A few of the dancers gasp, no doubt worried he’ll run me over. As soon as Coty hits the brakes about a foot from my toes, Jess tries to dart, but I hold her tight and bend at the waist. Coty’s lips press against mine as he balances on his front tire, hoodie strings swinging forward with gravity and brushing against the exposed skin above my crop top. Tingles rev straight to my core. The rear end falls, and our mouths are wrenched apart. He rides around me and circles back to the front of the building, leaving behind both a whoosh of exhaust and a heady dose of lust.
“You’re up.” I nudge Jess, slowly exhaling and giving my legs a little shake.
She chuckles nervously and refuses to let go of my hand. “Holy shit, I am so glad I’m high right now. No way could I do this sober.”
“The Universe provides.” I chuckle, and she rolls her eyes at me. “But see now, had you not been forced to give Stoney head and downed a bunch of pills to take away the memory, you wouldn’t be standing here about to feel the rush of your life.” I drop my voice. “Try it clean next time; the rush is even better. Nothing hazing that adrenaline-induced fear.” She stares anxiously ahead. “Give him the go, hun.”
Kio adjusts the swarthy bun at the base of his neck. Jess points at him, then curls her finger. Kio kicks off, wrist twisting to speed up. “Stay perfectly still. Trust him,” I state when her hand tenses. My girl does good, only giving a little jump when Kio stops. Body shaking, she quickly bends forward, and their lips connect for a blink before his bike is on both wheels again.
Instead of riding off right away, though, he inches forward so that his body is beside hers. The two lock eyes, his dark umber sucking in all her light green. He gives her another kiss, slower this time. She pulls back, throat working hard, and he drives off.
“Lace?” she asks, fingertips drifting across her lips. “What the hell was that all about?”
“Guess you have an admirer. Not surprising seeing as he steals you for himself every rally.”
She shakes her head. “He knows I have a man, Lace. We talk. He is a talker. That’s all.”
Kio is most definitely not a talker. But for Jess? Yeah. Apparently. But it’s because of the type of man she has that he talks to her. Waiting for the day, no doubt, that she slips and tells him what he wants to hear so he can step in.
I have the sudden urge to protect her.
Not from her man this time, but from Kio.
I pull my hand out of hers and head back inside, leaving Kal and Baylor to finish the demonstration.