Текст книги "Axle Alley Vipers Series"

Автор книги: Sherilee Gray

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

Chapter Two

Deacon watched Alex storm from his office and cursed.

The impact of seeing her again shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She looked just the same. Beautiful. Fucking untouchable.

But as soon as he’d laid eyes on her, those feelings, the ones he’d managed to keep on lockdown, had reared up and sucker punched him in the gut. Along with all the frustration, anger, and disappointment he’d felt waking in that bed alone all those months ago. He’d nearly given in to it. Had been so close to kissing that smart mouth, kissing that maddening attitude right out of her, and forcing her to see exactly what she did to him.

And he would have ruined everything.

Alex acted tough, but she was fractured, brittle. One wrong move, and she’d fall to pieces. Crumble right through his fingers. She’d become so used to pushing everyone away, it was now second nature. She had the don’t-mess-with-me attitude, the tattoos. All designed to keep people at arm’s length. But he’d tasted the soft, vulnerable woman beneath. And he wouldn’t stop till he had more.

Being shipped from one foster family to the next had built that impenetrable wall she hid behind, and it was time to knock it down.

That night with her six months ago, he’d gotten a glimpse of the real Alex again. No way was he letting her go a second time. She’d been there for him after his father died. They’d fallen into bed together, and she’d shown him the beauty that lay beneath the tough exterior, the girl he remembered.

Then he’d woken up to an empty bed. She’d run scared.

He’d tried patient, and he wasn’t a patient man. She’d ignored his calls. Avoided him. It didn’t matter what he did or said. She wouldn’t let him in. That would mean accepting the truth, accepting the way she felt about him, allowing herself to believe that he could actually have feelings for her. She wouldn’t willingly expose herself to that kind of pain and heartbreak.

Not again. Not after the way he’d screwed up last time.

Forcing her to confront those feelings now was a risk, but one he had to take. He knew her well enough to know if he tried to sit her down, tell her how he felt about her—she’d run scared. There was no doubt in his mind. And he’d lose her for good.

That couldn’t happen.

He was desperate. He was also out of options. If she couldn’t figure it out for herself, it was time to clue her in.

She belonged to him. They belonged together.

He’d known she’d come to him all guns blazing when she got his letter, had banked on it. He stood and slipped on his jacket, taking his time going after her. She wasn’t going anywhere.

West Restoration, the garage Alex was trying to save—the one he had no intention of selling—was located on Axle Alley. A street in an industrial area, just out of the city, lined with businesses that catered to anything with an engine. In their teens, the local boys had dubbed Alex and Deacon’s sisters the Axle Alley Vipers. All three were beautiful, tough in their own way, and if you tried to get too close, tried to touch, they would take a bite out of you.

Jesus. Nothing had changed.

When he got to the parking garage below his building, he saw Martin had done his job. Deacon’s car was parked behind Alex’s metallic-purple Viper, caging her in.

Her choice of car said more than he thought she realized. Playing up to that moniker, to what it meant, was just another way to keep everyone at a distance, to protect herself.

She stood against the driver’s door, arms crossed, more pissed than he’d ever seen her. Her long, shiny brown hair was pulled up in a messy bun that was sexy as hell on her, and those dark, exotic eyes had landed and stayed on him as soon as the elevator doors had opened and he’d stepped out.

His cock twitched under that intense stare.

He allowed his gaze to travel over her. Did she have any idea how stunning she was? The woman could wear a potato sack and still make his dick hard. The intricate rose tattoo decorating the upper half of her right arm drew his eye. It covered a jagged scar you could only see under a certain light, and it moved as she shoved her hands in her pockets, flexing her finely honed bicep. “This your doing?” she asked.

He kept on walking toward her. She tensed as he came closer, but he didn’t stop until he was close enough to smell her vanilla scent, hear her subtle exhale as he leaned in. “You were in my parking spot.”

Fire flashed in her eyes. “Bullshit. What about the other ten free spots?”

He shrugged. “I like this one.”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “If you’re so damned attached to this one, let me out and you can have it back.”

