Sweet in His Arms: Scarred Hearts, #4

By Megan Slayer

Rubbin' is racin', especially if it's done with a little sweetness, a little heat and the right man.

Ryan Dane always knew where his heart was—in racing. He loves the sights, smells and sounds of a well-tuned engine humming beneath him. He's also sure about his sexuality, but the one man he's always crushed on hasn't been interested.

Until now.

Gage Bell considered Ryan the one that got away—except he never pursued Ryan in the first place. He's done trying to ignore the way Ryan makes him feel, and an incident on the track has given him the right incentive to find the sweetness he's always known was in Ryan's arms.

 If Ryan will give him an inch and let him take the wheel, Gage is ready to rub the right man over and over again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: May 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533762085

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Sweet in His Arms

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright© 2016 Wendi Zwaduk

Edited by Shelby Madison

Cover Art by WMZ Art

––––––––

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in art in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.

DEDICATION

Thanks to the fans for encouraging me to get these stories written.

Thanks to JPZ because you’re simply the best.

For CD because you encouraged me to do this

For MS because you kept at me to do this & have been one hell of a cheerleader.

JZ, CD and MS, you all rock.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Two months later...

About the Author

Sweet in His Arms

Rubbin’ is racin’, especially if it’s done with a little sweetness, a little heat and the right man.

Ryan Dane always knew where his heart was—in racing. He loves the sights, smells and sounds of a well-tuned engine humming beneath him. He’s also sure about his sexuality, but the one man he’s always crushed on hasn’t been interested.

Until now.

Gage Bell considered Ryan the one that got away—except he never pursued Ryan in the first place. He’s done trying to ignore the way Ryan makes him feel, and an incident on the track has given him the right incentive to find the sweetness he’s always known was in Ryan’s arms.

If Ryan will give him an inch and let him take the wheel, Gage is ready to rub the right man over and over again.

Chapter One

I can see the turn, and it’s sweet. Ryan Dane gripped the steering wheel tight and slammed into the curve. The rear end of his late-model racecar broke loose, like he was driving on ice, but he loved the sensation. He drove deep into the lane, almost taking out the tires lining the inner portion of the track. The car to his left stayed beside him and soon the sound of rubbing metal added to the commotion of the track when the other driver slammed into his front quarter panel.

Shit, he muttered. He didn’t want to clash with the driver beside him. He’d done enough arguing with Gage Bell in the past.

Ryan kept his foot on the gas and surged the rest of the way through turn four. His tires gripped in the somewhat damp dirt at the bottom of the racing surface, allowing him to move ahead of Gage’s car. Dust flew up behind Ryan’s car, creating a slight screen between him and Gage.

When the checkered flag waved, Ryan glanced over at the scoring tower. Hells yes, I finished second. Yeah!

He slowed as he went into the first turn, but the back end of his car kicked out from under him again. What the hell? He wasn’t going fast enough for the car to break loose. As the car spun backward on the track, he collided with the reason he’d been wrecked—Gage.

Damn it.

Ryan stomped the gas and drove away, avoiding any further issues with Gage. Part of him wanted to give Gage a piece of his mind, but the rest of him just wanted to get the hell off the track and enjoy his great finish. He continued moving and drove to the scales just before the front stretch of the grandstands. After each race, the drivers were expected to weigh in to prove the car wasn’t over or under the required weight specs. Proving he met the requirements allowed him to collect the three-thousand-dollar prize for his second-place finish.

The light on the scale lit green, signaling he’d made weight. He pumped his fist in the car and headed toward the front stretch. He’d worry about Gage later.

As he parked, he waved to the crowd. The scent of burnt rubber rode the breeze. The dirt from the race still hadn’t settled and billowed in gigantic clouds over the spectators.  The loudspeaker crackled as the announcers read off the standings. He glanced over his shoulder and bit back a growl.

Gage stopped behind him, and once he climbed out of the car, his competitor glared at him.

So much for thinking about Gage later.

People cheered as the winner thanked his sponsors. When it was Ryan’s turn to speak with the announcer, he could’ve sworn he heard Jena and Jones whooping above the rumble of the crowd. He smiled and waved at everyone in the grandstands. The racing groove was better at the top of the track, but I found something and made it work down at the bottom. Guess there was just a little moisture to make the tires stick. I’m happy with the finish and gaining those points.

He wasn’t going to elevate his place in the point standings with just one second place finish, but he wouldn’t knock the accomplishment. The confetti settled along with the remains of the dirt on the breeze. Smoke from the fire cannons drifted away and the people filed out of the stands. That was the thing about racing—once the event ended, few people stuck around. A win was a true moment of glory before everyone moved on to the next race.

He stole one last glance at Gage before he climbed behind the wheel of his car.

Fifteen minutes later, Ryan drove back to the trailer and pulled the car onto the open-air transport. One day he wanted to buy a better trailer to enclose his car but not today. He’d have to use the bulk of his winnings to replace the damage to his car courtesy of Gage.

His best friend, Jones, held the straps used to secure the axles and wheels to the trailer. Saw you take a hit from Bell. You’re not going to kick his ass? He fucking destroyed the rear end of our car. The Ryan I know would have rearranged his face.

I could kick his ass, but what’s the point? If I get busted for fighting again, I’ll get suspended from racing. I’ve kind of got to keep it under control. I’m sure the asshole will come over, but I’ll deal with it in my own way—next week on the track. Besides, I can handle him like I handled my own out there.

Ryan chuckled and cranked the handle on the strap to lock the car down to the trailer. He couldn’t remember a time he hadn’t been friends with the boy with the odd name. Jones was like another brother to him. Sure, he had two already, but Jones was his support and voice of reason. Except now when Jones wanted him to fight Gage. 

When Ryan raced, Jones took care of the car, and when Jones raced, Ryan became the mechanic. Jones knew more about him than anyone and Ryan was jealous of the way Jones and his wife, Jena, were with each other. The love Jones felt for her was evident in the way he held her hand and the way he kissed her before each race. He snagged her in a hug whenever he saw her and usually had his arm around her narrow shoulders and his hand on her ass when he walked with her.

Ryan cranked the second strap and sighed. A dull