Man of Honor (Battle Scars #3) - Diana Gardin Page 0,44

group, but if Drake thinks I’m going to back down from this challenge he’d better think again. The stubborn adrenaline lights a fire inside me, and I stride toward him, holding my hand out in front of me.

I spit in it, and hold it back out to Drake.

The guys hoot again and I hear Berkeley’s quiet “E” Olive’s laughter is almost musical, and Greta just shakes her head as she leans into Grisham.

“Bet I make it to the end of the first course before you do, Sullivan.”

Without hesitation, Drake spits in his hand and envelops my small one in his enormous one. Glancing down at where we’re joined, heat flows into my lower belly because he tugs me close to his chest. Then, in front of everyone, he plants a soft kiss on my lips.

Leaning close to my ear, he whispers. “Just remember, I never lose.”

Without another word, I turn on trembly legs and mount my ATV. Everyone around us does the same, except for Jeremy. He stands off to the side and raises one arm in air. Dare is laughing so hard he can’t get the words out, but he gestures for Drake and me to pull up in front of the rest of them. Berkeley looks comfy in the front seat, though I have a feeling she’s got a vise grip on her man’s thigh.

I glance at Drake. He’s staring at me, and when he notices my attention he licks his lips and guns his engine. A hot flash thrusts me into a tailspin for a moment, thinking about the way his tongue feels when it touches my skin. Damn him! I shake my head. My curls whip against my neck as I pucker my lips and blow him a kiss.

Even from a few feet away, I can see Drake’s reaction to my air-kiss. His bottom lip is tugged into his mouth and his eyes hood seductively.

It’s at that moment that Jeremy’s arm slashes downward, and I grit my teeth and press down hard on the pedal.

It’s glorious; the kiss of sweet southern air rushing past my face and the sensation of speed taking control of you. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to let go like this. I let out a scream of pure joy as my four-wheeler hits its maximum speed. When I allow my eyes to slide to my side, I see Drake is right there with me. There’s a big grin on his face that tells me he, too, is having the time of his life.

Laughing, I keep my eyes on the trail and notice a narrowing of the dirt path coming up fast. Determined to stay ahead of my competitor, I gun it, and he falls behind me.

Sucker. I can’t hide my happiness, but deep down inside I know that Drake let me slip ahead. I glance over my shoulder and he’s trailing me closely. It only takes a few more minutes for me to reach the end of the narrow lip of trail, and that’s when Drake really hits the gas. He bullets past my vehicle and reaches the end of the trail just before I do.

I can’t help it when my lips puff out in a pout. We both pull off our helmets and Drake gives me an adorable smile that causes something inside my stomach to shift and flutter. “I thought I had you, Sullivan!”

He shakes his head, pretending to feel empathy for me, when I know all he really feels is euphoria. “A bet’s a bet, wild girl. I won it fair.”

His expression carries a hint of danger, and a sexy confidence that’s all Drake. His biceps bulge through his gray long-sleeved Henley, and it pulls taut over the broad planes of his chest. I can’t help it; my eyes scan every inch of him slowly. Hungrily. A gradual flame has been burning since I saw him this morning, and seeing him now, straddling his ATV, looking all windswept and sexy, it’s going to spread into an uncontrollable fire really quick. His faded jeans fit him just right; I can see the strong ridges of his thigh muscles as he clenches the seat.

“Mea.” My eyes look to his, startled at the sandpaper tone in his deep voice. “Get on my ride.”

My eyebrows fly up. “What?”

“Get on. I won the bet. That’s what I want. You behind me on this four-wheeler.”

Oh, hell. The usual Mea would never allow a man to order her around. The usual Mea would usually