Page 16 of Racer

Her expression said she didn’t believe him. She inhaled slowly, but her hands were still trembling.

I slid my palm against hers and interlaced our fingers, already moving and grunted, “Come on.”

She let me lead her away, keeping her head down, until we were around the corner behind a stack of shipping crates. No one could see us there—not crew, cameras, or asshole thugs looking for a reaction.

I pulled her against me, and she came without resistance. Nor did she fight me when I wrapped both arms around her and held her tight.

Her hands bunched in my shirt, and she buried her face in my chest, breathing shaky and quiet. I didn’t say anything. Just held Emily and let her fall apart. She didn’t make a sound, but I could feel the tears soaking my shirt.

A few minutes later, she finally exhaled and stepped back, wiping at her eyes. “Sorry,” she muttered. Then she blew out a harsh breath and fisted her hands at her sides. “I just…ugh. I hate that I freaking cried. I hate that they scared me.”

“They should’ve,” I said, brushing her hair back from her cheek. “Those fuckers were threatening you. You don’t have to be like stone every second of the day. Feeling something doesn’t make you less.”

She tried to scoff, but it wobbled. “You sound like my brother.”

I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “I sound better than your brother, angel. And a fuck of a lot more dangerous.”

Her eyes widened just slightly, and I saw the flush spread down her throat. It was sexy as hell, and I wanted to follow the trail of color with my tongue. Instead, I muttered, “You don’thave to blend in with the guys, baby. Fuck their opinions. You’re not one of them.”

Before I could stop myself, my fingers brushed her cheek and trailed to her collarbone, causing her to shiver. Her skin was as soft as silk, and her bright blue eyes had deepened to sapphire. Then my lips curled down at the thought of her standing out among the grease monkeys, and I blurted, “Never mind.”

She blinked up at me. “Why?”

I hesitated, thinking about all the ways I could answer that. Ultimately, I settled on the truth. “Because I don’t want other men looking at you like that. I don’t want them wanting you. Fantasizing about my angel. Touching what’s not theirs—even if it’s only in their dreams.”

Her lips parted, and her breath caught. “What…what do you mean?”

Lowering my head, I slid my hand to her waist.

“I don’t share,” I said, my voice a raspy whisper.

She didn’t say a word. Just stared up at me, eyes wide, lips soft and parted, as though she was frozen on the edge of something dangerous and didn’t know whether to jump or run.

Running wasn’t a fucking option. Clarity slammed into me. I was never gonna let her go.

My eyes dropped to her lips, and I took hold of her chin, lifting her face so I could kiss her. Devour her. Fucking ruin her for anyone else and brand her mouth with mine. I was gonna give her a kiss she’d never forget.

“Racer.” Edge’s voice snapped around the corner, sharp and mocking. “Kane’s headed this way. If you wanna keep your balls, maybe don’t be caught making out with the girl he sees as a baby sister.”

I rolled my eyes, but Emily tensed and immediately tried to pull away.

“Nope.” I caught her wrist before she could flee and yanked her back against my chest.

She let out a tiny squeak, her eyes darting toward the open lane. “Kane’ll see!”

I raised an eyebrow and reached around to hook my fingers into the back belt loop of her coveralls, holding her flush to me with a smirk.

“So?”

Before she could speak, Kane came around the corner, and I reluctantly let her step to the side, keeping a hold of her belt loop so she couldn’t get away.

He stopped and looked us over with concern. “You two good?”

“Peachy,” I said, voice smooth and relaxed.

He frowned and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Saw those two assholes leaving the pit a few minutes ago. You run into them?”

I bobbed my head once. “Been handled.”

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