Race For Love

by Nana Malone

Relief washed through him. It was quickly followed by joy, then resistance. He didn't want to leave Kiss. "That's fantasti—"

  Deyshawn cut him off. "But." He sighed. "And I don't really know how to tell you this, so I'm just gonna say it—Kallie has got you blackballed."

  Derek's stomach pitched. He'd thought that maybe that was what was happening, but it had seemed so far-fetched. "You're shitting me."

  "Nah, man. Jeremiah Holstrum told me himself."

  "Shit." Now what? Kallie was in tight with most of the major players in the league. Or rather her father was.

  "I'm sorry, man. I tried to get more out of him. But he wouldn't give it up. All he said was that the Edelsteins were close friends and out of respect he couldn't hire you as much as he wanted to."

  Fuck. Fuckity fuck. "Yeah okay. Thanks, Deyshawn. I appreciate you going out on a limb for me."

  "I wish the news were different. I was looking forward to working with you again."

  "Yeah, me too."

  After he hung up with Deyshawn, he tossed the phone back on the bed. The claustrophobia wrapped another tentacle around him and squeezed as another nail drilled shut the coffin on his dream. Despite his shower, he yanked out some basketball shorts from his drawer. He needed to blow off some steam.

  ***

  It had been three days since his conversation with Deyshawn, and Derek was getting more than a little antsy. He'd been waking up an hour earlier every day to make east coast calls. And he spent a good deal of time willing a job offer to come through. And waiting for news on his appeal.

  Apparently, Kisima was starting to notice because after dinner she'd suggested he finally show her how to play poker.

  The good news was she was helping take his mind off of everything. When he was with her, it was a little too easy to forget that he had this life he had to get back to. He watched her over the rim of his cards and she chewed her lip thoughtfully before lifting her gaze to meet his.

  He grinned at her surprise. "You realize you wear everything you're thinking right on your face?"

  "What? I can't help it. I'm trying to remember what all the possible ways to kick your ass are."

  He chuffed. "Not fucking likely. Put your bet down."

  She bet him two sunflower seeds right before she stuck her tongue out at him.

  His cock, the traitor, twitched. The two of them could get up to all kinds of no good with that tongue of hers. The instant pull of desire had him stifling a groan. They'd made love three times today. What was wrong with him? Hell, he should be lying prostrate, immobilized by all the pleasure, but oh no, he was ready. And could probably be good for at least two goes. This girl was way too sexy. And the hardest part was she had no idea. "Next time, I'm going to make this a game of strip poker."

  She narrowed her gaze at him, before sliding her perusal lower. "I could be down for that."

  "Sweetheart, you realize that I'd have you naked in seconds."

  She smirked and one of her dimples popped. How the hell was a dimple so sexy? "Isn't that the point of strip poker?"

  He licked his lips. Her naked was sounding like a better and better idea. "You want to start now, princess? I could toss my jeans into the pile."

  Her lips parted, her pupils dilated. If he was lucky, she was remembering their session this afternoon, right after their workout. She'd been all worked up, sweaty and slick. And again, he'd fallen completely under her spell. He'd taken her standing up against the wall of the gym, with her legs wound around him and his jeans barely off. Coming with her was like Christmas morning every time. It could become a very addictive habit.

  "I think I could be in for that." She placed her elbows on the coffee table and leaned forward. "Now, if I wanted to see you, and raise? What would I have to take off? My shirt and bra? My panties?"

  Shit. She was good at this. She had him by the balls and she knew it. "If the bra goes, you can raise by playing with your nipples for me." He licked his bottom lip. "If the panties go, you have to let me have a taste."

  Her laugh was bright. "Oh no you don't. No tasting unless you win."

  "But I need to taste, to see if it's an adequate raise." He winked at her.

  She flushed and he knew he was getting to her. Was she wet? Had he done that to her with just his words? Or was she anticipating him inside her again. Kiss scooted back from the table a little and lifted the folds of her long cotton skirt. Oh, holy fuck. She kept her eyes on him as her hands tugged on something. After a couple of wiggles, she tugged down her panties, sliding them down over her long, lean legs. "Oh I think it's an adequate raise."