He reached out, ran the tip of his finger along that scar. It curved around a rose petal, then joined a thorny stem. He felt her tremble. Jesus, he loved that, loved how easily he affected her. “Let’s stop playing games. This isn’t about a parking spot, and you know it.”

“I said no.” Her voice shook and her breathing quickened.

“I won’t accept that answer. Not yet.” Not ever. “I want you to think about it first. Really think about it. We’re good together. Tell me you’ve had better. Because I haven’t.”

She sucked in a shaky breath. “You were grieving. Your perception is skewed.”

It took all his strength not to kiss her. “Yes, I was grieving. But that wasn’t the only reason we ended up in bed together, and you know it. You wanted me, and I sure as hell wanted you. Still do. It’s really as simple as that.”

And if he was wrong, if she didn’t return his feelings? He’d walk away. It would kill him to do it, but despite what he’d said to her, they both knew he’d never force her into a relationship, sexual or otherwise. Not ever.

She hugged herself. “Why are you doing this? And why now, after all this time?”

He noted she didn’t deny what he’d said, didn’t deny wanting him. Thank fuck. “Why have you avoided me for six months?” he asked instead of answering her.

She bit her lip. “I haven’t.”

“You’re full of it.”

“Move your damn car. We’re busy at work, and I need to get back.”

“Alex…”

“Let me go, Deke.”

Not going to happen. He’d done it once, and it had been the biggest mistake of his life. “Is the idea of spending time with me, of sharing my bed, so distasteful?”

She shook her head. “Can you hear yourself? You’ve lost it. Jesus. Can you just stop?”

Never. He stepped back. “For now, but I’ll be in touch soon.”

…

Alex leaned her hip against Piper’s desk and looked through the partition window out to the workshop. Monday was definitely off to a better start than Friday. She hadn’t seen or heard from Deacon over the weekend, but she knew it was only a matter of time.

“What’s happening?” Piper asked.

“She’s smiling. Our girl’s working her magic. Oh, he’s going in for the handshake.” She squeezed Piper’s shoulder. “Holy shit, I think she did it.”

Piper did a silent happy dance in her swivel chair and squealed under her breath. “Oh my God, that one job alone will pay for half the new tow truck. And he’s talking several big restorations.”

The guy turned and left, and Rusty tightened her long auburn ponytail, spun on her boot, and attempted to walk casually to the office, while grinning like a loon on the verge of busting out in a victory dance.

She walked in and shut the door behind her. All three of them turned to look out the window and watched Mr. Cannon climb into his car and drive away. As soon as his car was out of sight, they all screamed and danced around the office, laughing until tears were running down their faces.

“We did it, bitches!” Rusty flopped down, planting her ass in Piper’s chair, and pumped one of her brightly tattooed arms in the air.

“I think the long legs and nice rack can take some of the credit,” Piper said, giggling.

“Well, Rusty’s rack might have helped us get the job, but when that car drives out of here looking freaking amazing, it will be our talent that has him bringing in the next one. They’ll be moving advertisements, ladies,” Alex said.

They were at a disadvantage not being set up on South Beach, where all the established big-name car restoration businesses were, but they didn’t want to leave Axle Alley. And even if they did, SoBe was way out of their price range. Their only option was to bring the customers to them. And if the novelty of an all-female-run auto repair shop was enough to do that, they’d work it for all it was worth.

Piper grinned, all but busting out of her skin. “This is just the start of the big-money restoration work. It’s finally happening.” She grabbed Rusty’s hand and tugged her out of the chair, then pulled her and Alex in for a group hug. “I wish Dad was here to see this. He’d be so proud of us.”

They clung to each other, and Alex’s eyes started to sting. Jacob West had been like a father to her, too. She’d loved him and loved this old garage as much as Rusty and Piper did.

She hadn’t mentioned her meeting with Deacon. He obviously hadn’t told them about his plans to sell the business out from under them yet. God, she was glad she’d kept it to herself. They’d already lost their father, and they loved their brother more than anything. Losing this place would kill them.

She watched the two women who had become her family after her own was taken from her. The excitement on their faces made her chest hurt. How would she ever survive without them, without seeing them every day? Without walking into this place every morning?

