“Let's just forget that happened.”
We both paused. This was awkward now. A second passed, as if we were each waiting for the other to take it back. To say,I didn't mean that.But neither of us did.
I forced a laugh, too loud, too brittle. “Yeah, I mean—it was just?—”
“Endorphins.” He nodded quickly. “Yeah. Heat of the moment. Running. Adrenaline. Happens all the time.”
“All the time,” I echoed, though I wasn't surewhowe were trying to convince. My skin was still tingling and I wanted to scream.
A breeze rustled the leaves above us, and it was enough to break whatever fragile thread was holding us there.
Callumcleared his throat and slowly—soslowly—set me back on the ground. But even then, he didn't immediately step away. His fingers trailed up my thighs and lingered at my waist.
His jaw feathered. His fingers squeezed. He was internally fighting with himself, but then he released me, and the second his touch disappeared, I felt cold.
I ignored the way my body ached, because my pride was wounded.
He exhaled sharply, ran a hand through his hair, and took a step back. I took two.
This was fine. This wasfine.
I forced a smirk, because if I didn't, I might combust on the spot. Or cry. My subconscious hadn't yet decided. “Don't look so traumatized, Fraser.”
That almost got a laugh out of him, but it died on his lips. The space between us still pulsed, heat coiled tight and unspoken. I licked my lips—habit, mistake, something in between—and his eyes dropped to my mouth like a reflex. I had to shut it down.
“You let me get tackled by a tree, Fraser. Not exactly a win.”
His lips twitched. “You're right. I should've let you eat dirt instead.”
“Next time, I win.”
He held my eyes. “Looking forward to it, Auri.”
And the way he said my name? How his accent curled around it, low and rough and way too close to sounding like a promise? I felt that everywhere. And it told me one thing: there was no coming back from this.
I wasn't stupid enough to believe this was just flirting anymore. This was something that could fucking destroy me.
He stared at me as if he wasn't sure whether to chase me or run away. I blinked, taking him in one last time when I noticed—to my absolutehorror—a wet stain on his crotch. He glanced down and then he gave me the most evil little smirk.
“That's all you, Auri.” His voice was pure sex, and if I didn't leave right now, I would never recover. Neither my heart nor my body could handle another man ruining me for his own selfish reasons.
I stumbled back a step. Then another. Decided to put us both out of our misery. “See you on the track.”
He swallowed, nodding once.
I turned on my heel and walked away.
Not running. Not fleeing.
Just… getting the hell out of there before I begged for more. I wasn't sure I'd survive if I got another taste of him. And I was terrified of what it would do to me if I did.
Suzukawas alive.Electric. Legendary. Dangerous. Not my favorite, but close.
But I wasn't thinking aboutSuzuka. I was thinking about Aurélie. And the way she felt pressed against me.
The heat of her thighs locked around my waist. The taste of her mouth. The sharp pull of her fingers in my hair. The way she fucking moaned into the kiss?—
Jesus fucking Christ.
