Revved (Axle Alley Vipers)(15)

Rusty crossed her arms and stared up at him, eyes wide. Then he watched the attitude slide into place, the wall come up. “I could have handled that myself.”

“Not from where I was standing.”

She uncrossed her arms and planted them on her hips. “Whatever.”

“Whatever?” Jesus.

“Like I said…”

“Woman, you are so full of it, it’s not even funny.”

She pressed those soft, full lips together and glanced away for a few seconds. When she turned back she looked like she was sucking a lemon. And shit, even sucking a lemon the woman was gorgeous.

Her green eyes locked on his. “Fine.” She dropped her hands to her sides. “Thanks…you know, for your help.”

“Any time, Foxy. But you don’t need to thank me, not for that. That asshole was way out of line.” Her eyes flared and her mouth got tight again. Screw that. “What now? What’s got you pissed off this time?”

“Nothing,” she answered too damn fast.

Then a light switched on, a goddamn spotlight on high-beam. He’d gotten a similar reaction when she’d stormed out of his workshop, after he’d kissed her, after he’d told her how gorgeous she was.

After catching her with that asshole in here, it wasn’t hard to work out she dealt with that type of thing a lot because of her looks, but still, she had to know he wasn’t like that creep?

No, you’re worse.

He shook off the voice in his head, because it was true, he was worse, but what made him even more of an asshole? He didn’t care. He wanted something, he went after it. He’d never gotten a damn thing sitting around waiting for it. He’d learned to go after what he wanted, no matter the cost, when he was just a kid.

Fear was a strong motivator, and he’d had it in spades growing up. Fear that one day he’d end up just like his old man. Fear that if he didn’t work his ass off, get his mother out of the shit-hole they’d called home, he’d eventually walk in and find her dead at the bastard’s hands.

So yeah, he’d had motivation to make something of himself, to ruthlessly go after what he wanted. He had no hope of stopping now, because that fear, it was still there, driving him forward, keeping him hungry for the next thing. Without that hunger—if he slowed down, if he stopped—he knew that darkness twisting deep down inside him would finally break free.

And that, he would never allow.

“Foxy, you gotta know I’m not that guy.” She shook her head, not looking convinced in the slightest. “Are you afraid of me for some reason?”

Her brow furrowed. “Of course not.”

“Okay, you going to tell me why you walked out on me the other night?”

She shoved her hands in her pockets. “I told you, I’m not interested in you that way.”

He took a step closer. “No?” She shook her head but didn’t retreat. No, she stayed right where she was. “I don’t believe you.” He took another step closer, and still she kept her feet planted. “A woman doesn’t kiss a man the way you kissed me and not want another taste.”

He stopped right in front of her and tucked a loose strand of shiny, auburn hair behind her ear. “You telling me you don’t want another taste? ’Cause I sure as hell do. I haven’t had nearly enough of you, Rusty West, and I think you feel the same way, but you’re just too damn stubborn to admit it.”

She lifted her chin, looking up at him, and scowled. “You’re so damned arrogant.”

“And you’re fucking cute when you get pissed off.”

“Oh my God, you did not…”

“I suggest…strongly, unless you’re gonna cut the shit and tell me you want me to kiss you again, you keep that pretty mouth shut.”

Her lips parted, then closed, then did it again. He’d surprised her, and that looked good on her as well.

She scowled some more, and he struggled not to smile. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll prove it to you.”

“Listen, Chuckles. You are waaaay off base here. So how about you move your arrogant ass out of my way and let me get by. My girls will be wondering where I am, and I need to get back to work.”

Despite the smart mouth and the insults, she was breathing harder, her chest rising and falling rapidly, close enough her hard nipples brushed his chest. But most telling of all, she still hadn’t moved. “Is that right?”

“That’s right.” She was whispering now, and he felt the soft words all the way down to his balls.

“So you wouldn’t like it if I did this?” He slid his hands around her waist and hauled her closer.