I get out of my room and walk up the hallway until I’m putting Frog down on the table in the living room where he’ll be able to see the front door, the hallway, the kitchen, and of course, the dining area. He should be happier here. Besides, he’ll be able to play with Aria all the time and she’ll absolutely love that.

  With that sorted, I scoop my car keys off the entryway table and get my ass out of here before Dad can find a reason for me to have to stay behind.

  I drop down into my beautiful yellow car, turn her on, and instantly get goosebumps from the feel of the engine purring beneath me. That’ll never get old.

  I start making my way towards Maxen’s property, hoping to God that I can remember the way. I’m about halfway there when my phone starts going nuts in my pocket, cutting off the music as it comes through the Bluetooth. Again, another thing that will never get old.

  Tully’s name flashes across my dashboard and I instantly hit accept on my steering wheel, feeling like the fanciest bitch around.

  “What’s up?” I say, focusing on the traffic and hoping all the people in the other cars on the road are jealous of my baby.

  “Is Noah forcing you to go to Maxen’s place?” she questions with a groan.

  “Uh huh. You too?”

  “Yep. Do you know what’s going on?”

  “No idea, but he seemed excited,” I tell her.

  Tully sighs and I grin, knowing what’s coming next. “Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about,” she says. “I just can’t understand what’s so freaking important that we need to go see right this very minute.”

  “Who knows?” I laugh. “It’s always a surprise where your brother is concerned.”

  “Don’t I know it,” she grumbles. “We’ll be there soon.”

  “We?”

  “Yeah,” she says. “Me, Aiden, and Spence.”

  Spencer? Geez, this must be the third time this week they’ve been hanging out. Ever since the fight at school, he seems to be a constant in our lives. I mean, I understand saying ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ in the hallways when we pass, but this is going from zero to one hundred practically overnight. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing at all romantic about it, but it’s just a little…odd.

  Who knows? Maybe hanging out with the dude and getting all that male attention is good for her. I mean, it’s a bit different when the attention is coming from Aiden. I guess it’s a different sort of attention. Maybe he’s helping to relieve the ache Rivers has left behind, and if that’s the case, the guy can hang around as much as he wants.

  “Alright,” I tell her. “I’ll see you soon then.”

  Tully ends the call and I get back to concentrating on where the hell I’m going and before I know it, I’m pulling up to the property that has been stealing all of Noah’s attention lately.

  There are tractors and heavy duty machines everywhere and I gawk at everything before me as I drive down a long driveway. How the hell have they managed to accomplish so much already? The answer pops into my head a second later. Trust funds.

  Geez, I can only imagine what life would be like to live rich and famous, but then I think I wouldn’t be content. I’m so happy right now that I wouldn’t dare change a thing, except for the whole Rivers and my biological mom thing– they kind of suck. I got such a thrill when I got this new car and it still amazes me nearly two weeks later. I doubt the trust fund babies would get that same feeling and that’s honestly a shame. I guess that’s the silver lining of life.

  I see Noah’s Camaro parked up ahead and it doesn’t look like Tully has made it yet. I keep driving in, concentrating a little harder as to not run over any of the millions of workers or screw up anything that they’ve been putting all their time and effort into.

  It doesn’t go unnoticed that the track is basically done, and my God, it’s freaking huge. This place is incredible, and while most of it is dusty and incomplete, it sure as hell looks like the new place to be. Maxen has started something incredible here and I don’t doubt that over the next few years, this could turn into something huge. Hell, it even looks like a track that you’d see on TV, nothing at all like the last one.

  I park my car beside Noah’s and by the time I step out, he’s already found me and is bounding toward me. Noah collects me and without even giving me a chance to say ‘hi’, he throws me over his shoulder and gives my ass a good spanking. “What’s going on?” I laugh. “Put me down.”

