Speed King (Men of Action 1)

She grins widely. “Actually, we covered that. I personally don’t care, but we’re putting a decorative barrier around the perimeter. If anyone bypasses, then it’s their risk.”

I brush my lips across hers. “Smart thinking.”

“It’s possible for me to come up with a smart idea once in a while.”

“Well, then I better get you to the courthouse tomorrow before you wise up and decide to ditch me.”

“Not a chance, I think I chose well for my first husband.”

I slide my hand into her waistband and slap her ass gently. “Just try to get away from me, see what happens.”

She giggles, cupping my chin. The beauty on her face is my undoing. The urge to feel her body against mine takes over.

“Go back to bed, baby. Get ready for me. I’ll be right there.”

Her eyes spark with desire. “Okay.”

When she’s back inside, I give the darkened landscape one more glance. Another memory crashes into my brain, this one taking me back to the beginning.

“Um, hi. Achilles, right?” A nervous voice sounded from behind, and I slammed my locker closed, expecting to see one of the snooty bitches vying for my attention. All the girls wanted to take a walk on the wild side, trying to land the bad boy of the school.

Instead, I faced the sweet, quiet, and extraordinarily pretty Harley Jacobs. She thought she was invisible, but I’d had my eye on her since the year before. One thing that kept me from making a move was the fact that her dad was a cop who now had a permanent place on my speed dial. My lips curled and I nodded, trying not to get hard at the blush on her cheeks.

“Yeah, people call me Ace.”

She scrunched her nose adorably. “I’m—”

“Harley Jacobs, know who you are.”

She stood straighter. “That makes this a lot easier. Ready for science?”

“You’re in a senior science class?’

“Yep!” The pop of her ‘p’ hit me straight in the dick. “Hand me your phone.”

On autopilot, I did as she asked and watched her type furiously. Her phone rang as she handed mine back.

“I’m in your favorites and will get your contact set up when we get to class.”

“Did I miss something?”

“Not yet, but if we don’t hurry, the class will start. It would suck to get the evil eye on the first day.”

I decided to play along, because this girl was adorable and made me want to reach out and tug her to my body. “Lead the way.”

She let out a little breath and slid her arm around my elbow. “There’s a concert this weekend downtown. Indie rock band that my dad and his partner are providing security. Want to tag along?”

At the mention of her dad, my body tensed. If she noticed, she didn’t let on, continuing to babble.

“I mean, we obviously can’t drink or anything, but it’s a cool little dive and Dad won’t mind.”

“Never been a huge fan of live music, but yeah, we can go.” Suddenly, nothing sounded better than taking a chance of listening to a shitty band if it meant spending time with her.

She beamed up at me and my chest constricted, feeling that brightness soak into my veins. A flash of something caught my eye, and I noticed her pink chucks.

“Cool shoes.”

The compliment shot that beam of brightness straight to brilliance.

“Thanks! I have an unhealthy obsession with chucks. My mom gripes when we have to replace them every few months. She always offers to buy me…”

The memory fades as I picture those two kids—who are now adults—side by side.

You’re a lucky motherfucker, my subconscious reminds me.

I head back inside to the woman in my bed that kick-started my life path all those years ago.

Lucky motherfucker.