Chapter 9
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Zach asked.
Giselle hesitated, then snorted, “Nope. Never been in a relationship.”
Zach sounded relieved. “That’s good to hear. Then, we can go all out today. Let’s go.”
Downhill biking was one of the most extreme forms of mountain biking, and it was high–risk even by adrenaline sports standards.
As the saying went, “Ride like a pro, you go home sore. Ride like an idiot, you go home in a box.”
Giselle had started at 17, taken more than her share of spills, and even shattered a bone before honing her skills to this level.
The two wheeled their bikes to the start of the advanced trail at the mountain summit. They were fully geared up with safety equipment–knee pads, elbow pads, body armor, neck braces, helmets, the works.
As soon as the signal hit, Giselle tightened her grip on the handlebars, kicked off, and launched downhill without a second thought.
The terrain was brutally rugged, with sheer drops and forest trails so rough that a single misstep could shatter bones.
But Giselle flew down the slope like it was nothing, her speed fierce as she dodged obstacles and sliced through turns with effortless precision.
Zach followed close behind her. Having already mounted a camera on his handlebars, he caught every perfect shot of her from behind.
After the steep forest trail came an equally sharp descent of man–made stone steps. Their bikes rattled and jolted down the jagged stairs, barreling toward another treacherous stretch of path.
The narrow trail hugged the cliff’s edge, its uneven surface enough to make even a hiker’s legs tremble with fear. Yet, the two of them raced forward without any safety measures in sight.
Giselle felt adrenaline coursing through her veins. The faster she rode, the more thrilling it became. The mountain wind roared past her ears, and the stress of the past few days dissolved in the thrill of the ride.
She moved as one with her bike, her mind clear, as if nothing existed beyond the trail beneath her wheels.
Eventually, the two of them made it through the toughest part of the route. After a perfect backflip, they landed safely at the finish line.
After coming to a stop, Giselle and Zach were both out of breath, dripping with sweat, but riding a high they couldn’t quite put into words.
Zach took a bottle of mineral water from his assistant, twisted off the cap, and handed it to her. “Here you go, legend. I’m sticking with you from now on.”
Giselle took the water, tipped her head back, and drank more than half the bottle in one go. “I’ve got to say, this mountain bike of yours is freaking insane. It’s tough as hell and easily the coolest one I’ve ever ridden!”
“If you’re into it, I’ll get you the newest model from this brand every time it drops. From now on, all your gear will be on me!”
Giselle burst out laughing. “What are you, some clueless heir or something?”
Zach didn’t speak. His eyes stayed fixed on her face, completely captivated.
Fresh off the ride, a light sweat glistened on her forehead. Her fair skin had a warm, honeyed flush, and paired with those mesmerizing eyes, with a vibrant, almost intoxicating beauty. He couldn’t tear his gaze away.
her whole face glowed
Her face -both alluringly feminine and strikingly bold–made the scrawny, pouty, plastic–surgery–filled women who usually hung around him seem utterly forgettable. They didn’t even compare.
Giselle glanced up instinctively and caught Zach staring at her, his gaze intense. It threw her off for a second, so she quickly changed the subject. “Want to go for another two rounds?”
But Zach had other plans. “Tell you what. I’ve got a villa about nine miles from here. We can bike straight there. There’s a pool, and we can take a dip when we
arrive.”
Giselle didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”
The summer heat was relentless. The thought of jumping into the pool after the ride, sweat–drenched, felt incredible.
They set off on their mountain bikes, turning onto the suburban highway. They raced across the flat stretches joyfully, pedaling so hard their feet burned, at times even pulling ahead of the cars beside them.
As they pushed up a steep slope, Giselle spotted a sleek, modern villa rising ahead.
“You live here?” she gasped between pedal strokes.
“Nah.” Zach chuckled. “I forgot to mention. This is actually my uncle’s place. I come here a lot.” “Your uncle?”
