"Hop on!" Tank is holding out his hand to me. I've had a secret crush on my friend since we met. His beauty goes deeper than the physical reason we all call him 'Tank'. I get tongue-tied when he's in the room, let alone this close to me.
"I've never..." He smiles and flicks back his hair.
"Just hop on. You'll love it! My bike is my freedom." I reach for his hand and lock eyes with him. His eyes twinkle in the sunlight. And with my heart racing, I do as he says, and find myself siting right behind him.
"Here." He hands me a helmet.
"Where's yours?"
"Nah. I like to feel the breeze!" Wish I had more time to analyze all of this. Are we safe? I have jeans on, and a pullover. But Tank is only wearing cutoffs and sneakers. Awkward does not begin to tell what I am feeling. Where do I put my feet? My hands? The day is very warm and there's a wonderful springtime scent in the air. I would be happy to just sit like this all day. Me and Tank.
"Ready?" He's turned, and looks at me. The bike roars to life.
"NO!" He laughs.
"Sure you are." Tank motions his head downward. "Feet on the pedals." His long hair brushes by my face. I hope he didn't hear me take in such a deep breath. "Shirt off! It's too nice out. Get the sun like me." I peel it off, and tuck it into my belt.
"What do I do with my hands?" On goes the helmet. My eyes are darting everywhere hoping to find a handle, or a...something to grab onto. He's now got my left hand in his, and as he swings both toward his belly, I catch my breath, real quick and hard.
"Other one, too!" His gaze is straight ahead, like he's about to take off. Just as my right hand feels his skin, I'm suddenly thrust backward into the short sissy bar at my rear. I quickly rebound out of fear; and as my hands had slipped to his flanks, they now are sliding quickly back to his abs. Kind of like...okay, it IS a bear hug!
"You okay?" His hair is whipping into my face. We took off like a rocket, and though I trust Tank completely, I suddenly realize his question has a lot to do with the fact that I'm squeezing his body like a vise. I loosen my grip - just a little - and in response, Tank throttles the bike back - just a little. I like this.
"We'll take it easy and ride over to get some beers." He has to shout so I can hear him, but my face is so close to his ear that I am certain my normal tone of voice is working.
"Okay." I say it. He nods. Good, he heard me. Taking in the countryside now, and it sure is nice. Warm, even relaxing. With any fear all gone, I can focus on...other things.
"Damn! Tank jerks a bit to the right. I tighten my grip on his body. He turns toward his right shoulder.
"They hit hard with no shirt on!" There's a bug glued to his skin. I instinctively reach up and flick it off, not sure now what to do with my hand.
"Thanks!"
I feel the warmth of the sun on my body, drink in the fragrance of the meadows we pass, and melt a bit with each time a plume of his hair teases my face in the wind. My free hand moves to his side. Both slide down a bit, and rest on Tank's hips. I feel relaxed enough this way, and he seems to get the message. Taking his right hand off the handlebars, I watch in slow motion as it moves down and back toward my leg. The pat and slide he just gave me sends a bolt up my spine, and reminds me that my chest is still pretty much glued to his back. Can he feel my heart beating? I can.
"You did good. Wind dries me out. Ready for a brew?" We're in the lot of the Country Cabin, the only store out here. I dismount onto only slightly shaky legs, helmet goes over the sissy bar, and I head for the store.
"My buy. What'll it be?" Tank dismounts, and checks out his bike.
"Just a brew, thanks."
