by Xavier Neal
As if victorious already, Preston chuckles, and does as he's told. Merrick pecks me a kiss on the cheek and walks back round to the car he's racing.
Hayli whispers over my shoulder, “I thought you weren't for sleeping with strangers....”
“I'm not,” I whisper back.
“If he loses―”
Vinnie invades the conversation, “He won't lose.”
Prepared to argue again Hayli snaps, “But if he does―”
“He won't,” Ben chimes in. “Merrick never loses. More importantly...Jovi's on the line.”
Vinnie adds, “And trust me when I say he's faced much worse and facing much worse to have her in his life.” His eyes fall on me, “He's not giving you up for anything. He'd drag his soul out from the pits of hell to get back to you. Make no mistake.”
Excited by the information, I turn to Hayli who has a weary smile on her face.
First she wanted me to live a little and do more crazy things and now that I am she has the nerve to give me that look? Ugh. Mixed signals much?
While the two of them seem to be getting settled behind the wheels of their cars I ask, “How does all this work?”
“Well,” Vinnie starts as another girl strolls over with a tablet for him to work on and a brief case in her hand as well. Immediately he starts typing away on it. “We have routes blocked off. We pay off construction workers to block them and create detours. Hack the system to put it on the books in case people check. After that we have designated spots around the city where distractions are waiting for the cops that can't be paid off can be kept busy for enough time to disperse. We do have several cops that we pay off to help keep this shit free and clear.”
I'm a cop’s daughter. Of course I know there are crooked ones. I just didn't realize there were crooked construction workers too!
“Along the routes are micro cameras that record the feed of each race, feed it to my system, which in order to watch you have to be linked up too. Password and everything constantly changes, to prevent the chance of hacking. It's typed into your device after you pay your fee for attending.”
“I didn't pay a fee,” I whisper.
“There are exceptions.”
When I smile at his response, Hayli states, “That's thorough.”
“Secure,” Vinnie corrects her. “I do this a lot. The purpose is to make it safe and secure as possible for us to race. Rather than have us racing on highways putting lives at risk, we create a mock track, safer settings, and an audience.”
Impressed, I fold my hands together. “It's....safer than I would've thought.”
“I know.” He says like he knows who I am. “Safer than many people think.”
Does he know? How many people here know that I'm the commissioner's daughter? That my father is constantly hunting them? That he's desperate to put them away? What happens to me if more people find out? I mean I think I'm okay considering the wild animal Merrick just turned into at the thought of someone coming onto me. Could you imagine if I was in actual danger?
“Basically you get a bad rap?” I comment.
“Something like that,” Vinnie says and makes a hand motion for the girl who handed him the tablet. She struts over to the cars and places something thumb sized on each of them. When I raise my eyebrows in question he answers, “Micro cameras. You're given multiple choices of how to view the race. Inside the drivers cars. Outside them. The street review. Multiple angles that basically make you feel you're in the races.”
“That's amazing,” Hayli breathlessly coos.
“Thank you,” he proudly states.
Once the cameras are in place, she pulls out a breathalyzer from the briefcase demanding Preston blow first. When he's finished she points to Vinnie a sign that let's him know he's fine. After she checks Merrick who also gets the okay.
“Seriously?” Hayli croaks dumbfounded. “You make them take one of those before they race?”
“There's no alcohol allowed at these things. Damn sure no drunk fucking drivers. I don't conduct business like that.” Sensing she offended him, she raises her hands and shuts her mouth. “Now ladies, get ready to be amazed again.”
The blonde girl who was bent over a car like she was for sell earlier makes her way between the cars.
Ugh. She looks even sluttier now. What? I'm not jealous. I'm really not. I'm...oh shut up. Look at her. She's like a walking, talking, jump off the screen Scarlett Johannson. How am I supposed to compete with that?
Vinnie lifts his head once all the camera feeds are ready to go. Loudly he instructs, “Let the panties drop, in 4, 3, 2, 1....DROP EM!”
The blonde bombshell drops a red thong and the cars take off. Moving in closer to Vinnie, I watch the two cars compete on the screen, the adrenaline from the entire thing pulsating through my veins like the very blood keeping me alive. The thrill of the situation has my body tensing, my heart moments from a heart attack every time there's the sound of acceleration.
When Merrick's car starts to lag in the race, I feel my stomach leap into my throat. Before I have the chance to say anything Vinnie mutters softly, “Breathe Jovi. He does this for show. To create a false sense of winning.” And sure enough Preston gets an over confident smile, makes the mistake of taking a breath, which is when Merrick zooms past him, accelerates again this time leaving him with no chance of catching up.
The race that only lasts minutes but felt like lifetimes, ends as he pulls back up to where he started, the red thong that was dropped to start it, now dropped on his car to claim it as victor.
