by Harloe Rae
Shane laughs at my reaction, but stays on topic. “They busy today? I could have swung in for a few hours.”
I shrug. “Nah, they’ve got it handled. There wasn’t much on the schedule. The entire town is probably here today.”
“Right? It’s crazy chaos. Everyone is making a killing. The shops have gotta be pleased,” he drawls. “I got a burger from Maggie’s, but am already thinking about what’s next. You’re making that turkey look like a solid choice. Sounds like Steve has kabobs grilling and Shawn’s dad brought his smoker for ribs. Plus, we’ve gotta save room for dessert.” Shane rubs his flat stomach.
My mind wanders to Raven, and I wonder how their sales are doing. Not sure how many people want coffee or tea with these other options available. As if I’d spoken aloud, Shane clues me in big time. “Have you tried the new girl’s baking? Best cookies I’ve ever had. Word on the street is she made special recipes for today.”
Shock streaks through me before my filter can catch up. “Raven?” I blurt. “You mean that girl always with Delilah?” Before looking like a complete tool, I rein it in and smooth my features.
He quirks a brow. “You know her?”
Shit, not really. His words are a reminder of how little I actually know, besides her tendency to monopolize my thoughts. “I’ve seen her around,” I say coolly. “Didn’t know Jitters was making food.”
“They weren’t until recently. You’ve gotta try her stuff. So damn good.” The appreciation in Shane’s tone sets off a chain reaction inside me.
The meat in front of me is forgotten as a craving for something far sweeter sets in. A spike of unexplainable jealousy strikes next, but I force it aside. There’s no way I’m envious of people eating her desserts. That’s utterly stupid . . . but exactly what’s happening. This fucking chick is destroying me . . . and I’m starting to enjoy the ruin.
“You okay?” Shane asks, shaking me from my idiotic revelation. “Why’d you stop eating?”
I comb through my hair, fidgeting to keep my hands busy. “All good. Just thinking about shit.” He waits a moment for me to elaborate. I don’t.
“Gotcha. Well, we’re planning on heading to the raceway later. Connors and Holt are going head-to-head for some charity event. One of them will probably break the track record. It’ll be a sight to see,” he tells me while finishing off his burger.
I find myself nodding. “That’d be great. I don’t got shit to do.”
It doesn’t get much better than watching fast cars fly across the finish line. Burning rubber coats the air as tires peel out while the engines roar so loud my bones vibrate. It’s a piece of heaven on Earth.
Shane smiles wide, like I’ve just made his day. “We were thinking of asking some chicks to tag along. Got any suggestions?”
With a chuckle, it hits me. They always come to me when digging for company. “Need me to round up some girls?”
His expression lights up as his head bobbles happily.
I rub over my mouth to hide the grin breaking through as a plan materializes. “Pretty sure I can find a few. What time you thinking of going?” He prattles off some details, but I’m not listening. My mind is lost in golden waves and sparkling sapphires. Adding Raven into the racetrack equation? Fucking wet dream waiting to happen.
It takes all my control to remain seated after Shane hands me a reason to approach her. My knee bounces in anticipation of walking over to the bright pink stand with the gorgeous dessert maker. The type of sugary treat I’m after isn’t a cookie or cake, yet that’s a convenient excuse for my eagerness. We want women to tag along tonight and fuck, she’s turning me upside down so I might as well take advantage of the ride.
I cut into Shane’s stream of nonsense. “All right. I’ll message you later. Gonna get to work.”
He claps me on the back before I stand. “Yeah, buddy! Knew I could count on you. Is Addison on your list? She might be cool.”
I study him while scratching my jaw. “Got a crush?”
Red creeps up Shane’s neck, lighting him up like a neon sign. “Uh, well . . . I dunno. Maybe? Doesn’t have to be her, or anything. Just, um, a thought. You can decide.”
“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter dismissively, already losing interest. I turn and weave through the crowd with my target set. My heartrate kicks up as I decide how to play this. For some asinine reason, Raven wants to be friends. That’s not happening, but I can use her interest in my favor. I’ll take her out and wear her down until she’s helpless to resist.
