Revved (Axle Alley Vipers) (5 page)

“You know why.” The wary expression on his face almost had her second-guessing herself, almost, until the next words out of his mouth. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Rusty. This can’t be news to you. I wanted some of your time. That’s it.”

And there it was. At least he was honest. Unfortunately, what she wanted to hear was, “I wanted to take you out, get to know you.” Or “Tell me something about yourself, Rusty?”

He was just like the rest.

She stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and tried to move it, but he held fast, blocking her exit. “What the hell?”

“Thanks for showing me your place, but I have to go. My date will be waiting.”

“Bullshit. There’s no damn date. Now tell me what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, but I’m not interested in you that way. Now move your arm so I can get the hell out of here.”

He stared down at her, a mix of emotions flashing across his face, but in the end he dropped his arm and stepped back, motioning for her to leave. She hustled past as fast as she could in her stupid flip-flops, almost expecting him to stop her again, but he did nothing, said nothing.

This was what she wanted, what she asked for. But as she walked away—and as screwed up as she knew it was—she wanted him to ask her to stay, was almost willing him to speak up, to tell her he was interested in more than just her looks. More than just a hookup. That he wanted to get to
know
her.
Of course that didn’t happen. Because he didn’t want that, they never did.

No, he stood there and let her walk out the door.

Chapter Five

R
eid finally extracted himself from yet another guy with big dreams but no cash to back it up. It was one of the pitfalls of these types of car shows. He’d been coming to this particular show for years, not only because it was expected but because it showcased classic cars. Every year the event got bigger, busier, which was a very good thing for the industry but made it harder to forge any real connections with potential customers.

The crowd buzzed around him, swarming the display cars parked around the showroom. He had several of his own here and a booth set up where potential customers could come and talk to his boys or him about what R.I.P. could do for them.

But he wasn’t interested in any of it, couldn’t focus, and was probably missing opportunities left and right. He should be pissed about that, but he couldn’t manage it, not with West Restoration’s booth across from his.

They had two cars with them, both were sweet, the work faultless. They were also one of the only shops here that hadn’t bothered with the mandatory bikini babe draped across the hood. They didn’t need one, not the way they looked. They drew a crowd all on their own.

The three women were wearing jeans that were damn near painted on and bright colored tanks with their business name plastered across their chests. Rusty’s was blue and the letters stretched around her tits in a way that drew the eye right fucking there. She was smiling, talking to the crowd of guys swarming their table, and though she tried to hide it, he saw her unease, saw how much she hated all that attention.

The guy he’d seen at West’s in the silver Mercedes was there as well. He was with Alex again and looked as though he wanted to commit murder, eyes narrowed, arms crossed, scowling at any man dumb enough to talk to his woman. Reid didn’t blame the guy, though Alex didn’t look like she appreciated his protection.

Poor bastard.

Reid looked at Rusty. The woman was so damn gorgeous, sexy, and he also knew there was a whole lot of sweet under the hard exterior she chose to keep front and center. He’d seen it, had a taste of it, her soft moans on his tongue, felt it pressed up against him when she couldn’t hide how hot she was for him. Jesus, what was wrong with him? He didn’t do sweet, never had. Sweet came with a whole lot of complications he didn’t need or want.

But one taste of Rusty and he was screwed. Now he couldn’t get her out of his head.

He tightened his fingers around the soda bottle in his hand.

What scared you away, Foxy?

She’d fled from him the week before, like a switch had been flicked. One minute she couldn’t get enough of his mouth, the next she freaked and bolted. She’d left him confused, concerned, and with a serious case of blue balls.

She’d been worked up about something, and he planned to find out what caused the sudden change, because he wanted her. And he got the feeling that wouldn’t change anytime soon.

He was flying blind, had no idea what the hell he was doing, but what he did know was she was stubborn. His calls and messages over the last few days had gone unanswered. Something else he’d never experienced before. He also knew she’d seen him standing here and because of that had refused to look his way again since.

He watched her lick her lips and tuck her hair behind her ear, then she looked up suddenly, as though someone had called her name. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. The softest and sweetest mouth he’d ever tasted, and the sight had his gut clenching with near uncontrollable need.

She left her booth and strode across the floor. But she only walked a short distance, because she was heading straight for his apprentice Dominic, who was standing over by their display cars. The kid beamed at her. Reid had never seen him so damn happy, especially not these last few months.

Putting down his soda, he went over to join them. Dom was talking animatedly about one of their display cars, showing her the parts he’d helped with.

Reid rested his hand on the kid’s shoulder. “Go help Law.”

