Turn & Burn (31 page)

Jonny wrapped his arms around her and proceeded to smear it. Rowdy finally stumbled to my side and took a seat, but I had my eyes on Caine, who stepped into the room. He studied Caroline’s ass, something I found encouraging.

I turned to bat my lashes at Rowdy. “We’re just waiting for the pizza. Then, we’re going downstairs. Rumor has it, Colt and Caine sprang for a pool table. I’m hoping they’ve made up some dirty game we can all play.” I patted his knee. “You, uh, do know how much this family likes their group sex, right?”

Every head swiveled in my direction, but none turned as hard as Rowdy’s. Looking away, I pointed at Caroline. “And it’s your turn to go down on me, or your fine ass is going home right now.”

“Oh, I came to stay the night.” She winked and ran a finger along her lower lip, swiping away the smudge when I pantomimed to tell her about the mess Jonny’d made of her lipstick. “As you might’ve noticed, I went a bit overboard at the thought of hanging out with grownups.”

“No worries.” I gave her a smile. “You won’t have it on long.”

“Well, Merry fucking Christmas,” Rowdy muttered as the doorbell chimed again.

Caine carried a stack of pizza boxes into the room. Colt tossed one six-pack of soft drinks to Jonny and snagged the second one. I checked the drawer in the coffee table, grinning when I found the expected box of Trojans.

That giggle.
God, it made me smile every time. I planned the perfect gift for her—Caine. And if my gift came with a side order of discord for my stepbrothers, all the better. They weren’t going to rattle my cage and not get a shove in return.

“Okay.” I pushed the empty pizza box aside a few minutes later. There was nothing left but crusts. “I don’t actually play pool, so y’all need to factor that in. Oh.” I made a point to look at Rowdy and Jonny. “I don’t give head, either.” Winking at Caroline, I added, “At least, not to guys.”

“What?” Rowdy demanded. “Caine, how’d this sweet young thing grow up with such a gap in her education?”

“Well.” Caine cleared his throat. “Don’t let her kid you. Of course we taught her to give head. It’s just the worst head you’ll ever get. But, around here, only losers have to kneel. And Little Miss Thang ain’t been beat, so we didn’t work too hard on it.”

“Damn.” Jonny made a sad face. “Why doesn’t my family have Christmas Eve orgies?”

Rowdy cleared his throat. “I’m kinda thankful mine don’t. My girl cousins don’t look nothin’ like these two.”

“You know what?” All eyes turned to Caroline. “I hate pool. Let’s race. I know y’all got a fifty-five gallon drum around here somewhere. Let’s grab a load of firewood and a barrel and go out to the old housing development.” Swinging her hip, she butted Jonny. “The usual rule applies. We got to get that Corvair Hemi in the game. Sweet ride, by the way. Can’t wait to beat it.”

Colt nodded, but I shook my head. “Call me superstitious, but, if something happened to the ‘Cuda before the race with Kolby—”

“Oh, big brother has something you can drive.” Colt winked, prompting a groan from Caine.

I assumed he meant the GT500, until Caine punched Colt’s shoulder. “You and your fucking big mouth.”

“It ain’t my mouth that’s big, asshole.” Colt punched him back.

My curiosity skyrocketed as Caine led the procession to the garage. I huddled between Caroline and Rowdy, watching Caine lift the center door.

He disappeared inside. Moments later, an engine fired. The lights above each bay revealed Rowdy’s sudden tilt of the head when the rear end appeared. “Camaro. What make and model, Colt?”

Colt’s grin had no trace of friendliness. “It’s a’69 ZL1. Engine was blown. He’s rebuilding that, but meanwhile, Caine just happened to have a little something to fit.”

I studied the white graphic along the side as the deep blue car slid past me. A wide white graphic, edged in black, split the paint. I gasped in recognition. The design had been tilted at a forty-five degree angle and the stripe of white had been extended to the bottom edge of the metal, but I’d know those feathers anywhere. I’d drawn them at eighteen and they still gleamed from the sides of the ‘Cuda.

“That’s my design!”

Caine braked and rolled his window down. “Yep. Wait till you see the front end. I got a fella to draw that chicken splattered on the hood, so it looks like the damn feathers came from somewhere.”

Caroline burst out laughing.

“There better not be a chicken.” I huffed. Jonny looked puzzled, but Colt laughed so hard, he collapsed against the garage. I shook a finger at Caine. “You owe me a licensing fee, dammit. You can’t just steal someone’s design.”

“Oh, I feel your pain, Shelby.” Rowdy jumped in. “That’s my goddamn engine, ain’t it, motherfucker?”

