off the hair mask and face mask under a warm shower spray. She took her time to really shampoo her hair, massaging the scalp, before rinsing it all off and throwing in a heap of conditioner.
