Page 41 of Hyperspeed
Elyn raised her arm, and the sound of the air horn kick-started our bodies’ engines. Kai and I moved before anyone else even registered the sound. Someone laughed from behind us, most likely Zylo dropping his egg because of his massive hands.
But I didn’t look, too focused on keeping mine steady.
“This might be the first time you’ve followed my advice,” Kai teased from beside me.
It annoyed me that I was in fact taking his advice, and it annoyed me more that he’d noticed. I moved quickly, as gracefully as I could, all the while keeping my spoon balanced. His advice turned out to be helpful, but I’d never actually admitit.
I’d rather go streaking around an icy track with my balls hanging out.
“Careful, Mercer,” I snapped back. “Don’t want to trip over those huge championship shoes you’re always trying to fill.”
Kai didn’t respond, just bit his lip, trying to fight the smile that threatened to burst through.
Unfortunately, the sight of his perfect teeth sinking into that plump, rosy skin took me off guard.
I missed a clump of grass on the ground, and my toe caught it like a dart searching for a bullseye. It sent me ass over tit, and my egg tumbled to the ground, while I ended up with a mouth full of grass.
Of course, Kai laughed, the sound carrying over his shoulder as the gap between us grew. I scrambled to pick up the egg, plonking it back on the spoon. By the time I was moving again, Jax had almost caught up. But he didn’t overtake me.
Still, when I crossed the finish line in second place, Kai was waiting with that maddening grin that set my nerves on fire.
“Told you, rookie.” His hazel eyes sparkled, the gold-flecked irises flashing like first-place medals in the sun. “I don’t lose.”
I panted as if I’d finished a marathon, every muscle wound tight. Taking a few grounding breaths, I forced my shoulders back, spine straight. My expression settled into cool composure, belying the chaos simmering just beneath the surface.
“It’s only the first event, Mercer. Plenty of time to kick your ass.”
I waited for him to call me out on my false bravado. Stars, part of me wanted him to. Wanted the surge of adrenaline that came from a verbal spar with Kai.
But he didn’t. He just looked down his nose at me, the corner of his mouth turned up. Kai leaned in, closing the distance until the tip of his nose brushed mine.
“We’ll see, rookie,” he whispered, so close I could taste the sweetness of his breath. “I’d rather spank yours, though.”
Air snagged in my lungs, and when I tried to speak, the words refused to come. Colour pulsed across my skin, illuminating Kai’s annoying, smug face. Red gave way to a rosy pink as I stared, speechless, trying to process Kai’s words.
He was crass.
He was vulgar.
He was—
“I like making you speechless.” Kai’s laugh was soft, almost teasing. “Maybe I’ll make a habit of it.”
“Fuck off, Mercer,” I growled, clenching my teeth while my mask of indifference continued to crack.
Naturally, it just made his grin stretch even further.
I shoved him aside and stormed away, following the kids to the next event. I clenched my jaw, balled my fingers into tight fists, and tried to patch up the holes that Kai had made in my veneer.
Behind me, I heard Kai’s low chuckle, the sound happy on the surface with dark promises hidden underneath.
And I just knew . . . that sound would haunt me for months to come.
Completely smug, completely insufferable, and unfortunately, completely unavoidable.
The Need for Speed... and Something More
Rev
