by Dani René
Inside the small, confined space, I’m more aware of the manly scent of his cologne, which makes me want to lean in and inhale him further. The silence is deafening as I slip the key into the slot and twist. The engine roars to life, rumbling with the promise of a fine ride, and I wonder how it would feel to have a lot of them racing behind and in front of me.
“Head onto the straight. I want to see how you handle the turns,” Kayden orders gruffly, and I have to grip the steering wheel tighter to keep from twisting around and slapping him.
Focusing on the asphalt ahead, I make my way down the straight, picking up speed, enjoying the feel of the pedals underfoot, and the way the car feels as if it’s flying. When I reach the left bend, I gear down, but I fuck it up with my shaking hand, and I curse myself.
“Slow. You need to focus on your footwork while your hand is gearing down,” Kayden says coolly, but there’s a hint of amusement in his tone. Yesterday when I raced him, I didn’t make this mistake. He knows it because if I did, he would’ve been able to overtake me.
My stomach churns with embarrassment and anxiety. I move through the corner and onto a shorter straight but speed up before gearing down smoothly. He doesn’t say anything about it, which only frustrates me more.
I take the second bend, which is short, sharp, and the moment I lose focus is when Kayden clears his throat as he glares at his phone screen. My body burns with rage at the fact that he’s not even paying attention. The loud ding of a message coming through on his cell makes my blood boil over, and I bring the vehicle to a quick stop on the shoulder.
Killing the engine, I pin a glare on him as he looks up from the glowing screen. “What?”
“You’re such a fucking asshole!” I push open the door because I need air. I have to get away from him before I lose my cool. No man has ever had fury shooting through me as much as he does.
“What the fuck is your problem?” he bites out, rounding the front of the car and practically pinning me to the vehicle. His large, looming frame makes me shiver when he leans over and looks down at me. He’s taller. I only come up to his chest, and when I tip my head back, those luminous eyes practically glow when he regards me.
“You. You’re my problem. You have no respect for me. You clearly hate or resent me. Why the fuck didn’t you ask Colton to give me another trainer? I would happily take anyone else.” My words make him flinch, and he pushes away from me. The cool air that now surrounds me makes me miss his warmth, but the moment the thought enters my head, I push it away.
“Hate? That’s a futile emotion, speedy,” Kayden tells me. “Those innocent eyes of yours seem to hold the hostility of a thousand fucking engines. I don’t deal well with petulant teenagers.” His remark, along with the satisfied smirk on his face, has lava roiling in my veins. I want nothing more than to hurt him too, but I can’t. I don’t know enough about him to even start an argument. “And don’t throw respect at me. That’s earned on the track. When you show me you can handle your ride,” he informs me, his gaze trickling up and down my body before locking on my gaze. “Then you’ll have my respect.”
“If you don’t want to do this, then fucking leave. I can learn myself,” I bite out, opening the car door and sliding into the seat. But he’s beside me in seconds, and I’m once more trapped in the front of the vehicle with him.
No matter how angry I am, just the scent of him makes me shiver with want. I hate my stupid hormones. They’re taking over, and I don’t want them to. I want to wish them away, but I know it’s no use. The only way I’m going to get over this useless crush is to ignore it.
“With every race, it gets more difficult,” Kayden speaks once we’re back on the track. “With every car you sit in, with every podium you stand on, the pressure only becomes more unbearable.”
I don’t know if he wants me to respond. He doesn’t seem to be looking at me, so I keep my mouth shut. I take the turns and bends perfectly. But I know my time is lacking. I’m too slow. Coming out onto a straight means I need to speed up sooner. That’s something I knew I needed to work on before I got to try out here.
We do three laps, four laps, then I don’t know how many more before I find myself getting tired. I lose count how many times I’ve seen the same scenery, and I realize it’s time to go home.
Fighting with Kayden but still wanting him has exhausted me. I could drive all night, all the way through to the next morning, but beside him, it’s difficult.
Kayden doesn’t speak all the way through the session, and I wonder if he’s given up on me. I don’t know why, but the thought of him doing that makes my chest tight.
When we finally pull back into the garage, Kayden turns to me. “Never underestimate your opponent. They can draw out your worst fears, your deepest anguish. When you’re in the public eye, they know everything there is to know about you.”
“You know nothing about me because I’m a nobody.”
“Yes, you’re right.” He nods. “You are a nobody, but someday, when your name is up in lights, remember what I said. Boys, men, they’ll always attack you in this business because not all of them are like Colton Donavan.”
“Why? Because they’re like you?” The wince on his expression is enough, and I push open the door with a shaky hand and exit the vehicle before he can respond, leaving Kayden inside. I’m right, though. He didn’t deny it.
By the time I reach Colton’s office again, almost two hours have passed. When I stop to say goodbye, he looks up at me, standing on the threshold. His gaze holds questions, but he doesn’t ask them.
“Thank you for today,” I tell him. My voice sounds sad as if I’ve finally given up. I haven’t, at least that’s what I tell myself, but right now, all I can think about is lying in a bubble bath and not thinking about the man with the endless teal eyes.
