His thoughtfulness has me choking on emotions I’m not used to feeling. “I can’t believe you did this. I will pay you back. I promise. Every single cent.” And I will. It may take me five years, but I always settle my debts. I don’t like owing anyone anything.
He grunts. “That’s not what this is about.”
“No?” I swallow roughly again with my voice higher and water swimming in my eyes. I need to keep these emotions locked up. I don’t want him witnessing me so vulnerable. He’s used to seeing me strong and capable, the way I prefer.
His finger tilts my chin up, gazing at me full of tenderness as I lick my lips. “Are you happy?” he asks, and it’s said softly, not like the Mercenary I’ve grown used to full of rough edges and grouchy tendencies.
“So much,” I admit with a grateful smile.
He beams, his bright white teeth on display, making me want to mimic him. “Well then, it was all worth it.”
I can’t hold back from leaping at him. He turns me all upside down with myself. It’s like my body doesn’t know what’s up or down when it’s near him and then he goes off and does something so kind and thoughtful like this making it even harder not to be sucked in even further with him. My arms wrap around his neck, and my lips find his. With a searing kiss, I attempt to show him just how much his actions really do mean to me.
The kindness reminds me of when I was younger and met the old man who stepped up to help me. It takes a special kind of guy to care for someone like that. Breaking away, I rain kisses all over his cheeks and chin. “Thank you.”
He chuckles, setting me back on my feet. The man is as tall as a mountain. “You’re welcome.”
“I mean it; I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t worry about it. The guy who repaved that portion of the track owed Odin a favor. And Torch knew how to lay concrete and form up everything for the stairs. With everyone else helping as well, the only thing I came out of pocket for was the concrete.” He shrugs, waving it off.
“Then the concrete—”
He interrupts. “No. You lent me your car to race in the beginning without batting an eye. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have been able to even win a race here. You helped put that cheddar in my pocket. Not that it would matter; I did this because I wanted you to be pleased, not so you’d pay me back.”
Biting my lip, I go up on my toes to kiss him again. He’s a giant dick, but when it comes to me, he’s a big softy. Who’d have thought? “That explains everyone here too.” I gesture around, taking in the employees carrying out various tasks.
He smirks, pulling my bottom lip in between his. Releasing it, he rasps, “No, sweetie. Everyone’s here because Ace set up three races tonight, and you’ve got the first run. We’ve got plenty of Oath Keepers around to help with security as well so you can enjoy yourself tonight.”
I’m stunned. The man has made me speechless with the degree of his thoughtfulness. Did he...plan this? Not only is the front fixed, but the track and the seating too, and he did it all without me having the slightest clue about any of it. I never would’ve thought sweet would be an appropriate word for him, but that’s exactly what he’s being.
“You all right?” he questions after a beat.
“We need to go to my place.” And right the fuck now.
“I thought you were hungry. Tacos, remember?”
“Oh, I am, cupcake, but my hunger’s for something else entirely.” I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to jump a man so damn badly as I do now.
“Yeah?”
I nod. “I’m thinking eight inches long, and three inches wide will fill me up quite perfectly.”
“It sure the fuck will,” Mercenary agrees, yanking me against his body.
In the next breath, he’s trekking across the track toward the hallway, carrying me right along. My legs wrap securely around his waist and my arms around his neck to hold on while he strides like a man possessed. Leaning in closer, I draw his lobe between my teeth, applying enough pressure to make his chest rumble with need. I should’ve given him one hell of a blow job before we left. He definitely deserved it. Instead, he was thinking of what would make me happy again. I wanted food to eat, and he didn’t even blink at my request. Then he brought me here to surprise me and fill me with even more good news.
What kind of a man puts a woman’s happiness before his own?
A good one.