Free Revving Her Up by Joy Daniels

fraction. “There aren’t many. She’s had to work really hard to get where she is.”
    She nodded slowly. “I bet. She must be pretty amazing.”
    Cole heard the admiration in her voice and something in his chest thawed, a part of him that had flash-frozen when he’d seen the hurt in Carrie’s eyes. “She is. I’m really proud of her.”
    Sarah nodded. “Of course. Who wouldn’t be?”
    Who wouldn’t be?
    Three simple words but they sent warmth through Cole, burning away the last shreds of his resistance to this woman. He shook his head in amazement.
    Seemingly unaware of his epiphany, she gave him an assessing look. “So how about you? You ever race? You seem to like being in the driver’s seat.”
    Cole bit back the smile that jumped to his lips, pretty sure her allusion to his earlier words was unintentional. “I’ve raced a bit. Started out with quarter midgets when I was a kid—they’re small open-wheeled cars that look like go-karts. Moved up to sprint cars when I turned eighteen. At the same time I started getting interested in how the cars were put together.” He shrugged. “Instead of continuing on the circuit, I decided to go to college to study engineering and ended up building engines instead of racing cars. But I still race for fun every now and then.”
    “I can see why.” She settled back onto the cushions and started to tuck her feet under her, then stopped, seeming to realize that she was wearing boots. She crossed her ankles primly instead.
    “Let me get those for you.” Cole scooted off the couch and onto his knees in front of her. Before she could protest—and he knew she would—he took one of her boots in his hands and started to tug it off. Off-balance, Sarah sank deeper into the cushions.
    She struggled to sit up. “What are you doing?”
    “Relax,” he said, pulling the boot off. “I’m trying to make you more comfortable.” He removed the second boot and returned to his seat on the couch. “Better?” She nodded. “Good, now turn around.”
    With the look of suspicion that flashed across her face he might have asked her to strip and dance naked. The image of that nearly distracted him from his purpose. “You were headed to a spa, right?” She nodded. “Well, just ‘cause you’re not gonna get there tonight doesn’t mean that you can’t get a little relaxation. I’ve been told I’m pretty good with backrubs. By my mother,” he added when her eyes narrowed.
    She gave him another assessing look and Cole felt a moment’s pity for anyone who came across that face in a courtroom. He held up his hands, trying as hard as he could to look harmless. Trustworthy. Whatever she needed him to be to feel safe and relax. It must have worked because she shrugged and turned, presenting her back to him. But she was still sitting on the other end of the couch.
    “Maybe an orangutan could touch you way over there, darlin’, but for this to work you’re gonna have to get a whole lot closer.” Leaning forward, he slipped his hands under her arms and pulled her across the couch and onto his lap. She started squirming as soon as he set her down, sending a pulse of pure lust through Cole’s groin. Her thong was still in his pocket, which meant that her sweet spot was bare under that skirt… He bit down on a groan. They were basically in the same position they’d been in at the track, her ass nestled against his crotch.
    So what went wrong? Things had seemed to be motoring along nicely back there until suddenly they weren’t. Cole hated to think that it was something he’d done. He was usually in sync with his lovers and enjoyed figuring out what would excite them the most. He’d thought she would enjoy a little mild dominance and submission—strong women often did. But not this one.
    Cole turned his attention back to Sarah’s massage. At his urging, she leaned forward and braced her hands on his knees. Her motion arched her back, moving her warm valley right over his