In that moment she realized she’d do anything to keep what they had, to keep what they were building. Nothing was more important than these women. She owed them everything. And right then she knew what she had to do. She’d do whatever it took to keep the smiles on their faces, to never lose this.

Piper gave them one last squeeze. “You guys close up, and I’ll go order the pizza.” She did another dance, grabbed her bag, and headed out.

Rusty and Piper lived in a small, quirky cottage next to the garage. It was the only house left on Axle Alley and had once been owned by their grandmother. The West family had lived in it for several generations. Even after their neighbors sold and disappeared, and new commercial buildings took their place, Grandma West had refused to sell. She’d left it to her granddaughters, who were just as determined to keep it as it was, despite the constant barrage of offers they received to take it off their hands. But it didn’t matter how much the land was worth. It wasn’t for sale.

They shut up shop, and Alex headed to her apartment above the garage. After a quick shower, she pulled on her comfy jeans with all the rips and her favorite Metallica T-shirt, leaving her long hair down to dry naturally. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed her phone and texted Deacon.

We need to talk. I’ll call you later.

Shoving her phone back in her pocket, she headed next door to the cottage for celebratory pizza. She refused to think about the agreement she was about to enter into, or what it would mean for her. Not yet.

When she hit the stairs to the cottage, she heard music coming from inside, laughter, and even with all this Deacon crap hanging over her head, she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. She walked into the living room, and three beers sat open on the coffee table. Rusty came dancing from the kitchen, carrying a bag of potato chips and a tub of dip.

Her friend grinned. “We’re celebrating, baby. We’ll worry about the size of our asses tomorrow.”

Alex laughed. “Nothing wrong with some junk in the trunk.”

“You said it.” Rusty spun around and gave her perfect, round ass a wiggle.

Piper followed with the pizza, and they sat, ate, laughed, and made plans for the garage. Something they hadn’t done in a while, too afraid to get their hopes up, afraid they’d fail. But with business picking up, they could afford to dream again, not to mention buy extravagant things like chips and dip.

No, it didn’t matter how Alex looked at it—her decision had been made for her. There had never been any other choice. Her life here with Piper and Rusty meant everything to her. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—lose it.

Her stomach fluttered. Christ, now she just had to tell Deacon.

She chugged back the rest of her third beer, happy for the buzz and the Dutch courage, and stood. Time to make the call, get it over with before she chickened out or sobered up. “Okay. I’m heading off. We can’t make money if we’re all hungover in the morning, right?”

The other two groaned. “All right, but this Friday, it’s girls’ night. We’re going out, and we’re gonna drink too much and shake it on the dance floor,” Rusty said, then downed the rest of her beer.

Weekend plans made, Alex left the cottage and crossed the parking lot to her place. It was dark out, and she almost missed the silver Mercedes S 600 parked behind the garage. Almost.

Her step faltered when the door opened and Deke stepped out. He wore dark jeans and a long-sleeved black thermal top that clung to his upper body and made her mouth water. She could see his abs defined through the thin fabric, and it took a huge amount of effort to look away.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.

She was fuzzy from the beers and couldn’t muster the energy to be pissed. “Why didn’t you come next door?”

“I don’t really think this conversation is something you want Piper or Rusty to hear, no?”

No, it isn’t.

“Hop in.” He held the car door open for her.

She bit her lip. “I told you I was going to call you.”

“I decided whatever you have to say, I’d rather hear it in person.”

She noticed he kept darting glances at the garage. He looked almost uneasy. Was it painful for him to be here? Yes, she’d avoided Deacon these last few months, but it hadn’t been all that hard. He’d barely set foot here since his father’s death. All she’d had to do was ignore his calls and texts and make her excuses if she knew Deacon might be at whatever get-together or dinner her friends invited her to.

Maybe there was more to his absence than she’d first thought. She shook her head. “I’d rather do this upstairs.”

He hesitated, but she didn’t wait for his answer and took the external stairs to her apartment. If being here set off some kind of emotional response in him, it might just break through that cold exterior, and maybe he’d change his mind about selling this place. Maybe he’d remember how important it had been to his family, and at one time to him.

