“Yeah…” She gives me a confused look. “But your truck isn’t here.” She swallows again as her gaze roams over my hard chest. “And can you put your damn shirt back on? It’s a rule here.”
I laugh and put my shirt back on, even though we both know that the rules don’t really matter now that Kevin is gone and we’re done for the day. She just doesn’t want to get caught checking me out again. “I’ll follow you home, so you can’t lie to me about where it is to get out of helping me. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you tricking me in the past.”
She smiles proudly. “You were so mad when you realized I sent you to the wrong place.”
“Damn right I was. And that’s not happening again, even if I have to follow you everywhere first. I have all the time in the world to stalk you, Kota. Don’t test me.”
“Yeah, because that sounds so exciting for you.”
She bends over, as if to organize the tool box in front of her, so I smack her ass nice and hard just to work her up and give her a reason to want to get back at me. “It is. Now let’s go. It’s gonna rain soon.”
When she turns around her mouth is hanging open, as if she’s surprised that I smacked her ass. From the look in her eyes, I can’t tell if she liked it or wants to choke the life out of me. “Did you just smack my ass, Easton Crews?”
I shrug and reach for my jacket. “Had to piss you off somehow to give you a reason to take it out on my truck. An angry Dakota is a productive Dakota. Feel like kicking its ass with water and soap now? It likes it rough.”
She eyes me over, her gaze landing on my tilted lips. “Yeah, you could say that,” she mutters. “Let’s go and get this over with.”
I give her a few minutes to gather her things from Kevin’s office before I reach for my helmet and head out back.
I catch Dakota watching me, waiting to make sure I slide my helmet on before she buckles hers and takes off.
Following behind her, I can’t help but to get rock hard as I watch her handle her motorcycle just how I taught her before I left.
Teaching her how to ride a motorcycle wasn’t easy with me being a guy, but I managed to get through it the best I could without her noticing my almost constant hard-on.
But I’m not going to kid myself. I’d never been so turned on in my life, even though I knew that was the last thing I should’ve been feeling around her.
So, watching her ride now, and knowing that I’m the one who taught her has me biting my damn lip and gripping the handlebars a little too tightly.
It doesn’t take long before Dakota pulls into the driveway of a little brick house and looks back at me to most likely let me know this is her place.
I nod my head and take off fast, heading back to the hotel to pick up my truck.
I curse to myself the moment I pull up beside her in record time and take in her dirty body. The messed-up part is that the interior of my truck is even more screwed than the exterior, and it’s all because I wanted to spend time with Dakota.
I shouldn’t have let it happen. The inside of my truck will never be the same.
But hell… I guess that means Dakota and I have a long night of cleaning ahead of us, and I don’t plan on leaving until this baby is shining like new.
Dakota
As soon as Easton drives off, I climb off my motorcycle and run my hands over my face in frustration.
“What the hell is wrong with me?”
Ever since Easton told me earlier that he could never lose me, I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to be his.
I know he didn’t mean it in that way, but still, I can’t stop myself from wishing that he had. I’ll never forget the way my heart skipped a beat when he said those words. In a way, I’ve been waiting to hear those words for most of my life, except I always fantasized the situation would be different.
It’s all I could think about once we got back to the shop, even though we were both busy. I kept picturing him cornering me in the back of the shop and kissing me as if he’d been holding back for as long as I have. The thought alone was enough to steal the breath from my lungs.
Every time I looked across the shop at him, my gaze found its way to his perfect lips, and my entire body heated with need at just the thought of what they’d feel like against mine.
I can’t even count how many times my stomach fluttered when I caught him looking my way.
It’s stupid. I’m being stupid and it’s pissing me off.
I’m not a damn teenager anymore. I’m a grown woman for fuck’s sake, so I should be over this feeling by now when it comes to him.
You would think that him being gone for three years would make me want him less, but every part of my body only wants him more each time I see him.
I just need to convince myself that I’m over him. Until he’s gone at least, which I have no idea when that will be.
And I hate to think about it, because if I’m honest with myself, the idea of him leaving again stings almost as much as it did the first time he left, and I’m not sure I could handle that feeling again.
The emptiness I felt once he was gone will forever scar me. Losing my sister was the worst pain I’ve experienced in my life, and losing Easton was the second. I was left with two scars in the same week, and I barely survived the wreckage.
And since I couldn’t tell anyone my true feelings for Easton without being judged harshly, I was left with keeping it all bottled-up inside. That hurt more than I could ever put into words.
Whenever I cried, even if it wasn’t over Quinn at the time, I lied and said that it was, and of course, no one ever questioned it.
That’s why I have so much anger toward Easton and need him to just stay away and leave me alone so I won’t get hurt again. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my heart guarded when it comes to him. I have no choice.
I’m inside changing into a pair of old ripped-up shorts when I hear Easton’s truck pull up out front. I run my hands through my hair, before placing my hand over my racing heart. “You’re over Easton Crews. He’s an asshole who left for three damn years.”
I say the words, hoping it’ll slow my heart rate down, but it does nothing. I can still feel it thumping like crazy in my chest, betraying me.
