Daisy tossed her bag on the couch just as the first raindrop began to plonk on the roof of Dix’s trailer. “Just made it.”

 

“Yeah, Dix said as he slid the box of cereal into the cabinet, and the beer and milk into the refrigerator. Now they wouldn’t have to run out for breakfast in the morning.

 

Daisy seemed to have recovered from her crisis on the rock, as he’d come to think of it, but she was still subdued. He came to her and pulled her into his arms. “You okay?”

 

“I think so,” she said, looking down. “I don’t know what I am. I just want my life to go back to normal, whatever that is.”

 

“It’s only been a few days since the Firechrome showed up, and only two days since we put the word out. You have to give it time to work.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Do I hear a but?”

 

She sighed. “But it’s the same shit as on the rock. I’m thinking about you taking me to bed when I feel like I should be thinking about Riley. I know it’s stupid because driving around in the dark isn’t going to do a bit of good, and we’ve done all we can do until Leo shows up again, if he shows up again. I guess that’s the other thing that’s bothering me: what if Leo doesn’t come back? What if the Firechrome don’t come back? When do I stop waiting and start searching again?”

 

“Why wouldn’t they come back? If they’re interested in pushing us out, so far as they know, we don’t have a clue.”

 

“So what are they waiting on?”

 

Dix shrugged. “Don’t know. Maybe they’re waiting to see what we do after they took Kevin down and leaned on Randy.”

 

Daisy nodded. “Maybe. I still don’t know why they would have shot him.”

 

“Me neither, other than that was one less brother they would have to deal with and it would serve as a distraction. Especially if we had thought it was just a crash.”

 

“How do you suppose they knew?”

 

Dix shrugged. They could have followed us out there. We were out there for almost two hours. Kevin did a couple slow laps just to get a feel for the bike and for us to begin to dial it in. Well, slow as in twenty, twenty-five minutes. They had plenty of time to get setup.”

 

“Dial in?”

 

“Change the bike so he could go faster. Adjust the shocks and such.”

 

She stepped back from his embrace. “Do you think they’ll try again during the race?”

 

He shook his head. “Doubtful. Too many people around. Actually, I would like them to try. We’ll have their ass, for sure, then they can experience what Kevin did. I’ll tie them to the back of Kevin’s truck and drag their ass down the road and into a tree.”

 

She shuddered. “Don’t say stuff like that.”

 

He softened. “Sorry, but they’re going to have to pay for that.”

 

“I understand, but can’t you just shoot them or something?”

 

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Too quick and clean.”

 

She remembered the coldness of his voice from a few hours before and she felt the tingle of fear.

 

He saw her turn slightly pale and he realized how he must sound. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

 

“Have you killed anyone before?”

 

He chuckled. “No. Have you?”

 

She smiled and shook her head. “No, but then I didn’t just threaten to kill someone by dragging them behind a truck.”

 

He nodded, pursing his lips. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s how I feel. Anyone in the race could die, and we accept that. What I can’t accept is some low-life bastard causing Kevin to crash just because he can. If I find out who did it, they will pay, even if I don’t drag them behind a truck.”

 

She stepped back in close. “Take me to bed.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yes,” she said, tipping her face up for a kiss.

 

He kissed her gently but he could sense her hunger in the kiss. “No guilt in the morning?”

 

“No,” she breathed.

 

He led her to the bedroom before turning to face her, pulling her in and placing his hands on her face as he kissed her slowly. He felt a bit guilty for what he’d said. Not because it was how he felt or the fact he’d do it, but because he scared her. It was one thing to kill someone who needed killing, but another to hurt a woman.

 

She relaxed into the kiss, her passions taking over and blotting out her worries and fears. She could sense from the tenderness of his kiss he’d never intentionally hurt her, neither physically nor emotionally, and she gave herself over to him.

 

He pulled back, liking how her eyes were closed then slowly opened as she smiled. He began to undress her, taking his time, allowing his fingers to roam her body as he enjoyed the feel of her soft, smooth, skin.

 

She stepped out of her shorts, toeing her shoes off at the same time. She hoped he’d take her as he had last night, giving her two shattering orgasms, then finishing her with a slow and erotic coupling. She’d never had such a dynamic and inventive lover before, and she thrilled in anticipation of the next new thing he’d do to her.

 

He pushed her to the bed, trying to decide how he’d take her tonight. She seemed a bit fragile, so slow and easy it would be. He undressed, liking how she looked at him with hungry eyes, her fingers slowly caressing her body making him ache for her. He didn’t know if her slow strokes of her abdomen and breasts were for his benefit, but even if they weren’t, they were damned effective. He joined her in the bed, intending to take her into a comfortable spoon, her back to his chest so he could caress and cuddle her, but she had other ideas.

 

She rolled over to face him as he tried to tuck her in tight, pushing him to his back then mounting him. She smiled down at him as she lay on his chest. “What are you going to do to me tonight?” she purred with a smile.

 

He smiled. Obviously she wasn’t in the mood for cuddling. “What do you want?”

 

Her smile grew larger, trying to think of something. She had a laundry list of things she wanted to try with the right man, but then decided tonight part of the fun would be finding out what he fantasized about. “Surprise me,” she murmured as she leaned down for a kiss.

 

He accepted the kiss, the heat of it making it hard for him to think. He thought about anal, then about gently restraining her, but decided that was probably too much, too soon. After her abuse with Leo, she might not like being tied down. As she pulled back from the kiss he heard the far off rumble of distant thunder and the rain beating a cadence on the roof.

 

He rolled her over, coming to rest above her as he smiled. “Surprise you, huh?”

