by Dani René
“Or something,” I tell her. “I’m so sorry for what my mother said to you. Her hate clearly knows no bounds. I’ve never been a son to her because she’s always treated me like a stranger. I don’t think she’s capable of love. Or affection.”
“I’m sorry you grew up with someone like that.” The glassy cocoa orbs that regard me shimmer, and I reach up to cup her face, pulling her in for a kiss. It’s gentle, sweet, but the moment a soft whimper falls from her lips, I steal into her mouth, swiping my tongue along hers.
The more I deepen the kiss, the more I know I’m falling. The bad-boy racer has a girlfriend, and he’s most certainly just found his match. When I finally pull away from Haelee, I can’t help but smile.
I’m happy. The woman in front of me is everything I didn’t realize I needed in my life. She is the epitome of perfect, of my perfect.
When I walked out of here, I knew I needed to sort my mother out. To show her that she’s no longer anything to me. She hasn’t been for a long time, but now, I’m done. I’ve allowed her to rule over my life, to make me feel like I was nothing to her since I was old enough to know what her cold demeanor meant.
She did it to Dad, and she did it to me, but I will never allow her to hurt Haelee like that ever again. “I’m so sorry for everything. My mother has always been a cold bitch. I grew up knowing what she was, and maybe that’s why I never took a girl home. I thought that if I wasn’t in a relationship, she couldn’t destroy it.”
“I’m strong, but … I guess I wasn’t strong enough to hear what she had to say, or even know what she thought of me.” The sadness in Haelee’s eyes is a clear indication that she’s a gentle soul. If my mother came at me, I would’ve fought back, but that’s what makes me want Haelee so much. Her softness, her affectionate nature. Everything about her is built with love, and that’s because her parents showed her that.
“I took the time away from you to confront her. I’ve given her an ultimatum. She has already left California, and she won’t be back. The two most important parts of my life are safe.”
“Oh?” Haelee arches a brow at me in question, and I can’t help but grin at her sassiness.
“Yeah, the company,” I inform her before kissing her quickly. “And you.”
“Cheesy,” she teases, but her cheeks darken with a blush. “Well, I know how you saved me, but how did you save the company?”
“I had my lawyer draft the contracts. Because I’m the only heir, I hold all the shares, which I’ve decided to keep. My father made sure my mom couldn’t get her hands on the company. She didn’t know about the binding contract set up in my name that basically says she has no claim to any of my father’s assets.”
“I bet she didn’t like that,” Haelee says.
Shaking my head, I explain, “No. She did try to argue with me when I took the document over to her today. She can try to fight it, but I doubt she’ll want to waste her money on a case she’ll never win. I’ve fired the board and will be looking for new members I can trust.”
Haelee’s eyes widen. “So, you’re giving up racing?”
“No, that’s the great part, because I will have people I can trust to run the company, I can still focus on my career while being CEO of Mercer Industries.” When I sat down with the legal team Joshua Paulson brought along to the meeting, I had figured it all out before we even had lunch. I knew I needed a team I could trust, and that’s what we’re going to do. The loyal workers in our management team will go through the paces, and soon, I’ll have a whole new board to meet with.
Thankfully, I’m able to do both things I love—racing and keep my legacy.
“I’m happy for you, Kayden,” Haelee expresses, wrapping her arms around my neck, and I push to my feet, taking her along with me, which earns me a squeal of surprise.
I want to tell her how I feel. The real reason I walked in here today, but I’ll keep it to myself. For now. When she’s ready to hear it, I’ll make sure it’s special, and a moment she’ll never forget.
I lean in to whisper in her ear, “I want to take you back to my place and have you naked in my bed all day and night. And when you’re tired, I’ll feed you something delicious to perk up your strength for more naked fun.”
Haelee laughs, throwing her head back, and I take that moment to steal a kiss. Her neck is smooth, and I suckle the flesh, grazing it with my teeth, which makes her shiver.
“Are you ready?” I ask, setting her to her feet.
“I was born ready,” she retorts.
Epilogue
Kayden
Two Weeks Later
The sunlight brightens the room, and I roll over to find the bed empty. My eyes snap open to see nobody beside me. I can’t hear her in the apartment, but I have a feeling she’s not far. Pushing off the bed, I don’t bother with clothes as I make my way into the hallway and walk down toward the kitchen. When I get there, I find Haelee in my oversized tee making coffee.
Her curly hair is pinned on top of her head in a messy bun, and ringlets hang down her slender neck. She doesn’t see me standing at the entrance, my arms crossed in front of my chest as I regard her.
“Yes, I know,” she speaks, and I realize she’s on a call. “Once my course is finished, I’ll be back.” She’s talking to Colton. I’m almost certain. Since she decided to finish her studies while training for the next season, she’s been helping out with students wanting to get into the program we’ve set up.