Maybe he’d let her off the hook.

They walked in, and she threw her keys on the coffee table.

Deacon shut the door behind them. “Your text earlier, it was about my offer?”

No beating about the bush then. “Let’s get one thing clear here. It’s not an offer. An offer implies I have a choice. This is blackmail. Don’t kid yourself it’s anything else.”

His broad shoulders shifted, causing the muscles in his chest to bunch and move in a way that made her belly flip. His eyes narrowed. “You can always say no. No one’s holding a gun to your head, Alex.”

She snorted. “You sure about that?”

He took a step toward her. “Why are you resisting this? I know you want me.” He made a low, rough sound in the back of his throat. “The way you responded to me that night. You haven’t forgotten, have you? God, you were so wet, hungry for my cock. You shook so hard when I put my mouth on you, when I nipped your perfect little clit.”

A throbbing pulse started between her thighs. Her body still remembered every damn touch, every rough, dirty word he’d whispered in her ear, against her skin. She could almost feel his mouth on her. And just like that, she was wet for him. “It meant nothing.” She moved away. “We’ve already made this mistake before.” The beer had loosened her tongue. Jesus, why was she going there now? Because it still hurts like hell. “Surely there are other women you can blackmail into screwing you. Why me all of a sudden?”

His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, his only outward sign of emotion. “First, it doesn’t need to mean anything. We’re talking about sex, Alex, not marriage.”

Oh, yeah, that was a low blow considering their history.

“And second, I didn’t get nearly enough time with you. Not even close…” She shook her head, afraid of what he’d say next but desperate to hear it all the same. “I want to taste every inch of that hot little body. I want to fuck you every way possible, as often as I like. I want you to come against my mouth, around my fingers, my cock.” He sucked in a ragged breath. “Is that a good enough reason for you?”

She took a step back before she realized what she was doing. God, she wanted everything he’d just said, all of it. “Deacon…” She didn’t know how to finish. What the hell did you say after that?

But then he gritted his teeth, suddenly looking pissed. “The first time, all those years ago…I was young. We were young. I had plans, and you didn’t fit into them. I’m sorry I hurt you. But we were just kids.”

Oh, age was the issue now, timing? Neither of those things had mattered when he’d proposed to Emily a few weeks after popping her cherry. He’d run from Axle Alley so fast the only thing she’d had to remember him by were the skid marks he’d left on the road as he’d sped away.

He didn’t get it, how much he’d crushed her. She didn’t think he ever would. She hadn’t fit his plans then, and she sure as hell didn’t now. She’d been good enough for a quick fuck and some mild amusement, but when it came time to settle down, he’d chosen the complete opposite of her. In his eyes, she would never be good enough. “Deflower any more virgins lately?”

He hissed out a frustrated breath. “No, you were the only one.”

“Lucky me.”

He moved in, crowding her, out of patience. “Have you made your decision?”

If she had any pride at all, she’d tell him to go screw himself, but her body was more than happy with the idea of handing itself over to this man. To let him use her as he liked in exchange for keeping their garage. God, she was pathetic. “I’ll do it.”

He smiled and looked so much like his teenage self, her heart hurt. “Good choice.”

She crossed her arms. “As soon as the three months are up, it’s over, right?”

“That was the agreement.”

The guy was giving her frostbite. He’d use her until he’d had his fill and then move on to the next without a backward glance. “I have one more condition.”

His gaze sharpened. “Name it.”

“I want you to sign the building over to Piper and Rusty.”

“When you’ve fulfilled your end of the bargain, and proven to me this business is solid, I’ll be happy to.”

She had no doubt in three months the business would be more than solid. “Well…good, then.”

He ran his thumb across her lower lip. “I have a condition of my own.”

“What more could you want?”

He leaned in, buried his nose in her hair, and inhaled. “God, I love the way you smell.” His lips brushed her skin when he spoke, and she had to fight not to turn in to him, not to seek out that amazing mouth. “Exclusivity. No one touches you but me. And I want you on the pill, no condoms.”

