FUEL (DirtSlap Series Book 1) (5 page)

If he ever managed to, it would scorch him.

The sun blared
through the window and made Thrand squint, but when his bed shifted, he frowned. On his stomach, he lifted his head to peer to the side. Perched on his bed, Cassie stared at him. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she snapped pictures of him with her phone.

“What are you doing?” He scrubbed at his eyes to clear his vision.

“Taking pictures.” She clicked another one as he rolled and leaned on his elbow.

“Of me sleeping? Creepy much?”

Her lips quirked. “Probably. But you wouldn’t wake up.”

Cassie wore a tight tank top and tight pajama shorts. Her hair was a tangled mess, like she’d just woken up, and he had the insane urge to pull her to him.

“Do you always sleep naked?” She dropped her gaze and blushed.

“What the hell, Cas? Not only staring at me while I sleep but looking under the covers? Hold on. You didn’t take pictures of me naked, did you?”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Her flushed face didn’t help her cause.

“Gimme that.” He grabbed her phone and scanned through the pics. He was impressed. Only a cheesy camera phone, but she got some cool shots. Fortunately, he was decently covered.

“You need a real camera.” He handed it back to her.

“I will when I get some money gathered up.”

He watched her scan through the pics, a contented look on her face.

“Let’s get you one.”

Her green eyes widened. “I can’t do that. I don’t have any money and I won’t let you do it. You’ve done enough for me already.”

He brushed the tip of her nose with his finger. “Don’t be silly. Let’s call it a belated birthday present. Or, if it makes you feel better, you can pay me back later.”

No way would he let her, but he would let her think so. He could tell by her grin and the way she was nearly bouncing in anticipation, she wouldn’t be able to say no.

He slid out of bed. She squealed and covered her eyes. He laughed and looked over his shoulder in time to see her peeking through her fingers. “Nice try, Cas, but I can see you looking.”

She covered her face again as he kicked the bathroom door shut. A part of him should feel guilty for giving her that little show, but she’d ogled his ass. Served her right.

Several hours later,
they were headed home. He had his hand on the wheel as she took shots of him with the camera he’d just bought her. It gave him an odd sort of satisfaction to be able to buy something that gave her so much pleasure. She’d argued with him over the one he’d chosen. It was expensive, but he didn’t care. He knew she’d never gotten much in her life, and he wanted to be the one to do it for her. He made enough to splurge now and then. It was worth it to see that glow of happiness on her face.

After getting home, he sat on the couch and plopped his feet up to get some chill time before heading to the bonfire later. The girl wore him out. She sat at the other end and curled her bare toes against his thigh as he turned on the TV.

“Thanks. I really don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. You never know, you might be able to make some money with it.”

“Never thought of that,” she said.

“So you never told me what your plans were when you got to New York.”

“I didn’t have any plans. I was just going. Does it really matter?”

“You took off with no thoughts of what you were going to do when you got there?” Thrand couldn’t imagine how hard that would be. Just up and go with only a small amount of cash and no idea of how you would survive once you got there.

She pursed her lips. “No. I had no idea. I was going to figure it out as I went. Isn’t that what you did?”

He shook his head. “I had a lead here. I knew what I wanted to do.”

She brows shot up in surprise then she lifted her chin. “I had to get out. It didn’t matter what happened after that.”

He dropped a hand to her foot and rubbed the arch. Her little toes flexed then curled. He studied her face. “Was it that bad?”

*

Cassie couldn’t keep
her eyes off him while his hand caressed her foot. Sparks shot through her and she kept imagining him this morning.

Lying on his stomach.

His broad, muscular back on wicked display.

It’d taken all she had not to reach out, touch him and run her fingers over his tattoos. When she noticed he wasn’t wearing anything, she’s taken a peek at his ass. What girl wouldn’t? Then he stood. His entire body a feast for her eyes. The sun’s rays highlighted all the dips and planes of muscle. She’d been struck dumb. He looked better naked than with clothes. It was criminal. She did not need to think about that.

So she concentrated on his question…
was it that bad?

How much did he really want to know? She opted for the truth. “Yeah. It was. At least until I moved out. It took a bit, but at least I don’t have nightmares anymore.”

Thrand paled and his hand stopped moving. “I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry.”

He dropped his head, and she really didn’t know how to make him feel better.

“It is what it is. I’m free now. I’ve moved on.” Her brows furrowed when he wouldn’t meet her gaze. Surely he understood that shit happened and sometimes there wasn’t anything to be done about it?

“Thrand.” She poked him with her foot.

He raked a hand over his short hair in obvious agitation, then finally glanced at her.

“Life sucks, but it is what it is,” she said.

“It shouldn’t have been for you.” He hopped up. “Going to the garage. Watch whatever you want.”

She frowned at his departure. Did he blame himself for everything? She didn’t see how he could. Hell, he’d been a kid, too, and his parents were asshats. She shook her head in confusion. She had to be misreading him because he had his life together.

“Cassie, get back
down in the truck,” Thrand yelled and tugged on her leg.

She stood in Thrand’s seat, her torso up through the sunroof. Her arms spread wide and she hollered, loving how she could barely hear her own words. The wind lashed at her hair and left a tingle on her skin. The sky was slowly turning pink as the sun set. She closed her eyes and ignored Thrand.

