He sags back against my chest, panting heavily. I lift him off me slowly and tear the condom off, tying it up and tossing it in the bin. I step around him, and he sags onto the toilet, gazing up at me. I smirk and wink at him. Fastening my jeans, I turn and walk away, washing my hands and straightening my t-shirt before heading back out into the lobby.
I stride back to the dining room and sit back down. It’s twenty minutes before Mouse comes back in, just as everyone else arrives. He tentatively takes the seatopposite me and winces as he sits. I smile. What can I say? I can’t help myself. The others take their seats, and we chat about the plans for the rest of the weekend. Then, once we’ve finished, I head back to the room to shower. Arch is still fast asleep, and he startles when I walk in, sitting bolt upright.
“Who the… what the… who?” he gasps out. I walk to the balcony door and rip the curtains back.
“You missed breakfast dickhead. John was not impressed after your early departure last night.” I snort, and he flops back on the bed. I strip off and grab fresh boxers before heading for the bathroom.
“Put some fucking clothes on!” he grumbles, and I chuckle, walking past.
When I come out in my boxers, he just shakes his head, and as he climbs out of bed, he’s wearing what can only be described as grandad, long cotton and striped pyjamas. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
“My pyjamas…?” he questions.
“Uptight bastard, might as well wear a fucking suit to bed.”
I shake my head and chuckle. He storms into the bathroom, slamming the door, and I smile to myself. He’s not a morning person. Clearly.
I’m gone again before he gets out of the shower, and I wonder if he’s used to not having someone pander to his every whim. I’m assuming he has ‘staff’ for waking him, feeding him, laying his clothes out and whatever else posh twats do.
As I walk back downstairs, a few of the team are walking in through the lobby, and John shouts me over. “You doing anything, Ryder?”
Shaking my head, I say, “What do you need, boss?”
He grins at me. “We’re heading out for a thrash round. Wondering if any of you want a preview of the track?” Phil, a team member, says, and I freaking jump at the chance. They look around the lobby, and I’m the only one around. “Come on, then. Let’s get you suited and booted.”
I grin, as tomorrow morning, we were supposed to get our equipment, bikes, etc. They want us all on an even playing field, so we all get a basic bike and kit.
I clap Phil on the shoulder and waggle my eyebrows at him. “Let’s fucking do this.”
He laughs, slinging his arm around me as we walk out of the door.
When we get to the track, there’s a changing room, and our equipment is hung in our lockers. Our bikes have our locker number on, so I grab mine and start to check it over. “What the fuck are you doing?” John asks from behind me. Laughing out.
“Force of habit.” I shrug.
“You fix your own bike too?” he asks.
“Yeah, me and my dad do it all.” I mean, it’s not unheard of as you get higher up the leagues, and that’s how we all start, but a lot of the guys have at least one mechanic working for them, but it’s just me and my dad, so I shrug again.
Slapping me on the shoulder, he nods to the track. I stand and head out with him, and we walk the track. He’s watching me, seeing how I fare, and I know I’m lucky as this is definitely more than the others are getting. When I find a few large rocks, I bend down and toss them to the side, taking notes of divots and turns. We walk the track in silence, but I know he’s watching every move I make.
When we get back, he just nods and walks away. I slide on my helmet, goggles and gloves and pull out onto the track; the team members are ready and waiting for me, Phil, James and Nick.
“Ready?” Nick shouts over the noise of our engines, and I nod, grinning from ear to ear as we take off.
I don’t push. I take it steady, getting to know the course and the bike, and on the second lap, I let loose. I know I’m not gonna beat any of these guys, but I don’t have to make it easy on them.
I know that I’m an aggressive rider, and for my size, I’m fast to react. I can throw a bike around as well as anyone, so I dig in and chase. I’m on James’s arse. As we come to the bend, I brake a fraction later than him, allowing me to sneak up his inside only to slam my heel out and spin the wheel, drifting the bike and accelerating away a fraction of a second quicker than him. It feels awesome. I accelerate into the big tabletop jump and fly through the air, landing hard but clean, and I’m off, ripping the throttle back.
I flip down the gears and slide into the next corner. I’m right behind Nick, but there’s not enough time to get past. But what I do is sit on his back wheel, edging my way inside, and just at the last corner, I sneak ahead as I rip full throttle. He does the same, and it’s a race to the finish line. I know he’s got me. His bike’s better set up for him, and mine’s base settings, so I’m at a disadvantage, but I know that they know that too, and when we stop, I rip my helmet off, grinning.
Nick curses. “You know how to ride, I’ll give you that.”
Ican’t help but grin and smile at them all. I’m here, I’m making something of myself, and nothing and no one is going to stand in my way of getting on this team.
“Wanna go again?” I wink, tugging my helmet back on and wheel spinning around and back to the start line. I can’t wipe the grin off my face as they all join me again.
I’m late back, and I rush into the hotel to get washed up. I’ve slung my clothes back on, and I’ve got mud up my face. I can feel it, and I can’t wipe the grin off my face as I push into the room. Arch jumps off the bed. “You scared the shit out of me. Where the hell have you been? You missed lunch.”
