Pace Laps (Racing on the Edge Book 10)

by Shey Stahl

  “Remember the time when he ate that entire chocolate laxative bar?”

  I cringed remembering that day. “I try not to.”

  The drive to the hospital was quick. Walking up to the emergency room doors, Sway was digging in her purse mumbling about finding her damn phone so she could take pictures as soon as the baby was born and talking about hoping it was a girl. “I just really want a granddaughter.”

  “You have a daughter. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

  “It’s different. And Arie never liked me much.”

  “That’s not true and you know it.”

  Looking down and shaking my head, I couldn’t help but chuckle because I couldn’t understand why anyone would want any pictures of a baby as soon as it was born. I didn’t care what anybody said, babies are not cute as soon as they were born. They were the opposite actually. Covered in goo and shit. No. Not cute.

  Still laughing to myself, Sway swatted my stomach with her hand, forcing me to stop.

  Rubbing my stomach, I stared at her. “What the hell? Stop hitting me.”

  She quickly covered my mouth with her hand. “Shut up. Look over there.”

  I turned to where she was pointing and a huge grin spread across my face. All those times Casten pulled shit and got off with his smile or some stupid fucking excuse, well, it was all coming around.

  We arrived there just in time to see Tommy piss on Hayden. Yes, piss right on her leg.

  “I’ve seen Tommy’s dick too many times in my life.” Sway refused to look up.

  “You motherfucker!” Hayden yelled at Tommy. Casten stared at Tommy as if to say, really, dude, but it was clear he was starting to lose control.

  Tommy giggled, buttoning his pants and leaning against Willie. “Careful there, my dick’s like a fire hose. Once it gets to swinging, you never know where it’s going.”

  “Damn. And our parents thought we were a shit show when we had Axel.” Sway tugged on my arm. “Come on. We better help Casten before Hayden kills Tommy while giving birth in the emergency lane.”

  As we approached, Casten finally saw us. The look of relief spreading across his face almost made me feel bad for the asshole.

  “Thank fuck,” he breathed, hugging his mother. “Can you please take Hayden into the hospital while I deal with Tommy?” His eyes pleaded and of course, that was all it took for Sway to kick in to save her baby boy. She had always been a sucker for him.

  “Sure, honey. We’ll take care of everything. You just deal with that mess and we’ll see you inside.”

  Once everything inside began to calm down, Tommy was wheeled away, and Hayden was admitted and placed in a birthing room. That left me in the waiting room trying to find a comfortable chair with my iPad.

  About fifteen minutes into whatever the hell was playing on the television, Sway walked out of Hayden’s room and sat down next to me. “You wanna go in there?”

  “Nope.” I scrolled through posts on Twitter about the race, seeing if anyone had anything good to say. “Got no desire to see that. Let me know when the kid is here.” She stood up rolling her eyes, and as she started to walk away, I grabbed her hand. “Hey, wait, get me some Skittles.”

  “No. You get them.”

  Sticking my bottom lip out, I tried to look innocent. “You’re being mean to me.”

  She waved me off. “Oh, stop.”

  The look didn’t work very often, but I still tried every chance I could.

  As she walked into the room, I couldn’t help but watch her ass in those jeans. My wife would always have the best ass around as far as I was concerned. Mostly because women tended to think they need to fit into a size two. I didn't think Sway had been a size two since high school and I fucking loved that. She was a real woman.

  A few minutes later a nurse came around the corner wheeling Tommy toward the waiting room. He was hooked up to an IV and had a smile on his face.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I barked at him because I wasn’t happy with him. You didn’t forgive someone for rubbing their dick on your helmet in just a few hours. No. Not okay at all.

  “Why are you so mean to me? I’m sick.” He then lifted his arms to show me his IV like that meant shit to me.

  “You’re not sick. You’re stupid. Big difference.” Looking over at him, he sat there giggling at his phone. See? Stupid. There was no way I was gonna sit out here and babysit this shithead. I would make Casten deal with him.

