21. Skylar
CHAPTER 21
SKYLAR
I take the quickest shower of the century then pull on some jeans and a team shirt, leaving my jacket off. I head back out into our garage, and the celebration is underway. We qualified, and we also took the top two spots. The other teams were furious, and we had two hours of interviews, promotional products, and tours before we could head back here. I should be exhausted, but if anything, I’m even more pumped. My adrenaline is still running high, and as I scan the crowd, I’m only looking for one face—my beautiful boy’s.
“Skylar!” Mackie grabs me, passing me a beer. “We did it!” His grin is wide and happy, as it should be. He could have been first today, we both know it, and the fact that he let me win means a lot. I know wherever Mackie goes, I’ll go too. We are partners.
“We sure did.” Taking a sip, I muss his wet hair as he laughs and pulls away. “Go get your reward from our boss.”
He frowns, and I wink, laughing as I walk past and find Bones with Alek and Evan near a car. Someone else steps into my path, though, and I sigh before meeting Noah’s gaze.
“I know my face isn’t as pretty,” he teases, “but I just wanted to say you did good, kid.” He claps my shoulder. “We’ll go over your performance tomorrow.” I groan. “But you did really well, so enjoy it.” He glances at Bones. “One of us should.” Stepping away, he lets me slip past him, but before I can take three steps, a whole ass circle surrounds me.
Mechanics, team members, and even some pit lizards all vie for my attention. I smile politely and answer their questions, posing for the pictures for content. I hate every hand that touches me, and when one wanders, I gently but firmly pull it from my body, smiling at her to soften the blow.
“Are you going home?” She giggles, leaning into me. “I could go with you.”
“No thanks,” I reply with a grin. “I already have someone to go home with, and no offense, but you can’t beat him. I wouldn’t even try if I were you because he can be a real asshole.”
She blinks incredulously, staring at me as I wink at the crowd. “If you’ll excuse me.” Stepping away from them, I look for Bones again. I find Alek and Evan heading my way. Frowning, I glance behind them to see Bones heading out the door.
Shit, is he leaving?
“Sky.” I blink, dragging my gaze from Bones to Alek. “Check your phone then get your boy.”
Unsure what he’s talking about, I pull my phone out and open the file. It’s a video, and as I watch, my grin grows.
He’s cheering for me, and when I win, he screams and jumps around, showing more emotion than I’ve ever seen him display before he turns his lethal glare on the camera. I freeze it and screenshot that glare then set it as my background before putting my phone away.
“Thanks, man.” Clapping Alek’s shoulder, I glance around for Noah.
“I’ve got you. Have fun,” he says.
Leaving him and Alek to fend off the fans, I head after my boy.
I don’t need a party of fans, I just need him, and it’s about time he realized that.
He doesn’t get to leave, not without me.
I catch up to him outside, the gravel crunching under my feet. His back is stiff, the night closing in around him.
“Are you leaving?” I call out, and he stops but doesn’t turn. He’s in front of the track, not the parking lot, which is something, I guess. I don’t stop until I’m at his side. “Without even a goodbye? Cruel, baby.”
“It seems like you had enough adoring fans that you didn’t need me,” he snaps as I turn him around, his eyes spitting fire at me.
His jealousy is a fucking beautiful sight.
“Sounding a little jealous there, angel,” I murmur, crowding him. He doesn’t step back. Instead, he tilts his chin up slightly, never willing to back down, and fuck if that doesn’t make me hard.
“Me? Jealous?” he scoffs as he runs his eyes over me. “Why the hell would I be jealous of something that anyone and everyone has had?”
“Not everyone,” I murmur as I step closer, letting my nose touch his. “You haven’t tried me yet. Want a test drive?”
His hands press against my chest, trying to push me away, but I don’t budge. “You fucking wish.”
“Too fucking right,” I admit as I rub my nose against his. “There’s nobody but you, Bones. When will you realize that? All I saw today was you. It’s all I ever see. Even when I crossed that line, you were all I thought about. Your jealousy, while hot as fuck, isn’t needed. I’m yours.”
He swallows hard, his eyes widening as I rub my nose against his again then pull away.
I grin as I step back, capturing his hand when it comes up to slap me, and I interlace my fingers with his. “What did you think of the race?” I ask.
Sighing, he stops fighting me and looks back at the track. “It was good. You showed off a lot.” He glances at me. “I guess you did okay.”
Covering my heart, I act wounded. “Only okay? Damn, I guess I’ll have to work harder next time to win both the race and your heart.”
He snorts, looking at the track, but I see the smile lingering on his lips. He can’t hate me, even though he wants to.
“You look a little sad,” I comment as his smile drops.
“Eh, I guess I was looking forward to racing your car.” He shoots me a look. “Who knew you would win.”
“Everyone, baby. I wouldn’t lose, not with you on the line.” I squeeze his hand. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t give you what you want.” I tug him after me, and I feel him fight my grip.
“Skylar,” he hisses. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” I reply with a flirty grin over my shoulder. He fights me the entire way to the outside pit, where our cars are. Swinging him around, I wrap my arms around him and notch my head on his shoulder as he looks at my car.
