Lucy had taken to the bike like a pro. Kelly wasn’t a fan of carrying nervous pillion passengers, but Lucy’s body moved with hers as if they were one, leaning with her into each corner and straightening as they exited.

And there were a lot of winding roads between Palmerston North and Apiti.

If it wasn’t for the heat of her body, her arms wrapped tightly around Kelly’s waist, and the tantalizing feel of her breasts pressed into Kelly’s back, Kelly would’ve forgotten she was there.

After climbing a steep incline and descending the other side, Kelly coasted over an old bridge, tapped Lucy on the leg and pointed to the river below. It was a spot Kelly loved and had stumbled upon quite by accident.

A few meters passed the bridge, she slowed as a gate barely visible from the road came into view. Her headlight flashed across BARTLETS RESERVE as she turned onto a narrow gravel path. Day or night, Kelly rode with her headlight on. It gave her a sense of security that she would be more visible to motorist.

Once the path gave way to grass, she continued to the far end of the clearing and parked alongside a thicket of blackberry bushes.

The air was humid and carried the scent of dry grass. Kelly put the kickstand down and pulled off her helmet. Lucy climbed off the bike, tugged her helmet off, and shook out her legs.

“Wow, that was fantastic.” Lucy beamed, her smile brighter than the sun. “Even if I have got a numb bum.” She rubbed her backside as if to prove her point.

Like a ghost, Kelly sidled up next to Lucy and pinched her butt, delighted when Lucy squealed and jumped.

“Ow.”

“I’d say you’ve still got plenty of feeling there. If you’re not sure, I’ve got other ways to test the theory.”

“Really?” Lucy draped her arms around Kelly’s neck.

Birds chirped, and the gurgle of the river faded into the background as Kelly lost herself in the green depths of Lucy’s eyes.

Her temperature spiked, and it had nothing to do with the sun beating down on them. As tempted as Kelly was to relieve Lucy of some clothes, she refrained from doing so. Kelly hadn’t shared this place with another soul and she wanted Lucy to experience the beauty as she had.

Breaking their intense gaze, Kelly pulled the backpack off Lucy’s shoulders and grabbed her hand. “Follow me, and be careful.”

Minutes later, after tramping down wayward blackberry vines, and holding others up while Lucy ducked underneath, they emerged onto a riverbank. A few stray vines had snagged Kelly’s forearms but other than one or two surface scratches she was none the worse for wear.

And, she would endure cuts ten times worse to see the awestruck look lighting up Lucy’s face.