Ride With Me

Chapter Fourteen

After breakfast, Piper had every intention of melting back into the familiar anonymity of the background. Not completely, of course. She wasn't planning on a dramatic exit, no sudden bus ticket out of state. Her strategy was far simpler: remain tethered to Chloe and Maya, a comfortable satellite orbiting their established sphere. They had extended a casual invitation to accompany them while the menfolk, Knox included, engaged in the ritualistic preparations for the evening's races—tinkering with bikes, discussing potential matchups, and generally immersing themselves in the testosterone-fueled atmosphere. Piper was more than happy to accept, eager to avoid any potential awkwardness.

Besides, a more pressing concern lingered: she didn't want to crowd Knox. Last night had been an avalanche of unexpected moments, each one more disarming than the last. Waking up beside him had been a revelation, a quiet intimacy that had settled deep within her. Then came the offer of his motorcycle, the keys to a machine so sacred that no one else was permitted to even touch it, handed over to her with a trust that made her breath catch. She was still wrestling with the implications of that gesture, the sheer weight of his faith in her. The absolute last thing she wanted was for him to wake up this morning and perceive her as clingy.

With that resolution firmly in place, she fell in step behind Chloe and Maya as they ambled toward the other side of the property. She had made it approximately twenty feet, her gaze already drifting towards the distant murmur of activity, when a voice, resonant and familiar, called out. "Rabbit."

She stopped, her steps faltering. Turning, she found Knox standing several yards behind her, a stark figure against the bright morning light. He had changed into a simple black T-shirt and jeans, his tattooed arms exposed beneath the short sleeves, the dark ink a stark contrast to his sun-kissed skin. His dark hair, still slightly tousled from sleep, fell across his forehead, and the late morning sun caught the silver rings on his fingers as he gestured towards the far end of the property.

"Come with me," he said, his voice a low invitation.

Piper glanced towards Chloe and Maya, who were already a good distance away, then back at him. "Where?"

"Going to check out some of the competition coming in," he explained, his gaze drifting towards the distant stretch of asphalt where the first few riders were beginning to arrive, their engines a low thrum on the horizon.

"Oh," Piper murmured, a flicker of understanding. She hesitated for a bare half-second, the internal debate weighing her desire for distance against the pull of his presence. Then, a small nod. "Sure."

Knox turned and started walking, and Piper followed, falling into step a respectable distance behind him. Not too far, not close enough to be obvious, but far enough to maintain a semblance of personal space. A few feet should do, she reasoned.

She had barely made it halfway across the property when Knox stopped abruptly. Piper’s forward momentum almost carried her into him. He turned, his gaze flicking down to the deliberate space she had maintained between them, then back up to her face, one eyebrow arching in silent inquiry.

"What?" she asked.

He blinked innocently, feigning ignorance. "Nothing." His gaze dropped to the gap between them, then returned to her face, a subtle shift in his expression. Without a word, he reached out, his fingers gently catching her wrist. Piper’s breath hitched, a silent gasp escaping her. He tugged her toward him, not with force, but with a subtle, undeniable pull, erasing the distance she had so carefully tried to maintain.

She looked up at him, her voice a soft question. "Knox—"

His fingers slid from her wrist, weaving through hers, and then he intertwined them with hers, a simple, intimate gesture. Piper stared down at their joined hands, her mind momentarily blanking, her ability to breathe seemingly suspended. Knox, however, seemed unfazed, as if this were the most natural action in the world. He simply turned back toward the arriving bikes and continued walking, taking her with him, his hand holding hers as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Piper looked down at their fingers again, then up at his profile. "You're not very subtle."

His mouth curved into a familiar, easy smile. "Neither are you."

"I was being subtle," she countered, a hint of playful protest in her voice.

"You were walking six feet behind me," he stated.

"Three," she corrected.

"Felt like six."

She fought a smile, the corners of her lips twitching. "You noticed?"

"I notice everything," he replied, his voice a low murmur. That answer sent an unexpected, delightful flutter through her chest.

They continued across the property, the rhythmic swing of their joined hands drawing considerably more attention than Piper had anticipated. Heads turned. Conversations faltered, conversations that had been lively moments before now petered out into hushed murmurs. A few men glanced over, their eyes lingering on their clasped hands, before breaking into knowing grins.

The women, however, were a different story entirely. One woman, standing beside a sleek, custom motorcycle, actually stopped mid-sentence when she saw them. Her eyes dropped to their joined hands, then slowly traveled up to Knox’s face, before snapping back to Piper with an expression that could only be described as deeply offended by a development she had not personally approved. Another woman stared openly, her gaze frankly appraising. A third leaned toward her friend, whispering something behind her hand. Her friend looked over, her expression darkening with a flicker of something akin to envy.

