Aspen's Stunt

by Melissa Grace

  Aspen looked over at her passenger for a brief moment and then back to the trail in front of them. She shifted down when they reached the sandy area. “You warm enough?” She yelled out over the engine noise.

  “What was that?”

  Aspen stopped the buggy. “Are you cold?”

  “A little.”

  “Won’t take much longer. We’re saving a lot of time taking this buggy.” She progressed much slower toward the vast darkness.

  Wren saw nothing in front of her, but sand, exposed by the buggy’s headlights. She looked up at the night sky, wondering when was the last time she had seen so many stars that were almost close enough to touch in the sky.

  “Keep your eyes fixated up ahead. You’re about to see Fort Rock.”

  As soon as Aspen finished her sentence, the rock formation appeared.

  “Wow…it’s bigger than I expected.”

  Aspen pulled up close to the rock and cut the engine. “Sorry you got cold. I should have brought you a blanket and had you layer up more. I’m a bit cold, too.”

  When Aspen removed her helmet and flipped her hair, Wren suddenly felt like the air turned ten degrees warmer. “I’m a big girl. I can manage.” She removed her helmet and flipped her own hair, pleased with Aspen’s attentiveness to her movement. She set her helmet on her seat.

  “Follow me.” Aspen reached out her gloved hand and clasped onto Wren’s. Their hands wrapped naturally. “I’ll take you to my favorite spot on the rock. It’ll be just a little bit of climbing. My favorite spot knows how to resist some of that cool wind you’re feeling. It’ll cradle us. Okay?”

  “I’m game.”

  They climbed, hand-in-hand, to Aspen’s favorite lookout spot, assisting one another along the way.

  “It’s beautiful up here, Aspen. I feel so close to the stars.” They sat unusually close, sharing what body heat they could muster up.

  “Aspen?”

  “Yes?”

  “Have you ever been up here with Trigg?”

  “What? No.” Aspen gasped. “What made you think that?”

  “Just curious. Seems like a pretty romantic spot.” She looked up at the lopsided moon.

  “Honestly? You’re the only person I have ever brought up here like this.” Her focus remained fixated on the moon, reflecting in Wren’s eyes. “I mean, I have been up here with a group of friends, but if you’re asking if I ever brought up a special someone…then, not until—”

  A howl echoed in the rocks.

  Wren grabbed Aspen’s arm. “What was that?”

  “What was what?” All she could hear was her own heartbeat.

  “Is that a coyote making that noise?”

  “Yup. Just wait, more will join in.”

  As if on cue, a harmony of coyote wails echoed across the rocks.

  “They sound so beautiful. I can’t believe I have never heard this before. Why do they do that?”

  “They are communicating.”

  “Well, I know that.” Wren leaned into Aspen tighter. “What do you think they’re saying?”

  “Usually they are announcing their territory. They are letting each other know where they plan to hunt.”

  They listened in silence for a few minutes, leaning into one another, keeping each other warm in the nippy air.

  “I wonder what noise they make when they are courting one another?” Wren tilted her head far enough for her lips to find Aspen’s neck. She let them brush gently against her skin, as though it was just a simple cuddle, but she meant it to be a lot more. The heat from her mouth made Aspen tremble. “Are you still cold?” She left her head on Aspen’s shoulder, nervous that she may be overstepping boundaries, but even more fearful of stopping, and not knowing what could happen next.

  “Not so much at the moment.” Aspen turned her head slightly so it rested against Wren’s. She closed her eyes, listening to the coyotes, feeling each tender touch. Feeling each breath Wren made against her.

  Wren raised her chin until their mouths almost met. “Are you okay?”

  Aspen nodded.

  “I’m a little scared.” Wren’s lips hovered close to Aspen’s mouth.

  “I’m a little scared, too.” Her smiling eyes glistened in the moonlight.

  “Are you okay with how close we are right now?”

  “Yeah, actually. Probably a lot more than I should be.” She removed her glove and let her fingertips trace along the side seam of Wren’s jeans, just to the outside of her knee.

