BENEATH THE MASK
Lets see..
Disclaimer: If only, if only the woodpecker sighs...
Warning: It's mostly just cursing.
SUMMARY: Kaiden Grant and his second-in-command, Drake Stanford, are underground Miami's most infamous street racers and even more dangerous crime lords. Ever since they showed up in Miami, they hadn't lost a single race. Kaiden Grant and Drake Stanford were the Kings and everybody knew it. But where had they came from, and why? What dark secrets lay beneath their masks?
CHAPTER 3
Green eyes watched, bemused, as Tej stormed back to the party with a ferocious scowl on his face. With a small shrug, the raven haired man continued outside, his eyes focused on his goal. His sensitive ears caught the tail end of the conversation that his blonde was having with the mechanic.
"-and destroying a Skyline is something that hurts Kaiden, in a weird Kaiden way."
"So in other words…"
"You're screwed."
Kaiden watched as Brian swallowed hard at the sight of him approaching. He ignored the urge to smirk as he nodded towards the Asian mechanic salivating over the gold Evo. Jimmy shot him a quick grin before he ambled off to the party, occasionally shooting awed looks back at the car. Kaiden didn't say a single word as he walked right up to Brian and caged him in between his arms in the same manner as the first time. He was silent as he stared intently at his blonde, who had his eyes cast down, tracing his face with his eyes. "You destroyed it." It was a statement, not a question. He noticed as the blonde tensed between his arms and his eyes flew up to meet Kaiden's emerald greens. Kaiden watched Brian's Adams apple bob up and down as he swallowed again.
"How'd you know?"
"It's written all over your face. But the real question is; what I'm I going to do about it." Kaiden said flatly, watching him curiously for his reaction.
"Who says you have to do anything it all?" Brian countered, his eyes hard with annoyance. Kaiden cocked an eyebrow at him. "It's not any of your business."
"You made it my business when you desecrated a Skyline." Kaiden murmured, his voice dangerously low. "You made it my business when you rolled yourself into my life, into my scene. You made it my business when you thought you could roll with Verone without some blood being shed." He leant in closer, his lips brushing the shell of Brian's ear. "None of my racers are permitted to drive for another source. No one. Not even you, blondie." Kaiden released a low chuckle. "Especially not you."
Kaiden leant back again to meet blue eyes. Brian's eyes hardened with defiance for a long moment as the blonde stared into Kaiden's eyes, reminding the raven with a jolt of another with bright blues similar to the blonde's. He was reminded harshly of bright blue eyes from his past, blue eyes drilling into his own as he and another man stood together akin to how he was now with his blonde, though their positions were decidedly reversed. Kaiden pulled himself out of the memory in time to see Brian's eyes as they flickered suddenly and he dropped his eyes to the ground in a show of submission. Kaiden frowned; he was enjoying the blonde's spirit. No, this wasn't right. He had chosen the blonde for a reason, and it wasn't to have another compliant doll whimpering at his feet. Kaiden lifted a hand from where it rested on the roof of the Evo, which caused Brian to tense further as he waited for the blow that would never come. Instead, Kaiden only grabbed the blonde's chin gently in his long fingers. "Look at me." Kaiden commanded softly.
Blue eyes rose warily to look into his green ones. Kaiden gazed into the blue depths for a long time before a small smile upturned his lips. Without any warning, the raven tipped his head and crushed his lips against the startled blonde's in a deep kiss. Kaiden's eyes fluttered closed as he savoured the feel of soft lips against his own before drawing back to stare into his blonde's eyes again. "Never again." Kaiden commanded, his voice husky, his eyes half lidded. "You drive for me, and me only."
Brian nodded, his eyes bright as he licked his lips. Kaiden wanted to chuckle when Brian finally realised with a start that he was staring down at Kaiden, who was a few inches shorter than the blonde was. Kaiden knew his commanding aura made it seem otherwise, giving others the illusion that he was so much taller than he actually was. Brian swallowed hard as Kaiden looked up at him through long lashes, a pink tongue darting out to lick at full lips. Kaiden had to fight had to keep his chuckle in. With a smirk, Kaiden pushed himself away from the car and stalked out back to rejoin the party.
"Tease." Kaiden heard whispered hoarsely from his blonde. His smirk grew wider as he strolled back to the party.
~BTM~
Kaiden was a jerk, a controlling asshole that was a contradiction of all the unwritten laws, Brian fumed. He sticks up for himself and the man gets angry, he submits and the asshole gets angry. Kaiden Grant was an asshole not worth worrying about.
At least, that's what Brian told himself as he danced with a random girl in a barely there bikini in an attempt to get his mind off of the raven and their scorching kiss. She backed into him seductively as she sent him a coy look over her shoulder. They moved together to the beat, her back rubbing against his front provocatively for a long moment before Brian gave up on the idea of trying to forget the other man. He rested his hands on her hips to still her, leaning down to reach her ears as he spoke loud enough to be heard over the music. "Sorry, I'm not into girls." Well not anymore, he thought, his mind flashing once more to the heated kiss he had shared with Kaiden earlier that day.
Her sultry smile morphed into a genuine smile as she turned around. "It's nice to find a man who's not afraid to tell the world he's into men. Homophobia's overrated." She grinned as she patted him on the arm. "I'm Trina."
"Brian." He told her with a smile.
"So who's the lucky stud taking up your time? Is he gorgeous?" Brian's eyes strayed towards the VIP section. Kaiden was standing as he pulled off his shirt to better cope with the humid air, revealing his toned upper body. The raven noticed him staring and sent him a slow wink. Trina followed the blonde's eyes and laughed when Brian's cheeks lit up with a blush. "Kaiden Grant? Damn, you sure know how to pick 'em; he's gorgeous alright."
Brian spent the rest of the evening talking to Trina and getting to know her and was genuinely having a good time when his phone rang. He picked it up absentmindedly without checking the caller I.D, but his mind cleared abruptly as the owner of the voice registered. He said his goodbyes to Trina before he made his way over to where Rome was chatting up a couple of girls. Brian pulled him aside with a smile at the girls. "Rome."
"I'm working my magic here, Brian." Rome said with an exasperated eye roll.
"Monica called. She said we should get to the club; Verone is expecting us." Roman sobered up and nodded. He followed the blonde as they slipped out of the party and climbed into their cars. Their eyes met for a moment before Brian nodded determinedly and they shot out of the parking lot.
~BTM~
It was nearing eleven at night and the VIP section was serene as everyone relaxed and bantered with each other. Kaiden's phone vibrated from his back pocket. It was with relaxed hands that the raven removed his phone. His eyes narrowed for a second as he read the name on the caller I.D. Suki rolled her eyes at him when he glanced over at her, making him grin in return. He knew exactly how he looked reclining on a beach couch, his shirt off and a barely-there bikini clad girl sitting on his lap – straight. Too bad for the girl that she had all the wrong parts. He answered his phone with a silent sigh; he hated it when clients called him.
"Pearl, at midnight. Be there."
Kaiden didn't bother answering and simply flipped his phone shut. His eyes met Drake's as a wicked smirk unfurled across his face.
"Let's roll."
AN: Wow, this is obscenely short… Thanks for all the reviews, alerts and favs. Drop me a review – let me know what you think about this chapter.
Cheers,
UponAtlas.