He cuts his gaze over his shoulder at me but turns back around without saying anything. As he starts rolling away, my arms snap around his waist, my reflexes making the decision easier.
His muscles jump and bunch under my hands with the contact, and I spread my legs wider, pressing my front firmly against his back and screw my eyes shut when he suddenly takes off.
My hands tighten on the hard waist I’m clinging to, but I finally peer over his shoulder, seeing we’re going a different way than what Sarah and I did. I assume that’s to avoid any possible problems that could involve running into the second team of guys who might want them dead.
It takes longer to get to Halo, but I slowly start to relax, my hands getting lazy in their grip on Axle as they drift a little lower. I’m tempted to run my hands all over his body while he’s busy driving. But obviously I don’t want to die.
Sarah told me a lot about him and this new job I’m giving them on my way over here. She filled me in on her plan that involved keeping me safe and getting their financial situation under control.
All for the guy who doesn’t appreciate it—Jude.
Her one warning was that if I fucked her guy, she’d slit my throat. Not that I needed that warning. I’m not interested, and even if I was, I’m not an idiot.
Then she told me all about Axle. Well, all I needed to know, anyway.
Axle’s body stays tense. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m touching him or if he’s on high alert, but he’s rigid all the way back to the massive building they call home. They all pull into a large garage or hangar—not sure of the technical term here.
The space is massive and has tons of bikes already in it. The second Axle is parked, he reaches for my hands and quickly tugs them loose, dropping them fast as he stands and dumps my skates to the ground. He doesn’t bother turning around as he walks toward Drex.
“We’ll find you a room in a few. All are occupied at the moment, so we need to shuffle some things around,” Drex tells me, but I’m busy chasing Axle through the doorway after picking up my skates.
Unlike the last time I was here, there’s not a wild party going on with people screwing in the corners. Numerous guys with beards or scruff are staring at me like I’m some beast that has four heads as I hurry through the space in my socked feet with my skates in my hand.
“Who’s the derby chick?” someone asks, but I don’t hear the answer, because now I’m following Axle up a set of stairs.
I look back in time to see Drex taking a seat with the guys, his face serious as he says something, but I return my attention back to Axle as he steps into a room. I charge in with him, and he steps back, eyebrows up, as I shut the door behind me.
“I want to stay in here with you. Not in a room alone,” I say in a rush, my heart pounding heavily.
The last time I was here, I was naïve to their barbaric ways with women. Now I’m not.
His expression goes from confused to annoyed within seconds. “Out. And no. Fuck no, you can’t stay in here.”
“I am staying in here, and you’re really going to like me. I can do some totally awesome things with my hips when I’m on top, and—”
Something loud sounds from below, like a gunshot, and I try not to react. I’m so far out of my depth. It’d be easier in my town, on my turf, but…not so much when you’re not family with the bad guys.
Damn it, Sarah. What have you gotten me into?
Axle’s eyes narrow on me.
“I’m not fucking you. Are you seriously whoring yourself out for a room?” he asks incredulously.
Feeling a little brave, I step toward him, my neck craning back so I can look up into his eyes. His expression almost turns angry, but I figure that’s just his default look.
“I’m not whoring myself out for a room. You’re the only one here I’d touch, and I want to be in here with you. And it could be fun—”
A squeal leaves my lips when he shoves me against the wall suddenly and slams his fists on either side of my head as he leans down to get into my face, caging me in. I hold my breath, my body tingling in silent warning to remain still as those hard eyes lock on mine.
“You think this is a fucking game?” he asks in a quiet but lethal tone. “Privileged girls get bored and want to be bad for a little while, but this isn’t the route for that road.”