Rusty completely ignored him, turning away, and asked Dom another question about the car. Dom looked between them, obviously conflicted. Listen to his boss, or the extremely hot babe giving him attention.

“Um…” Dom’s eyes pleaded with Reid to let him stay.

“Now,” Reid said gently.

The kid’s puffed-up chest deflated, but he said his good-byes and reluctantly left.

“You got a minute?” he said to Rusty before she could take off.

“I have to get back.” She didn’t turn around, didn’t say anything else, just walked away.

What in the fuck?

But she didn’t go to her booth, she fled into the crowd, heading to the other side of the event center.

“Yo, Law. Watch the booth.” He didn’t give the guy a chance to answer and took off after her. He had no idea what her problem was, but he did know she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. You couldn’t fake the response she’d given him, the way she’d rubbed that hot body against his, those sweet little moans when he’d kissed her deep.

But what had tormented him since, had kept him awake nights trying to figure her out, dick hard as goddamned steel? The almost hesitant way she’d kissed him back. The tentative way she’d touched him at first. The surprised gasps that broke past her full lips when he’d claimed her mouth.

She had been all need and hunger, no finesse, and it had been the hottest kiss he’d ever had in his life. There’d been an innocence in the way she’d returned his kiss, something he hadn’t expected, had never in his life gone looking for, but wanted a whole lot more of. There was a hell of a lot more beneath the pretty package, and he wanted to unwrap every damn layer and discover all her secrets one by one, lay her bare till she gave him everything.

She had him in knots, and until he got her into his bed, got those long legs wrapped around his waist, and had worked her out of his system, he didn’t see that changing.

He looked out across the crowd. “Shit.” He’d lost sight of her. He needed to talk to her, get whatever was worrying her sorted so they could move forward. He wanted her, and he wanted West Restoration. Neither of those things could happen if she wouldn’t speak to him.

He rounded an alcove that led down a short hall to the bathrooms and a small break room for the organizers and booth holders. He immediately heard her voice coming from inside.

“Back up, asshole.” He could hear fear in her voice, making it shake.

Anger hit him hard, sent adrenaline flooding his veins as he rounded the corner. A guy stood in front of her, refusing to let her pass.

“Come on, babe. I just want your number.”

“And I told you to get lost.” She tried to move past, but he grabbed her arm. That was also when she spotted Reid, and he didn’t miss the relief that flashed across her eyes when she did.

“Back up on your own, or I’ll help you out, but either way you’ve got exactly five seconds to get your hands off her and get the hell gone.” The guy spun around, took a second to size him up, and made the wise decision to leave on his own.

Rusty crossed her arms and stared up at him, eyes wide. Then he watched the attitude slide into place, the wall come up. “I could have handled that myself.”

“Not from where I was standing.”

She uncrossed her arms and planted them on her hips. “Whatever.”

“Whatever?”
Jesus.

“Like I said…”

“Woman, you are so full of it, it’s not even funny.”

She pressed those soft, full lips together and glanced away for a few seconds. When she turned back she looked like she was sucking a lemon. And shit, even sucking a lemon the woman was gorgeous.

Her green eyes locked on his. “Fine.” She dropped her hands to her sides. “Thanks…you know, for your help.”

“Any time, Foxy. But you don’t need to thank me, not for that. That asshole was way out of line.” Her eyes flared and her mouth got tight again.
Screw that.
“What now? What’s got you pissed off this time?”

“Nothing,” she answered too damn fast.

Then a light switched on, a goddamn spotlight on high-beam. He’d gotten a similar reaction when she’d stormed out of his workshop, after he’d kissed her, after he’d told her how gorgeous she was.

After catching her with that asshole in here, it wasn’t hard to work out she dealt with that type of thing a lot because of her looks, but still, she had to know he wasn’t like that creep?

No, you’re worse.

He shook off the voice in his head, because it was true, he was worse, but what made him even more of an asshole? He didn’t care. He wanted something, he went after it. He’d never gotten a damn thing sitting around waiting for it. He’d learned to go after what he wanted, no matter the cost, when he was just a kid.

Fear was a strong motivator, and he’d had it in spades growing up. Fear that one day he’d end up just like his old man. Fear that if he didn’t work his ass off, get his mother out of the shit-hole they’d called home, he’d eventually walk in and find her dead at the bastard’s hands.

So yeah, he’d had motivation to make something of himself, to ruthlessly go after what he wanted. He had no hope of stopping now, because that fear, it was still there, driving him forward, keeping him hungry for the next thing. Without that hunger—if he slowed down, if he stopped—he knew that darkness twisting deep down inside him would finally break free.

