I had plans. The drive was only the beginning, a warm-up, a release after Fox’s confinement and waiting. Fox had to be going out of his mind with boredom; I knew I was. I slid the key into the ignition, not gently this time but with firmintention, pushing it home.
Fox bit his lip, the entire car shuddering beneath me.
I started to turn the key, but a shadowed hand covered mine, stopping the motion.
“Did Lai…?” Fox glanced toward the white Challenger parked nearby.
“He did, yeah.” I smiled. “He’s going to get him delivered to the manor, fix him up there. He was a little apprehensive about the price, but you know what? Lai knows what it’s like to be high-maintenance, and he isn’t going to pinch pennies when it comes to that car.”
“His name is Ghost,” Fox told me.
I blinked. “Ghost,” I repeated. “That’s a good name.” I leaned over, pressing a soft kiss against Fox’s cheek. “Don’t worry about him. He’s coming home, too.”
Fox vanished briefly, no doubt passing along the reassurance, then reappeared beside me.
“Now drive,” he ordered, the engine purring to life as I turned the key.
Chills rolled down my back as I revved the engine. I craved that sound, the living vibration that sank deep into my body. Fox melted into the driver’s seat beneath me, his hands holding me where the belt sat across my chest. I sank into his embrace and released the handbrake.
No matter how much I wanted to push Fox to his limit, I took it slow. Today was ours, and I wasn’t going to do anything stupid to sabotage it.
Fox kissed my neck as we rolled out of the lot, his excitement barely contained, the seat beneath me so warm it felt like he had a heater built into it. He surged forward, eager to leave everything behind, but I guided him gently, keeping things controlled. He yielded, trusting me.
“Good boy,” I murmured, steering us through citystreets.
Traffic forced restraint, but I could feel his tension building beneath me, heat building, excitement rising. My own patience was wearing thin as well; I was just as desperate, my pants too tight, uncomfortable. Both had to behave just a little longer, but Fox made it difficult. I felt his fangs nipping at my collarbone, his shadow wrapping around me, his engine snarling as it threatened to break loose.
He was testing me, and I wanted to see how long he could keep it up before one of us gave in. If we didn’t make it onto the open road soon, we’d be pulling into the first empty side street or parking lot we could find.
Fox felt it too. The exhaust popped each time I eased off the accelerator, his impatience bleeding through every mechanical response.
Finally, the road opened ahead, and I let the speed climb.
Suddenly, Fox’s shadow appeared sitting on the hood; his arms were spread wide as the wind tore through him, and he threw his head back with a giddy howl. I rolled the window down, holding my hand out into the rushing air. The wind washed over me, stripping away tension, doubt, everything that weighed me down.
There was just me, Fox, and the open road.
In that moment, we were truly free.
***
I didn’t know how long that feeling lasted. Fifty miles. Maybe a hundred. But eventually, the novelty softened, and the quiet settled in again. Freedom was intoxicating at first, but eventually, it left space behind–space that needed to be filled.
Fox’s tank was nearly empty, and so was my patience with having him as just a car. I wanted more.
“I needed that.” Fox grinned as we finally pulled onto the secluded forest path that led back to the manor, settling back beside me in the passenger seat.
“Me too.” I smiled back at him. “But I’m not done.”
Fox looked intrigued as we pulled behind the manor instead of heading down into the garage. It was already dark as we parked in a secluded spot in the garden, surrounded by old marble statues and strings of solar-powered fairy lights. It was just bright enough to see by, but still dark and intimate, a popular spot for horny teenage students who didn’t realize the teachers used it sometimes, too.
“Romantic.” Fox chuckled, watching me as I climbed out of the driver’s seat.
“Well, I did promise you a full service,” I smiled back.
I’d had a surprise set up for a few days at that point, ever since I got an email notifying me of the auction. I knew I’d be bringing Fox home soon; to welcome him, I’d set up a table with everything a car could possibly want for a thorough detail, with row after row of washes, polishes, and after care.
I presented the first bottle to Fox as if it were fine wine. His smile widened.
