AUSTIN

We drive to a warehouse where I keep my Camaro to switch cars and then drive to the race. When we pull up it’s the same magnetic hum, a simmering in the air that’s stewing like a volcano ready to burst with excitement. The crowd turns in my direction, and I wonder if Jalynn can read their thoughts as easily as I can—the fuck me eyes of women and the fuck you glares of men.

A strange sting hits me in the gut. Every girl here has tried to get with me, but I haven’t wanted a single one. The women I’ve bedded have all been the results of cocktail parties and bar nights. One-night stands and short flings have been my style, and I’m not ashamed I’ve even had a few restroom quickies where most of our clothing was still on.

I keep a change of clothes in my Camaro, so even though I was able to change after dinner tonight, Jalynn’s still looking unbelievable in that tight black dress that’s riding high on her thighs. It has me thinking about everything I want to do to her, how I want to savor every fucking inch of her.

I walk over to her side of the car, but she throws the door open before my hand is on the handle and stands.

I grip her waist and push my body into hers, and she falls against the car.

My hard exterior molds right up against the soft curves of hers as I whisper into her ear, “Be good tonight, Pyle.”

Her breath is feathery as she responds, “Don’t call me that.”

I let out a small chuckle as I brush hair away from her face. “Just make sure you don’t do anything to warrant the name, and we’ll be all good.”

She sticks out her bottom lip, and I have to restrain from biting it. Instead, I reach for her hand and peel her off the car and toward the crowd.

I give Gregg a fist pound with my other hand as we approach. “How’s it looking tonight?”

“Everything’s set up. The new guy, Keith, is ready.”

He nods toward the Hellcat and the driver I got into a fight with a few nights ago over Jalynn’s flirting. He’s a damn good driver, so I’m glad he’s here tonight. I just have to make sure he keeps his paws off my girl.

“Fucker was adamant about racing you tonight. I told him that’s a race that has to be earned.”

“We had words a few nights ago. The little shit’s probably trying to show me his man card. Wonder what gave him the balls to do so tonight?”

“Me,” someone says from behind us.

We turn to see Beckett standing next to Keith.

I drop my head down with a loud huff. “Really? You know this douche bag?” I ask Keith.

“Beckett, what are you doing here?” Jalynn steps out of my grip and to her brother.

“You know this hottie?” Keith slaps his hand against Beckett’s chest with a crazy, excited expression.

Beckett’s face reddens as he pushes Keith’s hand off his chest. “She’s my sister. You touch her, and I’ll beat you with a tire iron.”

Keith steps back with his arms up in the air. “Damn, girl’s got more guards than Alcatraz.”

“Why are you here?” Jalynn asks her brother again.

“It’s more like, what the fuck are you doing here? Wait …” Beckett’s eyes get big as realization strikes. His fucking jaw drops as he looks at me and then back to Jalynn. “Is that—”

Jalynn rushes to Beckett, gripping his bright red shirt and pulling him away in a firestorm of frustration. “Let’s take a walk.”

I know I should give them time to chat, but I’m not that kind of guy. I don’t know what kind of dynamic these siblings have, and if he’s anything like his father, I won’t let him lay a hand on her.

Before I can reach them, Beckett steps away from Jalynn and comes right up to me, chest pushed out, trying to intimidate me. Fucker has no clue who he’s dealing with.

“Back the fuck up,” he yells as Jalynn tries to pull him back.

I grab him by the arm, the tension in my body radiating as I hold him in place and give it to him straight. “Don’t talk to my girl like that.”

He whips his head toward Jalynn. “Fucker stole my car, and you’re dating him?”

Last time we spoke, he only knew me as Austin, Jalynn’s boss. Now that he knows the truth, I can fully give him shit. “It’s about time someone started taking care of her. What kind of man lets his little sister bail him out all the time? I bet you didn’t even thank her for getting your car back, you fucking prick.” I release him with a little shove.

