Harrison
“GET OUT OF THE FUCKING way,” I roar as the minivan in front of me taps its brakes for the hundredth time since I pulled out onto the road.
They put on their blinker and I gas it, zipping past them. The wind is cold tonight and I didn’t have time to grab my hoodie, but I don’t care. I was a man on a mission. Hell, if Damian knew I left the shop wide-open to chase after them, I’d probably lose my job. At one time, I wouldn’t have done such a thing to jeopardize the job I love so much.
But right now, all that matters is clearing shit up with Cat.
My gut churns at remembering the look on her face. Everything happened so fast. I was working on replacing the timing belt on a Volkswagen Bug when some chick I bagged one lonely night decided to waltz in and throw herself at me. Before I could tell her to back the fuck off, I saw Cat and Theo watching us. It was almost as if that little shit planned it.
I wouldn’t put it past him.
He’s Heath’s son after all.
I’ll figure out the whys later, but for now, I have to get my girl back.
My girl.
Possessiveness, hot and fiery like motherfucking lava, burns through my veins. Hell yes, she’s mine. I’ve been with enough women to know what feels different and right and fucking real. Cat is all of those things. She’s mine. I don’t care if I have to chase her down, toss her over my shoulder, and yell it to the world. Now that I finally know what it feels like to be happy, I’ll be damned if I let a misunderstanding steal it away from me.
Up ahead, I see brake lights on a vehicle that’s pulled over on the side of the road. My chest tightens as I hold out hope it’s Cat. That fucker can barely drive his car, so the odds are stacked in my favor that he’s stalled out or some shit. As I near the vehicle and see my beautiful fucking girl stomping away from him, my heart stutters in my chest.
I hit the brakes as I pull off on the shoulder and my bike slips. I fishtail a bit on the gravel but manage to stop twenty feet in front of her.
“Cat,” I call out, my voice strained.
She runs toward me, her stupid cousin calling after. I yank off my helmet and hand it to her. We can talk later. Away from this prick. She straddles the bike behind me and situates her helmet.
“Get me out of here,” she orders, hugging my middle.
I gas it and whip back around the way we came. Theo calls out behind us, but the roar of my engine drowns him out. She hugs me tighter and some of the tension bleeds from me. If she thought something worse than what she saw, she wouldn’t be here with me. Her palms wouldn’t be rubbing my stomach as though she can’t get enough of me.
We whip into the shop parking lot and I pull into the open bay. Thank fuck the chick from earlier is gone and nobody is trying to rob the place. I shut off the engine and before I can get a word out, she climbs off. I slide off and approach her. She looks so fucking cute with the helmet on her head. My little bobble head with the big, sweet lips I’m craving to kiss.
“Who was she?” she asks, her voice shaky.
“Nobody,” I say, stepping closer.
She takes a step back and unlatches the helmet. Once she’s freed herself, she hands it to me, putting space between us. Her green eyes flicker with sadness and her pouty lips aren’t smiling.
Fucking Theo.
I don’t know what he did, but I know that asshole is responsible.
“Cat, listen,” I say softly as I set the helmet down on the ground beside me. “Whatever you saw—”
“You,” she snips, crossing her arms over her chest. “With a stripper. That’s what I saw, so we’re clear.”
Scrubbing my palm over my face in frustration, I try to remind myself that she came to me. She didn’t run. “I fucked her once. Months ago. You know my past is shitty.”
Her brows furl together. “You don’t stay with any of them. Just fuck and run.”
Wincing at her words, I rub at the back of my neck and shrug. “No one was worth staying for.”
“She’s so pretty,” she mutters.
I glower at her as I close the distance. My palms cradle her cheeks as I press a kiss to her nose. “Nobody is as pretty as you.”
A smile tugs at her lips and she tilts her head up. “You’re sucking up to me.”
“I’m telling you the truth. You’ve consumed me, Cat. Completely fucking consumed me.”
She unfolds her arms and her palms find my chest. “So you weren’t trying to get with her again?”
“Fuck no,” I growl. “One second I’m fiddling with the car I was working on and the next this chick is trying to get on my nuts. I yelled at her and told her to get the hell away. Then, I took off after you because the last thing I ever wanted you to think was that I’d choose someone like her when I had someone like you.”
“Her name is Violet,” she says primly, batting her lashes at me.
“All I saw was you, Cat. All I cared about was you.”
I press my lips to hers and she grants me access to her sweet tongue. My mouth dominates hers as I kiss her with a vigorous apology. She seems to forgive me because her palms slide up my chest to my neck. I’m about to do something that might cost me my job if Damian sees on the video cameras, when her stomach grumbles loudly.
She giggles when I pull away and lift a brow at her. “Hungry?”
“Dinner was interrupted when Theo rushed me out the door,” she says and then frowns. “It’s like he knew.”
