She walked over to the car with Adam and he opened the passenger side door, and she slid inside, taking a look at the old fashioned insides. Adam slid into the driver’s side and started the car, lowering the roof above them until it was gone and their heads were exposed to the ceiling of the garage. Dakota could feel a fluttering in her stomach, like she was a teenager again, getting into a car with a boy, with no idea of what might come next.

 

Without saying anything Adam started the car, driving the shift stick like he was a pro. Dakota had never quite managed driving stick; if she were lucky, she could get it moving one out of every three tries. But Adam didn’t even think about it. His feet hit the pedals and his hands worked the shifter like he had been raised behind the wheel. In an instant they were out of the garage and in the open air. The night was cool, but not cold, and the air around them had that heavy wetness that came with spring rains.

 

Adam drove north and west, the skyline of the city disappearing in the rear view mirror, as Dakota allowed herself to get lost in the passing trees to her right. They looked like a thousand soldiers lined up to protect the forest from the people on the road. She let her eyes see past those front line soldiers and watched the natural monuments that passed behind them, large boulders and fallen trees.

 

“This is a great car,” Adam said as they veered around a tight curve. “You ever take it to the beach?”

 

“No,” Dakota answered with a smile. The beaches she went to were tropical locals and private; she took jets to get to them, not cars. “I’ve never actually driven this car.”

 

“What? Are you kidding me? All I’ve thought about since I started working for you was driving every car in that garage. You should take this car out. It’s too pretty to leave inside.”

 

“I kind of suck at driving stick.”

 

“You can’t drive stick?” His voice was equal parts outrage and gentle kidding.

 

“I can drive stick. I’m just not good at it,” she said.

 

“Practice is how you get good at it.”

 

“Thanks, Dad,” Dakota said, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know. I always thought driving was kind of boring. You can’t read or watch TV. All you see is the road. It’s like a chore.”

 

“You do a lot of chores in your mansion? What are they, driving and then washing your pony?”

 

“Ouch, and painfully accurate,” she couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Buttercup and Violet, the two ponies she had as a child.

 

“You have a pony?”

 

“I did, but I’m older now...I have horses.”

 

“Such a cliché.”

 

“Hey, horses are cool, and riding a horse is way harder and way more fun than driving a car.”

 

“Your horse has one horsepower. This car has over four hundred and fifty horses. It’s like there’s four hundred horses under the hood of this car.”

 

“Well, more is not necessarily better. Besides, I always thought it was weird that they measured cars in horses. I mean four hundred and fifty? That’s a lot, seems to me like we need a new measuring system.”

 

“Says the girl who thinks driving is a chore. Why should you get any say in that? You hate cars.”

 

“I don’t hate cars. I like my Prius.”

 

“You have no idea what you’re missing.” Adam shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road.

 

“Maybe,” she answered, smiling at him. They drove for a few minutes in a comfortable silence. The car was smooth and quiet, hugging the curves and absorbing the bumps and shocks in the road. Dakota looked straight up and could see the moon above them, the dark night sky dotted with stars. She wondered what would happen if they kept driving. If they stuck to country back roads and filled up at old-fashioned gas stations and just kept driving. She supposed they would eventually reach an ocean and then they would have to turn back around. Still, thinking about it as she watched the budding branches pass above her, she wasn’t sure if she would have minded driving for days.

 

“You know, when you snuck out today, I thought you were going to meet a man,” Adam said, making Dakota whip her head around to look at him with a shocked expression. “I’ll look into getting a female guard. I don’t want you to feel like you have to sneak around.”

 

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not seeing anyone at the moment and, if I were, they could come to me.” Was is just her imagination, or did something in his aspect change at that, at the understanding that there wasn’t anyone she was interested in.

 

“Oh, okay. Well, you can just let me know if that changes,” Adam said, sounding incredibly uncomfortable. Dakota couldn’t help but laugh. “What?” Adam demanded.

 

“Nothing, you just sound very old fashioned.”

