“Sore?”
He grimaced as he removed his helmet. “A bit.”
Looking at the grin on her face, he couldn’t help responding. “But I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Good.”
He pulled the saddlebags off the bike and followed her into the hotel. Brian wandered around the lobby of the plush hotel, looking at the artwork prominently displayed for the patrons. When Serenity finished checking them into their room, she slid up behind him.
“Ready?”
A bit startled, he turned around quickly, ending up nose to nose with her. “Yeah.”
Unable to resist, she pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go get settled and let everyone know we’re safe.”
Brian reached out and took her hand as they walked to the elevator and rode up to their room.
They moved around each other, trying not to get in each other’s way as they got ready for bed and made phone calls to loved ones to let them know they were at the hotel. When they each collapsed onto a bed, Brian reached out and turned off the light.
“Goodnight, Serenity.”
“Goodnight, Brian.”
Twelve hours of riding a motorcycle had worn them out, and they both quickly fell asleep.
***Backstreet Boys***
Brian rolled over onto his back and blinked several times. He recognized the familiar blandness of a hotel room ceiling. When he heard the soft snuffling of another person, he rolled to his side and was greeted with a beautiful sight. Serenity had pushed the sheet and blanket away during the night, leaving her body uncovered. Brian’s eyes roamed over the long legs stretched out on the bed, rising to admire the curve of her hip and her derriere covered in blue silk, then further up to see a skimpy white tank top scrunched up at the middle of her back. A long, black braid was partially tucked under her arm.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he felt his cock twitch in response to her. He thought of boring, frightening, and disgusting things to ease the erection in his boxers. When he opened his eyes, he found Serenity staring at him, biting her bottom lip as she sat in bed with the sheet pulled around her legs. She looked so unsure of herself, he couldn’t help smiling.
“Mornin’.” He stretched and sat up in bed, rubbing his hand over his hair.
“Good morning. Sleep well?” Serenity unbraided her hair and ran her fingers through it, working out the tangles.
Brian felt his fingers curl as he watched, wanting to caress the black waves and bury himself in them. “Uh, yeah, pretty well. What’s on the agenda for today?”
She reached over and grabbed the information packet she had picked up when she checked in. “There’s a group tour at the aquarium, then lunch, then some shopping.”
“Are you sure that’s safe for me? I don’t want to cause a commotion or anything.” He thought about all the problems being caught in public could cause.
“I think we might be able to fix that.” Serenity grinned as Brian just stared at her.
“We probably need to get moving if we’re going to meet the group here for breakfast.” She stood up and grabbed some clothes from the bag and walked into the restroom.
She let out a sigh as she turned on the water for the shower. When she had awakened that morning and discovered that she had pushed away all of the covers, she had been a bit afraid. Turning over and seeing Brian face her, but with his eyes closed, relieved her a bit, and she quickly pulled a sheet over herself to avoid embarrassing him. Getting up and walking to the bathroom had been an unconscious act, and she hoped that walking around in her underwear didn’t make him feel uncomfortable.
Another sigh was released, and she climbed into the shower to start her day. When she finished her morning ablutions, she dressed in a long-sleeved Harley shirt and a faded pair of jeans. Walking into the bedroom, she found Brian watching a local news show that talked about the riders in town. His eyes were wide with wonder as he looked at her.
“That many riders?”
She nodded. “Last year, it started here with 15,000, then 20,000 more joined before it was finished.”
“Amazing.” He got out of bed and grabbed some clothes.
Serenity handed him a t-shirt she pulled from her pile of clothes. “Wear this today.”
He looked at it before he took it and went into the bathroom. When he came out, he was dressed in an identical shirt to Serenity’s. She smiled and stepped in front of him. Reaching up, she wrapped a bandanna around his head then stepped back.
“Looks good.”
Brian looked at himself in the mirror, taken aback for a moment because he didn’t look like himself. He turned to face her and grinned. They pulled on their socks and boots and gathered the empty saddlebags.
Brian chuckled. “I’m ready when you are.”
They walked downstairs and joined a group of riders at the breakfast bar, settling in with the group. Brian found himself talking to a welder from Nebraska who had made the ride every year since its inception in 1994. He looked up and caught Serenity’s eye during the conversation, and she simply smiled at him before returning to her own.
***Backstreet Boys***
Brian had a lot of fun at the aquarium. Because they remained with the group, nobody gave him a second glance. He met a lot of nice people who loved to ride and felt that recreating part of the Trail of Tears was important in educating people about the injustice against the native peoples.
