Chapter 26
Say That You Love Me
ZARA
Tomorrow is the big day.
The day of the race. Everything is organized for our plan to come to fruition.
Or at least every detail that we can control.
There are still a few wild cards, a few things that are out of our hands.
Like the weather—even if the forecast says it’s going to be overcast but there’s a very low chance of rain—or if that dirt bike is going to show up or not.
I’ve been putting on a front of calm confidence, but deep down I’m a mess.
It isn’t me I’m afraid for. Lev and Ares are going to be on that racetrack, determined to protect me. What if I dodge that bike but one of them gets hit? I’ve had nightmares all week where that happens.
In my dreams, the reality of the past mixes with the uncertainty of the future, and I’ve been experiencing different versions of the same basic nightmare.
The dreams all start the same way; it’s the outcome that’s different every time.
In one version, the dirt bike shows up, and it hits me.
I tried every trick Dad had taught me in the past few weeks, but I can’t avoid the mysterious dirt bike.
There’s one version where I actually avoid it once, but more identical dirt bikes sprout out of nowhere and come for me from every direction.
Those horrible dreams always have me waking up drenched in sweat and trigger full-blown panic attacks.
But those aren’t the worst nightmares I’ve had. The ones where I die are the easiest ones to deal with.
It’s the versions where Lev or Ares get hurt that terrify me the most.
“They’re just dreams, Zara.” I keep repeating to myself. “The reality will be completely different.”
After our last training session this morning, both Dad and Scott reminded me that I still have a choice. I can still bow out of this and choose not to race.
I’d be lying if I said that there isn’t a part of me that’s tempted to call off the entire plan, but I don’t let that part win.
What I told Ares when he was against my racing hasn’t changed. If we don’t catch this person, I’ll live my life looking over my shoulder every single day. And there’s no way I’d be able to have a racing career with this constant threat hanging over my head.
The truth is that I hope that motherfucker shows up, because if he doesn’t, we’ll have accomplished absolutely nothing.
Based on the fact that the dirt bike was there every time after the first time I raced on campus, I’m confident that it’ll be there tomorrow.
That’s why we worked hard to keep our plan on a need to know basis and to make sure that our extra security is as inconspicuous as humanly possible.
We’re trying to fly under the radar, especially with the other competitors. Cal is racing with his old team. Mason Morelli has continued to sponsor him despite the fact that our deal with his uncle killed his own illegal racing enterprise.
If Cal is behind the attacks against me, we don’t want him to be suspicious that we’re watching him.
“Everything will go according to plan.” I whisper to my own reflection in the bathroom mirror.
“Honey, we’re home!”
Chance and Lev are back from practice, and I run downstairs to meet them.
“Zee,” Lev’s green eyes light up when he sees me. “You look… wow. Gorgeous doesn’t sound like enough.”
“Lev is right, baby.” Chance’s dark blue eyes skim all over me, the intensity of his gaze alone causing my pulse to quicken. “You look good enough to eat.”
This is exactly the reaction I was hoping for when I put on this black, tight mini skirt with a gold zipper running down its entire back.
I paired it with a silk purple shirt closed in the front by a line of tiny silver buttons.
High black heels give my look the finishing touch and make my legs look a mile long.
“You guys look hot too.” I smile, taking in their tall, muscular frames.
“It’s kind of you to say that,” Chance chuckles, looking down the length of his body. “But we’re coming from practice, and we would have changed into something a little better if we had known you were going to dress up.”
Lev agrees, running a hand through his dark hair, still slightly damp from the shower. “Yeah, we would have brought some better clothes with us than our Cove Knights tracksuits.”
I bite on my bottom lip to stifle a smile. “I—and an endless number of women out there—agree to disagree. There’s a reason why gray sweatpants have become an icon. And let me tell you, the two of you wear them really well.”
My gaze pauses where their sweatpants do nothing to hide their attributes. I’ll never get over how gifted my boyfriends are in the dick department.
“Well, fuck,” Chance chuckles. “If this were anyone else, I’d feel a little objectified. But you can objectify me anytime, baby.”
He comes to grab me by the waist, dipping his head to kiss me.
I immediately open to let him slip his tongue into my mouth. My whole body heats under his touch as his hands cup my butt, pressing me against him.
Lev is immediately behind me, moving my long hair to the side and raining open-mouthed kisses down the column of my neck.
It doesn’t take long to ignite the passion between us, and by the time we come up for air, their matching gray sweatpants do nothing to hide that they’re as affected by me as I am by them.
“Not that I’m complaining about how smoking hot you look tonight, Zee,” Lev says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “But to what do we owe this awesome welcome home?”
“Yeah,” Chance agrees. “Not only do you look good enough to eat, but did you cook too? Something smells amazing.”
I take their hands and walk them to the dining room. “No, I wish I had the time to cook. But I ordered us all our favorite Chinese food.”
Chance pops a mini spring roll into his mouth. “God, have I ever told you how much I fucking love you? Coming home after practice to find you looking like that AND Chinese food? You’re the perfect woman.”
“Thanks, babe.” I smile. “Tomorrow is a big day, and since Mom and Scott will be out late at a fundraiser, I thought we could have a nice night in. The four of us.”
“That’s a great idea, thank you.” Lev smiles. “Are you ok about tomorrow?” He asks, always putting my wellbeing first.
I exhale a deep breath. “I’m fine. I’m ready. But I’m also a little nervous.”
“Nervous is good.” Lev squeezes my hand. “I’d be worried if you weren’t nervous at all. That means that you’re taking this seriously and that you won’t do anything risky unless it’s strictly necessary.”
I trace his perfect jaw with my fingers. “I won’t. But I just wanted to spend tonight with you guys. You steady me whenever I feel like I’m on shaky ground.”
“Where’s Ares?” Chance asks, chewing on his second spring roll.
“He texted me that he was done at work and he had to do one last stop before coming home. So stop eating, Chance; or by the time Ares comes home, there isn’t going to be anything left.”
Chance offers me his best shit-eating grin. “You snooze, you lose. He grew up with me; he should know how fast I can eat. Especially these delicious spring rolls.”
I roll my eyes, grabbing Chance’s hand and pulling him away from the dinner table. “Behave.”
“Only if I can have dessert before dinner.” He winks.
“What do you mean?”
His smile widens. “I bet I can feast on you, sweet girl, and make you come before Ares gets home.”
Before I can say anything, Lev bends over, lifting me over his shoulder, fireman style.
He chuckles at my surprised squeal. “I like the way you think, Chance. I knew there was a reason why we’re best friends. Let’s go eat dessert before we have dinner.”
The second Lev puts me down onto my feet, his lips are on mine.
This kiss is different from the teasing one he gave me earlier. He explores my mouth, confident, skilled, hungry.
It’s Chance’s turn to stand behind me, peppering the back of my neck with hot, open-mouthed kisses.
My two boyfriends have me breathing hard in a matter of minutes, and they haven’t even removed any of my clothes yet.
I know I’m not the only one who’s turned on to the point that my entire body is tingling with need. They’re both rock-hard in their gray sweatpants, the thin fabric doing very little to hide their impressive erections.
“Fuck, Zee,” Lev sinks down to his knees in front of me. “You look so hot in this little outfit of yours. But I bet you’re going to look even better when these clothes are on the floor.”
He lifts the front of my skirt, burying his face between my thighs.
Lev gives me a hot kiss without removing my underwear; he uses the purple silk of my panties to create more friction against my throbbing clit.
“Oh God.” I whimper when he flicks his tongue where I need it most. On one hand, I want him to get rid of my panties; on the other hand, I love how he’s teasing me, upping the anticipation.
He continues to french kiss me through my panties, licking and sucking, and my knees begin to buckle.
Chance is right behind me, tall and solid, ready to catch me and support my weight. “I’ve got you, baby.” He murmurs softly in my ear. “You can let go for Lev. For us.”
His hands reach in front of me, cupping my breasts. He knows exactly how I like to be touched and plays with my nipples, rubbing the pads of his thumbs over the hardened peaks over and over.
Maybe I should be embarrassed by how fast they reduced me to a panting, quivering mess without even needing to remove my clothes.
All I feel though is excitement and desire for them.
They make me feel sexy, wanted, and safe.
Lev lifts his face to look at me with a knowing smile. “You’re so sweet. Am I allowed to take your panties off before Ares gets home?”
I bite on my bottom lip. I’m not surprised that Lev understands that I want to look pretty for all of them.
“Don’t worry, Zee.” He smiles. “I can work around them.”
Lev moves the silk to the side, lifting one of my legs to rest onto his shoulder and lowers his head on me again.