Stupid heart.
After quickly throwing my hair up, I make my way outside to the front porch to see Easton sitting on the tailgate of his truck.
Why must you be so heartbreakingly beautiful?
He appears serious for a moment as he looks me over in my little shorts and tank top, but then he holds up a beer and twists the top off. “Come here, Kota.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Then I’ll pick you up and carry you over here my damn self.” He holds the beer up for me again. “You know I will, so don’t test me.”
“Fine,” I mumble while walking barefoot through the grass over to his filthy truck. I reach for the beer he’s holding out and watch as he twists the top off one for himself. “You made a beer run on the way here, I see. A whole case, huh?”
“We’re going to need more than a few of these. Have you seen this truck?”
He chugs back half the beer, while running his hand through his messy hair. He looks so sexy doing it that I have to take a drink myself.
“Yeah, I was in it when the mess happened.”
“Then you know it’s going to take a while. Might as well have fun doing it by enjoying quite a few of these.” He lifts a brow, looking me over again. “Don’t you have a bikini or something you can change into before we start? You’re going to get pretty wet.”
I laugh and look him over in his old jeans and T-shirt. “I don’t see you in a bikini.”
“Good point.” That crooked smirk that used to have the power to bring me to my knees graces his face and I can’t help but to chug back another drink. “I’ve always loved that you drink beer. Most girls I know hate the taste.”
“Well, you did give me my first beer when I was nineteen. It was the o
nly alcoholic drink you’d allow me to have, no matter how many shots got passed my way at parties. You acquire the taste for it, I suppose.”
He grumbles, as if remembering one of the parties we went to after him and Roman turned twenty-one and could supply beer and liquor. “Well, there was no damn way I was letting some douchebag get you drunk and take advantage of you. At least if you were drinking beer, you’d be sober longer.”
I roll my eyes and take another drink. “You have no idea how badly I wanted to drink shots like everyone else that was partying. Even when Roman offered me a shot, you always pushed it away.”
“I did.” He laughs and jumps down to his feet, landing in front of me. “One shot leads to five, especially when everyone else around you are doing them. So, you can thank me later.”
He winks and lifts the bottle to his lips, and I swear it’s the sexiest thing I’ve seen in years. All I can do to avoid melting into a damn puddle at his feet is look away and mentally scold myself to get it together.
“How about we call me helping you wash your truck my thank you.” I take a swig of my beer, not bothering to turn around and look at him as I speak. “Then we will keep our distance until you leave. Think we can do that?”
I feel the warmth of his breath hit my neck, before his deep voice vibrates my ear. “That’s not going to happen, Kota, and we both know it.”
I growl out in annoyance and spin around to face him. “Why is it so hard for you to stay away? Why must you keep pushing me when clearly I don’t want you around?”
I swallow when he steps into my personal space and speaks close to my lips. “Because I want to be around you. You can push me as hard as you want, but I’ll just pull harder until you give in.” He growls out the last part, showing his frustration.
Why is he so irresistible when he’s frustrated and wants something so badly?
“Let’s just wash your truck and get this over with.” I walk away, before I unwillingly lean forward and capture his gorgeous lips with mine. “I’ll get the hose.”
I let out an exasperated breath as I disappear around the other side of the house and lean against the siding. How long is this going to take?
I peek around the corner and steal another look at his truck, realizing that it’s going to take a lot longer than I want it to.
Why did I take this truck through the mud to begin with? Not the brightest idea I’ve had lately.
I can stand here and ask myself that all I want, but I already know the answer. No matter how badly I need to push him away, I still want to be around him. I still want to see that sexy little smirk and those mesmerizing amber eyes I’ve missed so much.
Easton is pouring soap into a huge bucket when I get back to the truck. He looks up at me holding the hose in my hand and tosses me a sponge. “No neighbors close by, huh? I remember you always wanted to rent this place someday because of that.”
“I’m not renting it,” I say stiffly. “I’m buying it. It was more affordable that way. And let’s try not to bring up the past.”
I fill up the bucket with water, before tossing the hose aside and getting to work on scrubbing the truck.
We work in silence, and I do my best not to watch his muscles flex every time he scrubs a spot extra hard, but it’s kind of hard not to notice them bulging through the white shirt he has on.
My gaze slowly trails over his arms, up to his shoulders, and finally lands on his face—that just so happens to be focused on me.
The slight tug of his lips tells me that he’s been watching me check him out. “Focus on the truck, Kota. If I wanted you to clean my body I’d ask, but I’d prefer a different sponge. That one’s filthy.”
I toss my sponge at his head and grunt. “You’re still such a pain in the ass, even after all these years.” I hold my hand out. “Now toss my sponge back so we can get this over with.”
“Ha. I don’t think so. You threw it at me, so you can come and get it.” He holds the sponge I threw at him up to me. “It’s not going to hurt you to come near me. I don’t bite. Not with clothes on anyway.”
My cheeks flush at the thought of what it would feel like to have Easton’s perfect mouth against my skin, his teeth digging in as he bites me.
