Kayla sat back, biting her lip as she watched Tank's big hands grip the steering wheel. Her man was so damn fine. The way his muscles flexed with every little movement, the way that gold chain glistened against his smooth skin, the way he smelled like him—soap, cologne, and just pure masculinity.

She licked her lips, the ache between her thighs already starting to make itself known.

"So, what I got to do to drive this big ol' truck, huh?" she teased, dragging her nails lightly down his arm.

Tank smirked but kept his eyes on the road. "Mm. You gon' have to earn it, lil' bit."

Kayla giggled. "Oh, I don't have no problem with that. You want me to drive? I'll put in some work for it."

Tank exhaled a slow breath, gripping the wheel tighter. "You steady tryin' me, Kayla."

"Not trying you, baby. Just lettin' you know I'll do whatever it takes." She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, her eyes locked on him.

Tank cut his gaze at her, and the heat in his eyes sent a shiver straight down her spine. "Keep talkin' like that, and I'ma have this truck swervin'."

Kayla laughed, but the sound turned into a soft moan when she reached between her own thighs, rubbing herself through her shorts. She loved teasing him, pushing him to that point where he just had to have her.

"Damn, girl." Tank growled, shaking his head. "You gon' have to wait till we pull over 'cause if you keep that up, I'ma be the one fuckin' up the gears."

Kayla grinned, satisfied that she was getting under his skin.

"Fine. I'll be good—for now."

Tank scoffed. "You don't even know what that word mean."

Kayla giggled, stretching out her legs as she leaned back in her seat. "So, where we stopping at?"

"Truck stop up ahead, 'bout thirty minutes out. We can get somethin' to eat, let you drive a lil' bit."

Kayla grinned. "Ooooh, I can't wait. I'm going to show you I can handle this truck, just like I handle you."

Tank chuckled, his voice deep and rich. "Girl, you don't handle me. I handle you."

Kayla smirked. "Mhm. Keep tellin' yourself that, big daddy."

Tank glanced at her, shaking his head with a knowing smile. "Oh, I'ma show you soon as we stop."

Kayla shivered in anticipation.

About thirty minutes later, Tank pulled the rig into a truck stop just off the highway. The neon lights from the diner cast a red glow over the lot, and a handful of other trucks were parked with their engines humming low in the background.

Kayla sat up a little straighter, excited as she watched Tank shift the truck into park.

"Alright, lil' bit. You ready?" he asked, cutting the engine.

Kayla grinned. "Hell yeah. Let me show you what I can do."

Tank chuckled, rubbing his jaw as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "Mm. I bet you think you 'bout to hop up in this seat and take off like you been drivin' all your life."

"I got this," Kayla said confidently, already climbing over to the driver's side. "I been watchin' you Tank. I know what I'm doin'."

Tank smirked, shifting in his seat as he watched her adjust. "Aight, go on then, Ms. Trucker."

Kayla placed her hands on the wheel, sitting up tall as she got a feel for it. The seat swallowed her whole, but she wasn't intimidated.

"Damn, this wheel big as hell," she muttered, adjusting her grip.

Tank shook his head, amused. "You good?"

"I'm good," she said with a grin.

Tank leaned back, stretching his long legs. "Aight. Now, push in the clutch—yeah, that pedal—shift into first, then ease off the clutch while pressing the gas."

Kayla bit her lip in concentration, doing as he instructed. The truck jerked forward slightly before settling into a smooth roll.

"Oh shit, I'm driving!" she giggled, her excitement bubbling over.

Tank laughed, shaking his head. "You doin' somethin'."

Kayla ignored his teasing, keeping her focus as she maneuvered the truck around the lot. She was doing it. She was really handling an 18-wheeler.

"I'm a natural, huh?" she boasted.

Tank smirked, eyeing her. "You cute when you cocky."

Kayla grinned, but before she could say anything, the truck jerked hard, and she let out a startled yelp.

"Damn! What the—"

Tank was laughing now, gripping the dashboard. "You ain't in a Honda, baby. You gotta ease into your shifts, not snatch the gears."

Kayla pouted, regaining control. "Alright, alright. Lemme try again."

Tank watched her, his eyes filled with nothing but pride. He loved seeing her like this—confident, determined, learning something new.

After a few more rounds through the lot, Tank finally told her to park. "Not bad, lil' bit. I might actually let you drive for real one day."

Kayla beamed, feeling accomplished. "Told you I could do it."

Tank leaned over, his big hand gripping her thigh. "Yeah, yeah. Now, let's go inside, get some food, then I'ma handle that lil' smart-ass mouth of yours."

Kayla's stomach flipped. "Oh, how you gon' handle me?"

Tank's smirk was full of promises. "You'll see. But put some sweats on over those shorts." His eyes roaming her body.

Kayla slipped on some sweats, as he didn't want the men to be eyeing her, especially as he was crazier now than before. Kayla obliged and joked she couldn't believe he managed to eat all the food she packed except for the apples and oranges.

Tank chuckled as they walked inside the diner, locking his rig. "Baby, that food was too good and after all that work I put in yesterday," he smirked, "you know I got a large appetite."

Kayla shook her head, smirking as they stepped into the warm, dimly lit truck stop diner. The smell of fried food, fresh coffee, and syrup lingered in the air. A few truckers sat scattered around, some eating, others lost in conversation or staring at the small TV mounted on the wall playing some old Western.

Tank placed his hand low on Kayla's back as he guided her toward a booth in the back. Even in sweats, she caught a few lingering stares from men in the diner, but one sharp look from Tank had them quickly looking away.

