Chapter 9
SAKHIR, BAHRAIN
“ S o, what I’m thinking right now is that we go for a run this afternoon. Tomorrow we’ll do some reflex exercises before focusing on your neck, and…”
As much as Miles loved Enzo and his strict plan to keep Miles in shape and moving on his day off, he couldn’t help but tune out the sound of his voice when a silhouette caught his eye.
So much for not wanting to be distracted by anyone.
Indigo Bailey just knew how to steal his breath away by simply walking into a room. Today, she was wearing a sundress that accentuated the tan of her skin and the curves of her pristine physique.
She was so effortlessly, breathtakingly beautiful.
And Miles must have allowed his jaw to go slack, or his breath to hitch audibly, because Enzo elbowed him.
“You were saying?” Miles asked after blinking and looking away from Indy sauntering towards the buffet. Settling his gaze on his empty cup of coffee, he ignored the amused glare his trainer gave him.
“Never mind,” Enzo said. “I see you’re distracted.”
“Yeah, I had a rough night,” Miles confessed, leaning back in his chair. Again, he looked over to where Indy was, busy choosing her breakfast amongst a large selection of delicious food.
“Rough night,” Enzo repeated, followed by a chuckle. “Is that the excuse we now make when we see a pretty chick enter the room?”
“Fuck off,” Miles muttered.
Usually, during race week, Imperium Racing shared a hotel with another team. In addition to seeing members of Primavera Racing walk around in their red uniform, people working in the media were staying in this very hotel, too. Hence why he’d been seeing Indy grab breakfast at the same time as him for the past couple of days.
“Want to talk about it?”
Miles stood up and clapped his friend’s shoulder. “I appreciate it, but I think I just need to eat something. I’ll be back.”
Enzo simply hummed, a little smirk dancing at the corner of his mouth, as he looked down at his phone.
Walkingover to Indy, snatching a plate along the way and pretending to look at all the food scattered before him, he murmured, “Hey, Daisy.”
She pivoted to face him, her perfume dancing in the air with the movement. Jasmine, amber, maybe cedar—a sexy, rich, gourmand floral scent that instantly weakened his knees.
At the sight of him standing so close, she smiled. Prominent freckles dotted the bridge of her nose—the result of the time she’d been spending under the sun. “Hey, stranger.”
He hadn’t spoken to her since last Friday in the media pen after she’d asked him about the third and last day of pre-season testing. Miles wasn’t one to seek companionship outside of his inner circle, but there was something so soothing yet thrilling about being in Indy’s company. Scratching the back of his head, he studied the way she carefully scooped some scrambled eggs and added them to her plate. Everything she did was so graceful and alluring. “How were your first few days of work?”
She glanced to their right, and he followed the route of her perusal to watch four women sitting around a table, recognising them as Indy’s colleagues. Two of them were journalists, the other two were assistants, or something.
“They were great,” she earnestly answered, looking back at him.
“Are you sure about that?”
Indy nodded, but Miles didn’t miss the way her unoccupied fingers were toying with the rings before her pointer finger came to scratch the skin between her thumb and palm.
He frowned, noticing the slight flare in her pupils as subtle panic danced in them.
What wasn’t she telling him? Was she anxious? Did she not know people had been praising her, watching her like she was some kind of goddess marching upon still water?
“What about you?” she asked as they walked back towards the open space where tables were scattered around. They halted in the middle of the room, uncaring of the whispers floating in the air and the glances thrown their way.
“The car is great,” he said. “I can’t wait for the race this Sunday.”
Amusement danced in her gaze as it trailed from his face to his chest. There was nothing risqué or sensual about the scrutiny, but it still made his skin burn. “You pretended to struggle last week, didn’t you? Your car is perfectly fine and you’re going to be the fastest this weekend.”
How did she know?
