His answer is to release my nipple and place his forehead to mine as he reaches for my hands and laces our fingers together. Pit slides our arms over our heads and tightens his hold. We both release a gasp.
He furrows his brows. This feels so amazing, I’m afraid to speak and ruin the moment. I lift my head and kiss his nose.
Pit turns his cheek and nuzzles it against my lips, then moves to bury his face in my neck. He picks up the pace. It’s not too fast, but just what this connection needs.
When he lifts his head, he releases one of my hands. Reaching for my lips, he drags his thumb down them. The gesture causes me to part them for him.
He watches with an awed expression on his face. He moves to push his hand into my hair and releases the tie I have it held back with. When he has my coils free, he sticks his hand into them and fists my hair, lifting my face to his as he moves in to devour my lips.
Our breathing is the only sound in the room as we breathe each other in. I dig the nails of my free hand into his back. It’s in that moment that he thrusts into me and stills.
Pit
* * *
Skittles sits between my legs as I sit with my back against the headboard of her bed. I run my fingers back and forth over her collarbone. We’ve been sitting like this for a while.
I shouldn’t have let my father get to me. For a moment, I let his old taunting get to me. It was only a second, but I allowed his words to get through.
What if Skittles doesn’t choose me? It would be like my mom all over again. For that split second my heart broke in two.
“Can I ask you something?” she says breaking into my thoughts as she runs her fingers over the arm I’m caressing her with.
I kiss the top of her head. “What is it?”
“Why didn’t you ever ask me out? And I don’t mean offering me a night in your bed. I’m talking about asking me on a date. I’ve seen you do it with girls before. Clearly, you’re attracted to me. I mean, we flirted a lot. So, I’m thinking you’re attracted to me,” she’s rambling.
It brings a smile to my lips. I reach for her breast with my other hand and knead it. “You know I’m attracted to you. You want the truth?”
“Yes,” she says turning her face up to me. “Please.”
I lean to peck her lips. “I thought you and Kelex were fucking,” I say and lift a shoulder.
She stares at me a few beats, then bursts into laughter. I’m getting tired of everyone laughing at me over this. I start to tickle her.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” she giggles.
“What?”
She shakes her head. I pinch her chin and turn her face to mine for a kiss. When I break it, I inhale and blow out a long breath.
Moment of truth.
“This shit between us was inevitable. We’ve just been avoiding it. If it wasn’t for thinking you two had a thing, I probably would have handled my business sooner,” I say.
“Nah,” she says with a wicked smile. “Broke ass Pit wasn’t my style. You needed to get your coin up.”
I roar with laughter. “Fuck you, Skittles.”
“After I suck your dick, maybe.”
I shake my head and fold my arms around her. As good as that sounds, I just want to hold her. This feels like what we both need.
Chapter 22
Maniac
Skittles
* * *
It’s been almost two months now. Seven and a half weeks of this torture. As hard as it may be on me, I can only imagine how Shawna must feel.
I received a video call from her today. She says she’s fine. Listening to her slur through those wires was so hard, but at least she could try this time.
By the time I got off the call with her, I wasn’t any good to anyone. I decided to take the day off. Not even working on cars could fix this ache.
Pit called Ox and asked him to do inventory and make sure the deliveries arrived. All morning long Pit has been doing anything and everything he can to keep my mind off of things and make me laugh. Hence, why I’m now in tears as “Maniac” from Flashdance plays from his phone.
He’s in nothing but his boxer brief shorts and his big ass is dancing around like he’s auditioning for Magic Mike. The comical version. This is an entirely different side of him.
I sit in the middle of my bed laughing so hard my stomach hurts. He rocks his hips like he’s humping the air, but the move that takes me out is when he starts running in place and swings his arms back and forth. I start to snort from laughing so much.
“I got moves, baby. Don’t laugh,” he says as he switches to an old Jane Fonda move, bringing his elbow down as he lifts his opposite knee.
“You’re crazy,” I say through my laughter.
He puts his forearms up in front of his face and starts to rock his hips from left to right. I’ll give him this, his body is ripped and with all this gyrating he’s doing I’m finding it hard not to be turned on while I laugh. His abs flex with the moves and the bulge in his shorts is serious.
As if knowing where my thoughts are, he kisses his bicep and winks at me. Moving to cross his arms across his chest, he then fans them out to his sides slowly and begins to roll his hips in a circular motion. He has his lower lip trapped between his teeth and his green gaze on me, a smoldering look on his handsome face. This man knows he’s fine.
“Do it, baby,” I croon, cheering him on.
He turns around and starts to pump his arms in front of him. His ass in full view for me now. He looks over his shoulder to catch me looking. He follows my gaze then looks back up at me and gives a wicked smile.
When he starts to do a horrible job of twerking, I’m done for. I can’t breathe, but he’s not done. He turns back around, bends at the knees, placing his palms on his thighs and he whips his head.
“Oh, my God. Please stop,” I gasp out.
“Stop hating.”
I fall back on the bed laughing. “Hating? Ha.”
