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“Hey, hotshot. No Bessie Bear?” she teased, eyeing my motorcycle.
I chuckled. “Bessie doesn’t like the mud and dust.”
Amber batted her eyelashes innocently. “But I thought she was your good luck charm.”
“You’re the only good luck charm I need today, Wildflower,” I growled, pulling her in for a kiss.
She melted into me, her lips soft and yielding beneath mine, her scent wrapping around me. I swept my tongue over the seal of her lips, and she opened for me with a soft sigh, welcoming the thrust of my tongue. Someone whistled in the crowd, but I ignored them. Yeah, I was kissing my woman in front of my folks and half the town, but I didn’t give a shit. I wanted everyone to know Amber was mine.
“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when I finally let her up for air.
“For me. For good luck. Although, I think I may need another…” I claimed her sweet mouth again. I could have stayed like that forever, lost in her addictive taste and soft sighs. But the blare of an air horn pulled us apart, signaling the racers to line up.
Amber's embrace left me momentarily dazed, her intoxicating scent lingering even after she pulled away.
“That's my cue,” I said reluctantly, dropping a kiss on the end of her nose. “Wish me luck?”
Amber grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I just did. Twice. Besides, who needs luck when you've got skill? Now, go kick their asses.”
A laugh burst from my chest. That was my girl, fiery and fearless.
I made my way to the starting line with the other riders. Shame Ryder wasn’t here. I would’ve loved to whip his ass, but he’d had to return to Broken Arrow. He was an enforcer for The Devil’s Pack MC, and apparently, some kind of trouble was brewing.
I ran a reverent hand over my motorcycle frame. She was a beauty, all sleek lines and gleaming chrome. With a machine like this under me, the race was as good as won before it even began. I was ready to defend my title as the reigning champion.
I did a last-minute check of my motorcycle, unable to stop grinning. A few of the other guys shot me sideways glances, their expressions a mixture of respect and wariness. They knew my reputation on the circuit, knew I was the one to beat. Let them sweat it out. I was in it to win it today. People were counting on me to bring home another victory. And I sure as hell wasn't going to let them down.
I was pulling on my helmet when a hush fell over the crowd. I looked up to see Mayor Annie Hemmings taking the stage, a microphone in hand. She was dressed in her usual severe suit, her iron-gray hair in a tight bun.
“Welcome, one and all, to the fifteenth annual Silverpaw Hollow Motorcycle Rally!” the mayor began, her amplified voice echoing over the area. “We have an exciting day ahead of us, filled with thrills, chills, and our highly anticipated main event! So, without further ado, let the race begin!”
The crowd cheered, the sound washing over me in a wave.
I straddled my motorcycle, gripping the handles in anticipation. Leif was already astride his ride, helmeted head nodding along to some unheard rhythm.
My bear stirred restlessly within, eager for the adrenaline we both craved. I kicked the starter, revving the engine loudly to rile up the crowds.
Tires squealed against the dirt at the crack of the starting pistol, and we took off, engines screaming as we surged forward.
I bent low over the motorcycle, the forest whizzing past in a blur. My reflexes were unmatched as I pulled ahead of the pack. I leaned into the first turn, balancing throttle and traction with muscle memory and technique, my focus on navigating the next turn. The motorcycle responded perfectly, like an extension of my body.
The course was a biker's dream–all hairpin turns and gut-churning straightaways. My knee almost brushed the ground as I took a curve, pushing my motorcycle to its limits. Behind me, I could hear the snarl of pursuing engines, but I paid them no heed.
We raced along the shores of Lake Serenity, its placid surface reflecting the cerulean sky. For a moment, the world fell away, leaving only the purr of the engine, the rush of the wind, the pounding of my heart. This was where I belonged–on the razor's edge between control and chaos. In these moments, I was truly alive.
Like when you’re with Amber.
Fuck, I couldn’t deny it. The thought of my red-headed mate gave me the same high as my racing. No, being with Amber was the ultimate high. No sooner did I think this than I saw her. My Amber. Her slim figure was poised at the edge of the stands, chin lifted as she tracked my progress. Her presence stirred up a tempest of emotion—excitement, nerves, possessiveness.
I gunned the engine. Suddenly, I wanted this race to be over so I could sweep her into my arms. The win, the trophy, all of it, paled into insignificance compared to holding my mate close and tasting her sweet lips.
As if on cue, I spied the checkered flag and heard the roar of the crowd as I flew past. Final lap. I refocused, moving as one with the bike. Then the finish line was in sight, and I whooped loudly as the announcer confirmed my victory. Peeling off my helmet, I shook out my hair and sent a roguish wink in Amber's direction. Her answering smile hit me square in the chest.
I pulled into the winner's circle, adrenaline still singing through my veins. Leif was there, whooping and hollering as he pulled me into a bear hug. Axel clapped me on the back, his usually stoic face split by a grin.
But it was Amber I sought in the chaos, Amber whose proud smile made my heart swell to ten times its usual size. I swept her into my arms, spinning her around as she laughed breathlessly.
“You were amazing!” she gasped as I set her down, her hands lingering on my shoulders. “I've never seen anything like it.”