When I see Raven in the booth alone, the burning in my lungs disappears. She doesn’t notice me right away so I stand silently, taking in her graceful movements. She’s adding something on top of a cupcake when she glances up. Her fingers slip and jab into the frosting, ruining the perfect swirl. I’m about to make a comment when she shocks me silent. Looking directly at me, Raven licks the icing from her thumb, and my cock jerks to attention. As she continues torturing me, I attempt to adjust myself without being too obvious. This is a family gathering, after all. Raven smirks, catching me red handed, so I shoot her a wink. Little witch knows exactly what she’s doing.
We continue staring without exchanging a word. Maybe we can get through this without fighting.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But I’m determined not to fuck up, at least until later.
I step closer and lean my forearm against the stand’s siding. “Fancy seeing you here, Princess. Had no idea you’ve been busy baking.”
She leans closer and whispers, “What gave me away?”
“Smartass,” I snort.
“Asshole,” she shoots back.
“Glad that’s outta the way.”
Raven tilts her head. “Uh, huh. What’s up, Trey?”
I rock back on my heels. “Just checking out the goods.”
“That sounds suspicious.”
“Maybe. Or not.” I keep my expression neutral, locking down the desire in my gut. For now. “Tell me what you’ve got here.”
Raven starts at the far end of the counter and points to each dessert while listing them. “Mixed berry fruit tart, blueberry scones, key lime cookies, strawberry muffins, and of course,” she pauses while gesturing to a fancy tiered setup, “a wide variety of cupcakes.”
I take in the impressive display, and my attention snags on a particular detail. “Is that a wrench?” I ask while reaching for a black cupcake.
“Yup. I made those specifically for Garden Graze. They’re called Dirty Mechanic.”
My hand freezes as her explanation registers. That bizarre pressure is back in my chest and for a moment breathing is difficult. The sensation is happening more frequently in her presence. I rub at the ache and sneak a glance at Raven. She’s smiling at me. Not in a snarky way like the local girls do. Her expression is genuine and open, goodness radiating from her. I’m caught in the tide and sinking fast.
Fuck it. Might as well plunge deeper.
“That’s . . . interesting. Any specific inspiration behind these?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You’ve left quite the impression. Figured I owed you something in return,” she says with a lift of her chin.
My fingers are gravitating toward the frosted dessert again. “Can I have one?”
“Of course. That’ll be five bucks.”
“For a cupcake? Seems a little steep,” I mutter while picking it up.
“They’re gourmet and made with the finest ingredients. That’s how we get away with charging so much. Plus, they look so pretty.”
“Not sure if that’s the term I’d use,” I reply. She’s not far off, though. The thing is decorated professionally with a stupid amount of detail. Not sure why someone would spend this much time on something to eat. I twist it this way and that, inspecting all the angles. The shading and layers are impressive, like a tiny piece of art.
Raven laughs. “It doesn’t taste like grease and chrome. I just made it look like something from the garage.”
“I’ll say. There’s even spec
ks of grime on the metal. Almost a shame to ruin it,” I grumble as my mouth begs for a bite.
She gestures to the cupcake. “Will you just try it? I’m on pins and needles over here.”
“What’s the flavor?” I ask, although nothing will stop me at this point.
“Black licorice, chocolate, and gingerbread.” My eyes snap to hers as she continues, unaware of the bomb detonating inside me. “They’re actually really good. The combination sounds a bit odd, but that was the point. I wanted something unique, like you.”
The words are out before I can stop them. “My mom loved black licorice.”
She sucks in sharply. “Oh, wow. Um, I wasn’t expecting that. Do you like it too?”
My gaze lowers, and I nod, stunned silent. I stuff my mouth full as a means to recover, which has the opposite effect. The rich flavor explodes on my tongue, and a rumble rolls through me. Memories of licorice wheel races in the kitchen slam into me, and my lids slide shut. We would laugh while unwinding the sticky spirals, ribbing each other about who’d win. Sometimes we’d go through an entire bag without thinking twice. I loved those things but haven’t had one since she died. Without even knowing, Raven gave me a piece of the past I’ve kept buried.
