“You only live once, Lana,” he says. “You have to enjoy it, otherwise what’s the point? No regrets.”
“Grab every day by the balls?”
He laughs. “Exactly.”
“I suppose I could try that.”
His outlook on life is infectious. He always makes the best out of every moment, every situation. I wish I could be more like him in that aspect.
“You can start by staying at the clubhouse tonight.”
Why did he want me to stay there so badly?
“And if I say no?” I cross my arms, challenging him.
“Then I’ll just make you.”
“Unfortunately for you, there’s something called free will,” I reply, flashing him a dirty look.
“Yeah, but I’m bigger than you. I can carry you with one hand, so you have to do what I say.”
“Bossy,” I mutter under my breath.
“Not bossy,” he replies. “The boss.”
“You wish.”
“This what you wear to bed?” he says, and I turn in time to see him staring at my chest. I’m not wearing a bra, because I don’t really need one. My breasts are small, but I’m fine with them. They’re perky and easy to manage. My ass, on the other hand, is large and round. I try to contain it, but the thing has a mind of its own. I am a petite girl at five foot two inches, and my backside looks like it belongs on someone with a different frame.
“Yes,” I reply, shrugging, feigning nonchalance.
“Christ, woman. You look sexy in anything,” he says, sliding his large hand over my thigh.
I slap it away. “Tracker!”
“Lana!” he replies mockingly. “You seem tense. I think you need a few hours of fucking. Some orgasms would do you some good. Let me help. Fuck the friends-only shit. Literally.”
Is he drunk?
I nod my head, agreeing with him. “You’re right. Maybe I’ll find someone to take care of that for me. There are a few guys at school who’ve asked me out.”
Suddenly it feels like all the air is sucked out of the car.
I look at Tracker, whose blue eyes are steady on me. “You touch anyone, they die. I didn’t take you for a bloodthirsty woman, but so be it.”
I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “So, what? I have to stay celibate until you decide you’re sick of chasing me, while you get to fuck your way through the female population?”
“Who said I’m fucking anyone else? I’m not asking you to be celibate. Trust me, that’s the last thing you’ll be, it will just be me in your bed every night.”
I squeeze my thighs together.
“Will Allie be joining us?” I ask him in a dry tone. It is only a matter of time before they are back together again. They’d been playing this game for years, and I refuse to be caught in the cross fire.
I hear his teeth grinding.
I’m annoying him? Good, the feeling is mutual.
“I prefer not to share, but if that’s what you want,” he finally says in a tone that I don’t appreciate.
“I think I’ll pass,” I say, exhaling deeply.
“How did you afford this car?” he asks, effectively changing the subject. “Faye give you an advance or something?”
My fingers tighten on the wheel. “Not that it’s your business, but I had some money saved.”
“Do you? Interesting. Very mature of you.”
“Girl needs to protect herself,” I say, my meaning obvious.
“From who? Me?” he asks, sounding incredulous. “I’ve never wanted to protect a woman more than I do you, and you think you need to protect yourself from me?”
This escalated quickly. I want to explain to him that I meant that I needed to protect my heart, but I don’t. I don’t have to explain things to him. I’m not his, and he sure as hell isn’t mine. I ignore the pang in my chest at that thought, and put the car in drive, concentrating on the road ahead of me.
“So do you want to get a bite to eat?” he asks after a good ten minutes of strained silence.
“Anna said she was hungry,” I say quietly.
“Anna’s knocked out, but we can grab something for her so she has food when she wakes up.”
That is thoughtful of him.
“Okay,” I concede. “Where do you want to stop?”
“I know a place,” he says.
“Is it a drive-through?” I ask, staring down at my clothes. Why didn’t I just get changed?
“No,” he replies, chuckling. “But no one will dare look at you the wrong way if you walk in there with me.”
“Still,” I grumble.
“I’ll give you my shirt to put over your tank top. It will be fine.”
“You’re not wearing your cut,” I point out.
“It didn’t go with my outfit,” he jokes, making me smile. That’s the thing with him. He’s so good at making me feel at ease, even right after a tense situation.
“You’re not wearing your hair in a bun,” I exclaim. “It looks sexy in a bun.”
“I’ll remember that for next time,” he says in a low, husky tone that I could get used to.
I clear my throat. “Was Rift busy?”
He grins, looking amused by my terrible small talk. “It was packed. Place is doing great. We hired some new girls for the bar.”
“Is that why you smell like perfume?”