Gio

Damn, she's beautiful.

Curled in the passenger seat, feet on the dashboard. Basking in the sun, facing the window. Hand under her chin, grazing her neck with absentminded fingers.

Completely ignoring me.

All because I don't want her to be a criminal.

Stubborn little shit, I can't even stay mad at her.

How can I? She's so small. If I flick her, she'll probably get a concussion.

"Why are you smiling like that?" she snaps.

I ignore her and turn up the music, bobbing my head just to annoy her even more.

She rolls her eyes and looks away, but there's a small blush to her cheeks. About forty minutes later, I park the truck at a small shopping center.

"A motorcycle shop?" she reads the storefront sign of the store I lead her up to.

"Let's get you a helmet," I say casually.

"What?"

"I want to get you a helmet that's your size. You keep asking me to take you on a ride and I've been saying no because you don't have a helmet." I beckon her as she gapes at me. "Come on."

I open the door and wait for her to walk in, following behind her. About six or seven men around the store turn their heads, immediately noticing Celia.

That's... annoying.

I put my hand on her lower back and hurry her to the women's section in the right corner.

"Pick whichever you want." I stop her by the helmets and step aside so she doesn't feel rushed, but stay near enough to keep an eye on her.

She throws me a hesitant, wide-eyed glance and I nod reassuringly, leaning against the wall. Celia peels her gaze back at the wall, raking her eyes up and down the helmet options.

Her fingers brush across one in a turquoise color, then a white one, gliding across the shiny surface with a dance-like grace. She stands on her tip-toes to reach for one above her head, so dainty with her blue skirt and slender figure around all this heavy leather.

"You like that one?" I approach, taking the matte black helmet. It has a white silhouette of flying birds in the corners. "You're probably a small..."

I put the medium sized one back and grab a couple of other ones with the same design until I find the right one. I give it to Celia and help her put it on, then she stands in front of the wall-length mirror and looks at herself.

"Do you like it?" I ask when she doesn't say anything after a couple of seconds.

"Do you?" She looks at me, tone uncertain.

I put my hand on top of her helmet with a gentle smile, then shake the helmet around, making her  throw her arms out and stumble on her feet.

"Do you want it?" I laugh, letting her go.

"Yes, but I'll pay for it," she huffs and just leaves me, stalking in the opposite direction.

After I regain my composure, I dart after her to the left side of the store by the men's section.

Three or four men sneak glances at her, but she doesn't seem to notice. Her attention is on the rack of brown leather jackets in the corner.

"What are you doing?" I ask and stand behind her, close enough for the men around to mind their damn fucking business.

"You need a new jacket," she explains, rummaging through the hangers, still wearing the fucking helmet. "What size are you?"

"Large."

She grabs one and turns to me. "Put it on."

"What's wrong with the one I already have?"

She whines like my incompetence hurts her. "It's worn out! You look like a biblical shepherd who rides a motorcycle."

"What?" I choke on my laugh, putting the image together.

"You know what I mean, you look old. Like you don't cut your toenails and you have flaky skin." She laughs at my terrified reaction. "No, I mean the jacket makes you look like that. You're a handsome guy, but your jacket doesn't do you justice, it's all faded and torn. You deserve a nice one."

She pushes the jacket against my chest, smiling like she's already won.

Just to get this over with, I put it on.

She takes the helmet off and grins, biting her lip while I scowl at myself in the mirror. It's a distressed brown leather with a studded collar and chest pockets. The shoulders are subtly ribbed and overall it's comfortable to move in. But... it's so flashy and weird. I feel like an idiot.

"Fuck yeah," she says loudly.

"I'm not feeling it."

"Oh, I'm feeling it."

"No... " I curl my lip with distaste, "I don't think so."

She flops her hands by her side. "You have no taste."

"I already have a jacket, I don't need a new one!" I raise my brows at her.

"But you do."

"Really?" I turn to check my profile for a moment.

"Oh, yeah. Mhm. Mhmhmhmhmhm."

"You're so stupid," I chuckle, creeping near the mirror for a closer look. The brown color is kind of nice...

"It looks perfect on you," she says, leaning her hip against the mirror, eyes on my upper body. "It outlines your lean, muscular shape without changing it. The dark brown brings outs the honey shade in your hair and makes your green eyes pop. You look... juicy."

I scowl at her choice of word and she snaps her teeth with a blank stare, making me snort.

"Weirdo..." I mutter under my breath, focusing back in the mirror.

She's probably making fun of me, but... I do see everything she was talking about. There's a healthy glow to my face. The guy looking back in the mirror looks alive and refreshed.

"Okay," I nod, putting my hands in the pockets.

"You'll get it?" Surprise paints her face.

I smile, motioning to her outfit. "You always dress nice, so I trust your opinion."

"I do?" she looks down at herself then peeks at me unsurely.

"Of course, you always switch it up and look great in everything." I shrug, thinking back of all the outfits I've seen her in. "One day you wear ripped jeans with oversized shirts, the next day it'll be a summer dress with combat boots. Or tight pants with a leather jacket and red lips. Or these long skirts with girly tops. You can pull anything off."

