Skid Row Kings Complete Series

by Winter Travers

  “Three more races, right?” I asked.

  “Yup. Two more rounds and then he is in the finals. This is where everything starts going fast. AZ won his round, too, and I’m betting it will be down to him and Luke in the finish.” I clasped my hands in front of me, wringing them, worrying over Luke winning. Leelee draped her arm over my shoulders and laughed. “Relax, hun, Luke has this in the bag.”

  Lord, I hope Leelee was right.

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  Chapter 19

  Luke

  This was it. I had managed to sail through the last three rounds, and I was lined up next to AZ, ready to knock him out and take the title for Street Wars for the third year in a row.

  “Alright, the car is running perfectly,” Mitch yelled at me. “Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. All of your times have been half a second or faster than AZ.” Mitch tapped the top of the car and backed away. He moved over to where Violet was standing, wringing her hands in front of her. I think she was more nervous than I was. Her eyes were glued to me, and I winked at her, trying to get her to smile. It seemed that with each round that went by, the more worried she became.

  I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a group of race bunnies talking and, unfortunately, made eye contact with one. She broke away from the group and sauntered over to my car and leaned in. “How about after you win this we get a drink?”

  I looked her up and down and couldn’t believe this was what I used to like. She had barely any clothes on and about three pounds of make-up. I looked over her shoulder and saw Violet, her arms crossed over her chest. Looking between Violet and this chick, all I could do was just shake my head. “I’ve already got plans for the night.”

  “I think you might be inclined to cancel them once I tell you what happens after that drink.” She leaned even further into the car, and I leaned back, trying to get away from her although there wasn’t anywhere to go.

  “Like I said, I’ve already got plans tonight, and nothing, especially you, is going to make me break them.”

  “Please,” she scoffed. “Ginny was right, you’ve lost your damn mind if you think that,” she glanced over her shoulder at Violet and rolled her eyes, “is better than anything else. Come find me when she disappoints you.” She pushed off the car and sauntered back to her friends.

  I glanced at Violet, her arms still crossed over her chest, and I could tell she was unsure but also pissed. I had finally made some headway with her, and now I was pretty sure that chick had ruined all my effort. I shook my head, knowing I couldn’t worry about that right now. First, win the race, and then I could talk to Violet.

  The chick who had been flagging all night walked in between AZ and my car, turned around and raised her arms over her head. She looked at AZ first, nodding her head and then she looked to me. I gripped the steering wheel, my other hand on the shifter and nodded back to her. This was it.

  She looked up, my body tense and ready. Her arms dropped, and it was as my body reacted on its own, my foot releasing the clutch while my right foot stomped on the accelerator. My arm moved the shifter, each gear rocketing me forward even more. I couldn’t tell if I beat AZ off the line because we were running so close. I could feel my tires gripping the pavement, clawing me closer to the finish line. It only took seconds to get to the finish line, but when you were in that race car, it felt like an eternity.

  I shifted into the final gear, knowing that this was it. I didn’t have any more to give. I pulled away, inch by inch from AZ, knowing my car was better than his. I crossed the finish line, assuming I had won, but if you were smart, you never celebrated until you knew for sure that you had won.

  I slowed down, the car winding down. I glanced over, AZ next to me and I could tell he knew that he had lost. His car rocketed in front of me then swerved, cutting me off. I slammed on the brakes, inches away from barreling into him. He jumped from his car, anger rolling off of him.

  I could tell someone wasn’t happy they had just lost after running their mouth all night. I opened the door, closing it behind me then leaned against my car.

  “I should have won.” Yeah, well, shit in one hand, want in the other. AZ may have wanted to win, but he didn’t.

  “Well, that’s not my problem.” I crossed my arms over my chest. This asshole was out of his mind.

  “I want a fucking rematch. There is no way your car should have won.”