  Sweat beaded on his forehead and the roar of the blood rushing between his ears made it difficult to concentrate on anything other than the panties she dropped on the table. His gaze ping ponged between the tiny red bikini briefs and where she sat on the cushions.

  Fuck the game, he was on her in seconds, his sudden movements jarring the table and sending cards everywhere. He kissed her hard and deep, stroking into her mouth, taking what he could, desperate for so much more. When he finally managed to tear his lips form hers, he whispered against her lips, "I'm going to make you come as you scream my name. Only thing I need to know is how you want it. Mouth? Fingers? My cock."

  She shuddered in his arms, her gaze pinned on his lips. "Your mouth. Like you promised."

  He was keeping her. He didn't give a shit. He was going to find a way to keep her. There was no way he could let her go. Not when she said things like that to him. A slow smile spread across his face as he said, "I'm going to enjoy keeping my promises. Now, do you want me to lap at you, teasing your clit before I fuck you with my tongue? Do you want me to do other things with my tongue? Lick you...other places?"

  Her breath came as a surprised gasp. "A-all of it."

  "Lie back, sweetheart. I'm going to enjoy this feast."

  He kissed down her body, stopping only to kiss the peak of each breast. When he reached her belly button, he yanked up the fabric of her skirt and settled himself between her legs. Her soft lips beckoned to him and he had to work to snap the control over his need. His first teasing taste had her back bowing up off the cushions.

  "Derek."

  "This is just the start, sweetheart. I want—"

  "Kisima?"

  The voice from the front foyer startled them both and Derek muttered, "What the fuck?"

  She sprang up and yanked down her skirt. "Christian," she muttered.

  "Why does he have a key?"

  "Yeah well technically this is his house."

  Derek clamped his jaw together as he tried to stifle his annoyance. "Remind me again why you're living here?"

  "Because TJ wanted to take care of me. My condo is in Downtown L.A. I have a renter in it now."

  "This...is to be continued." Christian might be back, but Derek had no intention of giving the guy even an inch when it came to Kiss. He'd staked his claim, even if it was temporary.

  23

  Kiss called out, "In here."

  Derek snatched up her panties and shoved them into his pocket as he winked at her. She had to fight a smile. "These are mine now," he whispered.

  "That's cheating."

  "So sue me."

  Christian bounded into the room with a jovial smile but halted when he saw them both on the floor with the scattered cards. His narrowed gaze ping ponged between them and the cards. "I didn't realize you had company."

  The way he said company conveyed a sentiment more like vermin. She recovered quickly considering Derek had stolen her undies. "Derek was just showing me how to cheat at poker."

  Christian frowned. "I've offered to teach you a million times, but you always say no."

  She flushed even as Derek wore a shit-eating grin on his face. He was not helping the situation. "What can I say, he's a good teacher."

  She stood fluidly and gave Christian a hug. But his arms only loosely held her before he pushed back slightly. "You're out of your chair."

  Derek handed her the two p
air that she'd been bluffing with and pursed his lips. To Christian he said, "Yeah well, she's a quick study and a hard worker. She had no business being in that chair."

  It was hard not to feel like she was in a tug of war. But she ignored the pang of guilt about Christian. He'd asked her to give it some thought. They weren't together. She did owe him an answer and explanation though. And she would have given him one...when he came home next week. He was the one who'd surprised her. Still, it didn't feel good to know that he was hurt because of her.

  "But she could hurt herself. Fall, break something. That hip could give out and she's not strong enough."

  Derek opened his mouth to tell the fucker to shut up, but Kisima beat him to it.

  "Good to see you too, Christian. And I appreciate the concern. But I'm not an invalid. I'm perfectly healthy. Thanks to the sadistic trainer from hell, I have full range of motion of my shoulder again. My collarbone is healing, leg is good as new and I've got ninety-five percent of the rotation in my hip back. I'm pretty much back to normal. I feel strong."

