Page 81 of Misconducts & Temptation

Her eyes widened as she took in the Maserati’s sleek lines. “A Maserati?”

I shrugged. “Might as well learn from something good.”

“But what if…” she began, her voice trailing off with uncertainty.

“I’ll be right here,” I assured her, my gaze steady on hers. “You trust me?”

She looked at me for a long moment before nodding slowly. Without another word, she slid into the driver’s seat, and I took my place in the passenger seat beside her.

“All right,” I said, settling in and turning slightly to face her. “First thing’s first—adjust your seat and mirrors.”

Elodie moved hesitantly at first, fiddling with the seat controls until she found a comfortable position. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the mirrors, and I could see the anxiety etched on her face.

“Good,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Now, put your foot on the brake and start the car.”

She pressed down on the brake pedal with a tentative foot and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life beneath us, and she jumped slightly at the sound.

“Relax,” I said softly. “You’ve got this.”

She took a deep breath, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Okay,” I continued. “Now shift into drive and gently press down on the gas pedal.”

Her movements were cautious as she shifted gears and eased onto the gas. The car moved forward smoothly, and a small smile tugged at her lips as she realized she was doing it.

“See? Not so hard,” I said with a chuckle. “Now just steer us around the lot.”

She maneuvered slowly at first but grew more confident with each turn of the wheel. As we circled around the empty parking lot, her nerves seemed to settle, replaced by a growing sense of accomplishment.

“You’re doing great,” I encouraged her. “Keep it up.”

Pride flared in my chest, hot and satisfying. My girl was a quick learner.

"Go faster," I told her, watching as her eyes widened with a mix of excitement and fear.

Elodie bit her bottom lip, hesitating for just a moment before pressing down on the gas pedal. The car jerked forward, and she panicked, slamming her foot on the brake. We lurched to a stop, and she turned to me with eyes so wide they looked like they might pop out of her head.

"It's not—" she began, her voice trembling.

I cut her off with a kiss, pressing my lips against hers firmly. "You're going to drive us home, babes," I said, pulling back just enough to see her reaction.

"What? No, I?—"

"Shut up for a sec," I said, placing a finger gently over her lips. Her eyes were still wide, but there was something else there now—a spark of determination. "You've got this. You're tougher than you think."

I kissed her again, moving from her mouth to the curve of her neck. Her skin was warm under my lips, and I could feel her pulse quicken. When I pulled back, our eyes locked.

"I trust you," I told her quietly.

This seemed to startle her more than anything else. She stared at me for a moment, processing my words before giving a small nod.

Her hands returned to the steering wheel, gripping it with renewed focus. She shifted the car back into drive and took another deep breath.

"I can do this," she whispered to herself. "I can do this. I can do this."

And then we were moving again.

I watched her knuckles whiten around the steering wheel; the car inching forward with painstaking caution. The roar of the engine hummed beneath us, a powerful beast she barely controlled.

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