With the first lap complete, my heart beating wildly like a drum against my ribs, and my hands shaking as we near the middle of the second lap, I wonder if this is something I can ever get used to.
Would I ever be good enough to race professionally? Yes, I’m training with Colton Donavan’s team, but it doesn’t mean I can win my races. I know I’m a good racer, but it’s all just for fun right now.
Kayden’s been doing this for years, and I hope one day I can be a name on the leaderboard. That’s all I ever wanted. I can see the finish line. I can feel the victory in my lungs, taste it on my tongue, but I notice Kayden speeding up. Smiling, I do the one thing I know I probably shouldn’t do, and I wonder if Kayden will spank me again for doing it. It’s not something I would do in a professional race, but since we’re playing a little game, I do it anyway. I put my foot down all the way and make sure I take over both lanes.
He flashes his lights at me, causing me to giggle. Only when I’m inches from the finish line, do I move over, and we both seem to speed over the black and white stripes at the same time.
By the time we slow to a stop, and I’m out of the car, Kayden’s at my door leaning over me. His eyes glower, but it’s not with anger. Pure, feral desire burns in his eyes.
“Think you’re funny, speedy?” he whispers, low and demanding. His hands land on either side of my head on the top edge of the doorframe.
“I was doing what I needed to do to win,” I tell him easily. A small smile spreads on my lips when he leans in farther. He makes my heartrate kick up a notch, and it’s soon speeding in my chest, just like we were moments ago.
Kayden’s lips brush over my cheek, his warm breath fanning across my ear. “We’ll see about that, and I can’t wait to see what else you’ll do to win,” he murmurs. His words cause goosebumps to skitter over my skin.
I lean up on my tiptoes, so my lips are inches from his. The smoothness of his jaw is evidence he shaved this morning. My body heats at the thought of him being all scruffy with his mouth between my legs.
“I can handle anything you throw at me,” I whisper my challenge, and Kayden’s hands drop from the car and grip my hips tight. His hold is possessive, just like it was last night.
“You’re fuel to my fire, speedy,” he retorts before crashing his mouth on mine. The warmth of his lips consumes me while his tongue invades my mouth, darting along mine as he tastes and licks me.
My hands tangle around his neck, holding onto him. Kayden picks me up easily, pressing me against the window of the car, and I can feel his hardness at my core. My pussy throbs, pulsing with the need to be filled. I don’t know how he would feel inside me, but I want to find out.
“You make me hard.” His tortured whisper along my lips makes me smile. “You have the same effect on me racing does,” he explains before rolling his hips, causing the friction of his erection to rub against my clit, earning him a whimper of need.
“I like that effect.” My voice comes out breathy, and I can’t hide my attraction to him. We started off as enemies, angry at each other, but now that we’ve gone beyond that, I think those first few fights were always going to come to this.
Him and me, with the desire to burn up the track.
14
Kayden
Pulling away from Haelee isn’t easy. The moment my lips touch hers, it feels like I should be against her, inside her, and I can’t explain it. The need to pull her into my arms all the time tugs at my chest.
Her eyes are wide, the pupils making them look black as I take her in. Plump lips are glossy from the kiss, and I can’t help but feel a possessiveness I’ve never felt before.
“Thank you for that,” she mumbles softly, her voice husky, and I’m trying not to think about how wet she must be. Because from the sounds she made while we kissed, there’s no doubt she’s as turned on as I am.
“You don’t have to thank me every time we kiss,” I tease, but I know she’s talking about the race.
“Don’t be an insufferable idiot,” she bites out playfully with a swat on my shoulder. I cup her face in my hands, holding her hostage so I can look into those dark depths, and I wonder just what she’s doing to me.
“You, my little speed demon, are so fucking beautiful,” I tell her, my voice deep and husky. The desire I had to tamp down moments ago still runs through my veins. “I don’t ever want to hear you talk yourself down again. Am I understood?”
She looks at me for a long time. I know it’s difficult for her. When you grow up believing something, it’s hard to change the mindset. But with Haelee, I want her to realize she’s gorgeous. She’s everything I could have asked for, and she will believe it because I’ll tell her every day.
“Yes, slick.” She uses the nickname she’s clearly given me, causing me to chuckle. I can’t fight this, and I can’t deny it. Since the moment I saw her, I was attracted. And it’s only turned hotter and more intense with each passing day.
“Are you hungry?”
Haelee nods. “Yeah, I could eat.”
“Good,” I respond, taking her hand while leading her to the office. “We’ll grab something at the diner, and then we’ll take a drive down the coast before going to your place.” I want to stop at the beach to spend some quiet time with her, but with the darker clouds hanging overhead, I don’t think we’ll have time for that.
As we reach the office, Curtis returns, looking ruffled and without the brunette he had on his arm earlier. “Hey,” he greets me with a sly smirk.
“We’re heading out. The cars are on the track.”
“Sounds good. Did you have fun?” He poses his question to Haelee.
“I did. Thank you for letting us race.” Her voice is confident, but there’s still a hint of shyness, which I find alluring.
“Any time. Just hit me up. Get your man here to give me a call, and I can get some cars in,” Curtis informs her with a grin on his face. I know he’s testing the waters. He wants to see if I speak up for her when he calls me her man or if Haelee will refuse the idea.
But she doesn’t. Instead, she smiles. “That would be amazing. I used to go with my dad, but since he died, I haven’t had a chance to do it again.”
“Well, consider yourself a welcome member any time you want.” My best friend has always been charming, but I notice how he puts it on thicker just for her.
“Drinks tonight?” he asks me, and I realize it’s our tradition on Saturday nights to spend our evening at the bar looking for girls. It’s been like that since I was in college, and it hasn’t changed since we both never had a relationship. But now that I have Haelee, I have a feeling the tradition will have to be tweaked to include her as well.
“We have dinner with Haelee’s mom, and then I’m heading home. I have something planned for tomorrow, but we’ll see you on Monday.” There’s a glint of a question in his eyes, and I know he’s going to call me tonight to ask about this.
“Next weekend,” he says. “And bring Haelee along.” With a wink, he tips his head toward her in farewell before leaving us to head into the garage. We walk to my Range Rover, but there’s tension emanating from my girl.