  "That's great," Christian said, but again, his expression said anything but. He wasn't pleased about it. But why? He should be happy for her.

  "Never a good idea to underestimate a woman like Kisima. She's tougher than anyone gives her credit for."

  She couldn't help the grin that tugged at her lips and Derek winked at her. "Christian, I thought you weren't coming back for another week? How come you didn't call? I would have picked you up at the airport. We could have had dinner or something." And she could have let him down gently. "I could have even cooked. Derek's been teaching me. Though I prefer things with flavor."

  Christian's lips pressed thin. "Tell me, Derek, just what are you teaching Kisima? Certainly not what I'm paying you to teach her?"

  Kisima's mouth fell open. It was like he'd seen the line not to cross, then gone ahead and pole vaulted right over it. "Christian, what is the matter with you?"

  "Oh come on, Kiss. It smells like sex in here. And your cheeks are flushed and I'm pretty sure that scrap of red peeking out of his pocket is a set of panties. How could you?"

  He took a step toward Kiss and Derek inserted himself between them. "Ease up. Watch your tone with her."

  Christian glowered. "My tone? My fucking tone? Don't forget, you're the help. I pay you."

  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. This had spiraled way out of control. Kisima shoved Derek aside, though he didn't budge but all of two inches, and placed a hand on his chest and the other one on Christian's. "That is enough, Christian. And for your information, Daniels Racing pays for Derek's time. You left Daniels Racing. You chose to go work for the other side. And as long as TJ is around he runs Daniels, not you. What's more, I will not have you fighting over me like I'm some shiny toy."

  "Derek, do you mind giving us a minute?"

  "Kisima—"

  She gave him her best, I mean business glare. "A minute, please."

  "Fine." He shook his head, his anger and disappointment evident. "I guess I'll go do some laps."

  When she was alone with Christian, she crossed her arms. "What are you doing, Christian?"

  His eyes grew wide. "What am I doing? You were supposed to be giving the idea of us more thought. Not shacking up with the fucking trainer, I mean how cliché is that? You could have had the fucking millionaire. But you choose him?"

  Kiss lost the hold on her temper then. "You might want to stop acting like we were some foregone conclusion. You are my closest friend, so I really hope neither one of us says some stuff we can't take back tonight."

  "Your friend?" He ran a hand through his sandy blond hair. "I'm fucking in love with you."

  Shit. She placed a hand on her belly. "Christian—"

  He shook his head. "Is this the part where you say you didn't know?"

  "Kind of. This is a hell of a bomb to drop on me."

  "Imagine how I feel walking in on you with him."

  The migraine snuck on her quick and her head started to throb. "I'm sorry you were hurt. But let's be really clear. You are not my boyfriend. You asked me to think about it and I was hesitant. But for you, I thought about it, and it's not going to work. I love you like family. Just not the way you need me to."

  "So that's it, just like with Antonio? You're picking the wrong guy."

  "Maybe I am. But it's my life to live. I've spent the last two years hiding myself emotionally because of what happened. It's time for that to stop. I can make mistakes. It's not the end of the world. Derek will leave eventually and then I'll maybe make another mistake or several. It's my prerogative."

  He blinked rapidly. "I won't be around to pick up the pieces when he's done with you, Kiss."

  She tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. "I never asked you to be. I can take care of myself." She knew that there was some truth to what he said. But she didn't care. She was going to enjoy Derek for as long as he was here. And then when he was gone, she'd pick up her own pieces and get on with it. But she wasn't sitting on the sidelines of her life anymore because she was afraid of judgment. She was done. "If you choose not to be my family anymore, that's on you. I'm always here for you. I just can't be what you want." She inhaled deep. "You know the way out."

  24

  Kisima stood barefoot in the chilly garage, wearing only her T-shirt and Derek's borrowed sweatpants. She'd tossed and turned half the night, replaying her conversation with Christian. Why couldn't he just be happy for her? Why did he think he was in love with her? Were they done? Would he think she'd abandoned him too? The idea of losing him from her life pained her, but he was making his choice.

