Diablo stumbles back a little from that explanation and it’s enough for me to slam my door. I start my car and peel out of the parking lot. I check my rearview mirror and Diablo’s still standing there speechless.
Nolan doesn’t say a word until we’re back on the freeway heading north towards Oak Mountain. My hands are shaking and sweat is forming on my brow. He turns in his seat, watching me. I take my eyes off the road for a second and glance at him, offering him a small smile as he rests his hand on my thigh, comforting me.
“We will get through this Ash. I promise,” Nolan’s strong voice fills the silence.
The surrounding air becomes stifling until I can’t stand the pressure anymore. I pull off at the first rest area we arrive at and turn into a parking spot far in the back, away from everyone. I shut the car off with unsteady hands and attempt to take a deep breath. I can’t get air into my lungs and spots fill my vision. What if’s and why’s flood my brain.
“Ashley, talk to me. What’s going on?” Nolan asks.
I try to get out of my car, but I can’t find the door handle. Panic floods my veins. I have no control over anything and the reality of the situation settles in my bones.
I can’t breathe. Tears are in my eyes, black spot cloud my vision and I have to get out. I need to inhale the fresh air. I claw at the door handle again but still can’t open it. I try to unbuckle my seatbelt, but my fingers won’t work on that either. They’re numb and my body won’t cooperate.
Suddenly my door flies open and Nolan unhooks my seatbelt. He hauls me out of the car into his powerful arms, and I’m finally able to catch my breath. It’s short little bursts, but it’s better than not being able to breathe at all. I draw a deep breath holding my tears at bay as Nolan holds me up. His hands caress my back trying to help me get feelings in my limbs, trying to soothe me.
“Hey, it will be OK, Ash. We will fix this, and I’ll be with you every step of the way.” Nolan says gently.
His deep voice penetrates through my panic attack. I can finally acknowledge his strong hands rubbing up and down my back, soothing me. My vision clears, and I can breathe again. I wipe the tears from my eyes and hold onto Nolan tight. He’s grounding me, saving me from falling over the edge. His tone is gentle and reassuring. I look up into his whiskey eyes. He has a line appearing on his forehead and he’s unsure what to do, but he’s doing everything right.
“Thank you. I haven’t had a panic attack like that in a long time.” I reply.
I move my hand up and stretch my fingers over his forehead, smoothing out that wrinkle. I lean up, so our lips are only a breath apart. I need to touch him, know he’s here. I kiss him and yank him closer to me. His hardness grinds against my stomach through his jeans and I let out a whimper from the back of my throat.
Nolan kisses me back, his tongue entering my mouth as I part my lips. My body is on fire as he runs his hands up and down my back, pressing further into me until I’m trapped between his body and my car. I wrap my legs around his waist when he picks me up and sets me on the trunk of my car. With his height, he can nestle his body between my legs and direct the sensations flowing through me to my center. I pull his head back and tighten my legs around him, locking my ankles together. I lick and suck my way down his throat and he tightens his hold on my waist, tugging me closer against him, grinding against my center. I run my palms down his bare chest and a shiver wracks through my body and into my soul. Every time I touch him, I’m on fire, like I can’t get enough of him. He continues to rub against my pussy and his hands are under my tank top, squeezing and kneading my breasts.
“God, I want to fuck you so badly,” Nolan whispers in my ear. His dirty mouth has my body responding as a moan leaves my lips.
“I need you now,” I whisper back.
I don’t care where we are or who’s around. Nolan rips his lips away from my ear he was nibbling and looks around. We’re off the beaten path, cars are driving in and out, but I parked far enough away where they can’t see back here. I lean into him and bite his nipple gently, then soothe it with my tongue. His body shivers under my mouth as I keep doing it. Before I know it, Nolan has me up and off the trunk, pulling my mouth from his heaving chest. His hands unbutton my jeans and he slides them down my legs. I can’t step out of them because of my boots, but Nolan spreads my legs slightly apart, making room for his body. A breeze is blowing across my naked legs and center, creating a chill to run across my heated body. Nolan kisses his way up one leg, then repeats the process with the other. Once he reaches my center he licks my clit, creating a moan to escape my lips. Nolan continues to lick and suck as he runs a finger down to my entrance, coating it with my wetness.