 

“I’m not old fashioned. I’m telling you I’m cool with it, just let me know.”

 

“You’re cool with it?”

 

“Yup.”

 

“Okay, let’s stop at the next bar we find and I’ll find someone who really pushes my buttons,” Dakota said with a laugh. “You can vet him.”

 

“Oh, sorry no bars around here,” Adam said, a smile playing across his face.

 

“Convenient. What about you, is there some lady in a leather jacket missing you at night?”

 

“Nope, only the guys I work with miss me. And not like that! We have a lot of business stuff going on, one of which is you. So, there’s no real time for a leather jacket lady in my life.”

 

“What business? Being a bodyguard?”

 

“And some other stuff,” Adam paused, debating whether or not to tell her. “You remember that club we were at?”

 

“Scarred Angels?”

 

“Yeah, I own that. Well, technically the bank owns it. But it’s doing well, so hopefully I’ll own it soon. But it’s a lot of work to run a club on the level.”

 

“Wow,” Dakota said. “That’s your club? I didn’t know you owned that. You should have said something.”

 

“Like I said, the bank owns it. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it,” Adam said, trying to brush the compliment away.

 

“You should make a big deal about it. It’s a nice club. I had a lot of fun there. You should be proud of it.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“And I call bullshit on you not having a lady. You own a hot nightclub. You have to be beating pretty young things off with a stick.”

 

“Well, at the moment, I’m not spending a lot of time there, so there hasn’t been much opportunity.”

 

Dakota nodded, feeling oddly guilty, though she didn’t have any reason to. Adam was working in the time he was spending with her; no one was making him do it, unless he needed the money. Don’t, she reminded herself; don’t assume anything about him. But it all too often happened like this: a mention here, a nod there, then the outright ask, and then the anger when Dakota said no to a “loan” for money she knew she would never see again. It was true that rich hung out with each other. It was sad, but those were the only people you could (usually) count on to not hit you up for money.

 

“What about you?” Adam continued as they traveled farther and farther from the city. There was no GPS on, they had no destination, and they were just driving the night away. “There’s really nobody you’d rather be spending your night with?”

 

“Not really. It’s hard when you have a lot of money. And I know I’m privileged and there’s a lot that I don’t have to worry about that other people do, but it’s harder to be close with people. So often I meet some guy and he’s great, but what he really wants is to get close to my father. Guys want an investment backer or a job or a recommendation. It was like I was this stepping-stone for them. When I tried dating “normal” guys, the money thing was always coming up and it was weird and awkward, and I would tell them that I didn’t care that they didn’t have as much money as me, but even though I didn’t care, they did. It just doesn’t work. Besides, charity is work for me. It’s not about good publicity. It means something to me and it takes up a lot of my time. People think I can just put it down anytime I want. I once had a guy tell me it wasn’t a real job, so I could skip it whenever he wanted to do something else, and that hurt. So for now, being single works for me.”

 

Dakota let out a long breath. She had never actually said all of that out loud before. She had thought it, and the words were always tumbling about in her head, but she had never actually put those thoughts together before. It occurred to her that it sounded very sad, sad and isolating. She wondered how long it had been since she had a real relationship, not just dinner, drinks, and sex, but holding hands and talking, whispering into a lover's ear late into the night. Waiting for them, wanting to be with them. Somewhere in the last few years, she had decided that she wasn’t ever going to have that, and so she closed and locked that part of her away, the part of her that believed that real, true love was possible. It had been so long since she’d even entertained the idea of having a meaningful connection with someone.

 

They allowed a comfortable silence to blanket them as Adam drove the car down back roads that twisted themselves up and down hills, over rivers and under mountains. The car was quiet and the ride was smooth. The stars overhead were eternal and unmoving, always in the same place above them no matter where they drove. The cool, wet air around them, the sound of crickets and birds chirping their coded languages out into the night created a soundtrack that no musician could ever compete with.