Were you on edge too? What do you mean you knew he had this shit in the bag? Well aren't you just full of hope.
Merrick gets out, grabs the thong, and twirls it around his finger with a cocky smirk.
What's with the underwear? That's not sanitary.
Preston pulls up to the line, climbs out of his car, and yells, “You fucking cheated!”
Doesn't lose well? This should work out horribly.
Without a word Merrick watches the tantrum continue. “You fucking, no good, prick! You fucking cheated! You're not running what you said you were!”
Vinnie hands his tablet to the girl who handed it to him in the beginning before strolling over to the angry sore loser. “Watch your mouth,” he demands taking a stand next to Merrick who hasn't said a word. “Now, you came to me wanting to race. You came to me wanting to take on the big dog, and you came to me to begging to toss up cash to become the next legend. Don't be pissed off because when it came time to nut up or shut up, you couldn't hold your load.” The crowd “ohhs” and cheers on Vinnie. “He ran exactly what he said he was. You saw it before the race. You saw it wasn't stock. You were given the same look as any other racer.”
“It's not just a car that makes a race. It's the driver.” Merrick pops off the side of his car. “And every minute or every hour or every fucking day, I will be a better driver than you.” With his signature smirk he tosses his hands in the air, which causes the crowd to cheer loudly. “The car gods have spoken.”
Preston crackles his knuckles like he's preparing to swing.
Vinnie shakes his head slowly. “I wouldn't even think about it. You know the rules. Break 'em and after I let Merrick lay you out flat for coming onto his girlfriend, I'll make sure Big Rob breaks both your knee caps and bashes your brains in so hard you won't be able to remember your own name let alone how to drive a car.” The threat backs Preston down and he finishes with, “Now be a man about your shit. Shake fucking hands. And take your ass over to my girl Krissy to give up your car.”
Merrick and Preston shake hands before he leans over to get something out of his glove compartment, I'm assuming his registration or other information.
During the process, Merrick moves past him straight for me. Not wasting any time, he pulls me into him, and whispers, “I want my prize. And I want it now...”
Giggling I lick his top lip so he groans in sexual interest. “What about the after party at Olympus?”
Jovi
Arriving at the “McCoy's” their family mechanic shop, I realize just the magnitude of what's coming.
Okay so now the nerves are kicking in again. Over the last few weeks I've been doing all sorts of things that are fun and different and life changing, but this...this is huge. What if I don't like it? What if I'm bad at it? What if fail miserably? What if―
“Baby I can hear that doubt racing through your mind over here,” Merrick sighs turning off the car. My head rolls over to face him. “There's nothing to worry about. Nothing has changed. As much as watching you sacrifice yourself for me made me want you more than ever, there's still no pressure to climb into bed with me.” His blue eyes soften and he folds his fingers with mine.
Nervously I bite my bottom lip. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“They kept saying that you're...you're...well that you're...”
“In love with you,” Merrick finishes it for me.
“Are you?” I briefly pause afraid too much silence will make him rethink his decision. “Is it even possible? Does that even happen in real life? Do people fall in love that fast?”
“Jovi, I fell in love with you the first time you caught my eye. I felt that kick then and it's never stopped kicking. So do I think a person can fall in love that fast? Definitely. I did.” His admission makes me swoon. “Am I expecting you to feel the same way? I―”
“I do,” I blurt out before he can finish. Lowering to a hushed tone I confess, “I've...I've fallen for you too.” Merrick smiles brightly.
I have. And even if I don't wanna say it out loud or fear that something bad is coming from being in love, it doesn't change the truth. Besides, I don't think I would just bet myself for some guy I wasn't head over heels for.
With my face close to his that's tilted, prepared for a kiss, I whisper, “Take me to bed, Merrick.”
“Absolutely baby.” His lips briefly feather mine, the kiss simple but seductive.
The two of us head inside after he closes the garage door with the Lotus inside. There's a set of stairs that leads up to an apartment that's much larger than I would've guessed from just looking at it on the outside. Through the front door, I'm lead past a kitchen on the left and small dining area on the right with a huge living room space dead ahead. We turn right passing frame photos on the wall and left to the door at the end of the hall. He opens the door to reveals a guy's bedroom in all senses of the word. There's a king sized bed in the middle, with sheets attempted to be tucked in. On both sides of the bed there are nightstands covered in random crap, on the wall to the right a flat screen T.V. with a dresser underneath covered in shirts, hats, and socks. In the corner that direction are sketch books, bags that contain what looks like spray paint cans, and some paint brushes. To the left is a window with black curtains, and a full length mirror leaned in the corner.
I step forward and continue to look around as he closes the door behind us.
“What do you think?” He walks around and flops on the edge of his bed, kicking off his shoes once he's there.
I smirk wide. “Definitely a guy's bedroom.”