  “No way in hell, Spitfire,” he chuckles as I dangle behind him, having the perfect view of that scrumptious ass. It’s as though my hands have a mind of their own. They travel down his back and instantly grab hold of it, loving the way his tight muscles feel as he walks to wherever the hell he’s going. “Are you alright back there?”

  “Mmmhmm,” I smile. I can practically feel his eyes roll. “So, what’s this big thing you’ve got to show me?” I ask, hating dangling upside down but loving the perks. I mean, maybe I could slip my hand inside, get a bit of that skin on skin action.

  “Hey, quit it,” he laughs as my hand slips down to grab hold of what’s mine. Did I mention that my hands are cold?

  “Answer the question,” I tell him, giving a little squeeze.

  “Spitfire, if you don’t stop that, I’m going to be screwing you right here in front of all these guys.”

  “That’s fine by me,” I tell him, knowing there’s no way in hell he’s about to strip me naked in front of other people. I mean, he’s adventurous but he doesn’t like to share and the thought of all these people seeing what’s his would be enough to drive him insane.

  Noah groans but thankfully gets back on track. “It’s not exactly something to show you, it’s more like something we need you to do.”

  “Uhhhhh, have you seen where we are?” I grumble, confused. “There’s literally nothing I could offer this place. I mean, I’d be a good spectator when it opens but you know just as well as I do that I can’t build shit or should even have anything to do with making suggestions for this place.”

  “Trust me,” he laughs. “I know.”

  “Ha. Ha. You’re so funny, Noah Cage.”

  Noah spanks my ass once again and I have to squeeze my thighs as a moan sails out of me. I know he didn’t mean for that to be sexual, but damn. My body certainly reacted that way.

  Noah laughs at my reaction and rubs is hand over my ass for good measure. “Fuck, babe. You’re so wound up.”

  “What did you expect?” I murmur, hoping the workers around can’t overhear our conversation. “All I’ve been able to think about since I left was how you were going to punish me.”

  “Damn straight, you have,” he says proudly. “But don’t worry, the second I get you alone, I’ll make the wait worth it.”

  “You better,” I tell him. “I’ve been wet this whole time.”

  Noah chokes on air. “Jesus Christ, babe. Are you trying to get me hard? These dickheads won’t hesitate to give me shit if I’m walking around with a stiffy.”

  “Hey, if I have to be hot and needy then it’s only fair that you are too.”

  “Trust me, you’ll be even hotter and needier once you’re finished here.”

  “Huh?” I grumble as he reaches Maxen and starts putting me down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’ll see,” he says before sharing a look with Maxen that has me on full alert.

  Maxen gives me a beaming smile. “Glad you could come.”

  “Believe me,” I grumble under my breath. “I haven’t cum at all.”

  Maxen gives me a strange, confused look while Noah smirks and attempts to smother a laugh. The boys fall into conversation and before I know it, a familiar Jeep is pulling up beside my Supra.

  Tully clambers out of her Jeep and spots me instantly. She slaps on a smile and waves her arms around like an idiot, happy to be here as Aiden and Spencer stand beside her. She got her cast off during the week and while she probably shouldn’t be driving yet, nothing could hold her back. She’s been missing her Jeep and I guess it’s only fair that she be able to climb in and drive.

  The boys continue chatting about God knows what while Tully, Aiden, and Spencer make their way over. I don’t have to wait long as Tully is far too impatient to find out why we’re all here.

  “Why the hell did you drag me out of bed?” Tully demands, scowling at her brother. "I was marathoning ‘The OC.’”

  Noah rolls his eyes. “It’s not like you’re missing anything. You’ve watched that whole series from start to finish at least ten times.”

  “Fifteen,” she deadpans. “What’s your point?”

  “My point is,” Noah says, grinning at me before turning towards the nearly completed track, “the track is nearly done and we need to test it out. Maxen was thinking of having a chicks race and wanted to see how girls would handle the track first. Seeing as though I’ll never let you two actually race for real, I figured why not be our test dummies and give it a crack before it’s too late?”

