Chapter 18: Wild & Free

"Gettin' you outta here, princess."

"Princess?" she asked skeptically, eyeing him. "I'm not so sure about that…."

He shrugged, straddling the bike. "If I'm a knight in this scenario, you'd definitely be the princess."

She buckled the helmet into place. "Is that so?"

He snorted as she settled in behind him, wrapping her arms around his torso. His firm, hard torso. She felt her heart stutter slightly.

"Stealing a girl away that's about a thousand times outta my league? Yeah," he chuckled, patting her hand with his leather clad gloved one, "I'd definitely say you're the princess."

She clung to his middle as he revved the engine, her grip only tightening as he let the bike rumble out of the alley. He looked both ways before opening it up and tearing off into the darkening night. The person tailing Tauriel was far enough behind that he would be long gone before he'd realized what happened. He was hopefully still waiting in the bar, getting the stare down from Thrain. He wasn't a member of the Dirty Dozen, but was a close friend and a cousin of Dwalin's. Club or no, he wasn't one to be messed with. Kili grinned to himself in the darkness as his bike flew over the black pavement, taking them miles from town in just a few short minutes. Tauriel clutched him tighter; he worried for a moment that he was going too fast for her until she leaned back, hands clasped around his middle, and let out a joyful laugh pointed at the nighttime sky. He revved the engine and went faster.

He understood what she was feeling in that moment. The pure rush of the speed – it was partly fear of crashing, adrenaline from the air on your face, and the feeling of the wind on your skin – that made having a bike so exhilarating. There were times in his life where he'd considered giving it all up to live the straight and narrow type of life; no bike, no club, a 9 to 5 job….but any thoughts of that fell away during moments like this. Skirting the rules, saving the girl, and flying away into the night? That was a little more Kili's style. It was in his blood.

She gripped his stomach until he pulled off the main road, down a little lane towards the park. Just outside of town, it was a rarely used little park reserved for large family reunions and fireworks on the fourth. It boasted nothing but a medium sized covered pavilion, an old yet sturdy swing set, and a gently sloping hill overlooking a large pond. Not much, but it was deserted – something he sensed she needed right at that moment.

Idling over to a large, flowering bush, he killed the engine and parked the bike out of sight from the road.

The silence greeted them, and for a moment all he could hear was the thudding of his heart. Her chest was pressed against his back, and he could feel the pounding echo of her heartbeat. Was it just him, or did they synch for a moment? His mouth twisted into a sideways grin.

The sudden absence of the rumbling engine was his cue to take a deep breath – Tauriel was safe. For now. Neither of the moved for a moment, except to exhale. It was silent, save for the crickets chirping and the occasional sound of a bullfrog from the pond. He dropped his hands to his stomach, where hers still rested. Tauriel rested her head on his back, taking another deep breath. She was tense; he could feel it. He wove his fingers in with hers against his stomach, squeezing them there.

Her mind was still slightly reeling from the hour. She felt like she could float away, like this was just a dream…but his hands kept her grounded. I've got you, they seemed to say. Tauriel had never appreciated another human being so much.

"You alright?" he voice was low and raspy, just like it had been in the alley.

She paused a moment, taking stock of all that had happened to her just that day alone. She'd gone to work like any normal day, been visited by Kili's brother, found out she was being followed, and then escaped through an alley window with the help of a burner phone and a hot biker. No, it was far from a typical day for her even if it had started out like one.

"I….think so," she answered solemnly, lifting her head from the back of his sweatshirt. Frowning, she pulled her hands back and touched his back. "No vest?" she asked, referencing the worn, leather biker's vest he'd been wearing the last time she'd seen him.

He smirked. "Little too easy to recognize that in this town I'm afraid."

She smiled. "Even without it I doubt you'd be hard to pick out."

She made to move off the bike, and he quickly helped her. After tucking the helmet away, he produced a small blanket from one of his saddle bags before she let him lead her to a spot overlooking the small pond.

"This should do," he muttered, spreading it out onto the grass.

"You didn't have to…" Tauriel's gaze was one of delight that she didn't try to hide, and it made him wonder what her life had been like if something as small as a blanket for her to sit on gave her that much joy.

Kili barely had time to sit before she joined him, urgently straddling his lap as he fell back onto the blanket. An embarrassingly loud grunt of surprise left his lips as her soft hands grasped his stubbly cheeks, holding his face to hers in a bruising kiss. She undoubtedly wanted to pick up where they'd left off in the alleyway, but that wasn't entirely the reason he'd brought her to the park. His thoughts started out resolute but quickly waivered as her mouth latched to his, her lips easily dancing over his in an enchanting string of urgent kisses. Kili opened his mouth to her tongue slid into his mouth, tasting and claiming. She tasted sweet, like minty tea and something sugary, he realized. Whatever it was, it was good. He kissed her back, letting his hands rest on her hips as his body began to respond to her for the second time in a short while.