“My car back?” He turns to Jalynn, putting the last piece of the puzzle together. “Are you serious right now? You have my car?”

“Technically, I still do. She has the keys. I even gave her a good wax for you. Buffed her good,” I add with a wink.

“You’d better be talking about my car.” He runs a hand through his shaggy brown hair.

“It fits snug in my nice, warm garage.” I smile.

“I’m gonna fuck you up,” Beckett challenges, pushing his way toward me.

Jalynn pulls him back. “Get ahold of yourself!”

“Fucker stole my car!” he seethes.

“Um, no. Correction”—I hold up my hand while rocking back on my heels to make a point—“I won your car, but your sister stood up for you and got your keys back.”

Beckett turns so fast, I think his feet are going to slip right out from underneath him. “Why didn’t you tell me you had my car this entire time?”

She stands up a little straighter. “I was waiting until I knew you’d learned your lesson.”

“Learned my lesson? Jay, I’ve had to get up an hour early every day for work just to catch the bus. How could you?”

“How could I?” she yells, leaning her body back and placing her hands on her hips.

Damn, I love how sexy she looks, doing it.

“You’re the dumbass who raced for pink slips. I needed to make sure you weren’t going to do something that stupid ever again. You. Are. Not. Dad. You’re better than him, and I will make damn sure of it every day.”

His shoulders fall, and I know she’s hit a nerve with him. He stays silent as they stare at each other.

“Well,” I say, breaking the tension, “now that that’s solved and you know I’m not the asshole you’ve made me out to be, can I please have my girlfriend back, so we can get these races started?” I hold out my hand, waiting for Jalynn to take it. “Beckett, let’s call a truce. Since you’re her brother and I’ve already won your car and given it back, I’ll let you stay, but this race has nothing to do with you. This is about Tyler and paying tribute. Don’t forget that.”

Jalynn turns to Beckett, placing her hands on his arms. “Please, Beckett, for me. Just let things be, okay? Let’s get the race over with, and I’ll get your car back to you.”

She smiles sweetly at him, and I can see their family dynamics at work. Beckett might be older, but Jalynn calms him down, talking up to him in a way that makes him feel like he’s in charge when, really, she’s the one dictating the situation. It’s a well-rehearsed dance. He bulldozes himself forward, and she gently sways him back.

Beckett’s shoulders relax as he lets out a sigh. She’s his calming force, and it’s evident he’d be lost without her.

He doesn’t even need to say anything. He just nods slightly, and Jalynn wraps her arms around him, whispering something into his ear, a moment shared between just the two of them.

When she releases him, she turns in my direction, but before we can leave, he calls out, “This ain’t over, man. I’m doing this for my sister. If you think this means I like you now, you’ve got another thing coming. If you fuck with her—”

I raise my hand, stopping his mild threat. “I would expect those exact words to come out of your mouth right now, and honestly, I have a little more respect for you because of it. It’s all good, man. She might just be my calming force, too.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and wait for his nod to let me know he understands what I’m talking about. When he does, it’s a series of unspoken words. I won’t fuck over his sister. He won’t fuck me over.

Before we announce the races, everyone gathers in a circle, each holding a candle. Slowly, the flames start to dance in the air as we light the wicks to remember a friend, a fellow racer, and pray we never lose anyone again.

A somber feeling wraps around me, and I can’t help but reach out to hold on to Jalynn tightly. I bring her back to my front, lacing my right arm around the front her shoulders. As soon as I do, my body warms with the feeling of comfort and home, making me not want to let go.

Her peach scent stirs me in a way I’ve never imagined. I can’t help myself when I lean down to kiss the back of her head, holding my lips there as I breathe her in once more.

It’s not until Gregg yells to get my attention that I’m broken from the trance. When I look around, I notice everyone is watching my every move. She must notice, too, because she starts to wiggle slightly to release herself from my grip.

“Dude,” Gregg says again, “let’s get started. Time’s a tickin’.” He holds up his watch to prove his point even more.

