by Ace Gray
“I can’t imagine a bigger problem,” he snarled and I rolled my eyes.
“Are you asking me to get out?”
“I’d never. I’m just saying I won’t go fast while you’re in here.”
I should have guessed his over-protectiveness would rear its ugly head. I stomped out of the car, a little pissed that he was, for all intents and purposes, giving me an ultimatum. Of course he found it amusing rather than prickish.
“You’ll still be able to hear me ass. Please be careful on the turns. Remember the degrees and shifting I went over. I’ll give as many pointers as I can from here.” I crossed my arms. “I’m trained to do this, you know.”
“I do know. However, I am not, and you take at least half of my concentration sitting passenger.”
He winked and raced off without another word. My thighs automatically rubbed together, my nipples pressing hard against my jacket. He was able to drive faster and handle tighter now that I was out of the car. It was incredibly hot.
I found it even more attractive that he didn’t drive as well as me. I smirked; so far it was the only thing I did better than Nick. He pulled up after a few laps breathing heavily.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in a really long time. Is this what it’s like to act my age?” His voice crackled in my ear and his lips moved slightly beneath his helmet.
“I think so, but you’re asking the wrong person.”
I walked toward the car just in time for him to tear off again. I shook my head, smiling to myself, then turned back to the garage. Watching him whirl around the track was making me jealous. My back was to him, my hands on my hips as I surveyed the open doors. I tried to ignore that the purr of his engine was still shooting straight between my thighs.
My eyes closed and I took in a massive breath, relishing that my lungs expanded fully for the first time in weeks. When my eyes opened, I acknowledged the fire inside me that could only be eased one of two ways. Since Nick and his cock were otherwise engaged, I jogged over and snatched the Koenigsegg’s keys.
My focus slipped into place as I pulled the machine up to the track. Guys always went for the Bugatti because of the name, but the Koenigsegg was faster and had a more sophisticated hydraulic system. Nick noticed the sleek black car idling next to the track and had to hear me rev my engine even over the roar of his snarly motor. He took a full lap to slow.
“Your turn?” He crackled to life over the radio.
“Yup. About time someone showed you how it was done.”
I laughed heartily into the headset and thumped on the gas. The car hummed ever so slightly under my fingertips then my feet jammed up against the pedals. After only one swing around I was comfortable letting her really rip.
One lap I caught the slightest blip of Nick, standing with crossed arms, leaning against the hood of the Bugatti framed by the garage doors. I couldn’t tell if his face was interested or upset. When I seamlessly shifted and gassed it, I decided I really didn’t care. My tires squealed as I shot off and he rose up off the hood to watch me go.
I had to shake my head to refocus on the road. I increased my speed until I was going 207mph. I’d easily out preformed Nick and I laughed as I slammed on the breaks and drifted slightly towards him.
The performance machine skidded to a stop a foot in front of him, just as I knew it would. I threw my head back against the headrest, my chest heaving with giggles and my cheeks hurting from smiles. Without warning my door swung open.
“Get out of the car.” Nick’s gravelly voice hit me an instant before his hands clawed into my leather jacket.
His helmet laid discarded on the concrete as he yanked me out of the car. I couldn’t see his eyes but I would have put serious money on them being a flat and steely almost black, though I couldn’t imagine what had turned them.
Maybe he was worried about me?
After all, his photo sat next to overprotective in the dictionary. 207 mph wasn’t my fastest but I supposed it could have scared him. The still-purring engine was the only sound beside gulls and his ragged breathing.
“Nick,” I barked, the sound muffled by the helmet.
I whipped it off as he continued yanking me across the driveway. I almost threw the hunk of plastic at him to get his attention. Instead, I let it drop onto the pavement as my hair swirled around my face and back into the wind.
“Nick, stop pulling me! What’s going on?”
My volume rose exponentially as I tried desperately not to swear at him. We’d had too perfect a day to let my temper get the better of me. He didn’t answer. I was tripping over my feet as he pulled me towards the garage. He still hadn’t said anything when he pinned me against the cobra and unbuckled my pants.
