Chapter 8
JESSICA
The more time I spend with Luke, I quickly realize that the man laced with anger that first initial meeting in the paddock isn’t really who he is.
He talks about his career in F1 with gratitude, his family with love, and his dreams with determination.
Time flies by quickly, and before I know it, the food is gone and the sky is sparkling with stars above us.
We lie down on the blankets, and I dare myself to scoot a little closer to Luke. His body radiates warmth, and he smells incredible. He wraps an arm around me and looks down at me through his lashes.
“Okay?” I give a small nod before settling into his embrace.
We lie there, gazing at the stars, talking softly, and touching gently. He tells me about his first year in F1 and how much he’s grown. Competitive sports can be tough, especially when everyone is analysing your every move and mistake.
Some people will be waiting for you to mess up and become the villain of their story.
Luke seems like a man who handles each challenge with grace, and it’s clear that’s the real him.
The pressure that follows competitive sports can be overwhelming, and Luke emphasises the importance of having good people around him to make it work. As I lie there in his arms, I’m hit with a feeling of content and pleasure.
Being with him, lying in his arms, and sharing things about ourselves has genuinely been the best time I’ve had in a while.
I check the time, gasping when I see the clock nearing midnight. I stand up, instantly missing the warmth of his embrace.
“Luke! It’s almost midnight, and we have to go back. You have a race tomorrow, oh god, I can’t believe I’m about to be responsible for Luke Hastings being tired and possibly crashing out of insomnia on the track—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence because Luke presses his lips to mine.
And of course, he is an incredible kisser.
Myhands find the front of his jacket, and I hold onto him as we keep kissing, his tongue starting to tangle with mine.
The kiss becomes more urgent, and I grip his hair while his hands begin traveling down, nearing the top of my ass.
The kiss awakens a storm of emotions inside me. Desire. Lust. Want. Warmth.
I feel feverish from his touch, and when he grips my ass, I hold onto him a little tighter.
We both pull back at the same time, breathing hard and staring at each other.
I’m still holding his hair, and he’s gripping my ass. We’re breathing heavy, and Luke steps away first.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to grope you, I just got a little carried away.” He almost looks shy all of a sudden, and I find him adorable in this moment.
Who knew Luke Hastings was capable of being timid?
I start to walk past him, stop, and raise my hand to his pecs before whispering in his ear,
“I can handle it a little rough, if you can.” I bend down to retrieve the blankets and pillows, carrying them back to his car while he stares at me.
I’m feeling giddy inside, not only from his touch and the way he makes me feel, but alsoproud of myself for taking the chance of going on this date in the first place.
Eventually, he collects the rest of the picnic and tidies it up, then places it in the trunk of the car before getting in.
He starts driving back to the city, and we fall into a comfortable silence.
My hormones are raging inside me, and part of me can’t believe I just kissed him like my life depended on it.
