Page 112 of Close Contact
I wanted to look strong.
But all I felt was fear. An impending sense of doom that I couldn’t escape, that choked me.
Across the paddock,Callum’seyes locked on mine. Chest rising, fists clenched, jaw tight.
He looked ready to kill. And for the first time in almost three weeks, I breathed.He didn’t move, but I knew he was close to snapping.
To coming for me and doing what he’d promised.
Next time I see you, I’m kissing you in front of everyone.
I don’t care who’s watching.
I looked back at Morel’s retreating figure, heart pounding. Let him try something. I wasn’t alone anymore. I wasloved.
And the world was about to see exactly what that meant.
The cars were linedup on the grid, and all of the drivers plus what felt like the entire fucking sport were bustling about. The air was sharp with tension and gasoline. Cameras everywhere. Mechanics buzzing. PR reps flitting past.
Auréliestood two rows back from me, fiddling with her helmet, her gold visor glinting in the sun. She looked so goddamn radiant in her navy suit, hair neatly braided, brows drawn together as she focused.
I didn’t wait or ask for permission. I followed through on my fucking promise.
I crossed the gap between us as though it didn’t exist. She turned as if sensing me, mouth parted like she might speak. I cupped her face with both hands and crashed my mouth to hers. She melted into me, and my world righted itself. This was what I needed. How it always should have been.
A gasp rippled through the grid. Cameras clicked. Crews froze. Her handsfistedin my race suit, clinging to me like she couldn’t breathe without me.
And I didn’t fuckingcareanymore. I didn’t care who saw. I didn’t care what headlines this made. I just cared about her, about us.
When I pulled back, she was wide-eyed, shaking.
Tears clung to her lashes, but her mouth trembled with a smile.
“I love you,” I said, voice low, urgent. “Be safe out there.”
She choked on a sob, her gloved hand grabbing my wrist. “I love you, too.Callum—Morel’s planning something. He’s gunning for us.”
My pulse spiked. “For ‘us’?”
She nodded and stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I overhead them in Monaco. Got everything on audio and took it to theFIA.”
“You told the FIA?”
“They didn’t listen. One-place penalty. That’s it. But they’re plotting against you and Marco, too.”
I stared into her eyes. “Stay behind me. Don’t engage. I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you asking me to lose on purpose?” She meant it to be playful, but the joke fell flat.
“Aurélie.”
She nodded. “Just… come back to me.”
“I will. I promise.” I kissed her again. Quick. Hard. Final. We both tugged on our balaclavas, then pulled our helmets over our heads, visors up. Without thinking, I grabbed the strap of hers and fastened it, tugging to make sure it was secure.
It felt like protection. The bare minimum I could do to keep her safe.
I curled my fingers under the chin of her helmet and tugged her closer. She tipped her head back to look up at me through our open visors, blinking those beautiful golden-green eyes I loved so much. Her cheeks were adorably scrunched from where the padding pressed on her face.