Like a ton of bricks, the realization that he wasn’t angry crashed into me. This was lust, pure and simple. He flipped me over so my front was against the car then pulled my pants down. Arousal had spread between my thighs at the first glimpse of Nick in the car, and now I was so wet, so ready, my inner thighs were completely slick. He would see how shiny my skin was.
He pushed me against the cold metal, my hips hugging the sculpted hood. A second later he slammed into me with a groan that made my toes curl. For just a moment, he sat there, deep inside me. I rippled up his shaft and trembled against his skin. But then he pumped, hard and fast, into me. These thrusts were surprisingly intense, each one pushing my hipbones deliciously hard into the metal car frame. His hands dug into me and his hips rolled more urgently against mine. I was gasping and my still-gloved hands scrambled for hold.
He shifted so more of his body draped over mine. His panting was warm against my neck and mirrored my ragged breath against the hood. Naturally, my body bowed up towards his but his hand flew between my shoulder blades and pushed me firmly back to the hood with a thud.
I moaned against the metal as he kept up his delectable assault. Over and over my body clanged against the hood. Nick’s thighs bunched and his legs quaked against mine when he came. The hot spurts of cum shooting in then seeping slowly down my leg triggered my matching orgasm. His weight sagged against me and we stayed bent over the silver car, my face resting on its black paint stripes. My breath fogged small circles as we both spiraled back down to earth.
“That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” He bent to kiss my neck. “I’m sorry I ripped you out of the car, I just couldn’t help myself. I had to have you.”
He pulled out of me and I heard a quiet zip before he planted a small kiss on my backside. Nick pulled up my pants and lifted me off the hood of the car.
“I get anxious seeing you go fast but I get extremely hard too.” He was smiling into my hair. “How about I ride shotgun?” He snaked his arms around my waist and I nodded.
“Let’s drive the Aston around,” I answered sweetly. He found a way to skate his fingers across my hipbones. “But you really should take the Koenigsegg around a few times before we pull it in.” I winked at him and it was all the incentive he needed.
Nick jogged back toward the driver’s seat of the still idling car. I bent to pick up the helmets as he pulled away. The snarl of the engine ripped through the air and vibrated deep in the pit of my stomach every time he passed the garage. Eventually he pulled it in, every bit as expertly as he drove it.
The passenger door of the Aston was open and he jumped in without hesitation. I pulled my hair back into a knot, revved the car to life, and pushed the gloves down deep into the crooks of my fingers.
After we’d lapped a few times, impressively fast I might add, I rolled down the windows, slowed, and let my hair fall from its knot to whip around. I couldn’t help but laugh as we circled. He chuckled warmly as his hand slid onto my thigh.
Back in the garage, he leaned over and kissed me, threading his hands into my tangled hair. He laughed against my lips when his hand got caught.
“This was perfect.�
�� He added a kiss to my forehead and then stepped out of the car. “You are perfect.”
I changed in the house and tracked down my BlackBerry. I had my nose shoved in the screen, scrolling through calls, emails, and texts. My eyebrows scrunched as I headed out the front door.
“Everything okay?” Nick reached for my elbow to help me navigate the river rock of the driveway.
“I just expected to have messages from Gemma.”
“I messaged Jaime when the realtor came. I asked him to let her know we’d be late.”
Ass.
He smiled boyishly when I rolled my eyes. We’d only been back together for a few hours and he was already taking control. I tried not to grind my teeth as I pocketed the phone and reached for the driver’s door handle. Those long fingers of his wrapped around and grabbed my hand.
“I’ll drive.”
I was about to protest when he shushed me.
“Kate, before you say anything, yes, I know you can drive. I know first-hand you can drive quite well.” I opened my mouth to speak again but he eyed me. “However, I’d like to drive my girlfriend back to our apartment.”
