Page 81 of Rear View
It was like he wanted the confirmation. Needed to hear those words from my lips. To know I thought he was capable of something great. But he wasn’t just capable, hewasgreat.
“Yeah. You did.” I slipped my arms around his neckand kissed the corner of his sharp jaw. “I might even be a fan.”
A brash smirk crawled across his lips.
Alec pulled Sheila in for a hug and the two spoke quietly, smiles on their faces.
“We should do dinner. Celebrate,” I volunteered before I eyed Xavier and said, “I know the race isn’t over yet, but this is exciting.” Then I added, “My treat.”
Alec laughed.
Xavier’s head drew back. “Like hell you’re payin’.”
My mouth dropped, ready to protest.
“Them’s the rules, darlin’. I don’t make ’em.”
I latched on to his racing suit’s zipper. “You literally just did.”
He winked and the heat that pooled between my thighs had me clenching him tighter. His stare narrowed, turning hungry, while his hands sank deeper into my flesh.
“Did someone say dinner?” Yara poked her head between us. “I’m in.”
Within seconds, the whole team was too, deciding on a local pub with an eclectic menu of options for everyone.
Trina cleared her throat and tapped her black-painted nails on X’s shoulder. “The press conference starts in five.”
He inclined his head, then reached into his pocket and pulled something out. Looping his key chain around his finger, he stroked it, almost absentmindedly.
I smiled as I shimmied out of his arms. “Can I watch?” I asked. Then for good measure, I added, “From the sidelines?” Because the last thing I wanted was my face plastered anywhere public.
He sealed his hand over mine. “You want that?”
The excitement in that question made my pulse race alittle faster. Like it meant everything to him. Like the idea I wanted to be there was a foreign concept. My stomach dropped when the truth hit. Because itwasforeign. He had no family there. No one in his corner. He’d steered his own life and seen success in spite of his past. Alone.
If I understood anything, it wasthat.
“Yeah,” I breathed.
Earl sauntered over, a smile splitting his face. “You boys ready?”
“On our way,” Alec said.
Earl guided Xavier, me, Alec, Sheila and Trina through a series of connected buildings to a press junket room.
Xavier led, steering me toward the edge of the staging area, in line with him, but out of sight of the media. Peering down at me over his shoulder, he asked, “You alright here?”
It was open, minus the red partition-style curtains that hung and the odd pieces of electronic gear that littered the wall. The light from the junket room barely skimmed the inside, which meant there was no chance of my face ending up on camera. But in truth, I’d be alright anywhere he was. I nodded. “Perfect.”
He pivoted to face me, those eyes tracking between mine. “Yeah. You fuckin’ are.”
My breath hitched, and my heart fluttered around clumsily in my chest. I pushed up onto my toes and he gripped the back of my neck, pressing his mouth to mine in a bruising kiss.
Pulling back, he promised, “This shouldn’t take long.” Then he left, striding out onto the stage all sex appeal, confidence and swagger like he owned the place. Because he did.
And he owned me too.
Cameras clicked and flashed, lighting the front of the room with the power of a hundred suns while Alec and Xavier pulled their seats back and took them.