  I shook my head and couldn’t believe this. I won fucking fair and square. I had beat three people to get to AZ, and then I had beat his ass. “AZ, you talk a big game, but you don’t have the car to back up your mouth. I think it’s best you just walk away and lick your wounds. Maybe next year you can try and run with me.”

  His face turned bright red, and he stalked over to me. “My car can beat your piece of shit any day.”

  “Then why didn’t you beat me tonight?”

  “Rematch, unless you’re scared to race me again.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned into me. “One race, winner takes the other’s car.”

  Racing for pinks? AZ was losing his fucking mind. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, AZ.”

  “You scared, Luke?” He sneered.

  Scared? Hell no. Questioning AZ’s sanity? Definitely. Everyone knew that there wasn’t a car for miles around that could beat me. “Think long and hard about what you’re saying, AZ. We do this, I’m not going to take pity on you. When I win, I take your car and don’t look back.”

  “Next Friday. At the track.”

  He was really going to do this. What a fucking idiot. “Fine. I’ll be there. Make sure you bring your pink slip, AZ. I’m not fucking around.”

  He walked back to his car, throwing open his door and slid in. He slammed the car into first gear taking off in a cloud of dust, fishtailing for a good twenty feet before swinging the car around and headed back down to the start.

  I ran my hand over my head and shook my head. I didn’t want to do this shit. I had just beaten his ass, and I didn’t have anything more to prove. Now it was supposed to be Mitch and Kurt’s turn to race while I helped in the background, making sure their cars were ready to run.

  Somehow my victory didn’t taste so sweet anymore. I swung back into my car and headed back down the road, ready to tell Kurt and Mitch that this bullshit wasn’t over yet. Lord knew what Violet was going to think about all of this. I could tell she was already nervous about me racing.

  The start line was crowded with people, all waiting for me. The crowd parted as I slowly drove through, people reaching through the open window, patting me on the shoulder, some telling me they never doubted me winning. This was another part of racing that I loved. After working day and night on your car and pushing it to its limits, you won, not only the race but people’s respect.

  I pulled up in front of Mitch and Kurt while Leelee and Violet were standing behind them. “You had him right off the line,” Kurt said, excitement in his voice. “There was no way he was going to get past you.”

  I slid out of the car and Kurt clapped me on the back, a huge grin on his face. “Good. Then we shouldn’t have a problem beating him next Friday.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Yeah. The fucking street racing shit doesn’t start for a month,” Mitch said, running his fingers over his head.

  “AZ thinks he should have beat me and he wants a rematch.”

  “Why? So you can humiliate him twice?” Kurt scoffed.

  “Well, he seems to think he can beat me and this car and when he does, he thinks he’s going to take my pink slip.”

  Mitch whistled shaking his head, and Kurt laughed. “Fucking pink slips? Is he out of his fucking mind?”

  “Evidently. He insisted. I tried to let him back out of it, but he wasn’t about to back down. So, next Friday night, I have a feeling I’ll be taking a Challenger home with me.”

  “Fuck yeah. We can rip his car apart and use it for spare parts for our cars.” Mitch and
Kurt high-fived, both already looking forward to ripping AZ’s car apart.

  “Wait, what the hell are you two high fiving like fools about?” Leelee asked, pushing through the crowd. Violet followed close behind, her eyes never leaving me. I had only been gone forty-five minutes, but I fucking missed her.

  “AZ wants a rematch, and Luke is going to give it to him.”

  “Tonight?” Violet asked, worried.

  “Naw, Princess, next week.” I slammed the door shut on the car and walked over to her and wrapped her in my arms. She melted into me, her arms going around my waist and a sigh left her lips.

  “Congratulations,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to my neck. “Although I didn’t know you had won until Leelee told me,” she laughed, leaning back, her beautiful eyes shining up at me.

  “It was close, but I had him the whole way.”

  “Then why do you need to race him again? Leelee said this was your last race for a while.”

  “Because AZ needs to be brought down a notch.”

