Grip: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

by Lacey Black

  After another few minutes of silence, she finally says, “Beautiful night.”

  I cut her a look. She’s floating on her back as well, our fingertips dangerously close. “Beautiful,” I find myself saying, but not about the night. About her.

  Lena feels my eyes on her and turns. There’s an electricity that passes through the water, zapping my limbs and my groin. The air turns heavy and weighs down my chest. Our fingers touch in the water, and that’s all it takes. I’m not sure who moves first, her or me, but she’s in my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist in no time. My lips crashing into hers, a frenzy of lust bolting through me as I move us to the side of the pool.

  With her pressed into the plastic, I devour her sweet mouth with my own. Our tongues slide against each other’s, our lips nipping and sucking. My hands hold her ass, my cock so fucking hard and ready between us. Lena grinds her hips, seeking out any sliver of friction she can find, and my dick is all too eager to provide it.

  “Fuck,” I groan as she gyrates against me. She keeps doing that and I’m liable to explode much sooner than preferred.

  “Yes. That. Let’s do that,” she pants, grazing her teeth over my Adam’s apple.

  By some miracle force, I pull back and meet her gaze. Her eyes are dilated and heavily lidded, a look of pure desire on her gorgeous face. But before I do anything, I have to know this is what she wants. As much as I’d hate to do this—with her, nonetheless—if she’s looking to compartmentalize this, to fuck, I can do that. Let the record show, I don’t want to. I’d always rather make love to her, but if this is what she needs, I’m her man. I can provide a service, a relief, without the strings and entanglements.

  No one knows how to categorize a lay like I do.

  I’ve done it for three years.

  But even I know that’s not what this is.

  Not really.

  She’ll always be so much more than a quick fuck.

  She’ll always be the love of my life.

  The one who got away.

  “You sure?” I ask, panting.

  “Definitely,” she whispers, leaning forward and kissing my chin. “Fuck me, Mack.”

  That’s all it takes. I’m pushing my wet underwear down with one hand and trying to move hers aside with my other. There’s a slickness to her pussy, and I’m not talking about the water. With her legs wrapped around my waist and my underwear floating away, I focus on pushing up that sports bar and baring her sweet tits. My mouth descends, sucking hard on the tiny hard nipples like a man possessed.

  “Water makes a horrible lubricant,” she gasps, pressing her nipple farther into my mouth.

  “You’re right.” I lick and tease it before letting it go with a pop. I move us through the water and to the ladder. “Climb up,” I instruct, hating the ache my body feels when she unwraps her legs and steps up on the first wrung. “One more,” I demand, pulling her cotton panties down her legs as she goes. When she’s two steps up and her sweet ass is above the water, I add, “Lean forward. Place your elbows on the platform.”

  She does as instructed and glances over her shoulder. She’s on display, her ass in the air, and when I slide my finger through her pussy, she’s soaking wet. A little moan of pleasure fills the night air as I step up the ladder one wrung. My cock is so fucking hard, so fucking ready. “Stay leaning forward, Lean, or this ladder won’t stay flat on the ground.”

  It’s a tight fit on the platform, but she doesn’t seem to care. She leans on her elbows and braces herself. My fingers slip inside her pussy, making sure she’s good and wet. I can already feel her gripping me and can’t wait another second to experience her tightness on my cock. I line myself up from behind and press forward. It’s the most glorious fucking feeling in the world because it’s her.

  My Lena.

  I brace one forearm on the railing of the ladder for stability and thrust all the way in. Her warmth consumes me, calling me home. With my other hand on her side, I let my hips do all the talking. My movements are frantic, my pace swift and hard. The water laps at my thighs, and I swear the ladder is one thrust away from possibly breaking, but I don’t slow down. I can’t. She’s all I see, all I feel, all I want.

  “Is this what you wanted?” I ask, grinding my groin into her ass.

  Lena moans and wiggles against me, seeking every ounce of friction she can find. “God, yes.”

  “Well, hang on, baby. This is going to be a fast ride,” I tell her, as I grip her hip and thrust hard again.