I grip her jaw and press another kiss to her perfect lips. “Convenient, huh?” I release her and pull some bills from my wallet. “I have to close up the garage, but the sandwich shop next door is still open. Want to grab us dinner?”
She beams at me as she takes the money. “Is this a date?”
Reaching out, I snag her wrist and pull her before she can leave me. “Cat Lincoln, will you have dinner with me?”
“I will,” she says, a silly grin on her face. “But you better wash up, mister.”
I kiss her wrist and then release her. “You like it when I’m dirty.”
“If you clean up, maybe I’ll let you get dirty again,” she throws back at me, her eyes flashing with mischief.
“Hurry and get back, woman. You don’t give a man a hard-on with dirty talk and then leave for too long.”
She wiggles her fingers in a wave and dances out the door.
It takes everything in me not to prowl after her.
Too close.
That asshole Theo is going to have to answer for his hand in nearly destroying my happiness.
“So my car’s not ready?” she asks as she tosses our trash from dinner in the bin.
“Not quite.”
She pouts but when I simply lift my brows at her, she laughs. “Fine. Well, are you going to show me around?”
I stiffen and cock my head to the side. “Around the shop?”
“Yeah, what? You don’t want to show me?” Fuck, those pouty lips make me crazy.
“I’m just shocked you would want to see…you know…” I trail off, frowning.
Her nose scrunches. “I guess I don’t know. You work here and love it. It makes you happy. And because I like you, I want to see all the parts of you, especially the ones you’re proud of.”
“Come here,” I growl.
She throws her arms around me and I grab her ass, lifting her. Her legs wrap around my waist and she locks them behind me. Her eyes glimmer with joy as she grins at me.
“You’re so beautiful,” I tell her, kissing her lips. “So beautiful.”
“And you’re sweet, but you’re not going to distract me, stallion.”
I flash her a crooked grin. “Stallion, huh? And you haven’t even taken a ride yet.”
“I have an appointment soon,” she tells me, her chin lifted. “I know what you’re packing.”
Leaning toward her, I nip at her jaw. “You can pet my stallion later if you’re a good girl.”
“Oh, I can be good,” she says sweetly. “Now giddy-up! Show me the cool stuff.”
We spend the next half hour walking around the shop while I explain stuff to her. She’s a girl and I know car stuff isn’t the most exciting thing, but she listens with rapt attention. After I’ve bored her long enough, I take her to the bay where her car sits. I open the door and sit inside with her settling on my lap. At least we’re somewhat hidden from the cameras.
Her features grow serious as she runs her fingernails along my buzzed scalp. “It scares me how much I care.”
My brows furrow and I brush her hair behind her ears so I can see her face better. “Me too.”
“The way I feel when I’m around you…” she trails off.
“It’s intense.”
She nods. “It’s like this strong pull and I want to give into it fully. But I’m afraid I’ll never be able to pull back away.”
“Why would you ever back away?” I growl, my palms roaming down her sides, desperate to touch her everywhere.
“Because what if it hurts? What if I let it pull me and then it hurts? How do you come back from something like that?” Her jade-colored orbs dart back and forth, studying my features.
“But what if it doesn’t hurt?” I challenge, kissing the corner of her mouth, letting my lips linger on her skin. “What if it feels good?”
She kisses me deeply and then rocks her hips, making my cock ache for the attention she’s giving it. “It feels good,” she agrees, her voice breathy.
“So let it pull you,” I rumble as I dig my fingers into her hips, helping her grind against me.
“Harrison,” she murmurs.
Our kiss becomes hot and frantic. I slip a hand under her shirt and cup her breast over her bra. She moans and I nearly come right then.
“Fuck, Cat,” I groan. “You feel too good.”
“Too good, mmm?”
I nip at her bottom lip and slide my hand between her thighs. Through her jeans, I rub her sweet spot until she shudders in my arms. When she collapses against me, I chuckle against her hair.
“Too good,” I reiterate.
She leans back and looks at me with a soft expression that makes my chest ache more than my fucking cock. “I want to make it too good for you too.”
“Not here.”
She caresses my cheek. “Then take me home.”
I lie in bed staring up at the ceiling in the dark as frustration rattles my bones. We came home hours ago only for her bratty-ass cousin to throw himself at her fucking crying. He was so distraught, he couldn’t get three words out. I could tell she wanted to lay into him but was softening to his wailing.
He’s her cousin after all.
She knows where I am. When she gets done coddling the baby, she can come see her man. And she will come to me because of the pull. I feel it nonstop. I can’t get her out of my head and when I’m around her, I can’t get her out of my hands.
I’m fucking obsessed.
It reminds me of a love letter from Heath to Catrina I’d found once. The letter was a madman’s rant of love and possession and obsession. At the time I’d thought it was fucked up that someone could be so into someone that they would rather cut open their veins and bleed out than spend one second without the other. It makes me wonder how he dealt with Catrina’s death. Thank God I was too young to remember. I’m not sure I’d want to be a witness to that level of grief.