He shrugged. “Don’t you think I’m a good man for letting all the other drivers have hope? Imagine beating The Lion. And I’m not going to lie, I’ve enjoyed seeing them excited during the interviews when some of them noticed they had run a faster lap than mine. Especially Valencia and Emerson. I swear those two share a soul, or something.”
She shook her head. “You can be such an ass sometimes.”
“Does it look like I care?”
“Perhaps you should care about what the media says about your behaviour when they realise you’ve been tricking the entire grid.”
He leaned forward, their breaths nearly entwining. The moment his lips broke into a smile, he couldn’t control the soft chuckle escaping either. “It’s our secret, okay?”
Indy turned on her heel. “Amongst many other secrets, right? Don’t worry, you know you’re safe with me.”
“Good. Also, prepare yourself because you’re doing hot laps with me on Sunday morning.” Whilst Indy would sit in the passenger seat of a Ferrari, Miles would drive around the circuit as fast as he could all the while trying to answer questions. This activity’s purpose was to entertain the public—those sitting in the grandstands waiting for the Grand Prix to start, and those who would watch the video—but as Miles got forced by Ava to do this, he’d asked for Indy to be his guest instead of some random beauty influencer who knew nothing about motorsports or F1 itself.
“Am I now?”
“Yeah, and I’m not going to go easy on you,” he whispered, smirking.
“That’s fine because you know I hate it when you’re too vanilla,” she whispered back, a brow raised. “And you’re aware you’ll have to answer questions, right?”
“Like Twenty Questions on a first date?”
“How many times have you had to play that game on first dates?”
“Zero. You’ll be my first.”
Obviously, she was pleasantly surprised with his comebacks, and it made delight dance around his chest. “I promise I’ll make it fun.”
He grinned. “And I promise I’ll make you scream. My name, preferably.”
Crimson tinted her cheeks as laughter bubbled out of her mouth. “Good luck with that. See you around, Golden Boy.”
You’re safe with me. Those words still lingered in his head as she walked to the other side of the room whilst he settled down across from Enzo. When Indy reached her coworkers’ table, one of them shook her head, saying the last seat was reserved.
For whom? Miles scoffed. He’d seen them sit at this very table for the past few days, and not once had the last chair been occupied.
“Where’s your breakfast?” Enzo asked amusedly.
“Just fuck off.”
It was obvious that Indy was disappointed, but she simply smiled and walked over to where Ava was sitting with Rowan and Thiago. They welcomed her with open arms, telling her something that made her laugh.
Good. These were good people who would treat Indy the way she deserved to be treated.
And as Miles watched Indy shrug off the rudeness of her coworkers, ignore all the curious stares sent her way, and keep her chin high, he knew exactly why she was the most attractive woman he’d ever settled eyes on.
Still, all he could do was look at her from afar, and repeat like a constant reminder that she was a distraction and, first and foremost, off-limits.
Was the sauna the equivalent to a hot tub? Probably not, but it would still satisfy Miles’ need to relax.
“Thanks, Shelby,” he said to the hotel receptionist for giving him the key to access the closed sauna room. “I owe you.”
She shook her head, darting her attention to her computer. “Every damn year, Huxley. Everything’s ready, by the way. Just sit and relax, and stay out of trouble.”
“I always behave.”
The look Shelby gave him was enough to let him know she didn’t believe him.
Entering the room, he flicked the lights on, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he saw the farthest sauna ready for him to use.
Just as he was about to close the door, a woman’s voice filtered the room. “Wait, wait, wait.”
And not just any voice. Indy’s.
Of course.
When she stumbled before him, clutching a white towel around her chest, he suddenly felt paralysed.
“What are you doing?” Miles hissed.
Indy looked up at him, slightly rearing back before the shock disappeared from her expression. Her stare dropped to the sliver of skin shown on his chest where his robe couldn’t hide his nakedness beneath. “What are you doing?”
Leaning against the doorframe, he smirked down at the devastating, beautiful, infuriating woman. “Isn’t it obvious? About to play golf.”