  She’s already pulsing, tightening around my dick, and I know there’s no way I’ll last much longer. I’m too consumed. Lena reaches down between her legs. I feel her fingers squeeze my balls, and I swear I almost come. Right there. She releases my boys but doesn’t remove her hand. I hear her gasp and moan and can picture exactly what she’s doing. She’s rubbing her clit and that thought sends me over the edge.

  My spine tingles as my orgasm barrels at me, full steam ahead. I’m unable to keep my grunts and gasps quiet, especially when she clamps down on my cock and rears back, thrusting her ass at me and riding me as she comes, milking my cock of everything I have.

  “Holy shit,” she mumbles, falling limp on the ladder platform.

  I lean against her back and struggle to suck in oxygen. I can feel the deep pound of her heartbeat through her spine. It’s calming and relaxing. My open lips glide over the ridges and sweet, soft skin. I can smell and taste the chlorine on her back mixed with a touch of sweat. My cock jumps in response to her nearness, to the unique fragrance that’s purely Lena.

  Finally, I pull out and slide back into the water, mostly because my legs won’t seem to hold me up any longer. I float on my back again, just trying to regulate my heartbeat and calm my breathing. I hear the subtle splash of her reentry into the water and feel her arms graze across my chest. I sit up and wrap my arms around her, leaning back against the side of the pool, and holding her close.

  Lena takes a deep breath. “I’m sure today was a surprise to you. We haven’t really talked about the nanny search lately, but I guess I just felt it was time. I’m leaving in just over a week.” I swear I can hear the heartbreak and pain in that last sentence.

  I want to ask her to stay—I almost do—but I remember what her dad said. She has to make the decision. Even if it’s not the one I want her to make, I’ll live. I don’t know how, really, not without her by my side, but I’ve managed before, and I’ll figure it out again. “It was,” I confirm, kissing the crown of her head. “But you’re right. It’s time.”

  Saying those words hurts more than a knife to the chest.

  I place my fingers under her chin and raise her head until our eyes lock. “I just want you to know you’re always welcome here, Lean. Always. I understand this isn’t your scene, what you want for your life, but know my door is always open to you. If you ever change your mind, come back.”

  She swallows hard as tears fill her eyes. “You can’t say that, Mack. Someday, you’ll want to move on.”

  I’m already shaking my head. “Won’t happen. There’s only one woman for me.” I feel her tense in my arms. “I’m not saying that to guilt you or anything, just stating a fact. At the end of the day, or at the end of our six weeks, I want you to be happy, Lean. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  Her tears fall as she looks up at me. “And I want you happy, too, Mack.”

  “Then go home and live the life you were meant to have, Lena.”

  I hold her against my chest as she cries until we’re both pruney and exhausted from sex and emotions. Taking her hand in mine, I lead her to the ladder and watch her naked ass as she steps out. We both just grab our clothes, neither of us worried about the state of our nakedness, as we move quickly to the back door. Once it’s locked behind us, we head upstairs, our clothes disregarded in a heap on the master bedroom floor.

  Lena slips into the guest bath to brush her teeth and get ready for bed, while I check on Oliver. It won’t be long and he’ll be awake, looking
for more food, but in the meantime, I plan to hold Lena close for as long as possible.

  Because our time together has an expiration date.

  She slips back into my room, heads straight for my dresser, and grabs a T-shirt from my drawer. It’s a spectacular view as she slides the material over her naked body and crawls into my bed. I make quick work of brushing my own teeth and return to my bedroom. Or more specifically, to my bed.

  She moves easily into my arms as we curl on our sides, her back pressed against my front. I could hold her just like this forever, if she’d let me.

  But that’s out of the cards.

  So I’ll hold her as long as she lets me.

  It damn sure won’t be long enough, but I guess I’ll deal with that when it happens.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lena

  The garage is wide open, and the guys have been at it since early afternoon. Not only is Fish here to work on his car, but they enlisted the assistance of Chief and Jones as well. They’ve been out there, turning wrenches and talking smack for much of the afternoon. It’s been quite comical to listen to.

  Now, I’m firing up the grill. I made some pasta and taco salad today in preparation for dinner. Early on, it was just Fish who was planning to be here, but something told me to grab more food. I’m glad I did. There are four hungry male mouths out there ready to eat.