And I’m headed that way.
Overwhelming intensity for another person.
Just out of nowhere, it tackles you.
I don’t want to get out from beneath her, though. It’s like I finally understand those journals and love letters. It all makes sense now.
I’m not sure a feeling like this ever disappears. It’s a beast, the pull. Furiously ravenous. Uncontrollable. Wild and uncaged.
I let it tug, tug, tug me so far from what I know that I’m practically on another plane of existence. Like all those sci-fi novels I’d read when I was a teenager. Foreign and different, but beautiful. It’s something I want to explore and stake my claim on.
My bedroom door creaks open and the ache in my heart eases. The door closes with a click and then soft footsteps make it over to my bed. I scoot over toward the wall as she sits down and then slides beneath the covers with me.
“Hey,” she murmurs. “I’m sorry.” Her hand splays on my bare chest and I relax.
“Babies need coddling,” I say in a flippant tone.
She lets out a quiet laugh. “He was upset that I ran off without giving him a chance to explain.”
“And did he?”
“No. He cried himself to sleep,” she says. “I snuck away.”
I groan when her palm slides south.
“I promised to make it good for you.” Her voice is a sexy, seductive purr that has my dick straining against my boxers. “I owe it to you.”
She slides down the bed, tugging the covers with her. Her fingers dip past my waistband and she pulls my boxers down my thighs. She rids me of them completely. My dick bobs out, bouncing against my lower abs. When her small hand wraps around my length, I hiss in pleasure.
“Cat,” I warn.
“Hmm?” She strokes me slowly, teasing me.
“You’re headed down a dangerous path.”
Her hot breath is near my cock and her hair tickles my stomach and hips. “Why is it dangerous?”
“Because you’ll make me lose control. I want to be sweet with you, but teasing my cock is going to make me crazy,” I growl.
“So this is bad?” she asks and then runs her tongue along the underside of my shaft.
My fingers blindly grab at her hair. “So bad.”
Her breathy laugh against my skin has my hips bucking, searching for her sweet mouth.
“You’re a tease,” I groan. “If you’re not going to put those plump lips on my dick, then let me put my lips on you. See how you like to be tormented.”
Before I can taunt her anymore, she slides her mouth around the crown of my cock. I grit my teeth and tighten my grip on her hair. She’s inexperienced, I know this, but the curious way she explores my cock drives me wilder than I’ve ever been. Nothing compares to this moment. Fucking nothing.
“Christ, Cat,” I curse. “You’re fucking perfect.”
She hums around my dick at my praise and her tongue lashes out, tasting my underside. I can barely control myself. My hips are bucking, urging her on. Her drool leaks out, making a lubricant for her lips and she bobs up and down, getting the hang of it. With each second that passes—each hiss I make in pleasure—she grows more confident. Her hand wraps around the base of my cock and she strokes me. When she eases me toward the back of her throat and then gags, I nearly come right then.
“You perfect, goddamn girl.” I want to spread her thighs and worship this woman from my knees. She’s pulled me into her world, rocked my foundation, and placed herself on a pedestal. I’m enamored—fucking obsessed with her. “Cat,” I growl. “Cat, I’m going to come.”
Her fist jerks at me faster and her bobbing becomes more determined. I can read her actions. She wants to taste me.
“Fuck, baby,” I moan. “You want to taste it, well, it’s coming. Hope you’re thirsty, dirty girl.”
She hums in appreciation, but then I’m coming. Without restraint. My hips buck toward her mouth and she gags as my cum douses my little flame. She’s burning with lust—on fire for me—and I try to get her under control with my release.
But my sweet girl can’t be contained.
No, she swallows and then pops off my dick like a fucking pro. Then, she crawls up my body and attacks my mouth. I love that my salty musk is what I taste in her mouth. It’s like I’ve marked her as mine.
Flipping her onto her back, I slide my thigh between hers. She’s wearing pajama pants and a tank top from what I can tell in the dark. I slide my palm beneath her shirt and grope her tit as my mouth finds her neck.
“Too good,” I mutter, pinching her nipple. “You’re too good.”
“It was my first time,” she says, a smile in her voice. “I had to impress you.”
“Consider me fucking wowed.”
She giggles and then it gives way to a yawn.
“You’re tired.” I kiss her neck. “You have school tomorrow. Better get your rest.”
“I wanted to make love to you,” she says with a pout.
“Soon, baby. I like taking my time with you.”
She yawns again. “Can I sleep here with you tonight?”
“I’m never letting you go,” I growl.
My words seem to soothe her because seconds later, she’s out. With her limbs tangled with mine and her scent all I can sense, I’m completely content. I tighten my hold on her.
Never.
I’m never letting her go.
I don’t care if that makes me sound just as crazy as motherfucking Heath.
When a man knows, he knows.
And I fucking know.
Cat is mine.