The group wandered around several stores, and he debated purchasing a pair of leathers after he tried them on and Serenity had whistled. Others in the group told him he really needed a pair if he was going to ride. He hesitated until Serenity walked out in a pair that were similar to his.
Frieda, an older woman from Arizona, smiled at the couple. “You know, you match.”
Serenity looked down at herself, then at Brian, noticing the similar stud patterns. “Yeah, we do.”
When she smiled at him, Brian knew he was buying the leathers.
The group left the store with its purchases and headed back to the hotel for an early dinner before heading out to some clubs. By midnight, they ended up in a smoky bar where several of the riders were wailing on stage with karaoke.
Brian shook his head as he watched and listened to someone massacre a Bruce Springsteen song. Frieda caught his glance and chuckled.
“Not quite what you’re used to, huh?”
He gave her a wary glance, and she just patted his hand. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. I thought it was you, but wasn’t sure until I heard you humming a little while ago.”
“Big fan?” He took a swallow of his beer as he watched Serenity get dragged on stage with some of the women from their group.
They began to sing “Leader of the Pack”, and he winced a bit.
Frieda laughed again. “Yeah, I’m a big fan. I’m really looking forward to your new CD. If it’s as good as Millennium, I’d say you guys have got a winner.”
Brian smiled at the older woman. “I think it is. Musically, it’s more diverse, and I think it showcases our tastes and how we’ve grown. If you’ll give me your address before you leave, I’ll send you an advance copy.”
She reached out and hugged him as the ladies finished their song. “Thanks, Brian. You’re a sweetheart.”
He kissed her cheek before he pulled away. “So are you, Frieda.”
Serenity sat down next to Brian and took a big drink of water. “So, you gonna sing for us?”
He looked at her like she was nuts. “You want to risk a riot?”
She looked around the bar. “I don’t think there are a lot of BSB fans here.”
Brian smiled at her. “Frieda’s a fan.”
Serenity looked at the other woman, who laughed and nodded her head.
“Well, okay, Frieda’s a fan, and I’m becoming a fan. I don’t think it constitutes a mob scene. Nobody said you had to sing one of your songs.”
He thought about it for a moment, then made his way to the stage and picked out a song. Standing up there, he was surprised to find that he wasn’t nervous. These people didn’t have a clue as to who he was, so he didn’t feel the intense pressure to be perfect.
Frieda smiled when she heard the music, her head starting to bob in time with the beat. Serenity focused her attention on Brian as he sang.
He sang with passion and let the music carry him away. Brian looked at the audience seeing couples move together as the words poured from him. He looked at Serenity as he sang the chorus.
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be just fine, if you only will
Shower the people you love with love, show them the way you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will
When he finished, applause followed him back to the table as several people stopped him to compliment his song. Some of them even asked him if he considered singing professionally, and Brian just smiled and thanked them. He sat back down next to Serenity, and she leaned over to kiss him.
They shared a gentle kiss that promised more when they were alone. When Serenity pulled away, Brian opened his eyes to stare at her. She traced his mouth with her finger as she looked him in the eyes. He raised an eyebrow to ask the question, and she smiled her reply. A small shiver ran through his body, and he picked up his beer to take a much-needed drink. A few minutes later, everyone at their table stood and made their way outside to walk back to the hotel.
***Backstreet Boys***
When they got back to the room, Serenity excused herself and went into the bathroom. Brian wandered around the room as he waited for her to return. He took off his boots and socks then reached for the television remote.
“Brian.”
He turned around and dropped the remote when he saw her. The lights from the city cast a glow through the filmy curtains and illuminated her nude body.
He took a step towards her, she took a step towards him. They repeated the movements until they met in the middle of the room. Brian reached towards her, stopping before he actually touched her. Serenity grasped his hand, pulling it up to cup her cheek. He brushed his thumb across her lips, and she opened them, allowing her tongue to taste his skin.
He groaned softly as she slid his hand down the long column of her neck to gently rest on her breast. That simple action galvanized him, and he pulled her close, ravaging her mouth with a kiss that swept her away.
He slid his hands down the sides of her body, over her hips, and around to cup the cheeks of her ass and yank her close to his body.
She gasped in surprise at the feel of his aroused cock behind the button fly of his jeans, and she wound her arms around his neck to pull him closer as they kissed.