My mouth pursed shut. It wasn’t just an acceptable answer, it was actually fairly sweet. I tried to stifle a smile and narrow my gaze but I managed neither as I pushed on my sunglasses.
“Our apartment?” I cocked my head as I rounded the front of the car. “You briefly mentioned something about that.” I slid onto the supple leather seat I’d never ridden in and focused on him.
“I wouldn’t like you to move in, I need you to.” He pulled my sunglasses down my nose and looked earnestly into my eyes. I pushed the glasses back into place harder than was absolutely necessary with an arched eyebrow. “Sweets, I thought I’d lost you for good this time. I refuse to be apart from you.”
Those perfectly clear but slightly panicked eyes pulled on my heartstrings. I threw my arms around him even with the console in the way.
“Is that a yes?” He breathed into my hair.
“Don’t yank on my glasses again.” I squeezed him harder. “And, of course. They’re probably done boxing me up.”
“Convenient.” He smiled. “I’ll call and have them delivered.”
“I’ll call and have them delivered, thank you very much.”
“Okay.” He arched an eyebrow at me as my favorite hair fell into his face. “Everything doesn’t have to be a power struggle.” He started creeping out of the driveway. “Am I allowed to find somewhere for Ari to move?”
“I don’t want to kick her out.”
“Kate, I want to build a life with you. I want your things scattered about, not hers.” Those words brought warmth to my insides. “I also want to be able to have you anywhere, anytime I want.” Those brought it to my cheeks.
“So this is about sex.” I elbowed him and he playfully revved the engine in the drive.
“If that’s what you’d like to focus on, sure.”
I smiled in spite of myself. It didn’t last long. As soon as we hit the highway, the weight of reality set in. Nick must have sensed it too, because the air inside the car got thick and we both stayed silent. For miles. Only my stomach rumbling broke the now-comfortable silence with an outlandish sound that made me laugh.
“I should’ve fed you.” Nick looked over with a set jaw and cloudy eyes.
“I’m an adult Nick. I am perfectly capable of feeding myself.” I rolled my eyes.
“One would’ve thought so but you’ve gotten thin.”
A shadow crossed his face and I couldn’t blame him. I’d been called sickly and remembered thinking addict, but with Nick back by my side, I liked to imagine color had already returned to my cheeks at the very least.
“You don’t look so good yourself,” I started quietly then sighed. “I had no intentions of talking to you while I was back. When you came in and demanded my attention, I was both hurt and utterly relieved. When I saw you fraying at the edges, I had the completely ridiculous compulsion to make everything better for you, despite everything that’d happened. Despite what it would cost me.” I reached for his hand and was grateful he let me take it.
“Thank God.” He smirked and lifted my hand to his lips. He kissed the inside of my palm the way he always had. The gesture spread comfort throughout my body and I relaxed further into my seat.
“You mentioned Ari, how should I act around her?”
“What do you mean?” His brow crinkled and I shook my head.
“You know what I mean. Now that I know about the…family history.” Even now, his story made my chest flush with anger.
“Act the same.” He shrugged even though he still held my hand in his lap. “I wouldn’t bring it up in conversation, but it doesn’t change who she is. Nor does it change who my mother is. You just understand us all a little better, our motives maybe. They’ll most likely be happy I let someone in.”
He momentarily took his eyes off the road and they burned into mine. I loved those telling eyes, and him, now more than ever before.
“Food?” he asked again, the car slowing regardless of my answer. Gently, Nick placed my hand on his thigh and downshifted. I didn’t bother responding, he’d made up his mind.
We pulled into a cracked parking lot, the building at the end of the lot barely passed as a shack. It was a small white cinder block building with faded fiberglass picnic tables and cracked, peeling blue leather stools lined a bar counter under a giant light-up ice cream cone. Nick came around to my door and opened it, immediately threading his arm around my back and into my jean pocket.