 

Dakota glanced at Adam; he had one hand on top of the wheel, the other resting on the shifter. His hands seemed impossibly large, and Dakota was fascinated with how they worked. His right hand would rest on the shifter and then, without warning, he would change gears, his hands and feet working in perfect harmony. The car never jerked or bucked, but transitioned from one gear to the next with a beautiful smoothness.

 

But it was getting late, and Adam noticed when Dakota stifled a yawn.

 

“We should probably get back,” he admitted, finally turning on the GPS and allowing it to guide them home.

 

“I’m sorry I made you work on your one day off,” Dakota said as the car took them home.

 

“It’s okay,” Adam said with a shrug. “You haven't been that much work, honestly.”

 

“Do you even like being a bodyguard? It seems kind of boring.”

 

“It is kind of boring, but the money is good, and it’s good for business. Being a bodyguard is good, legal, steady income. I got a lotta guys who need work, so we don’t turn it down when we get it.”

 

“Guys?” Dakota asked.

 

“Yeah, guys in the bike club. We run the Scarred Angels together. They practically raised me, but there’s not enough work at the club for everyone. Being a bodyguard’s a good opportunity.”

 

“What about your parents?” Dakota asked. She had spent years working in the Kane Home for Young Boys and she knew how this worked: the casual offhand mention of parents not being around, not being involved. It was a type of code abused children used. It was like looking at the sun; they didn’t want to talk about it directly, so instead, they talked around it, mentioned it in an offhand manner.

 

“Jail. Dad’s dead. Mom’s gone. My uncle raised me; he’s a good guy.”

 

Dakota nodded, but said nothing. She knew better than to pry. She knew he would tell her when he wanted to, when he was ready to. In charity, she had learned that it was dangerous and selfish to be a voyeur. Listening to people wasn't about gathering their stories to use later. It was simply about letting them know you were there when they wanted to talk, making yourself available to them, giving yourself to them and asking for nothing in return.

 

“Does your uncle work at the club?”

 

“He’s the manager,” Adam answered. “He’s good at it.”

 

“Maybe I can meet him one day,” Dakota said, and then she let the topic drop.

 

They were almost home already. The GPS was not interested in lazy drives or enjoying the night air. It wanted to get them home in the most efficient way possible. It was good at its job, and Dakota cursed it in her mind. She felt like she could have driven with Adam all through the night and into the next day.

 

They drove slowly down the main driveway and into the house. “Oh no,” Dakota said, as they pulled into the driveway and she could see that Mike’s bike was gone. “Did me sneaking out get Mike into trouble?”

 

“Well, it doesn’t make him look good, but he’s not going to get fired over it. He’ll just have to deal with the guys giving him shit for letting a girl sneak past him.”

 

“Girls are sneaking out experts; that’s the first thing you should tell them.”

 

Adam laughed, “Boys are pretty good at it, too.” They were stopped behind the garage. There was a sensor that would open the garage door, so cars could get inside but they hadn’t driven passed it yet. Silence overtook them as Adam cut the engine and sat back, looking up at the night sky above them.

 

Dakota looked where he was a looking, at a patch of sky where the tops of trees met the horizon. She allowed herself to settle into her seat as she realized she hadn’t thought about her father or the hit the entire drive. She felt relaxed and comfortable and even though the car was parked she didn’t want to leave it. She leaned back into the comfortable leather seats and closed her eyes for a moment. Crickets chirped loudly around them, and the air was cool. It was a perfect night, and it was then that she felt Adam’s hand on her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was so intimate and so delicate; it sent shivers down Dakota’s spine.

 

Her eyes still closed, she leaned into his soft and gentle touch. He cupped her cheek with his hand and stroked her cheekbone with his thumb as Dakota let out a sigh. She felt his other hand come to rest on her knee and then squeeze it. Then, with long, lazy gestures, he stroked her thigh, stopping occasionally to squeeze her gently. Dakota finally opened her eyes and turned to look at Adam, at his dark eyes and strong jaw. Slowly Adam leaned over and placed his lips on hers. He kissed her gently, kissing her lips, her cheek, her jaw, before coming back to her mouth. He kissed her again, deeper this time sliding his tongue between her lips where it found hers and together they slid and glided along each other.

