“I’m a damn good driver.” He bit my ear before he cupped my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. He craned his neck and kissed me soft and sweet at the corner of my mouth. “You’re not too bad yourself,” he grinned and I bucked fruitlessly below him. “Soon my girl will be unbeatable.”
“You really think so?”
“It’s all part of my master plan, baby.” He said rolling onto his back, throwing his tattooed arm above his head
“You have a master plan?” I smirked, unable to hide the light amusement in my voice.
“Makayla, I’ve been formulating a plan for you and I since you poured my tea.” Right there he took my breath away. “I know exactly where we are going. I told you,” he pointed to himself, “the driver,” he said with a grin. I ran my nails over his chest and his eyes slid closed for a moment and a soft smile moved across his lips before he continued.
“We will continue to nurture you and Chase. If you both work hard we will build this team together. Aidan is working on investors, he wants to make the team something special. If you continue to show like you have, you and Chase will share the track.”
“What about you?”
“I’ve got a few seasons left in me, but I want to buy in. I can’t drive forever, I want to build something lasting and I want to build it with you by my side.” That tongue came out and swept across his full lips. Very distracting, even as my body continued to buzz.
“With Robert heading the development team and you and Chase with your whole futures ahead of you, we could be unstoppable. You will be unstoppable.” I climbed up his body, kissing every inch I touched until I could bury my face in his neck. He smelled like lust, like smoke and love and whiskey. He smelled like us. He smelled like heaven.
“How did I get so lucky?” I muttered against his warm skin as he kissed the top of my head.
“I think that Daddy of yours had something to do with it. Fate maybe, I don’t know, all I know is this is right where I am meant to be. I love you Makayla, and I’m never going to stop trying to make you happy.”
Finish Line
Epilogue
The Final Lap
“You sure you’re ready for this?” he teases, knowing full well that I’m nervous and the turmoil I have been putting myself through to get back into the car.
“I am ready…are you?” I ask, shoving his big body out of my way as I head out of the bathroom. He catches me from behind and hauls me into him, burying his face in my neck, his strong arms wound around me tightly, but not tight enough, never tight enough.
“You know how proud I am of you, right?” A low moan rolls up my throat and I sway with the wave that roils in my belly as he kisses my neck and walks me to the bed.
“Kelley…” my voice trails off when he spins me around and licks the words right from my lips. He pulls the towel from around me and pushes me down on the bed. I fall back on my elbows and watch him whip the towel from his hips, his eyes flashing as he drops it to the floor. I didn’t think it was possible to love him more than I already did, but I do. Every day I love him more, and seeing him stand before me like that, cock hard, body waiting to strike, I fall even harder and melt faster with each passing day.
“I gotta say baby, I am loving this new body.” His eyes skate my new curves, the softness of my belly and the roundness of my hips. I could never be self-conscious about it because he has loved every metamorphosis of my body without fail and without question.
“We just showered,” I whisper when he steps to the end of the bed. I have no intention of turning him down but as always I like to make him work.
“We will shower again.” He watches my nipples harden as his low voice sweeps across my bare skin and I’m on fire.
“We don’t have much time…” I continue, breathless and dying for him to touch me.
“Don’t need much,” he murmurs, planting himself between my legs. He wraps his big hands around my thighs, pulling me to the edge of the bed and hitches my knees over his forearms.
“Fuck, so wet,” he murmurs mostly to himself as he runs his fingers across my flesh.
“Always ready.” His hushed words met mine as I responded.
“Always.” He pushed the whisper from my throat as he drove inside and took me hard and fast. Our bodies crashed, his breathing grew labored and he bent down and took my mouth. Kissing him was my favorite and as his tongue swirled against mine I felt the build. His cock drove deeper and deeper as he wrapped his hand around my jaw and held my eyes.
“You gonna come for me?” He growled with a brutal thrust forcing out a whimper.
“Yes.” I hissed through clenched teeth as he moved a hand between us and pressed his thumb to me. I sucked in a breath, my eyes grew wide and his mouth broke into a triumphant grin as he fucked me right through my orgasm until he found his own. When he finally came it was a deep guttural groan as he craned his head to the ceiling, his fingers digging deep into my hips, my legs locked around him, holding him inside.