“That a bad thing?”
“No.” I step a little closer. “Not at all.”
Merrick wets his lips, drinking in my movements that have slowed as I approach him. With a slightly shaky voice he says, “Jovi, before...before we...before things go any further. I know you've never done this before.”
“Right.”
“But I have and I want you to know that I take EA so I'm clean.”
The information I know is supposed to be one that makes me feel better yet it slumps my shoulders.
And we're back to uncertainty.
“You...you take that stuff?”
“Yeah,” the confusion on his face is clear. “Why wouldn't I?”
“It's illegal.”
“I do a lot things that aren't legal.” He makes a gesture indicating the race. “Doesn't make them wrong.”
“Damn sure doesn't make them right.”
“Was racing wrong?” he questions leaning forward on his elbows. “You were brought up to believe all street racing is wrong and harmful and dangerous. Is it?” When I don't answer he continues, “You watched with your own eyes. Aside from it not being a 'certified law approved' track was anything wrong?”
I can't say that there was. Turns out there were even volunteer firefighters and paramedics on standby for worst case scenarios. I heard Vinnie tell them we were all good before we left.
“No.”
“And yet it's illegal.”
“But EA―”
“Like any other drug has it's side effects. Yes. But it's biggest danger is putting pharmaceuticals out of business, so it's illegal.” My lips press together firmly as I debate for a response. “It's the only drug I put in my body. Condoms...suck. And they don't cure or prevent STDs the way EA does. So yeah, I take it. I still get tested just to make sure my system is actually clear. I've been with too many girls to risk that.”
Time out. Is what he's putting in his body so wrong? It's not hurting him. It won't hurt me. I don't have to actually take it thanks to birth control and him already being disease free. And I know the world isn't the black and white my father demands I see it as. I know that. I've started to live that...
“Baby,” Merrick extends a hand for me to take. When I drop my hand in his, he pulls me into his lap. “Like I said earlier. We don't have to do this if you don't want.”
“I do,” I argue. “I just...I'm nervous. And I don't know what I should be asking or doing or―”
He softly kisses me, hushing the confusion coming out of my mouth. His hand lands in it's favorite spot on the back of my neck, deepening the kiss. My tongue touches his and instantly the anxiety fizzles to make room for the fire that's starting.
Several pushes of our tongues later he lightly pulls away to question, “Do you need me to wrap it, baby?”
I shake my head and answer, “If you're on EA we're okay 'cause I'm on the pill.”
Excited he returns to kissing me, hands keeping me planted in his lap exactly where he wants me. Needs me. The hand on my hip slowly slips around and under my dress, lightly caressing my ass cheek. Whimpering at the contact, he grips the back of my neck tighter not letting my lips fall from his. He releases my neck and travels the other hand down so both are under my dress, gently exploring the curves. Merrick's hands travel up to untie the back of my dress with one sharp pull. The dress falls limply between us and I pull away nervous about being exposed in front of a guy for the first time.
Even though we've fooled around he's never actually seen me without clothes on.
Merrick's eyes drop to the sight along with his mouth. When his hands softly cup my boobs, he groans, “God, baby, you're even more beautiful than I thought you would be.”
I moan as a response and he squeezes them a little rougher, clearly testing my limits. His tongue snakes out of his mouth lightly tasting one nipple before the other. The sensation of his warm mouth on the stiffening flesh shoots straight to my pussy. With a mind all of their own, my legs spread wider desperate to get his body closer to mine. Our crotches grind together as he continues sucking moans out of me. Feasting on each one like it's the only thing to satisfy his hunger.
Suddenly, he rolls us over, putting me underneath him. Merrick drags the dress slowly off the rest of my body, his eyes as ravenous as his mouth was. Once I'm completely naked, heels included, he drops his mouth onto my crotch with no warning. A sharp cry explodes from me as he begins gorging on my pussy. He licks. He sucks. He nibbles. He devours every flavor he can find. My eyes shut tightly as my hands grip the sheets tighter and tighter, an orgasm building
faster and faster as his tongue moves steadily. Finally right on the edge, prepared to jump over, Merrick abruptly stops.
Unsure of how I speak, I incoherently cry out, “Why'd you stop?”
With a cocky grin he pulls his shirt off. “Because I wanna be inside of you the first time you come in my bed.” The words have my legs clutching together to keep the feeling inside. Quickly he finishes stripping, slides us underneath the sheets, parts my legs, and positions the tip of his cock at the entrance he's turned dripping wet.
Suddenly my heart speeds up and my body strains itself.
Holy shit. Holy shit. It's about to happen. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt so bad. It's gonna...
“Relax,” Merrick whispers pushing inside me slowly. Immediately my eyes close as the untouched muscles try to resist the intrusion, his massive member insisting to fit in a space it can't.