“Show-stopping,” I said, keeping my tone light, though my pulse quickened now that I had her attention.
She laughed, a sound that seemed to ripple through me. It was a noise I hadn't heard from her yet, and I had this inexplicable urge to make her do it again. “Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just tired of blending in. Thought I'd remind everyone that being fast and being feminine aren't mutually exclusive.” What looked like insecurity flashed in her eyes for a fraction of a second, but it was gone before I could tell if I'd seen it at all.
Kimichuckled. “She's got a point.”
“Besides, Fraser, isn't it you who said adrenaline makes people do wild things? Maybe this is mine.”
I grinned. “Wild? I don't know if I'd call a skirt wild.”
“Oh, trust me,” she said, stepping closer, her voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine. She searched my face for a brief second. “You haven't seen me wild yet.” She said it with a voice like silk and sin, and I swear my brain just… short-circuited.
My mouth went dry when a thousand images of her popped up in my mind—naked, back arched, mouth open while she moaned my name.
For a moment, I forgotKimiwas even there. My heart hammered against myrib cage, a mix of adrenaline, heat, and something far more distracting coursing through me—pure, unadulterated lust. She was so intoxicating, so fucking sexy.
“Well,” I said, recovering quickly, “if that's your version of a warning, I'll take it under advisement.”
“You should,” she replied smoothly.
“Alright, you two,”Kimiinterjected, his tone amused. “Save the fireworks for the track.”
Aurélielaughed again, the sound light and free as she turned back to her teammate. “Don't worry,Kimi. I'll behave.”
She walked away withKimiat her side. I was rooted in place, watching her go, mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the bouncing of her ponytail. She was a force of nature,unapologeticallyherself, and it was impossible not to admire that.
It was also impossible to ignore her allure, the raw sex appeal in that devious look she wore so well.
I so badly wantedher tonotbehave.
“You've got it bad,” Marco's voice came from behind, perhaps finally catching up. “Seriously, be careful, mate. That's the kind of fire you lose yourself in.”
I didn't respond and he walked away. My thoughts still lingered on her words, her smile, and the way she'd looked at me like she knew exactly what she was doing.
Maybe Marco was right.
But then again, I'd always liked playing with fire.
And suddenly, her statement clicked.Adrenaline makes people do wild things.
I'd said that in a post-race interview after I won my first championship, when the title fight came down to the last few laps. I'd performed a smooth switchback, which had since become my preferred method of overtaking, because it worked. Every. Fucking. Time. For some reason, none of the other drivers could see it coming when I decided to use it.
And the fact thatAuréliehad just thrown an old quote of mine out there? That meant she was serious about watching me.
Fuck.
It wasn't just me. She felt it, too.
I ran a hand over my mouth, shaking my head to try to clear it—but nothing fucking worked.I turned the opposite direction, needing to move, needing to walk this off before I did something stupid.
Like drag her into the nearest room and make us both lose control.
The roarof the crowd was deafening, vibrating the soles of my feet through my race boots as I stood atop the third step of the podium, listening to the winner's national anthem.
Callumstood tall above me, his black-and-red suit glinting in the afternoon sun, a hat clutched in one hand as he winked at me. His smile was wide and easy. The winner, as always.
On the second step wasAdrienMorel, his face stoic but his presence intense. I'd grown up watching Morel race, and now I was sharing the podium with him. It'd be sweeter if he wasn't out to plot my demise.
The reality of it all struck me like a fucking hammer, forcing my attention back to the crowd so I could bask in the moment. The fame, the excitement, the celebration.
