CHAPTER TWO
Olivia
MY JAW DROPPED. “I don’t believe it,” I said in a daze. I grabbed the ticket from Katie’s hand. I wanted to see the winning numbers with my own eyes. I looked at the ticket and then again at the scoreboard. Sure enough, Katie was right. I’d bet on the guy least likely to win, and it paid off─big time.
“Come on,” Katie chirped. “We gotta get your money!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the aisle.
The crowd was beginning to settle down. Another race would be taking place shortly, but I didn’t care. My heart was thudding in my chest like a jackhammer, and I felt flushed and dizzy and strangely powerful, like I was the one who had just won an incredible race.
The betting counter was swarmed. Katie and I chatted excitedly as we waited in line. When it was my turn, I realized I was face-to-face with the same guy. When he saw me, he paled.
“Hi there,” he said smoothly, taking the ticket. “Collecting?”
I nodded smugly. “You bet.”
“Beginner’s luck,” the guy muttered under his breath as he handed me a stack of crisp, green bills. I watched his hands as he counted them, laying each of the bills on the counter. The metal wristband of his gold-tone watch pinched the hairs on his fat arm. My palms started to itch and sweat. I’d never seen that much money all at once before. It was hard to believe I wasn’t actually dreaming.
“So,” Katie said as we strolled away from the counter. “Whatcha gonna do with it? Bet it all again?”
I burst out laughing. “Hell no,” I said. I patted my purse, keeping it tucked close to my thigh. “I have half a mind to go home and bury this in the backyard until something else happens.”
“You wanna watch another race?”
The thought of going back into the sweltering, humid stands made me feel nauseous.
“I think I’m going to get another beer,” I said slowly. “Maybe I’ll go down there,” I pointed toward the Winner’s Circle. “I’m kind of tempted to thank Jacob Teller.”
Katie burst out laughing. “You totally should. He’s so hot!” she said, leaning in for a quick hug. “We’ll catch you later, Liv.”
As I walked away, Katie yelled my name again.
“What?” I turned around. “What’s up?”
“Bring me a beer when you come back,” Katie called. She winked. “You owe me!”
I smiled as I set off for Victory Lane. There was a crowd already clustered around a bunch of guys, talking and slapping each other on the back. Even though they’d been racing each other just a few minutes ago, it was easy to imagine them roughhousing one minute and then hugging the next.
Somehow, I managed to slip past security. I’m not quite sure how. It happened so quickly. I just followed the crowd until I was near where all of the action was happening.
As I got closer, I could feel the excitement in my belly grow stronger. There was no denying that Jacob was one of the hottest guys I’d ever seen.
“Hey, Teller!” I called out to him, waving my hand in the air to catch his attention. I was feeling pretty light-headed from the beer and the sun.
Jacob’s blonde head whirled around. When he saw me, he lifted his chin slightly and flashed a smile back at me. “Yeah?”
I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted so he could hear me over the din of the crowd, “I’m so happy I could kiss you right now!”
“Oh really?” he yelled back. His eyes lit up.
I pulled the envelope with my winnings from my bag and waved it in the air. “I owe you for this!”
Jacob made his way over to where I was standing. When he got close enough for us to talk without having to yell and scream, he chuckled. It was a nice, deep, and pleasant sound. “So how do you figure that?” he asked.
“I bet on you and I won!” I said. I was breathless with excitement.
“Well then, you must be my lucky charm,” He said winking at me.
Up close, he was sexier than ever. His blonde hair was tousled with sweat. His tan skin was flushed from being in the sun, and I could tell the win had worked magic on him too. He was grinning wide like a man who’s just been given a second shot at life.
He cocked his head lazily to the side and asked, “So, what’s your name?”
My God, he was a charmer!
“Olivia,” I blushed and looked down at my shoes. When I looked back up at him I held out my hand for him to shake. “But my friends call me Liv.”
“Jacob, but you can call me Jake,” he said reaching for my hand. But, instead of shaking my hand like I expected him to, he pulled my fingers toward his mouth and gently kissed the back of my hand. The touch of his lips brushing against my skin sent a shiver crawling down my back, leaving me momentarily speechless and weak at the knees.