Da… Da. We both still. Da. I close my eyes and fill my lungs. Da…again and he slips from my body.
“The fucking timing on this kid is unbelievable,” he whispers planting a soft kiss to my closed eyes.
“You know, it’s really not fair that her first word is da, when I am the one who has done all the work.” I tease watching him rise slowly, the muscles in his arms popping as he pushes up from the bed, torso first. God, he is beautiful, he makes my belly fly and the only thing I have come to love more than those powerful arms around me, are when they are wrapped around our daughter.
“I find it fitting and more than fair,” he says tagging his boxers from the floor and pulling them on, “seeing that you have managed to kick me out of my own car and make me a stay at home dad so you can go drive. Give and take,” he mutters on a chuckle pulling me to my feet.
“I believe this was all part of your master plan, you have no one to blame but yourself.” I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my cheek against his hard chest and listen for his heart.
“I had to knock you up; it was the only way I was going to win my last season.” His lips brush the top of my head and I can feel him smile.
“Still gave you a good run for your money.” He grabs a fistful of my hair and pulls my head back, his dark eyes liquid and warm, and his voice low and smooth.
“You sure did, baby.” His silky voice wraps around me but the twinkle in his eye is a warning. “Until you couldn’t fit.” He bites back a grin that would split his face if he let it.
“Funny how things work out, baby.” I nudge him, knowing we definitely don’t have time for this…again. “Now I race and you change diapers. Was that in your master plan?” I giggle and his mouth twists and his chest rolls with a deep hearty laugh.
“Real funny,” he says with a smirk. “You know what’s even funnier? Not only am I your boss but I am also the guy who signs your paychecks.”
“My boss can be a real dick sometimes,” I say with a flash in my eyes.
“Your boss will make you get on your knees and suck his dick if you aren’t careful.” I consider him for a moment biting back a grin, heat pooling yet again between my legs as the baby monitor lights up again. Daaaaa! I smile back at him in defeat.
“We can revisit that assignment after I win this race, boss.” He bends his neck and kisses me harder than was fair seeing as he turned and walked away in the next second leaving me needing that second, very cold shower.
***
Arriving at the track like a family is far beyond my wildest dreams. Watching Kelley carry his daughter proudly into his garage and show her off is enough to make me burst. It is Violet’s first race day and the garage is buzzing. My mom and Rose have already arrived and are waiting for Violet. Somehow, Kelley and I have become nothing more than the people who transport the little princess. He grumbles about it, but he secretly loves it.
Kelley and my mom have grown close, and she g
oes straight for him, putting an arm around his shoulder and kissing his cheek before snatching Violet from his arms and spiriting her away with Rose in tow waving a little pink jumpsuit. They dote on her excessively but I don’t mind one bit. Every little Violet should have a Rose watching out for her and I had honestly not seen my mom happier.
Kelley gives me a wink and a swat to the ass, pushing me towards the office as he moves to the monitors and the crew. It was the same office I walked into years ago, the same small room that seemed so much bigger, though now it was pictures of Kelley and Chase gracing the walls. I was there too, standing with Chase at the end of our first season together. There maws a series of Kelley on the podium at the end of last year. We had come a long way in the last few years and yet I felt like I was starting all over again. A year was a long time to be out of the car.
I change into my jumpsuit, which is just a little tighter than it once was. Damn. I roll my shoulders forward and twist my body like a contortionist in an attempt to zip it up without causing an explosion. My boobs are definitely going to be an issue, I think to myself. I have worked my ass off, literally, to get back to the weight I need to be at to get back into this car, but it seems some things will never be the same.
The newest picture on Kelley’s desk stares back at me as I grumble. Staring back at me was the three of us at the hospital, Violet’s birthday. We barely made it that day, Kelley pulling up on the curb as Violet started to make her appearance just as they pulled me from the car. Fast and furious, no time to wait; she came on like a true child of speed.