“Fuck, Nolan I need you inside of me.” I moan.
He licks his way up my body and I hear him unbutton and unzip his jeans. I reach inside to free him from the confinements of his boxers. His hard cock is massive in my small hands as I grip it and give it a tug, generating a shiver and groan from him.
“Ash, I won’t last long with your sweet hands playing with me.” Nolan moans out.
I guide him to my center, trying to spread my legs as wide as they can go with my jeans around my ankles. I brush his cock along my wetness, coating it.
“Hands on the trunk,” Nolan demands.
I release his hard shaft from my grip and turn around. I rest my palms on the spoiler and his heated body scorches against my back. He spreads my legs with his rough hands and runs his fingers from my clit to my opening. I stick my ass out a little more giving him better access. Nolan grabs my hair with one hand and uses his other to rub his cock down my ass towards my center.
“Fuck me, Nolan,” I moan out.
He tugs my head back slightly and enters me from behind. The sensation of his hands in my hair tugging it and his cock penetrating me causes a sigh to escape my throat. The thrill of getting caught sends me higher and higher. Barely taking short gasps as he moves in and out, slamming into me from behind. The build-up starts low in my stomach. Nolan grips my hips painfully but continues his punishing pace, our bodies slapping together in the night air.
“So beautiful, come with me,” Nolan growls. His hand moves to my clit, his fingers pinching and rubbing it sending me over the edge.
“Fuck, I’m coming,” I groan out in ecstasy.
My pussy tightens around his cock driving my ass into him hard. I enjoy the minute Nolan let’s go. He grows bigger inside of me before slamming into me a few more times. I explode around his cock, milking him for all he has. My name tears from his throat as he finds his own release. Our pace slows down, sweat is coating our bodies as we both come back to reality.
Nolan rests his head on my back and inhales sharply. The wind picks up creating chills on our heated skin. Nolan pulls his softening shaft out of me and kisses my shoulder. I pull my jeans back up. Once I’m dressed, I turn to face Nolan, leaning up against the trunk of my car.
“I don’t know what we will walk into, but if my gut is telling me anything it won’t be good.” Nolan rests his hip on the trunk next to me, crossing his ankles and drapes his arm over my shoulder, pulling me against him.
“Ashley, we'll get through this, you and me. I’m here and not going anywhere.”
“I know, I’m still worried though. What if something happened to everyone? What if they’re not there?” I ask, staring into his whiskey colored eyes.
He brushes a piece of hair away from my face that spilled out of my bun. Nolan’s phone rings loudly from inside the car, startling both of us. He pushes off the trunk and snatches it.
“Ryan here.” Nolan barks out. His face drops and his jaw becomes tense. He paces back and forth on the pavement, running his free hand through his brown hair. “Iverson, slow down. Where are you?” I strain to hear what Ashton’s saying, but I can’t. “We’re on our way.” Nolan covers the phone with his palm and glances at me. “Ash, how far away are we from Mason Park?”
“About thirty minutes,” I answer. “Nolan, what
’s going on?”
“We’re about thirty minutes away,” Nolan repeats into the phone. He pauses, “Yeah, we’re good. Had a little run-in with the Tres Seis Gang, but no harm. Someone was tailing us, but we lost them.” He pauses again to listen to Ashton. “What happened to everyone?” Nolan asks into the phone. He nods his head then realizes Ashton can’t see him and stops. “OK see ya there.” Nolan hangs up his phone, looks at me and then drops his gaze to the ground. There’s apprehension in his eyes. He drives his hands through his hair again, making it messy.
“Nolan, what’s going on? Where did everyone go?” I ask again.
“Hotflash said she received a message from you claiming we left early to get set up, so they took off in a hurry.” Nolan answers. There’s something he’s not saying. I can tell because he isn’t looking me in the eyes.