Piper bit the inside of her cheek, a silent battle to keep from smiling. She hadn't realized Knox came with his own personal weather system. Apparently, whenever he walked into a room, or in this case, a gathering, women either wanted him or wanted to murder whoever had managed to secure his attention first. And right now, Piper seemed to be public enemy number one in their unspoken, fierce competition.

She glanced sideways at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know people are staring."

Knox didn't even look over, his gaze fixed ahead. "Let them."

Piper's eyebrows rose, a silent question. "You're not concerned?"

"No," he replied, his voice calm and steady. His thumb brushed once over the back of her hand, a tiny, almost imperceptible gesture. The simple touch shouldn't have affected her as much as it did, but it sent a jolt through her, a spark of something unexpected and undeniable.

They reached the strip where several motorcycles were pulling in, their engines rumbling a low, powerful song as riders rolled toward the staging area. The air, thick with the scent of gasoline, hot rubber, and exhaust fumes, crackled with an electric anticipation. Mechanics and riders moved around the bikes with practiced efficiency, checking chains, tires, brakes, and engines, while others stood nearby, engaged in animated discussions about the night's potential matchups.

Piper's attention sharpened immediately. This was her element. This was the part of the racing world she understood implicitly. The bikes. The road. The competition. She spotted several familiar riders, her eyes automatically cataloging their machines, noting subtle modifications, listening to the distinct growl of their engines.

Then she saw him. Ryker. He was standing across the way, beside a motorcycle, inspecting something near the front wheel, his posture radiating an infuriating smugness. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up. Their eyes met. His mouth slowly curved into a smug smile, a clear I've-got-you-now expression.

Piper's fingers tightened around Knox's, a silent surge of adrenaline coursing through her. She stopped walking. Knox glanced down at her, his brow furrowed. "What?"

She kept her eyes locked on Ryker, her voice low and deliberate. "Would you do me a huge favor?"

"Depends," Knox replied, his tone cautious.

Her gaze shifted toward Knox, then back toward Ryker. "I want another race."

Knox followed her line of sight, his expression immediately changing, hardening with a protective instinct. "Rabbit..."

"I want to race him," she stated, her voice firm, unwavering.

He looked back at her, his jaw tight. "No."

She turned fully towards him, a playful challenge in her eyes. "That wasn't even a complete sentence."

"It didn't need to be," he countered.

She smiled, a slow, deliberate unfolding of her lips. "Please?"

"No," he said, his voice absolute.

"Why?" she pressed, her competitive spirit already roaring to life.

"Because your bike is sitting in the back of Diesel's truck with two destroyed tires, and you're asking me to let you race Ryker on a motorcycle you've never ridden," he stated, the logic irrefutable.

"Exactly," she declared, her grin widening.

Knox stared at her, a mixture of disbelief and exasperation on his face.

Piper smiled wider, her competitive instincts taking over. "No bets."

His jaw tightened further. "That's not the part I'm worried about."

"Just the credit," she insisted, her gaze returning to Ryker, who was still watching them, a predatory smirk playing on his lips. Piper's competitive instincts were already at a fever pitch. "I want to kick his ass on a bike I've never driven before."

Knox looked back at her, his eyes searching hers. "Rabbit..."

She gave him the look, the one that clearly communicated she had already made up her mind, the one that said there was no changing her course.

His eyes narrowed, a flicker of concern warring with a grudging admiration. "You've got a death wish."

"Only when someone gives me a reason," she retorted, her gaze sharp.

He sighed, a sound of reluctant concession. Then his gaze traveled over her face, lingering on the unadulterated excitement she wasn't even attempting to hide. "At least run my bike a few times before I do that for you."

Piper's entire face lit up, her earlier defiance replaced by pure, unadulterated joy. "Seriously?"

Knox shook his head, but the corner of his mouth was beginning to pull into a smile. "You're excited about this."

"Very," she confirmed, her eyes sparkling.

"I can tell."

She squeezed his hand, a gesture of genuine affection. "I'll be careful."

"I know," he replied, his voice softer now. He glanced toward his motorcycle, parked farther down the property, a sleek, powerful machine that embodied his very essence. "But you're going to learn it first."

Piper looked toward the bike, then back at him, her grin becoming almost wicked. "Deal."

Across the strip, Ryker watched the exchange, his smug smile faltering as he observed Piper's triumphant expression and Knox's reluctant agreement. Piper caught his eye again. This time, she smiled. Not sweetly. Not politely. It was the smile of a woman who had just been handed exactly what she wanted, a promise of retribution delivered with a flash of teeth.

Ryker's smirk faded completely, replaced by a grim understanding. Knox noticed, and a slow smile of his own appeared. "Something tells me," he murmured, his gaze still on Ryker, "he's about to regret it if he agrees to this."

Piper’s icy eyes gleamed, her smile widening. "I certainly hope so."