Ocean (Damage Control 5)

She sits up as I try to catch my breath and ignore the pain. Face and tits flushed a deep pink, beautifully naked, she gets up, distracting me yet again as a fresh wave of arousal goes through me.

I watch her round ass as she vanishes into the kitchenette and returns with a glass of water and painkillers, which I swallow gratefully.

She then takes the glass away, places it on the coffee table and straddles my lap. Damn, she’s a sex goddess. She kisses me, long and deep until we both gasp from lack of air, and she cups my face.

“Whatever it is you’re planning to do tomorrow, I’m coming with you.”

“No, Kay. No fucking way.” I shake my head for emphasis. “You can’t. Told you, it’s dangerous.”

“Assuming there’s really no other way to get what you want, any non-dangerous way…” She does that thing where she bites her full lower lip and has me panting with desire. “Then I’m coming with. To look after you. To help you. I’m with you, and that’s what you do for people you love.”

I’m with you.

Just that, and my last defense crumbles to dust.

***

She’s waiting. She’s stroking my face, her sexy curves pressed to my body, trapping my hard-on between us.

I need to be inside her again, urgently, but she’s right. I have to tell her.

No more secrets. No more walls.

I drag her closer. “I’m going to race tomorrow. Mom’s treatment is costing an arm and a leg, and without the insurance covering her, I have to find that money. So I told Duane that I’ll race his car.”

She stiffens, draws a sharp breath. “You’ve done it before. You said you used to race.”

“I did.”

I can practically hear the cogs turning in her pretty head. “It’s dangerous. Because of the speed.”

Can’t deny it.

Fear clouds her bright eyes.

“You’re already hurt,” she says. “Your ribs may be cracked. You could shatter them. You could end up in the ER.”

I wince at the prospect. “Let’s hope not. I have to do this, Kay. There’s no other way to get that much money on short notice.”

“Can’t you ask Zane for a loan? An advance on your salary?”

“It’s a lot of money, sweets. And I may still have to do it, if I don’t win the race.”

“Don’t do it. I can’t bear the thought of anything else happening to you.” Her eyes are a soft gray in the low lights. “I’d worry to death.”

“I’m sorry.” And I mean it. “I can’t think of another solution.”

I wait, my stomach a hard knot. Please, God, don’t let this drive her away from me, not when I just found her. Not when she says she’s not blaming me for the past, and she loves me.

Goddammit, I knew love wouldn’t be enough.

But as I watch the emotions flit over her face, I see fear fading into thoughtfulness, then determination.

“I’m driving you there.”

I open my mouth to say no, then close it again. It’s just… “This is illegal business, Kay. And if you’re seen there, you could get into trouble.”

“Don’t worry about me. Worry about staying safe and coming back to me.”