When he finally managed to tear his lips away from hers, the hurtful surprise she felt was evident. Opening her mouth to protest, he placed a finger on her plump lower lip.

"Tauriel," he smiled weakly, still feeling almost drunk from her assault, "As much as I love the way you greet me, I….I didn't just bring you out here for this."

Glancing around the empty park, then at the blanket, she chewed her lip and looked slightly perplexed. Sheepishly, she climbed off his lap and sat on the blanket beside him.

Kili chuckled slightly, shaking his head. "Not that I'm complainin'," he explained, "But I want to make sure you know I don't….expect anything out of this. I really did want to help you. When Fili called me after he'd worked it all out, I just…I couldn't bear to leave you alone to deal with all that. If I'm bein' honest, I thought a lot about what you told me. About your dad," he clarified, plucking a piece of grass up. She watched as he twisted and tore it between his large, strong fingers.

She remembered their talk that night. How he'd listened while she'd confided in him about how unhappy her life had become.

He stared straight, out at the pond. "And…besides Sigrid, it didn't seem like you really had anyone to turn to. And even if you never want to….ever want me again, I….I would be alright with it, but I couldn't leave you to it, just dealin' with all that on yer own," he rambled, tossing the piece of grass to the side. He sighed deeply before looking sideways to her. "Am I wrong?"

He wasn't. For as wild and reckless as he appear to be, Kili was no fool. He was kind, introspective and clever – she'd gotten all of that from their limited interactions. Thinking back to when they'd met at the bar, she almost laughed at herself for how quickly she'd nearly written him off! Once again, she was glad she had taken a chance on her handsome biker.

"No," she replied slowly, shaking her head. "All my life has felt a bit like a gilded cage. A cage I seem to have outgrown recently," she added quietly, shifting her eyes to him. She gazed at him resolutely. "I seem to have gotten a push lately, and I owe that to you."

Kili watched her face, his eyes scanning hers in the dim light. "You don't owe me anything, Tauriel."

A shy, grateful smile crept onto her lips as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'd still be at that bookstore if you wouldn't have come to assist me."

He snorted, breaking their somewhat serious trance. "They'll do it again. Yer father is paying them handsomely, no doubt, so they'll be back."

"Were you really being followed too?

"Yes. First two meetings of the day, but they were downtown so I didn't think….I waved it off. Wouldn't be the first time I've had someone checking up on me."

Her stomach twisted slightly as she was once again reminded that Kili lived a very different life than she was used to. He'd already confirmed he'd been on the wrong side of the law more than once, but to hear him admit to have being followed gave her body a jolt of some sort of nervous energy she couldn't place.

"You were working? Downtown?"

He laughed, flashing her an amused grin. "I do actually work, you know," he nudged her side, making her grin sheepishly. It's not just taking off on motorcycles and stealing women," he winked at her. "I have a day job, remember?"

"Ah," she fished his business card out of her pocket. "Marketing for Oakenshield Engines?"

She flipped the card over again, smiling to herself at his handwritten phrase.

"Available for rescuing, 24/7"

"Right," he seemed to snap out of it, nodding resolutely. "I handle all of that for my uncle. That's my day job. My regular gig. This whole…rescuing princesses is a whole other bit," he joked, looking off into the distance. Tauriel burst into laughter and nudged his side, to which he joined in her mirth. His eyes caught hers and he held her gaze.

"I don't like them messing with ye, Tauriel. I couldn't leave you alone to deal with the aftermath of you meetin' me," he sighed, his expression turning tender. "I couldn't leave you with all that."

"It's alright," she replied slowly, looking out across the little pond. "I never thought I'd see you again," she added shyly.

And she hadn't. She'd longingly written her night with Kili off as a one-time thing she would forever cherish and hold in her heart – her secret night with the perfect guy.

"You didn't want to?"

"No, it's not that, I just….I thought maybe…what we had was just a one night thing."

Kili felt his stomach sink slightly. Was that what she thought? Was it really what she wanted? Was he a fool to have risked so much to save her?

"Hey," he reached over, gently turning her chin to look at him. "I don't do anything to spare anyone's feelings. That's not me. I wouldn't have given you a ride on my bike that night if I didn't want to take ye'," he spoke sternly, his eyes blazing into hers in the darkness. The crickets chirped around them, but to Tauriel it was just him and the sound of his soothing baritone voice. "I came back tonight because I wanted to. I…" he paused, shaking his head slightly, "I couldn't stop myself from thinking about that night…."

"Me either," she admitted breathily, staring at him. "I was afraid that you didn't want more, that it was just-"

"Don't," he cut her off, shifting his hand on her jawline to cup her cheek. "That used to be me. When I was younger and….reeling from the loss of my dad. Not anymore. I'm not some stupid kid who doesn't know how to handle himself; I don't take just anyone home, Tauriel. Don't ever think I didn't want to come back. I waited. I watched. And I did my research."