  “I think our feelings are mutual. I just need to be sure.”

  Aspen nodded as she lifted her chin, making her mouth more accessible.

  “I want to kiss—”

  Their lips fused when Aspen leaned in first. They tightened their embrace, investigating each other’s mouths. Tasting the desire from each other’s tongues, their movements became more urgent.

  Aspen reached around Wren’s thick fluffy jacket and squeezed her tighter to her, but Wren wanted more. She flung her gloves onto the stone and before reaching her hands up under Aspen’s jacket, flung her leg around Aspen so she straddled her lap.

  Aspen could feel an arousal more intense than she had ever experienced before. She gasped before suddenly pulling away.

  “What is it?”

  She was panting. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  Wren pulled her closer. “Trust me, you’re doing just fine.”

  Aspen could feel her heart racing. Excited and terrified, she questioned whether or not she should be acting on her impulses.

  “Communicate with me, Aspen. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “This is all new to me.” Her chest heaved as she fought to catch her breath.

  “Aspen.” Wren looked deep into her eyes, seeing the contrast of the various blue tones reflecting the moon. “This is all new to me, too.”

  “It is?”

  “Yes, Aspen.” She giggled from her bluntness. “I wanted to wait until I found that special someone. That person is you, Aspen.” Wren leaned in for another kiss and when she pulled away, her lips were still parted. The strong yearning in her eyes couldn’t be misunderstood for anything else but her increasing desire to connect with Aspen. “We’ll figure it out together. We can stop anytime you want, but I have to admit, I’ll take this as far as you want go.”

  They leaned back onto a smooth section of the rock as the lurking sounds of howling coyotes echoed against the rocks. Their hands investigated each other’s bodies until their frost-kissed fingers found bare skin, sending shivers, zipping throughout their bodies, but giving off enough energy to keep their toes comfortably warm.

  Working within each other’s clothing, so as not to expose their sensitive skin to the frosty air, was simpler than they thought it would be. They caressed the areas of the other person’s body—the parts that ached for sensual touches within themselves—shifting and rolling, kneading and pulling, accessing the parts that would experience the most sensation, the most pleasure.

  It was then, that very first night in Christmas Valley; they gave in to their growing affections beneath the moonlit night. Their dance of discovery sustained, as coyotes resumed their howling ballads of the hunt, in the nearby darkness.

  ~~@

  “I can’t,” Aspen giggled quietly as she tried hard to resist joining Wren in the guest bedroom. She stepped carefully so as not to engage the creaky floors.

  “Don’t tell me the stunt girl is worn out from our little excursion on Fort Rock,” Wren teased. “It’s only, like…three in the morning.” She pressed Aspen’s hand against her chest. “Can you feel my heartbeat? I don’t think I’ll be ready to sleep any time soon.”

  “I am far from worn out, and trust me…my heart is behaving in the same exact manner. It doesn’t even get close to being this worked up before a race.”

  “Then come to bed with me.” Wren tried to pull her into her room.

  Aspen rested her index finger against her mouth. “Sh. Dad’s sleeping at the end of
the hall.”

  They giggled.

  “Okay, I’ll be quiet. But so you know, after the night we had, I can’t possibly sleep alone. I want to wake up with you beside me.” Wren reached her hand under Aspens shirt and lightly stroked her stomach with her fingers. “I can’t stop touching you.”

  “You must.” Aspen reluctantly pulled away. “Believe me, I want to go in there with you. I want to real bad.” She looked down the hall at her dad’s door. “We can’t.”

  “Aspen, I really do understand and I don’t mean to be so pushy. I just—well—you make me feel things no one has ever made me feel before.”

  Aspen shoved Wren against the wall, pressing her body firmly into hers. She kissed her so hard it took both of their breaths away. “God, Wren. What you do to my body. I can’t take it. I feel like I am slowly exploding from the inside out.”

  Wren yanked Aspen to her mouth and they practically devoured each other.

