Racing for Freedom

chapter Eleven





I sit on the kitchen counter, glaring at Slade as he walks in with his bags later that night. Kandee follows behind him, grinning and dragging a tiny bag of her own. Oh hell no, she is not staying here.

“She’s not saying here, Slade.”

Slade stops and stares at me. “What?”

“You heard me. This is my place, you are renting off me. She can come and visit, but she’s not living here and I’m not ok with her staying overnight all the time either…there are some things I don’t need to hear. Through the day, occasional nights, that’s it.”

Kandee pouts at me and I give her a rude smile, tilting my head to the side and glaring right at her.

“Sladddde,” she whines. “You said I could.”

He turns to her. “I didn’t say you could live here, I say you could come over sometimes. Kandee, you know I don’t like to be smothered.”

I snort and Slade glares up at me, I give him a wide smile. He slowly turns and looks back down at Kandee.

“Slade, can we talk in private?” she snaps.

“No, I’m busy right now. Throw your things in my room, I have to unpack and you have to go to work.”

“I don’t want to,” she pouts.

“Too bad.”

I watch Kandee slink off with a sour look on her face. Slade follows after her and I watch in amusement, as he sweet talks her out of the house and convinces her to go to work. She grips his ass at the door and presses herself up against him seductively, murmuring something into his ear that has him grinning and pressing a very erotic kiss to her lips. I turn away, flushing. When she’s gone, he turns and grins at me.

“Are you blushing, Dash?”

I meet his gaze. “No, why the hell would I be blushing?”

“Dashy has never been kissed so good, she got hot on the inside and the outside, right?”

I narrow my eyes and cross my arms. “Sure I have.”

“By who?”

I grin, slowly and no doubt sexily. “You.”

His eyes widen, yeah, take that Slade Devaroe, right back at ya! He tilts his head to the side and slowly drags his bottom lip into his mouth. God damn him, he knows I love that. I grin at him and slide off the bench before he can say anymore, then I saunter into my room and shut the door. That’s one for Dash! I know I shouldn’t, but I feel a warmth swell inside my chest that I haven’t felt for a long time.

I slip into the shower and change into some fresh clothes, and then I head out into the kitchen to begin something for dinner. I am mid-way through digging around in the fridge when Slade walks out. I turn and stare over at him, and I can feel my skin begin to heat. He’s fresh from the shower, and his hair is pressed sexily against his forehead. He smells so dammed divine, I want to lick him and he looks…well he just looks god dammed sexy.

“What’s for dinner?”

I smile at him. “I don’t know, I’m creating.”

He leans against the counter and his muscles move as he takes me in. I look away quickly, steadying my breathing. This could be harder than I first thought.

“Dashy creates?”

“I do sometimes.”

“I cook too, sometimes. You never know, you might get lucky.”

My cheeks flush and he notices, and begins to chuckle softly.

“You always were a blusher, Dashy.” He murmurs, reaching up and shocking me by touching my cheek.

The front door opens suddenly, and he drops his hand quickly. I jump back startled. What the hell did he just do that for? I quickly turn my eyes to the door to see Lucas carrying a take away bag and staring at us in shock. God, that couldn’t have looked good at all. When he sees Slade, his face falls. I know Lucas and I aren’t together, but I also know it would hurt him to think I was with Slade.

“What the hell is he doing here, Dasha?”

Dasha. Uh oh.

“He’s…um…”

“Her new housemate,” Slade finishes for me.

“What?”

“It’s a long story, he needed somewhere to live and I needed a housemate.” I say quickly.

“Can we talk, Dasha?”

“I’m cooking,” I mumble quietly, not wanting to get into this now. It’s not really up to Lucas who I have in my house.

“Can we just talk about this, in private, please?”

I close my eyes. “Not now, Lucas, please. It’s been a long day.”

He nods his head, hurt. “Fine, I’ll leave you to it then.”

He turns and storms out the door. I sigh, not wanting to fight with him. I put the knife down, shoot a look at Slade and then follow Lucas out the door.

“Lucas, wait, please!”

He spins around and I can see he’s hurt. I never meant to hurt him. God I’m such an ass. I grip his arms and force him to look at me. I don’t have to explain myself to Lucas, but I’m going to because he’s done so much for me and I don’t want to lose him.

“I’m sorry ok? It’s only for a while, he had nowhere else to go.”

“He’s not your problem Dash,” Lucas whispers. “He hurt you and he’ll do it again. You are setting yourself up for pain.”

“Look, we were friends a long time ago and I know him. He’s not going to be here half the time anyway, neither will I.”

“I can’t change your mind on this, that’s quite clear, but I wish you would listen to me Dash. This isn’t a good idea.”

“It’s only for a while.”

He sighs and closes his eyes. “I have to go.”

“But you came over to eat…”

He opens his eyes and forces a smile. “I know, but…I just need to go.”

“Please don’t be mad at me Lucas, I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head, but I’m not buying it. “I’m not. I’ll call you later ok?”

He turns and gets into his car without another word. I sigh and turn, walking back inside. Slade is stirring the chicken I put on the pan and I smile weakly at him.

“How long have you been with him?”

“I’m not with him.”

He raises his brows. “You do realize he’s in love with you, don’t you?”

I nod weakly. “Yeah I know.”

He stares at me for a long moment, then turns back to the stirring. I walk over and take the spoon from his hand, and our fingers brush together. I shudder and quickly pull away, daring to peek up at him. He’s looking down at me, his eyes intense and searching my face. Then, he pulls himself together and walks out of the kitchen.

“I’m going out for a while.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” I say in a small voice.

He stops and looks over at me. “No, I suppose I don’t.”

Then he takes his keys and leaves. What the hell just happened?