Ride With Me

Chapter Thirteen

The lingering coolness of the pre-dawn air did little to dispel the warmth that radiated from Knox. Piper nestled closer, her cheek resting against his shoulder, finding a comfortable haven in his presence. The thin canvas of the tent was a mere suggestion of separation from the waking world outside. Voices, muffled and indistinct, began to drift in, accompanied by the rhythmic scrape of boots on dirt and the occasional eruption of laughter from the direction of the campfire. The campsite was stirring, a gentle awakening from its nocturnal slumber.

Then, distinct footsteps approached their tent, halting directly outside. Piper lifted her head, her senses suddenly on alert. Knox’s eyes, previously closed, now opened, meeting hers with a quiet awareness.

"Knox?" Felix’s voice, tinged with a hint of impatience, filtered through the canvas.

Piper looked at Knox, a silent question in her eyes. He returned her gaze, his expression unreadable. Neither of them uttered a sound, the silence in the tent amplifying the anticipation outside.

Felix waited, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Knox?" he called again, his voice a little louder.

A beat of silence.

"The bacon's getting cold," Felix announced, his tone bordering on a theatrical sigh.

Still, nothing.

Felix shifted his weight outside the tent, the rustle of his movement audible. "Seriously?"

The utter lack of response seemed to finally break him. His voice dropped into a conspiratorial murmur, laced with a playful, almost cruel, teasing. "Fine. I'm giving you one last chance."

Silence. Then, his voice, now a conspiratorial whisper, laced with a wicked glee, probed at their presumed intimacy. "I heard Knox had a small d**k, but judging by how long you've been in there, I'm beginning to think the poor bastard is just having trouble finding it."

The insult, so absurd and unexpected, shattered Piper’s composure. A loud, helpless laugh burst from her before she could stifle it. She instinctively slapped both hands over her mouth, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably as she buried her face against Knox’s chest, a wave of uncontrollable mirth washing over her.

Knox closed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. Outside, Felix fell silent.

Then, a stunned, drawn-out "Oh."

Piper squeezed her eyes shut, mortified but still unable to suppress her laughter. Felix’s own laughter erupted outside the tent, a boisterous, triumphant sound. "I f*****g knew it!"

Piper laughed even harder, feeling utterly betrayed by her own uncontrollable reaction. Knox dragged a hand down his face, a silent acknowledgment of Felix’s masterful, if embarrassing, infiltration of their morning.

"Breakfast. Ten minutes," Felix called, his voice now carrying a clear note of victory, before his footsteps finally moved away, leaving them in a stunned, shared silence.

Piper slowly lifted her head, the remnants of her laughter still shaking her body. She looked at Knox, a wry smile on her face. "He's horrible."

Knox’s mouth twitched, his gaze warm. "Yes."

"I've known him for less than a day," Piper murmured, still a little breathless from her laughter.

"And somehow, he already knows exactly how to make you laugh," Knox observed, his eyes holding a knowing glint.

Piper shook her head, a mixture of exasperation and amusement on her face. "I hate that he got me."

"You laughed," Knox pointed out gently.

"Because he was ridiculous," she insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.

Knox’s eyes warmed, his gaze holding hers. "Sure."

Piper playfully pointed a finger at him. "Don't start."

He smiled, a genuine, open smile that made her stomach flutter. She reached for her discarded clothes, the worn fabric a stark contrast to the soft glow of the morning. "Get dressed."

Knox grunted, a low sound of acknowledgment, as he sat up, his movements fluid and unhurried, reaching for his own clothes scattered across the tent floor. Piper moved with him, gathering her own garments before pulling on a clean, soft shirt and a pair of comfortable cotton shorts. She pushed her unruly hair away from her face, then reached for her boots, the familiar weight of them a grounding presence.

As she glanced back at Knox, she stopped, her breath catching in her throat. He was standing with his back to her, pulling on his jeans. The soft morning light, filtering through the canvas of the tent, caught across his broad shoulders, emphasizing the hard, sculpted lines of muscle beneath the intricate tapestry of his tattoos. His dark hair, still disheveled from sleep, fell across his forehead as he reached for his shirt.

