Clutched (Wild Riders) (24 page)

“So Travers still riding you hard?”

The hot coffee was out of my mouth the second Link's words hit my ears. There was no possible way that Link was referring to Hoyt in the same way I was imagining. He had no idea that Hoyt and I had been together. Did he? The goofy grin on his face as he watched me use my sleeve as I wiped the drops of hot java off my face said no. I cleared my throat. “Shit, sorry,” I told Link who started laughing hysterically. “Wrong pipe.”

“Drink much?” He kept laughing.

“No.” I paused. “What did you ask me?”

“Is Travers still giving you a hard time?”

“No,” I said. At least he wasn't on the track. “Why?”

“Just wondered,” he said, pulling open the door of the shed where our bikes were waiting for us. “Nick mentioned the two of us working together next season.”

“That would be good,” I said. “He's really good at picking out flaws and making sure you look good.”

“So he's helped you?” Link asked as he checked the fuel tank on his bike. “Even with all the tension between you? I know you were pissed about working with him there for a while.”

“It was a little tense,” I said with a soft laugh. Link had no idea the real reason why things were so tense. Most of our problems had nothing to do with our motocross abilities. I doubted that Link and Hoyt would be hiding unresolved feelings or sneaking off on island vacations together. I doubted that Link was going to look at Hoyt and imagine him naked the way I did. Or have sleepless night wishing that he was being held in his coach’s arms. Then again, Hoyt was exceptionally charming and Link seemed like the kind of guy that was easily charmed. “But I did learn a lot from him. I think you'll be fine.” I grinned.

“We'll see,” Link said as he climbed on to his bike. “I don't even think the guy likes me, let alone wants to work with me.”

“You're a great rider, Link,” I told him as I mounted my bike. “He'd be crazy not to want to work with you.” I made a mental note to tell Hoyt I thought that Link would be a good fit for him. He was just as green as I was a few months back and had a lot of potential. Not to mention, if Hoyt was working with Link he wouldn't be working with me. I was starting to feel like there might actually be a chance for Hoyt and me in a few months. He could start working with another rider and we'd figure out a way to make our relationship work. I gave Link one more reassuring smile and pulled on my helmet. Maybe things were actually going to work in my favor for once in my life.

* * *

“G
et your ass in gear, McCade,” Hoyt said as he upped the incline on the treadmill I was currently running on. We were back in our routine. I was in the gym at eight and he was waiting there to put me through my paces during a workout.

Just like old times
.

He was being diligent with the workout that morning—rep after rep without as much as a wink or nod. It was great how easy this was for him and all, but I was literally going to drop dead if he didn't slow down. I'd just spent two weeks on a beach, eating and drinking whatever I wanted. I needed to ease back into my normal routine.

“Lay off, Travers,” I said, hitting the off button on the treadmill and jumping off the belt. I placed my hands on my knees and tried to catch my breath.

“What's the matter?” he asked, running his hand across the couple days’ worth of stubble on his jaw. As if he wasn't good looking enough, now he was upping the ante with a five o'clock shadow. Was he trying to make me crazy? “Your stamina not as good as it used to be.”

“My stamina is just fine,” I said, looking up at him, unwilling to admit defeat. “You know exactly how long I can go.” I gave him a seductive smirk before taking a drink from my water bottle. I may have let my lips linger on the bottle top for a moment to remind him what I could do with my mouth. He'd been pushing me that morning even if he hadn't meant to. With enough endorphins coursing through my body to make anything seem like a good idea, I toyed with him.

He swallowed hard and shook his head. He willed his eyes to look away from me, but he couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face.

“You're not playing fair,” he said.

“And you are?” I paused. “I'm pretty sure you're trying to kill me with extra reps and a forty-percent incline. Give me a break.”

“I can't do that,” he said. “Not until you race a Supercross event at least.” I laughed. He was right though. I should have been focusing on my workout and getting an invitation to Supercross. It was definitely a goal. Female riders weren't usually on the short list of invitees—it was predominately male and had been since the beginning. As much as I wanted to keep messing with Hoyt, I also wanted to prove that I was just as good as the guys.

