28. Mabel
Mabel
October – End of season – Queensland Raceway, QLD
It’s been two weeks since my parents left, and Riley and my schedules have been completely off.
It’s the last month of the season and I am in PR commitments up to my eyeballs.
With Javi being the reigning champion and it being a tight season between the four of them, it’s been great to get the work out there.
But not being in the same hotel room means we aren’t conveniently spending time together.
Even if I was working on the lounge, I could look up and see Riley on the other end. I’ve missed him so much.
I'm setting up Javi’s tent signing when I get a call from Rayna. “Hey, Javi’s had to go back to the hotel. He’s unwell.”
“Oh no, is everything okay?” I ask.
“Sophia thinks food poisoning. We’ll have to cancel the signing for today. Are you able to handle that, or would you like my help?” she asks.
I pause, but I want to show her I am ready to do this on my own. “No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.”
“Okay, call if you need anything.” And she hangs up.
I exhale. Okay, I can do this. They are fans, they will understand these things happen .
Making my way over to the crowd already lining up out of the tent, I get their attention. “Hey Everyone, I am really sorry, but Javi is unwell and will not be signing today.”
The crowd is instantly in an uproar.
“Aww, we’re been waiting for ages!”
“This isn’t fair.”
“We’ve travelled over five hours to see him!”
“We are really sorry and wouldn’t have done this if he wasn’t really unwell.” I try to tame the crowd, who are getting more and more annoyed and loud.
“Hey, what’s happening? Where’s Javi?” I hear a familiar voice come up behind me.
“He’s got food poisoning and can’t make the signing,” I reply, looking into Riley’s eyes. “They aren’t happy about it.”
“Clearly,” he replies then addresses the crowd.
“Hey, everyone, I know you were here to see Javi Bear, but the dude has food poisoning. Unless you want to be puked on, don’t think you want us to drag him back.
Now I am not the reigning champ, but I am a former champ and possibly this year’s champ.
You've all been watching! It’s been a tight season!
Are you all sweet if I do the signing for you? ”
The crowd’s attitude turns and start cheering, to which Riley looks at me and gives me that wicked smile he has. “Gotta know what these crowds want. Me.” And winks at me.
“Thank you!” I say and squeeze his arm. He looks down at it and I quickly move it away. “I’ll go grab some of your promo stuff from Oscar and let him know what’s happening. I’ll be back.”
Jogging out of the tent, I have my phone to my ear, catching Oscar up on the situation. He is in the pit, and tells me to head there for the promo material.
I drag a wheelie trolley filled with posters, stickers, extra markers, everything I need for Riley’s signing.
I can’t believe he came in and did that.
Well, I can. That’s the type of person Riley is.
But he was at the right place at the right time.
For me. Argh, everything feels like it’s haunting me and my avoidance of the situation.
But it is really hard not to see the connection here.
Arriving back at the tent, Riley has moved all of Javi’s promo material into my wheelie trolley and is vamping in front of the crowd. He sees me enter and asks everyone to give him a few minutes, then we’ll be set up and ready to go in no time.
Riley fills Javi’s spot, and once the track realises Riley is signing, more fans arrive, pushing out the signing for two hours.
Riley is not missing a beat, taking photos with the fans, signing, and having quick conversations with each of the fans.
I'm running around making sure the crowd is ordered and we’re still running smoothly.
Oscar arrives mid-way through to take over, but I wave him off as Riley is helping me out of a pinch.
The last of the fans trickle in and Riley finally puts his marker down and leans back in the chair, stretching.
“And now to go and ride some bikes.” He lazily smiles at me as he stretches .
“Thank you so much for bailing me out. I really appreciate it,” I say as I tidy up the table. “You better head off so you don’t miss the start of the session.”
“Koby would be in here already if I was going to be running late.”
“Riley! You all done yet? Thirty minutes,” Koby calls out from behind a corner briefly and then disappears.