After what seemed like an eternity, I finally got it together and managed to break the awkward silence. “Umm… you did really well out there.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I instantly regretted having spoken at all. Here I was, standing with the hottest guy I’d ever laid eyes on and that was the best I could come up with. I looked away from him and scanned the track, shielding my eyes from the sun, trying my best to look like I didn’t care.
The next race was already starting and the loud whine of the cars suddenly seemed like one of the sweetest, most exciting sounds on Earth to my ears.
“Well, it was easy,” Jake said with an easy grin. He tipped his hat at me and winked. “I did have lady luck on my side.”
Before I could reply, Jake wrapped a muscular arm around my waist and pulled me close. He smelled like tobacco and grease. I wanted to melt into his body then and there. Jake’s eyes were sapphire blue and I felt like he could see all the way through me.
He leaned in for a kiss and when he pressed his lips to mine, I wrapped my arms around his neck and parted my lips and let his tongue playfully dart inside. He groaned into my mouth and I felt one of my legs pop into the air, just like in an old movie.
When we pulled apart, my heart was pounding faster than ever. Wow!
“Whaddya say we get out of here?” Jake whispered into my ear. He nibbled my earlobe and I squealed with pleasure. “Let’s go spend some of that cash we just won.”
Leaving the Daytona racetrack with Jake felt surreal, like I was walking on clouds. I was happy and excited and somehow nervous all at once.
“So, Lucky Girl,” Jake said as we walked into the afternoon sunshine of the parking lot. He draped his arm over my shoulder. “Do you like champagne?”
“I love it,” I nodded, putting my hand to my chest.
“How about caviar?”
“Never had it.”
“Well you’re in for a treat then.”
“Really? I can’t wait! I’m so excited. I haven’t had a reason to celebrate in such a long time.”
“Neither have I,” Jake grinned. “This was a big day.”
He leaned over and kissed me lightly on the tip of my nose, then again passionately on the mouth. Butterflies swarmed through my ribcage and I moaned softly as Jake’s hands slid down my back until they found my ass, which he then gave a playful squeeze.
After hailing a cab, Jake and I climbed into the back seat together. He winked at me again and gave the driver the address of the Royal Egyptian, the most expensive hotel in all of Daytona.
“Wow, the Royal Egyptian? I’ve never been inside.” I said when we arrived, glancing up at the elegant marble building through the window of the cab. “I didn’t think your manager would put you up at a place like this.”
“He didn’t.” Jake burst out laughing. “We’re staying at the Motel Six outside of town,” he said. “But I want to celebrate tonight and I have a feeling we’re going to get much better room service here.”
A small chill ran down my spine. This wasn’t really like me—to have a one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger. I wasn’t the type of girl who slept around a lot… but then again, I also wasn’t the kind of girl who had boyfriends, either. My whole life I’d spent flitting from one brief relationship to the next. I’d never really been in love, but for the most part I didn’t care. The way I saw it, being young and untethered was all fun and games.
And from the looks of it, Jake was going to be an excellent gaming partner.
In the elevator on the way up to the penthouse suite, I coyly bit my lower lip before closing the distance between our two bodies, leaning into him against the glass wall.
Jake took hold of both my wrists in one hand and lifted them above my head as he took control, pressing me back into the corner of the elevator. I gasped as I felt the length of his rock hard body against mine.
He kissed me passionately until my chest heaved with desire. My belly flipped with excitement as Jake slowly licked my lower lip, biting at the skin until I moaned softly.
When the doors pinged open, Jake gave me a crooked, roguish smile, then made a deep bow.
“After you, my Lady Luck,” he said.
I grinned. “Why thank you,” I replied in my best faux-snooty British accent. “And where to, Sir?”
Jake took my hand in his and swiftly guided me down the hall. The penthouse floor only had one room, and once we opened the double doors I could hardly keep from squealing with excitement. It was easily the most posh hotel room I’d ever seen. The carpets were thick and plush, in spotless ivory. The furniture was leather and light wood, obviously modeled on ancient Egyptian styles. And the whole wall facing the outside was a giant sheet of glass.
“My God,” I murmured as I ran over to the window. “This is incredible. I can see all of Daytona from here!”