“Anything else?” I challenge. Nolan hesitates. “Nolan, we’re in this together. What are you hiding from me?” I demand.
He still hesitates, and it’s pissing me off now. I cross my arms and stand tall, staring him down until he answers. He starts squirming under my gaze.
“Ok, Ok, I’ll tell you. Damn woman put that away.” he responds.
“Talk now, Ryan,” I demand.
“It’s not good. It has nothing to do with you, but it does me. My past is coming back to haunt me.”
Chapter 27
Nolan
Ashley’s body relaxes slighty, she uncrosses her arms and her shoulders sag forward. She’s still watching, expecting me to elaborate. Fuck me, I don’t want to tell her. It was hard enough explaining part of my past back at the beach, but she needs to know. She needs to realize how damaged I truly am. How many layers I have. The past I worked to keep hidden is catching up with me now. Years of running and hiding all shatter in an instant. Ashley’s going to blame herself. She’s going to blame her lifestyle.
I pace back and forth in front of her car, my long legs eating up the distance quickly, trying to decide how much to tell her. I run my hands through my hair again and clutch them behind my neck. My muscles are trembling with dread. Ashley’s eyes are on me, watching me, waiting. I struggle to find the words, but they escape my brain before they can pass through my lips. I can’t do it. I can’t tell her yet. When I do, she’ll never look at me the same again.
Ashley approaches me and rests her hands on my chest, covering one of the many scars marring my body. I shudder as her fingertips lightly graze my exposed skin. She kisses the scars gently; her lips are hot causing a shiver to wrack my body.
“I don’t know where to begin,” I whisper into her hair.
“It’s all right Nolan, I’m here. I’ll help you any way I can," she replies, leaning her head against my heated skin. Her hot breath fanning across my neck.
Ashley wraps her arms around my waist and holds me tight. I release my neck, resting my arms on her shoulders, drawing a difficult breath. My phone chimes from inside the car, breaking me from my self-loathing. I unwrap Ashley's arms from around me and grab my phone off the charger. I read the text and peer up at her.
“We have to go."
Releasing the breath I've been holding, grateful I don’t have to walk down the path of my past right this minute. Time is ticking and all that shit, but I can’t tell her. I’m not ready to face my demons. I climb into the passenger seat and Ashley gets into the driver’s side. She’s irritated. It’s rolling off her in waves and the guilt is making my stomach churn. It’s my fault she’s irritated, but I can’t go there yet. It isn’t the right time.
Ashley starts her car and drops it into first. She takes off from the rest area, the tires screeching under her hard demand. Her hands are tight on the steering wheel, turning her knuckles white. I settle my hand on her thigh, trying to relax her, but she cuts her eyes in my direction glaring at me. She hasn’t removed my hand, so I’ll take that as a sign. She shifts into fourth as we enter the freeway, flying into the night.
The clock on the radio says it’s almost eleven p.m. Everything that’s happened in the last few days is catching up with me. My eyes grow heavy, the thrumming of the tires on the asphalt relaxes my body and I attempt to snap out of the slumber demanding to take over, but I can’t resist it. I lean my head back and close my gritty eyes. I just need to rest for a few minutes, then I’ll be good to go.
Chapter 28
Nolan
“Nolan, wake up,” Ashley’s voice invades my ears. I release a sigh. Warm hands rest on my bare chest, shaking me. “Nolan,” Ashley’s gentle voice is in my head.
I slowly open my eyes and look around. Ashley. I can smell her strawberry essence, but I can’t see her. It’s pitch black all around me. I can’t make out anything. The soft green glow of the dashboard isn’t even there to light up her face. It doesn’t seem like we’re in a car. There’s a cool breeze against my torso, and hard, unforgiving earth digs into my back. What the fuck?
As my eyes focus more, I can finally make out Ashley’s face. I see the concern etched on her features. She wipes away a tear and turns her head away from me. What happened? Why is she crying?
I can’t talk. I can’t move anything but my head from side to side. My hands aren’t moving, my legs are numb like needles stabbing them repeatedly. I have no feeling in my body. I try to speak but my voice still won’t work.