But I know it’s a lie because nothing can remove Kayden Mercer from my mind.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Colton sounds hopeful. Perhaps he realizes putting me with his newest driver was a mistake, or maybe he put us together for another reason he hasn’t yet told us about.
“Yes. Goodnight,” I say before heading out to my car. In the driver’s seat, I suddenly burst into tears. It’s stupid. I can’t explain it. As if I need more heartache in my life, the thought of Kayden not liking me hurts me so much more than I thought it would.
So much more than I thought I could handle.
And that’s when I realize I’m utterly and truly fucked.
6
Kayden
I need to get out tonight. I pull on the black leather jacket and look at myself in the mirror. Grabbing my wallet and phone, I head out the door, shutting it behind me before stepping into the elevator, which takes me down to the garage.
After my afternoon with the sexy little speedster, I decide I need some time out. Drinks and women. That’s what I know will get me in the right frame of mind to forget about Haelee. Even her fucking name sends heat down my spine.
When I told Curtis I found the girl with the pink bikini, he didn’t believe me. I had to explain how and where, and then he finally realized I wasn’t fucking joking. It took my patience, but now that he knows how I feel about her, how she affects me, the fucker won’t let me forget it.
I’m in the car on the road, but my mind replays the track, replays every moment with her. The scent of her perfume—cinnamon and spice—and the flavor of her anger. I tasted it, and I want more. When I leaned over her, when I took her in, I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk away from this.
Training her may have been my punishment from Colton, but he doesn’t know just what he’s done. My fixation on the beauty is turning in my mind as I pull up to the club I know will be filled with easy, yet sexy women.
It doesn’t take me long to scope out my friends, Pax and Curtis, seated in the VIP section. The deep blue and purple strobe lights highlight women in white dresses, making me want to keep my eyes peeled, drinking them in, but each one I pass is yet another copy of t
he one before.
None of them stand out. Even with their clothes illuminated, they’re nothing compared to Haelee. And that pisses me off even more. I reach my friends as the server brings them two beers, and I order one for myself.
“You look like shit,” Pax remarks, chuckling when I pin him with a glare so fierce if he weren’t used to my attitude, he’d have been shrinking away.
“He’s right. What the fuck crawled up your ass and died?”
“Fuck you both,” I bite out, taking in the crowd, even though I know nobody here will capture my attention. Perhaps I should just focus on shots of tequila with beer chasers and keep them coming.
When my drink arrives, I pick up the glass and swallow down a mouthful. The burst of bubbles trickles its way down my throat, but I know this won’t satiate me for long. I’ll need something stronger, something that will take the memory of her away.
“Want me to call over a few beauties?” Curtis asks, but as much as I know I should say yes, I can’t bring myself to do it. One catches my eye, giving me a sly wave, which would usually work, and I wonder if I should just give it a try.
“The one in the short white skirt that looks like her ass is peeking out,” I respond, not looking at my friend because I know if I don’t end up taking her home, he will.
Curtis is on his feet and on the dance floor before I have time to change my mind. But it’s Pax who leans in and asks, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Do what?” I turn my attention to him, swigging my beer as I take him in.
He shrugs. “Random chicks. From what you told us, you seem to like this little racer chick,” he remarks. He was with Curtis when I called them after getting home from the track.
It doesn’t matter if I take someone home or not. I can’t have Haelee. First, she hates me for how I treated her, and second, I work with her now. She’s my teammate. As much as I don’t want her to be, I can’t stop it from happening. To be fair, I doubt Colton will have any issue with it, but I wouldn’t feel right.
I think.
“Hi.” The soft sultry voices of the girls come from my other side, catching my attention away from Pax. I should answer him, but I can’t find the words. Curtis settles beside me with a blonde on his lap while a redhead sits her ass beside Pax. The one with the short skirt looks at me expectantly before I pat my lap.
She slides on, and for a moment, just for a split fucking second, I try to imagine her bouncing on my dick. But the more I look at her, the closer I take in her appearance, I realize there’s not a chance in hell I’m going to get a hard-on with this woman.
Not even a jolt. Not like the one I felt when I looked into Haelee’s eyes. And certainly not the way I felt when I inhaled her fragrance. Even though it was spicy, there was a hint of woman. Nothing overly sweet. Nothing to make your teeth grit and your stomach to roll.
Not like the woman on my lap.
“Holy shit.” Curtis’s voice cracks through the dilemma currently torturing me. My head snaps his way, but then I turn my attention to the group of girls who just walked in. I know a couple of them, they’re pit girls, but the others I don’t know. One though, only one holds my attention like it’s been fucking glued to her.
I don’t think.
I don’t even breathe.
When she spins on her heel, I see it. I see her.
For a second, she smiles, laughing at something someone said, and a few guys join them. They don’t touch her, but my awareness has sparked. She’s dressed in a beautiful pair of tight pants that hide nothing. Her slender legs, her pert ass, and those incredible hips all taunt me from afar.
A guy from the crowd surrounds her, practically wrapping his arms around her when she turns to push him away. I watch as she says something and shakes her head.
But the dick doesn’t get the message and leans in closer to her. My hackles rise, and jealousy rolls in my gut, churning the beer into froth, and I’m about to lose my cool when he tries to kiss her when a few of her friends finally step up to save her.
