21. Harmony
Harmony
Jaxx peeled back to give me space to drive.
After eighteen laps with the pair of us, I feel like I have a good handle on the track.
I want to push myself hard, especially with the cameras on me.
I need to show people that Harmony Grace is still here, and I’m not running away.
It doesn’t matter what they say, I know who I am. And Ross McLean can go fuck himself.
“Okay, Harmony, we’re resetting your time. This is your last chance.”
“What was my average lap time?”
“To be honest? You were at 1.49.”
I press my lips together. What are the chances of beating that? I’ve never gained four seconds in one lap. Now that Jaxx isn't there to keep me in check, I can give it a proper go, but it’s going to be hard.
“Just don’t do anything stupid, okay?” Jacob says.
“You’re talking like I’m crazy or something.”
“I’m talking to you like I care if you end up in a crash because you like taking those corners too hard.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Brat.”
I laugh as I hear the grin in my brother’s voice. It helps me relax as I come out onto the straight and crank through the gears. I have enough battery to power forward; I just need to make sure I don't waste it before I get into Sector 2.
“Hey, Jaxx, I hope you’re ready to give me that favor. I’m already planning to collect.”
His deep purr rumbles in my ears, setting off another round of perfume. My slick is so thick that there’s no way they won’t find out.
As soon as I pull up, I have to get out of here.
But for now, I’m going to give it my all.
I can already feel the car lagging by the time I hit the final corners in Sector 3. The battery is showing 9%, fuel at 13%, and there is no way I can keep it up, but I don’t care. I’m having too much fun.
“Time?” I say as I pull onto the final straight. One more corner and I’ll be at the finish line. But there’s silence on the other end.
“Jacob, give me my time!”
“I’m sorry, Harm. You’re at 1.40 already.”
“Dammit!” I hiss. But I won’t let that stop me. I still want to get below 1.60, so I slam my foot down, the car screeching as I spin into a sharp ninety degrees.
I’m not letting up, timing the seconds with my heartbeat as I hurl into the last straight.
Me and my big pink baby fly under the lights as fast as we can, and they even bring out a checkered flag just for good show.
I wave to the photographer right next to the line, even though my disappointment clenches my heart. I used to be so much better than that. But I have to remember to cut myself some slack. I’m not the old me that only saw my mistakes.
“That was still my fastest lap though, yeah?” I ask him.
“By a mile,” he says. “You got that in at 1.47. You still shaved a few seconds, and you know how amazing that is. Especially with Jaxx still trailing behind you.”
“I’m heading off for one more lap. I’ll be there soon.”
“You don’t have the fuel or battery for that kind of speed again, so keep yourself in check. I don’t want to have to send out the crane to pick you up halfway around the circuit.”
“You’re so mean.”
“And you’re still a little brat. Just keep yourself in line.”
“Fine. I’m still going to give the reporters something to write about.”
“Yeah, whatever. Keep acting like you've just run a perfect lap.”
I can’t stick my tongue out at him, but it’s probably better I shut up so he doesn’t nag me anymore.
“Okay, Jaxx is coming into the pits. Follow him when you come around again.”
“On it,” I say, still putting my foot down even though he told me no.
I ease myself around the first corner and keep up the race. Though I’m just trying to beat my time, it’s being out on the track by myself that matters the most.
The guys are still talking in my ear, but I can let all that fade away as I push hard and let the air flow over me.
When I really let go, when I let myself sink into a role in front of the camera or into the seat as I steer, I glide along. All I need is the car and the track, and the sound of my heartbeat as the engine pitches higher with every gear change.
My ass is numb from the vibrations, and my cheeks ache from grinning so much.
I want to feel like this all the time.
I sigh as I race down the bumps in the track, sinking into the feeling of freedom.
My brother is right, even if he doesn’t say out loud that he’s trying to get me back into racing. And this is a good way to go about it.
Clenching my teeth, I slam my foot down, going for it with everything I have. I brake too hard on the corners, scream down the straight, and yell out as I soar toward the pits with 1% of battery to spare.
“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” Jacob says in my ear, but I just laugh as I slow into the pit lane and drive toward the team.
“Are they doing a change?” I ask.
“No, just stop. We’ll take it from there.”
But the main problem is that Maddock, Jaxx, and Everest all stand there, waiting for me.
I’m already heavy with slick, Everest has smelled how much I’d perfumed, and there are other alphas out there who will scent me as well.
“Jacob?” I say quietly as I slow the car. “Could you ask my bodyguards to come?”
“What's wrong? What happened?” Panic suddenly shoots through his voice.
“I need their help. Tell them to get my bag. They'll know what I mean.”
I try to calm myself down, but it’s too much. With Maddock glaring, Jaxx grinning, and Everest looking at me like he needs me as much as I want him, it makes me want to leap into their arms and let them carry me away.
But I have to escape. They’re definitely going to scent my perfume, but I can’t just say I was excited from the drive, because my slick tells a different story. If they really are my scent matches, it might send them into a rut in front of other people. Though I sort of want to see that as well.
Just the idea of all three of them going crazy over me has a fresh wave of slick building up.
My pussy throbs, and my nipples press hard against the inside of my suit.
As I slow the car, Jaxx is already stepping toward me.
I squeeze my eyes closed, hoping it’s not going to be as bad as I imagine.
I bring the car to a halt, and I look up. Jaxx has bounced over, and is already leaning in to unclip my belts.
“For some reason, I knew you’d be like this,” he purrs.
I don’t answer him as I jump out of the car, a wave of perfume and slick following me.
Maddock sucks in a breath, and steps forward, but Jaxx is already there.
As I pull my helmet and the balaclava off, he throws his arms around me.
“You did amazingly,” he says as he pops out my earphones.
“You were the one slowing me down,” I jokingly hiss.
He laughs against me, but holds me even tighter. From how his body stiffens and he squeezes me, I know he can smell it. But his pheromones are already washing over me. I am so high from the drive, so I melt into him just like we did before.
“Hey,” he murmurs next to my ear as I hold on tight. “You want me to take care of that for you?”
“Is that your favor?” I say, already getting hot at the idea.
“It could be. I had something more romantic in mind, but if you’d rather we continued where we left off in the airport, I could go for that too.”
I pause with my arms around him, holding him close, the weight of Everest and Maddock’s stares beating into me.
All I need to do is take Jaxx’s hand, and he’ll give me what I need.
“Okay, everyone! Good job!” my brother calls out from the other end of the hangar. “Let’s take some time to assess the performance of Jaxx and Harmony’s cars and see if we need to make any improvements.”
The second he speaks, I rip myself away from Jaxx with wide eyes.
“Are you going to tell me not to speak again? Because I kind of liked it when you slapped my hand over my mouth the last time,” he purrs. “You can even tie me up if you want to.”
I’m already flushed, but he’s making me even hotter, and I don’t want anyone else to be around me like that.
“I’m in room 203. Give me a knock if you need me.” Jaxx throws me a wink just before I dart back from him. I glance left and right, seeing if there’s anywhere I can run, but the best thing is out of the garage, where there are still reporters milling around.
Thankfully, my bodyguards make a beeline for me, carving a sharp line through the crowd.
They quickly flank me, their giant bodies walling me in as we shoot off out of the back of the garage and onto safety.