Chapter 6 #3
“It’s ok, I can take you.”
She didn’t want to offend him. Plus, the rumours were that Mark was bisexual but was more inclined towards men.
Mark was the typical British, wealthy, party brat.
Good-looking, flirtatious with anything that moved, but arrogant and attention-seeking.
He wasn’t her type at all. Ingrid did have in mind that he had called her the ‘hottie coach’.
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that.”
Ingrid got in his car without a thought about any cameras. It was Mark, so it didn’t matter. Being seen together publicly twice in one day never occurred to her.
“How are you enjoying paddock life?”
“I really don’t know how you guys do this almost every weekend.”
“You get used to it after your rookie year. You just have to embrace the organised chaos of it all. Plus living in hotel rooms.”
“Yes, that part I find difficult. I was so happy to be back home, with my own bed and my dog. Plus, seeing my brother. We’re twins and very close.”
“Oh, I think someone mentioned you had a twin.”
He started to turn onto the road to the hotel. Ingrid felt slightly relieved, but she didn’t know why.
“Yes, you’re actually one of his favourite drivers.” She laughed. “He would be so jealous to know that I’m in a car with you right now.”
“We’ll have to send him a photo.”
They arrived at the hotel. He took out his phone and said, “Here, let’s take one now.”
He got in extra close, and Ingrid felt like he might kiss her. There was something reckless about his energy. He took the selfie without doing anything more than putting his arm around her.
“That looks great! I’ll send it to you.” He airdropped the photo. It looked too close for Ingrid.
They got out of the car to a horde of fans. She waved goodbye to him and went up to her room to shower and change for dinner. She got out of the shower, and there was a message from Oliver saying he was so jealous of her. Ingrid just chuckled at this. Then her phone rang. It was Erik.
“Hello,” she answered happily.
“What is all this shit with Mark today?”
“What do you mean?”
“We can’t be seen together, and you’re riding bikes with him and taking selfies in his car?”
Ingrid realised what had happened. Mark had done this deliberately.
“Oh my god. First, I’m sorry. Second, either Mark did all this deliberately, or he’s making a move on me. I did feel uncomfortable when he offered me a ride earlier, but I waved it off because I always thought he preferred men.”
“No, he prefers you.”
“Oh, darling, please don’t be mad. We might actually be able to use this.”
“Now you call me darling, and I can’t be mad.” His voice had softened. “Are you eating in the restaurant tonight?”
Ingrid told him her plans.
“Ok, I’ll ask Antoine if I can join you.”
“See you just now.”
Ingrid realised what an idiot she had been with Mark. She should have seen through the act, or was it an act? Ingrid was going to let his little game play out and see how she could use it.
Erik messaged Antoine about dinner and met them at the restaurant.
Mark had obviously done the same because he was already seated next to Ingrid.
She looked at Erik with an apology in her eyes.
He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and lingered there long enough for them both to feel it, but not long enough for anyone to notice.
“I saw you all took Ingrid on a bike ride today. How was it?”
“She says she’s unfit and is going to join my gym sessions,” Antoine chirped innocently.
It was sweet how his friend didn’t notice any of the games that were being played around that table. It was this innocence that often helped keep Erik in line.
“I’m being serious! I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk tomorrow. Gaetan, you might have to carry me around with those strong arms of yours.” Erik could see the poor guy blush. Even though he was gay, he had also clearly fallen for Ingrid’s charms.
“Anything for you, Ingrid.” He smiled.
The Suzuka Circuit Hotel was at least more private, since mostly teams stayed there. No one would bother them. Mark had his arm resting on the back of Ingrid’s chair. It would be the talk of the paddock tomorrow. Erik wanted to punch him.
After dinner, Erik didn’t know if he was going to get a night with Ingrid. He wanted it so badly. The conversations earlier were confusing.
Ingrid:
“Room 310”
He put on a hoodie to hide his face and went down. Ingrid opened the door in her PJs – one of his team’s old T-shirts and a pair of long pants.
“You look good in my team colours.”
“Oh, hush.” And she pulled him inside.
Erik pinned her against the wall and kissed her immediately. He wasn’t going to wait another second to do that. It had already been too long, and he had had to suffer through seeing Mark all over her.
“Hello,” she said as she pulled away from him.
“Hello.”
“You know you don’t have to force yourself on me every time you want me? I mean, it’s hot but unnecessary.”
“Sorry, I just couldn’t control myself any longer.”
“Perhaps time to learn some self-control?” She arched her eyebrow. It just made her look sexier.