My hands are gripping the glass and sofa cushion too tight. I don’t realize it until I spill beer all over the woman on my lap. She squeals loudly in my ear, which only irritates me. And that’s when Haelee looks right at me.
Her smile falls. Her eyes widen. But it’s not the look of frustration that kills me. It’s the raging jealousy that sparks in her eyes for a split second before she turns around and focuses on her friends.
She wants me.
Just like I want her.
And I sure as hell ain’t gonna sit around and wait for her to come to me. Pushing off the seat, I’m on the dance floor, moving through the bodies before I have time to think straight. I reach her quickly, and within seconds, my hand is around her arm, and I’m pulling her into the darkened hallway, which leads to the offices.
She doesn’t realize my friend owns this club, but that’s okay. She doesn’t need to know anything. I’m going to have her thrown out of here tonight if she’s not careful.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I bite out, my jaw flexing with frustration.
“I’m here with my friends. What are you doing here?” The fire in her eyes burns me to fucking ash as I lean into her. “Kayden.” She whispers my name, and the sound sends a jolt of pleasure straight to my dick.
“I’m here because I can be. You should be at home resting up because tomorrow you’re training again.” The warning in my tone is clear, and I know I shouldn’t be such an asshole, but the thought of her dancing with any other man sets my gut alight with jealousy.
“I’m old enough to be here. I’m not drinking, and I’m not staying late,” Haelee bites back angrily. The venom in her tone is enough to make me want to kiss her, to steal her lips, and make her whimper as I bite her tongue for being a brat.
“Don’t fucking push me.”
Her eyes widen as she takes me in. I can tell she wants so badly to fight me. I doubt she’s ever had someone like me in her life, but if she wants to make this career work, then she’s going to have to listen to me. And if she doesn’t, this isn’t going to work.
But what is it that I want to work?
To be her trainer?
Or be her fuck buddy?
Something tells me she doesn’t do fuck buddies.
“I don’t belong to you. I don’t belong to anyone,” Haelee informs me with those dark eyes shimmering at me in the dimly lit hallway. People pass us but don’t take notice. We look just like any other couple doing the same thing, practically kissing.
7
Haelee
His eyes look luminous in the darkness, and I can’t help the shiver of awareness trickling through me. I don’t know what he wants from me. Surely, he can see that I’m my own person, independent.
And he doesn’t own me. He can’t because I’m not his to own. The thought makes heat trickle down my spine. The pulse in my panties thrums, and I wonder what it would feel like if he were to touch me right now.
“I don’t like repeating myself,” Kayden tells me. “I’m your coach, and what I say goes.” His voice is dark, demanding, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin. I shouldn’t be here, he’s right, but just because he’s telling me to leave doesn’t mean I’m going to obey.
“And I don’t take orders from you. I have an agreement with Colton, not you.” Even though my words hold fire in them, when Kayden reaches for my face, I can’t stop the shiver that takes hold of me. I want him to touch me, but I don’t want him to know I crave it like I do my next breath. His fingers trail heat over my cheek, leaving chill bumps in their wake.
“Dressing like this, taunting me,” he speaks, but he doesn’t meet my eyes. His gaze is slowly drinking me in just like his touch is. “You’re going to be the end of me. Aren’t you?”
“No, because the woman that was planted on your lap says otherwise.” I don’t know why I’m poking the bear. Teasing him and pushing him is probably not the best idea, but I can’t stop myself because
I want to see just how far he’ll take it.
Will he kiss me?
His tongue darts out, and he slowly licks his lips as if he’s tasting something delicious on his tongue. The movement sends another wave of pleasure shooting straight between my legs, and when he hums approval, the vibration causes my own chest to shake.
“I think you like being a tease,” Kayden says. “Acting like you’re the tomboy of your friends, like one of the guys, but you’re far from it. Just remember something, Haelee—I always get what I want.” The warning is clear. The bear is awake, and he looks like he’s ready to devour anything in his path. And that anything is me.
“What is it you want?” I ask, but I have a feeling I know the answer. There’s no doubt about it because the way he’s looking at me is clear. I tip my head back, and his fingers reach for my chin. He holds me steady, so I can’t turn away.
The corner of his mouth ticks salaciously, causing my stomach to flutter wildly. “I want you to beg and plead,” he tells me. “I want to see you writhe while you whimper and moan.” Kayden lowers his voice to a deep rumble that does nothing to quell the ache currently twisting low in my gut.
My thighs inadvertently squeeze together, and my panties are now soaked. I open my mouth to say something, but he shakes his head no, and with a smile, he leans in closer. His mouth is inches from mine, and I almost think he’s going to kiss me when he moves toward my ear.
His lips brush along the lobe, making me shiver. I can’t focus on anything other than his scent. The way his hot breaths are fanning over my skin, and just how much I truly want to do everything he’s saying.
“I want you to beg me to make you scream my name,” he tells me. It’s barely audible, but he’s so close, inches away. I practically feel the words as they skitter over my neck and down my spine. The heat of them settling between my thighs, and I clench them once more.
