Free If Only (The Willowbrook Series Book 1) by Ashlyn Mathews Page B

the next one and the next until she came to the one where she had free-styled in front of Rhys. Mentally preparing herself, Asa flexed her fingers over the handlebars as the tension in her body disappeared and contentment took its place.
    Would she do another three-sixty, or was she satisfied to catch air, to suspend there as the sun shone on her? There wasn’t time to decide. Going with the flow, she caught air, and with a hard tug, yanked the handlebars back, and flipped until the sky disappeared, replaced by a view of dirt and snow.
    God, she loved this part. On the way down, she kept her ass off the seat, ready for the landing. Unfortunately, she miscalculated the patch of dirt she’d front-wheeled on causing her tire to slam into slush. As the bike slid, she vaulted over the handlebars.
    Shit! Asa twisted to land on her side. The impact knocked the wind out of her, but the pain dimmed in comparison to the tight grasp Rhys had on her arms. He wrenched her up, snatched off her helmet, and threw it on the ground. His KTM lay on its side by his feet.
    His body shook, his face a solid mask of fear and anger.
    “Rhys—”
    “Dammit, Asa. When you went over—”
    “I’m okay.” She shook her arms and moved her neck. “See, I’m fine. I’ve taken falls several times. Nothing to worry about.”
    “How long?” She must’ve looked confused. He pointed at her bike. “How long have you been riding?”
    “Um, since you graduated.”
    “That was five fucking years ago.”
    Asa backed up. He was really, really angry. “You were gone most of the time, and I snuck in rides when Jo wasn’t home. But, eventually, I’d tell you.”
    “When?” He clenched his fists at his sides. She tipped her chin. He grabbed her arm. “I’m thinking never, Asa. If you decide to move down with me, I don’t want you riding again. I won’t let you risk your life by doing those stupid stunts.”
    “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do, and I’m not going with you. My life is here. The track gives me what I need—a release, my high, my recharge. Don’t you understand?”
    “You want all of that?” Rhys pushed her to the ground and straddled her, his fingers fumbling with her zipper and his own. “Then let me give you those things and not the damn bike.”
    She couldn’t think past the anger in his voice. All she saw was his fear and pain.
    “You could have broken your neck, Asa girl. Then what would I have done without you?” His voice trembled. “I love you so much.”
    He yanked his jacket off and threw it on the ground, leaving him in his t-shirt. Reaching up, she trailed her fingers down his arms. He grasped her hand and dropped desperate kisses over her knuckles. They lay in a blanket of untouched snow, and suddenly she realized what they both needed. A second chance .
    “Make love to me, Rhys.”
    His brow furrowed. “Here?”
    “Live a little,” she said smoothing the creases on his forehead with her fingers. “Give me what will make me whole again.”
    “And afterward?”
    “We’ll talk,” she promised.
    “I’ll live a little, but only if you’re on top.”
    Moving off of her, he grabbed her by her hands, and tugged her up. They started to undress, he grabbing a condom from his wallet tucked into the back pocket of his jeans, before he stretched out on their makeshift bed of clothes. In the cold, she burned for him, and he obviously felt the same for her as her gaze darted to his erection.
    Rolling the condom over his arousal, he raised a brow while his eyes twinkled. “Scared?”
    Asa covered her laughter with her hand then settled herself over him. “No, I’m just ready.” Dipping her head, she licked and nipped at his shoulder and neck.
    When his hands coasted over her back and down lower, she moaned and started to rub herself over him. For a few seconds, she swore she forgot to breathe, it felt so good.
    “I love you, Rhys,” she whispered against the curve of his ear before pressing her