“What makes you think I want to hear about the things you enjoy or do in the bedroom?” I come at him, getting ready to reach for the sponge when he squeezes it out over my head. “Oh my God, it’s cold!” I shriek from the coldness and jump back. “You asshole!”
My whole body is trembling from a mixture of the anger coursing through me and the briskness of the dirty water when I look up to see Easton laughing.
The asshole is actually laughing.
Without giving it much thought, I run and grab the hose. Before Easton has a chance to move out of the way, I squeeze the handle and aim it at the side of his face.
“Holy fuck!” he yells, but doesn’t move, allowing me to continue spraying him with no fight. “Go ahead. Get it out.”
I toss the hose down and stalk toward him. “Get what out?”
“Your hatred for me. Or maybe the fact that you’re angry because you know you want me and me being around makes it hard for you. Always has.”
“Fuck you, Easton!” I shove his chest, because I’m so damn angry with him for thinking he knows how I feel. “Leave. Now.”
His eyes narrow and his jaw tightens, right before he picks me up and backs me against his truck with force. His breath comes out in heavy bursts and I can feel his heart beating fast against my chest as his eyes slowly lower to my lips.
The next thing I know his mouth crashes against mine so hard that it knocks my air out, almost causing me to forget how to breathe for a moment. His lips are rough and needy against mine, and the feel of his lip ring has my body on fire. With a sexy moan, he runs his tongue over my lips, before sucking in the bottom one, nibbling and tugging, begging for entrance I instantly grant.
I still can’t catch my breath, not really, but that doesn’t stop me from kissing him as if my life depends on it. I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment, and it’s finally happening. I can’t think. I can’t do anything but get lost in him. The taste and feel of his mouth has me moaning and gripping onto his hair, forgetting about everything else in the world. Easton Crews’ lips are on mine and nothing else matters.
He growls against my lips, while hiking my thighs up higher and pressing his erection between my legs. I moan out and dig my nails into his firm back, loving the way he feels against me. He’s so big and hard. I want him. I want him so damn badly that it hurts.
Easton’s hands moving up to cup my ass has me grinding my hips against him and biting his bottom lip in a desperation I’ve never felt before.
It must have turned Easton on, because he’s sliding his hands up my shorts and gripping my bare ass. The skin-to-skin contact has my entire body tingling, making me more aware of what’s happening.
“Shit!” I pull away, fighting to catch my breath, finally coming to my damn senses. “We can’t do this. What the hell were we thinking? Put me down, Easton. Put me down!”
I push him away from me and he releases my legs, allowing me to fall, before he backs away from me.
His hands instantly go for his hair and he tugs on it, freaking out just as much as I am at what we just allowed to happen. “Fuck!” He punches his truck in frustration, before turning to me and cupping my face. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stop myself. I want—”
“Don’t!” I yell, cutting him off before he can say something we’ll both regret. “Don’t say anything else, Easton. Don’t do it. Don’t fucking do it.” My entire body is shaking and my chest feels tight; so damn tight that it’s making it hard to even speak. “Go. Please, just go. This was a mistake. A huge fucking mistake that should’ve never happened, and can never happen again.”
“Kota…” He cups my face tighter, moving in closer so that our bodies are touching. “Maybe things can be different now. This doesn’t have to be a fucking
mistake and you know it.”
I can feel him shaking too; maybe even harder than I am, but I need to be strong. We’re both clearly in the wrong mindset right now, allowing the lines of right and wrong to blur.
The tension and frustration between us has us acting crazy and doing stupid things we’d never do otherwise.
“You need to go.” I forcefully remove his hands from my face and step around him to get away. “Easton, jump in your truck and leave. Now!”
“Dammit, Kota. Stop for a fucking second.”
I don’t bother turning around to see if Easton is following me to my door. I can hear him behind me, so I speed up, practically jumping into my house before I slam the door behind me and lock it.
The last thing I can do right now is look at his face. Not after what we just did.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” I begin pacing back and forth and work on slowing my breathing, which seems close to impossible at the moment.
Easton’s lips were just on mine.
He kissed me.
He picked me up and kissed me as if he wanted me just as much as I’ve wanted him all along.
As if he’s been in love with me like I’ve been with him for as long as I can remember.
And now I’m screwed. I’m completely and utterly screwed, because I know now more than ever that I’ll never get over Easton.
I’ll never get over the fact that he’s not mine to have.
That his lips were never supposed to touch mine or that his heart was never supposed to beat against mine in a moment of passion.
I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life, and the worst part of it, is that it felt better than anything I’ve ever felt before…
Easton
When Dakota’s door slams in my face, I’m left on her front porch with a racing heart. My head is so fucked up right now that it’s making it hard to think straight.
I just kissed Dakota Brooks.
I picked up Roman’s baby sister, pressed her against my truck, and kissed her as if I had the right to.
I placed my hard body between her trembling thighs and allowed her to feel my need for her as if there was nothing wrong with me wanting inside of her.
Wreck My World Page 9
