Speeding Into Overdrive (Full Throttle #3)

Chapter 1

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

December 2021

“ Y ou can do this, Miles.”

Could he, though?

Could he break the record and win?

Could he prove them wrong? All that suffocating pressure, that torturous doubt—could he cross the finish line and show the world how mistaken they’d been about him?

One mistake, one wrong move, and he would lose it all.

Tightly gripping the steering wheel, Miles listened to the engine roar as it vibrated with a desperate need to release its energy. Foot lightly pressing on the throttle, he ignored his racing heart, needing to put an end to his misery and win the Grand Prix. He glanced in his rear-view mirror, the nineteen other cars following the invisible line he’d created by zig-zagging to keep the tyres warm.

Miles was focused on the safety car leading the queue of fast cars, the adrenaline pumping through his veins burning further with every second passing by. The yellow flag would be over soon, he supposed, and these next ten laps would determine his entire future.

For the first time since the nineties, he and his biggest on-track rival, Thiago Valencia, held the exact same amount of points in the drivers’ ranking, setting them at the same level—at the top of the championship. They’d battled brilliantly for the entire season, fighting for the first place during each race, but whoever won this Grand Prix would be crowned World Champion.

If Valencia won, he’d be champion for two consecutive years. Miles wouldn’t allow this. This was his moment of glory.

Perspiration clammed his entire body, created by the heat coming off the circuit and the high temperatures of the warm air. His heart thrummed with anticipation, fast and loud, on the brink of coming to a halt just at the thought of making a mistake.

“Safety car is going in on the next lap,” AJ, his race engineer, announced on the radio.

With his thumb, Miles hit the radio button on his steering wheel. “Appreciate the heads up.”

The Aston Martin drifted into the pit lane, and that was his cue to accelerate as he saw the green flag being waved in the air. The tip of his foot lightly pressed on the throttle and the car roared off through the straight line.

Thiago was following closely, but Miles’ car was faster and swifter in turns, rendering the acceleration easier after taking the chicane.

“Come on, man,” AJ said. “Just watch out for track limits. Emerson has a five-second penalty because he keeps crossing them in turn nine.”

Miles didn’t reply as he shifted his entire focus on the route ahead. If there was one thing he truly hated during races, it was AJ talking to him when it wasn’t necessary. If AJ wanted a good chat, he could wait until they hit the pub later.

“What’s the gap?” he asked, breathless, on lap fifty. Eight more to go.

“You’re already three seconds ahead of Valencia. Keep your pace.”

He checked the rear-view mirror. “He looks like he’s got good pace, too.”

“He does, but you’re faster. He’s also on a set of fresh tyres. Soft.”

Miles only took a breath, letting the smell of burnt rubber invade his senses, his surroundings a complete blur.

“Keep a check on tyre management,” AJ continued. “You can win this, Miles. You really can.”

“Just let me fucking drive.”

The loud bass of the music thrummed through his veins as Miles grinned at his teammate who’d stood up on a table to chug a beer before being chased away by a bouncer.

Arm draped over the back of the sofa he’d been lounging on, Miles adjusted the paper crown atop his hair and took a small sip of water, watching Charlie argue with security.

“Here’s our champion!”

Malakai came to plop in the seat beside Miles, wrapping his free arm around the latter’s shoulders. His other hand was holding a half-consumed glass of beer—Miles had already lost count of his friend’s drinks for the evening.

“Holy freaking hell,” Malakai mumbled before slightly backing away, his fingers digging into Miles’ shoulder. Even in the dim light, his bright eyes were glowing with pride. “You are the World Champion, man. This is crazy. Absolutely bat-shit crazy! I thought I was going to die from stress during the last few laps. My heart, I swear, it stopped beating, dude.”

This was, probably, the fourth time Kai was telling this story to Miles.

Kai was the hugging type when drunk. And bubbly. And slightly emotional. Engulfing Miles in a tight embrace, he sniffled and repeated how proud he was of him and his incredible achievements.