And that, he would never allow.

“Foxy, you gotta know I’m not that guy.” She shook her head, not looking convinced in the slightest. “Are you afraid of me for some reason?”

Her brow furrowed. “Of course not.”

“Okay, you going to tell me why you walked out on me the other night?”

She shoved her hands in her pockets. “I told you, I’m not interested in you that way.”

He took a step closer. “No?” She shook her head but didn’t retreat. No, she stayed right where she was. “I don’t believe you.” He took another step closer, and still she kept her feet planted. “A woman doesn’t kiss a man the way you kissed me and not want another taste.”

He stopped right in front of her and tucked a loose strand of shiny, auburn hair behind her ear. “You telling me you don’t want another taste? ’Cause I sure as hell do. I haven’t had nearly enough of you, Rusty West, and I think you feel the same way, but you’re just too damn stubborn to admit it.”

She lifted her chin, looking up at him, and scowled. “You’re so damned arrogant.”

“And you’re fucking cute when you get pissed off.”

“Oh my God, you did not…”

“I suggest…strongly, unless you’re gonna cut the shit and tell me you want me to kiss you again, you keep that pretty mouth shut.”

Her lips parted, then closed, then did it again. He’d surprised her, and that looked good on her as well.

She scowled some more, and he struggled not to smile. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll prove it to you.”

“Listen, Chuckles. You are waaaay off base here. So how about you move your arrogant ass out of my way and let me get by. My girls will be wondering where I am, and I need to get back to work.”

Despite the smart mouth and the insults, she was breathing harder, her chest rising and falling rapidly, close enough her hard nipples brushed his chest. But most telling of all, she still hadn’t moved. “Is that right?”

“That’s right.” She was whispering now, and he felt the soft words all the way down to his balls.

“So you wouldn’t like it if I did this?” He slid his hands around her waist and hauled her closer.

“No,” she choked out.

“No?” She shook her head, then licked her lips. “What about this?” Gripping her tight ass, he lifted her off the floor. Her legs automatically wrapped around his waist, her arms around his shoulders. And fuck, it felt good.

Spinning around, he kicked the door shut and pressed her into it. His dick was hard as iron. There was no hiding it. So he didn’t, and let her feel him, rubbed against her where he knew she would be sweet, and so damn hot. She gasped and shook her head again. “N-no.”

“What about my mouth? You want that, Foxy?” His voice came out rough, every bit of lust coming through loud and clear.

Again she shook her head, but the tip of her tongue darted out, moistening her bottom lip, telling him something else entirely. “No,” she whispered.

“That’s what I thought.” Then he slammed his mouth down on hers and immediately her limbs tightened around him, holding him close. Her fingers sunk into his hair, tugging hard enough to make the tie he had in it come loose. She fisted it, pulled him closer, giving him another one of those hot, almost-innocent kisses. All heat but no skill. He fucking loved it.

He growled against her lips, and she opened for him, slanting that hot mouth so he could kiss her deep, taste her the way he needed to.

Cupping her ass, he ground his aching cock against her, letting her know what he wanted, and in the not so distant future planned on having. Yeah, she had hang-ups about her looks, that was obvious, but he refused to dial it back. He wanted her to know exactly how much she affected him, how sexy and hot he thought she was.

Rusty shifted restlessly against him, hands everywhere, soft moans slipping past her lips. If he didn’t stop this now, there would be no waiting, which meant fucking her against the door in the break room at the Miami Classic Car Expo. Not something Rusty would thank him for. He knew that much. But that’s exactly what would happen if he didn’t get it together, now.

Pressing deeper, he used his body to keep her pinned to the door, then cupping her face with one hand, and after one last touch of lips, he pulled back. She blinked up at him, dazed, lust in her eyes.

“You still gonna tell me no, Rusty?”

She was quiet a long time, and he started to think she wouldn’t answer, then finally she whispered, “No.”

He let his grin show and gave her ass a squeeze. “And when I call you tonight, are you gonna answer the phone?”

She bit her kiss-swollen lower lip, and he had to fight not to say fuck it and finish what they’d started. “Yeah.”

“That’s good, baby.” Still holding her ass, he let her slide to her feet, then ran his thumb along her jaw. “You know what I noticed about you the first time I saw you?” She stiffened at his question, just a little, but enough to tell him what he said next was extremely important to her, could either help his cause or shut it down before they got started. “You know what makes me hard every time I see you, talk to you?”