When I’m done chewing, Raven holds up another. “More? This one’s on the house.” I grab it without a word, opening the floodgates wider. Suddenly I’m desperate to have all the good vibes wash over me. I groan again, getting far too much satisfaction from a cupcake.
There’s a hitch in Raven’s voice when she murmurs, “Hopefully I didn’t upset you. I made them as more of a joke than anything. I had no idea that, well, there was such significance to the flavor.”
I clear my throat between bites. “Nah, Princess. This is a good thing, really fucking great actually. I’m surprised, sure, but in a nice way. Am I making any sense?” I finish with a rough swallow as Raven wipes her cheeks, affected by my honesty. Her reaction means more to me than it should. Something shifts between us in this moment, like a key opening a rusty lock. It’s raw and potent and scares the hell out of me.
I watch her, waiting for the spell to be broken. Delilah does the honors when she rounds the corner into the booth. My guard crashes down, locking firmly in place. The peaceful atmosphere evaporates with her unwelcome presence.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Delilah says. “Took you long enough. Figured you’d be over here first thing, drooling over my girl’s sweets.”
Raven elbows her and shoots off a glare. “Be nice.”
She’s defending me? After how I’ve treated her? Well, shit, I don’t deserve her kindness.
Delilah rolls her eyes. “Seriously? He dishes it out twice as bad. Trey knows the score. Pretty positive he can stand up for himself.” She looks back at me. “Did you try a Dirty Mechanic yet?”
I smirk and hold up two fingers. D raises her brow and nods. “That’s what I thought. So, why are you still standing here? Aren’t you more of the eat-and-run type?”
“Oh, those cupcakes were just a teaser. I’m here for more than dessert.” I’m responding to Delilah but looking at Raven. A blush paints her cheeks, and I fight the urge to touch the heated skin. My pulse pounds in my temple as Raven nibbles her lip. “There’s a group of guys heading to the raceway tonight. A few pro drivers are dueling it out for some charity event. Was thinking you might wanna join us.”
Delilah gasps. “Holy shit. Are you asking her on a—”
I cut her off and continue addressing Raven. “It’s not a date. It’d be a bunch of people hanging out. That’s it.” I haven’t taken a girl out with my friends in years. Probably since high school. But this is casual, no big deal.
Yeah, fucking right.
Raven gawks at me. “Wait a minute. You want to willingly spend time with me?”
Heat creeps up my neck as both girls watch me. My defenses flare, ready to lash out, but I hold off. “Not if you’re gonna make a huge deal about it,” I rasp. Sweat trickles down my spine as I wait for her decision.
“Can D and Addy come?” Raven asks, all sugar and no spice.
I clench my teeth, but agree with a sharp nod. Raven is the only one I’m willing to entertain so her friends better stay out of the way. I won’t get anywhere near her real goodies with them hounding me.
Delilah squints at me, like she can’t figure it out.
“What?” I snap.
“Are you feeling well? Or what’s your motive here? This smells worse than horse shit.” She waves the apparent stench away. And that’s about all I can handle for one afternoon.
“Know what? Forget it," I spit and push away from the stand. I stalk off without a backward glance as humiliation boils in my blood. My feet feel off balance as I shove through clusters of people, pure instinct propelling me forward. It’s been a month of this turmoil, and sanity is slowly slipping away. I need to lick my wounds in private before taking out my fury at the gym.
Screw this shit.
The shaded alley calls to me as the noise of The Graze is left behind. Just as I’m stepping into the narrow space, someone yanks me back. I glare over my shoulder. It’s her. I don’t want her anywhere near me.
“Didn’t get the hint, Princess? Leave me the fuck alone,” I seethe.
Her grip moves down until she’s clutching my forearm. “Don’t push me away, Trey. Before Delilah came back, you were different. For a second, you let me in so don’t let this ruin it.”
I scoff, venom dripping from my tongue. “What do you want from me, Raven? Want me to pour out my feelings and cry on your shoulder?”