  Yes, brilliant idea.

  Once I wheeled Tommy into the room and ran, I wandered the halls looking for a damn vending machine that had Skittles, giving myself a mental fist pump for getting away before anyone could catch me and make me take him back.

  Once I found the vending machine, I returned to the waiting room hoping I didn’t find Tommy sitting there like an asshole waiting for me.

  When I said it was going to be a long night, I sure as hell knew what I was talking about. It took for fucking ever. Between Hayden’s screams and Tommy’s crying, it seemed like the baby would never get here. By the time the baby was finally born, I was as relieved as Hayden.

  Gray Marie Riley. I had a little granddaughter, and they named her Gray after Grays Harbor. The moment they told us her name Sway immediately cried. The fact that Casten wanted to honor us was nearly mind blowing for me. The kid used every opportunity to piss me off and now here he was being nice. Go figure.

  As I looked down into my granddaughter’s tiny face, I realized I was wrong earlier. Maybe not all babies were cute right when they are born, but this baby, my Gray, she was beautiful.

  “She looks just like you both,” Sway sighed, hugging Hayden as he held the baby.

  As Casten and Hayden talked about her never wanting to have another one, I kissed Hayden’s forehead. “Give me my granddaughter. It’s time I held her.”

  I’d had different connections with all my grandkids, mostly when they were old enough to actually interact with me, but with Jack, and it seemed Gray, there was something different. With Jack, he was the first grandkid, and I instantly had a connection to him in that way. Jonah and Jacen too, but I didn’t see them as much as I saw Jack.

  “She’s pretty.” I winked at Hayden. “Just like her mama.”

  Sway burst into tears beside me, her chin resting on my shoulder as she watched me holding her. I sighed and whispered, “You’re a mess, honey,” to her.

  “I know,” she breathed out, using my shoulder to wipe her tears.

  Laughing lightly, my eyes dropped to Gray as she slept quietly in my arms. I knew this love would be different. My first granddaughter.

  I thought back to when Arie was born, and I held her for the first time, knowing I’d never deny her of anything and protect her.

  ONCE ALL THE excitement died down, Sway and I headed back to the hotel to finally get some sleep and to allow Casten and Hayden to enjoy their first night as a family.

  “You’re not tired are you?” I asked, leaning into the doorframe much like I did that night in Charlotte when I asked her to stay. Only this time I wasn’t drunk and laying on my back on the floor. For some reason, and maybe it was because of being in victory lane with our boys, but I had been reminded of that night a lot tonight.

  “Get over here, Sway!”

  Her eyes lit up in a way I’d never seen before, wrapping her arms around my waist.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, searching my eyes.

  For a moment, it seemed as though she could feel everything I was feeling.

  With a look of amusement, Sway stared at me as I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it on the bed. “Can we make another baby?”

  Okay, well the look was one of amusement so I assumed she was referring to us doing a little align boring. Which I was all for. Believe it or not, the adrenaline from the race was still with me a little. “We can try—”

  “No, I mean actually have another one,” Sway clarified, watching my facial expressions closely.

  She
wasn’t serious, was she? I did that thing where my mouth moved a couple times, and no words came out. And then I finally said, “I had a vasectomy.”

  “Get it reversed.”

  “Why?” The fuck I would. Nobody would ever take a knife near my balls again.

  “Because I want another baby.” Yep, she’s serious.

  Brushing her hair off her shoulder, I cupped her cheek tenderly. “Did you hit your head tonight?” I was a little sterner when her facial expression remained the same. “No fucking way. Look at our children.”

  “What about them? I just watched our youngest become a father.”

  I gazed at her in complete disbelief. “Which is exactly why we shouldn’t have another one. We’re grandparents for Christ’s sake.”

  Tears formed in her eyes. “Well, can we at least pretend to make one?”

  That’s what I’m talking about.

  I started ripping off my clothes before she said pretend and by one, I was naked.

  “Well,”—she came to stand in front of me, her hands on my bare shoulders—“you’re eager, aren’t you?”