I liked that he was holding on so tight to me. It was his touch, not the cool weather that goose bumped my skin. We walked up to the window and ordered. Two fully loaded hot dogs, chili cheese fries, deep fried pickles, and strawberry milkshakes. It was a disgusting amount of unhealthy food but my mouth was watering before he even pulled out cash to pay.
“My dad loved hot dogs. I don’t know if it was the only thing he could cook or if he really was fond of them. During the summer he insisted on cooking occasionally. Mom would roll her eyes but she loved giving the staff a night off. We sat outside on the veranda, I remember smoke blowing in our faces while dad hunched over a fire pit…”
He let his voice trail off again like he did so often when he was talking about his past. I tried to picture the man from the oil painting at the club bent over a fire pit. It was almost as difficult as picturing Nick bent over one himself. Both images pulled at the corners of my mouth, a massive smile spreading across my face as we wandered to one of the covered picnic tables, complete with heater.
“He took me to this Yankee game and we sat in a box. I ate hot dogs from the buffet until I puked. He didn’t stop me.”
I chuckled at the unexpected emotion in his voice.
“I would’ve sworn off them for good but they were the only thing he ever made. The next time he cooked I choked them down just to make him happy.” Nick’s eyes sparkled, a little water pooling at the corners. My hand automatically went to his thigh, circling slightly as I took over talking.
“My dad always used to watch NASCAR. I hated it. I told him it was boring and should never be considered a sport.” I bit my lip, letting my mind cruise through so many long walled-off memories. “He started to get really into cars though, working on old junkers or rotted out things he salvaged from farms on the outskirts of Portland. That’s what piqued my curiosity.
“I even started watching Formula 1 races with him. Now those were sexy. On my 16th birthday, I turned down a Subaru and told him I wanted a car that went really fast, like F1 fast.” I smiled at the remembered declaration and the stomping of my foot that had followed. “His face was priceless, narrow eyes, scrunched nose, ready to chastise me for throwing a tantrum, but then he smirked. Suppose I’ve always been slightly stubborn.”
Nick laughed loudly.
“He agreed that if I took defensive and precision driving classes, he would get me something fast. I finished all his requirements the summer after my Freshman year of college. My parents passed away only a few months later. From a car crash no less.” I gulped; it never got easier.
“I bought the Porsche Spyder the moment I had the money, it’s what we’d decided on.” Nick pulled me tight and kissed my temple as I kept talking. “He would’ve loved driving like we did today. He would’ve loved you too.” I looked up into the perfectly crisp pools of his eyes and smiled, positive my dad really would have.
“My dad would’ve been enamored. Probably more so than my mom and Ari already are.”
I snaked my arms around his waist and squeezed.
“Are they going to forgive me for taking off like that?”
“Please stop blaming yourself. I was the one that screwed up. Whatever happened, I should’ve put you first.”
“Let’s get one thing straight.” I swiveled and threw one leg over the bench so I could face him without craning my neck. “I accept that you have other responsibilities, business and otherwise. To some extent, I do as well. I just need you to be honest and upfront. You could’ve just explained.”
My brow furrowed deeply.
“Even if you weren’t able to hold me, you could’ve answered your phone. I would’ve figured out how to suck it up or begged profusely to come with you, but I could’ve dealt with your honest answer.” My fingers wandered down his shoulder. “I want to be your partner, not placed up on a fucking pedestal. I need you, not special treatment.”
“I love you.” He grabbed my hips and pulled me toward him.
Our lips crashed together and I shifted so my leg hitched up and over his. I would have held him forever like that. I would have kissed him forever like that too.
Nick’s name crackled across the patchy speakers, so I pulled back just enough to lean my forehead against his and drink in the joy that spread across his face. He shifted my leg off his lap and went to grab the food.
We took the time to actually get to know each other—the simple, banal stuff that we’d never really spoken about. He asked my favorite color, emerald, favorite movie, Casablanca, favorite book, too many to count, birthday, May 13th. He licked chili off my fingers in between his answers to each. Favorite color deep blue, book, Don Quixote and movie unknown, birthday, November 19th.