“No,” she whispers. “You brought up the past, not me. I don’t expect anything. Except maybe your friendship?” she suggests with a wince.
My chest rises and falls rapidly. “You really wanna get into this again? I’m a lost fucking cause. Go waste time on some other poor sap.”
She shakes her head. “Stop saying shit like that. I don’t believe you.”
I stretch my arms out wide, my brown eyes blazing into her blues. “This is me, Princess. Flaws and all. I’ve warned you off enough, and time is up. Accept me as is or get fucking lost.”
Her breathing falters, making her tone hoarse. “I want it all, Trey.”
Malice echoes through me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah . . .”
“Remember you asked for it,” I say. Then, I push her against the brick wall.
KISS
Raven
TREY’S WORDS SOUND like a threat, but all I hear is a promise. There’s no resistance as he shoves me against the brick. He cradles my head, making sure I don’t smash into the unforgiving surface. But that’s where his gentleness ends.
Trey roughly grabs my hips, hoisting me up, and I wrap my legs around him. He presses between my thighs and smashes my ass against the wall. Being pinned has never felt so delicious. I grab his shoulders and pull him closer, wanting his force everywhere. No way is he going anywhere. Screw the consequences. He’s probably going to ruin certain parts of me, but Trey won’t break my heart. I won’t let him.
His coffee irises gleam with mischief, urging me to play. I lift my chin, baiting him, ready to beg for it at this point.
“I’m beginning to think you like being caught up like this. Third time’s a charm, right?” Trey’s voice is dripping with seduction.
“I definitely don’t hate it,” I say with a tilt of my pelvis.
“You drive me wild,” he grates while rocking forward, letting me feel his arousal.
My fingers claw at his shirt, dragging him into me. “Kiss me,” I murmur. Trey holds back. When I pull harder, he arches away. “But I want you.” I prod further.
He squeezes my waist. “You like being teased?”
“Doubt it.”
“Hmm, let’s find out.”
My protest dies off as Trey slowly inches forward. My lashes flutter as I wait for his touch, but it doesn’t come. At least not where I was expecting.
He brushes his lips against my j
aw before sweeping down. His mouth latches onto my collarbone, applying barely-there pressure with his teeth. Goosebumps rise in his tongue’s path as he sucks along my sensitive flesh. I stretch to give him better access, and Trey takes advantage. His palms drift up my sides, settling on my back, and I’m being held captive. My head lolls to the side while I get lost in his torturous treatment.
This is foreplay . . . to a kiss.
Jesus, I can’t imagine how sex with him would be. Once the thought sprouts, it grows beyond reach. My desire expands, and I can’t stop imagining us together.
As Trey nibbles up my neck, I picture smooth skin and sculpted muscles. I envision him hovering over me, straining with effort. I see our bodies sliding together, hard into soft.
By the time he reaches my earlobe, I’m ready to scream. “Please,” I whimper. “Stop tormenting me.”
“But you taste so good,” he growls. “Better than you smell, and I wasn’t sure that was possible.”
I’m not really listening as my body takes control and inhibitions fall away. This position restricts my movement, but wiggling is always possible. He sucks in sharply before shifting impossibly closer.
“You’re a little witch, Princess.”
“Stop messing around. You’re getting me all riled up in broad daylight.” My voice is a breathy rasp.
“Are you really complaining?” he asks.
I manage to shake my head.
“That’s what I thought.”
The time for talking is over when Trey’s mouth crashes down on mine. My gasp grants him instant entrance, and he doesn’t waste it. His palm cups my cheek, tilting my face just right. Then, he dives in with sure strokes, caressing my tongue with an erotic glide. He tastes like a Dirty Mechanic—the tang of black licorice makes my heart flutter.
My fingers spear into Trey’s hair, yanking at the roots. He groans into me, and I answer with a moan of my own. Our hips roll together. The friction is electric, pants be damned. Trey hauls me closer, and our lips form a tighter seal. As our mouths are locked in a heated embrace, his hands roam and explore. My nails scratch his scalp as he palms my ass. My belly flips when he rubs me against his rigid length.