Page 84 of Hyperspeed
It was obvious he was overwhelmed, trying his best to process what had happened. He wasfeeling, something he tried so hard not to do, and he refused to do it in front of others.
True to the stray I likened him to, he’d vanished for a while, needing space, needing to shake off the feeling of being watched from every angle. He wasn’t used to being seen, far too good at blending into the background, despite being so different.
On the stage, he’d allowed his emotions to shine through, his smile so happy and proud. And now he was experiencing the aftermath, the storm of emotions in his head and heart.
But I was here, and I refused to let Rev carry it all alone.
“Rookie?” I wrapped my hands around his, and the contact interrupted the steady cadence of his breathing.
His eyes opened, black holes that had made me uncomfortable in the beginning—dark and endless, threatening to drag me down into depths so deep I’d never resurface. But now I’d willingly fall into the blanket of stars I was becoming so fond of.
“There you are,” I whispered, smiling as I brushed a thumb over his knuckles.
“Kai?” Rev’s voice cracked, the word barely a huff of breath. If the corridor weren’t so silent, I wouldn’t have heard it. But standing so close, I heard the tremble—the pleading, like he needed to escape the spiral.
He was ecstatic about his win. I’d seen it in his eyes when he made his speech, the way the colours danced across his skin. Two things he couldn’t hide no matter how well he masked.
Events like these were a lot, even for the biggest extroverts. I was always exhausted when I returned to my hotel room, my social battery depleted. Had I stayed in the ballroom tonight, it would’ve been the same.
Except now it wouldn’t be, because this year wasdifferent.
I wasn’t in the ballroom, dancing terribly with Zylo, or challenging Sam to a drinking game. I was in a quiet hallway with someone who’d been a pain in my ass just a few short weeks ago. A man who’d tilted my world on its axis the moment I bowled him over in the paddock.
From the very first scowl, I knew Rev was bound to bring chaos. I just didn’t expect that chaos to bring us here.
We were still rivals and always would be as long as we were on opposing teams. Hell, even if we were teammates, we’d still try to best each other.
But things weren’t straightforward anymore, because we weren’tjustrivals. I had no idea what we were, but whatever it was, I . . . well, I liked it.
As gently as I could, I removed the award from Rev’s grip and placed it on the floor beside us. Flipping his hands over, palms up, I rubbed my thumbs over the angry-looking indents left behind.
But our eyes stayed glued to one another, and Rev exhaled, long and weary.
“It’s too much.”
Three words that could’ve meant so many things. The party we’d left behind. The pressure of his goal. The league. Stars, maybe he meant whateverthiswas.
I didn’t ask him to clarify, just said, “I know.”
His mouth opened, but the words didn’t come, so he gripped the lapels of my blazer, balling the expensive material in his fists. Rev pulled me forward, eliminating the minute distance between us, and my hands hit the wall on either side of his head. It was the only thing that stopped me from crushing him. But the glitter in his eyes swirled in a way I’d seen twice before.
Once in the locker room, and once in the dim hallway at Nebula.
They screamed that this was what he wanted. What he needed.
I relaxed my arms and leaned in, crushing his back against the wall. We were flush against each other, from our chests down to our toes, and his breath left him in a slow, contented sigh.
I lowered my head, brushing my nose along his jaw, inhaling the sweet smell of apples mixed with something entirely Rev. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I imagined it was what the stars smelled like, and the combination made my mouth water.
“What do you want, little comet?” I rasped, pressing my lips against his skin.
His tongue poked out, trailing along his lips. My eyes shifted, drawn to the movement like a moth to a flame.
“I want you to kiss me.”
The words went straight to my dick, which was already half hard in my trousers, but I didn’t dive right in.
We’d kissed in the locker room, but heat and spontaneity had taken the lead. I’d slammed my mouth against his without hesitation, and Rev hadn’t pushed me away. He’d melted against me, swept up in the rush of desire.