Caine reversed so that Colt could lower the garage door. I eyed the handwritten font style he’d chosen to scrawl ‘Hannah-built’ along the door, unable to decide whether I liked his choice or not, before he slid from behind the wheel.

“Guess I’ll grab a barrel and toss some firewood into the truck.” Sweeping a hand toward the car, he grinned. “If you’re serious about that licensing fee, make me an invoice. But, prepare to be patient, because I spent every last dime gettin’ her painted. I’m unemployed till February and my daddy don’t pay my damn bills.”

Imagine that. A man who paid his own bills.
Shut up, Caine. Stop making me fall in love with you
.

“That’s my engine,” I corrected Rowdy with a smile. “I won it, fair and square.”

“I think I got her sold. I figure I’ll be done with the rebuild in a few days. Soon as she cuts me the check, I’ll pay you for your design. As for the engine you won, Shelby, I got it earmarked for a little project that ain’t ready to sell yet, but your name’s right beside mine and Colt’s on the title.” He cut Jonny a glare. “And don’t let him fool you. That Corsa can rock ‘n roll.”

He put my name on a title? Why can’t you just be a regular douchebag, Caine? Make it easier to hate you
. I jumped into the Camaro. “Then I’ll take him on first.”

Caroline led the procession to the old housing development. I pulled through the barricades behind Caine. Caroline and I dove to the left-hand side of the road. Jonny lined up beside me. Rowdy pulled the Monte Carlo into the lane beside Caroline.

Everyone rolled out of their vehicles and gathered in the road.

Caine gestured. “I’ll go start the fire. You four race, losers pay up, then we’ll make new brackets. Be right back to drop the flag. Colt, you video the finish line for the first two heats.” While everyone agreed, he poked me in the arm. “That’s a five-speed, by the way.”

I lifted my middle finger. “Got it.”

“When did they close the road?” Caroline turned to peer behind us.

“Sherriff did it.” I shrugged. “He called for a road maintenance crew instead of a wrecker. So, let’s rock.” Shivering, I scurried to the driver’s side of the Camaro.

Rowdy followed. “Need a tune up?”

I leaned against the side of the car. “Thought you’d never ask.”

“Jonny, you gonna let Rowdy beat you before he even gets behind the wheel?” Caroline’s giggle floated above Jonny’s deeper chuckle.

“Oh, no,” he assured her.

Rowdy pulled me into his arms, lowering his head for a kiss. He kissed well, but the experience wasn’t the sensory tornado of kissing Cain—

Jerking free, I realized where my mind had taken me.

“Problem?” Rowdy asked.

I shook my head. “No problem.” Taking his hand, I brought it to my breast. “Let’s see those rowdy moves you were bragging about.”

He swept a thumb across my nipple. Closing my eyes, I let the memory of other nights spent here fill my head. Caroline moaned and I grew wet from the sound.

Rowdy slid his hand underneath my shirt. Shoving his fingers beneath the elastic at my waist, he cupped my mound.

“I think I’m gonna let you win when we race,” he muttered against my neck. “Just so I can watch you climb on this hood and spread those legs again.”

“Oh, that can happen without you
letting
me do a damn thing.”

He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me onto the side of the hood. Pushing my thighs open, he located the bundle of nerves at the top of my slit, massaging me through my yoga pants. 

“What about Caroline?” I murmured. “You gonna let her win, too?”

“She’s about to get her little ass kicked. I’m looking forward to havin’ lipstick stains around the base of my cock.”

Imagining his cock in Caroline’s mouth drove my arousal higher. I’d told Colt the truth. Every dirty little piece of this scene thrilled me. I caught a glimpse of Caroline through the windshields. She let her thighs fall open and I had the thought I always had whenever I saw her this way. It was a wordless thought, tied up with her sexual freedom and the price she paid for it, but the nebulous idea always grabbed me by the throat.

Rowdy pushed my shoulders to the hood. His warm breath and the heated metal made such a contrast with the cool evening air, my nipples tightened. Egged on by Caroline’s moans, I cried out when he raked my clit with his teeth through the thin fabric that covered me. I shuddered under the sensation of his hands gripping my bare breasts. His method of torture was to roll the rigid peaks between thumb and forefinger. Between that touch, and the hard pressure strafing my clit, it wasn’t long before I arched, but Rowdy’s efforts were assisted by my memory of Caine in the high school parking lot.

He straightened. “Can’t come for free, young lady. Gotta earn that. I’m thinkin’ Caine’s right. That Corvair’s a sleeper. Get ready.”