"Clearly," she replied, smirking. She'd never felt as naïve about the world and the people in it as she did when she was with Kili. He didn't make her feel insignificant or stupid about it, but he'd opened her eyes to an entirely other side of the world, and of people, than she'd ever imagined existed. "I'm glad you realized I was being followed."

"Doesn't take a genius," he snorted, his hand sliding from her cheek to behind her neck. Her cheeks burned – from her naiveté or his touch, she couldn't be sure. His fingers were strong and firm, yet gentle at the same time. His skin was blazing hot, even in the mild evening air and she felt herself be pulled towards him.

"Kili…"

His lips were close to hers now, close enough she could feel his hot breath. He smelled faintly of tobacco, but mostly leather and clean night air. It was intoxicating and she couldn't resist much longer.

"I won't let anything happen to you. I can't. Tauriel, don't go back there. Please…"

His words trailed off as he broke the trance, pulling her mouth to his. He kissed her hard, lips bruising and passionate. Tauriel returned his kisses, her head dizzy with the feeling of relief his mouth seemed to bring. She'd thought about this moment a few hundred times since he'd pulled out of her father's driveway that day, but never in a million years did she think it could feel like this. He pulled her into his lap, his hands running a blazing hot trail from her collar bone, up her neck, and cradling her cheeks.

"I've never hated anything so much as when I had to leave you there…with him. I hated seeing you afraid. Somethin'….somethin' snapped in me when I saw him in front of the house like that. Seen a lot babe, but never seen hate burnin' in a man's eyes, not that hard."

Shame flared up in her chest at the mention of her father. She knew he was a monster, especially after today, but she couldn't change that he was her blood.

"He wouldn't hurt me, Kili, if that's what you think."

Kili stared at her as she straddled him, his eyes searching hers. "Not with 'is hands, no….men like him don't like to mark up a pretty face like yours," he thumbed her chin affectionately, but his eyes were heated with fury. "He's smarter, your dad. He hurts, but he hurts you here," he let his hand slide down to cover her thrumming heart. Pausing, he seemed to feel the fluttering rhythm for a moment before he inhaled deeply. He wasn't wrong, and she knew it.

Wanting a distraction, she slid her hands down the sleeves of his sweatshirt. Even through the fabric, he was all muscles and blazing heat. Her eyes slid up to meet his, and the desire that had been there before in the alley was suddenly prevalent between them again, cracking and sizzling to life. Kili stared back at her. He felt it too.

His voice was quiet, but fierce when he spoke. "I don't want you to be afraid. You're too good to be afraid, Tauriel. Something….I want to protect you from whatever was in your eyes when I had to pull that truck away from you the other day."

If she closed her eyes and pictured it, the memory was still fresh. Her, standing in the driveway of her house under her father's hateful gaze, Kili speeding away. She thought he last she'd seen of him was his taillights.

She rested her forehead against his, shaking her head slightly. "That's not what I want. I don't want to be protected. I want to be free."

Her words hung between them for a few moments, and he nodded solemnly to her. Leave it to Kili to not want to overthink things.

"Then at least let me break the lock on that pretty gilded cage," he spoke, his voice raw. "You can fly away on your own."

She let out a tiny squeaking exhale as she leaned forward and crashed her mouth to his. He understood her. He didn't want to possess her, or control her, or anything of the sort. He wanted to free her. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she kissed him, again and again. The unease she'd felt all evening writhed inside of her, pushing her further and further into his arms. He held her against his lap, his desire for her hardening as she kissed him ruthlessly. Her nails dug into his shoulders through his thick sweatshirt as she opened her mouth to taste him fully. Kili was a willing victim, responding enthusiastically as her hands began to rake down his chest. She let out a moan of desire as his tongue began to stroke hers in a fashion not unlike what he'd done between her legs on their first night together. Her body responded, seemingly tightening and relaxing at the same time. It was the beautiful rush of anticipation and lust and a little nervousness that had come with her first time with him. Of course it wasn't enough to even make her pause. No, he just felt too good between her thighs as she straddled him in the darkness. Crickets and bullfrogs sang all around them, but the only thing she could hear was the pleasant buzz in her ears that meant she'd completely tuned the rest of the world out.

Her hands shook slightly as she ripped at his black hoodie, ruthlessly tearing it from his chest and discarding it in the grass beside them. Kili laughed through her kiss as she did the same with her own top, wasting no time hastily discarding it in the grass with his sweatshirt. Her pants got the same treatment, and before he could blink he had a naked Tauriel in his lap, her hands going wild against his bare chest and her mouth nipping at the soft piece of skin behind his ear. Her teeth traced the edge of his earlobe and he felt himself throb with need for her.

