I watch in fascination as he strokes his cock quickly and then sticks his hand over the tip and lets out a long, guttural groan. He pumps it, fast at first, then slowly until he stops. Then he pulls his hand away and I watch a long bead of cum drip from the tip as he begins to go slack. I lick my lips and look to his hand, where he’s got a handful of his release. He reaches for an old towel in the corner that’s ready for washing and uses it to clean his hands.
I get to my feet and he turns to me, his eyes sedated now. “Fuck, that was amazing.”
“You weren’t so bad yourself.” I smile.
He steps forward and cups my jaw with his clean hand. “What are you doing to me, angel?”
I lean in close, pecking his lips. “Being real, honey. Just like you wanted.”
With that, I make sure I’m fully dressed again and I exit the office feeling on top of the world.
Everything happens for a reason, at least that’s what they all tell you.
I think this time, I might just believe that. Tazen came into my life for a reason, and I’m beginning to think I might just like that reason.
Very much.
* * *
Yawning, I finish cleaning the dishes. Dad has been out since before I got home from work, and I’ve been trying to stay awake until he gets home, but that’s proving to be harder than expected. I’m exhausted; I’ve been working like a maniac all day and I just want to crawl into bed. The couch will have to do for now. I walk over and flop down onto it, leaning back and throwing my feet up.
My phone beside me rings just after I finish adjusting the pillows beneath my head. I reach over and grab it, seeing it’s Tazen calling. I can’t wipe the dopey smile off my face as I press the green button and answer it.
“Hey, you,” I say with a smile in my voice.
“Hey, angel,” he responds, his voice husky. “Just ringing to let you know I’ve taken on two brand new jobs, so you’ll get to work with me from the ground up with these ones.”
Yes! Finally he’s giving me a chance to work on cars with him, which is what I’ve wanted since the start.
“That’s awesome, what are they?”
“One is a race car, which we’re doing first. The second is … a race car … of sorts.”
Of sorts?
“So it’s not a race car?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, it is.”
“Okay, who is it for?”
He’s silent for a minute. “Just a local racer.”
Oh my god, he’s lying to me.
“Is that so?” I say.
“Yeah, that’s so. What’re you doing?”
“I’m, ah, waiting for my dad to come home.”
“Why, where is he?”
“He’s out with some friends,” I lie.
“Now who’s lying?”
Dammit.
I sigh. “I don’t know where he is.”
“Does he do that often?”
Only every night these days.
“No,” I lie again.
“Jesus, woman, at least try and tell the truth.”
I snort. “You should talk.”
He’s quiet a second. “Right, subject change. What else are you doing?”
I laugh. “Nothing.”
“You want me to come fuck you to pass time?”
My legs clench and I would really, really like that, but I can’t risk Tazen coming here and finding out just how bad my life is behind the scenes. “I’d love that, but I’m exhausted. I’m going to go to sleep. I have a boss that seriously likes to ride my ass. You should come and teach him a lesson.”
He’s grinning, I can tell, when he says, “That so?”
“Mmmhmm, he really is a bully.”
“Maybe you need to ask him to ride your ass in the more … natural way.”
I snort a laugh. “You’re the devil.”
He laughs too, low and husky. “I never denied it, angel. Go ahead and get some sleep, leaving me hanging and broken because you rejected me.”
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see it.
“I’d love to be fucked by you again, Tazen, but after that little comment I think I might just make you wait longer.”
“We’ll see just how long you can hold out.”
“Oh, we will.”
He chuckles. “All right, angel. I’ll let you go. Night.”
“Night, boss.”
I hang up the phone and fall asleep smiling.
It doesn’t last long. I’m woken to the sounds of my dad stumbling into the room. I rub my eyes over and over again, and when I manage to focus, I see him trip over the rug that’s fraying and torn on the edges. He lands with a thump and I sigh, swinging my legs off the couch. I walk over to him and lean down, scooping the bottle up. He’s passed out cold.
Only he could trip, fall down, and pass out without even a bother.
Too tired to move him, I pull the pillow off the couch and lift his head, placing it underneath. Then I cover him with a blanket, hide the alcohol, put a glass of water beside him and make my way to bed. I don’t even get changed. Instead I pull the covers back and fall face-first down onto the soft pillows.
I don’t move until the sun wakes me in the morning.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“They want it … brown?” I say, scrunching up my nose.
Tazen snorts and stares up at me from the clipboard he’s holding. “They want to be different, who am I to judge when they’re paying me so well?”
“Brown is an ugly color. Cars should be green, or blue, or red!”
He gives me a lazy half grin. “Business is business, angel. Now, call the painter and book in body work for two weeks. Also, get cracking on gathering everything we need for the engine.”
“It’s an impressive engine,” I admit.
“With over seven hundred horsepower, it should be.”
I sigh. “One day I’ll have that kind of power at my fingertips.”
Tazen flashes me a grin. “You already do.”
I throw a pen at him. “Animal.”
“Get going, no favors for the pretty girl. We have work to do.”
“Yes, boss.” I grin, turning and disappearing into the garage.
I make all the calls I need to, then I help Toby fix one of the cars that was brought back in with a busted radiator. I pass that onto Kellan to polish while I fit some sweet black and white tires to an old restored Mustang that’s a lot like mine. Tazen didn’t build it, but the guy that owns it refuses to take it to anyone else. He loves Tazen’s work.
“Quinn?” Rick calls just as I fit the last tire.
I stand, wiping the back of my hand across my forehead and look over to him. “What?”
“How busy are you?”
“That depends, Rick, what do you need me for?”
He jerks his head, indicating I need to come closer. I do this without too much fuss. When I reach him, I cross my arms and prompt him to go on.
“Well,” I say when he doesn’t speak. “I don’t have all day. As much as I’d love to chat and bond with you, we both have jobs to do.”
He gives me a bored expression.
“I’m so glad you’re thrilled with my presence,” I mutter.
“Just waitin’ for Tazen.”
Right.
I stand next to him, wondering why the hell we’re waiting for Tazen. He comes out a moment later with his phone pressed to his ear. He holds up a finger for us to wait, then disappears back inside. Rick steps a few paces forward and I actually lift my arms and smell underneath them. Nope, I don’t smell, he just apparently doesn’t like me. Rude. I walk over and stand by the wall, and because of my new position I can hear Tazen’s phone conversation.
“Give me a month, Murray, and it’s yours. We’re on it now.”
Murray. The man who came in and the two had that completely suspicious conversation. He’s ringing again, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out one of the cars we’re building is for him and whatever the hell he’s doing on the side.