Thankfully, the song ends, and I can try to catch my breath. I sit up on my elbow and look at him.
God, I love him. If I wasn’t sure before, I know I do now. I watch him all dreamy eyed as he wipes his forearm across his forehead.
I allow my eyes to roam over him. He lifts a brow and tilts his head to the side. A smile spreads across his lips.
“I know that look,” he says and hooks his hands in his shorts and pushes them down his legs.
“What?” I laugh. “Boy, put those back on.”
“You sure?” he holds his arms out. “I’ll let you do whatever you want.”
“What if I want you to treat me?” I say seductively.
He cracks his neck to one side then the other before pounding a fist at his chest. “Let’s go, then.”
I fall back laughing until he grabs my ankle and drags me to the foot of the bed. He pushes up his T-shirt I have on and silences my laugh with his mouth for the next two hours.
My great distractor.
Pit
* * *
I wave at the smoke and choke. I swear I know how to cook. What the fuck?
I’ve cooked for myself and Leo for years. I’ve never burned anything. Damn, and this isn’t my place. I groan.
With the shake of my head, I run a hand through my hair as I look at the burned frying pan in the sink. I was trying to make Skittles dinner. It’s been a hard day and I wanted to do something nice for her besides dance around like an idiot.
“Way to go, William,” I mutter to myself.
“What the heck? Are you trying to burn my place down?” Skittles says as she comes running into the kitchen.
I release a breath. “I was trying to make dinner. I got distracted.”
“Distracted? By what? Were you playing with yourself? Look at my pan.”
She stomps her foot and crosses her arms over her chest. I feel my cheeks heat. Skittles looks up at me curiously.
“I was trying to place an order for some flowers for you,” I mutter.
A wide smile spreads over her face. The burned pan is forgotten that fast. “Aww,” she says, her eyes sparkling. Her grin turns mischievous. “Oh, I think Pit likes me,” she says and starts to shimmy and roll her body.
“Shut up,” I snort and toss the dish towel at her. “Order us some food.”
She turns and bounces on her toes, her butt jiggling with the action. “I think he likes me, yup, know he likes me. Oww.”
I roar with laughter and walk up behind her to wrap her in my arms and bury my face in her neck. It takes everything in me not to tell her I love her. However, I know it’s not fair to lay that on her now, not with everything she has going, but as soon as this shit is all over, I’m going to tell her how I feel.
“Food, I’m a big man. I need food, woman.”
“I’ve got you but forget those flowers. You need to replace my pan. You do know these were copper, right? I spent a grip on that pan alone.”
I suck my teeth. “Whatever, big head. Don’t mix me up with those chumps you’re used to. I can afford to get you the flowers and a collection of pots and pans if that’s what you want.”
She looks up at me and bites her lip.
“What?” I ask as I watch her.
“Nothing.”
I give her a squeeze. “Nah, what’s that look?”
She shrugs. “Sometimes, you’re kind of sexy, but don’t get a big head.”
I grin. “Food, woman. I’ll spank you later for the disrespect.”
She throws her head back and laughs. That’s all I wanted, to make her smile. Might not be the way I planned, but my heart nearly explodes from seeing it.
Chapter 23
Put it on Speaker
Skittles
* * *
I sit in Pit’s lap in his back room at Fuck Off. I hadn’t planned to come here after work, but my mind drifted and the next thing I knew, my car was here.
“Yo, Mayven, stop eating my fucking chips. I asked you if you were hungry. You said no,” Pit growls and slaps my hand away from his chips and salsa.
“I’m not hungry. These are so good though.”
“Get up,” he says in an annoyed tone.
I turn to look over my shoulder at him. “You’re throwing me off your lap? Over chips?” I pout at him.
He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “Stick your little hand in my basket again and see what happens, half pint.”
I smile at him, hold his gaze, reach my hand into the basket of chips, pluck one out, and pop it in my mouth, wiggling my brows at him. He growls at me. I laugh so hard I almost choke.
“I hate you,” he mutters.
I peck his lips. “Sure, you do.”
A look passes over his face, causing me to pause. Before I can fully read it, he shuts it down and my phone rings at the same time. I grab it off the table and see it’s Danny.
“Put it on speaker,” Pit demands from over my shoulder.
“Hello,” I say as I open the call and place it on speaker.
“The next race location has been changed. They’re no longer going to allow you guys to pick your driver. The opposing teams pick who gets to drive. You make sure whether they pick you or that tool, you win,” Danny replies.
I have to place a hand on Pit’s chest to calm him before he says something that could turn this on its head.
“We’ve been winning all this time.”
“Yeah, well, for some reason Marquis has decided to make this harder. The drop hasn’t changed but the other races have,” he says.
By the sound of his voice, I’m not too sure he’s holding it together. I take a deep breath. This will be over soon.
“He’s also extending the races. There will be a two-week break,” Danny says smashing my previous thought.
“What?” I gasp.
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on. Don’t get eliminated. And watch for Anton’s team. They’re not happy about you guys. They’ve won these races in other clubs. You’ve become a threat to them. Don’t get yourself killed.”