“Fine,” I said, walking back over to the treadmill. “I'll keep going.” I hopped back on and lowered the incline by five-percent before hitting the green button.

“Good girl,” he said. The spike in my heart rate had nothing to do with the treadmill. The second he'd said “good girl” my mind raced back to our time on the beach. The time when he'd said the exact same thing to me before we made love. I had a feeling that he knew exactly what he was saying. The smirk on his face said as much.

He surprised me when he stepped on to the one next to me and started it up. “I'll torture myself too if it makes you happy.” He started with a slow jog, but after a few minutes he upped his speed to match mine. I couldn't help but smile as I stared over at him. He was willing to work out with me to make sure I got to the top of my game. I loved him a little more for that.

Thirty minutes later, we were both completely gassed. My breathing was taking its sweet time returning to normal and Hoyt was glistening with sweat. He pulled his shirt over his head and wiped the moisture from his forehead. I knew exactly why I couldn't catch my breath. I was standing there like a damn fool watching him and practically drooling. I wanted to reach out and touch him. I wanted to kiss his slick skin and run my hands over his body.

“Now who isn't playing fair,” I asked. “Put some damn clothes on.” I tossed my towel at him and laughed.

“Is this bothering you?” he said, playfully flexing. “Too much of a distraction?”

“Nope,” I said, tugging my tank top off. If he wanted to play dirty, so could I. Standing there in just my sports bra and shorts, I smiled. “Not at all,” I said with a smirk. “I think I need to stretch after that workout,” I told him.

His jaw dropped when I stretched my arms up over my head, thrusting my chest out, before turning to bend down in front of him. “Everything is so tight,” I said, before squatting down. I could see his fist clenched at his side as he watched me. His eyes darted around the room a couple times looking for anyone that might catch us. “I'll probably need a nice long, hot shower,” I continued, rising up and letting my ass graze his lap. His cock throbbed against me and I felt a surge between my own legs. “Maybe a massage.”

Our eyes were locked on one each other’s in a heated exchange when we heard the sound of footprints coming down the hall. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the equipment closet. The slatted door hid us from public view, but one peep and whoever just walked into the gym would have found us.

I started to whisper something to Hoyt, but drew his finger up to my lips.

“Shh...” he said softly. I nodded, but couldn't stop my lips from puckering against his skin. He closed his eyes and I pulled the tip of his finger into my mouth. He shook his head and tried to keep still. I knew that I was playing with fire, but I couldn't stop myself. The endorphins surging through my body had me giddy and reckless. I could not have cared less that people were on the other side of that door.

We each peeked through the slats again and saw Link settling in on the rowing machine. With his headphones in and his phone in hand, he turned on music before he sat it down and started working the machine.

“You're going to pay for that,” he whispered as he backed me up against the wall and crushed his lips to mine. He gripped my thigh roughly and worked his way between my legs, firmly pressing his cock against my center. Our hands and mouth fought silently with each other’s—trying to get the upper hand. The muffled voices on the other side of the door weren't even a passing thought, until we heard our names.

“Where the hell are McCade and Travers?” Nick's voice, as always, was like a bucket of ice water. We both stiffened and listened to what was going on outside of the door. Neither one of us moved an inch.

There was a long pause before Link spoke up, presumably while he took his earbuds out. “Did you check the track?”

“Yes, I checked the track,” Nick said, annoyed. “I have an interview scheduled for them this afternoon. I need to find them and run over a couple things.”

“You know what?” Link said. “I think I saw them in the east building looking for parts or something. Come on,” he said. “I'll show you.”

We waited until the coast was clear before emerging from the closet.

“That was close,” I said with nervous laugh.

“Too close,” Hoyt replied. “It can't happen again. Especially here.”

“I know,” I agreed. The moment we let our guard down, we almost got caught. We had to keep ourselves in check.

“I'll email you the workout list from now on,” he said. “You don't need me in here anyway.”

