Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Royce
The two weeks between Australia and China have flown.
I haven’t had a chance to let my feet touch the ground.
Dad has ramped up the briefings, wanting to make sure the car is exactly how it was in Melbourne.
We’ve been in the sim and out on track testing, and I feel exhausted.
The season has only just started, and I feel like I am so ready for summer break already.
Kicking off my shoes, I walk into my hotel suite and strip the day from me. The hot water cascades over my aching muscles. As always, as soon as I am under the water, thoughts of Athena come in thick and fast.
Who am I kidding? I always think about her. I saw her two hours ago and already excitement courses through my veins at seeing her tonight at the team dinner. They never used to be my thing, but it seems I have become quite accustomed to them.
My cock throbs between my legs and I hate that the only release I can get is from jerking off. I signed a contract saying no sex. That meant no sex with Athena, but just the thought about being with anyone else makes my skin crawl.
Placing my hand on the tiled wall, my head falls forward as I curl my fingers around the thickness of my cock.
Shuddering on my exhale of breath, I palm my hand up and down, jaw locked.
My nostrils flare as pleasure trickles through me.
Warm water dances down my back, droplets running from my hair and down my nose.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I try and imagine her and how she would be.
I imagine her in front of me, those fucking amber eyes burning into my soul as I stroke my cock. The dull ache intensifies, my stomach tightens as I feel the build-up, and I know I’ll be coming within minutes.
Letting my eyes open, I watch as I fist myself, my cock throbbing in my palm. She’s there again, in my periphery, teasing me with those full fucking lips.
“Fuck,” I hiss, chasing my high because as much as I want this, I know we would never work.
All I want is to be twisted in bedsheets with her, I want to hear my name fall from those fucking lips as she comes around my cock. I want it all with her.
My fingers grip the wet tiles, sliding down as a shiver breaks over my skin, my head tilting back as I pump harder, faster, begging silently for the release I so desperately need.
Royce.
I imagine her voice, all moany, breathy, panting as I grip under her thigh, lifting it around my waist and sliding my cock into her was ease.
Royce.
I hear it again. My skin is alight, toes curling, fingertips dragging down the wet tiles.
“Fuck.” I clench my teeth, my cheeks hollow as I pant, breathing through my orgasm. “Athena, oh God.” Groaning, I come into my hand as my head falls back.
“Royce.”
This time, I know that’s not my imagination.
“Oh my God.”
Her words strangle me, I choke on my intake of breath, my cock bobbing in my hand, pulsing as my pleasure rolls through me.
Shuddering, I slowly turn my gaze to see her standing there.
My fingers are still spread against the tiles, my shoulders curled forward as I stare at her through my wet fringe.
Her cheeks are pink, eyes wide. She’s so pretty. Her hand is covering her mouth, and I hate that because I am desperate to see her lips. Those honey amber eyes are not shifting from me, but I don’t even care.
There is nothing I can say or do. She has caught me.
Slowly straightening myself, I turn and slide the full glass door open, and I smirk as she covers her eyes, peeking slightly through a gap she’s made.
“No need to cover your eyes, babe.” I pad onto the tiled floor, water pooling beneath my feet. “You’ve already seen it.” I grab a warm towel, wrapping it around my waist.
“I know we were meant to meet later,” she says quickly, “but I was writing, and I was so excited because the words were flowing and my God—”
I walk towards her and turn her the right way to my bedroom. She keeps moving, still with her eyes half covered.
“And I had this question to ask you and I just burst in.” She takes a breath. “And I needed to see you…” She trails off. “Not all of you, mind.”
I watch her, her lips turning down and I laugh quietly. Stepping forward, I curl my fingers around her wrists and slowly pull her hands away from her eyes.
“What was the question?” I ask, water running down my torso, and she blinks at me.
“I can’t remember.” She stamps her trainer covered foot.
“Well, you were a little preoccupied,” I tease and she slams her mouth shut.
“You were a little preoccupied,” she mutters, pressing her arms against her chest.
“I was.” My cock twitches and I internally groan. “But I think,” I whisper, stepping close to her. The urge to pull her close overwhelms me but I resist. I keep my hands by my side. “You enjoyed seeing it.” A soft gasp catches and I smile. “Will this make it into the book?”