Piper’s gaze lingered, longer than it should have. There was something profoundly unfair about seeing him like this—stripped of his leather jacket, his boots, his ever-present guarded expression, and the anonymous gaze of the crowd. Just Knox. Barefoot, half-dressed, and entirely too tempting for eight in the morning. A warmth curled low in her stomach, a sensation she quickly tried to quash. Absolutely not. She looked away, forcing her thoughts back into a safe, platonic realm. Again.

Knox glanced over his shoulder, his eyes meeting hers. His mouth curved into a knowing smile. Piper narrowed her eyes. "Don't."

"I didn't say anything," he replied, his voice a low rumble.

"You were going to," she accused, her voice laced with amusement.

His smile deepened. "I was thinking."

"That's worse," she retorted.

A quiet laugh rumbled through his chest. Piper grabbed one of her boots, her focus shifting back to the practicalities of the morning. "Get dressed."

"I am," he said, pulling his shirt over his head.

Piper deliberately looked away, or at least, she tried to. Her gaze flickered, stealing a glance before she could fully control it.

When they were both dressed, Knox reached for the tent flap and opened it, the bright morning light flooding the interior. "After you."

Piper climbed out first, the sunlight hitting her face, forcing her to squint as she surveyed the bustling campsite. The rich, savory aroma of bacon immediately caught her attention. Chloe and Maya were already at the grill, their movements efficient as they tended to the food and a battered coffee pot, tendrils of smoke curling lazily into the clear morning air.

Piper took another step towards the enticing scent, then stopped, her eyes widening in disbelief. Her motorcycle, her beloved Jessica Rabbit, was being carefully loaded into the back of Diesel's truck. Ben, Felix, and Diesel were working in unison, using several sturdy wooden boards they had found to create a makeshift ramp. Diesel guided the handlebars, his large frame steady, while Ben steadied the back of the bike. Felix, ever the enthusiastic supervisor, stood nearby, directing their efforts with animated gestures.

She watched as the motorcycle rolled carefully up the boards and into the truck bed. Once it was securely in place, Diesel immediately began securing it with heavy straps, his movements methodical as he checked the front wheel, then the rear, before tightening everything down with practiced ease.

Diesel glanced at her, his expression kind. "Yeah, we did." Ben nodded in agreement. "We'll get it home."

Piper looked from her damaged motorcycle to the three men, a wave of gratitude washing over her. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. "Thank you."

Diesel gave her a simple nod, his gruff demeanor softening. "No problem." Felix, ever the joker, glanced over with a grin. "See? We're useful."

Diesel snorted, a low chuckle. "Occasionally."

Piper smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "I appreciate it."

Felix placed a hand against his chest, feigning an exaggerated swoon. "Careful. Compliments before breakfast might make me emotional."

Piper laughed as she followed the group toward the picnic table provided on the property, the scent of freshly cooked food and strong coffee filling the air. Breakfast had already been laid out; a feast of eggs, sizzling bacon, savory sausage, perfectly toasted bread, fresh fruit, and enough coffee to fuel a small army. Piper found a seat beside Chloe and Maya, while the guys gathered on the opposite side of the table.

For a while, the conversation remained centered on the races, the camaraderie of shared passion evident in their animated discussions. Everyone planned to stay the night again, eager for tomorrow’s larger gathering. Word had it that several racers from other circuits were expected to arrive, and the table buzzed with talk of potential matchups, bike modifications, and who might have the nerve to challenge whom. Piper listened, sipping her coffee, a quiet observer in their enthusiastic chatter.

Maya glanced toward her, her eyes curious. "You staying tonight?"

Piper looked towards Diesel’s truck, where her damaged motorcycle was being safely stowed. "I was thinking about it."

"Good," Chloe chimed in, her smile warm. "You should."

Piper sighed, a hint of regret in her voice. "I won't be racing." She gestured towards the truck. "Not unless somebody has a spare set of tires hidden somewhere."

Knox looked at her, his gaze steady. "You can use mine."