Page 109 of Until The Lights Go Out

My chest tightened unexpectedly.

I had spent so long fighting to be taken seriously in motorsport spaces. I spent years over-preparing just so no one could dismiss me as another girl playing beside fast cars and famous men.

And now—now, world-class drivers were validating my work on camera. The feeling nearly overwhelmed me for a second. Theo noticed immediately. His gaze softened almost imperceptibly as he watched me try to brush off the compliments professionally.

“This is why we need more women in motorsport,” Matteo piped up.

“Speaking of women in motorsport, Moretti has a new reserve driver, anything you can share with us?” I asked.

“Moretti knows how important fostering talent is, and we have some very exciting drivers in our training program that are looking really sharp. Now, I can’t say too much, but the new reserve driver is going to shock some people. She’s a force, that’s for sure.” The buzz around the room was immediate. Notes were scribbled frantically in notepads and on tablets as the press whispered to each other. I spotted Nicola in the back corner beaming with pride. She gave me a wink and blew a kiss to Matteo, who immediately blushed under the attention. God, they were too much. I love it. Alexander talked about his time with the Driver’s Academy and mentoring some athletes in the program and how the future was bright. Theo just sat watching me with pride and a contented look plastered on his face rather than his usual scowl.

“Well Maisey, I don’t know how you did it, but Theo has been downright pleasant!” Austin beamed at me at the end of the interview.

“You’re a miracle worker, truly,” Alexander laughed.

“Okay, I am not that bad, you bastards.”

“Nah, but media-you is,” Matteo spoke up.

“You’ve broken the curse, Maisey!” Carlos chimed in.

“Just a little bribery and good old fashioned threats is all.” I smirked to the guys before being swept away by Evan and some of our producers.

“Amazing! Seriously, this is the best one yet! How you got them all laughing and genuinely happy to be here! You have a gift, Andrews,” Evan praised as we walked over to the side.

“Thank you so much!” I beamed back, tugging at my sleeves with nervous energy.

“Now, I have some thoughts on a special…”

“God, you are a fucking vision,” Theo groaned as he opened the door to his hotel room. With a little bit of sneaking around and a few favors, Theo had managed to start getting our rooms not only next to each other, but with a connecting shared door in the middle. All those nights ago, a drunken thought of mine became our actual game plan for sneaking around.

“I am in sweatpants.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“A vision in sweatpants.”

“You’re so weird.”

“Just obsessed with you,” he said, sweeping me into his arms and crashing his lips to mine. My bag was quickly dropped to the ground as we stood in the doorway between our rooms. I would never get tired of kissing Theo. I went on my tiptoes, trying to get closer to him and giving him further access as he kissed me deeper. He brushed his tongue on my lips, begging for access and taking control. He cursed against my lips, “It’s been fucking torture not kissing you, being around you all day and not tasting you.”

I silenced him with another kiss, desperate for more of him. I wanted to be consumed by this feeling. I wanted him closer, as close as he could be. Maybe some part of me felt like I could lose him again. It surged me forward, wanting to savor every moment. It was how I saw most things in life: it could be the last, so soak it all in. His fingers pulled at my pink tank top I had planned to wear to sleep with the sweatpants—giant gray sweatpants that I had stolen from Theo and were rolled about ten times at the waist. Theo apparently had other plans. He could rip it in half for all I cared. He had one arm wrapped around my back, lifting me up. My legs immediately wrapped around him in response as he moved us to the bed. Another moan slipped out of me at how easy it was for him to pick me up before throwing me onto the bed. I was caught by a fluffy white duvet and a cacophony of pillows. A giggle burst out of me at it all. Theo flashed a smile bright enough to make my knees weak before prowling over to me. His smile quickly turned to a smirk, making warmth pool low in my belly.

Fuck, I could get used to this. This version of Theo was more than I could have ever imagined. He was so confident and sure and determined to take care of me.

“So beautiful,” he rasped as if lost for words as he pinned me with a thick thigh on either side of my hips. I reached for him, pulling him down onto me, and kissed him gently, letting my lips drag across his before pulling away with a smirk.

“Red,” he warned as I bit my lip, holding back a smile. I loved this part. It didn’t matter that he was the one pinning me down, I was the one with all the power. “You going to be a brat tonight?”

Anticipation shot through me as I smirked again. “Maybe.”

“Hmm,” he practically growled behind a stiff jaw. “Well then.” He wrapped his arms around me and flipped us so I was on top. “By all means, Red, take control.”

I repositioned myself, one leg between his and the other outside his left leg, and got comfortable where I was, really settling in.

“Fuck,” he ground out slowly. His hands slowly slid up my sides, getting caught on the fabric of my top as he went. One hand slipped under the fabric, a thumb drifting over the edge of my bra. I sighed at his movements, pleasure spiking under his slow touch. Goosebumps covered me as he kept exploring. I rocked my hips into him, letting his thigh rub into my center, which made another chill shoot through me. Fuck, that felt good.

“That’s it, baby.” Adept fingers were unhooking my bra, quickly pulling it loose and throwing it across the room. My nipples pebbled, now covered by only the thin fabric of my top. Theo’s eyes darkened, taking me in. Two hands pushed up under my breasts before shoving the fabric above. The cold air added to my pleasure as I rocked against his thigh, gaining speed.

I moaned at my own movements, while Theo brushed the pad of his finger over my sensitive peak. I swayed under his touch as he did it again, rougher this time, making my skin buzz under him.