A low growl rumbled in his throat as he nipped his way along her jaw to suck on her neck. Her arms unwound as she ran her hands down his back to the hem of his shirt. Grabbing the material, she pulled it up and over his head, tossing it aside as she looked at the scar on his chest.
Serenity placed her palm against the scar and closed her eyes, feeling the heartbeat beneath her fingers. Brian watched her as she listened, then saw the smile appear on her face as she opened her eyes.
“My strong, brave warrior.”
He blushed and shook his head. “I’m not a warrior.”
She gently rubbed the scar. “You survived and won this war. You are a warrior…my warrior.”
Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to the top of the scar, kissing her way to the end of it. Straightening, she brushed her fingers across his chest, rubbing his nipples as he moaned, then trailed her fingers down to his waistband of his jeans.
She looked at his face for a moment, losing herself in the blue eyes that revealed this man’s very soul to her. She saw the fire that burned in him, felt the answer in her own soul, and surrendered to it. Nimble fingers unbuttoned the first button, sliding beneath the fabric to settle against his skin. He breathed in at the first touch, the slight tremble making her smile. She unbuttoned the second button, her fingers sliding down against the cotton of his boxer-briefs. The third button was undone, then the fourth and fifth as she felt the swell of his erection against the back of her fingers.
She slid her hands inside the elastic waistband, then pushed both his boxer-briefs and his jeans down his legs with one smooth motion. He stepped out of the clothing, and she pushed it away before looking up at him from her kneeling position.
His cock bobbed slightly in front of her, the swollen length and heavy sac inviting her touch, and she didn’t hesitate as she reached out to him. One hand circled the shaft as the other hand cupped his balls, eliciting a sharp groan from him. The first lick of her tongue made him shiver. When she sucked the head of his penis into her mouth and swirled her tongue around it, he was afraid his legs would collapse.
Serenity felt the quick jerk of his legs and released him long enough to push him back towards the bed. He sort of half fell, half sat on the mattress and watched as she crawled the few feet of carpet that separated them. Seeing her on her hands and knees, her tongue licking her lips as she looked at him, made his cock jump.
She pushed his knees farther apart and moved between them, dipping her head to probe the leaking slit. There were so many sensations, so many things he wanted to do, yet he couldn’t seem to make himself do any of them. His body took over, and his hands moved to her head to hold her still as he slid his length further into the warm wetness of her mouth.
“Uuunnnggghhhh.” He couldn’t form the words, the pleasure was too intense, short-circuiting his brain as she pleasured him with licking and sucking and nibbling.
Brian felt his body starting to tighten, and he forced himself to pull away from her. Serenity looked up at him, a question in her eyes. He smiled, pulling her up to meet his lips in an intense kiss. The salty muskiness in her mouth gave him a thrill as he maneuvered her onto the bed.
Nudging her thighs open, he knelt between them and gently slid a finger inside of her, rubbing her clit with his thumb. One of her hands dug into the blankets while the other grabbed hold of his arm.
Brian slid another finger inside her to make sure she was ready for him. “Hot” and “wet” popped into his brain, and he removed his fingers. Serenity only had a moment to register the loss before he slid into her and stopped. Bowing his head, he let himself luxuriate in delicious warmth of her body.
Serenity bit her lip as he filled her, wrapping her legs around his thighs to pull him closer and deeper. She reached out and touched his cheek as his head lowered, and when he looked at her, she felt her heart open up and blossom.
Easing himself almost out of her, then sliding back in, Brian set up an easy rhythm that Serenity matched. They stared into each other’s eyes, reaching out to gently caress the other as they made love.
He could feel himself tightening up as his orgasm started to take hold of his body. Slipping his hand between their bodies, he marveled at the feel of them joined together as he brushed a finger over her clit. He smiled against her lips as she shuddered, then moaned into her mouth as she tightened her walls around him, pushing him farther into the blinding light that was overwhelming his senses.
“Serenity.” He groaned her name in a low growl as he emptied himself into her welcoming body.
“Brian.” Her nails dug into his back and her legs tightened around him as pleasure rumbled through her.
They laid together, tangled arms and legs as they exchanged kisses. Serenity wiped the sweat from Brian’s forehead, licking it from her fingers. He smiled at her, enjoying the sight.
“What?” She looked at him.
“I like watching you lick me from your fingers.” He pressed a kiss against her breast as he lay nestled between her thighs.
“Well, I never expected you to say that.”
“Why not?” He folded his hands across her chest and rested his chin on them.