With more and more young women taking an interest in cars and in the circuit, she’s been coaching them on handling assholes like me. When we first met, I fucked up, dismissing her because she wasn’t male. But Haelee taught me over the months that she’s as strong as any driver I’ve come up against. She’s never beat me since that day. Our race on the date I took her on was me letting her win, but I know she’s good. Better than I was at her age.
“Okay, thanks, Colton.” When she hangs up, she spins on her heel, squeaking when she takes me in. “What are you doing? Stalking?” She arches a brow at me, handing me a mug.
“Yeah, you should be used to it by now,” I confirm, kissing her lips before I take a sip of my coffee. “What was that?”
“Colton wants me to join the circuit. He said I can start racing as soon as I graduate. But I wanted to take some time after school to perhaps travel. Just for a month or so.”
“Alone?” The shock is clear in my voice, but when she smiles, I know she’s going to say something that will make my heart soar.
“I’m never alone when you’re beside me,” she coos, snaking her fingernail up my bare chest until she reaches my lips. “I want these on me,” — she presses her finger to my mouth — “right here.” Then she takes my free hand and places it between her thighs, which has my cock waking up and taking notice of just how warm she is.
A groan rumbles in my chest at the feel of her. It doesn’t take me long to lift her in my arms and carry her to the countertop.
“What are you doing?” Haelee gasps.
“Eating,” is my immediate response as I lay her down and spread those slender, tanned thighs. Leaning in, I inhale her scent, running my nose up her inner thigh until I reach my prize. I cut a glance up toward her, taking her in for a moment before my mouth lands on her pussy, and I lap at the delicious flavor of her arousal.
“Kayden,” Haelee whimpers with abandon as she holds herself up to watch me lick her sweetness. My mouth suckles on her clit, biting down on the hardened nub, sending her soaring into bliss as her thighs tremble against either side of my face.
“Fucking delicious,” I groan before I dip my tongue inside her tight heat and drink up her essence. She’s everything to me, since the moment I met those beautiful cocoa eyes from across the party to this moment, where I’m eating her pussy like a fucking starving man while she lies back on the kitchen counter.
I rise to full height and grip my dick. When I walked into the kitchen naked, I didn’t think this would be happening. With a grin on my face,
I plunge into her in one long thrust, knocking the breath from her lungs.
Her eyes widen, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to watching her take me. She’s beautiful as she spreads her legs, her heels on the edge of the cool marble, and I grip her hips as I pull her against me. I sink into the tightest pussy I’ve ever felt and enjoy how her body pulses around me, accepting me.
I will never get tired of this. Feeling her around me is something special, and I’ll never once take it for granted. Our bodies are made to be together. We mold together like perfectly formed pieces of the same whole. And I know I’ll never find anyone who completes me like Haelee does.
HAELEE
One Month Later
Music plays in the bedroom as I sit against the headboard and type out an email and hit send. The lyrics drift into the space surrounding me, and I close my eyes, thinking of how these few months have taken a turn I never once expected.
When I first saw Colton Donavan standing, talking to my mother, I never once imagined how different my life would be only a couple of months later. I never thought I’d have a chance at a career in racing. And even just the thought makes my heart ache because I miss my dad.
But also, I never once thought I would be saying I have a boyfriend because that’s not something that’s ever been on my list of must-haves.
Kayden Mercer walked in—no, he sauntered in—and made me fall. He pushed me over the edge, breaking every shield I’ve ever kept up to protect me, and he made me feel.
For a long time, I believed I wasn’t worthy. Not only for a relationship, but I never saw myself as worthy of anything good because of my mother. My birth mother. But over time, I’m slowly coming to terms with the past staying where it is. I’m no longer afraid.
When I took the plunge and walked onto the track, when I kissed Kayden, when I told Mom I’ll be moving in with him. Everything has brought me to this moment.
Kayden walks into the bedroom, carrying a tray of goodies for breakfast. A smile graces his handsome face, and I’m still breathless when he gifts that grin to me.
“Coffee, speedy?” he asks, setting the wooden tray on the mattress, and I take in the breakfast he made. Toast with my favorite chocolate spread, coffee with milk and sugar, as well as a bowl of fresh fruit.
“How did I get so lucky?”
“You found me,” Kayden teases with a chuckle. We tuck into the slices of crunchy toast, and I can’t stop moaning in pleasure as I enjoy the sticky chocolate goodness that’s slowly melted into the bread. “If you keep up those sounds, I’m going to have to delay breakfast.” This time, he’s not joking.
Rolling my eyes, I continue eating but refrain from making any pleasurable sounds. I sip my coffee, the sweetness bursting on my tongue. I can’t not enjoy this because every part of breakfast has been carefully thought out.
