CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE DASH

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

DASH

"Nothing is more amazing than this," I say truthfully, as I run my hand down her stomach.

"Really?" She cocks an eyebrow. "You're comparing winning a race to sex?" she questions with a laugh.

"No." I shake my head. "I'm comparing it to you." I place my hands on both sides of her face. "Nothing in this world compares to touching you. Winning that race was all I ever wanted. Until you." She smiles. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up every morning knowing that you're mine."

"I am," she says without a doubt.

"Nothing in this world could compare to that feeling." It's true. You could win every award there is in the world but having the feeling of knowing that someone loves you—well, nothing could beat that. Because all those awards are just gonna sit on a shelf and collect dust. People will forget what you worked so hard to accomplish—that dream. But she will wake up every morning loving me. And every night knowing that I love her just as much.

"Why am I so emotional?" She lets out a little laugh.

I smile down at her. "I don't know. But I'll spend the rest of my life drying your tears."

***

I wake up to the sound of the shower running. I push the covers off me and make my way into the bathroom. I open the door quietly and I allow my eyes to roam over her back and ass. My already hard cock aches as my eyes continue down past her thighs and down her legs. She pushes her head under the water as she runs her hands down her hair; bubbles pool at her feet from her shampoo.

I step in and close the door behind me. "Can I join you?" I question, and I can almost hear her smile as she keeps her back to me.

"Only if you wash me," she says as she turns around to face me.

"I'd love to," I say with a smile.

Her eyes drop down to my hard cock, and I realize I'm stroking it. Her smile widens, and she tilts her head to the side. "I'll make a deal with you." She steps into me, throwing her arms around my neck.

"I'm listening."

"You wash me and then I'll wash you."

"Deal," I say before my lips attack hers.

Once we finish in the shower, I throw on an old pair of worn-out jeans, a black t-shirt, and grab my helmet.

"Where are you going?" she asks as she comes out of the bathroom with her hair now dry.

I stand and give her kiss on the cheek. "I have some errands to run."

"What? On your bike?" She questions.

"It's a beautiful day." I smile. "It won't take long," Last night when we fell asleep in each other's arms, I realized what we have isn't enough. I want more! "You have a busy day with your mother and Jackie. I'll be back in plenty of time to get ready for tonight," I say with a smile, and she nods. I'm still not a big fan of the idea of this party, but I have an idea of how to turn it into a celebration. I thought that it would be the perfect time to tell her just how much she means to me. To prove it to her. I'm a big man of actions to back up the words.

I run out to the garage and jump on my bike. I was telling her the truth when I said it was a beautiful day. I take my time riding into town. I stop at the first flower shop I come to. Parking my bike, I go in and order her a beautiful bouquet of flowers to be delivered an hour before the party is to start tonight. I would have them delivered tomorrow, but I don't know what our plans are for tomorrow and I would hate for them to not be delivered. We both already have so much going on that I'm not sure she will be home.

Once I finish with that, I jump back on the bike and go a few blocks to my main stop. This one takes me a little longer. I spend two hours in the store trying to make a decision. The right decision. I want her to love it.

"Thank you," I say to the man behind the counter, and he smiles.

"Good luck," he replies. "She's gonna love it."

I place the box in the inside pocket of my leather jacket as I walk out the front door. I come to a stop next to my bike to place my helmet on when I hear my name being called.

"Dash?"

I turn around to see a little boy who looks to be the age of seven. "I knew that was you." He turns to his mom who stands beside him. "I told you, Mom," he says excitedly.

She smiles down at him. "You did. Let's not bother him." She tries to walk off with him, but the little boy runs to me.

"I watched you race." He jumps up and down. "You were awesome!" He gives a fist pump.

I chuckle. "Thank you!"

"I wanna be just like you when I grow up." He points to the helmet as it sits on my bike. "I want one of those helmets. And a trophy. Oh, my gosh!" He squeals between rambling on. "I'm your biggest fan. That would be a dream come true—to be just like you."

His mother laughs as she grabs his hand. "I'm so sorry," she says and starts to pull him away.

"Oh, no reason to be sorry," I say with a smile. And I finally start to understand what Tabatha was talking about last night. I've never seen myself as an idol. Being thrown in jail doesn't quite scream role model.

"Mom," he says digging his heels into the concrete. "I didn't get an autograph," he whines.

She huffs as she lets go of his hand and looks up at me. "Do you mind?" she asks as if it would put me out to sign my name.

"Not at all," I say. I pat my jacket and all I feel is the box holding the ring. "I don't have a pen…" I pat my jeans.

"Oh, I have a Sharpie." She starts to dig in her purse. She produces a silver Sharpie but frowns. "I don't have my notepad with me. I wrote my grocery list this morning and forgot to put it back in my purse."

"Mom," the kid whines, "you have to…"

I smile as I get an idea. "Here." I turn around and grab my helmet off my bike. Tabatha had said that my story could help others believe their dreams could come true. Maybe this helmet can help this little guy believe in himself. And that's the least I can do for my biggest fan, right?

"Oh, no…" The mother shakes her head as I start to sign my name on it. "I'll go get some paper. Please, don't do that!" she begs.

I finish signing my name and hand it to the little boy who is jumping up and down in front of me as he squeals. "You keep it," I say as I put my hand on his head and mess up his hair.

"Are you sure?" the mother asks wide-eyed.

"Absolutely!" I reassure her.

The mother hugs me, and I pose for a picture with the little boy. Once they thank me and I hug the kid one more time, I pull out my phone and send Tabatha a quick text. Then with a huge smile on my face, I pat the ring in my jacket pocket one more time before I get onto my bike and pull out into traffic.

I once told Tabatha that your dreams change as you grow older. And my dream is to be her husband. To be the father of her kids. My dream is to belong to her and only her for the rest of my life. I hope she understands that only she can make my dream come true when I ask her tonight in front of the world.