“You remember last month when you accidentally walked in on me coming out of the shower? I just thought you were very modest, and you were embarrassed because you left the room so fast.” Serenity ran her fingers through Brian’s hair, fluffing the curls.
“Well, I guess I am modest to a certain degree, but I wasn’t embarrassed when I saw you. I hightailed it out of there because I was very turned on, and I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
They laughed as they relaxed against each other.
“Modest.” Brian chuckled again.
“Since I was so wrong about the embarrassment thing, does this mean you’re adventurous in bed?” She wasn’t sure exactly what she was asking.
Brian raised his head and stared at her, raising an eyebrow before he quickly rolled them over. His cock rested along the crevice between her ass cheeks, and he pumped his hips against her a couple of times so that it slid into her crack. She shivered at the sensation.
“I’m willing to try new things.” He paused for a moment, staring into her eyes. “Are you?”
Serenity leaned down and nipped his bottom lip, drawing a gasp from him. “As long as we both agree to it, I’m game.”
***Backstreet Boys***
Serenity woke up with her cheek pressed against warm skin. Slowly running her fingers across his back, she smiled as she remembered the night before.
“Mmmm.” The satisfied purr vibrated under her cheek, and she smoothed her hand down to rest on his ass.
“Mmm hmm.”
Serenity laughed, nipping Brian’s shoulder blade before moving so he could turn over. When he did, he arched an eyebrow at her.
“Is this where the adventurous part comes in?”
Glancing down at his rapidly growing cock tenting the sheet, she grinned. “Instead of adventurous, how about we just go straight for the orgasm.”
Brian laughed as she pulled the sheet off him. Serenity reached down and gave him a couple of firm tugs, killing his laughter and making him hiss in pleasure. When he was erect, she swung her leg over his hips and slid down on top of him. They rocked together slowly, enjoying the wake-up call. Serenity liked watching Brian’s face when he climaxed—the gasp of pleasure, the scrunched up eyes, the little sweat beads that formed above his lip. She threw her head back when he rubbed her, hastening her own orgasm.
Lowering her hands to rest against his chest, she leaned forward to kiss him, sucking gently on his bottom lip before dancing with his tongue.
“Can we do this every morning?” Brian stroked his hands down Serenity’s back as she lay on top of him.
She hesitated before answering him, not sure if he was being funny or serious. When she looked into his eyes, she wasn’t really surprised by the love shining there.
“I’d like that.”
***Backstreet Boys***
The day was spent talking with other riders about the ride and figuring out if they were going to stick with the group from the hotel or join others. Frieda; Mike, the welder from Nebraska; Jeff and Sarah, a couple from Maine; and Brian and Serenity decided they would ride together. They talked about bikes, people they had met before, and what could be expected that night at the formal party to welcome the riders.
Brian relaxed with the group, knowing they didn’t care who he was outside the ride. To them, he was just there to honor the memory of those who suffered on the Trail. They took pictures of each other and wrote down addresses, with Brian reminding Frieda that he would send her a copy of the new CD.
That night, they ate, drank, and danced with the group of riders who were planning on starting the ride the next morning. Brian didn’t think he had ever seen so much leather in his life and thought AJ would have enjoyed watching the people.
Before it got too late, Serenity took his hand, and they rode back to the hotel to spend the night curled up in each other’s arms, learning new things about each other’s bodies.
***Backstreet Boys***
Bright and early the next morning, Serenity and Brian dressed in their leathers, packed their saddlebags, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Frieda smiled at their outfits, but didn’t say anything other than to wish them a good morning. The group talked a little bit about where they wanted to be then finished their breakfast.
Serenity checked them out of the hotel, and the pair walked outside to get ready. He laid his leather jacket over the bike seat then bent over to readjust something in the saddlebag to make it less bunchy.
She whistled when she saw him, admiring the way the leather molded to his ass. “Damn, baby, you look really good in those pants.”
He straightened up to look at her, and she checked out the whole picture. “You just look good, period.”
His sleeveless black Harley t-shirt clung to his body, and it made her want to rip it off him. He wore the bandana she’d given to him on Thursday, and strawberry-blond curls peeked out from beneath the back of it. Winking at her, he leaned against the bike and checked her out. Her long black hair was braided and hung over one shoulder. She wore a back tank top with the Harley-Davidson logo stretched across her breasts, and it skimmed the waistband of her leather pants. She held her leather jacket in one hand.
“You look good enough to eat.” He pulled her between his legs, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Tonight. At the hotel. I’m all yours.” She punctuated each sentence with a kiss.
