Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Royce
MONACO - RACE DAY
My heart is drumming, sweat beads on my brow and I am so fucking close.
“Great pace, Royce. You’ve got a two second gap on the driver behind,” my race engineer says calmly.
We both know that neither of us are calm.
I check how many laps I have left, then my mirrors as I come into sector two. Fuck. Four laps.
“Get Athena, put her on the radio.” Silence echoes through my ears and all I can hear is my heart beating in my ears.
“Here we go, Royce. She’s here,” my dad’s voice floats through.
“Lucky.” My voice rumbles as I take the racing line.
“Hey you.” Her voice is so sweet and soft, my stomach coils.
“You doing okay?” I ask her, checking my mirrors. The car chasing is closing on me, but I pull away on the straight, leaving him behind.
“I’m doing good.” A gentle laugh fills my ears.
“Fuck, I love your laugh,” I rasp, and I can just imagine her sitting there, a cute smile on her face and those dimples I love.
“I think I should be asking you if you’re okay.”
My chest constricts. “I’m good, kid, I’m real good,” I admit, slowing as I come into the first turn of sector three.
“Good,” she chimes.
“If I win this,” I grumble, taking a sharper turn, my voice jumping as I do.
“Which you will,” she interrupts me.
“I hope you’re ready to celebrate with me.” My tone is light, and fuck, I can’t wait to see her.
“Of course.”
“And wear one those little fucking skirts.” I know she is going to be sitting there all pink cheeked, squirming in her seat.
“Can everyone hear this?” she whispers into the mic.
“Oh yeah, baby.” I chuckle as I cross the line.
Three laps to go. “And whilst all the teams are listening...” I pause for a moment as I take a corner and fly down the straight.
I love this part of sector one, it’s my favourite section.
“Be mine, Athena. Be mine in every fucking sense of the word,” I say, my voice catching
“Always,” she answers rapidly, doesn’t even give it a thought.
“Fuck yeah.” I shout and she giggles. “Right, baby, I’ve got a race to win. Make sure you’re front row of that podium, Lucky. I need you front and centre.”
“I’ll be there,” she coos, “promise.”
“I’ll see you soon, kid,” I mutter.
“See you soon.”
I’m met with silence for a moment before I hear Marcel.
“Let’s bring this home, Royce.”
And that’s just what I do. I approach the finish line, and I know my team are climbing the fences, cheering me on as I see the blur of the chequered flag being waved.
“You are P1, Royce. You won the Monaco Grand Prix!” my dad screams down the mic.
“Oh my God!” I shout back, banging my hand against the steering wheel.
“You did it, son, and it is so deserved.” His voice cracks and my heart swells inside my chest.
“Thank you, Dad. Thank you to the team, thank you all for everything.” I slow and begin waving to the crowds cheering as I drive one final lap.
Parking the car in the P1 spot, I remove my headrest and the steering wheel. I place it on the front of the car before I climb out and run to the crowd of grey, silver, and yellow.
My team.
I run and dive into their arms. Hands smack against my crash helmet, others pat down my back. My dad clings to me, but all I can think about is her. My girl.
Pushing back, I look to the left and there she is, eyes all glassy, fingers pressed to her lips. Fuck. Look at her.
Undoing the strap under my chin, I tug the helmet from my head then grab the balaclava as I pull it off. I close the gap between us, leaning across as I grab her chin and drag her lips on mine, claiming her in front of thousands.
“My lucky charm.” I smile against her mouth, kissing her again before I walk over to where I am needed.
I do what I have to, weighing and official bits, then settle in the cooldown room. I’m sat with Matt and Carlo, my eyes bouncing between them.
“Well done, mate,” they congratulate me again.
I feel like this is a pinch me moment. I have looked up to Matt from when I was a kid. He is the current world champion, but after an awful start to the season, he is slipping down the points. Meanwhile, I am climbing up them.
I stand behind the podium. Excitement bubbles inside of me when music plays. I am told to make my way, and as I begin to walk, the crowd cheers and it feels like an out of body experience.
Climbing onto the podium, I lock my hands behind my back and that’s when I see her, right where she promised to be—front and centre.
I lock my eyes on her, throwing a wink. She beams up at me, and I have never seen her look more beautiful than she does now.
My dad, Ana?s, and Edel stand next to her, watching on, and I still can’t believe I am up here.
Matt and Carlo join us and that’s when the British anthem plays.
I close my eyes, tilting my head back and for a moment I take it all in.
The crowds are silent, and all I can hear is the anthem.
My heart is drumming slowly to the beat.
