“This is an ATV. We use it to get around the property. You can drive one yourself or you can ride with me, whichever you’re comfortable with.”
“I’ve never driven anything.” They look intimidating.
“How about I take you this time, and then when you’re comfortable, you can try riding one on your own another time?”
“Okay.”
“Come here.” He waves me over as he swings his leg over the seat. “It’s easier if you sit behind me so I can see where I’m going. You have to wrap your arms around me and hold on tight.”
I walk over to him and stand there like a child as he fits a helmet over my head and then he pats the seat behind him. I look down at my skirt and his eyes follow mine.
“Can I help?” he asks, looking up at me. He reaches out for the hem of my skirt and I let him, even though my knees are knocking together.
“Just kind of tuck it between your legs if that would be more comfortable.” I watch him fumble trying to show me what he means without actually putting his hands between my legs.
“I can do it.” I pull my skirt around me and tuck it between my legs and hold it there as I throw my leg over the seat. He grabs my arms and wraps them around him and holds them to his chest.
“Hold on!” he yells as he starts the engine.
I clasp my hands together in front of him and as the machine takes off, I lean my body toward him and rest my cheek on his back. I inhale his scent. He smells like a mixture of sweat and clean laundry. He smells so good. His back muscles are hard and they flex every time he turns the steering wheel. I squeeze my thighs against his, trying not to fall off. My bare legs wrapped around him spark this deep ache in my body. A desire that I can’t seem to control.
He drives down a trail, splashing in puddles and careening over tree stumps and loose branches. My body slams into his with each bump and I can’t help but to hold onto him a little tighter. We pull up to a huge elm tree near a large lake. There are snow-capped mountains surrounding us. The beams of sunshine make the snow on the mountain tops sparkle and the water in the lake glisten. The deep green rolling hills are picturesque and go on for miles. It’s amazing and so serene.
He jumps off of the machine and reaches his hand out for mine. I place my small hand in his large one and my body breaks out in goose bumps. He helps me to my feet and I immediately smooth my skirt and then stand still, letting him unstrap my helmet. Our faces are really close. I look up to his chocolate brown eyes and realize he’s staring at my lips. His eyes lift from under his long eyelashes and drawn brow, and I immediately bow my head and bite my lip while staring at my shoes. The new shoes that he bought me. They’re called chucks. I picked pink. I click my heels together and continue to entertain myself.
There is an awkward moment of silence until he grabs my hand. “Come on.” He leads me to the tree and then I see the steps. Wooden boards nailed to the trunk that lead to a wooden fort in the tree. He gestures for me to go first and then he follows me up. I lift myself through a square hole in the wood floor and crawl into the fort. It’s completely enclosed with two openings carved out for windows. One large opening faces the mountains and the other faces the trail we just used. There is a blanket and a few throw pillows in the fort. Faded drawings and words written with crayon long ago cover the walls.
“What do you think?” he asks as he climbs through the opening in the floor.
“This is great! I feel like a little kid. Look at the view!” I exclaim, pointing through the opening.
“I know right? I used to come here all the time as a kid. Laney and I hung out here for hours and hours.”
“I would have too,” I say while glancing around, imagining him and Laney laughing and giggling, playing pretend. I was probably hiding in the pantry or getting non-existent dirt scrubbed off of me in the hot shower.
He slumps down against the wall with his legs spread, one knee up with one arm dangling over it. He rubs the scruff on his chin as if he’s thinking about something. “Can I ask you a question?” he asks with a frown.
“Hmmm?” I sit on the floor on the opposite wall facing him with my knees pulled to my chest and my skirt pulled down over them.
“Does it bother you when I touch you?” he asks quietly.
His words cause my body to heat up and I feel a blush spread across my face.
“At first,” I answer honestly. “My mother always told me that touching is dirty. That boys will hurt me. I know she’s sick and I know bad things happened to her. I just haven’t had any contact with anyone other than her and it was a little alarming at first. But not now. It’s comforting. You make me feel safe.”