Jake picked up the phone and ordered champagne, fruit, a cheese plate, and caviar service for the room. After hanging up, he walked up behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. The sensation of his breath against the back of my neck made my hair stand on edge, and I moaned softly as he ground his pelvis into my ass. I could feel that he was hard and huge.
I turned around slowly in his arms and kissed him deeply. Jake held me close and squeezed my ass, while he gently explored my mouth with his tongue. As pleasure and arousal swirled through my body, I closed my eyes and moaned softly into Jake’s mouth.
Before I knew it, we were moving toward the bed. I stumbled briefly and fell on top of Jake, pinning him to the mattress. He laughed gently and winked at me.
“You’re a devilish one, Lady Luck,” Jake murmured as he buried his face in my neck and nibbled at my collarbone. “I think I just might keep you around for a bit.”
I giggled at the ticklish sensation. “I bet you have your pick of lucky women whenever you want.”
Jake slid his hand between my bare thighs, pushing the hem of my sundress up until my legs were completely exposed. I watched as his fingers traced delicate circles on my thighs. I giggled and blushed with excitement.
“Ticklish?” Jake grinned wolfishly as he saw how I sensitive I was to his touch. “I’ll have to remember to remember that for later.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I leaned back and closed my eyes. Seconds later, Jake had crawled between my legs. He lowered his head to my belly and nuzzled my abdomen through the thin cotton dress. I could feel his hot breath through the thin fabric and it was driving me wild. Jake traced light patterns on the inside of my thighs, I bit the inside of my mouth to keep from crying out. It was arousing and maddening all at once.
Jake pushed the hem of my dress up to my waist. He licked his lips and stared at the wet spot on my cotton panties with blatant lust in his bright blue eyes. For a brief second, I regretted not having worn something sexier. Jake looked up and stared into my eyes as his finger moved closer and closer to my crotch. He stroked me gently through my panties and watched my face as I shivered and whimpered with desire. My womanhood was pulsing and throbbing with arousal, and I desperately wanted him to take me.
“God,” I moaned. “Please, I want you so much.”
Jake grinned. He licked his lips and slid my panties down my thighs. He lowered his face to my wet pussy and lingered for a moment as he inhaled my scent. I blushed red hot under his gaze. Then as his tongue caressed me, I covered my mouth with one hand to keep from moaning loudly while using my free hand to tangle Jake’s hair. I ground my hips against his face as his tongue lashed against my swollen clit. But just as I was about to climax, Jake pulled away and spanked my ass hard with his hand. I cried out with alarm, not from the sting of where his hand hit my bottom, but because he’d stopped lapping at my pussy so abruptly when I was so close to climax. He grinned at my reaction before wiping his chin and leaning down to kiss me. I eagerly licked my juices away from his face and tugged at his clothes.
Jake pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the side. I shivered as I watched his muscles ripple through the air. He fumbled with his belt, pulling it away from his jeans and threw it on the floor. I could see that his cock was hard and straining at the crotch of his jeans.
“You have a condom?” I asked softly.
Jake nodded silently. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and extracted a foil square. I held my breath as he shimmied out of his jeans, ripped open the packet with his teeth, and sheathed his magnificent cock in a thin layer of latex.
Suddenly, I felt very self-conscious. “I don’t do this very often,” I whispered.
Jake steadied himself against my hips. “Me neither,” he said.
Yeah, right, I thought. I bet you do this all the time.
Jake leaned down and kissed me. “I like you, Olivia,” he whispered, nipping at my lower lip. I moaned softly and spread my thighs for him. I wrapped my legs around Jake’s waist and pulled him close. As his cock slipped inside of me, a towering wave of pleasure washed over me as he filled me completely.
I arched my back and cried out as Jake began pumping his body against mine. Pleasure filled me and I found myself moaning and squirming and wriggling beneath his muscular taut body.
“God,” Jake grunted. He nipped at my ear, reaching between our bodies and pushing my dress up to my neck. My breasts tingled in the cool air. Jake fondled my hardened nipples, pinching them between his thumb and forefinger as his body moved against mine. Soon, we were moving in a slick, sensual rhythm. I’d been with a few guys, but Jake was the first one who turned me on so easily.