  “I am. Now,”—I turned her so she was facing the window of the hotel room and then proceeded to take off her shirt in front of the window—“let me remind you of the benefits of not having babies anymore.” Dipping my head forward, I kissed her left shoulder and then ran my lips across her shoulders. Taking each one of her hands, I placed them flat on the window. “We can fuck, whenever, and wherever we want….”

  “I like where this is going.” Sway moved her leg to the window sill. “Fuck me in front of this window.”

  “Well, take your damn clothes off then.”

  She looked over her shoulder at me expectantly. “Dude, that’s your job.”

  My gaze lowered, as did my voice. “Yes, it is.” I knew then what she wanted. Sway wanted to feel younger. It happened with age and I totally understood it. So why not give her the little dirty heathen she craved every once in a while, right?

  This would require ripping panties off like I used to and showing her just how badly I wanted her. And luckily for her, I was just the man for the job.

  “I want the dirty heathen,” she whispered.

  Every time I was with Sway, I was utterly incapable of going slow or taking my time. I did, but it wasn’t without effort. She was just that fucking sexy.

  “Is that so?” Taking a fist full of her panties, I yanked once, barely registering the sound of fabric tearing. “Is this what you want?” I asked, my lips brushing over her shoulders. Grabbing a handful of her dark hair, I tugged backward until her head rested on my shoulder where I kissed the side of her face.

  Parting her lips, she raised up on her tiptoes to align her pelvis with mine. “Yes,” she gasped softly, turning to kiss me, my lips exploring her soft skin.

  Standing behind her, I spread her legs running my hands over her hips as I ground myself into her ass. Forcing her lips open with my tongue, I deepened the kiss, her succumbing to the forceful domination of mine.

  My free hand roamed intimately over her breast, worshiping her body in all the ways I needed to. The feel of her around me was almost painfully intense, but better than anything.

  Sway had other ideas and was frustrated at my slow speed. “Dude, I said fuck me in front of a window, not stand there.” She slapped my shoulder. “Get to work.”

  Arching her back against me suddenly, forcing us together deeply. It was my turn to gasp at the flood of sensations.

  A heady groan ripped through my chest. “Stop hitting me, woman,” I growled, slamming into her, my hand slipping out of her hair and onto her hip.

  “Hey, look, Justin and Ami are down there in the pool.” With her hands splayed out on the floor-to-ceiling window, she peered down out of the four-story window. “I’m pretty sure they can see us down there.”

  “Probably.” Reaching up, I put my hand on the back of her neck, her face pressing into the window. “No talking.” With the idea of an illicit fuck against a window, the pressure deep in the pit of my stomach built quickly.

  I wasn’t lasting long, but I took comfort in knowing I would be ready again within minutes.

  I wouldn’t finish without her, though. I wouldn’t take this much pleasure from her body and not give back. Reaching between us, circling the spot I knew so well. It took under a minute for her to fall apart against the window.

  Watching Sway in the midst of her orgasm was both a beautiful and fascinating sight. It quickly became my own breaking point; I couldn’t stop.

  When I could think and move again, I collapsed against her.

  “Okay, now they really can see us.” She motioned to someone below, clapping.

  I laughed, stepping back. “I guess so.”

  We had just untangled ourselves and stepped away from the window when my phone chirped with a message.

  “Justin says thanks for the show,” I told Sway, preparing to be hit as I set my phone down.

  Sway punched my shoulder as she passed by me toward the shower. “You fucker. I told you they could see.”

  Laughing, I rubbed the spot she hit. “My bad.”

  Attenuator – A device mounted at the rear of an IRL car to absorb impacts to the rear end.

  “Why do I have to go? I mean, can’t we just cancel it?”

  “Jameson, it’s your company’s fucking Christmas party. JAR Racing is literally your name. Stop being such an asshole and just deal with it.”