She rolls her lips. “Maybe…” Her eyes fall. “The main male character will have a much bigger dick than you.”
I laugh loud, my head tipping back and she laughs with me. “They all have big dicks in your books,” I mutter and that shuts her up in an instant.
She blinks as if trying to connect the dots.
“I think I am on the third book of your series.”
The colour drains from her face. “Oh my God.” She hides her face again.
“But”—I click my tongue to the roof of my mouth—“I do think you need to switch up the sex scenes.” I watch as the tip of her ears redden.
“Go away,” she wails and I chuckle.
I pull her hands away again and settle my blues on hers. “I’m only playing.” I give her a soft smile “I haven’t really read them. Just had a quick browse through,” I say as if it’s no big deal.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, don’t stress,” I say, and I watch as she relaxes. Stepping back, I move for my wardrobe and grab an oversized tee and jeans. “Can you remember the question yet?” I ask, seeking her out over my shoulder.
She shakes her head. “I’m going to go… I need to get…” She looks down at herself and shakes her head. She says nothing and walks out the door.
Uneasiness settles in my chest. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.
Truth is, I have been reading her books.
I had got so engrossed. Rue messaged me back telling me to download the books onto a reading app, and well, now I seem to be spending any second I get immersed in her fictional world, losing myself and I think it’s because I can see so much of her in her characters.
We leave tomorrow morning for China, and I have no idea how Athena is going to be when we’re sharing a room. Maybe I should have told her, but then she would have kicked up a storm. I pace down to her new room—I made sure Nora put her on the same floor.
Hovering outside, I knock and within a minute she is opening the door.
Fuck me dead, I swear she is wearing this skirt especially for me.
It’s paired with a knitted crew neck jumper, which compliments the light pink and black pleated skirt that sits mid-thigh.
Her silky tanned legs look never ending in her thigh high boots. My greedy eyes sweep over her.
“Hi.” She smiles at me.
“Hi back.” A smirk tugs at my lips.
She steps out, closing her door behind me.
“Are you all packed?” I make idle conversation.
“I think so,” she chirps as we take a slow walk towards the lift. “How about you?”
“All set.” I push my hands into my pockets.
Silence settles over us. She pushes the button.
“Have I upset you?” I ask her, feeling this slight awkwardness between us.
“No.” Her voice cracks.
“You’re a bad liar.” I snort.
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes just as the lift doors open, stepping in, she twists and leans her back against the handrail.
“Are you going to tell me?” I follow after her and wait for the doors to close.
“Just what you said about my books… and I know it’s silly, and you haven’t even read them but you kind of hit the nail on the head.”
I furrow my brows. “What part?”
“The sex scenes. I know they’re boring… vanilla.” She drops her head. “But I write what I know.”
My eyes widen. Oh fuck.
“And, I don’t know, maybe I am just not a good writer.”
I can’t stand the sadness that drips from her voice. Slamming my hand against the emergency stop button, the lift jolts to a standstill.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
I shake my head, closing the small gap between us. Curling my fingers under her chin, I tilt her head back, her eyes dance with mine.
“I lied earlier,” I rasp, edging my lips closer to hers.
“I have read your books.” I watch as the expression changes on her face, but I can’t read it.
“And the sex scenes?” I whisper, hovering my trembling fingers over the side of her bare thigh.
“Sure, they could be better… but they get to the point.”
My ice blues drop to her lips. They’re parted and silently begging for me to kiss them, but I know once I do, I won’t be able to stop.
“You want some help making them more exciting?” My skin tingles. “All you’ve got to do is ask, Lucky. I would be happy to lend a helping hand.”
She pants softly as I press my body up against her, digging my fingers into the softness of her cheeks. I wait for her to say something, anything, but she stays quiet. Letting my fingers fall from her face, I miss the way my fingertips burn.
Pressing the button, the lift begins to move, and I settle next to her, my arms by my side. My fingers flex, my face turning as I look down at her. I could move them ever so slightly and trail them up the back of her thighs and tuck them under the hem of her skirt.
My cock stirs and I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, willing to get the dirty thoughts from my mind. Letting my eyes open, I flick them to the countdown and see we’re approaching the ground level. Slipping my fingers through hers, I tug her towards me.
“I meant what I said,” I whisper into her ear.