“What a coincidence,” Indy chastised with dramatised enthusiasm. “I was about to do the same.”
She took a step forward, but with a swift movement, he put his hand against the door jamb, causing her nose to almost come in contact with his bicep. He tutted, “Who said you could come in here when it’s obviously closed?”
“Well, if it’s closed, why are you trespassing?”
“Who,” he repeated lowly, “said you could use the room, Indy?”
She raised her nose, the insolence he knew so well shining in her eyes. “Shelby.”
“Shelby? No way.”
Lifting herself on her tiptoes, Miles couldn’t help but gaze into those ocean eyes brimmed with mischief. “Nobody says no to this pretty face.”
Fucking hell. That was true.
A resigned grunt vibrated in his throat as he let his arm fall. She pushed past him, purposely grazing her bare skin against his, sending every single one of his blood vessels to an untameable inferno.
“Thank you,” she chirped sweetly, marching over to the only heated space—the one he had reserved for himself.
Closing the door and locking it to ensure no one would disturb his—well, now, their— peace, Miles tousled his hair before following Indy.
She halted, slowly looking over her shoulder. “I’m bothering you, aren’t I? You wanted to be alone.”
The fact that she could read him even when he hadn’t said a thing made his heart race. “It’s fine.”
“Well, no. I need to stop invading?—”
He walked over to where she stood still, towering over her. “When have I ever said no to you, Indy? You’ll always be the only exception to me. So get in there before I do it myself.”
Her cheeks flushed. “So bossy.”
“You know I like to be in control.”
Heat flared in her pupils before she acted like his remark hadn’t affected her.But he knew, by the salacious gleam, that his words from their secret moments were echoing in her head.
Spread your legs.
Eyes on me, Indy. Be quiet.
Don’t come until I allow you to, got it?
The small cubicle was already fuming, causing his body to warm in a heartbeat. He didn’t miss her not-so-discreet glance when he shrugged his robe off, hanging it outside the small shed and leaving him in his swimming trunks.
They sat opposite from one another, and as he spread his legs and watched her blatantly, he smirked as she looked everywhere but into his eyes. If he shifted his foot slightly to the right, he would be touching her.The way she was acting so timidly was unnerving. Indy was bold, fearless, and ballsy—not fucking shy.
He studied the slope of her lean shoulders and toned arms as she tied her wild locks into a bun, rebellious locks framing her otherworldly, beautiful face.
“What are you staring at, Golden Boy?”
“Can’t blame me for looking at the only person sitting in this tiny sauna with me, can you?”
Their gazes finally clashed, and the way she unashamedly traced the route of his naked, sculpted torso made his breath catch. A thin sheen of sweat had started coating her golden skin, and he found himself desperate to see what kind of swimwear she was wearing beneath that white towel.
Full lips curved upwards into a tantalising smile, then came a suggestion: “Truth or dare?”
Baffled by the question, Miles scoffed and shook his head. “Are we seriously doing that? Playing games?”
“You like to play games with me.”
He squinted at her. “I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean.” If anything, she was the one who found pleasure in initiating and playing games.
“Well?” She raised a brow. “Are you going to answer? Or just stare at me until you decide to make a move?”
“You’re so goddamn infuriating,” he bit out. “Fine. Truth.”
If she was disappointed, she didn’t let on.
“What brings you here?” she asked, tilting her head in concern.
As wary as he was regarding people’s kindness, there was no doubt in the back of his mind that Indy’s curiosity was genuine. That she didn’t have bad intentions or needed something from him. “I like to relax before quali day. I usually like going to the pool, then hitting the hot tub, but Ava and Rowan were already there. Didn’t want to disturb their alone time.”
“They’re so cute together.” Indy sighed dreamily. “They both sacrificed a lot to be happy.”
The thought of his press officer—first and foremost childhood friend—finding happiness made him smile. Sure, Rowan was one of his most ferocious and competitive rivals on the track, but outside of racing, he believed him to be a fun, outgoing, and dynamic person.