  I stare at him blankly before glancing over at Maxen who looks hopeful. “You’re shitting me, right?” I mutter. “I’m not racing, especially against an unpredictable turd like Tully.”

  “Hey,” she demands. “I’m a great fucking driver. I don’t need to be unpredictable on the track to whip your ass.”

  “Bullshit,” I grumble. “Have you seen my new car? I’ll be finished before you even find the accelerator.”

  “First off,” Noah cuts in before this shit gets ugly, “you wouldn’t be racing for real. Just going fast enough to show us how the track handles, and second, if you’re both too pussy to give it a crack, I can find some other chicks who actually have a set of balls.”

  My mouth drops open. “Fine. You have yourself a deal, but if I’m doing this, I want it as authentic as a real race.”

  Noah narrows his eyes at me, trying to figure out where I’m going with this. “What do you mean?” he questions, cautiously.

  “I want you in a little string bikini to start the race.”

  “What?” he grunts. “No way, besides, if you want it authentic, then you need a chick to start the race.”

  “No. She’s right,” Tully cuts in. “You have chicks start races all the time for the dudes. If it’s a chick race, we need a guy.”

  Maxen laughs. “I hate to say it, but they have a point.”

  “Bullshit,” Noah grumbles. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m not putting on that shit and strutting around for my sister to watch. Spencer can do it. Besides, I’m racing with Henley.”

  “The fuck, dude?” Spencer grunts, cutting me off before I have a chance to put Noah in his place. “Like hell.”

  Aiden’s hand shoots up. “I’ll do it.”

  Within the blink of an eye, Tully turns to Aiden and grabs the bottom of his shirt before bringing it up and looping it over the neck hole and pulling tight, making a makeshift bikini and showing off his incredible body. “Perfect,” Tully cheers as the rest of the guys all shake their heads.

  I look to Maxen. “This is cool and all, but wouldn’t you prefer Tora, Brooke, and Kaylah be your test dummies?”

  “No way. Have you actually met those girls? They’ll be too busy shit talking each other over who’s going to win that they’ll forget to actually race. Besides, I don’t want any of my friends seeing this until it’s done. I’ve got a few points to prove.”

  “Alright then,” I say turning to Tully. "Let’s do this shit.”

  We turn and start heading back towards our car and I look over at Noah as he walks right along beside me. “What do you think you’re doing?” I ask with a raised brow.

  “I’m not about to let you on that track without me.”

  I groan but Tully’s objections cut me off. “No fair,” she calls out, turning back to face Maxen. “If she gets coaching, then I want some too.”

  “I’d hardly call it coaching,” Noah says. Not a second later, Maxen is hurrying after us and the four of us start heading towards the cars; the level of competition between us suddenly rising.

  I get into my Supra and wait for Noah to close his door before backing out of my space and following his instructions to the starting line. “Have you ever raced this track?” I ask him as Tully pulls up beside me.

  “Do you think I’d let you two idiots onto this track without having done it a hundred times first?”

  “You’re right,” I laugh. “Stupid question.”

  He grins back at me and starts giving me a few pointers on the track but I don’t think I’m listening. All I can concentrate on is the way Tully’s staring at me from her car, drawing a line across the front of her neck and letting me know exactly what she thinks is going to happen during this race.

  I’ll let her try for a little bit, let her think she’s winning, but then I’ll smoke her.

  I force myself not to laugh at the way Aiden struts out onto the track, probably living out his ultimate fantasy. Aiden looks to me as Noah pumps the music. “You ready?”

  I grin and nod. “Bring it the fuck on.”

  Aiden shakes his head before looking at Tully. “You ready?”

  “Please,” she scoffs. “I was fucking born ready.”

  Aiden holds up his handkerchief and I watch out the corner of my eye as Noah’s hand curls around the holy shit bar. I chuckle to myself but the second Aiden’s hand drops, it’s fucking game time.

