Opening Up

  He couldn’t shield her heart from people she so desperately wanted to approve of her. But he was damned glad he could be part of the positive side of her life. Glad that he could love her and protect her as much as possible in the face of this bull with her father.

  CHAPTER

  Twenty-four

  Asa came in just as she was unzipping the overalls she used while doing details work. She folded them, putting them in her duffel.

  “I like this direction.” He waggled his brows at her. “We should take this to your place. Or my place. Or any place.”

  “I’m having lunch with Julie and my brothers, remember?” PJ shook her hair out after she’d freed it from the bandana she’d had covering it.

  He watched as she put on lipstick and changed from her work boots into flats.

  “Since I can’t take you anywhere and have my way with you, I’ll let you know I’ll be here until about four, then heading to the track for a while.”

  She tiptoed up to kiss him quickly. “Have fun.”

  “Come out when you finish.”

  “You need time with your friends without me.”

  “What do you think I do all goddamn day? I work with them. They’re dirty and greasy and they smell bad. You, by comparison, are dirty but in the good way, not greasy, and you smell really good.”

  How it was that he managed to be so bossy and sexy at the same time, she didn’t know. It was a potent brew she could not resist. She shook her head as she grinned. “You’re so grumpy when you don’t get your way.”

  “It seems pretty obvious, then, that in order to keep me cheerful you just do as I ask.” His frown was more of a glower, but when he sent it her way, it was toothless. When it came to PJ, Asa was a marshmallow and she knew it. He’d draw blood to protect her, but he put a hell of a lot of effort into making her happy.

  “I know it does. It’s one of the reasons I love you. I may come out but don’t count on it. I haven’t seen Audra in ages so I might see if she’s free to do something,” PJ said.

  “All right. Text me to let me know. Can I come over after?” Asa sent puppy-dog eyes.

  “You hate my apartment. Though to be fair, you hate every place that isn’t your house.”

  “I have a big bed and my coffeemaker is nicer. My shower is bigger. So is my bed.”

  “And you’re more in charge in your own house.”

  Busted. “So the solution is for you to come over to my house and spend the night.”

  “But you’ll be out late racing and fighting and all that. I have work tomorrow.”

  It wasn’t a complaint. There was no anger or resentment in her words at all. She totally accepted that part of his nature. That burning need to go hard and fast in so many parts of his life.

  He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a ring with three keys on it. He dropped it in her palm. “Front door. Back door. Door from the garage into the house. I have lemon coffee cake. I’ll make you come so fucking hard you see stars when I get home.”

  Really, how could she say no to that?

  “This is an offer I can’t possibly pass up. Say hey to everyone for me. I’ll see you later,” PJ said.

  He hugged her, stealing a kiss. “Drive safely, okay?”

  She nodded. “You too. Don’t get arrested.” She waved as she headed out, leaving him laughing in her wake.

  In the old days, he’d have stayed out at the track and then drunk and fucked around for hours, crawling home after two.

  But that was before PJ was waiting in his bed, in his home. He raced and talked cars and drank beer with his friends, and he was glad he had. PJ had been right about that. He’d needed the time with them without her too.

  But by ten he was done and on his bike, headed home. To her.

  His house was quiet, but her car was in his garage when he pulled his bike in. He’d insisted she start parking in his garage when she visited. When it got cold it’d keep her out of the elements.

  Her scent was in the air as he came through the house, hanging up his things and taking his shoes off. He liked her red sweater draped over the back of a chair. Bits and pieces of his woman all through his space. Making it a little hers too.

  He heard the music as he got to his bedroom. And there she was, on his bed, in a tiny tank top and an even tinier pair of panties, her glasses perched on her nose as she looked up at him from the book in her hands with a smile just for him.

  “You’re home. Did you have fun?”

  “I’m home.” He went to her then, pulling her up to her knees on the bed. She was home for him too.

  He kissed her and she hummed in that way of hers, all pleased and feline.

  “This is more fun than racing. But you weren’t there for this, so I had to settle for racing. It was fun too.”

  She grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Damn right. Glad you had fun otherwise.”

  “How was your lunch?”

  “We plotted revolution.”

  “I can tell I need to be lying down for this.” He pulled his clothes off and got in bed, shifting his arm so she could move into her place, snuggled at his side.

  “Jay had some big ugly set-to with my father and Fee. My dad walked out after Fee said some nasty stuff about me to Jay. Wouldn’t take a side. Fee threatened Jay, but for once, Jay stood up for himself and for all of us. Turns out Jay had done his homework and found some leverage for us as siblings to make a power move to take over.”

  “I take it this is the revolution stuff you mean.”

  PJ nodded. “There’s a poison pill provision in the contract my dad and Fee signed when my grandfather got ill and they took over. There’s a way to combine to push them out. If we want.”

  “And do you? Want that?” Asa treaded carefully here.

  “They said the new Colman would be one where I’d have control of a paint and detail shop. My clients, Colman bays. It’s what I hadn’t dared to hope for. They said they appreciated my creativity and my voice would be heard. This is our company. Grandpa would have wanted us to do this.”