“Ok, I’m taking a step back,” he said. “Hello, how are you? How was your day?”
Ingrid burst out laughing. “Come here.” She kissed him. “I’m starting to feel stiff. My day was fun apart from when I had a sort of fight with the guy I’m sort of sleeping with. How are you? How was your day?”
“I’m feeling much better than I did at the start of the day. My day was shitty and packed with media interviews asking me stupid questions, but it was made worse when I picked a fight with the girl I want to date.”
“You see, now that’s how people should greet each other. I’m sorry your day was shitty.” She stroked his hair and looked into his eyes. It was another thing he loved.
“I’m glad you had some fun today, though,” he responded. “Where are you feeling stiff?”
“All over! But mostly my calves and glutes.”
“Lie down, and I’ll give you a massage.”
It would take the self-control she spoke about to do less than what he wanted to do.
She took her pants off and lay down on the bed.
He started rubbing her calves, then moved up to the curve of her naked ass.
There was the occasional ‘ow’ or ‘that’s the spot’; otherwise, it was just silent.
He was glad they weren’t talking about ending things.
Just as he moved up to her lower back, he was really starting to struggle with that self-control.
She didn’t say a word as he continued a bit further up her back.
Erik went to kiss her cheek and heard her soft snore.
He waited a few minutes longer until he was sure she was asleep, then lifted her under the covers.
She stirred a little bit but didn’t really wake up.
Erik wanted to climb into bed with her. He wouldn’t do so without permission. He left his snoring beauty.
Ingrid:
“Where did you go?”
Erik:
“You fell asleep so I let you sleep”
Ingrid:
“Kind of you”
Erik:
“Self-control. See you at the track.”
???
The first day of practice sessions went alright.
It was fairly even between Erik and Mark most of the session.
Erik only saw Ingrid briefly at the track, long enough to greet her with a kiss on the cheek.
She was talking to Nico, so to the outside world it looked like she was a part of the group now.
My clever girl, he thought, balancing out the attention.
On his way out, he bumped into Antoine.
“You’re done early for once!” He said.
“Yes, Ingrid’s work. She convinced the team that these debriefs are too long, so we’re experimenting with streamlining or whatever the word is in English.”
“I didn’t know she was that involved in the team’s work?”
“Je te jure, they’re going to offer her a job soon! Even grumpy Pierre loves her.”
“Your Team Principal, Old Pierre? Or the mechanic Pierre?”
“Both!” He laughed.
“Dinner tonight?”
“If you’re paying!”
Erik laughed, and they went off to their respective cars.
Ingrid had a productive day at the ‘office’.
Antoine was doing well at a track he had never managed to reach higher than P8 before.
In both practice sessions, he was in P5.
She had also managed to do some damage limitation with the Mark incident by seeking out Nico and getting photographed with him.
Erik did his job admirably by greeting her with a kiss.
Antoine:
“Dinner with Erik at 8?”
She agreed to this, hoping Mark wouldn’t be there. He wasn’t. Erik sat next to her this time, and she felt good to have him near her again. He had his arm on the back of her chair at one point.
“You know, you Scandinavians make a good pair,” Antoine said nonchalantly.
They looked at each other. Ingrid’s heart started pounding. Antoine must know. She started laughing to take the awkwardness out of the situation.
“I’m serious. You’re both tall, blue eyes.” He took another mouthful of his salad. “Just good-looking.”
“It’s the Norse blood,” Erik said calmly.
“Well, if Ingrid had to date one of you, I’d prefer you to Mark. Sorry, Ingrid, I’m just saying. I don’t know anything about your love life,” Antoine continued, “Mark has become a bit reckless, don’t you think?”
“What do you mean?” Erik asked.
“I mean, on track. The crash with Nico the other day. The way he was driving today.”
“I was focused on my own driving, so I didn’t notice.”
“I was in the pits for a bit, and he was causing trouble with a couple of cars.”
Ingrid was listening with interest, but she was also glad the topic had moved on from them.
“I’ll keep an eye out for it tomorrow.”
Antoine happily went back to his salad, unaware that Erik stroked Ingrid’s shoulder.
Ingrid let him into her room half an hour later.
“Hello, how are you? How was your day?”
“Oh, come here.” She kissed him.
“No, you wanted us to greet like that.”
“Yes, but we’ve already discussed it at dinner.”
“Ok, I’m not going to complain,” kissing her, “speaking of dinner, what was Antoine on about?”
“I know!” Ingrid went over to the bed and curled up. “At first, I thought he had figured it out.”
Erik joined her.