A small smile creases my lips at what I have achieved, and I know that I am only just getting started.
The president and mayor walk out, handing us our trophies and once we’ve had our photos, it’s time for the champagne spray. Matt and Carlo focus on me, making sure to cover me from head to toe in the sticky liquid.
“It’s in my eyes.” I am laughing, my team engineer also joining in on the fun.
The guys pull me in for another hug and a pat on the back before we’re shown off the stage. Grabbing a towel from Nora who is waiting for me, I wipe my face then place my Pirelli cap back on over my damp hair. I was soaked.
“Well done, Royce.” She gives me a wide smile.
“Thanks.” I beam.
Her phone is in her hand and her recorder. “Ready for press?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I admit, as she pushes through the door.
The social media team are behind me, and I miss Ana?s following me around like she did last season. She was a nuisance.
“No talking about the incident at the beginning of the race,” she warns me as she leads me into the square area where all the press wait. “First one,” she says softly, nudging me forward.
“Royce Lexington,” a young man says, huge smile on his face. “Great race and congratulations on your first ever win.”
“Thank you.” My fingers curl around the barrier.
“The car seemed good, and you drove exceptional,” he continues pumping up my ego and I laugh.
“The team have done a great job on the car; it’s been consistent most of the season. Erm...” I look over and see Cowan. My blood burns as it swims through my veins. “Yeah, it’s been great,” I ramble off.
“Your new teammate, it seems he isn’t feeling maybe as confident as you do in the car. He definitely isn’t getting the same outcomes.”
Nora stiffens beside me, and I can feel her eyes on me.
“Just proves who’s the better driver then, doesn’t it?” I smirk, then thank the guy as he tries to ask me further questions.
The same questions float around, and I give pretty much the same answers. Nora guides me out and towards my room. My eyes land on Athena, she’s sitting cross legged, tapping away.
“Don’t be long, we have another round of press with you, Cowan, Matt, and Carlo in about twenty minutes,” Nora reminds me and I nod.
Clearing my throat, Athena’s eyes lift to me where I’m leant against the door frame. She places her laptop down as she runs towards me, jumping into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist.
“Fuck, I missed you,” I murmur, my hands cupping her ass as I hold her up.
“Did you?” She smiles, eyes glistening.
I nod, walking towards the sofa and sitting down, holding her on my lap.
“How’s my winner?” She runs her fingers over the edge of my cap peak then teasingly runs them around the back of my neck, linking them as I tip my head back ever so slightly.
“I am very, very good,” I groan.
She wiggles on my lap, and I could easily fuck her right now, but twenty minutes is not enough for everything I have planned for her.
“How’s the writing going?” I ask, looking at her opened laptop.
“Good,” she says, but her unwavering voice doesn’t convince me.
“What’s wrong?” I focus on her.
“I’m getting to a spicy scene and well… I’m a little anxious about writing it.”
“Is this the first scene?” I ask, my fingers drawing circles on her bare thighs, teasing them under the hem of her skirt.
She nods. “I keep putting it off, ‘cause clearly I don’t know anything, so how can I write about it?” She sighs, dropping her head.
“Well, what’s happening at the moment?” My cock throbs inside my suit.
“He has just… you know.” She blinks, looking up at me through her lashes as her dark curly hair frames covers half her beautiful face.
“No, Lucky, I don’t.”
“Gone down on her,” she rushes out, pink painting her cheeks and I chuckle.
“Right, well, you know how to write that.”
She nods. “But now… well.” Her fingers fall from my neck and drag down my chest.
“Words, baby.”
“Well, I thought I would make it about him.” She lowers her eyes again, focused on her fingers.
The penny drops. “Oh.” Fuck. How bad would it be if I fucked the press off? Maybe I can come up some excuse.
“Will you teach me?” Her innocent amber eyes meet mine.
Fucking hell, she is killing me. Pressing my fingers into her cheeks, I swipe my tongue over hers.
“It would be my honour.” I smile against her lips. “But I’ve got press to do, so it’ll have to wait until later.” I press my lip to her pulse point on her neck as she tilts her head to side slightly.
Grazing my teeth along her sensitive skin, a soft moan vibrates through her, her hips rotating over me. “Baby,” I groan, guiding my hands to her small waist as I hold her still. “Patience.” I chuckle, planting one last kiss on her lips.
She pouts but smiles soon after as I lift her from me and lower her on the sofa.
“I need a quick shower before the press meeting. Are you staying here?”
“Maybe. Edel is with Ana?s, but we may head back to the apartment.”