I took my time, savoring every hitch in his breathing, every muttered curse in French.His hand knotted in my hair, gripping tight and trembling, caught between wanting me to stop and never wanting me to stop.After everything in the world that had tried to control me, there was a fierce, electric joy in knowing I could take him apart with just my hands and my mouth, knowing exactly what he needed.
I hollowed my cheeks and took him deep.Henri’s gasp rolled through me like thunder.He was clinging to control, to some last scrap of composure, but I wanted him to lose it so I picked up my taunting.Getting him close, then backing off right before he came.
“Keep fucking teasing me,mon amour—”
But he couldn’t finish that sentiment.His breathing grew more ragged with each pass of my tongue, his grip on my hair tightening almost painfully.I could feel him unraveling beneath me, all that careful control Henri maintained in every other aspect of his life now dissolving under my touch.
“Lily,” he gasped, the word half-strangled.“Please…”
God, I loved it when he begged in that thick, French accent.
“Please what?”I asked, my voice husky even to my own ears.
Instead of answering, Henri pulled me up his body and onto his lap with surprising strength.His arms locked around me, hands pressing hard into my back.
“No more teasing,” he growled against my neck.
Henri reached into his wallet, rolled on a condom, and pulled me back on top of him, watching my face, as gentle as always, but I didn’t want gentle.I planted my knees on either side of his hips, the sofa cushions dipping beneath us, and sank down slowly.The stretch stole my breath, but I wanted it—the ache, the fullness, the way he filled every empty space in me.
I braced one hand on the armrest behind his head and found my rhythm, rolling my hips until his head fell back against the cushion and his mouth dropped open.His hands gripped my thighs and slid up to my waist, pulling me down harder.I dug my nails into his shoulders, and he groaned, louder this time, sitting up just enough to press his mouth to my neck, teeth grazing.Heat coiled low in my belly, building and building, until I was grinding against him, desperate, whimpering, right on the edge.
“Fuck, Lily, fuck,” he moaned over and over.
I picked up the pace, chasing my high.His hips bucked up to meet mine, and I let go.I shattered fast and blinding, biting down on his shoulder to keep from screaming, too aware of the thin walls and the paddock just outside.He followed seconds later, hands bruising my hips, shuddering beneath me, cursing, whispering my name like it was the only word he had left.
We stayed like that for a long time.Tangled together on the narrow sofa, skin cooling, hearts settling back into their normal rhythms.His fingers traced lazy circles on my hip.My cheek pressed against his collarbone, right over that old scar.
“We need to go,” I murmured into his skin.
“Five more minutes.”
I closed my eyes.Five more minutes in this locked room where nothing existed but us.No teams, no contracts, no cameras.
I enjoyed every second of it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lily
I’d just finished tucking my hair into the fireproof balaclava when the door to my driver’s room opened behind me.
“Lily.”
I didn’t need to turn around to recognize my mother’s voice, that particular blend of disappointment.
“Not now, Mum.”I reached for my gloves, focusing on the familiar texture.
“Just popping by to wish you luck.”Her heels clicked against the floor as she approached.“Although, starting from pole, you shouldn’t need much of that.Though hopefully we don’t have a repeat of last year’s Silverstone.”
“How is that helpful, Mum?”Did she really think reminding me of last year’s failure was going to improve this year’s performance?
Her perfect mask slipped for a moment, eyebrows lifting as if I’d suddenly started speaking a language she didn’t recognize.
“No.”I put my hand up before she could say something.“You’re trying to make me doubt myself.I’m not hearing it today.Not at Silverstone.”
“Lily—”
“I can do this.”My hands were steady as I pulled on my gloves.“I am on pole today.I have the fastest car on track.And I’m going to go out there and win this race—not because you think I can or because you think I can’t, but because I’m bloody good enough to do it.”