“I have a surprise,” Kayden announces, handing me a small gift box. My heart catapults into my chest when I look at the navy-blue velvet box. The softness of the material covering it tickles my fingers, and I can’t help but enjoy the feel of it in my hands.
I meet his eyes before asking, “What is this?”
“Open it.” His grin is playful, so it eases the nerves in my stomach, but still, small boxes make me anxious.
When I flip open the lid, my breath catches in my throat. The ring is sleek, silver, but it’s not a diamond. It’s a smooth, gleaming sapphire.
“It’s nothing serious. Well … it’s not that kind of ring yet, but it’s a promise.” Kayden’s voice turns husky as he speaks. “That’s us. You and me, and I want to promise that I’m not going anywhere. Once we’re both ready, the ring will have a diamond.”
My eyes burn with emotion as the tears threaten to fall, but I blink them back and try to focus on the beautiful ring. “This is … I don’t know.”
“This is us. Since you, speedy.”
A smile cracks on my face when I meet his gaze. “Since you, slick.”
Kayden steals my lips with his, molding his mouth to mine in a toe-curling kiss, and I know when the time is right, we will get engaged, but right now, this is perfect.
My life is perfect.
And I know my dad would be proud.
Afterword
Want to keep up with all of the other books in K. Bromberg’s Driven World? You can visit us anytime at www.kbworlds.com and the best way to stay up to date on all of our latest releases and sales, is to sign up for our official KB Worlds newsletter HERE.
Are you interested in reading the bestselling books that inspired the Driven World? You can find them HERE.
Also by Dani René
Stand Alones
Choosing the Hart
Love Beyond Words
Cuffed
Fragile Innocence
Perfectly Flawed
Black Light: Obsessed
Among Ash and Ember
Within Me (Limited Time)
Cursed in Love (collaboration with Cora Kenborn)
Beautifully Brutal (Cavalieri Della Morte)
How the Mind Breaks
The Devil’s Plaything
While She Sleeps (Dirty Heroes Collection)
It’s Never Easy (Lady Boss Press)
Only One Night (Lady Boss Press)
Deviant (Black Mountain Acaemy)
Taboo Novellas
Sunshine and the Stalker (collaboration with K Webster)
His Temptation
Austin’s Christmas Shortcake
Crime and Punishment (Newsletter Exclusive)
Malignus (Inferno World Novella)
Tempting Grayson
Gilded Sovereign Series
Cruel War (Book #1)
Volatile Love (Book #2)
Sins of Seven Series
Kneel (Book #1)
Obey (Book #2)
Indulge (Book #3)
Ruthless (Book #4)
Bound (Book #5)
Envy (Book #6)
Vice (Book #7)
The Taken Series
Stolen
Severed
Four Fathers Series
Kingston
Four Sons Series
Brock
Carina Press Novellas
Pierced Ink
Madd Ink
Broken Series
Broken by Desire
Shattered by Love
The Backstage Series
Callum
Liam
Ryan
Forbidden Series
From the Ashes - A Prequel
Crave (Book #1)
Covet (Book #2)
Acknowledgments
Firstly, I have to thank Kristy for allowing me to write in her world. It’s been so much fun diving into the Driven World and creating Kayden and Haelee. I hope you fell in love with them as much as I did as I wrote the book. The message in this story is clear, and I hope you take it along with you—never judge a person by their appearance or their past.
I also have to thank my husband for always being there to pick up my slacking off when I’m on deadline. He puts up with my crazy as I get lost in the fictional worlds I create.
To my editor, Candy, you are a rock star! Thank you for always being there for me when I need it, especially when the deadlines are extreme, and for polishing my words. To my proofer, Brian, you are amazing! Thank you for all your hard work, even on tight deadlines.
To my unfailing street team, I can’t thank you enough for all you do. Words never seem to cover just how much you mean to me, so I’ll have to make do by just sending you all virtual hugs!
To my readers, you ladies are just wonderful. I’m always humbled by your love and support that’s been a constant since I started this journey!
To the amazing team at Grey’s Promotions, you set the bar high with your incredible support on this book, and I can’t thank you enough!
To all my blogger babes, you know how much I love you! #BloggersAreRockstars
Mad love,
Dani
xo
About Dani René
Dani is a USA Today Bestselling Author of a dark and deviant romance. She lives in the picturesque city of Cape Town where wine is plenty, and the views are spectacular. She's also a proud member of the Romance Writer's Organization of South Africa (ROSA). When she's not writing, she can be found binge-watching the latest TV series, or working on graphic design. She has a healthy addiction to reading, tattoos, coffee, and ice cream.
www.danirene.com
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Also Written By K. Bromberg
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
UnRaveled
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry
