Hard to Break

by Bella Jewel

  “Does this feel like a game to you?”

  His lips brush my skin again and my nipples grow so hard they ache.

  “What it feels like,” I breathe, “is a man looking for a quick fuck. I’m no one’s quick fuck. Especially not yours.”

  He chuckles against my skin. “Most women would be throwing themselves at my feet for even a minute of what I’m giving you.”

  I take a deep breath and then push him back. I manage to twist myself so we’re face-to-face. “I’m not most women, I’m not even close. And believe me when I say,” I lean in so our lips are nearly touching, “I’m not interested in knowing what you have to give.”

  With that, I step out of his way and walk towards the entrance back inside.

  “We’ll see about that, angel,” he yells to my back.

  * * *

  “Wake up, lazy bones.”

  I groan and roll to my side. My bed is soft and squishy and I don’t want to wake up. I have a headache and my stomach isn’t impressed with my treatment of it last night, so I really just want to stay here. Besides, I haven’t slept in for years and I think I deserve a few hours longer.

  “I don’t wanna wake up,” I mumble. “Let me sleep in.”

  “Honey,” Jace chuckles. “It’s eleven a.m.”

  My eyes fly open and I stare at the messy-haired Jace who is leaning over me with a cup of coffee in his hands. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He turns his watch towards me and my eyes widen when I see he is most certainly not kidding. I slept until nearly midday. My god. I sit up slowly and rub my eyes, and then I accept the coffee he hands me.

  “I can’t believe I slept for so long.”

  He shrugs. “I only got up half an hour ago, we deserve it.”

  “Yeah,” I yawn.

  “Where’d you end up last night?” he asks, fluffing one of my pillows behind him and then leaning against it.

  “Ah, I was tired so I came back here.”

  “You’re an awful liar.”

  I peek at him and he’s grinning at me.

  “Stop grinning at me.”

  “Tazen Watts, hey? Who would have thought? He likes you, Quinn.”

  “Well,” I huff. “I certainly don’t like him.”

  “What’d he have to say for himself?”

  I shrug. “Nothing interesting. He’s just fascinated by the fact that I’m not throwing myself at his feet. He seems to find it amusing that he can get me so wound up.”

  Jace nudges me. “From what I hear, he gets a lot of women very wound up.”

  “Stop it,” I laugh.

  “Honestly though, can you believe your luck? Maybe you get to have your very own stalker.”

  “Not funny.”

  “Well,” he says, leaping from the bed. “I’ll go back to sleep if I sit here all day. The race is at three, so we have a few hours. Come with me to the pool?”

  “Sounds good.”

  We get up, dress, eat and then head up to the top level of the hotel. There is a massive pool and a whole heap of lounge chairs that take up the entire area up here. Jace and I find one and as soon as he drops his towel, he charges towards the water and dives into it. I shake my head, sitting down on the lounge chair and removing my shorts and tank top until I’m down to my bikini.

  I bring the towel up and tuck it under my arms, debating whether I feel like getting in the pool. I lower my shades over my eyes and decide to just watch for a while.

  My eyes move to a group of people sitting about ten meters away from me and they widen when I realize one of those people is Tazen and he’s not wearing a shirt. I let my eyes travel slowly over his muscled body, nodding with appreciation at his six-pack and seriously hot V leading to a place I have thought about a number of times.

  When I look back up, I see his eyes are directed at me. Great, he just saw me checking out his body and his package. He grins, cockily, and I turn away. Dammit. I keep my face aimed at the pool but a moment later a shadow comes across my body and I look up to see Tazen staring down at me. Up close his body is even better. Smooth tanned skin, washboard abs, ripped arms and killer hips. He has a hint of a tattoo on his ribs that is obviously coming around from his back.

  Damn.

  I study his face. His chocolate brown eyes are mischievous and cocky as he takes in the towel I’m clutching to myself. His lips, so full and tempting, curve into a wicked smile. “Good morning, angel. Did you have pleasant dreams?”

  “Wonderful, thank you. There was a man in them, an arrogant one. I had a wonderful time torturing him with blunt instruments.”

  He laughs, low and throaty. “I like your sass. Are you going to sit there all day clutching that towel, or are you going to come and have a swim?”

  “I’ll swim, I just won’t be doing it with you.”

  “Wrong answer.”

  He reaches down, taking the towel and jerking it away from my body. Then he leans down and I put my hands up in a poor attempt to stop whatever it is he has planned. This does nothing to hold him off. He puts his shoulder into my belly and launches me up and over it. I scream and start pummeling my fists into his back. This earns me a swift slap on the ass that has my face burning hot. Shame rises inside me as I realize everyone has stopped to watch Tazen’s little show.

  He strides to the pool and I continue to squirm and curse, threatening him with severe bodily harm if he drops me into the water. He laughs, and then launches both of us into the blue depths. I hit with a thud and cold water quickly washes over my body. I kick and paddle until I surface, then I proceed to cough and splutter until my eyes find Tazen, who has just popped up, too.

  “What gives you the right—” I fume, taking a step towards him.

  With a wolfish grin, he steps in, leans down and scoops me into his arms, this time like a baby. I kick and squirm, trying to get out, but it would appear he’s having the time of his damned life torturing me.

  “You’re even cuter when you’re mad, angel.”

  “Put me down, you jackass!”

  He laughs and lets me go. I shove backwards, kicking my legs to keep myself afloat. I glare at him, but he’s far beyond taking any offense at that.

  “Tazen?”

  Both our heads turn towards the sound and I see a man standing with a cell phone in his hand. “Call for you, man.”

  “Can it wait?” Tazen asks.

  The guy shakes his head. “It’s the one you’ve been waiting for.”

  Tazen’s eyes flicker to me, almost guiltily, before he nods and climbs out of the pool. Someone throws him a towel and he disappears with the phone pressed to his ear. I grumble and swim towards the edge of the pool, ready to get out.

  “You okay?”

  I turn to my left to see Jace swimming over. He’s smirking, the big jerk.

  “Don’t you even,” I warn him, waggling my finger at him.

  His lip quirks. I roll my eyes.

  “I’m going to do some shopping,” I announce.

  “Don’t get into any trouble while you’re at it,” he teases.

  I shoot more daggers at him.

  Men. They’re all as bad as each other.

  I kind of like it.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Oh my god,” I breathe as we walk around the racetrack.

  The low, fierce rumble of cars practicing around the track fills my ears as I clutch my hot dog and soda close to me. There aren’t a lot of people here yet, because the actual race doesn’t start for another two hours. Jace and I are here early to watch them warm up. We find a seat and sit down, so we can enjoy the show before the crowd arrives.

  The track.

  I love the track.

  I love the way the cars sound. I love the smell. I love the rumble that radiates through my body as they speed around the track. I’d kill to have what Tazen has, to be able to work with these types of cars every day, but better yet, to be able to build them from the ground up.

  “Look!” Jace yells. “There’s
Chief.”

  My eyes turn towards the sleek green car that is sitting in the pit. It’s epic. The two-door sedan is as powerful as it is amazing. Whoever is sitting in it has their foot on the gas because she is growling like an angry tiger. The sound fills the air and my skin prickles. I want to go to it, put my head under the hood and breathe it in. I want to ride in it, to feel its power in my palms.

  “Do you think we can go down there?” I ask.

  “Probably not, but we can try,” Jace says, standing and taking my hand.

  I look sadly at my hot dog, but the chance to see Chief in action is far more appealing. We rush through the crowd, down the stairs from the grandstands, until we reach the railing that stops people from getting onto the tracks. I can see Chief up close now, and my eyes instantly find Tazen, who is rushing around barking orders.

  He looks different like this. All his cockiness is gone, and he’s in a rugged, demanding state. He’s got on a pit uniform that has Jimmy’s sponsors’ logos all over it. His shirt is V-cut, showing a nice patch of bronzed skin on his chest. His pants look like black jeans and he’s wearing boots. He’s got a hat on that has racing logos all over it.

  Damn.

  “Look at him in action,” Jace breathes. “It’s just like the show.”

  I nod, biting my lower lip. Tazen is waving his hands, barking orders, and then his head is under the hood, his hands working frantically at things. Skilled, mechanic hands. I shudder. That’s so damned hot it makes heat rush between my legs. There is nothing better than watching a man under the hood of a car, working with his hands.

  “God,” I reply to Jace. “It’s amazing.”

  “Give her more,” Tazen barks. “Put your fucking foot on it.”

  The man in the driver’s seat gives it more gas, and Chief barks, grey smoke flying from her tires as the car trembles like it wants to shoot off.

  “Right,” Tazen says, straightening and slamming the hood down. “I’m going to take her for some laps.”

  “Fuck yeah!”

  Jace screams this from beside me, and I step back in shame as Tazen’s eyes dart to us. Holy fuck, he looks amazing. His eyes take me in and he lifts a hand, crooking his finger at me.

  “Oh my god, he wants you to go in there.”

  “No,” I gasp. “He doesn’t.”

  “He does, holy shit, Quinn! Get in there.”

  Tazen keeps crooking his finger, then he yells out, “Come here, angel.”

  Oh boy.

  Jace leans down, lifting me without giving me a choice. He practically tosses me over the railing; thankfully I land on my feet.

  “Bring your friend.”

  “Fuck yeah!” Jace yells again, launching himself over the railing.

  I walk closer with shaking hands, my heart swelling with anticipation. Boy oh boy, I’m about to walk up to world-famous custom car builder Tazen Watts in his element, with his awesome car.

  “You know what I’ve got here,” Tazen says as soon as I stop in front of him.

  My eyes are on Chief, and I know. I know exactly what he’s got.

  “Chief,” I breathe, stepping closer to the car. “Custom built race car. Three hundred and fifty-eight cubic inches, which can produce upwards of six hundred horsepower. Amazing cam profile, keeping the intake valves open longer for exceptional power.”

  “She’s been watching my show.”

  “I love your show,” I say, without thinking. I’m too taken by the car.

  “Good to know.”

  I step up to the sleek, beautiful machine and I want to reach out and touch it. So badly.

  “You want a ride?”

  I turn, blinking rapidly. “What?”

  “A ride,” he says, nodding at Chief. “I have to take her for a lap. You want in?”

  “Is that … legal?”

  He grins, big. “My car, baby. You in?”

  “I’m in,” I cry so loudly Jace laughs.

  Tazen turns and says something to his team. I have a helmet tossed at me, and I have to get into some protective gear. When I’m good to go, I walk over to Chief. My heart is pounding and my legs are shaking. I’m going for a ride in Chief. I’m. Going. For. A. Ride. I want to squeal with happiness, but I keep it together. I climb into the tight passenger side, and duck under the roll bars.

  “Buckle up,” Tazen says, getting in the driver’s side.

  “Do you, ah, know how to drive this thing?”

  He flashes me a white smile. “Angel, I built it.”

  I nod, swallowing. My palms get sweaty and I want to scream with joy.

  “Ready?” Tazen asks, revving the engine.

  Oh hell yes.

  I nod.

  He takes off.

  A wicked scream leaves my lips as I’m shoved back into the seat as Chief takes over the track like she damned well owns it. Joy fills my veins and my screams turn to happy whoops as Tazen picks up speed. He’s at ease behind the wheel, taking corners like a pro. It suits him. I put my hands on my knees and cry out happily as the power holds me flat against my chair and the rumble fills my ears.

  “Holy shit!” I squeal. “Holy fucking shit!”

  Tazen laughs and switches gears. I close my eyes and put my head back, happiness flooding my body. I have dreamed of a moment like this my entire life. I love cars, I love everything about them. I love the old and the new. I love restoring them. I love fixing them. But this … this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever felt in my life.

  I happily yell and cheer as we fly around the track for a lap. When Tazen pulls Chief over, I get out with shaky legs and throw my hands in the air, doing a happy dance. I pull my helmet off and turn to Tazen, who is wearing a smile that is so big his dimples are deep on his cheeks. “That was fucking epic. Holy shit. You are fucking amazing!”

  “I think you’re the most enthusiastic passenger I’ve ever had.”

  “That…” I clap my hands and close my eyes, squealing to the sky. “Was the shit!”

  He laughs and comes over, taking my helmet. “Glad you think so.”

  I turn to Jace, who is grinning big. “You fucking lucky bitch!”

  “Oh Jace.” I clap again. “It was amazing.”

  “Love to keep you guys down here,” Tazen says. “But we gotta get prepped for Jimmy’s race.”

  I nod and my smile is still huge. Tazen winks at me, and in a husky voice says, “Later, angel.”

  Oh boy.

  This is proving to be the best day of my life.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The race went well into the night. It wasn’t a major race, but it was still amazing. Chief placed second, which was totally cool. Jace and I made our way back to the hotel, still pumped about being able to experience something so electrifying. High on life, I insisted we go out in the city because there is no way I can be cooped up for too long after such an awesome day.

  I want to dance, party and have fun.

  So we make our way back to the bar we were at the night before. After a few drinks, I step outside for some fresh air, adrenaline still high and pumping. I tilt my head back, and the wind tickles my skin as I breathe in the cool night air. We head back home tomorrow morning, so I’m taking a moment to relish how good this all feels. My tight black dress is a little too clingy, but at least it isn’t flapping around in the breeze.

  “Hello there.”

  I turn at the sound of a husky male voice and see a young man approaching me. He’s wearing a black shirt and a pair of faded denim jeans. He’s got a bit of a swagger, which tells me he’s drunk, or close to. His blond hair is messy atop his head and he’s got piercing grey eyes.

  “Evening,” I say, turning back to the street and trying to give him the hint that I don’t want his company.

  “What’s a pretty girl like you doing out here alone?”

  “Whale watching,” I mutter.

  He laughs loudly and steps up beside me. “Well you certainly won’t find any out here, they’re all inside.”

>   Ugh, what a jerk.

  “You’re certainly not a whale,” he murmurs. “You’re fucking hot.”

  Some men just have no class.

  “And you’re annoying me. Go away.”

  “Whoa,” he says, putting his hands up. “I’m only teasing. Take a chill pill.”

  “No,” I say, glaring at him. “I asked you to leave me alone and you clearly refuse. And apparently you also think that calling women fat is a way to get into another woman’s pants. Let me guess, you have a penis the size of a tube of lipstick, so therefore you have to get drunk and drop pathetic pickup lines to get any woman to consider you? How close am I?”

  His face scrunches up and he grumbles. “Got more than a fuckin’ lipstick.”

  “And if you step any closer, I’ll chop that little thing right off and toss it into the traffic.”

  “Jesus,” he grunts. “You’re a total cunt.”

  “There a problem here?”

  We both turn and my eyes widen to see Tazen approaching. I gape at how amazing he looks tonight. He’s wearing a pair of black jeans and a tight grey sweater that he has rolled up to the elbows. His hair is messy, his eyes are bright and he looks breathtaking. His gaze, however, is murderous as he stands next to my drunken buddy.

  “Don’t even try it on with this bitch, dude,” the drunk man grunts. “She’s batshit crazy.”

  Tazen steps up to him, intimidating as all hell. “What did you fucking call her?”

  The guy’s eyes widen and dart between Tazen and me. “I, ah…”

  “Get the fuck out of here before I knock you out.”

  The guy nods and rushes off, clearly knowing what’s good for him. No one in their right mind would take on Tazen. He’s a big guy.

  “Ah,” I say, watching the guy go. “Thanks.”

  “He hurt you?”

  My eyes flick to his. “No, I’m fine. Believe it or not I can look after myself.”

  He steps up beside me. “Never said you couldn’t.”

  I nod, swallowing.

  “You want a drink?”

  I turn to him, studying his stunning face. “Why do you want to have a drink with me, when I’m mostly an ass to you?”