I'm sitting on my bike outside Valarie's apartment, the engine still rumbling softly beneath me. I glance at the building, trying to keep my impatience in check. It's not like I've been waiting long—hell, I'm probably early—but every minute feels like an eternity when you're looking forward to something this much. I take a deep breath, the familiar smell of gasoline and leather grounding me, reminding me that I need to play it cool. I might be excited, but I'm not about to let it show.

The door finally swings open, and there she is. Valarie steps out, and fuck me, she looks incredible. She's wearing tight jeans that hug every curve, paired with a simple tank top that shows off just enough skin to make my thoughts wander to all the places I'd like to touch. Her red hair is loose around her shoulders, catching the last bit of evening light. My chest tightens just looking at her. I've always been a flirt, but from the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I needed her. She's the kind of woman who gets under your skin, makes you crave more than you ever thought you'd want.

"Hey there, beautiful," I call out as she approaches. My voice comes out a little rougher than I intended, the words dripping with the desire I'm trying to keep under control.

Valarie smiles, and damn, it's like the whole world lights up. She walks up to me, and I grab the spare helmet off the handlebars, holding it out to her. "You ever ridden on a bike before?"

"A few times," she replies, taking the helmet from me. "But it's been a while."

I reach out to help her with the strap, my fingers brushing against her skin. It's a simple touch, but it sends a spark of electricity straight through me. Fuck, I need to calm down. I can already feel myself getting hard just from the thought of her body pressed against mine. Not exactly the best way to start a ride.

"There," I say, adjusting the helmet and stepping back to give her a once-over. She looks fucking perfect, the helmet somehow making her even more attractive. "You're all set."

She swings her leg over the bike and settles in behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist. The feel of her against my back, her chest pressing into me, is almost too much. I take a deep breath, trying to focus on the road ahead. But damn, it's hard when all I can think about is her body molded to mine.

"You ready?" I ask, turning my head slightly to catch a glimpse of her through the helmet's visor.

"Ready," she says, her voice a little breathless.

I rev the engine, and we take off, the bike roaring beneath us as we hit the open road. The wind whips past us, the scenery blurring by, but all I can focus on is the warmth of her hands on my stomach, the way she holds on just tight enough to make me feel like I could protect her from anything.

As we ride, I push the bike a little faster, feeling the thrill of speed. But when I take a turn a bit too sharply, I feel her tense behind me. Shit. I don't want to scare her. I ease off the throttle, slowing down, letting her know I've got her, that she's safe with me. The truth is, I've been excited as hell to get my bike back, but every time I hit a sharp turn, I can't help but think back to the wreck. It wasn't anything too serious, but it was enough to make me question if I should be back on the bike at all.

I glance down at the road, forcing myself to focus on the ride, on making sure this night is about her and not about my own anxieties.

We pull up to the lake, the soft light of the setting sun casting a golden glow over the water. I kill the engine and take off my helmet, turning to help Valarie with hers. When her hair spills out, all wild and messy from the ride, I can't help but reach out and run my fingers through it, brushing a stray lock behind her ear. She's fucking stunning, and the fact that she's here with me feels surreal.

"Thought we'd hang out here for a bit," I say, nodding toward the lakeshore. "Figured it'd be quieter than a bar."

"Sounds perfect," she replies, her voice soft, but there's a hint of something in her eyes—curiosity, maybe. I wonder what she's thinking, if she's trying to figure me out just as much as I'm trying to figure her out.

We walk down to the water, and I spread out a blanket I had stashed in the bike's saddlebag. She sits down beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush. The silence between us isn't awkward—it's comfortable, charged with an unspoken tension that's been building since the moment I met her.

"So," I start, trying to find the right words. I'm not usually nervous around women, but Valarie's different. "I really like you, Valarie."

She looks at me, her expression softening. "I like you too, Elias. But there's something you should know."

My heart skips a beat. Fuck, here it comes. "Yeah?"

"I've been seeing someone," she admits, her voice careful. "But it's not official or anything, and he knows I'm out with you tonight."

Relief floods through me. I thought she was about to tell me she wasn't interested, but this? I can handle this. "That's cool," I say, shrugging. "As long as I'm not homewrecking or anything."

"No, nothing like that," she assures me. "We're just... figuring things out."

I take a moment to let that sink in. The idea of her seeing someone else doesn't really bother me, as long as she's upfront about it. "So, who is he? The cop from the hospital?"

Her eyes widen, surprised. "Yeah. His name's Declan. How did you know?"

I chuckle, leaning back on my hands. "Just a lucky guess. I saw the way he looked at you. And when you said you didn't get arrested because you knew one of the cops, I figured it was him."

She smiles, a little shyly, and it's fucking adorable. "Yeah, that was him. He's... well, he's a good guy. Protective, but not in a possessive way. He just wants to make sure I'm safe."

I nod, understanding more than she might think. "Sounds like a solid guy. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but what's going on between you two?"

She hesitates for a moment, then sighs, running her fingers through her hair. "It's complicated. Well, not complicated, really. We're not exclusive or anything. We've talked about taking things slow, just seeing where it goes. But he's not seeing anyone else, and he's okay with me... exploring other options, I guess."

"Exploring other options," I repeat with a smirk, teasing her a little. "Sounds like he's giving you the green light to see other people, as long as you're honest about it."

"Yeah, pretty much," she says, her voice soft. "And I want to be honest with you too. I don't want to hide anything or lead you on."

I appreciate her honesty, more than she probably knows. "I'm not the jealous type, Valarie," I tell her, my tone sincere. "If you're seeing him and me at the same time, that's cool with me. As long as we're all on the same page, I don't have a problem with it. I'm just not one for drama."

She looks at me, her eyes searching mine for something, maybe reassurance. "You really don't mind?"

"Nah," I reply, shaking my head. "Honestly, I'm glad you've got someone like Declan watching your back. And I'm not looking to make you choose between us or anything like that. If this is how it's gonna be, I'm good with it."

Valarie lets out a breath, her shoulders relaxing a little. "Thanks, Elias. That means a lot to me."

We sit there for a while, just talking, getting to know each other in a way that feels easy and natural. I find myself telling her things I don't usually share with people, like how much I love riding my bike but how the accident shook me more than I let on. She listens, really listens, and I can tell she's the kind of person who cares deeply about the people in her life.

As the conversation flows, I realize how much I enjoy just being with her, no expectations, no pressure. It's fucking refreshing, and I can't help but wonder what this could turn into if we keep going down this road.

We talk until the sun starts to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the lake. The air is cool, but not too cold, and I find myself wanting to stay here with her, to keep this moment going as long as possible.

But eventually, we have to head back. I help her onto the bike, and as she wraps her arms around my waist again, I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips. Yeah, I've got it bad for this girl, and I'm okay with that.