Page 105 of Start Your Engines

His warmth resets me.

“That’s the point. Tonight can’t be about your dad’s shitty behaviour. You are a powerful, strong, and fucking amazing woman and in control of so much. I will do whatever I can to remind you of that. I owe my boss office sex, and that’s exactly what you’re getting. This night is going to end in an epic orgasm, and it’s got your name all over it.”

CHAPTER 51

Connor

My back achesfrom the tension of the Coulter family argument. I rub Senna’s shoulders and arms from behind as we stand in the lift in the Coulter office building, although it’s more to comfort me than her. Her reflection in the lift mirror offers me a half smile, which makes my stomach jittery.

We could’ve returned home, where I would’ve fed her spoonfuls of ice cream or held her close. I’m sure she needs to be in control of something, and while I can’t book a secret race track with Hypercars at a minute’s notice, I can do this.

We slip into her office. I wasn’t lying about wanting to go down on her beneath her desk. I’ve had a ridiculous number of fantasies about her and this desk, but this is about what she wants and helping her recognise her power.

“Connor, did you mean what you said about me earlier?” she says timidly.

She stands awkwardly near the door. I read her wrong. She didn’t need to be the boss. She needs to be cherished and adored.

I gather her in my arms, basking in her orange blossom scent and the softness of her blond waves. “Which bit, Coults?”

“All of it?”

I brush kisses to her forehead. “Yes, baby. I meant every word. You’re incredible. And I count my blessings every day that you chose me. You love me. I’ve waited every day since the summer for you to come to your senses and realise I’m nowhere near good enough for you.”

Her lips whisper against my skin, “Never. I adore you. I loved you when we were younger. But this is different. It’s like I might die if I don’t see your face or hear from you. I never want to be with anyone else. When you race, I’m terrified something will happen to you because my life would be over if it did. But I don’t want to stop you being you.”

I lift her and carry her to her desk, propping her on the edge. “I don’t want to stop you from being you, either.”

Her smile breaks my heart into a million pieces and then sews them together again. Now, it’s made for her.

“Have you been in love before?” she asks, running her fingers through my hair. I close my eyes and let her grazing touches soothe me.

“I’m surprised you don’t know. But maybe there were times when, during the years we weren’t speaking, you didn’t follow my life because it hurt too much. That’s how it was for me.”

She hums in agreement. All those years, we were emotionally holding hands through our conflict.

“I’ve been in love three times.” She gasps. I stand between her thighs and pin them with my hands so she can’t go anywhere. Moonlight streams through the window. Her curvy earrings spin, and the light cascades off them. “And all three times were with you.”

I smooth the lines of her forehead before dropping a kiss against her lips.

“The first time I knew I loved you was the night before your last race. I sat beside you on the sofa. You slept against me, making the same cute snores you do now.”

“I don’t snore.” She gives me a playful shove, but I take her hand and brush my lips against her wrist.

“Yes, you do, baby, and I fucking love those sounds.” She twists her mouth into the cutest smile. “That night, as you slept beside me, I knew what I felt for you wasn’t a teenage crush. I loved you as much as an eighteen-year-old lad with no sense can. But I couldn’t tell you. I was scared your brother would kill me because of that fucking pact or you’d laugh at me. There was stuff going on with my dad, too, but I still had this need to ask you out. And then I hit you, and you crashed and?—”

“And I refused to speak to you ever again.” She holds my face between her hands.

Tears collect in her eyelashes, and my vision blurs from the painful memories.

“And part of me thought I’d never recover. All I wanted to do was hold you and promise to be better, but you didn’t want anything to do with me. Over time, I pushed the feelings down, but really, I still loved you. You were always here.” I press her palm against my heart. “And then I went to Ralf and Myles’s wedding last summer.”

“I didn’t see you there. I searched,” she admits with a flush to her cheeks. I kiss the little dots of red.

My smile is sudden and unwavering. “Because you hated me and wanted to beat me to death with your bridesmaid bouquet?”

She chuckles.

I curl a wave of her hair around my fingers. Her tears haven’t fallen but still make flecks of gold shine from her hazel eyes. “I hid in the back because, as much as I was invited, I also knew it might cause unwanted attention.”

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