"See?" he muttered in her ear as they slid into their seats. "This exactly why I had you cover up."

Kayla rolled her eyes playfully. "Boy, please. You act like you don't want people to know I'm yours."

Tank leaned back in his seat, smirking. "They gon' know either way. Just don't need 'em starin' too long and gettin' ideas."

Kayla bit her lip, watching him as he stretched his long legs under the table, his big hands resting on the menu, though she knew he already had his mind made up. He was still the same Tank—possessive, protective, and always ready to let a motherfucker know she was off-limits.

A waitress with short blonde hair and tired blue eyes walked over with a notepad. "What can I get y'all tonight?"

Tank didn't hesitate. "Double bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a sweet tea."

Kayla shot him a look. "A double bacon cheeseburger?"

Tank shrugged. "I told you, big appetite."

The waitress chuckled, looking at Kayla. "You want anything, sweetheart?"

Kayla sighed dramatically. "Yeah, I'll take a grilled chicken sandwich and a lemonade."

The waitress jotted it down, glancing back at Tank. "Extra fries?"

Tank smirked. "Might as well."

Kayla laughed as the waitress walked off. "You really gon' eat all that?"

Tank reached across the table, his fingers trailing over her wrist. "Yeah, and I'ma eat somethin' else later too."

Kayla shivered, her thighs clenching at the promise in his voice. "You stay horny."

"When it comes to you? Hell yeah."

Kayla blushed, sipping her water. The way Tank could switch from playful to dominant so fast always had her flustered. But just as she was about to respond, Tank's phone vibrated on the table.

He glanced at it, his brows pulling together. "Unknown number..."

Kayla felt her stomach drop. "Don't answer it."

Tank arched a brow but shrugged and sent the call to voicemail. "You good?"

Kayla forced a small smile. "Yeah... it's just that Josh randomly called me earlier and I don't know. But it's probably nobody."

Tank studied her for a second, but before he could press her about it, the waitress returned with their food. As the waiter placed their food on the table, Tank dug into his burger and fries. Kayla however, nibbled at her food while looking around the diner. Kayla felt a little uneasy but she couldn't put her finger on it but she didn't feel right.

Tank eyed her as she looked around once again. He could see the tension in her face, the way she was holding something in. Kayla was usually carefree, full of smart-ass remarks and playful teasing, but right now? She was too quiet. Too in her head.

"Look at me," Tank said firmly.

Kayla darted her eyes to his, and for a second, he saw something flicker there—fear, uncertainty. It made his blood boil.

"Ain't nobody gon' touch you. Ain't nobody gon' find you. And if they try? They gotta go through me first."

Kayla swallowed, her lips pressing together before she finally nodded. "I know, Tank."

He searched her face for any sign she was still doubting him, but after a moment, she squeezed his hand and gave him a small smile. He let it be. For now.

They finished their food, Tank eating every last fry on his plate while Kayla only picked at hers. When he was done, he leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Damn, I needed that."

Kayla smirked. "You act like you ain't eat."

"I burn a lot of energy, baby." His gaze darkened with meaning. "And you don't help, always puttin' that lil' body on me."

Kayla rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now, and that's all Tank wanted.

After paying, they headed back to the truck. The air was crisp, and Kayla instinctively tucked herself closer to Tank as they walked across the lot. He liked that. Liked how she naturally moved toward him like he was her safe place.

When they got inside the truck, Tank locked the doors, then powered on his GPS. "We got a long stretch through South Dakota, but I'ma stop at the next truck stop that got a cell store. Get you a new phone. I think it's time you ditch that phone."

Kayla nodded, curling up in the passenger seat. "Okay."

Tank glanced at her as he pulled onto the highway, his grip tightening on the wheel.

Whoever was trying to get to her—whoever had her looking over her shoulder—was about to find out real quick that Kayla was off limits and he'd kill a motherfucker before he let anybody take her from him.

Tank kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting on his thigh as he stole glances at Kayla. She looked peaceful, her full lips slightly parted as she slept. Her curls were wild against the glass, some of them sticking to it from the condensation of her breath. He loved those damn curls, loved how they framed her face, how soft they felt wrapped around his fingers when he had her underneath him.

He smirked to himself, shaking his head. "Lil' bit, you got me bad," he murmured under his breath.

His foot pressed a little heavier on the pedal. He was determined to make it to Seattle without stopping longer than necessary. The sooner they got there, the sooner he could settle them in for a few days. Get her a new phone. Make sure nobody had any way of tracking her. Kayla was his, and he'd be damned if somebody tried to take her from him.

As the miles stretched on, his mind drifted back to their conversation at the diner. She had nodded, said she trusted him, but he knew fear was still lingering somewhere inside her. And that made him uneasy.

Tank wasn't no fool—he knew what it felt like to be hunted. He had his own demons that once had him looking over his shoulder, but he had long since handled that. If Kayla had demons, he'd handle them too.

Kayla stirred in her sleep, shifting to get comfortable. Her shirt slid up slightly, exposing a sliver of soft brown skin at her waist. Tank swallowed hard, gripping the wheel tighter.

"Damn girl, even in your sleep you testin' me," he muttered, shaking his head.

The highway stretched dark and endless in front of them, the hum of the tires and Kayla's steady breathing the only sounds in the rig. Tank exhaled, his jaw tightening with determination.

He didn't know who was out there searching for Kayla, but one thing was for damn sure—he'd get to them before they ever got to her.