  “And you’re the one who has to beat him. Again?” I could tell Violet wasn’t happy, but I didn’t know what to tell her. I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start now.

  “Yes, Princess. It’s just one race, nothing to worry about.”

  “Hmm, I think it’s stupid since you know you’re going to beat him again but whatever.” She rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything more about it.

  “Don’t be mad, Princess.” I brushed the hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Not only can you celebrate with me tonight, but we can also celebrate next Friday when I drive home with his car.”

  “You’re crazy, Luke,” she laughed. I brushed a kiss against her lips. The second my lips touched hers again, I needed to get her alone.

  “You ready to get out of here?” I was ready to leave the second my car crossed the finish line.

  “Don’t you need to stay and do…” she looked around and laughed, “whatever the hell you normally do after a race?”

  I wasn’t about to tell her what I normally did was stand around drinking for a couple of hours and then grabbing a race bunny at the end of the night. Violet was going to be my personal race bunny from now on. “Naw, Mitch and Kurt will get the car home, and now it just becomes a big party out here. I’m ready to head out unless you want to hang out with Leelee some more?”

  She looked around, and it seemed like the party was already in full swing. Three girls walked by, each trailing their fingers down my arm and batting their eyes at me. These chicks had some nerve. I felt Violet’s body stiffen in my arms, and I knew she wasn’t happy.

  “Am I invisible?” She asked, her eyes following the girls.

  “Not to me.” I wrapped my arms even tighter around her, and I knew we needed to get the hell out of here. These girls were only going to become bolder as the night went on.

  “I think I’m ready to go, Luke,” she sneered as another group of girls walked by, their eyes on me. This was exactly what I didn’t want Violet to see. “I’m beginning to see how you would spend the night if I weren’t here.”

  Shit. We needed to get the hell out of here now. “Yo, Mitch, we’re getting the hell out of here. I’ll see you at the shop tomorrow.” Mitch and Kurt both nodded their heads at me, both knowing why the hell we were leaving. A new relationship and race bunnies did not mix well.

  Violet quickly hugged Leelee bye, then I grabbed her hand, and we headed back to the truck. I pulled her close to my side, not wanting us to get separated.

  By the time we made it back to the truck, I could tell she doubted us more and more. I pushed her up against the truck and caged her in with my arms. “Look at me, Vi.” She slowly tilted her head back, her eyes dull and sad. “Stop.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Stop thinking that this is where I want to be.”

  She looked around and shook her head. “I don’t know how you think being with me is better than this.”

  “Because I’ve done that, and it’s not as fun as you think.”

  “Liar.”

  “Then let’s stay, and you can see how it is. All these girls here are just looking for the next best thing, and the only thing the guys are after is just a warm body for the night. I’ve been there and done it, Violet, and I sure as hell choose you over anything here.” I leaned forward, my lips inches away from her ear. “I want you.”

  She turned her head and her eyes connected with mine. “I’m not like any of the girls here.”

  “I don’t want any of the girls here, Princess. I guess I’m just going to have to show you what I want.” I stepped closer, leaving no space between our bodies, pressing her against the truck. I reached up and threaded my fingers through her hair while my other hand grabbed her waist. “Never doubt that I want you, Violet.” I slammed my mouth down on her soft lips and moaned when she responded instantly, wrapping her arms around me and held on. Whenever my lips touched her, I drowned in her, losing myself, never wanting to come up for air.

  My tongue swept into her mouth, tasting and teasing while I took everything I had been craving. I heard people whistling and catcalling behind us, but I didn’t give a fuck. They had no idea how badly I wanted Violet.

  “Luke,” she gasped, pushing on my chest and pulled away. “We should go home, or at least, get in the truck.”

  I delved my fingers through her hair, hearing what she said but unable to stop. Her hands fisted the front of my shirt, holding on as I took more. I was acting like a madman wanting her so badly, but I couldn’t control myself. She was innocence, and sex all rolled into one.