 

She felt a tingle. “Yes,” she whispered, thrilling in the unknown. He rose and pulled her to her feet before leading her to the front of the trailer. She smiled, thinking how tight they would have to stay to fit on that tiny couch, but then he opened the door. Her heart nearly stopped as he stepped into the pouring rain, still pulling her hand.

 

He felt her pull back, stopping at the door. He didn’t force her and stood in the warm rain, holding her hand, waiting for her to decide to follow.

 

I want to! Oh, God, how I want to! she thought, Dix standing in the rain, the water cascading off his naked form making her ache to join him. She’d fantasized about this very thing for years, loving movies where the boy gets the girl and they end up making love in the rain, but now that she had her chance…He pulled her hand a bit harder, encouraging her but saying nothing. She started to step out, then stopped. His trailer was tucked away in the back of the yard by the warehouse and shop. It was dark and secluded and the entire yard was fenced. Nobody can see. Nobody will ever know. It may be my only chance. She took a deep breath and stepped out.

 

He’d almost decided she wasn’t going to follow when she stepped onto the path and threw herself into his arms, pulling herself up and wrapping her legs around his hips. She was soaked in moments, the water running down her face making her the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. He closed his arms around her, holding her tight as she wiped at his face, smiled, then took his lips and kissed him deeply.

 

He carried her as she kissed his neck and shoulders, her imagination running wild. She didn’t know what he had in mind, but she didn’t care. They could fuck in the mud, so long as they fucked!

 

He stepped off the path, stopping in front of the Pontiac they had picked up, and disentangled himself from her. He was going to take her on the hood of the car, and if they bent it, so be it, he’d buy the damned thing.

 

He leaned her over the car and pressed her down, mashing her breasts and stomach into the car. The car was warm from the sun, and slick with rain, and as he entered her she began to slide slightly with the rhythm of his thrusts, the feel of the car sliding under her incredibly erotic. He leaned over her, kissing her neck and shoulders hard as he thrust into her with hard slow thrusts, her gasps each time he drove into her pushing him closer and closer to the edge. He’d never been as turned on as he was at this moment, the rain pattering on his back as they fucked in the rain.

 

She whimpered then gasped, licking her lips as the sweet rain rolled down her face and into her mouth. She was alive with desire, a long held secret finally lived. She keened softly, fighting to keep her wail of pleasure quiet as her orgasm rolled over her like the rain, the soft rumble of distant thunder a perfect accompaniment to the storm of pleasure raging inside of her.

 

Dix shook his head, water spraying from his hair as he fought to hold back his orgasm. Just as he began to tip beyond the point of no return Daisy mewled out her pleasure and pushed hard back into him. He stopped his thrusts and shoved back against her push, stalling his orgasm, teetering on the edge of the abyss, but then pulled back before he fell as she giggled and growled.

 

“Oh my God,” she panted then giggled again as he pulled out. She pushed herself off the car and allowed him to turn her and pull her in tight to receive his kiss. His kiss was electrifying, the feel of his hard member pressed between them, making her crave more. This was her chance to live out a long held dream, and she intended to make the most of it.

 

She pulled away from him and leaned back against the car, curling her finger at him as she smiled. He smiled, eager to have her again, but he hoped she was quick off the mark again because he was going to have a hell of a time finishing her if she weren’t.

 

He picked her up and slid her easily up the hood until she was positioned as he wanted her, the mask of desire on his face, the rain pattering her body, the slickness of the car under her back, all combined setting her on edge. He entered her hard, driving into her as he growled low and deep, the sounds of his desires twisting her tight.

 

With her legs drawn back she glided so easily on the car he had to struggle to hold her in place. Afraid for her safety, he leaned over her and took her lips as he rested his elbows on the hood, holding her in place so she didn’t slip from the car and hurt herself.

 

Having him wrap her up, the distant thunder and the hiss of the rain, all conspired to steal her control. This is what love-making should be! She felt free, free for the first time in her life, free from responsibility if only for a moment, free to enjoy the simple pleasure of man and woman as she never had before. He grunted, his face twisting in pleasure, her rapture growing with his.

 

“I’m going to come,” he gasped.

 

“Yes! Come with me,” she whispered, exhilarating in giving him pleasure, her own desire rising within her.

 

“I’m coming,” he snarled as he shuddered, at war with his own body, driving into her despite the searing ecstasy as he tried to push her into her own orgasm. “Fuck!” he barked, shaking his head before burying his face in her shoulder, his hips pumping into her furiously.

 

He was giving her his everything, his muscles rippling under his skin as he continued to pound into her, hissing and groaning pleasure. Leo never cared if she climaxed, caring about only his own pleasure, but Dix working so hard to please her, placing her ahead of himself, sent her tumbling into orgasm.

 

“Stop, please stop,” she gasped as her rapture seared through her, the rain doing nothing to cool the heat of passion.

 

He groaned as another aftershock passed over him. He knew she had climaxed only a handful of seconds behind him, and he was delighted he’d been able to finish her. He smiled, taking a deep breath then blowing it out, hoping she was finished because he was spent. He rose off her with a groan, then brought her to her feet.

 

He pulled her into a long slow kiss then held her tight a moment before picking her up, one hand under her knees, the other around her shoulders, and carried her back to the trailer. She laid her head against his shoulder, tucking in tight, and sighed. Their time in the rain was everything she dreamed it would be, and more.

 

He placed her on her feet outside the open door, not want to risk hurting her by trying to squeeze through the opening with her in his arms. She turned to him and kissed him warmly.

 

“Surprised?” he asked softly.

 

“Yes, very,” she murmured, holding her lips close. “Did you know I’ve wanted to kiss someone in the rain since I first saw it The Notebook.”

 

“We did a lot more than kiss.”

 

“Even better,” she smiled as she pulled his lips to hers.