“What do you say, baby? Want to give it a try?”
He glances at me, his eyes narrowed. “You mean the car, right?”
“For now. You can try me later.” He sighs, and I chuckle as I step back. “Come on, beautiful, no one is around. You can head out to the track.”
“Wait, really?” he asks, his eyes widening in excitement.
“Yep, but you have to suit up.” I wouldn’t make anyone else, but there is no way I’m letting my boy get even a fucking papercut. Capturing his hand, I pull him over to the lockers and grab what he needs before giving it to him. “The changing room is there, be quick.” I smack his ass, and he stares at me for a moment before heading in.
I’ve never been happier to win a bet.
Pulling his helmet down, I push his hair from his eyes and make sure it’s secure as he watches me. “Are you sure this is safe? I don’t even know how to drive it,” he mutters.
“I’ll be right there with you. I won’t ever let anything happen to you. You trust me, right?” I ask as I secure the helmet and peer into his eyes.
He nods after a moment, and I grin.
“Then let’s get you on the track.”
I drive the car out, and then we switch. He seems uncomfortable in the seat, so I reach over and cover his hand. “Just stop thinking. For one moment, turn off that big brain and do something crazy without analyzing every angle or possible outcome. Just . . . feel.”
His eyes narrow on me. “Some of us don’t always give into our impulses, Skylar.”
“You should.” I shrug. “It’s a whole lot of fun.” I run my eyes over him, and he slaps my hand away, focusing on the dark track.
“Are you sure this is okay?” he asks again.
“Alright, let’s go back. Maybe one of those girls wants to come play with me—” The car shoots off, and I laugh as I’m pressed into my seat. He winces at me at the jerky movement, and I reach over and cover his hand.
“Easy, like a lover. Press it slowly,” I instruct, and we level out before the first corner, but we barely edge above fifty.
“Baby, go faster,” I tell him. “I know you’re a lawyer and shit, but break a few rules every now and again. Go as fast as you want and leave everything else behind. There’s only me, you, and this engine.”
He glances at me, gripping the wheel hard before bringing his eyes back to the track. “But if I?—”
“Silas, let go,” I order.
Something about my stern command makes him nod, and I watch the dial move higher and higher. I can practically hear his pounding heart as we take a corner, the tires squealing. He glances at me in worry, and I whoop, holding onto the handle.
“That’s it, baby. You’ve got it!”
He nods and speeds up as we hit the straight, taking it hard. I keep my eye on him just in case, but when we slide around a corner, I can’t help but laugh.
His smile slowly grows as we fly around the track, his grip loosening as he relaxes into it until he’s laughing with me, speeding around in the dark.
There’s only us and the track, and when he glances over at me, his smile is wide and carefree, his eyes shining with excitement and freedom.
I stare into his face, and I know that although I wasn’t the one who broke his heart, I will be the one to fix it. I would protect him from anything that tried to dim that smile ever again.
His laughter spills free, and I join in as we skid across the line and slam to a stop. I jerk in my seat, laughing harder. He’s panting but smiling as he looks over at me.
He glances at my lips, his tongue darting out to trace his. Grabbing his helmet, I drag him close and kiss him, swallowing his moan. My tongue tangles with his before I pull back, pressing as close as I can. Our breaths mingle between us in the silent cab of my car.
“I get it,” he whispers into my mouth. “The thrill, the excitement . . . That feeling? It’s addictive.”
“Not nearly as addicting as you,” I say as I rip the helmet off and toss it to the back, angling his head so I can kiss him deeper.
His hand slides up my arm, across my shoulder, and into my hair, and I grunt into his mouth, sucking on his bottom lip. I taste his sweetness and his whimper as I let it go and tangle my tongue with his as well.
I eat at his mouth, desperate and wild. I want to climb into his skin and feel him. Every drugging kiss has me wanting more, until I vibrate with the need to rip his clothes off and have him, but I pull away, knowing he isn’t ready. I can look, though, and I do. I take in what’s mine, the beauty of my boy and his swollen lips and glistening eyes.
“You can’t look at me like that,” he growls before I steal another soft kiss.
“How do I look at you?”
“Obsessive, consuming . . . like there is no other person in the entire world,” he admits softly. “You look at me like no one else exists, and it’s . . . it’s?—”
“True,” I finish as I take his hand and press it to my chest. “Feel my heart. It only beats like that for you. I’ve driven cars up to three hundred miles an hour and I’ve raced for my life, yet it never pounds for anything or anybody else. Only you. Only ever you.”
“You are a fool, Skylar Warren,” he says, pushing me away and trying to put distance between us—distance I won’t allow. I drag him back as his eyes widen, and I slide my lips across his cheek to his ear.
“I am a fool for you.” I kiss his cheek. “If you don’t get out of this car right now, you’ll end up in the back seat, beautiful,” I warn before I climb from the car and head around, opening his door. I reach in and undo his belt then offer him my hand.
He lets me pull him out, anticipation in his eyes, but I simply shut the door and hold his hand. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
As I turn away, I swear I see disappointment in his eyes.