think you’re so convincing.”
“I got you here.” I slide my hand along her silky thigh. “I got you to watch me race.”
“I haven’t watched yet.”
I smirk against her collarbone. “In twenty minutes, you will. You wanna be in the hot lane? You can release me from the line.”
Her fingers go to my hair – feels like they’ve been there our whole lives – and she pulls me back until our eyes meet. “Let me in the car with you.”
“After. You can come for a lap after.”
“No. Let me in for the race.”
I shake my head and devastatingly knock her hands loose of my hair. “Not a fucking chance, Bert. There’s nothing you could offer that would convince me to put you at risk.”
“Nothing…? At all?” Her eyes glitter. “What if I said ‘fuck me, Bryan’?”
I groan and drop my head back. “No. Not even that.”
Her body jolts like I sucker punched her. “Not that? You don’t want me?”
“I want you more than my next breath. But there are a million things betting against me right now. I won’t put you at risk. It’s dangerous. If you were in my car, I’d drive like a fuckin’ granny. And that’s after I bubble wrapped you.”
“But if you’re going to race around a track and put yourself at risk, I wanna go with you. If you die, I die.”
My eyes snap back to hers as though she returned that jab. “No!” I take her face in my hands and squeeze. “No way. The universe only allows a handful of angels to walk this earth at one time. I’ve got one of them in my arms. You don’t die. Ever. It’s not allowed.”
“But you put yourself at risk. That’s not fair for me.”
But you aren’t even saying yes to me! “It’s the way it is. I’m good at what I do. I’m fast and agile. And if I lose control, it’s not a big deal. You just brace and roll with it.” I stroke a thumb beneath her eye. “I haven’t died yet.”
“Kincaid!” We snap straight at my shouted name. I let her slide down my body, not because I’m scared of her being caught or snitched to her man, but because with her legs wrapped around me, her skirt had ridden up indecently high. No one gets to see that.
Reilly steps around the van and smirks. “Shoulda known you’d be with a girl. Five minutes, you’re up.”
I nod as he turns away. Turning back to her, I stare at her cherry lips and sigh with want. “Watch me race, but you don’t get to ride with me.” I take her hand in mine and tug her away. We slide through crushing crowds and move back toward my Mustang to Geo and Tammi.
“Bryan?” She tugs on my hand to slow us before we get to the car. I turn back, but my feet carry us forward. “Why haven’t you kissed me?”
My eyes go straight back to her lips. “Because you’re not mine yet.”
She frowns in confusion. “But you keep saying–”
“Yeah, I keep saying. But you haven’t said anything yet. The only thing you tell me is that you have a boyfriend. Get rid of him, give me the yes, I’ll kiss every last inch of your body. Give me the yes, and I’ll give you anything.”
Her feet falter as I tug her through the noisy crowd. “Anything? Would you quit racing?”
“For you? In a heartbeat. But you can’t claim you worry about me if you’re not even mine. The day you say yes, that’s the day you get all the power. Anything you ask, it’s yours. You give me forever, Bert, and I’ll give you the world.”
Chapter 6
Nelly
Rushing across the lot with my heart in my throat and my hand tucked securely in his, Bryan throws me at his best friend. “Geo. I’m up. Watch her.”
“Watch her?” My eyes narrow stubbornly. “Wait a damn minute. I’m not a toddler, Bryan, and I’m not yours to boss around, remember?” He wants to play, then so can I.
Playfully, Bryan snaps his teeth. “That’s the first time I’ve seen your fire, Bert. I knew you had a bunch tucked away inside you. Hold onto that thought; let’s pick up where we left off in about ten minutes.”
“No!” He didn’t want to kiss me. Well, he did. But he won’t. “Take me with you, or I’m going home.”
He looks at me like I’m a true toddler, then with a raised brow, nods at Geo. A strong arm slams