Swerve: Boosted Hearts (Volume 1) (17 page)

“I know this sounds naive, but I just don’t understand people who can take from others without a second thought. Why would she do that? What’s in her that she would do that to me…to you? And not even care?”

She felt his muscles tighten. He cleared his throat. “People will do almost anything if they’re desperate enough.”

Shaking her head, she burrowed deeper. “No. Not desperate. Selfish. She’s always been selfish.”

He gave her hip a squeeze. “Had to be hard growing up with a mom like that.”

“She wasn’t around that much, even when I was living with her. I looked after myself most of the time. There were always different men at the house. She’d drop me off at Gran’s and take off without a word…sometimes for days, sometimes weeks, with her latest boyfriend.” Shay snuggled closer to him, to the heat radiating from his skin, the comfort of his massive arms. God, she’d never felt so safe. “The last time she dropped me off, she just didn’t come back. I didn’t see her for over a year. She didn’t try to take me back after that. I was twelve years old.”

“You didn’t deserve that, princess.”

His voice was nothing but a rasp. It skated over her skin, lifting goose bumps.

“My old man used to be gone a lot, too. Gambled nearly everything we had.” His big body stiffened, arms spasming around her, as if he’d surprised himself by opening up.

She held still, hoping he’d keep going.

Finally, he smoothed his hand over her back, and his muscles relaxed. “Left school soon as I could. Got a job to pay the bills, so we didn’t lose the house. He’d come crawling back when all his money was gone, stay for a while then fuck off again. Did that all my life.”

She ran her hands over his chest. Aching for him, for what he’d been through. “It sounds as though I wasn’t the only one with an irresponsible parent. I was lucky to have Gran. Your family was lucky to have you.”

He snorted. “Try telling Lucy that.”

“Lucy?”

“Baby sister and a pain in my ass. She’s in college. Drama is her middle name. She’s the smart one out of the three of us, though you wouldn’t know it with some of the stupid shit she gets herself into.”

Despite his words, there was so much affection in his voice when he spoke about his sister, it kind of made Shay jealous, which was completely ridiculous and made absolutely no sense.

“You’re lucky. I wish I’d had a brother or sister. It must’ve been nice, having them growing up, having each other.”

He was quiet for several seconds. “Yeah, it was.”

He didn’t say anything after that, and as much as Shay wanted to know more, she didn’t push. That’s not what they were about, after all. She was already in over her head with him.

***

Shay must have drifted off, because she woke again when Hugh moved. It was still dark, the middle of the night. She watched him climb out of bed and get dressed.

He isn’t staying.

She squeezed her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep, hating how much she felt his loss, his heat beside her, the minute he got out of bed. This was him, defining their relationship, making sure she had no delusions about what they were doing. Their relationship was sex. That was it. Heartfelt conversations in the dark, wrapped in each other’s arms, meant nothing. He was just passing time.

She knew this.

Travis had taught her well.

So why did her stupid heart ache when Hugh walked to her side of the bed, kissed the top of her head then walked out the door?

Hugh worked alongside Adam, switching the VIN plates on the Toyota Joe had brought in. Thank fuck. Now they only had one car to find before their deadline in a few days.

“You heard from Lucy lately?” Adam asked from under the hood.

“She texted a couple days ago, after I threatened to turn up at her place if she didn’t fucking answer me and let me know she was okay.”

Adam stood. “She’s still pissed at you?”

“Don’t give a shit. I did what I had to do to keep that fucker away from her. If he touches my sister again, he loses his job. End of story.”

His friend ducked his head back under the hood. “The girl’s old enough to mess around with who she likes, bro. She’s not going to forgive you in a hurry.”

“You think I should’ve stood back while she risked everything, just so she can screw some old pervert?” When Hugh had found out Lucy was seeing her psych professor, he’d nearly burst a blood vessel. Then he’d hunted the fucker down and threatened his career if he didn’t back the hell off. It had been either that or beat the shit out of him.

Adam’s nostrils flared, expression hard. “Hell, no. Just saying how it is. I’m with you. Only I would have messed the motherfucker up good
and
threatened his career.”

Hugh shoved his hand in his hair. “He had a wife and kids.”

Adam’s hand curled around the screwdriver he was holding. “Did she know that?”

Hugh shook his head. “No clue.”

“Shit.”

Yep. His little sister didn’t do things by halves—when she messed up, she went all out and usually got herself hurt in the process. “When she screws up, she does it properly.”

Adam lowered the hood. “What about you?”

Hugh stiffened. “What about me?”

“Something you want to tell me?”

He crossed his arms and stared his friend down. “Can’t think of anything.”

Tossing the screwdriver onto the workbench, Adam stared back. “You’re not fooling anyone; you know that, right?”