  I take off like a bat out of hell. My Supra instantly slips in front of Tully’s old Jeep. I mean, she was kidding if she thought she’d get the jump on me. This car was made for this shit while hers was built for running along the beach and hot cheerleaders.

  “Fuck, babe,” Noah laughs, glancing back to see his sister lost in my dust.

  As I approach the first bend, I risk glancing up into my rearview mirror and catch Tully struggling to keep up. I don’t doubt she’s pushing her Jeep as fast as it can go, but it’s not enough to keep up with the power pulsing out of my Supra. Don’t get me wrong though, she’s kind of keeping up.

  I hit the corner and sail around it as though my car was made for this very purpose. Precisely forty-five seconds later, I cross the finish line with no sign of Tully behind me.

  “Shit, babe,” Noah says. "That wasn’t half bad.”

  I grin to myself as I continue driving around until I’m pulling up behind Noah’s Camaro. "That was nothing," I tell him. “Have you ever had a chick whip your ass on the track?”

  “No,” he laughs as though the idea is simply ridiculous.

  “Well,” I smirk, “you’re about to.”

  Noah watches me for a moment and I know I have no chance in hell, but now seeing that I’m capable of giving it a good shot, it’s a challenge he’d never back down from.

  “You’re fucking on, Spitfire,” he tells me before leaning over, kissing me and getting out of my car. He walks around to open his Camaro door before stopping and looking back at me. “I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line.”

  With that, the cocky bastard winks and drops down into his car.

  Yeah, we’ll see who crosses that finish line first.

  Not a minute later, Aiden starts the very next race and within the blink of an eye, Noah is showing me exactly what it means to be the best damn racer in Haven Falls.

  I stay right up on his ass for as long as I can, but let’s be real, he’s got me on each and every corner, dominating the track just like I knew he would.

  He speeds across the finish line with nearly every worker, desperate to stop and watch his performance as he puts me right back in my place. I come flying across after him and realize he was right earlier when he said that I’d be hotter and needier when I finished here. No other statement has ever been so true, even more so when he glances back at me with that cocky grin, reminding me who my King is.

  Chapter 17

  With the track just about ready, Noah has been spending more and more time working on his car, even though it’s already perfect. I literally don’t think there’s anything more he can do to it, so I’m pretty sure all he’s doing is pulling pieces out, giving them a clean and putting them right back in the same spot. I mean, this whole car thing is kind of an obsession.

  The fact that the boys all stand around to watch him do it…I mean, that just boggles me. How is it so interesting? Today it’s Jared, but usually, Spencer and Aiden are here, but they have some family thing and will probably end up over here in another hour or so.

  Don’t get me wrong, when Noah gets all hot and sweaty and takes his shirt off, working on his car suddenly becomes interesting, but for the guys whose eyes are focused on the engine…nope, I just don’t get it.

  I sit back with Tully on the porch, sipping on sodas while Aria runs around the yard. Ari’s supposed to be doing her homework but seeing as though she fell over and scraped her knee earlier, I’ve been a bit of a pushover. I can get her home early tonight and we can do it after dinner. I know everyone always says not to mix up a child’s routine but screw them. I’m doing the best I can, and besides, she absolutely loved all the attention she got after she fell over. Everyone was pawing at her to make sure she was alright. She put on the crocodile tears and sure enough, Violet came out two seconds later with a popsicle for her to suck on.

  That little lucky ducky. I wish I’d had a mom like that who would dote on me all the time. Noah, Tully, and Lily must have had the best childhood with her. I’ve never been so jealous.

  Jared gets a call from his older brother and within the blink of an eye he’s gone, leaving just us feeling empty without the fourth member of our group. It seems to be happening all the time. When others are around, we’re busy and our attention is elsewhere, but the second they leave, we’re left remembering that there’s a big gaping hole in our lives.

  Noah finishes up on his car and I somehow convince Aria to start on her homework, though it doesn’t happen without her throwing it right back at me, and she’d be right; I should be focusing on my homework. After all, those grades won’t raise by themselves.