  I hear his heavy boots on the deck stop as I’m throwing a dozen hamburger patties on the grill. “You didn’t have to do all this,” Mack says, coming up to stand directly behind me. He smells like dirt and grease mixed with sweat. He’s all male.

  Throwing a light seasoning on them, I close the lid and turn to face him. Mack is standing close—very close— and wearing a grin. “I don’t mind. They’ve been working hard all afternoon. Do you think they’ll get it fired up today?”

  He wipes his hands on a paper towel. “That’s the plan, though I’m not sure why we’re not getting fire yet.”

  “Hmm, have you checked the fuel pump? I noticed it wasn’t something he replaced, but a lot of times, those go bad easily when they sit for long periods of time,” I offer, then feel myself blush right away. I’m sure they’ve probably checked everything they can. They’re car guys, for heaven’s sake.

  “Yeah, I think he bought—” and then he just stops talking. His eyes light up. “We put on a new alternator and battery, but I don’t recall a fuel pump.”

  I shrug. “I remember my dad’s old El Camino having a problem once. The main mechanic at the shop pinpointed it right away. I recall what it sounded like when it wouldn’t start. I sat there and just watched in fascination as he diagnosed the problem and then fixed it.” I blink, pulling myself out of the memory, and find Mack standing there, smiling.

  “You had a pretty kick-ass childhood, you know that, Lena?”

  I nod softly. “Yeah, I know. Even though we struggled after my mom died, Dad did everything he could to make sure I had everything I needed.”

  He kisses me on the forehead.

  “Stop necking with the hot girl!” Fish hollers from the doorway of the garage.

  Mack keeps his smiling eyes locked on mine and asks, “Hey, Fish, did you check the fuel pump?”

  His question is greeted with silence. We look that way and find Mack’s friend scratching his head. Finally, he looks our way with an embarrassed grin. “Shit, I’ll call the auto parts store,” he says, pulling his phone from his back pocket.

  When Mack turns back to me, we both smile. “Well, I better go get the brats and get them on too or they’ll be raw and these burgers will be hockey pucks,” I say, pointing a thumb toward the house.

  “I’m going to wash up and help,” he replies, following me into the house. “Want me to grill?” he asks when he reaches the sink and starts to scrub.

  “That works.” I pull the salads out of the fridge and grab the brats. Mack takes the meat and a pair of tongs before slipping back outside to work on the grill. In the meantime, I set the counter with condiments for the burgers and brats, as well as grab some paper plates and plastic forks.

  “I hear the food is in here,” Fish says in the doorway.

  “Wash up. It’ll be ready in like five minutes,” I tell him, stirring the crushed Doritos into the taco salad.

  “That looks amazing,” Fish says, stealing a few pieces of broken chips.

  “Stop! Your hands are filthy,” I holler, shoving my shoulder into his chest and giving him a gentle push. He doesn’t budge.

  Fish puts his hands up in surrender and heads to the sink. He uses Mack’s scrubber and degreaser and gets his hands as clean as possible.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Mack hollers from the deck a few minutes later. “Fish, bring me a platter.”

  When he returns with the food, Chief and Jones are hot on his heels, ready to dive into the food. The moment Mack sets the platter down, it’s like a free-for-all at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Mack shakes his head and hands me a plate. “Better get a plate before they come back for round two.”

  We eat on the deck, enjoying the early Sunday evening warmth. My burger is loaded with mustard and cheese, and when I take my first bite, a big glob of yellow falls onto my shirt. Right in the middle of my boobs. “I’ll get it!” Fish hollers, but is unable to get up out of his seat when Mack places a warning hand on his shoulder.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Mack growls, but I can hear the playfulness in his words.

  “Where’s the baby?” Chief asks, his mouth full of food.

  “Sleeping. He’ll be up any time now,” I confirm.

  A realization settles in as I dab at the mustard. This is the last time I’ll be here with Mack and his friends, Oliver sleeping upstairs. A heavy weight settles on my chest as I pick at my burger. I can feel eyes on me, but I don’t need to look to see who they belong to. I’ve caught Mack watching me a lot lately.