With that, the call dies. I close my eyes and don’t even bother to turn to face Pit. I can feel him vibrating with rage.
“I can handle myself on the track. Nothing changes. We still haven’t figured out how to get her out,” I say without looking at Pit.
“I don’t like this,” he seethes.
“And I don’t have a choice. Marquis is changing the rules, not Danny. I have to trust that he’ll keep to his end.”
He reaches around me to grab my face until I look into his eyes. I don’t find just the anger I knew would be there. If I’m not mistaken, there’s something close to fear in his depths.
“And if something happens to you on the track? In one of those races?”
“It won’t.”
He releases my face and runs a hand through his hair. “I need a smoke. Yo, Ox, bro, I need a pack?”
“And who’s sucking your dick after that, ashtray?” When Rome spits his drink out across the table, I realize I’ve said that out loud.
I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. When stressed I don’t think before I say things. Pit narrows his eyes at me.
“You’re an asshole.”
I shrug. “I learned it by watching you,” I deadpan.
“Don’t do that with me.”
“What?”
He cups my face and runs a finger over my lip. Silence passes between us for a few beats before he places his forehead to mine. I cup the back of his head, needing him like a lifeline.
“I’m not your enemy.”
“I know that.”
Doesn’t mean I can help lashing out. I’m holding on by a thread. It’s like I take one step forward and a hundred steps back.
“Then don’t pick a fight with me,” he replies.
“Fine.” I lean into his ear. “Still not going down on you if you smoke a cigarette and you’re not coming near me with that ashtray mouth.”
He chuckles and shakes his head at me. “The asylum called. They want their jacket back and said you should come with it.”
“Well, I get a discount if I bring you along,” I toss back.
“Shut up, Mayven. Just shut up.”
I push my fingers into his hair and nuzzle his cheek. I know in this moment, as much as he might want to, he’s not going to storm out of here and do something crazy. He’s not the only one who knows how to be a distraction.
“I have to believe I’m doing this right. I’ll be okay. I have to be for Shawna.”
“I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
Pit
* * *
I’m still stewing about that call. These changes show Marquis isn’t a stupid man. It seems he intends to smoke his problem out with or without me.
The question is how that effects our mission. I don’t like having two weeks added to the timeline. The longer Danny has Shawna, the longer he has to become unpredictable or unstable. We’ve never had any guarantees there to begin with.
“Why don’t you go out and tell Kid I said to give you a king’s chest. That’s enough to keep you busy until I’m done here,” I lean over Skittles to say as she sits at the table scrolling through her phone.
I cage her in with my palms on the table. She looks up at me and I see how tired she is. I should send her home, but I get the feeling she doesn’t want to be alone and after that threat earlier, I’m not too keen on allowing it either.
She gives me a sleepy grin. “That’s a lot of chips. There you go spoiling me. I might get the wrong idea, Pitman.”
“No wrong ideas to get.”
She bites her lip and stares back at me. I don’t have time for where this conversation seems to be going. It’s becoming a big fact that our timing sucks.
“I have business coming in. I’ll be a while,” I say and kiss her forehead. “Don’t leave without me.”
“Got it, boss,” she teases.
I grin and push off the table. She stands, pats my chest and heads out. She looks draine
d.
I’m not sure how much more of this she can take. Which brings my thoughts back to the situation we’re dealing with. We need to find out where Danny is or at least where he’s keeping Shawna.
Once I know this, I’ll gladly hand Danny over to Marquis. Although he might be dead by the time Marquis gets to him. I’m still debating on that one.
I look up, coming out of my musing as Mr. Knight walks through my door. He’s not my first meeting for tonight, but I knew this was coming. I glance at the screen to check on Skittles.
Instead of sitting at one of the poker tables, she’s talking to Kid and Ox. I turn my attention back to the old man. I remember thinking he was old years ago.
Turns out, Blake Knight is in his late fifties now. He’s still fit and looks as if he could go a few rounds in a prison bathroom again. I never said he wasn’t holding his own that day.
Blake sits and stares at me. I wait for whatever it is he’s about to spit out. “Rumor is you’ve been around Marquis and his races. I told myself it was a lie. You’re too smart for that,” he starts.
“I have something I need to handle. It’s personal.”
“Do you know why I chose you?”
I shrug. “You and my father had bad blood. I was a way to piss him off.”
He gives me a crooked smile. “That was the cherry on top.” He sits back in his chair again eyeing me. “I watched you. You spent most of your time in the prison library. Always in the law books.”
“If no one was going to help my ass, I was going to help myself,” I say.
He nods. “I started to ask around about you. Turns out you were some genius, your professors spoke highly of you. You had promise.”
I fold my arms over my chest. I don’t regret not finishing law school, but he’s right. I would have been damn good at whatever field I chose to practice.
“The word was you have this freakish ability to retain information. You memorized cases, laws, precedents. Your cellmate was let off because of some small detail you remembered from something you read.
Pit: The A**hole Club Series Page 13