  Usually when she couldn't sleep, she went for a drive. But that didn't seem possible anymore. She stared at the key in her palm, willing herself to put on her shoes and get in the car.

  Where are you going? The track. She was going to drive over there to do a few laps and clear her head. Driving always helped her relax, helped her calm her mind when she felt like she was spinning out, and after last night, she was clearly spinning out.

  Unfortunately, she couldn't seem to slide her feet into her Uggs and climb into the gleaming, black Audi that sat in front of her, taunting her, daring her to climb into the driver seat.

  She certainly wasn't going back to bed. Last night, after the showdown with Christian, she hadn't really been able to look at Derek. They'd cleaned up in tense silence and adjourned to their separate bedrooms. It wasn't what she wanted, but she had no idea how to navigate the terrain here.

  She knew that in the light of the morning, he'd want some answers or explanation about what the hell had happened with Christian. Other than her feeling like a shiny toy they'd just played tug of war over.

  She wasn't really ready to face him, nor was she ready to actually face the whole Christian situation itself. They'd always been family. But last night, Christian had acted like a jealous prick.

  Maybe she'd give him some time, then the two of them would talk. He'd never spoken to her like that before, like he hated her. She ignored the spear of pain in her heart. She'd deal with him. But right now, her main priority was getting in the car before she had to have a showdown with Derek.

  The door to the garage opened and she released a long sigh. Too late for that. She heard his footsteps behind her before she felt his heat against her back. "Going somewhere?"

  His voice tripped and skipped along her spine and Kisima shivered. "Well, the idea was to get into this car and drive to the track since it's still a little too far for me to walk."

  She could almost feel his sardonic smile behind her. "So how's that working for you?"

  "Oh, you know, still standing here, barefoot, keys in hand and not in the ignition, so how do you think?"

  "What I think is you scurried out of the house pretty quickly this morning."

  She'd been hoping to be out before he even noticed her gone. "Sorry I woke you."

  "For you to wake me, I'd have to have slept first. You know what I think?"

  She turned
to look at him. "What's that?"

  "That you were trying to avoid me after last night's fight."

  Shit. "Maybe a little. Usually no one sees the family dysfunction. And I was embarrassed by the things Christian said."

  He gave a brief, humorless laugh. "I recognize blinding jealously when I see it. You don’t have to apologize for him."

  "Yeah, but he's still family so I'm guilty by association. And I feel guilty like I did something wrong. So suckage all around."

  "I have a huge family so I understand the concept, but still, when one of us fucks up, it's up to that person to absorb the blame alone and make it right. It's not your job to apologize for him. And let's be real clear, he owes you the apology. Angst or not he had no right."

  His voice held a trace of menace and she worried for Christian's safety a bit. But she understood what he was saying. "Thank you. I also wanted to get out of my head this morning. I thought since I've been in a car already, I could just drive there, but here I am...outside of the car."

  Several seconds ticked by before he rubbed his hands up and down her bare arms, warming her from the contact. "Can I ask you something?"

  "Sure." She held her breath, anticipating something she didn't want to hear.

  "Do you think it's possible that he was jealous enough to tamper with your tires?"

  She whirled on him. "What? That is insane. We might be fighting now, but he would never hurt me."

  "Well, never say never. He was pretty angry last night. And am I the only one who noticed he was none too pleased about you being mobile? Maybe he stood to benefit from you having to depend on him."

  She put up a hand. "Please stop. I get it. You don’t trust anybody. And people have fucked you over. But as mad as he is at me, he would never hurt me. Never. He might not talk to me for a while. But he's not capable of what you're suggesting. You might not trust him, but trust me. Okay?"

  His tongue worked inside of his cheek, but he nodded. "Fine. Sorry I mentioned it." With a sigh, he added, "Look, I get it, last night was intense. And maybe I am pushing too hard and I don't understand your relationship with him. But you can't shut down on me and run, especially not at five in the morning when we're supposed to go work out. We have a deal you and I. Besides, I was a little worried about you."