 

Dakota brought her hand up and ran it down Adam’s strong arm and then his chest. She could feel the bulge of his muscles underneath his shirt. His pectorals, and his abs were hard against her soft fingers. Adam’s hand left her thigh and rested it for a moment on her stomach before sneaking up and underneath her shirt. His fingers danced across her flat stomach and then he reached farther up to caress her breasts over the thin bra she was wearing, still kissing her all the while.

 

His skin was hidden under clothes, and her clothes restricted his touch on her breasts. She wanted there to be nothing between them. She wanted to feel his hands directly on her skin. She wanted to run her hands up and down his arms and over his chest and feel the heat from him. She wanted to touch him and be touched by him. She wanted to have him inside of her, rocking and moving from within her.

 

She brought her hands up to his face and kissed him deeply, running her tongue over his, biting and sucking on his lower lip. His hands became frantic running up and down her back, sneaking up under her shirt and grabbing her and pulling her close. She felt his strong arm find the clasp of her bra and with one expert motion he unsnapped it and she felt it come loose.

 

“Let’s get in the back,” she whispered.

 

And he nodded opening his door and walking around to hers and opening it up for her. She slid her feet out and stood up. Adam grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the car, closing the door and then pushing her back against the car to begin to kissing her neck. He started at her jaw and moved down, biting, sucking, and kissing his way towards the nape of her neck. He kissed her there, and she gasped, pushing herself into him. He stroked the nape of her neck with his tongue, bit down on it and she moaned for more.

 

Dakota grabbed Adam’s jacket and began to pull it off him, revealing the tight t-shirt he wore underneath, and he broke away from her to take the shirt off exposing his firm chest and stomach. Dakota reached up and stroked his chest, her fingers tracing the lines of his muscles and she felt him shudder from the attention. While she touched him, Adam’s hands found their way to her shirt and he lifted the garment up and off, taking her bra with it. Dakota gasped as her delicate skin was exposed to the cool night air and she gasped again when Adam took her breasts in his hands and began to massage one while taking the other his mouth. His tongue ran over her nipple making it stand hard. Dakota moaned and ran her hands through his hair, whispering his name over and over again.

 

His hands were at the button to her jeans and he undid them easily, lowering the zipper and pulling her pants down past her knees. Dakota slipped out her shoes and kicked the pants free, standing in front of him in nothing but a pair of simple black panties. Adam undid his belt, kicked off his shoes and removed his pants, his erection showing through his boxers. He leaned against Dakota and she felt his warm skin against hers, hearing him moan as she brought her hands down to his member and gently stroking it through the fabric, feeling it grow even harder from his touch. She wanted him. She was wet for him.

 

“Get in the back seat,” he whispered into her ear and Dakota was powerless to do anything else. He opened the back door and she slid inside. She sat up straight in the back seat, waiting for him. “Lie down on your back,” he instructed. Nervous and unsure, but even more curious and excited Dakota did what he said. She fell down, and felt the leather of the car on her back and could see a million stars in the sky above her. Just as she had settled down comfortably, she felt Adam’s hands at her hips, and he pulled her along the seat, closer to him.

 

He hooked his fingers into her panties and pulled them off, tossing them to the side. Then he pulled her close to him, kneeling in the grass outside of the car, and he brought Dakota’s legs up until they were resting on his shoulders. He kissed the inside of her right thigh and Dakota shuddered. Then he brought his lips and his warm mouth to her pussy before kissing here there, too.

