Page 105 of Full Throttle

“Dominic,” Juliette whispered. “Please.”

Her hand closed around his cock, and he inhaled sharply. He maneuvered her backward, pushing her until she was flush with the stone, and Juliette’s eyes darkened.

“Touch me,” she breathed.

Dominic’s hand slipped under her dress, and he almost groaned at the liquid heat he found there. Fuck. She really was trying to kill him, wasn’t she? His hand moved of its own accord, and Juliette moaned, her back arching. Every whimper was like kindling to a fire. Dominic kissed her roughly, fiercely, his hand moving faster—

“Wait,” Juliette said breathlessly.

She caught his hand, but Dominic had stopped. He was so hard that it was almost painful. But if she asked him to stop…if she’d changed her mind…

He’d do it.

It would kill him, but he’d do it.

Perhaps it was contraception, Dominic thought, struggling to think through the haze of pure want. Although Juliette had been on an IUD a few years ago, hadn’t she? So maybe it was protection she was worried about? He was tested regularly, and he knew that she was too. It wasn’t hard to add it to their regular blood panels. But if she felt more comfortable with a condom, that was fine by him. Which was why he was totally unprepared when Juliette looked up at him and said, “I want you inside of me. Right now.”

Her hand palmed his cock, and Dominic’s eyes fluttered shut. One movement, he thought, and he would implode at embarrassing speed.

“Marchmont?” His voice was ragged.

“Yes?”

He unbuckled his trousers. “You’re going to ruin me.”

Dominic plunged into her with a savage thrust. Juliette cried out, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Her pink cowboy boots gripped his waist, hard and demanding, and yes, this was what he’d been imagining for months. Every single night before he fell asleep. She was lush and warm, a perfect fucking fit, her fingers tightening with every thrust.

Dominic’s thrusts grew wilder. Savage. He was a car ripped apart, all the messy wiring and spark plugs exposed. Will you still like me when you see this? Will you still want to show me off to your friends? To your family? Will you still want me when you realize what a mess I am?

Juliette’s breathing grew harder. Her cheeks were flushed, strands of dark hair plastered to her face. Dominic shuddered. She was undoing something critical inside of him, a knot that he’d wound tight around his heart. She was picking it apart with expert fingers. He’d never be able to go back. Never.

Her legs shook. “Dominic…I…”

“It’s okay,” Dominic murmured. “I’ve got you.”

She shook her head. “Come with me.” Her hand fisted in his shirt. “Come with me. Please.”

Her name was a groan. “Juliette…”

She cried out. White-hot heat ripped through him, and then he had no choice but to follow, hurtling toward release. Stars burst in front of his eyes. For a terrifying moment, Dominic was spinning, a car careening toward the barriers; then it was over, leaving him ragged and panting, a thin film of sweat coating his forehead.

He pressed a kiss to Juliette’s forehead. She was flushed and perfect, her skin burning beneath her sodden dress. She was the girl at the racing academy, her hand bleeding in the shower; the vision in his kitchen; the fearless woman hurtling down a racetrack, hands gripping the wheel. His teammate, his rival, the only person who could truly get under his skin.

Shit, Dominic thought. I’m so utterly screwed.

“Marchmont,” Dominic began. “I—”

“Don’t.” She closed her eyes. “Please don’t.”

“You don’t know what I’m going to say.”

“Yes, I do.” Juliette’s smile was sad. “You’re going to say something wonderful and charming, and I’m going to fall in love with you all over again.”

Dominic stared. His pulse raced in time with the storm, a thundering, spluttering thing. She’d loved him. The realization pulled at the stitches around his heart. All this time, she’d loved him too. Cautious hope bloomed in his chest, tender as a spring flower.

“Would that be so bad?” Dominic asked carefully.

Juliette looked down. Rain clung to her eyelashes like frozen tears.