  “I’ve got to stop.” Wren rested her chin on Aspen’s shoulder as they each tried to catch their breath. “I want to respect your wishes, but I need you to be the strong one here and walk away first, because there is absolutely no way I can stop myself right now.” She began to take small nibbles and licks of Aspen’s neck.

  “God, Wren. You are so not making this easy.” She lifted her chin to give Wren better access when she heard a creak in the floor down the hall. They both froze.

  Aspen slid her leg out from between Wren’s and remained mesmerized by the bright color of her rosy lips. She was certain hers must be the same color. “I’ll be dreaming about you all night.” She turned and reluctantly withdrew into her room.

  Wren retreated into her own room and shut the door behind her.

  Both girls dropped on their beds and stared at their ceilings. The house was so silent they could still hear their cravings ringing in their ears. They both fell asleep listening for each other’s footsteps to approach from outside the hallway.

  ~~@

  “Good morning, Wren. Did you have a good night’s sleep?” In anticipation of Wren descending the stairs, Cole had a steaming cup of coffee ready to pass her.

  “Ah, that is so sweet of you.” She accepted the cup. “And yes indeed. That was some of the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.” She looked over at Aspen, whose back was turned toward her.

  Cole turned to Aspen. “Thanks for gettin’ up early to help me with the chores this morning, Sweetheart.” He approached her and kissed her on the forehead.

  “I miss our morning chores, Dad. I just forgot how much they can wear you out.” She rubbed the back of her neck. There was a tender spot in her right shoulder where her back was jammed up against a rock the night before.

  “There’s some Aleve in the cabinet, Sweetheart. Why don’t you take a couple to help work out the kinks?”

  “Good idea, Dad.”

  Wren held her coffee cup up against her lips, trying to hide her grin.

  “Can I fix you some eggs and bacon, Wren? Aspen collected the eggs this morning.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “Any preference on how you want ‘em?”

  “I’m not picky. Over easy. Scrambled. Sunny side up. However you like ‘em.” Wren caught Aspen looking at her and she responded with a different type of hunger in her eyes.

  Aspen clumsily bumped her head on the cabinet door as she tried to shut it.

  “You okay, Sweetheart?”

  “Yeah, Dad. Just klutzy this morning.” She glanced at Wren who was now blowing on her coffee, but then stopped to flash her a wicked smile.

  “Okay, Wren…sunny side up it is.” Cole grabbed a pan. “That way you can dip your toast in the yolk. Yum, yum, yum.”

  “Can I help you do anything, Cole?” Wren set her coffee cup at her spot at the table.

  “You wanna get out the bacon?”

  “Sure. You cook the eggs and I’ll tend to the bacon. Extra crispy okay?”

  “Sure is. Thanks, Kiddo.”

  Aspen looked at Wren and mouthed the word ‘Kiddo’ in a teasing manner.

  Wren liked the nickname. “You gonna get the toast ready, Aspen?” She almost used the same dialect as Cole.

  “All over it.” Aspen threw the loaf of bread on the counter and fetched the butter from the refrigerator. “I’ll let you guys get caught up first. I got the easy job this time.”

  “I sure could get used to you girls bein’ here full time,” Cole said.

  Aspen laughed. “I doubt Wren feels the same type of connection to Christmas Valley as we do, Dad. She’s a city girl.”

  Wren raised an eyebrow. “Not necessarily.”

  “We’ll see how you feel after we hit the sand dunes on our dirt bikes today. The terrain is going to kick your ass.”

  “Aspen.” Cole scowled.

  “Sorry, Dad.”

  “It’ll kick your butt,” she corrected herself.

  “We’ll see about that, Stunt Girl. I may have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

  “Really, now.”

  “Yes, really. I’m not as weak as you may think.”

  “Didn’t say you were weak. Just that I am gonna be kicking butt and taking names.”

  “Like I said…we’ll see about that.” Wren slapped the bacon on the griddle. “Bring it on, Stunt Girl!”

  “Oh, I intend to.”

  “You girls sure are competitive,” Cole said.

  The girls immediately stopped their banter and went back to fixing breakfast.