  After dinner, I head inside to clean up the mess as the delivery arrives from the auto parts store. The guys retreat to the garage to hopefully fire up the old Mustang, while I busy myself in the kitchen. Just as I’m getting the dishwasher loaded, a squawk sounds through the monitor, followed by an angry holler.

  I move quickly upstairs to Oliver, who seems excited to see me. The moment I snuggle him into my chest, a calmness washes over me. It feels right. My heart aches as I take him over to the changing table to clean up his dirty pants, chatting with him the whole time. Once they’re fresh, we make our way down to the kitchen for a bottle.

  I can’t believe he’s over two months old already. He’s awake now for longer periods of time throughout the day and is sleeping longer at night. We get up twice between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., which is way better than three to four times.

  When the bottle is ready, we sit in the rocker, and I slowly move. His brown eyes, the ones that resemble his dad’s, watch me the entire time. My finger gently strokes his cheek as he sucks, a sad smile teasing my lips. I’m going to miss these moments as much as I’m going to miss the baby himself.

  Once I get a good burp out of him, I clean him up and head outside. It’s a gorgeous evening for a walk, but I opt to stay close to the house tonight. We walk around the yard as his eyes take in everything around us. “Soon, you’ll be able to float in the pool, Oliver. And maybe someday you can talk your daddy into getting a bigger pool. One with a slide. Don’t you think that’ll be fun?” I ask, as we bounce beside the cheap four-foot inflatable pool.

  “I’m sure he’d love that.”

  I turn to find Mack standing behind us, something dirty and old in his hands. “What’s that?”

  He snorts. “The fuel pump. It was trash,” he says, tossing it off to the side along the garage.

  I head over to where he is and smile when he takes his son from my arms. I just grin when I realize how messy his hands are, the grease a stark contrast against the white onesie that says “Lady Killer.”

  “Come on, Ollie. Let’s go show Fish how to fix his car,” Mack says to his
son, placing a kiss on his forehead as they go. I follow behind, breathing in the familiar scent of Mack at work.

  Once the new part is installed in the Mustang, Fish gets behind the wheel and fires it up. It cranks on the first try, and I find myself smiling widely at his big, goofy grin. “Fuck yeah! Come on, Lena, you get the first ride!”

  Shocked, I glance over at Mack, who just shrugs. “I mentioned you were the one who told me to check the fuel pump.” He glances at his best friend and adds, “You better keep your hands to yourself.” Even though his voice is stern, he throws him a wink.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Fish hollers right before revving the engine. “You coming?” he asks, looking my way.

  I’m already moving before he even finishes asking. The car is old and can use some serious interior work, but I can tell it’s his pride and joy. He’s practically vibrating with excitement as he carefully pulls out of the garage and heads for the street. Fish stops the car and glances my way. “Ready?” he asks.

  As soon as I nod, he floors the gas and presses the brake. The result is a loud, long burnout that chirps the tires before darting forward. I’m laughing, the wind blowing my hair, and loving the feel of freedom from the engine vibrations beneath my feet. We fly through the streets, driving over the speed limit, but not at a dangerous pace. He only drives around the neighborhood before pointing us back to the house.

  Right before we turn into the driveway, I say, “Thank you for taking me on her first ride.”

  He stops the car in the street and glances my way. “Thank you for making my friend happy again, Lena.” It’s hard to swallow over the sudden golf ball lodged in my throat. He raises up his hands and adds, “I know you can’t stay, darlin’. Whatever your reason, I’m sure it’s valid. Just know he’s a better man when you’re with him.”

  And then he turns the car onto the driveway and parks it in front of one of the back garage bays. Mack and the guys are there, grinning from ear to ear, as we get out.

  “How’d she run?” Mack asks, slowly bouncing Oliver in his arms.

  “Like a dream. I need to tune ‘er up a little yet, but she’s almost there,” Fish replies, tapping the hood of the car. Then he turns to me and adds, “Thanks for the ride, Lena. I won’t tell anyone about the kiss.” He throws me a wink before ducking behind Chief, hiding from the wrath of his best friend. Everyone laughs and goes about cleaning up the shop.