Only twenty-four years old and one of the youngest World Champions to break a record.

Miles patted his friend’s back. “Okay, don’t get all emotional on me.”

“I’m not.” Kai stood up, lifting his glass. “I’m going to go and get shit-faced. I hope you’re having a blast!”

Of course, he was. Miles didn’t need a single drop of liquor in his veins to have the time of his life. “I am.”

Dramatically, Kai put a hand above his heart and sighed. “So damn proud.”

Miles shook his head in exasperation and watched his friend disappear in the mass of people gathered on the dance floor.

People kept trying to steal his attention, his time, by inviting him over to their booth or asking for a dance. But Miles needed a moment to sit down, breathe, and seize it all in.

He’d won a championship. Had proved anyone who had deemed him unable to beat Valencia wrong. Even he still couldn’t believe it—it was like a fever dream that made his mind spin in a constant frenzy.

He’d already danced (albeit against his will) and talked to an awful amount of people. He was sweating, the desperate need to get some fresh air becoming more and more urgent as minutes passed by.

Miles straightened himself, not caring if he was alone. Not caring of his image—the World Champion celebrating on his own and not letting one single person close to him. He took one more sip of water before deciding to head out but…

His stare halted on a blonde dancing in the middle of the crowd. The way she moved beneath the spotlight—it looked like a movie sequence shot in slow motion, all the sounds around him muted as he watched Indigo Bailey dance and dance and dance, uncaring of the whole world around her. She smiled, and laughed, and sang along with the lyrics, making this entire moment one of the most valuable of her existence.

She was utterly captivating. Mesmerising. She had stolen the entire room’s attention, rightfully so.

Miles smiled behind the rim of his glass and glanced away. But out of his control, he looked back to Indy—Malakai’s younger sister. A fierce, loyal, passionate woman who embodied danger so gracefully that he could get burned if he stared at her for too long.

But, as though she could sense his gaze despite all the other pairs of eyes set on her, she turned around and smiled beautifully. The sight of it fed his soul, felt akin to a breath of fresh air he’d been craving after spending hours in this crowded place. She pushed past bodies pressed together, and he braced himself for the upcoming encounter.

Miles rubbed the back of his neck, holding Indy’s gaze as she marched towards him. Confidence emanated from her demeanour, and if Miles didn’t feel hot enough, he felt like combusting at the sight of this enchantress entering his orbit.

“You look lonely.” Her voice was edged with a drip of seduction, piquing his interest even further.

He gestured to the open space beside him, ignoring his racing heart after blatantly perusing her ethereal physique. “You going to fix that?”

As she sat next to him, Miles draped an arm around the back of the sofa, casual and nonchalant, but made sure not to touch her, keeping a certain distance between them. It was a privilege to have captured Indy’s attention when she’d avoided other men all night long.

“Bored?” Her red lips tipped into a mocking smile, and he narrowed his gaze on her.

“Being my antisocial self.”

She laughed softly and took a small sip of her drink. “Odd choice to make in a nightclub, but you do you. I can go if I’m interrupting your peace.”

He usually pushed people away, but her presence had always been addictive. “You’re staying. I can make an exception for you.”

“Don’t flatter me.”

“Wouldn’t dare feed that ego of yours too much.”

As she scanned the room, he took the opportunity to capture a photograph of her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes to embed in the back of his mind. “I’ll be honest. I’m surprised to see you alone. Look at all these women wanting your attention.”

He didn’t so much as look away from Indy. Once again, he traced the contours of her mouth with his gaze. “Not interested.”

Only a soft sigh escaped as she turned back to him, a slight shake of her head perceptible. “I can’t believe you did that.”

Great. Keeping his distance wouldn’t work. He had barely heard her voice. And he couldn’t just keep on staring at her plump lips like a creep, trying to decipher her words. He shifted closer—just slightly. “Did what?”

Indy’s smile was his undoing. “Win the championship.”