  Asa didn’t want her hurt. Jay hadn’t done his job and it had harmed PJ. He hadn’t protected her as a brother or as a co-worker, and though he knew she wouldn’t want Asa to judge her brother too harshly, he did. Her father and uncle hurt her and Asa wanted to shield her from that too. He also wanted to punch Howard Colman right in the mouth for telling PJ she was a failure, but that wasn’t for thinking on because she needed him to support the choice she’d already made in her mind and heart.

  When he first was getting to know her, she’d talked with a great deal of affection about Colman Enterprises and had always shown pride that it was a family business. If they succeeded, she’d be doing what she wanted and building for the next generation too. He knew she wanted that and so even though he worried about her getting hurt—again—he needed to help her get it.

  “I want you to do what makes you happy. What makes you satisfied. I support that, no matter what it is that gets you there. But if any of them fucks up and you end up bearing all the heat for this, I will personally kick his or her ass.”

  “So romantic.” But she laughed.

  “You’re going to do it.”

  She paused, choosing her words. “I’ve been thinking about it. Not just today, of course, but since I left. I had a plan when I resigned. I knew they’d realize how much I did and how integral I was to Colman and ask me back. Beg me maybe, but I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. But they… didn’t. I wasn’t expecting that. So my dad and uncle, they don’t care. They’d rather me be a silent cog in their machine than bring anything to the table on my own. I just couldn’t choose that path. I made my own way. I’m not pretending I didn’t have a leg up because of my name. But I built this business in large part because I’m good at it. And my brothers and sister, they see it and appreciate it. Not as well as they should, maybe. I guess I have to accept that it’s never going to come from them in a way I need. But I get it else
where.

  “The truth is, Colman means a lot to me. I can’t just turn my back on it when it needs me. My father and uncle, they’ve stopped innovating. They’re satisfied with tires and they don’t think beyond that. Beyond when they both retire. That offends me. Maybe it won’t when I’m their age. But yes, I’m going to do it because someone should fucking care about this business.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Yes, they should.”

  “What do you think? And don’t say ‘whatever makes you happy.’ I don’t need you to tell me what to do. I want your input.”

  “I think you should do it. It’s going to be tough and there’ll be a high chance of family drama, but you know that. You want to do this. If for no other reason than that, I’d support you. But you need to do this, and I understand that. I’ve got your back.”

  She went up to her elbow to look at him better. “You do. Thank you for that.”

  “My heart.” He cupped her cheek. “Didn’t see you coming at all. And once I did, you were faster and cornered me. Thank god you never fucking give up, huh?”

  Laughing, she bent to kiss him. “You let me catch you. You wanted what I have going on.”

  He rolled, laying her flat on her back, looming over her. “Yes. I do, every moment of the day. Speaking of which, I promised you orgasms earlier.”

  “So hard I saw stars. If you wanted to be really accurate, I mean.”

  “Top drawer. Blue silk bag.” He paused. “Yes, for now. Bring me the bag.”

  She licked her lips, her pupils big, a flush on her skin before she padded over to his dresser, where he kept most of their toys and gear. While her back was to him he took the opportunity to look at her ass in those little panties he’d be divesting her of shortly.

  Then she turned and it was the way her nipples pressed against the front of her tank top that caught his attention.

  She came to him, handing the bag over. He got to his feet, licking his way up her neck.

  She took his hand and guided it to her pussy, pulling the fabric of her panties aside.

  Ready? Hell yes. So hot and wet they both groaned.

  “Of course I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for you,” she murmured as he pulled his fingertips away.

  When she said stuff like that it sort of unraveled him. That raw honesty regarding how much she desired him was the hottest thing.

  One-handed, he pulled her tank top up and off. She smiled, one brow rising. “So.” He opened the bag and slid the magnetic clamps into his palm. “We tried clamps before, but they weren’t right for your piercings. Let’s try these.”

  He kissed along her jaw and neck before playing with her nipples, making them harder.

  He put each clamp on, letting the magnets and the bars through her piercings work together.

  She sucked in a sharp breath as the sensation bolted through her. Still, more pain than she preferred was in her face.

  “Give it a moment. I think it might help if you come.”

  He stroked over her arms and back as he kissed her, as she lost the tension of fighting the pain and gave over to it once it began to change into pleasure.

  “Now you need the egg.”

  She swallowed hard but managed to grab the little case and bring it back to him.

  “Put it in.”

  She rested a foot on his calf and slid the egg-shaped vibrator inside her pussy.

  And hummed.

  He played these games, but she always won because she was so sexy and gorgeous she got to him, challenged his control.

  Asa took the remote from her and set it low, watching her nipples darken as she got hotter. And then that second flush of pleasure as the clamps worked against all that blood rushing to her nipples.

  “Giving you pleasure is my addiction. Did you know that?”

  She smiled.

  “But my pleasure is to watch you give yourself pleasure.”

  He moved to sit back against the pillows and watch as she chose the wingback chair across from the bed.