Obviously not. Still didn’t mean he was admitting anything. Admitting it would make it real, what he was doing with Shay. And would bring home the fact that, before long, he’d lose her. “Don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Adam shook his head. “Just be careful. Or it won’t just be you that’s getting fucked. And it won’t be in a good way.” Then Adam walked away.

Hugh knew Adam was right. And after the shit with her mother, the way Hugh had freaked out when she hadn’t answered her phone—the emotions swirling when he thought something could have happened to her—he’d tried to distance himself. He’d lasted one goddamn day before he’d gone to her and climbed back into her bed.

Hugh covered the car; the new cloned VIN plates they’d fitted weren’t any guarantee they wouldn’t get caught. They just tipped the odds a little more in their favor. Joe had taken off after they brought in the car, so Hugh locked up after himself and left. And despite Adam’s warning ringing in his ears, he walked past his truck—he couldn’t risk it being seen anywhere near Shay—and climbed into one of their loaners.

Shay didn’t work Friday evenings and he planned on taking advantage of the fact. The way he was feeling, if he had his way, he’d take her to bed and not let her out again for the whole damn weekend. But that wasn’t an option. She had a shift Saturday night at Woody’s, and he had a car to find. So tonight, she was his, and he was going to spend the whole damn night proving it to her.

But when he pulled up outside her place a short time later, the lights were out, the Honda still parked out front. Maybe she’d decided to go to bed early? They’d both had hardly any sleep the last couple nights.

He contemplated leaving, going home. He couldn’t do it.

Fuck it… He’d get into bed beside her, wait for her to wake. Just being close to her was enough for him. Just the feel of her soft, smooth skin against his.

He squashed those thoughts quickly.

What the hell was he doing? He shouldn’t be thinking like that. Warning bells should be wailing in his ears; he should he running like hell the other way. After what she’d said to him in the dark the other night, about her mother, about people taking from others. If she ever found out what he was, what he did—she’d be disgusted. She’d see him like she saw her mother. A thief. A liar. A user.

But instead of getting back into the car and driving away, he quickly picked the lock to her door and walked quietly to the bedroom, desperate for a taste of her, to just be near her.

But when he pushed the door open, her bed was empty. No Shay.

He stalled in the doorway, frustration pounding him, a growl bursting past his lips. Yeah, he was acting irrationally, but he wanted her. No…
needed
her. Where was she? Grabbing his phone from his back pocket, he tried calling her. No answer. So he fired off a text, asking where she was.

Thirty minutes later, still no reply.

The feeling of helplessness surging through him was making him restless, edgy. The worry coiled around his chest made him pace the small space. Since the car was still there, she was either with someone else or planned on taking the motherfucking bus. He didn’t know where she usually hung out, who her friends were. Where to start looking. And that pissed him off more than anything. He should know this shit. He should be with her, or she should have told him where the hell she was going.

She’s not yours.

He paced some more, and the longer he waited for her, the more scared he got.

What if they’d been seen together? What if Al…?

The sound of a car pulling up outside ground that unwelcome thought to a halt. He walked to the window and looked out. A late-model BMW sat idling out front. It sat there for a while, then finally the door opened, and Shay stepped out. He instantly scanned her body for any signs of harm, her face to make sure she wasn’t upset or afraid.

She was smiling, wide and beautiful.

He did another sweep of her body, and what he saw made his fists clench tighter at his sides, his teeth grind together. She was in that dress, the one she’d been wearing when she brought back his keys, after their first night together. The one that emphasized her full tits, small waist and round hips. She looked fucking gorgeous. Stunning. Killer heels. Her long hair in soft waves down her back.

Was she on a date? Is that what this was?

The interior light of the car hadn’t come on when she opened the door, and it was too dark out to see who was in there with her. He’d been here, waiting, nearly out of his goddamn mind with worry, and she’d been out, and by the looks of it, with some other guy?

Yeah, he’d told her he didn’t do relationships, but that was to keep her safe. He thought they had an understanding—maybe something special. Obviously, he’d been wrong.

She waved as the car drove away, smile still in place as she pulled her keys from her bag and unlocked the door.

Hugh stood in the center of the room, arms crossed, but only because he wanted to grab her and shake the ever-loving fuck out of her for making him feel this way. This out of control. This jealous.

This messed-up feeling of betrayal.

She walked in, flicked on the light, dumped her bag on the bench and turned around…

“Jesus Christ!” Her hand flew to her chest, and she stumbled back a step, slumping against the tiny breakfast bar. “What are you doing here? You scared the heck out of me.”

Her question felt like a knife to the gut. “Have fun?” His voice sounded wrecked.