“Hey, don’t try to talk,” Ashley whispers. Her hands are still on my chest, warm and inviting.
“What’s going on?” I finally croak out.
“You were having a nightmare and I couldn’t wake you,” she whispers again.
“Why can’t I move and why are you whispering?” My throat is scratchy when I speak.
“You have to stay quiet,” Ashley whispers again.
My hands are resting across my waist. They're tingling now, like my legs, trying to get blood flow back into them. I can open and close my fists. I repeat the process until the tingles work their way up to my shoulders. I turn my head to look out a window above us, but I hit something cold against my cheek. My breathing picks up and panic is setting in.
“Calm down Nolan. If you make any sudden moves we’re dead,” she whispers.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, whispering like she is.
“I’ll explain later, but you need to stop moving and stop talking,” Ashley’s voice is soft and pleading.
Something is wrong. Something happened while I was sleeping, and I can’t piece it together. I close my eyes, trying to curb the panic attack waiting to happen. The last time I had no control over my movements I ended up almost bleeding to death from these scars marking my body. This feels the same but different. Feeling finally comes back into my body and the same coldness that was against my cheek when I turned my head is against my bare back. Cold, hard and unforgiving.
My brain is finally working properly as I try to move again. Ashley’s body pins me against the hard ground. I can barely make out her face, but I can see the pleading in her eyes to stop moving. I concede my movements and listen to the sounds around me. I use my other senses to access where I am and what’s happening. There's water dripping from somewhere in the distance. Voices are far away, arguing about something. Dust and dirt is surrounding me, choking me.
I flex my hands and feet. Stabbing pain shoot up my legs almost making me pass out. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. My brain triggers a memory of being tied up and useless and I fight to lock it back up in the corner of my mind. Ashley’s warm body pressing against mine grounds me to the here and now. Her soft hands are still resting on my chest, keeping my movements still. I hear footsteps approach us and I stiffen. My muscles are tight as the voices get closer. Ashley’s body tightens against mine and I’d do anything to wrap my arms around her and soothe her, but I still can’t move more than an inch.
“What are we going to do with him?” A deep voice asks from somewhere. I try to pinpoint where they are, but it’s hard to tell.
“Fuck if I know. But Ian wants her alive for now,�
� another voice says in the darkness, this one full of hate and rage.
Ashley lets out a little whimper when the second voice speaks. She stifles a sob building in her throat and presses herself closer to me. Her body is trembling with fear. Goosebumps break on across my skin and dread fills my stomach. There is only one person who can make this strong, sexy woman tremble with fear and I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to her. Finally, able to move my arms, I wrap one around Ashley, pulling her closer, trying to soothe the fear radiating from her body. The voices stop talking and their footsteps fade away into the distance. Ashley relaxes a little against me. She’s still trembling, but not as bad as before.
When I hear nothing else for a few moments, I try moving again. White hot pain shoots up my left leg again, starting at my ankle and stops at my thigh. Beads of sweat break out across my forehead and I almost pass out from the pain.
“Please stop moving. I think your leg is broken,” Ashley whispers in my ear.
“Ash, what happened?” I whisper back, wishing I could see her face and wipe away her tears that are falling against my chest.
“You fell asleep and in the middle of a nightmare while I was driving up to the meeting spot. A pickup appeared behind me out of nowhere, blinding me with their high beams. I tried to outrun them and almost got away when another pickup blindsided me from the entrance ramp. He hit your side of the car, slamming us off the road and into the median. When I finally came to, they were at the car. I couldn’t see their faces, they had on black hoodies. Two men dragged your unconscious body out of the car and started kicking you. I was screaming at them to stop, but I was pinned inside. Then I felt something poke my skin, and I blacked out. Next thing I realize I wake up in this room. I have no idea how we got here. I do know that was Shaun’s voice that spoke. This is bad, Nolan. Really, really bad.” Ashley whispers.
“How do you know I was having a nightmare?” I whisper.
Racing Dirty, L.A. Page 18