She loved this feeling.

Free.

It was the most awesome thing in the world.

Then he swerved over and slammed it in park. “Get your ass back down, woman.”

She slid in laughing. “That was awesome. I’ve always wanted to do that.”

Windblown and alive, she inhaled his musky scent. He frowned at her and she was positive crawling into his lap would agitate him further. But that’s exactly what she wanted to do.

“No more, okay?” Thrand pushed the button to slide the sunroof closed and put the truck in gear.

Cassie pouted, but didn’t say anything and studied him. His jaw tensed, his strong hands tight on the wheel, she got the feeling she was the reason he was uptight.

They turned off the road, went through an open gate, and bounced across a rough pasture toward a circle of trucks with tailgates down. Thrand backed in next to a red pickup. A bonfire was lit in the center and Cassie couldn’t keep the grin off her face, even if Thrand looked like he’d swallowed a bad apple.

They’d barely parked when a guy pulled open the driver side door.

“About time you got here. Why—” The guy stopped mid sentence when Cassie leaned forward. “Dammit, Thrand. You’ve been holding out on me.”

She stifled a giggle. He appeared rumpled with sandy blond hair sticking up like he’d run his hand through it or just rolled out of bed. But he owned a lady-killer smile and light brown eyes.

*

Thrand was still
trying to get his bearings from Cassie’s revelations at the house. Just how bad had it been? He wasn’t sure he wanted to know. Then she pulled that little stunt with the sunroof. His mood wasn’t what you’d call great when he saw Ryan’s face as he spotted Cassie.

“Ryan, this is Cassie. Cas, this is my best friend.”

“Hi,” she said, and waved before she scooted out her door.

He looked at Ryan. “Dude, you’re gonna catch bugs with that thing.”

Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “Where the hell did you find her?”

Thrand got out and leaned against the side of his truck. “Remember me telling you about Cameron?”

“Yup. Your high school buddy, right?”

“She’s his sister.”

Ryan whistled low. “She found you?”

“No. Coincidence, man.” Thrand never talked about his hometown but, one night, on the anniversary of Cam’s death, he’d drunk too much and spilled his guts to Ryan. He was the only person he’d ever told. “Ran into her on Broadway Wednesday night. She was headed to New York when her bus broke down.”

“How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”

Thrand rubbed the back of his neck. “Seven years.”

He dropped his hand and straightened when he spied Cas and Lila walking toward them. Cassie wore a loose tee that barely skimmed the top of her worn, low-rise jeans. Her golden hair slid past her shoulders in waves. So simple, but she had already gotten the attention of every male here.

He might have to kill somebody.

It wasn’t long before someone had the music cranked, and red cups filled with alcohol were passed around. He knew everyone here, but he was a bit detached tonight.

Memories of the past echoed in his mind and the more he was around Cassie the more the present tangled with the past.

He was talking to a few of his buds, when the girls started a line dance. Something they always did, but all he saw was Cassie. The girl had moves that matched her curves. Sheer disregard for anything or anyone. Like no one watched or stared when
everyone
watched and stared. He grit his teeth while several guys took turns dancing with her.

After guy seven—yes, he was fucking counting—Thrand’s patience snapped. He glared at guy eight who thought he was next. Thrand took her free hand and spun her. She gasped, then grinned up at him as he moved her into a two-step, dust kicking up around them.

“Having fun?” he asked.

“You know I am.” She scooted in closer when a slow song hit the radio.

With his hands on her waist—he didn’t dare move them lower—he kept space between them. “Bonfires suit you.”

They did. A little too well. Her tanned skin and golden hair glowed in the light of the orange flame.

“Really? This is my first one.” She clasped her hands casually behind his neck.

“Let me guess. You’ve always wanted to go to one?”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “How’d you know?”

“I’m seeing a pattern.” He barely resisted kissing her. She was so fucking cute when she did that. But everything she did stirred his blood in a way that no other girl ever had. She inhaled life at warp speed and he was learning quick, this girl didn’t hold back. She drew him in like a moth to flame.

When the song changed, Lila grabbed her arm and dragged her off for more line dancing. This time, Ryan joined the group of girls, making them laugh. Thrand propped a hip against his tailgate and nursed a beer, that’s when Trina walked up to him.

He glanced at her but didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to talk to her and had no intention of doing so.

“So how long is this gonna last?” Her high-pitched voice had him cringing.

He sighed and closed his eyes briefly. Why could this girl not get the hint? He turned to her. “Should I pretend to know what you’re talking about?”

“You knew I would be here. Just rubbing my face in it?”

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. And no, I didn’t know you’d be here, nor did I care. Lady, you don’t fuck some guy you just met and expect more than
just
that.” He hated being so blunt, but damn, he was tired of her shit. She reared back her hand to slap him, but Cassie shoved the girl to the ground before it hit.

“Don’t you dare touch him,” Cassie yelled.

Thrand was so shocked all he could do was stare.

Trina shrieked and came after Cassie with her nails but Cassie slugged her, knocking her to the ground. It was obvious who knew how to fight. Thrand encircled Cassie’s waist when it looked like she wasn’t finished. All Trina did was lie in the dirt and cry.