She was struggling to breathe. “I’m already on the pill.” This was so weird, talking about this stuff like a business transaction, no emotions involved—not on his part, at least. “I’ve never had sex without a rubber. Does that suit you?”

He dipped his head. “I’m clear as well.”

She wanted to take a step back, to get some breathing room. It felt like he’d sucked every bit of oxygen from her tiny apartment.

His fingers squeezed her hips. “I have a dinner tomorrow night. You’ll be coming with me.”

Then his hands were everywhere, stroking her skin, gripping her hip, then moving up to run through her hair. She couldn’t take much more. “Fine.”

“I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“I’d rather meet you somewhere. I don’t want Rusty or Piper seeing us together and getting the wrong idea.”

He looked like he wanted to argue but fought the impulse. “You can meet me at my apartment.”

There was no warning, no lead-up, he just leaned in and kissed her. His firm, warm mouth landed on hers, and she was defenseless against the onslaught. His tongue slipped between her lips and moved over hers with slow, deep licks. Her sex contracted with each caress, making her hot, wetter in an instant.

He gripped her hips and brought her up against him, grinding his erection into her. A low moan slipped past his lips. “You’re so goddamn perfect, Alex.” His hands moved to her ass, squeezing, and pulled her in tighter, lifting her slightly so she could feel him right where she wanted him.

He found the rip in her jeans just below her ass cheek, and the rough pads of his fingers grazed her bare skin, making her gasp. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her legs around him and grind on that massive bulge in his pants until she got herself off. It felt too good. Deacon felt too good.

Things were getting out of control. Yeah, she’d agreed to be his human sex toy, and despite his being a complete asshole, she was desperate to have him inside her. But that desperation was enough to give her the strength to push him back. She needed to get her feelings under control before they took this any farther, and the alcohol wasn’t helping. “Whoa. Hold up.”

The only light inside her place came from the streetlights shining through her windows. Deacon was mainly in shadow, but she could still see his strong profile, the square jaw, the straight nose, the way his green eyes glinted through the darkness, intent on her. “What is it?” He was breathing hard.

She put some distance between them. “Our first date is tomorrow. This deal doesn’t start until then.”

His expression darkened. “You’re serious?”

“Absolutely.” She crossed her arms so he wouldn’t see her hands shaking.

He cursed, his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath. “You can turn it off just like that?”

“Looks that way.”

He ran a hand through his mussed hair. She couldn’t even remember having run her hands through it. But she obviously had. That’s how out of control Deacon made her. Right then she’d never been more terrified of a single person in her entire life, and that was saying something. He was dangerous. Doing this was stupid, reckless, but what choice did she have?

That steely control dropped into place. “I guess I’ll leave you alone then.”

She followed him to the door. One thing had been playing on her mind, and before she could stop herself, she blurted, “And the same goes for you.”

He stopped and turned to face her, brow raised.

“Exclusivity.”

His expression darkened again, and he smiled. “You’re more than enough for me, Alex.”

She hated herself for asking but had to. “What about Blondie?”

His brows shot up. “Who?”

“The Barbie you had hanging off your arm.”

He chuckled, then wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her in close. “You mean Candice?” He shook his head. “You have nothing to worry about there.”

She shrugged and tried to step back. He wouldn’t let her. “I’m not worried.”

“No?”

“No. I just don’t like the idea of sloppy seconds. You know how it is. Why was your office door locked?” she said before she could stop herself. Damn third beer.

“Was it? I didn’t realize.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“I wasn’t fucking her over my desk, if that’s what you’re asking me.”

That’s exactly what she was asking. There was always the wall, or the floor. The thought disappeared when he brushed his thumb across her jaw. She couldn’t read the look on his face as he studied her, but it turned her insides to mush. Then he kissed her again, a light touch that still managed to make her toes curl. “Candice is an acquaintance. Her brother is a friend of mine. It wasn’t a date. She just showed up, at a loose end. I’ve never slept with her, and I don’t plan to.”

She opened her mouth, then shut it again, jaw flapping like a dying fish.

He grinned. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Alex.”

She hated the relief that washed over her at his words. She also hated that when he left, she wished he’d come back.