Nikoli couldn't keep his eyes off her ass.

She was here in his garage helping him and Luther with the small modifications to the Mach 1. When they'd picked her up, Luther's eyes just about popped out of his head. Nik had slapped his arm. Hard. But he'd had the same reaction to her shorts and tank top. A flannel shirt was tied around her shorts. She had beautiful legs with just a hint of a tan.

When she climbed into the back seat, Luther had wisely kept his face forward.

Once they'd gotten to the garage, she'd gone into what he called professional mode. She went over the car and did her own checklist. She said it out loud, and they both realized it must be the same checklist her father used when he got ready for a race. It was a damn good one too. Nik would have to remember to write it down later to use.

But she'd blown them away when she pointed out things neither of them had known about the engine. She also knew exactly how to tweak it to make it run faster. Luther had been hanging right beside her most of the day as she explained to him everything she was doing. Luther wasn't just a car junkie; he loved to work on them and find ways to improve them. He majored in engineering, as he wanted to design cars one day. He and Nik had talked about this. Once they made a small fortune in gaming, they'd turn to automobiles and use the profits from the gaming company to finance the auto company.

He'd sent Luther for food, and now he was completely alone with her. She was still buried under the hood, but he was content to watch her ass for a minute or two more.

This was his perfect opportunity to get that kiss he'd missed out on. She was in an environment she was comfortable in, and this was his best chance at easing her into kissing.

"Lily?"

"Hmm?"

"You coming up for air any time soon?"

She raised up and looked at him, frowning. "Is the food here?"

He shook his head.

"Then I'm going back to work."

"Lily?"

"What?" she asked, irritated.

There was this cute little streak of motor oil across her cheek.

"Come here."

She looked to where he was leaning against the lift column. "Why?"

"Must we go through this again? When I say come here, you come here."

"I'm not a dog you can bark commands at, Nikoli."

"Thank fuck you're not a dog. I'd hate to be wanting to kiss a pooch."

"That's gross." She scrunched her nose.

"Lily, do you really want me to come get you?"

"No. I want you to let me finish doing what I was doing."

He sighed and pushed off, going to where she was bending back down. She sat up quickly, backing away. "Don't."

She stopped and eyed him warily.

"Dushka, it's time for another lesson."

"But Luther..."

"Is gone to get food, but he'll be back soon, so why not stop arguing with me?"

Lily wanted to run from the garage, but she forced herself to stay still. Nikoli had this look to him, one that said "danger, danger, run away and hide from it," but another part of her sighed at the thought of what that look could mean. She'd seen it the night he was going to kiss her and they'd been interrupted.

Was he going to kiss her?

Did she want him to?

God, yes, but she was afraid.

"Nik, what are you planning on doing?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Uh..."

His fingertips blazed a trail up her arms then back down, stopping to twine them with hers. He gently tugged her to him until she was standing right in front of him. She swallowed, the sound loud in the suddenly very quiet garage.

"Be easy, dushka," he whispered. "If it's too much, tell me to stop, and I will. Promise."

She knew he would too. He'd never done anything she wasn't okay with. Lily trusted his word.

He cupped her face with his other hand, his thumb slowly stroking her bottom lip.

"Do you remember how you felt when that night I was going to kiss you?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Did you think about it? What it would feel like to have my lips on yours? To feel my tongue stroke those plump little lips of yours, to slide into your mouth and tangle with yours? Remember how your breath caught and your heartbeat sped up? Do you remember all that, Lily?"

She whimpered and nodded, not trusting her voice.

"Close your eyes, baby."

She let her eyelids drop, blocking out everything except the feel of his hands and the sound of his voice.

"Good girl," he purred. "I'm going to pick you up, Lily. Stay calm."

His arm went under her legs and swung her up. He carried her and sat her down on the small workbench lining the wall. She knew it because the wood bit into the backs of her legs.

His leaned into her, his breath warm on her face.

"Remember when you learned to ride a bike without your training wheels?"

"Yes."

"This is like that. The training wheels are coming off."

"What if I'm not ready?"

"You are." He tilted her face up. "Keep your eyes closed, Lily."

Nikoli wanted nothing more than to ravage her lips, but that wasn't going to work. Instead of taking her lips, he nibbled on her jawline, tracing it with his tongue all the way up to her ear. She loved it when he took the lobe in his teeth. Her breath quickened, and he pulled back, smiling.

"Was that so bad, dushka?"

"No," she said, her voice a little hoarse.

"Good girl." This time when he went in, he lightly grazed her lips with his but pulled back before she freaked out. "See, slow and easy."

Her hands were shaking, so he leaned back and took them and put them on his chest. "Hold onto me, dushka." He covered her hands with his. They were so tiny. It took a moment, but the shaking finally calmed down.

He left her hands on his chest and pushed her hair back, tilting her head up again. "Do you know how beautiful you are, Lily Bells?"

"I..."

"Shh," he whispered and nuzzled her nose. "Just relax and feel, baby, feel and know you're safe with me."

When his lips touched hers this time, he took his time, slowly caressing them, coaxing them open. He sucked on her bottom lip, and she made a sound that was indescribable, but it wasn't fear, and he took that as a sign to deepen the kiss, letting his tongue sweep into mouth and tease hers.

Lily wasn't sure what to do, what to feel. Fire burned through her, and she had the urge to wrap her legs around him and pull him closer, but that wasn't something she was ready for. Instead, she did as he asked and let herself relax and get lost in the feel of his lips on hers. The things he did to her were things she'd never experienced before, and when he deepened the kiss, her hands left his chest and wound around his neck, pulling him to her. That much, she would allow herself.

His hands slid down her arms and under her bottom, cupping her ass and hauling her up.

"Wrap your legs around me, baby," he whispered hoarsely into her ear, and she did. She'd wanted to but had been afraid. When he told her to do it, it was like he flipped a switch in her head, and the fear went away.

"There's my girl." His lips found hers again, and this time there was no hesitation in his kiss. He kissed her deeply, and when he pulled back, he buried his head against her shoulder. "God, what you do to me."

She could feel exactly what she did to him. It was currently pressing snugly against her.

"If Luther wasn't coming back, I'd teach you a few more lessons."

Lily was glad Luther was coming back because she wasn't sure she wouldn't let him teach her more things.

"You okay?"

"I don't know."

"You're fine, Lily Bells."

"How do you know that?"

"Because you're wrapped around me, and you're not panicking."

He laughed when she tried to get down.

"Ah, ah," he admonished. "I like holding you like this with my hands full of your ass. You like it too."

"I don't."

"You're a terrible liar, Lily."

"Maybe I do."

When she admitted it, he let her ass go and allowed her to slide down his body, but he kept her pulled to him. "I'm so very proud of you, Milaya."

"You are?"

He nodded. "Da. You didn't know if you could kiss me, but you faced your fears, and you did it. From now on, it'll be easier and easier."

"I'm not sure I want you to kiss me again."

"You do."

"Do not."

He swooped in and kissed her quickly.

"See?" He grinned. "You like when I kiss you."

"You're an ass."

She pushed him, and he allowed her to retreat. He'd pressed her limits enough for a day.

Lily wandered back over to the car and hid under the hood, feeling excited and elated all at once. She did it. She let him kiss her. And, dear Lord, could the boy kiss. It left her shaky.

But she was thankful too.

She'd done it.

Luther returned a few minutes later, and they all sat down on the dirty garage floor and enjoyed burgers and fries.