Kelley was beaming with a pride that could not be contained. I on the other hand look like I have been hit by a train, even though Kelley maintains I have never looked more beautiful.
I pick it up, run my thumb along the photo and smile. This is what I’ve always wanted. I knew I wanted to drive, but I needed Kelley to show me the whole picture. He was the key. Twisting my hair into a braid I walk out into the garage to find everything the same yet completely different.
The crew gathers and welcomes me with a round of applause as Chase gives me a bear hug before he heads off to his waiting car. The crowd roars outside and I close my eyes and listen to that sound. A sound I have longed for. A sound I have missed. This was my turn now.
That was my crowd. This was my car and today was my day. I watch as they roll the car out, the new livery looking sharp. My new number, 9, painted on the nose. I turn to find Kelley right behind me, his eyes wide in anticipation, and his hand poised to take me at the hip.
“You ready for this?” He whispers with a grin, flexing his fingers into me.
“I was born ready,” I return before he laughs a deep laugh that makes me feel like everything will be ok. He bends and kisses me in a way that pulls the very oxygen from the garage and I can feel all eyes on us. When he finally lets me go the garage erupts and he throws his fist into the air like he has just won.
Garrett calls to me and I follow him out into the sun. Slipping into the car feels good. Different, but good. Everything is different, there is so much more at stake. The last time I was in the car Kelley was on the track with me. Now there was only me, he would be in my ear, but not on the track. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. We had talked about it and I had prepared for it but as I sat here, I missed him. I could feel his absence, yet I was excited; excited about the prospect of the track being mine. I was home when I sank down into the cockpit. I was focused when Kelley handed me my helmet and I was bursting when his voice came over the speaker, with little Violet screaming in the background.
“The gangs all here my love, it’s a great day for a race.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
No matter how Independent one believes themselves to be this cannot be done alone.
For every click, share, tag.
For every word of encouragement, every nudge in the right direction.
For every lovely stroke of my fragile ego and every brutal word of truth.
For every takeover, spotlight and recommendation,
I owe thanks.
Without these things and all of you I would be but one lost soul, feebly shouting into the abyss.
CLL: Without you there would be no me. Your opinion will always mean the world to me
KN: your foot and my ass seem to be a perfect fit and I am so glad I pushed my way into your box.
Thank you for your guidance, patience, encouragement and understanding and all your hard work, but mostly thank you for your friendship.
AS: I hope I have offered you a fraction of the support you have offered me so freely. Love you
Tiffany: You made magic. You are magic. You are generous and hardworking and I am proud to call you friend.
Dawn, Liz, Fiona, Sammy, Jax and Rae My OG Nymphs.
You girls got wrangled in early, some without your knowledge but you stuck with me.
I see you, I appreciate you.
To those ladies who are relatively new to me…
trust that I see you and I am so humbled every time I see my name posted or a post shared.
It’s like slowly building the best tribe of all time!
You’re all destined to be nymphs
DH: It was a little bit of magic and kismet that brought us together but it has been an honor to watch you blossom and I for one will always be grateful for my hummingbird. It was the first time I put myself out there and you showed your generous spirit and have continued to do so ever since.
AD: You mean so much to me.
Your intelligence and whit, knowledge and experience, I appreciate every word of encouragement and advice.
Thank you for always supporting me and for seeing whatever it is you see in me.
Amy: Is there anyone sweeter? Thanks for always being there at the drop of a hat.
CB: Your support keeps me moving forward, your example makes me want to be better.
You make me believe in me.
To all the authors I relentlessly stalk, admire, respect and attempt to emulate….thank you for not reporting me to the authorities or blocking me!
Discover other books by Noelle Bodhaine
The Voice Trilogy
http://tinyurl.com/j22ogsq
Whisper
http://tinyurl.com/q4amzfr
Speak
http://tinyurl.com/ls7tost
Shout
http://tinyurl.com/shouttvt
The Riverwalk Collection
One Last Cigarette
http://tinyurl.com/RWCollection
Follow Noelle
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The Curve Page 24