I nod, taking a deep breath before dropping my arm from Jalynn and turning to call the races. As soon as everything is settled, I place my arm around her again and pinch her ass, dragging her away from the scene and toward my car.

She’s quick to push me away. “Don’t treat me like I’m your pit whore.”

I can’t help the sharp laugh that escapes me. “I’m sorry. Did you just say ‘pit whore’?” I pull up my fingers to make air-quote gestures like I’ve seen her do.

She groans while slapping me in my chest. “Don’t be an ass.”

“Oh, baby, I’m not. I’m treating you like you should be treated.” I bring her into me. “You’re mine. Don’t you know that by now?” I tilt her chin up to meet my gaze, hoping she can see the sincerity in my eyes through the darkness that surrounds us. “And this is our third date. You know what that means?” I love the way she starts to chew on her bottom lip, trying to find the perfect comeback, but I don’t let her. “This? This is happening. The little push-pull thing we have going on is hot and all, but I’m not going anywhere, and you … I like you. So, yes, I will get in these panties, and when I do, you’ll be begging for it.”

I turn and leave her standing with a stunned expression covering her beautiful face. She glances in my direction but doesn’t move from her location.

After I open the car door, I nod my head to the side. “Besides, I promised that you could drive.”

Her entire body radiates in shock. “You’re going to let me drive your car?”

I dangle the keys in the air. “Yep.”

“But it’s a race.”

“It’s a tribute race. The stakes are low, and for some reason, I don’t really care about winning tonight.”

She raises a brow. “You don’t?”

“Unless it’s with you, in my bedroom, then no. Just drive straight and try not to crash into anything.”

“You’re serious?”

I can’t help but laugh at how cute she looks when she’s in shock. “Yes, and I’m two seconds away from changing my mind. So, are you in, or are you out?”

A slow, mischievous smile builds on her face, and she jumps in the air, running toward me and taking the keys from my hand.

“You know how to drive stick, right?” I ask as she excitedly hops into the driver’s seat.

“Jalynn!” Beckett yells from the crowd. “Jalynn, don’t get in that car!”

Her eyes pass between Beckett and me for all of two seconds until she slams her door.

“Good girl gone bad all of a sudden, and big brother can’t handle it?” I taunt as I hop into the passenger seat.

“Buckle up. This is gonna be a wild ride,” she states while reaching for her helmet.

“You love the thrill just as much as I do. Fuck, Pyle, this relationship might be better than I even imagined.”

Even though I’m not driving, I still say my prayer to my mom as I rub the angel before reaching for the stereo to pump “James Dean” by The Wrecks, and I blast the volume.

Gregg meets us at the starting line. Jalynn inches up, and Gregg tells her when to stop.

I give my girl directions. “Now, you have the clutch in, right?”

She listens intently and nods, her eyes glued to the road ahead.

When I glance down at her hand on the gearshift, I can’t help but imagine that hand wrapped around my cock in the same way. She moves it to the right and then the left, slowly playing around with the feeling of it beneath her.

She looks so fucking hot right now behind the wheel of my car; I can hardly contain myself.

I try to calm my excitement before I continue, “Okay, so when he—”

“I got it. I know what to do.” She doesn’t even flinch or move a muscle. Her focus is laser sharp, and her eyes turn to slits as she waits for Gregg to nod our way for approval.

Her engine is revving, and when she pushes on the gas, getting the car ready to take off, my hand briefly goes to hers, needing to feel the rush she’s experiencing.

When Gregg raises the flashlight, shining it brightly, signaling the start, I shout, “Now!”

The car cascades down the runway, a straight shot at a hundred twenty miles an hour. Everything around us is vibrating with power and shaking with adrenaline. She mishandles a small dip in the lane that makes the car slightly veer off course, and my breath hitch, but she regains control and pulls it back into the lane, pushing the gears to full force. Our backs are plastered to the leather, and the car feels like it’s flying in the air.