  ~~@

  “This is going to be your dirt bike.” Aspen grasped the handlebar with a firm grip. The look of pride flooded her face.

  “It’s perfect.” Wren swung her leg over the seat and grasped the handlebars.

  “This was my first big girl bike. Dad got it for me when I turned sixteen. She’s won me a few events.”

  “You mean you won—”

  “Sh. You’ll upset her.”

  They both laughed until they realized Aspen’s hand had somehow made it to the seat between Wren’s legs.

  Wren looked at her playfully.

  Aspen yanked her arm back.

  “What?”

  “What do you mean, what?” Aspen leaned in so her softened words couldn’t be heard from the house. “After last night my focus is all off. All I can think about is—” She looked Wren up and down. “I promised Gideon I would keep you safe. Safety takes focus. It’s got to be our priority today.”

  Wren reached for her wrist. She held it gently. “You will keep me safe.”

  “Not if all I can think about is recreating what happened last night.”

  Wren took a deep breath. “I’ll tell you what.” She got off the dirt bike. “I promise to try and behave today…but only on the condition that you take me to a secluded place sometime after the night-light event this evening.”

  “Parade of Lights,” she corrected.

  “Yeah, that. You’ll need to make it up to me for having to pretend, all day, that I don’t want to totally jump your bones.” She leaned in closely. “We have a deal?”

  Aspen looked over at the house and then back to Wren. “Damn your hair smells good.”

  Wren whipped her hair with one swirl of the hand. “We got a deal?”

  Resisting the urge to kiss her, Aspen replied, “Deal!”

  They sealed the deal with a lingering hug.

  “We better check the bikes and get ‘em loaded onto the trailer. I have much to teach you.”

  “Ah, of course. I will be sure to obey every command.”

  “Good. Let’s get to it then. We have a full night ahead of us.” She gave Wren a quick swat on the butt.

  “You’ll pay for that later, you know.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  They sat down next to the bikes to perform a pre-ride safety check.

  “Don’t forget to three finger the chain.”

  “Three finger…the chain?”

  “Yes. Use three fingers to check the tension of the chain.
Like this.” She reached for the chain on Wren’s bike and pulled it down with three fingers. “If the slack reaches to this point or below,” she pointed out where, “it needs to be tightened. Your chain looks good.”

  Wren tested it for herself. “Yeah, she seems pretty tight.” She wiggled it up and down. “Sure it doesn’t need to be loosened?” The jiggling became somewhat excessive.

  Aspen cupped her hand over Wren’s to stop it from moving. “You promised you’d behave.”

  “So did you. Besides…I promised I would try to behave. All your moto-jargon has dual meanings for me. I can’t help myself.”

  “Well, try a little harder, because I won’t be able to withstand these shenanigans much longer.”

  “Harder it is.”

  They continued to inspect the bikes before loading them onto the trailer.

  “I left some gear for you in the bathroom. Go get suited up and I’ll finish strapping these down.”

  “Sure you don’t want me to help finish this up?”

  “I got it. I’ll be done and dressed before you even get back.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Aspen watched Wren swagger back to the house. “God help me,” she said aloud.

  ~~@

  “Wow! So this is the infamous Christmas Valley sand dunes.” Wren surveyed the vast terrain of cold desert.

  “Yup! It’s my second home.” She hopped out of the car and went straight to the trailer to unload the bikes.

  Wren followed.

  “The dunes are made of ash and pumice from Mount Mazama.” She pointed in its direction. “They say it erupted seven thousand years ago and this is what it left behind. A whole lot of fun.”

  “This is so cool.” Wren sifted a handful of sand between her fingers.

  “It makes wipe-outs a lot more bearable.” She had Wren’s bike off the trailer and headed to retrieve hers.

  “Want me to get that one?”

  “I’ll get it. Once you get some riding time in you can help me load them back on the trailer.”

  “Okay.”

  “Check your gear.” She parked her bike next to Wren’s and rechecked her knee pads and elbow guards while Wren walked over to the side of the truck to collect the rest of her things. “I think it’s a good idea for you to wear the chest protector as well.”