“So to the sauna you came,” she said, not even giving him a beat to reply.
“Good conclusion. What are you doing here?”
“Hang on, you didn’t ask me if I wanted to pick truth or dare.”
He gave her a blank stare, and she sighed.
“Needed to relax, too,” was her response.
He straightened himself. “You okay?”
He cared about her more than he’d care to admit. More than he could ever voice. Playing games with Indy was always thrilling, but her wellbeing was more important than anything else. The worry consuming his senses was impossible to fathom.
A faux smile touched her mouth. “Always.”
He could see through the terse smile. The effortless lie. The image of the golden girl. “Don’t give me that bullshit. Not with me.”
The same motion she always did when anxious caught his attention—the gentle yet firm rub of her forefinger on the skin between her thumb and palm. “I forgot my sketch pad and all at home—your place, I mean. It’s stupid, and I shouldn’t depend on that, but?—”
“It’s not stupid, Indy. If it’s the only thing that makes you feel at peace after a chaotic day, then you shouldn’t belittle the comfort it provides you. I admire the fact you’re trying to ease your mind by painting, or drawing, or doing something crafty.”
A frown touched her brows. “You really think so?”
“Yeah.”
Miles was utterly flabbergasted by her uncertainty. She was a confident woman, empowering and optimistic, but behind the image of the Princess of the Paddock lay a vulnerability so beautiful to him. Somehow, he could relate to her feelings—to the want of needing something totally different from real life to lose himself in another world.
To him, music was the equivalent of art for Indy.
“Thank you.” She blew out a breath. “I didn’t realise I needed to hear those words until now.”
When he pushed his hair away from his forehead, she glanced at his bicep. “Don’t let anyone make you feel like you aren’t allowed to feel negative emotions, okay? Don’t let people make you think that being creative is stupid or whatever they tell you.”
“I don’t like feeling negative,” she countered.
And he knew that. Kai was quite similar to her. Their parents didn’t truly allow them to linger in negative feelings, always urging them to lift themselves up after a breakdown. Miles, on the other hand, grew up with a father who gave him the space to feel as much as he wanted, but had the consciousness to come to him when he wasn’t angered or saddened any longer.
“I know,” he said softly. “But allowing yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling doesn’t make you less of an amazing person.”
“You think I’m amazing?”
“I think you like to deflect.”
She exhaled, a quiet laugh rumbling. “You’re right. Thank you.”
He didn’t quite know when they had entered a staring contest, but he found himself feeling triumphant when she looked away first, dropping her glance to his torso where beads of sweat were making their way down the valley of his pectorals.
“Truth or dare?” she murmured, finding his gaze.
Too many things were procuring him an exhilarating sensation as chilling as racing: sitting almost bare before Indy in this confined space, playing this game, and holding together every sliver of self-control he could find so he wouldn’t leap towards her, rip the towel off her body, and bend her over the bench.
“Huxley,” she whispered. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Knowing exactly what gleamed in his eyes—want, desperation—he clenched his jaw, darting his gaze away. “Truth.”
Silence fell for a few beats as she contemplated her words. “Why are you single?”
A smirk touched the corner of his mouth. “We’ve already been through that. The question is, why are you ?”
He didn’t know he’d been holding his breath until she admitted, “I’ve also had my fair share of shitty dates, so…”
“Have you been with anyone since the last time we…”
“Fucked? Yes, this one guy,” she said. “Lasted a total of three days. He was whatever, anyway. He was a finance bro.”
A snort erupted. “Ah, so you’re into men who wear fancy shirts and dress pants?”
He felt like combusting under her scrutiny when she held his gaze, a sultry gleam in her eyes. “I’m more into athletes. High-performance athletes to be more specific. Racers.”
With a slow nod of his head, Miles tried not to show how her comment was affecting him—pulse hammering, fingers trembling with the need to touch her. Claim her. “I see. And why did it end? He talked too much about work?”