“Okay.” The fact that I didn't need Hoyt in the gym with me every day was a moot point. I wanted him there and that was the problem. I wanted him no matter where he was or wasn't.

“We'll keep our interactions at Mill Valley limited to the track,” he suggested.

“Probably better that way,” I agreed, even though it wasn't what I wanted at all.

Both of us scrounged up our belongings and gave each other one last look before heading off in opposite directions.

F
or three weeks I'd managed to keep my emotions reigned in around Chayse. Three whole weeks and I felt like I was walking a fine line between insanity and total despair. Every time we were on the track, I tried to pretend that our vacation together was a fantasy, but my ability to fool myself was starting to wane. Especially after what almost happened in the gym. I was going to fuck her right there. In a closet. Surrounded by cleaning supplies and medicine balls. I didn't care.

That's when I knew that I was clearly on the brink of doing something that I'd regret. I would never regret being with her, but I'd regret losing control. I'd regret letting myself be caught in a compromising position and, worse, letting her. I needed to be the best version of myself that I could be. For my reputation. For my career. For her.

I'd gone back to driving myself to races and hauling ass as soon as they were over. When we were at Mill Valley, I made sure to put enough distance between us that the sweet smell of her couldn't be caught by my nose. I made sure that she was always more than an arm's length away so I couldn't reach out and touch her. And, I made sure that we were never—NEVER—alone. I'd even went as far as to invite some of the other riders to train with her in the gym and on the track.

I stopped making her watch videos with me because I knew the moment were seated next to one another my hands would be on her or my arm over her shoulder. I'd be whispering exactly what I wanted to do with her behind closed doors or how I missed the sweet taste of her on my tongue. I could not, would not, let my foot even come close to the edge of that slippery slope.

Doing the right thing sucked. Hard.

“Are you ready?” I asked her as we waited in the pits for her race to start. We'd been in the southwest for the past month, hitting tracks in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Some were Throttled circuit races, others were not. Chayse and I both decided that the more often she raced the better. Today, we were in Arizona.

“Yeah,” she said confidently. “I'm ready. This track is a cakewalk.”

“Don't get too cocky,” I said with a grin. This track was a cakewalk and I knew she was the best rider on the board. The truth was, she'd taken first in the last five races she'd participated in. I had no doubt that she was going to do the same today. “I mean, you're all right and all...” I teased.

“Oh, you know exactly how good I am,” she said as she wrinkled her nose and gave me an ornery smirk in return. Despite the fact we were surrounded by hundreds of other riders and crews, the moment that passed between us was palpable. She always knew exactly what to say to get my attention. Truth was... I missed it when we were trying to play it cool. I missed her witty banter and teasing temptation. I missed her flirting. I missed flirting back. I missed
her
.

“Careful,” I warned when I realized that we were staring at each other like a couple of sex-starved lunatics. We couldn't do this. Especially in a public place. Anyone could see us. The last thing either of us wanted was for some other Throttled rider or Nick to catch us.

“I know,” she said. “I'm sorry.” The consideration for our situation was written all over her face.  It wasn't fair that we couldn't exchange playful comments or intimate moments. I was really starting to think that giving up my position with Throttled might just be worth it if that meant we could do as we pleased. “I better get out there,” she said, nodding toward the track.

“Race is about to start,” I agreed. “Good luck out there,” I added, knowing that the only one who needed good luck nowadays was me. Good luck on not giving in and saying to hell with my career and reputation.

* * *

“N
ice job out there today,” Link told Chayse when the races were over and we were loading up trailers. She'd put on a good show today—winning as easily as she'd suggested she would. I wanted to say that I was coming around to liking Hoffman, but the second he wrapped his arms around Chayse's waist and spun her around with a congratulatory hug, I wanted to rip his head off. Chayse laughed as he sat her back on the ground and repaid the celebration on him winning his class. The guy was a good rider, but if he didn't keep his hands off of her I was going to remove them. He wouldn't be riding for shit without hands