His brows lifted in tantalising stupefaction. “Out of all people, I thought you’d be the one to have the most faith in me.”

She stirred the straw around her large glass. “I did make a bet, though.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“And I won.”

“I feel proud,” he said, allowing a shadow of a smile to ghost over his lips.

Miles wasn’t sure if he had imagined the tinge of crimson appearing on her cheekbones because of the dim light, but he tried to convince himself she was simply overwhelmed by the heat of the room.

Miles had known Indigo since he was a child as he and Malakai met when they were merely five years old when they started karting. She’d always been more than just Kai’s little sister, and that was exactly why watching from afar was better.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, scooting closer. Her perfume whiffed in the air; something sweet, intoxicating, feminine—just like her.

It was painfully clear that the drinks she had consumed were seeping through her system, but her concern and interest seemed genuine.It was at that moment Miles wished she were sober.

Dropping his stare to her legs when she placed a thigh atop the other, he tried not to make it obvious that her presence was rendering him utterly powerless. Dressed in a little black dress, she looked regal and on the verge of pulling him towards temptation. He’d resist, especially because he knew Malakai was observing them from afar.And because she was off-limits.

The people around were probably wondering what was so special about Indigo since he hadn’t allowed a single woman approach his VIP lounge, except for her. The list of things making this woman so unique was too long to even think about.

“Good,” he finally answered, meeting her gaze. A satisfied gleam swirled around her pupils, as if she had followed the route of his scrutiny and saw it linger on her toned, bare legs.

She shifted just enough to fully face him, her knee digging into the side of his thigh. Miles’ fingers twitched, like his body was urging him to touch her. “Just good?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Come on, Huxley.” Huxley . She’d always been the only person to ever call him by his last name. He loved the fact that she could own him by simply doing that. “You can find something better to describe what you’re feeling. Like… Amazing. Cheerful. Happy. Ecstatic.”

He nearly chuckled. “Cheerful? Do I look like a cheerful person to you?”

She lifted her glass. “I highly recommend being happy. It’s good for the soul.”

Miles hummed, nodding. “I can always count on you for good advice.”

Indy winked playfully. “I’m your girl.”

If only.

Everyone knew Indigo as the outgoing, brave, fearless woman with a sparkling personality. If she were to be a colour, she’d be yellow—the vibrant kind he could find in a field of sunflowers, the specific shade of gold he’d catch in a ray of sunlight filtering through windows in the morning. She was far too good for him—for anyone, really. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he liked to think that, one day, he could be what she needed.

“I just don’t think I can find the right words to describe what I’m feeling,” he said then. It was true, no word could explain that incomparable sensation. He was still high on adrenaline, trying to grasp this new reality. He could still remember the back of his throat burning after he’d crossed the finish line, listening to his race engineer and the people in the background scream with joy. Could still remember the tears blinding his vision as he entered the pit lane to park below the podium.

She eyed him in silence before chugging the remnants of her drink. “We’ll circle back. You better have found the right word by then.”

The smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth was out of his control. “I’m holding you onto that.”

As she leaned towards the small table to deposit her empty glass, her other hand came to find support on his thigh. At the contact, Miles felt his heart starting to race. He couldn’t help but observe the smoothness of her bare back, feel the press of her knee and her fingers into his leg. His breath caught when her palm slipped upwards, and he forced his hands into fists to prevent himself from touching her skin. When she straightened herself, her gaze slipped to the top of his head where a paper crown lay. She retreated her hand, her touch lingering like an invisible tattoo.

Malakai Bailey needed to plead guilty for his stupidity. He was the one who’d judged it as fun to put a crown on the World Champion’s head.

She laughed, that beautiful, sexy melody booming louder than the music. Then, her fingers came to adjust the crown, but Miles felt paralysed. He observed her features, trying to remember when she’d become so?—

Time stopped when their gazes clashed, his hammering heartbeat more deafening than all the noises around.