She stood a little straighter, frowned. “Yes.” She crossed her arms, as well. “I had a nice time. What are you doing here?” she asked again.

“Been here the last two nights, Shay. Me showing up tonight can’t be that big of a surprise to you.”

Her gaze darted away from his then flitted back, locking on his chest. “But that was the middle of the night.”

“I’m not welcome earlier?” There was a definite growl to his voice now, but he couldn’t hold it back. “You sure as hell seem happy to see me when I visit, ecstatic, even.”

Heat flooded her green eyes, and he had to fight to hold his ground and not go to her, not use her lush body to ease the pain throbbing through him. Not to take his anger out on her in a way that would leave her screaming his name in ecstasy, so she’d never forget who she belonged to.

“You should have called first, saved yourself the trouble.” She was breathing hard now, full breasts heaving against the fabric barely containing the soft mounds.

“I did. You didn’t answer.” He wanted to tell her how worried he’d been, how fucking insane it made him that she didn’t want him as much as he wanted her, but he didn’t. He didn’t have that right.

“Oh…” She grabbed her bag, rummaged around and pulled out her phone, turned it on. It started beeping with missed calls straight away. “I forgot I’d turned it off.”

He was in front of her in two steps. “Why did you turn it off, princess? What was so important you couldn’t be disturbed?”

She blinked up at him in that way she often did, all innocent and sweet. “Dinner and a movie. I always turn off my phone in the movies. It’s rude not to.”

His head exploded. Just…blew up. “Who the fuck is he?” Because he was going to hunt him down and kill him with his bare hands.

She dumped her phone on the counter behind her and crossed her arms, eyes wide. “He? What are you talking about?”

The phone beeped again beside her, and his gaze darted to the screen. The name
Travis
flashed up. “Why the hell is Travis still texting you?” he gritted out.

She just stared up at him, as if he was speaking in some foreign language. He didn’t blame her. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing, either. Shay didn’t get what she was to him, what she meant to him. He couldn’t name it himself. He just knew he didn’t want her seeing anyone else. When she continued to stare up at him, not answering, he grabbed her phone and clicked open the message.

She sucked in a startled breath. “You can’t do that! Give back my phone.”

He ignored her, holding it out of her reach, and quickly read the text. The blood started boiling in his veins. “
I miss you, honey. Please think about what I asked you.
” Hugh threw the phone back onto the counter. “You’re seeing this asshole again?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she scowled at him. “How is that any of your business?”

He moved in, grabbed her hips, making her yelp in surprise, then lifted her, spun, and pressed her against the wall. “You are mine.
That’s
how it’s my business.” He grabbed her ass so she had no choice but to wrap herself around him. “Now, I’m going to ask you again. Are you back with him?”

“Yours?” she whispered. “You’re acting like a crazy person.”

“Mine,” he snarled. He knew he was acting as crazy as she said, but there was no chance of reining it in. “Tell me!” he barked.

She scowled harder. “No. I’m not back with him.”

“Are you going to take him back, Shay?” He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

Finally, she shook her head. “No.”

He kept pushing, had to. “Did you have dinner with him tonight?”

“No.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth, thighs tightening around his hips.

He pushed deeper into her curves. “Then who?”

“Kayla.” She arched into him, so his cock was flush against the soft heat between her legs. “I was out with my best friend.”

“Why is he still texting you?”

She bit her lip, and he wanted to suck it into his mouth and soothe away the sting.

“He’s still saying he…he wants me back. And that he’s kept my job at TBS Designs open if I still want it.”

Motherfucker.

Anger fired back to life. “Promise me while we’re seeing each other, you won’t see anyone else.” He had no right to ask it, but he wouldn’t accept anything else, not from Shay. The thought made him lose his mind.

Her fingers spasmed against his back. “I promise.”

He held her against the wall with his hips, grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand, the other going back to her ass. “Promise me you won’t talk to your ex, you won’t meet your ex, you won’t fucking think about your ex ever again.”

Her head dropped back, and she licked her lips. “I don’t want him, Hugh.”

“Say it,” he rasped.

Her eyes held his gaze, bright emeralds, clear and gorgeous. “I promise.”

“Only me.”

She moaned softly. “Only you.”

“That’s right, only me.” He shoved her dress up around her hips. “I’m going to fuck you against this wall, princess, then I’m going to take you to bed and fuck you again.”

She was breathing hard, her tits almost exploding out the top of her dress. He decided to help them out and tugged down the material at the front as far as it would go, making her gasp. He growled when a puckered, cherry-colored nipple popped out over the top.

He leaned in and sucked it into his mouth, tugging and licking as he reached down and got to work on his jeans. His cock was an iron bar behind his zipper, throbbing and aching to be released.