He slapped her ass as she pushed away from him and set out their helmets. When they were suited up, Brian climbed onto the back of the bike as Serenity settled in front. She gunned the motor a bit before they joined the rest of the group heading south.
***Backstreet Boys***
What normally would have taken four and a half hours took all day as over 15,000 riders rode down Highway 72 from Chattanooga. The stretches between towns kept the bikes moving, but when they came to populated areas, groups were slowed and separated to allow local travel to get around the procession. It also gave riders the opportunity to wave to people who were waiting for them to ride by.
Brian loved waving to the people as part of the parade of motorcycles. When they stopped for lunch in Huntsville, he took the opportunity to walk around and stretch his legs. He talked with some of the riders after a bathroom stop then headed back to his group.
Jeff smiled as the other man sat down on the blanket beside Serenity. “So, how's the p pad, Brian?”
Brian looked at Jeff, then at the others. “P pad?”
Sarah smacked her husband, as Mike and Frieda laughed. Frieda finished chewing.
“Sorry, Brian, that’s what the back seat is called ‘cause women usually sit there.”
He thought about it for a minute then grinned. “Gotcha. Guess it’s still a p pad, though.”
Jeff laughed. “Yeah, it is, man.”
They lounged on the grass for a little while longer, then got back on the bikes to finish the ride. When they reached Waterloo, the group decided to travel back to Florence to find a place to stay for the night. They lucked out with three rooms at a Motel 6, and Frieda and Mike agreed to share a room.
They ate at the Waffle House next to the motel, and neither Brian nor Serenity could say they had ever had better waffles. They agreed that the company might have had a lot to do with it. The six of them were reluctant to leave the diner, knowing that the next time they saw each other it would be to say goodbye.
They stood outside their room doors, making small talk until each of them had yawned at least twice. Frieda grabbed the room key from Mike, opened the door, and pushed him inside, waving goodnight to everyone. The rest of them could hear him as she closed the door.
“Damn, Frieda, if you wanted me in here so bad, all you had to do was say so.”
The other four laughed as each couple went into their room after agreeing to meet for breakfast at seven before they got on the road.
In their room, Brian and Serenity looked at each other, pulled off their clothes, and dropped into bed, snuggling together for a couple of quick kisses before they fell into sleep.
The wake-up call came much too early for them. They crawled out of bed, shared a quick shower, and pulled on jeans and t-shirts. Serenity was surprised when Brian took the comb from her hand and combed through her hair before braiding it. She loved to have someone play with her hair, and she appreciated that he was willing to do that.
Brian liked the feel of the silky hair slipping through his fingers. When he finished combing it, he carefully braided it, securing the end of the braid with the elastic band Serenity handed him. They packed up and went down to the lobby to check out and meet with the other four. Brian paid for the room then came to stand behind Serenity, wrapping his arms around her waist and laying his head on her shoulder. Jeff and Sarah were the next to arrive, and when Jeff had taken care of the bill, they adopted a similar position. Mike and Frieda showed up, and the two of them argued over the bill for a couple of minutes. When they joined the two couples, both people looked at each other and just laughed.
It was back to the Waffle House for breakfast before they split off and headed home. At 8:30, the six of them stood in the parking lot, exchanging hugs and admonitions to be careful. Serenity and Brian both made Frieda promise to call and let them know she got home safely. She and Mike were traveling part of the way together, and both of them expected to meet up with friends to finish the ride.
Jeff and Sarah took off first, waving goodbye as they headed north. Serenity settled in the driver’s seat as Brian climbed onto the back. They waved as Frieda and Mike headed west and they headed south.
***Backstreet Boys***
When they got to Brian’s house, he ignored her when she said she needed to get home and just pulled her inside. Dropping their bags in the hall, Brian pulled her upstairs into his bedroom. He pushed her onto the bed as he walked into the bathroom and ran a bath in the garden tub. When it was filled, he turned on the Jacuzzi.
Brian walked back into his room to find Serenity almost asleep on the bed. He coaxed her into the bathroom, watching her eyes light up as she saw the hot tub. They helped each other get undressed, then climbed into the hot bath, sighing with pleasure as the bubbles brushed against their skin.
Serenity leaned back against Brian’s chest, closing her eyes as she relished the heat. “Do we ever have to move again?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” He trailed his fingers over her cheeks, and she caught his hand, brushing kisses against his fingertips.
“Good.”
Table of Contents
Chapter Sixteen