“You’re a king,” she mumbled. “Look at you.”

Miles wasn’t sure what had caused the blush to burn his face and the back of his neck—her words? Her seductive gaze?Their sheer proximity?

“Enough about me.” He cleared his throat and jutted his chin towards her. “What’s up with you?”

A mere shrug of her shoulders was her response, but her vocal answer came quickly as if her mouth had acted before her brain could. “Nothing interesting.”

“Come on,” he scoffed. “Everything about you is interesting.”

She leaned her shoulder against the back of the sofa, colliding into his arm. It was a Herculean effort not to let his fingertips draw shapes on her arm. “I’m doing my master’s in sports journalism, my internship with Thunderbolt Sports starts in February, and I’ll be taking a course in motorsports analytics. The goal is to become an F1 presenter at the end of my internship. Or maybe a sports broadcaster. I’d love to work in the NHL too, but F1 is the dream. I want to change the world.”

One thing he knew about Indy was that she was a dreamer, but she’d climb mountains to reach her goals. Would persist, and resist, and fight until she got what she wanted.

He smiled, although briefly, at the thought of her being an F1 presenter. She already hosted a motorsports podcast that had reached hundreds of thousands of people.

“Atta girl,” he praised with a smirk. Pride danced across his chest. “It fits you well.”

The memories of their childhood were as clear as day: Indy interviewing him with a spatula as a microphone when he’d stay over to eat with the Baileys after go-kart races. It was as if she’d known her destiny from an early age, and Miles simply admired the fact that she’d always been sure of what she liked and wanted.

“Thank you.”

“There’s a but, right?”

She sighed, looking away. “But… I’m Zachary Bailey’s daughter.”

His eyebrows rose. “So? You think you can’t make it because you’re an F1 legend’s daughter?”

The question made her look back at him. “I think people will say it’s too easy. I don’t want Dad’s help to get there. I don’t want to be known just because I’m his daughter.”

Miles took the risk to speak his truth. Because she was drunk. Because his words weren’t meaningful to her. “You’re Indy Bailey. You can do it on your own. You don’t need anyone’s help to prove them wrong. You want to change the world? Do it. I know you, and I know that when an idea runs through your mind you won’t rest easy until you tell yourself ‘ I’ve made it .’ Besides, I think you’d do great as a presenter.”

“Are you saying that just because that means you’ll see me more often around the paddock?”

It felt like she had only remembered his last line, which made him laugh. “Whatever makes you happy, sweetheart.”

There were two reasons that made Miles’ heart somersault the next morning. The first one was the sight of Malakai sprawled over the sofa in the en-suite living room, snoring loudly. The second one was seeing Malakai’s sister sitting on the counter of the kitchenette, a glass of water in hand as she rubbed her left temple.

Miles had forgotten he had brought the Bailey siblings back to his hotel room. Kai, too smashed to even find his own damn head, had insisted on staying at the club and partying until he’d fall into oblivion.

So, Miles had forced him to come back to the hotel, but Kai wouldn’t leave without his sister. Trying to keep the Bailey siblings straight on their feet was chaotic to say the least. Indy had booked a room in another hotel across town, so the initial plan was to drop her off first. But when she had declared everything was spinning, Miles had decided it’d be better and easier if she crashed in his room, too.

Kai had barely made it to the sofa when he’d fallen asleep, shoes and all still on. Miles had tossed one of his t-shirts to Indy when she said she’d sleep on the other sofa.

It was when he looked at her now that he realised he should have been a gentleman. Should have given her his bed while he slept next to a nearly-unconscious Malakai.

The guilt would certainly give him a headache.

Miles didn’t notice he’d been staring at her until she lifted her eyes to look at him. His cheeks heated up as he tried not to glance again at her bare legs and her body hidden beneath his t-shirt.

“Hi,” she whispered as he strode towards her, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Hey. Rough morning?” He kept his voice low as well, but he knew that Malakai wouldn’t wake up any time soon.He was used to taking care of his best friend after a night out.