"Okay..." she laughs breathlessly and looks down, twisting her upper body left and right.

I chuckle at her awkwardness, but then notice my reflection from the corner of my eye, catching myself off guard. The man looking back at me looks so confident, standing tall with a relaxed smile. Feels like I'm looking at an old friend whom I hadn't seen for a long time.

"Get it," Celia says, turning on her heels. "Let's go."

"Okay..." I roll my eyes, turning the price tag hanging on the sleeve to see it's twice the price of a regular one. Bummer...

"Gio!" Celia waves across the store, already in line for the cashier. I stride towards her.

"Put your wallet away." I put my hand on the side of her waist and pull her away from the credit card processing machine.

"I can pay for my helmet," she protests while I swipe my card. "I said I can pay. Gio!"

"Shh," I say with a side glance, pressing my lips not to smirk as she glares.

"Sir, the jacket?" The cashier asks me with raised brows and it takes me a second to realize I'm still wearing it.

"Oh," I take it off and reach to give it to her, but pause mid-way with hesitation.

It's not worth it. Mine is just fine. What's the point? I don't need it.

"Do you not want the jacket?" She asks me, hand still in the air to grab it.

The relaxed guy staring at me in the mirror flashes in my head, smiling at me.

I want to feel like that. I want to be him.

"I'll take it," I say and give it to her, swiping my card after she scans it.

Celia tries to grab the shopping bags, but I take them from her and open the door. She steps out with her lip pulled between her teeth and eyebrows furrowed at the ground.

"Are you okay?" I ask, opening the car door for her to get in.

She looks at my hand around the handle then at me, a bit of a dazed expression on her face.

"Yeah..." she sets her butt down, then lifts both legs and gracefully swings them in. The movement is so subtle but feminine. I close the door after her and go around the car.

"Okay, do you want to put the address for the phone repair now?" I ask, pulling out of the parking lot.

"Sure," she mumbles, typing on her phone then setting it down quietly.

"You sure you're okay?" I ask again, noting how her energy seems much lower.

"I'm fine..."

"You don't seem like it."

"I just..." she inhales deeply and stops fidgeting. "I don't like being indebted to anyone."

"Who says you're being indebted?" I frown, attention split between her and the traffic.

"When you pay for me, I become indebted."

"Said who?" I scowl.

She looks at me with big eyes, a small wrinkle between her brows, making me want to reach out and hold her hand.

I shake my head. "I don't want you to think like that."

She snorts softly. "Thanks, but it's not something I can control. Just don't do it again."

I bite my tongue to not further her discomfort, there's no reason to argue. Obviously I'm going to do it again. She'll just have to get used to it.

'Highway To Hell' starts to play and I turn it up, tapping my hand on the steering wheel. Celia gives me a small smile and I figure she likes it. So I blast it to full volume and roll down all the windows, making the aggressive wind blow her hair and skirt all over the place.

"Stop!" She squeals, giggling as she covers herself.

I press on the gas pedal and go faster, leaving all the cars behind with a grin.

"You're an idiot," she laughs when I roll the windows back and lower the music a little.

She kicks off her sandals and undoes her seatbelt, then twists in her seat and leans against the door, arching her neck to look up at the sky.

Not really safe... but the road is empty, so I don't say anything.

Her legs stretch towards the console, knees delicately bent, one thigh exposed from the high slit of her skirt. Curves nonchalantly flaunted.

"What are you staring at?" she smirks at me.

"Nothing," I focus ahead.

She reaches her big toe towards the rotary volume control and turns the music down, smiling wider when I glare. "You sure?"

"I'm sure what?" I say dryly.

"Are you sure you're not checking me out?" she purrs.

"I'm sure," I roll my eyes.

She lifts her foot over the console and snakes it on my thigh, an inch closer and it'll be on my lap. "Are you sure you're not getting distracted?"

"I'm sure." I grip the steering wheel.

Slowly, she glides the blue skirt over her knees, teasing higher and higher. She keeps her eyes on me the entire time as she gathers the fabric, revealing every inch of her bare thighs.

An image of my face between her legs pops in my head. Her bending out of control, moans getting loud, as my hands spread her wide and she writhes and shakes against my mouth.

"Are you getting distracted?" She smirks, a finger in her half-open, smart mouth.

"No, not at all," I say sarcastically.

She laughs and says something, but the sudden smoke billowing out from underneath my hood grabs my attention. Fuck. That's great.

I pull on the side of the road and turn the car off. "We're going to be stuck for a little bit, the engine's overheated."

"How convenient," Celia says, looking out the window.

I follow her sight and just now notice the large lake down the hill to our right. Shaped like a perfectly flat disc and lined with willow oak trees, the water shimmers with tranquil serenity.

"Want to go for a swim?" She smiles wickedly.

~ A/N ~
Hope you guys liked this chapter!