She crosses the finish line and starts screaming with excitement. It’s a totally girlie, high-pitched squeal, and it’s fucking adorable. I know she has no idea if she won or lost. Her focus was only forward, unaware of the competitor, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Jalynn’s been in the race enough times now to know that there’s no time to commiserate or celebrate, just keep driving and hightail it out of here.

Her chest is heaving. There’s a glistening on her skin, and it’s pink from the blood racing through her veins. She’s buzzing right now, just as she was that first night I had her in my car. The adrenaline causes every nerve ending to vibrate to the brink of being out of control. Except, this time, it’s magnified times a thousand because she’s behind the wheel. She’s experiencing euphoria like never before.

I can’t keep my eyes off her. The way her plump lips are pursed with every quick breath or how her breasts are full and lush, ready to fall out of her top. And that dress, that fucking dress that’s riding so far up her thighs, I can see the sweet lace of her panties.

I can’t help myself as I lay a hand on her inner thigh. The gasp that she lets out of those perfect pink lips makes my dick twitch. I trace my fingers up and down her leg, softly at first and then a little firmer, grasping the tender muscles and climbing higher and higher up her leg. She widens her knees, and I skim my fingers over the black lace.

“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask, my fingers continuing their caress.

All she can do is shake her head.

“Just drive then. Don’t worry about anything but keeping those pretty little eyes on the road. You got that?”

She nods.

My thumb finds the sweet spot of her clit, and I gently massage it. Her hips buck off the seat, giving me a better angle. I keep it simple, a light touch, learning what she likes. She’s responding to me nicely, so I up the ante. With my four fingers, I run them all over her clit, creating friction with the cloth.

“Austin,” she moans.

“You like that?” I ask, and she nods.

I don’t let up. I continue making vicious circles, fast and then slow and then fast again. Her breathing escalates, and her nipples pebble through the fabric of her dress while her hips try to get closer to my hand as much as she can while she’s behind the wheel.

It’s intense, but it’s not enough.

I move the lace to the side and am rewarded with hot pussy, dripping with need.

“You’re so fucking wet.” I unhook my seat belt to get closer to her, weaving my arm better under hers as she grips the gearshift like her life depends on it.

Now that I have her exposed, I don’t let up, sliding a finger right into her slickness. She’s tight, so damn tight, and I’m now rock hard, just thinking about what it will feel like to be inside her.

“I’ve dreamed of touching you like this. Dreamed of feeling your slick, wet pussy, drenched from how bad you want to be fucked. Dreamed about making you come. Dreamed about hearing you scream my name.”

“Austin …” she whimpers as I slide a second finger inside her and massage her from the inside out. “Don’t stop.”

“I’m never stopping, Jalynn.” I pump my fingers. Her body tightens. “This body is mine, and I plan to make you feel like this every day just so I can hear those noises come out of these lips.”

“It’s just … so …” Her eyes flutter closed but open quickly as she remembers she’s driving. She turns onto a side street where her pace slows to a crawl. “Just like that. Faster. Please.”

Being that she asked so politely, I give Jalynn what she wants. Circling her clit, massaging her cunt, and working her as she builds higher and higher. Her breathing is erratic, and her body is taut. As her back seems to get straighter, I drive on home by placing a third finger inside her, slightly hooking them to get to just the right spot.

“Austin!” she screams as her walls clench and contract around my fingers.

A warmth pours down as she comes on my hand, and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen or felt or heard.

This woman, this beautiful woman with a foul mouth and an attitude I can’t manage, has completely bewildered me with her response to my touch.

She’s flying high from the race and the orgasm. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to drive right now. It’s why I’m not surprised when she pulls over to the side of the road. It’s a scenic area on the top of a cliff that’s covered by trees. The view is gorgeous, but I can’t even bother looking at it. Not when the view to my left is so much better.

If I don’t watch it, I might become addicted to this girl.