 

“Yes,” Dakota whispered to the stars. He kissed her again and began to slide his tongue between her folds. Slowly, gently, he stroked her with his tongue, making Dakota writhe beneath him. He was relentless, stroking against that spot, driving her wild, sliding his warm tongue over it, always going at his own slow pace. There was a fire building inside of Dakota, burning brighter with every stroke and kiss. “Yes,” she moaned, taking his hair with her hand, trying to make him go faster or harder, but he wouldn’t be swayed.

 

His motions were slow and dedicated and teasing, just the slightest attention to that spot, just a graze against it, driving Dakota wild. “Don’t stop,” she begged, moving her hips against him, trying to force him to move how she wanted. But he refused. He was driving her mad. She was so close, hovering on the edge, so close to finishing. She was moaning and crying out, begging him to finish her.

 

He sped up his attention, his tongue massaging and working that spot. Dakota was so close, and then, so gently, he took her clitoris between his teeth and bit her. It was exactly what she needed and Dakota felt an explosion inside of her as that fire began to burn wild. She cried out and bucked against him as her orgasm rocked through her body sending shockwaves of pleasure pulsing out of her. It seemed endless as his tongue road her through it until finally it subsided and she collapsed into the car, taking deep breaths as if she had just finished a marathon.

 

She was half in the car, but her legs were hanging out, her feet resting on the wet glass. She heard Adam rifle through something as she slowly managed to sit up, and scoot back farther into the car. Adam stood before her, his penis hard and erect and Dakota felt suddenly nervous looking at it. She had never been with anyone like Adam, someone so strong and confident, someone who did the hard work himself instead of hiring someone else, someone who lived a life so very different from her own. Her breath catching in her throat, watching as Adam rolled a condom over himself. He sat down in the car and took Dakota gently by the arm, pulling her towards him. She knew what to do, what he wanted her to do. And with the aftershocks of her orgasm still pulsing through her, Dakota straddled Adam, taking his member in her hand, she guided him into her, lowering herself on him slowly, crying out as she felt his large penis stretch her and fill her up.

 

His hands were on her lower back and he held her close to him as she began to move up and down on top of him, her lean body undulating with his. She leaned over and kissed him as his hips matched her rhythm and they began to move together. She could feel all of him inside of her. She could feel the length and girth of him along her inner walls as he pushed deeper and deeper inside of her. He broke away from her kiss and moaned, burying his face in her shoulder as his hands pushed her up and down as she rode him. She could feel his hips coming up to meet her, and she could hear him as he moaned uncontrollably.

 

It seemed impossible, but something about the way he fit inside of her, something about the way they moved together, hit Dakota in just the right way. She moved herself against him and could feel his member rubbing inside of her. She felt her orgasm start again. She thought it impossible that she would finish again, but her body had other ideas.

 

Suddenly Adam pushed her and she was against the back of the front seat. He pushed even deeper into her and his left hand came up and massaged her breast.

 

“Yes,” Dakota whispered. “Yes, that feels so good.” She felt out of control, she needed to finish. She needed him to finish; she was so close, and she couldn’t stop herself. Her hands went down and she began to play with herself, massaging her clit. As her fingers worked, they occasionally touched Adam’s cock as it came in and out of her and he moaned every time she did it. “I’m so close,” Dakota whispered.

 

“Yes,” Adam responded, and he took her by her hips and began to push into her even harder than before.

 

She kept her fingers on her clit, touching herself to his rhythm. Her other hand grabbed his shoulder as she felt the pressure build inside of her until she couldn't take it anymore. She needed him so desperately. She moaned loudly and cried out as her orgasm overtook her, her body out of her control rocking and pushing against him. With a fierce look of concentration and a loud cry, Adam pushed himself so far inside of her that Dakota cried out and he did it again and again until he finished.

 

For a long moment, Dakota remained on top of him, her head resting on his shoulder, his large warm hands running up and down her back. She felt warm and tired, like she could have slept in the car. She finally pulled herself off and sat down on the seat next to him. He pulled her close, his arm around her shoulder. His fingers drew patterns on the skin of her arm, and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to focus on the sensation of his touch.