Jonny’s chuckle floated from the darkness behind us. “Don’t worry, Shelby. I’ll help you improve your sucking game.”

“Or, I’ll help you with yours.” With a grin, I slid off the hood, just as Caine’s headlights lit the road. I gave Rowdy a final kiss and slid into the Camaro.

Caine pulled around us, parking behind the Corvair. Jogging down the centerline, he slapped a hand against the passenger door. I set the hand brake and started my burnout. Jonny turned to blow me a kiss, then smoked his tires, too. My heart pounded from the sheer excitement. Sex and speed ruled here. As long as I had horsepower and gasoline, I could ride the wind.

Spinning, Caine set his legs apart and raised both hands. I gunned the engine and pushed in the clutch. Releasing the hand brake, I stared as he raised both index fingers, then circled them.

Ready? His lips moved in the familiar chant I didn’t need to hear to understand. Both engines growled, making Caine grin. 

Set? I caressed the shifter and took a deep breath, foot tensed on the clutch.

Go! The Camaro didn’t rear, but it shot forward. Jonny kept pace. I moved into second, then third, unable to shake him. Fourth gear and he was still by my side. I hit fifth, but his taillights flashed, throwing a red stain across the hood.

Howling with dismay, I shot past the tiny light cast by Colt’s cell phone. Jonny geared down faster than I did, whipping the smaller, lighter convertible around in the road.

I got the Camaro stopped. Heaving a deep breath, I reversed toward the side of the road and spun the wheel, growling with frustration.

Jonny waited in the winner’s circle. Flames danced above the barrel in the center of the asphalt. I got out and slammed the door.

“All the other boys warned me about you.”

He laughed, moving to the front of his car. “It’s turbocharged. One of the first. Everyone gives her the side-eye and laughs at her hundred and eighty horsepower, but she’s got a wicked bite. No one seems to remember, I’m dragging around a lot less weight than your big block Fords and Chevys.”

“Is this the car your father rebuilt?”

“Same one.” Jonny left his headlights on, but stood above the beam. Still, I caught the grin in his voice. Plopping onto the hood, he placed his hands at his sides. “I’d die before I sold her.”

I realized why my brothers didn’t like Rowdy. They put their cars together with their own sweat and blood, while he just wrote a check. Nothing wrong with buying a car to compete with, but to build one—and win with it—was a different level of elite. 

Caroline came whizzing up the quiet lane. “Goddammit,” I muttered. “She won.”

Jonny just laughed. Reluctantly, I knelt and undid his button fly. Reaching in, I slid my fingers around his shaft, easing it free.

Caroline parked and flung her door open. “Aw, Shelby’s gotta suck cock.”

“Bite my ass,” I retorted, eying the shaft in my hand. It was nicely shaped, and thank God, neither as thick as Colt’s nor as long as Caine’s, but it was bigger than Robert’s.

Colt roared past in the Mustang. Swinging wide, he parked on the far side of the barrel. Rowdy took a spot in between him and Caroline. He left the door open on his Monte Carlo and turned the volume down, but the strains of country music filled the quiet night.

“Train her up right, Jonny,” Rowdy yelled. “Save me the time.”

“Go eat cat,” I snapped, but I had to laugh. Colt jogged to my side.

Going down on one knee, he gathered my hair into his hand and leaned close, blocking my view of Rowdy and Caroline.

“Just open your mouth, Shelby,” Colt crooned. “Wrap your tongue around the head. Tease the sweet spot underneath the rim with the tip of your tongue.”

Colt glanced up at Jonny. “I should warn you, she has sharp teeth.”

Caine pulled into the cul-de-sac. He took the remaining spot beside Colt’s Mustang.

The circle of headlights lit Jonny’s face—and Colt’s. I realized Jonny stared, not at me, but at Colt. And Colt stared back. The heat arcing between them nearly singed my skin. My heart kicked because these two couldn’t act on their attraction.

I had to let Colt feel Jonny through me. I inhaled Jonny’s scent, mingled with the familiar Hugo Boss and Colt’s own fragrance. The heat from their bodies sank into mine. I lowered my head. Jonny’s taste exploded on my tongue, slightly tart and salty.

“Flatten your tongue. Ease down on the shaft. Gentle suction, now. Work him up nice and slow while you get him wet. Let the man see those pretty eyes.”

A sidelong glance confirmed that I wasn’t the only one looking into those dark eyes. Colt lifted my hand and brought it to Jonny’s cock, pushing my head down at the same time. Jonny groaned. Colt chuckled. The two subtle vibrations collided inside me, making me into a human tuning fork.