  And spread her thighs wide.

  “I’ll let you know what I want you to do with your hands,” he admonished as she played her fingers against her clit. She did it again, her gaze locked on his.

  “Someone needs it bad.”

  “It’s your fault, Asa.”

  “How is it my fault, beautiful?”

  “You’re you. You’re so sexy and hot and you’re mine and I want to shout it out everywhere I go. Yes, people, this is in my bed using all that on me. I never imagined getting anything as amazing as you in my stocking on Christmas morning.”

  “That’s good enough that I’ll let you touch your clit. Slow. I don’t want you to rush, even though I know how greedy you are. I’m going to use the flogger after this. Just thought you should know.”

  She gasped like she’d been underwater too long and he had to close his eyes just a moment to get himself back under control once more.

  He got up to retrieve the longer-handled flogger. He squeezed it hard enough to make the leather creak, enough that she heard it too.

  “I haven’t used this one in a while. But after you come, I’m going to flog you until your skin is hot and pretty pink. Then I’ll shove my cock in you and take those clamps off.”

  She shivered.

  He moved to her, trailing the tails of the flogger over her shoulders. She turned her head and licked over his cock, eyes on him as she slid the flat of her tongue against the slit.

  He flicked the next-highest setting on the egg, watching her eyelids go half-mast.

  “Close?” He smeared the head of his cock and the bead of precome over her lips and she licked it off, making him grin.

  “Yes.” Her voice was a little shaky. She was trying to hold back, but he was making it harder and harder.

  He wasn’t into orgasm denial. It wasn’t his kink. He wanted her coming often and hard.

  He bent, pressing his lips to her ear. “Go on then.”

  She made a strangled sound and he straightened, taking in the sight of her, flushed and tousled, thighs spread, fingers stroking over her clit. So raw and carnal.

  He caught that moment when she tipped into climax, when her gaze blurred and her lips parted.

  He went to his knees then, moving her hand, licking hard and fast as he took her from one orgasm into the next.

  It was too much. Every part of her was brilliantly, blindly soaring, her inner muscles clutching around that egg as he licked her hard and fast.

  Her nipples throbbed as she came so thoroughly it seemed to seep from every pore.

  She slumped when he finally backed off, kissing her thigh, slipping the egg free.

  “Up.”

  He helped her to her feet, guiding her back to the bed.

  Taking her hands, he guided them to the post. “Hold on here.”

  She’d never expected to like the flogger, but by that point he’d used them on her enough and with plenty of variety and she could proclaim it her favorite.

  He started slow. A caress of the leather against her skin. Gentle. Rhythmic. Down her back, over her ass and thighs. Against her shoulders. He took care around her nipples, brushing the curves of her breasts instead of direct stimulation.

  And then the first strike on the meat of her ass cheeks. He did it again and again. Moving subtly so the heat built carefully. He created pleasure like he worked on cars. Meticulously and with great creativity.

  She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against the wood and letting herself fall away and become all sensation.

  He’d be looking at her, watching the pink on her skin. Making sure he wasn’t going too far, but getting harder and harder at the sight. Loving that precision.

  He trailed the tails over her hip. “So beautiful. Jesus.”

  There was more heat and the soothing cool of his breath as he blew over her skin from time to time.

  And then he tossed the flogger to the mattress. She roused at the sound of the condom wrapper tearing.

/>   He kissed her neck. “Come on with me.” He led her to the bench at the foot of his bed and sat. “On your knees, brace your hands on the footboard.”

  She obeyed; all the while his hands caressed.

  “Close your eyes.”

  She did, and then there was an intense rush of sensation when he took the clamps off. There was no chance to gather her fraying wits because in one thrust he was inside her, fucking her hard and deep, and all she could do was gasp as she hovered on the edge of climax in one very long wave of pleasure.

  He was so damned deep and she still pushed back, using her grip on his bed to leverage herself against him each time he thrust. The backs of her thighs stung as they brushed against the hairs on his thighs. It didn’t matter.

  She wanted him. All of him. Every intense thing he made her feel.

  And he gave it.

  This was making love. It didn’t have to be sweet in a traditional sense. It was sweet for Asa and PJ. He loved her and cherished her, and the way he touched her, like he’d never get enough, humbled her to her toes.

  Love did that. Laid you bare. Broke you open and opened you up. It made you want to be better.

  He reached around her body, molding his body to her back, the heat of him against the skin he’d flogged, his fingers finding her wet and ready to come again.

  And she did. Around him as he came too.

  He pulled out and they both made their way to the mattress, her on her belly, him splayed out at her side, their fingers tangled as they got their breath again.

  CHAPTER

  Twenty-five

  You’ve got like eleven billion roses out here,” Julie called out.

  PJ had been in her bedroom trying to figure out what to wear to the car show that night when the doorbell had rung and her sister went out to deal with it.

  PJ pulled on her lotus robe and headed into the living room. “I think eleven billion might be an exaggeration.”

  She skidded to a halt as she took it all in.