  “It’s bullshit,” I grumbled with sarcasm. “I don’t know why we keep having these damn parties. It’s the same stupid shit every year. Tommy, Willie, and Dave get wasted and do something incredibly fucking stupid that they think is hilarious or brilliant. Most of the night is spent with me talking the cops out of arresting their asses.”

  Annoyance hovered in her stare, and I knew she was about to lay into me. “Yeah, well, I can remember quite a few years where I spent most of my night talking the cops out of dragging your ass to jail so don’t be a hypocrite.”

  Shit. She’s right.

  “Whatever.” My gaze moved out the window to our backyard. “All I’m saying is I don’t think it’s necessary for me to go to this party. I could stay home. No one is even going to notice if I’m there or not.”

  Her lips puckered, looking at me in disbelief. “Everyone is going to notice if you’re there so quit your bitching. Stop sulking. You’re going.”

  I scoffed at her accusation “Sulking? I’m not sulking. I’m contemplating.”

  Contemplating how to fake a sickness.

  Reaching out, she patted my head like I was some fucking dog.

  “Sure you are, honey.”

  I was done talking about it. All it did was raise my blood pressure and piss me off. I just didn’t like Christmas parties and everything that went with them. I’d much rather stay at home and be with my wife alone. Was that too much to ask?

  Apparently so if you asked my family.

  Stirring my coffee, I watched Sway pouring coconut creamer in hers. “Do you want some coffee with your cream?”

  “Shut up.” Placing the creamer back in the fridge, she eyed me, her lips thinned with irritation. “Why are you being mean this morning?”

  “I’m not being mean just making an observation. You use way too much creamer. Do you even like the taste of coffee?”

  “No, as a matter of fact, I don’t, but I also don’t see what that has to do with anything. Nobody likes the taste of coffee. It’s a necessary evil in my life and I may as well enjoy it.”

  I raised my eyebrows at this statement because seriously? “I like the taste of coffee.”

  She sat down on my lap, refusing to sit in her own chair at the table. “Yeah well, good for you.”

  “Now who’s being mean?”

  Sway turned to give me her full attention. “Look, Jameson, I’m about to go to a doctor’s appointment where I have to basically get naked and be felt up. Not to mention he is going to stick a giant Q-tip in my vagi
na and a finger up my ass.”

  The fuck? “What do you mean a finger up your ass?”

  Apparently, it was a stupid question because Sway rolled her eyes and turned back to her coffee before we had to leave. “Seriously, what do you think goes on at these appointments?” she finally asked.

  “Not that. I’m actually a little upset they stick something in your ass. How invasive.”

  I wasn’t sure what I thought happened when Sway went to the lady doctor, but I could tell you it would have never included a finger entering anyone’s asshole. Just the thought made me shudder.

  “Oh yeah? What exactly goes on at your appointments?”

  I stood, pushing her off my lap. “We’re most certainly not talking about those appointments.”

  As far as I was concerned, those appointments weren’t going to happen for me. I was too young for that still, and if I didn’t talk about it, it wouldn’t happen.

  I DIDN’T THINK much of it that morning. Routine doctor’s visit, right? She had them every year. The only difference is, this time, I went with her because I had a meeting in Charlotte anyway.

  The thing with routine was that everyone’s routine was different. Because of Sway’s family history with cancer her routine exam usually meant that they would perform a breast exam, have a mammogram and then if they saw anything suspicious, they would biopsy it just to make sure it was nothing serious. This was a cycle we had gotten used to. I figured today wouldn’t be any different. Just another day in our routine.

  Wrong.

  Very wrong.

  During Sway’s exam, Dr. Keegan found a lump he wanted to follow up with quickly.

  Sway was given an appointment for a mammogram that same day. Still, we didn’t think anything of it.

  The day after, Friday morning, and I remember the date specifically, December fourteenth. The mammogram office called and scheduled Sway for a biopsy Monday morning in Charlotte. While I wasn’t happy about her having to go through another biopsy, I wasn’t worried either. Like I said, everyone’s routine was different, and we had been through this before. Everything would be fine.