The balmy night air was like silk against her skin. It was hot, hot enough that she didn't mind being completely bare and exposed beside the little pond. It felt good. He felt good. This was right.

Taking charge, he held her face away from his to return her attentions, dragging his lips down her neck and to her perfect collar bone. "The whole time…I was away from ye…I tried to convince myself that you…needed a better man," he gasped between kisses. "But now that you're here, with me….I don't give a flying fuck about another guy. I want you, Tauriel, fuck them all."

Pulling away, she opened her eyes, blinking at him blearily. "But why?" she asked, clearly muddled. "You risk so much with me….I'm not…"

Kili stared up at her, absently tucking a piece of her wild red hair behind her ear. "I know how I feel, I'm not afraid. You make me feel alive," he breathed, his eyes searching hers.

"I…"

"Just be with me," he pleaded, running his hands up and back down her sides. A shudder of pleasure and want rippled up her spine, and she could barely nod her consent. Reaching over, he grappled with the saddlebag on his bike for a moment before returning and seating her back on his lap. With a grunt, he pulled down his jeans just far enough to expose himself to slip the condom on. Their hurried pace was suddenly slowed as he guided her hips over the tip of his cock. Tauriel exhaled slowly, time pausing for a moment as she took in the beautiful, wild, unafraid man between her thighs. Kili stared up at her with longing and wonder and she realized she'd never felt safer, out here, exposed in the moonlight. She sank down on him in one smooth, fluid motion, her body welcoming him again like they'd joined a hundred times.

His hands tightened on her hips as she lowered herself, her fingernails digging into his bare skin. Kili's head dropped to her chest as he gasped in pleasure, muttering fuck under his breath. He seemed to throb inside of her as she began to slowly move, her hips slow like honey.

Kili's lungs burned, and he realized he'd been holding his breath.

"You feel what you do to me?" he practically whined, rubbing his face against her breast. One of her nipples rubbed up against his cheek and he turned to bite it lightly. The welcoming coo from her lips had him gasping against her dewy skin and he felt like he might explode. "So much…"

Tauriel grinned into the darkness, her mouth falling open as the mixture of Kili's stubble and his lightly nipping teeth across her chest made her entire body tingle and seize. The sensation was to the point where it was almost too much, and it wasn't even concentrated anywhere specific – he had her entire body thrumming with need and pleasure. Reaching up, she pushed his hair out of his eyes and kissed him soundly, swallowing his moan and she rode him. Slow, languid strokes had them both soon climbing towards release. Between the friction of his cock and the light, searing twinge of his mouth on her breast, she felt body answering his ministrations with an orgasm that felt long overdue.

"There…oh…shit, Kili, I can't…"

"Just let go. Fuck, baby," he growled against her skin, raising his head to nip at her neck. His hands slid down to her bare ass cheeks, gripping firmly until he could push and pull her hips against him. The added sensation made her wail out in surprise and desire.

She came within moment, her stomach tightening and her body coiled. Kili pulled her hips harder, thrusting upwards into her channel until he joined her with a guttural, dry groan. A pleasure she'd only known twice before ricocheted through her bones, concentrated in her still pulsating core. She collapsed on top of him, her body boneless once more. Slowly, she blinked as she felt herself coming down from the high that he'd given her. How could anything feel so positively wonderful? Kili held her in his lap until their breathing slowed, eventually rolling them to the side. The worn blanket was easily pulled around their bodies as they lay facing one another on the grass. Tauriel stared at him as bullfrogs croaked all around them. In the distance she could hear the highway and the cards flying down it.

Everything felt like it was a million miles away.

How had so much happened to her in such a short amount of time? How had everything changed, and yet how had it not? She knew she'd have to go home again and life would go back to normal. Disquiet surged within her veins at the thought; somehow she knew after meeting Kili that 'normal' wouldn't be possible.

"Thank you," she whispered, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

Kili stared at her. "For what?"

She paused, watching his face. "For showing me what this could be like. For caring. Listening. Helping me run."

He shrugged. "Nothin' else I'd rather do. But we can't hide here forever, Tauriel."

"I know I can't," she exhaled, shaking her head on the grassy ground. "I don't know how to go back."

"Do you have to?"

"What are my options?"

"You said it yourself – you want to be set free, to get away. So why don't ya?"

"I said too much the other night," she let her teeth graze her lip, worrying it as she remembered how she'd poured her heart out to Kili in his bed. She'd let the darkness of his comfortable bedroom and the warmth of his arms around her convince her that it was a safe place, and she'd opened herself up to him in more ways than one.

"Nothin' to be sorry about," he assured her, pulling her down to touch their foreheads together. "Ye meant it, no?"

"I did," she agreed. "But now….now you know. You know what I go home to, and how he is. Kili, how can I run away from everything I know?"