She finished the cold drink in three quick gulps while she looked at the hot, dusty road that cut the tiny town in half. It had been the first stopping place she had crossed in almost three hours of hard riding. The shaded area around the fuel pumps was a relief from the blazing sun that had turned the asphalt soft and scorched the small plants by the roadside.
Her leather halter protected very little of her small chest and tight belly, the low riding faded jeans were stiff with salt sweated from her body. She felt her skin, warm and red from the daylong ride. She swung her leg over the smooth leather saddle and kicked her Harley to life. The few onlookers stared as they had expected some hulking biker to emerge from the little store to pilot the iron horse. The tall, thin girl wasn't in their perspective as the sole occupant of the big cruiser.
Ari had been riding since grade school, since her father built bikes for a living, and her big brother was right with him. She had little choice, but to pick up on bikes, bikers, and riding. It was her world, and she loved it. It especially thrilled her to ride better, faster, and longer than some of the newcomers to the sport. Those who burned up the balance on their credit cards to become "instant bikers" received little respect from her.
She stretched her lean frame and secured her helmet. She tightened the straps on her half-gloves and kicked her steed into gear. Spraying gravel as she wheeled out of the gas stop she was once again one with the road. Late afternoon sun at her naked back cast long shadows in front of her. Her wheels became long ellipses as she rounded the curves in the mostly straight highway.
Kicked back with her feet on forward pegs, she spread her thighs and let the wind cool her as best it could. The dampness between her legs grew as her thoughts strayed to long nights by lakesides and beaches. How she longed for a companion to share these moments without crimping her freedom.
Ari approached the rolling hills just as the sun was sinking behind her. Her day was long, and she wanted to stop somewhere. Pulling into a small rest stop, she fished a map from her pack to see if there was such a place nearby. To her, anything within a hundred miles was near enough.
Prescott Lake. About forty miles west of where she thought she was. Highway 182 would take her there. The insistent throbbing underneath her was keeping her aroused. She needed to take care of that as well. Too long without another person to share her body with has troubled her mind at times. Her last boyfriend had been a control freak that tried to limit her activities to what he considered "right" for a girl. Ari didn't take that for long. He had been okay in the bedroom, but that was the only place he would take care of her needs.
'Damn!' She thought as she saw the 182 Highway sign out of the corner of her eye. Backing down the throttle quickly sent a shower of flames and noise into the darkening night. She slowed enough to execute a smooth U-turn in the highway and regain her intended route. As Ari cracked the throttle hard, the skies behind her lit up with the intense flashing of red and blue strobe lights.
"AH SHIT!" She said out loud. 'What the hell does he want?' crossed her mind. She replayed the past few moments in her mind. Speed limit, turning, lights all seemed ok to her. She eased the bike to the shoulder near the 182 turnoff and shut the bike down. She hoped the cop wasn't some hick redneck that was going to give her a hassle.
As it turned out, it was a Highway Patrol Motor Officer! Ari had heard of some mounted HP, but never saw one. The uniform stood back from her and told her to dismount. 'Am I dreaming?' Ari thought the voice sounded feminine, but deep and gravelly. 'Probably some baby-faced kid right out of training.' Ari was ready for a hard time from this cop. Slowly dismounting; she reached into her tight back pocket for her papers.
"Put your hands where I can see 'em!" The officer barked.
Ari froze. She turned slowly and saw only the silhouette of the motor cop. He must have been six feet tall! With a slender build and a very defensive stance, gun at the ready. Ari was shaking, now. "What did I do?!?" She asked.
"That was a pretty high speed turnaround, back there. What are you running from?" The cop didn't move a muscle.
Ari breathed heavily. Slowly, trying to control her anger now, she responded, " I missed this turn in the dark!"
"What's down there?"
"I don't know! Some lake. Preston or something like that." Ari was getting nervous. There wasn't another vehicle on the road and darkness had fully enveloped them.
"It's Prescott Lake. Ever been there?" The officer asked.
"Nope."
"Nothin' there. No campsites or any showers."
" I don't want any. I just want a quiet place to sack out."
The officer turned and spoke on the radio. A garbled return, and more talk that Ari couldn't hear. Then the officer switched off the device. "I'm off duty, now. Follow me, and I'll get you there."
The officer walked back to the police bike and started it, waiting for Ari. Not sure about this, Ari reluctantly started her bike and fell in behind the cop. Several miles down the highway he turned off and led Ari to a small pond. Moonlight showed it to be a hundred yards wide, and about twice as long. The cop stopped the bike and Ari pulled away a bit before shutting hers off.