We both look at each other and laugh, “Okay, I’m outta here. And no problem. Javi can owe me something. I’ll work it out and tell him. See you…around.”
I have a thought, and before my nerves get the better of me, I say, “Riley, are you free tonight? Can I shout dinner as a ‘thank you’?” Breathe.
He takes a beat and says, “Sure. I’ll pick you up at six?”
“Sounds good. See you then,” I reply.
“See you at six,” he adds, and he is gone. I am smiling at the space he once occupied. I’m terrified, but I need to focus on the day and then worry about dinner later.
With Javi unwell, the team shut down the pit early and headed back to the hotel. There isn’t anything for us to do until Javi is back and feeling better. But this does give me an opportunity to think and obsess about dinner. Go out? Stay in? What food? My mind reels .
I put the live coverage of the practice session on the TV in an attempt to distract myself, but it’s not done me any good.
I am still overthinking, seeing Riley on screen, albeit under a helmet, but even that is fucking sexy.
Seeing him throw his leg over his bike, leaning over the tank.
I wipe the drool I am sure is dripping onto my chin.
Deciding I need to stop this trance on the TV, I take a walk to clear my head and get stuff for dinner.
Knowing he doesn’t have any set restrictive diets before a race day, I walk the aisles, hoping inspiration will take hold.
Deciding on some very boring pasta and salad when inspiration doesn’t hit, my mind continues to be a swirling mix of thoughts.
I feel like a lot is riding on this meal.
I miss Riley and I want to work out how we can get back to where we were.
I absentmindedly try to waste time in the hotel room.
I took a shower, washed my hair, prepped the salad, made the sauce.
Time was dragging until 6:00 p.m. It felt like an entire day passed before I heard Riley knocking on the door.
I jump up from the lounge and run to the door.
Taking a deep breath or two, I smooth down the front of my t-shirt.
Opening the door, Riley stands with a wide smile and his hair slightly damp but pushed back. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I greet and step back to let him in.
“So, where did you want to go for dinner?” he asks, stepping in and turning around to face me. “Actually, smells like you’ve made the decision to stay here. ”
“Unless you want something in particular, I just bought some pasta and salad to have here. Figured we could…talk?” I said, willing myself to not be so nervous.
He nods silently and slightly grimaces, just enough for me to catch before he goes back to a neutral face. “Did you want to chat now? Get it out of the way?”
“Yeah, I do,” I reply and start walking to the lounge, grateful he’s following.
Sitting on the lounge facing each other, I am reminded of his caring, deep blue eyes, watching me so intently.
His endearing presence that I have missed so much over the last few weeks.
He sits on the lounge and goes to put his arm around the back of the lounge where I sat, but he second-guesses himself and puts his arm by his side.
I hate that last bit. “I’m sorry we haven’t been able to see each other for the last few weeks.
It’s been a bit chaotic with the end of the season and you four being so close. ”
“It’s fine. I know how insane the end of season gets.” He smiles, no joking tone present.
“It’s not fine. You said something really lovely, and I dismissed it. I dismissed you,” I start, feeling my emotions brimming already as I pause to steady myself.
“I shouldn’t have added to your plate. You were overwhelmed, and I added to the pressure. That wasn’t fair to you,” he replies, leaning towards me.
“No, it wasn’t fair to you , and it’s not fair to you now.
You were so brave saying it to me, and I got scared.
Everyone I’ve had to rely on, I have disappointed or not lived up to their expectations of me.
But I didn’t have to live up to any expectations for you.
You accepted me for who I am, what I can offer someone.
No rules for us being together. You had the courage to tell me how you felt about me.
And that was way more courageous than I ever could be.
I wanted to tell you in Sydney, at the nightclub, at the hotel room.
But I chickened out each time. I didn’t want to ruin anything between us by the rules I put down for this.
For us,” I blurt out. I can’t stop; everything is coming out. I hope some of it makes sense.
