White-hot stars explode behind my eyes as I tumble—Jace wringing every shred of pleasure out of me. I continue to ride out the endless pulses and spasms until my lungs are breathless—my body limp.
“No,” Jace grumbles when my hands fly to the waist of his jeans. “This was for you…to help you chill.”
“Jace…” I protest, my voice sounding more like a whine. “Let me return the favor.” I rub my hand over his massive erection.
“This isn’t a blow for a blow.”
“A what?” I giggle.
“You know…tit for tat.”
“Too bad…I give a pretty good blow and tit.” I laugh at my own joke.
He chuckles. “You need your energy, baby. You still have to race today. I just wanted to help you relax a little.” He moves back onto the couch and pulls me into his lap.
“It worked,” I giggle. “You’re really good at that. Feel free to help me relax before every race.” I kiss his bare chest, before I rest my head on him with a sigh. “Jace…” I snuggle into his warm body. “What are we doing? It feels like I’m living in a dream when we’re together.”
I’m trying like hell to keep my heart out of this. I don’t remember ever feeling like this. I’ve tried to ignore it, I really have. I’m feeling the L-word on the tip of my tongue, and I’m feeling vulnerable. It’s more terrifying than hurtling my car around the track at two hundred and thirty mph in a congested pack. With Jace, there’s a better chance of crashing.
“It’s real…what you’re feeling.” He winds his strong arms around me, hugging me tightly against him like he doesn’t ever want to let me go. “I feel it too.” He quietly hugs me for a few minutes, neither one of us saying anything, afraid to break out little bubble. “There are things…we should talk about…before you think about getting involved with me.”
“Is that what you want?” I pull back and search his eyes.
“Yeah…I think it is.” He kisses the top of my head, holding his lips to my hair. “Being with you…feels right. You’re all I think about when I’m not with you. You make me happy…I haven’t been happy in a very long time.”
“Jace.” I sit up and stroke his stubbly cheek, gazing into his eyes.
He closes his eyes and lets out a ragged breath. “Look…I don’t know what all this means. I don’t know what you want. Feel free to tell me to fuck off.”
I try to hold back my grin at his brashness as he pours his heart out. I can’t hold back the wetness building in my eyes as I continue to stare at him dumbfounded.
“I can tell by your face you don’t…”
“No.” I press my fingertip to his lips. “It’s a little unexpected. You took me by surprise.”
“Maybe we could start slow…see where it goes.”
“I’m pretty sure we’re already driving in the fast lane,” I chuckle.
He smiles. He’s so freaking handsome when he smiles. I swear my insides turn into goo. “Maybe we take some time—get to know each other better.”
“Like date?” He nods tentatively. This badass Marine is adorable when he’s nervous. “Do we still get to have amazing sex?” I can’t help the huge smile painting my face.
“We can have all the sex you want.”
“I like anything that involves more of those incredible orgasms,” I say, my fingers rubbing lazily along his concrete abs.
“I have lots more in store for you, beautiful.”
God, he’s good for my ego. I trail my fingers down his chest, swirling them around his tight pecs. “I think we—” A sharp rap on the trailer door interrupts my sentence. “Shit.” I scramble off his lap and snatch his T-shirt off the floor, unsuccessfully trying to cover myself.
“Charlie…you in there?” Smitty shouts through the door. Fuck.
“Yeah, Smitty. Be right out.”
“Showtime, Rookie. Becks said get your butt moving.”
I realize the rain has stopped, and the sun is peeking through the metal blinds on the window. “I’ll be there in five.”
I chuck the shirt at him and collect my clothes off the floor. Jace eyes me as I hurriedly dress and put myself together. I quickly use the bathroom to wash up.
After I exit, I struggle halfway into my fire suit and let it sit at my waist. Jace stands in front of me after I finish pulling on my black and pink racing shoes. “You okay?” He brushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“I’m good.” I place my palm on his chest, over his heart. “Can we talk about this more later?”
“Of course.”
“My sister is coming in late tonight…I’ll come to your room after she’s settled.”
“Sounds good.”
“Jace,” I whisper. “I’d like to try…with you.”
“You would?”
I nod. “I like you.” The corners of my mouth turn up. I want to open my heart again. I want to take the risk with him.
“You just like the orgasms.” He shoots me an adorable smirk.
“Any chance to get my hands on your ridiculously hot body is a good thing.” I place my hands on his shoulders. “The orgasms are a bonus.”
“Go…go race, beautiful.” He captures my chin between his fingers. He leans down and glides his lips over mine for a chaste kiss.
I leave the trailer feeling on cloud nine. Maybe today is going to be a good day after all. Jace strides next to me, and I reach for his hand, linking my fingers with his. I’m like a silly schoolgirl crushing on the most popular guy in class when he squeezes my hand and smiles.
When we arrive at the garage, we’re still holding hands. We get a few odd looks from some of the guys, but I don’t care what they think. They can mind their damn business.
Jace waits patiently in the corner while I meet with the crew about the car’s speed, and some last-minute adjustments they made. I zip up my fire suit and snag my helmet from one of the guys.
“You are sexy as hell when you’re all professional-looking,” Jace says, looking delicious when I make my way back over to him. He leans over and whispers some of the naughty things he wants to do to me later tonight.
“Such a tease.” I shiver, brushing my fingers lightly over the bulge in his jeans with a smirk. “I’m going to Whitney Houston, the fuck out of you tonight, Bodyguard,” I whisper.
“You’re a tease.” His lips twist with amusement, and he shakes his head.
I shoot him a flirty smirk. “You have no idea.” I wink, and he grins harder with a promising gleam in his eye.
“Rookie!” Becks approaches us, posturing like some alpha big brother checking out his little sister’s date. He leers at Jace, brows drawn tight for a moment, not saying a word. “Colton noticed you didn’t have a Corporate Cares sticker on your helmet. Here.” He shoves me the sticker. “Put this on, and get your ass on the track. We got a race to win tomorrow.”
Jace helps me affix the sticker to the back of the helmet for the sponsor near and dear to my boss’s heart. “Go get em, Rookie.” He rewards me with his knockout smile.