“Your sense of observation is truly wonderful.”

He gave her an amused glance. Indy liked to use sarcasm as a coping mechanism, but Indy being grumpy and sarcastic? Talk about his type of woman.

“You might be the only person who can make a hangover look so good.” Sure, her mascara had left stains beneath her eyes, but her blonde hair still looked silken as it cascaded down her back. That faint tinge of rosy colouring the apples of her cheeks was put in evidence by the sunlight filtering through the window.

Miles felt his heartbeat speed up when her gaze sauntered over his bare chest, taking in every muscled pane of his torso and halting at the waistband of his joggers. He took another step forward, pretending to aim for the coffee machine when all he wanted was to be close to her.

“Are you flirting with me, Huxley?”

Like a natural instinct, her legs parted ever so slightly when he came to stand between them. He listened to her breath catch, his gaze settling on her parted lips. “I don’t know, Indy. Am I?”

He held her gaze, losing himself in ocean eyes slightly darkened with desire. He could recognise lust in a woman’s gaze, but there was something far stronger in Indy’s scrutiny. Something he couldn’t name nor try to understand.

He inched closer, the distance between them slowly disappearing as her legs naturally opened further for him—welcoming him.

What the fuck was happening?

Why was he losing control like this?

His hand slipped behind her, the tips of his fingers grazing her hip, as he went to retrieve an empty glass. If she was affected by the proximity, she didn’t show it. But he wanted her to yield first. He’d seen the way she looked at him last night. And he knew he’d mirrored her desire.

He wouldn’t have taken advantage of her when she had consumed alcohol. Regardless of her drunken state, he had spent a memorable night by her side. They’d laughed and talked until Kai came to disturb their peace. Still, there hadn’t been a moment where Miles couldn’t think of what could’ve happened if she were sober.

As if she’d read his thoughts, she gulped down the remnant of water, luring his gaze towards her gleaming lips. She was sober now, and she was trying to show him.

“Indy,” he whispered—maybe like a warning.

She tipped her face upwards, letting the tip of her nose touch his.

He reached for her chin, and the mere contact set his skin ablaze. Her breath hitched and she murmured his name—like a plea. His thumb ghosted over her lower lip, as though the movement could erase the risqué invitation dripping from her sinful mouth.

The sound of Kai’s loud snore startled them—a reminder that they shouldn’t cross that line. Still, his body was in flames, needing more .

Forgetting about his glass, he took a step back. A triumphant smirk spread across his lips when he heard her hop off the counter and follow him into the bedroom. The lock clicked softly, and he pivoted in time to watch her lean against the door, fingers playing with the hem of the too-short shirt.

“Come on, Huxley,” she nearly purred. “Tell me to go if you don’t want this.”

His chest rose and fell.His clammy palms brushed through his messy hair. His heart was racing, and Kai was on the other side of the door. Utterly passed out, but still.

“Want what?” he rasped.

A dangerous smile touched her lips. “If I’m not mistaken, you were about to kiss me out there.”

He licked his lips, taking a step towards her. The woman who’d always been off-limits but who, in this very instant, didn’t keep her barriers up. Who was waiting for him to break.

“Say no and I’m out of here,” she continued quietly.

In perfect synchronisation, their chest heaved, and he felt like his heart was battering its way out of his body. His tongue came to wet his lips, and when her eyes settled on his mouth, he murmured, “Fuck it.”

Just once, and his attraction for his best friend’s sister would fade away, right?

Just once, to let all that pent-up envy explode.

Just once, and it would never happen again.

Just once.

He placed a palm on the door above her head, their breaths mingling. He was so close to finally getting what he wanted. “How quiet can you be?”

Hooking a finger beneath his chin, she stood on her tip-toes. “There’s only one way to find out.”

The moment their lips touched, the promise of keeping the secret hidden behind this very door was forged into an invisible tether binding them together.