“Oh, no. He admitted he wanted to date me to get close to my dad.”
“God fucking damn it, Indy.”
She shrugged like it didn’t matter. Like she was used to facing hypocrites. “Nothing I’m not used to.”
“People trying to befriend you and Kai just because you’re Zach and Lisa’s kids drive me nuts.”
But Indy was a tough kid. She could handle people’s shit without letting anything break her. She wasn’t one to linger in the past and dwell on actions that had hurt, and he truly admired that.
She smiled softly. “It’s okay. Those people are not worth our time and energy.”
See? Inspiring and strong were two words to describe her. Amongst a humongous list of qualities that he kept secured in the back of his mind.
He sighed, rubbing a hand across his damp jaw. “You’re right.”
Her chin was high, some kind of challenge glinting around her pupils. “Ask me.”
And instead of stopping this foolish game, he walked right into the fire. “Truth or dare, Indigo?”
He already knew that she was going to reply, “Dare.”
And two could play at this game. “Take off that towel.”
Slowly, so deliberately, she untied the cloth and let it pool behind her on the bench. With one thigh placed over the other, her torso slightly leaned forward as she braced her hands on the bench, fingers gripping the edge, she tilted her head and innocently smiled.
And God. Fucking. Damn him.
She was perfection.
A goddess intent on ruining him by luring him towards a precipice where there was no safety net to catch him after a dangerous fall.
She was wearing a black one-piece, its neckline plunging to give him a full view of the slope of her cleavage. Her smooth skin, now shining with perspiration, was visible around her collarbones, and the fabric covering her most intimate parts did absolutely nothing to hide them.
His gulp was audible as he ran his fingers through his hair, taking in her physique. When he’d dared her to take the towel off, he’d been intent on keeping his eyes on her face, but he was always helpless when it came to her.
Yeah. He was utterly, royally fucked.
God, this perfect body.
Those perfect, full breasts.
He’d never seen Indy naked. This was the closest to being bare she’d been before his eyes. All the times they were intimate in the past were quick, rough, fuelled by the thrill of getting caught, neither of them fully unclothed. That had never stopped hands from wandering, though, and he could still feel how her breasts had felt in his palms—round, heavy. Could still hear her soft moans as his fingers grazed her peaked nipples, played and tugged at them.
He wondered how it would feel to play with the metal barbells across her nipples. How loud she’d moan if he swirled his tongue?—
“Quit staring at my tits,” she snapped. “Or do something about it. I can’t stand that look in your eyes.”
She was trying to provoke him. Get a reaction out of him. She was trying to break him, and fuck, he could not give in to the destructive power of temptation.
“And I can’t stand the fact that you think I’m just going to unleash myself on you.”
Her gaze dropped to his lap, where his desire was growing and obvious. “Look at you, Huxley. You want to.”
He stood up the moment she did, their bodies nearly touching. All he needed to do was lean down, and his world would rattle.
“What game are you playing, Indy?”
Defiance burned in her gaze as she studied his reaction. Waited for him to, perhaps, put an end to whatever this was. “The first one to break loses.”
He smirked. Her flames should have kept him away, but perhaps he was a desperate moth, undeniably drawn, helpless and ready to get burned. “You’re cute if you think I’m going to let you win. I do not lose, and you know that.”
She stepped forward again, the featherlight graze of her breasts against his chest making his breath hitch. She stood on her tiptoes, her sinful, full mouth brushing against his. The next second, she was turning around and her bare ass splayed before him was almost the reason he unravelled.
Fuck, he needed to get laid.
She grabbed her discarded towel, her hand ready to open the door. She found him watching her firm, round bottom from over her shoulder and said, “Challenge accepted.”
Leaving him standing there, Miles wondered how they had ended up in this situation, and how long he would last in the shower later when he’d jerk off to the image of Indigo Bailey wearing that swimsuit and talking sultrily at him—a seductress waiting for his downfall.