Closing my eyes, I spread my legs open as wide as I could for him. Jake reached down and rubbed my swollen clit as he penetrated me deep and hard. It was as if he knew exactly how I needed to be touched. His pace quickened and soon his cock slammed in and out of me while his fingers continued to strum my clit. Before I knew it I was gasping for air as a powerful orgasm ripped through my body. It felt like something was gripping me between the legs. I shrieked loudly as the pleasure came crashing down all around me.
Jake grunted and strained. His cock pulsed and twitched and he paused for a moment before slamming inside of me harder than ever. I watched his gorgeous face screw up and cry out. Jake tightened his grip on my hips and arched his back. I could see that every muscle in his perfectly sculpted chest was tense with lust and desire. I leaned back as I watched his orgasm wash over his beautiful, sweaty body and face.
When it was over, we remained motionless in bed, with our bodies still locked together. Jake grinned down at me lazily before tousling my hair.
“That was awesome,” Jake said as he pulled out of me. He flopped onto his back with the condom still on his softening cock.
“Wow,” I said with a giggle. “I can’t believe—”
Just then we were interrupted by a loud knock on the door. I cried out and jumped out of bed into the air, pulling the sheet around my body for cover. Jake laughed and grabbed a towel from the bathroom and wrapped it around his narrow hips before sauntering to the door like a king at home in his palace.
“Room service, Sir. Where would you like the cart?”
Don’t come inside. Please don’t come inside.
Jake laughed. “That’s alright. I’ll take it from here,” he said. “Thanks.” Phew! It was as if Jake had read my mind. It felt so perfect and so wonderful, I didn’t want to be reminded of the outside world yet.
We spent the rest of the night naked, kissing, cuddling, snacking, laughing and drinking champagne until we fell asleep in each other’s arms fully sated, happy and content in the California king-sized bed.
In the morning, I stared at the city below us and slowly pulled my sundress on over my head. I’d had such an amazing time the night before that I didn’t want it to end. But the ugly reality was that this wasn’t my life.
Rent was due and now I had the money to cover it, fix my car and some extra left over. Plus, I had to look for a job. This was my life.
“Where ya headed?” Jake asked from the bathroom. I looked over at him as he pulled on his jeans. I watched as he peered at himself in the bathroom mirror while he splashed water on his face.
“Home, I guess.” I shrugged. “I should probably call my friend Katie and have her pick me up,” I said. “Although I guess I could just get a cab now that I have some cash.”
Jake nodded. “Right,” he said. “I should go back to the track. I’ve got a few more days here before heading out.”
All of a sudden, a wave of sadness washed over me. I knew this was a one-night stand, but even so, a part of me wished he’d ask me to go with him. We’d just met. He was a stranger. I didn’t know him and he didn’t know me. A man like Jake wasn’t looking for anything more than a quick night of fun…and I was insane for even thinking of the possibility of anything more than that.
“Hey,” Jake said suddenly. “You got somewhere to be, like a job?”
I blushed. “No. Not at the moment.” I felt like a loser.
Jake nodded. “Well, you wanna come with me?”
“Where to?” I frowned. “To the track?”
“No,” Jake said. He finished tying his shoes and looked up at me. The intensity in his sapphire eyes made me shudder. “On the road.”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
Jake laughed. “I know it’s totally crazy. We just met. But I had such a good night with you, Liv. I’d really like to have more fun.” He raised an eyebrow. “Besides, you’re my good luck charm. I can’t be without my lucky charm, can I?”
I blushed. I knew I should say no. It was a totally crazy idea. I didn’t know anything about this guy. For all I knew, he could be a serial killer! Or like, one of those weirdos who’s obsessed with the Home Shopping Network and tentacle porn!
I knew I shouldn’t say yes. There were a thousand reasons why this had to be a terrible idea.
“Well?” Jake looked at me, his grin fading with each passing second of silence. “What do you say?”
I bit my lip and broke out into a wide grin.
“Sure,” I said. “Why not.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Find out what happens next for Olivia and Jake and Get Your Copy of Heart Racer now!
(FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED)