Page 97 of Racing for Redemption
Violet
Iwake to warmth—a cocoon of it wrapped around me in the form of William’s tattooed arms. Morning light filters through the half-drawn curtains, painting stripes across his sleeping face. He looks younger like this, softer, even with that rugged, yet perfectly trimmed, soft beard. His jaw is relaxed, his lips slightly parted. The sight creates a strange ache in my chest. This wasn’t supposed to be tender. It wasn’t supposed to feel like more than scratching an itch.
I shift slightly, and his arms tighten reflexively around me. Protective. Possessive. I should find it stifling, because in the past, I’ve disliked it when guys were possessive of me… Instead, I trace the lines of the tattoo that snakes up his forearm, wondering about the story behind each inked design.
“Don’t go,” he mumbles, eyes still closed. “Stay with me…”
“I wasn’t going anywhere.” The admission comes too easily. "This is my hotel room, remember?"
He cracks one eye open, his mouth curving into a sleepy smile. “Good morning.” I swear this smile—so warm, satisfied and tender—could make many people go crazy. But what I love about this is that… this smile is all for me.
“Morning.”
He pulls me closer, burying his face in my hair. “What time is it?”
I glance at the bedside clock. “6:30.”
A groan rumbles through his chest. “Too early.”
“I have a flight to catch.” I make no move to extract myself from his embrace. “Dubai meetings all afternoon tomorrow.”
William stiffens slightly, then raises his head. “Dubai? Today?”
“Yes. Why?”
His smile returns, brighter now. “I’m on a flight to Dubai today, too.”
“You are?” I prop myself up on one elbow to look at him properly.
“Yep. Media commitments tomorrow, then some sponsor stuff. With Nicholas. Then flying to China for the triple header of China, Saudi and Bahrain.” He traces idle patterns on my back. “What time’s your flight?”
“10:45.”
His smile widens into a grin. “Emirates?”
I nod, a suspicion forming. “Don’t tellme…”
“Same flight.” The excitement in his voice is almost childlike. “We’re going together!”
“William…” I start, unsure how to navigate this new complication.
“Relax.” He cups my face, thumb stroking my cheek. “No one will think anything of it. Team Principal and driver traveling to the same destination on the same airline? Totally normal.”
He’s right, of course. But after last night, nothing feels normal anymore. Perhaps I’m hyper aware of us now, not at the same level that other people will be, but… I’m just worried about scandals in the paddock. I don’t want to ruin the team’s perfect moment just because I was lusting over my driver and had to make him mine for the night.
“I should get ready,” I say, finally pulling away from his embrace. “And you should go back to your room to pack.”
“Trying to get rid of me already?” There’s humor in his voice, but something vulnerable flashes in his eyes.
“No.” I touch his face, a mirror of his gesture to me. “But we agreed to be discreet, remember?”
He turns his head to kiss my palm. “I remember.”
William slides out of bed, retrieving his clothes from where they’re scattered across the floor. I watch him dress, admiring the play of muscles under tattooed skin. His jeans hang low on his hips as he pulls his shirt over his head. When he catches me looking, he winks.
“Like what you see, boss?”
“Shut up.” But I’m smiling.