“In Sydney?!” He is shocked.
“Yeah.”
“What did you want to tell me in Sydney?” he presses.
“That I love you. But I ruined everything by not being honest with you three weeks ago when you said it to me—”
Before I know it, he grabs me and pulls me onto his lap so I am straddling him. “How could you ever think you have ruined it?”
I put my hands on either side of his face and ask. “I haven’t?” His face in my full view. Fuck, have I missed him.
“Never.” He pauses. “I love you.”
I smile and return. “I love you, too.”
Our lips meet, and it’s the best feeling I could ever imagine. His arms encircle my waist, bringing me tightly into him. “Fuck I have missed you, gorgeous.”
“I’ve missed you too, hotshot,” I say between kissing him, threading my fingers through his hair .
“What have you missed the most? Dirty answers only.” He smirks against my lips.
I brush, but play along. “Your mouth.”
“Where have you missed it?” he asks, hovering his lips over my neck.
“My neck.”
He kisses it. “Anywhere else?”
“My tits.” He lifts my t-shirt up to my collarbone and hooks his fingers in my bra cups, dragging them down. Exposing my breasts. He brings his mouth down to my breasts, taking in one and then the other. Swirling his tongue around my nipples and then biting gently.
“What about you? What have you missed the most? Dirty answers only?” I ask when I catch my breath.
“Your tits.” He puts them back in his mouth and repeats the entire process again, my head tipping backwards and my hand at the back of his neck.
A moan escapes my lips. “Argh, and I have missed hearing you moan,” he says, and pushes his hips up so I can feel his hard cock press against the thin material of my pants.
I pull his hair a little more and he groans.
“That noise is pretty fucking good, too,” I say, gazing into his eyes.
His mouth crashed against mine, and we don’t care if we don’t come up for air.
My top and bra are off along with his shirt when he stands with me still attached to him, and takes me to the bedroom, peeling my pants off me.
His pants get removed as well, and I retrieve a condom from the toiletry bag on my side table.
He puts it on and I am bare and laid out for him as he kneels between my legs.
He rubs the head of his cock against my slick pussy.
“Happen to miss something else, by chance?”
“Yes,” I pant.
“Miss what, though?” he teases, putting pressure on my clit.
I gasp, “Your dick.”
“Where have you missed it?”
“In my pussy.” I am squirming.
He positions himself at my entrance and lowers himself to my face, whispering sultry, “Say it together for me.”
“I’ve missed your dick in my pussy…you sadist.” I almost moan out the end of my sentence as he suddenly thrusts his cock into me, filling me deep, pushing himself into me without withdrawing.
Clenching and releasing around him, I feel his cock pushing into at least three different pressure points.
My breathing is raspy and uneven. “Ohhh, ffuuccckkkkk,” I moan out.
He withdraws his cock to the tip and then slams into me again, only to have me shudder and pulse around him. “What have you missed?” I manage to breathe out.
He kisses my neck and my lips before saying, “Fucking your perfect pussy until you can’t walk straight. But now, it’s better because you’ll say ‘I love you’ after.” And he thrusts into me again.
“If I say ‘I love you’ now, will you fuck me so I can come? I’ve missed you making me come,” I bargain.
“Try it,” he breathes .
I look him, deep and raw in the eyes, and say with resolve, “I love you, Riley.”
He breathes out and returns, equally raw, “I love you so much.” And his lips are on mine as his hips scoop against mine with rhythm, his hand reaching down to rub my clit.
We move as one, together, building friction against each other, until my insides feel like they are heating up, bubbling to the surface.
My moans increase as my eyes slam shut, and I explode around him.
My hands grip his shoulders, using my hold on him as leverage.
He comes as I am, watching me come undone, getting him off.
We lay in each other’s arms, sated and content. His hands twirling a strand of my hair as I lay on his chest, tracing his chest tattoo. Knowing that we were there for each other at the right time to help each other heal and move forward.