  “Truck, now,” she gasped, pushing against me. I stepped back, and she turned around, grabbing the door handle and jumped up into the truck, not giving me the chance to kiss her again. “Get in,” she ordered, scooting over to the middle of the seat.

  I grabbed the steering wheel, hoisting myself and closed the door shut behind me. She reached over me, hitting the door locks and straddled my lap, her skirt riding up her legs. “I thought you wanted to go home?” I placed my hands on her bare thighs, pushing her skirt up higher.

  “I said either the truck or home.” She put her hands on my shoulders, leaned into me and pushed me back into the seat. “Congratulations,” she purred.

  “Ugh…” my brain was completely fried, and I had no idea what she was talking about. “Thank you?”

  “Did you forget that you just won Street Wars?” She laughed, her hands cupping my face.

  “The only thing I’m focused on right now is you, in my lap, in my truck. That’s it.”

  “Hmm, so now it’s OK for me to be distracting?”

  “I plan on you distracting me all night, Princess.” She pressed her lips to mine, taking over the kiss, and all I could do was sit back and let her have her way. “We need to go home,” she mumbled, sitting back and raining kisses down my neck.

  My hands slid around to her ass, cupping her lush cheeks. “You think I can drive home with you in my lap?” I didn’t want Violet to move. I had her right where I wanted, and I didn’t want her going anywhere.

  “I think if you don’t drive us home, everyone who walks by this truck is going to get a show.” She was right, but I was on the edge of not giving a fuck who walked by. I took my hands off her ass and pulled her skirt down. As much as I wanted Violet right now, I didn’t want our first time to be in the front seat of my truck with hundreds of people walking by.

  “Violet.” She kept on kissing me, not even noticing I had stopped touching her. I put my hands on the steering wheel waiting for her to stop. “Princess. Stop for ten minutes. I promise we can pick up right where you left off once we get back to your place.” I wanted her. Fuck me, I wanted her more than anything in my life. “That’s it.” I pressed one last kiss to her lips, lifted her up and set her on the seat. “Ten minutes. Nine if I manage to keep my hands off of you.”

  She looked up at me, her breathing short and
labored. “Make it eight.”

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  Chapter 20

  Violet

  We were two minutes away from my apartment, but I knew it was only going to take Luke a minute to get there. He was driving like a bat out of hell, and I wanted to kiss him for it. My body was on fire for him, and it didn’t seem like the blaze was going out anytime soon.

  I rested my hand on his thigh, and he growled low, lifting up my hand, kissing the back and put it back in my lap. “No distracting for thirty seconds.” I pouted my lips at him, and he just shook his head. I suppose I shouldn’t distract him when he was driving, but it was almost impossible to keep my hands off of him.

  He careened into the parking lot, skidding into the spot next to my car and opened the door, jumping out. He held his hand out to me and pulled me down. “Hey, how did my car get here?”

  “I dropped it off earlier.” He closed the door and tugged me along behind him as he sprinted to the front door.

  “Wait. I forgot my purse. My keys are in it.”

  Luke grabbed me around the waist, pressing a quick kiss to my lips and ran back to the truck, beeping the locks open as he ran. I didn’t know what else to do, so I just stood there in the middle of parking lot, watching him.

  He hopped up into the truck, leaning over the seat and snatched my purse off the floor. He held it like it was a sack of snakes that was going to bite him and jumped down from the truck, closing the door and locking it up at the same time as he jogged back over to me.

  He didn’t slow down when he got near, just leaned down, planted his shoulder in my stomach and lifted me up. “Luke,” I screeched. I was face to face with his ass, and I had to admit the view wasn’t bad at all. I reached behind me, holding down my skirt so I didn’t flash the parking lot and anyone driving by.

  “Keys?”

  “They’re in the side pocket.”

  “Can I grab them or do you want to?”

  “I wouldn’t have told you where they were if I didn’t want you to grab them.”