Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Lex pulls back and I blink away the hazy fog he created with that blistering kiss. “It’s automatic.” He sweeps his hand toward the open door. “Well, sort of. You can switch to manual mode with the paddle shifters. You’ll love it.”
His hand on my shoulder, I let him push me down into the driver’s seat. The interior feels like stepping into a spaceship—everything sleek and futuristic, leather and carbon fiber everywhere.
“Okay, first thing’s first,” Lex says as he climbs into the passenger seat. “Push the brake, then hit that start button.”
It takes me a moment to adjust the seat after I place the keys in the center console box and as instructed, push the button. I jump as the engine roars to life with a deep, guttural growl that sends a thrill up my spine. It’s like the car is alive beneath me, waiting to be unleashed.
Lex grins, clearly enjoying my reaction. “All right, just ease out of the driveway. It’s got a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, so you won’t control the shifts in automatic mode. But once we’re on the highway, I’ll show you how to use the paddles.”
I grip the steering wheel, my insides a mix of excitement and nerves, and carefully back out. The McLaren is surprisingly easy to handle at low speed, but there’s a coiled energy beneath the surface, like it’s itching to go faster.
When we hit the highway, Lex reaches over and flips a switch on the center console. “All right, now you’re in manual mode. Those paddles behind the wheel? They’re your gears. Left side downshifts, right side upshifts. Give it a try.”
I glance at him, hesitating for a second before pulling the right paddle. The car surges forward with a burst of speed, and I can’t help but laugh. “Oh my God!”
Lex grins. “Told you. Next thing, you’ll be begging me to get into the simulator to experience those g-forces.”
I hit the paddle again, and the car responds instantly, like I just gave it a shot of adrenaline. “This is insane!”
“Open it up a little more,” he urges. “Don’t be shy.”
“What’s the speed limit?” I ask, looking down at the speedometer.
“Seventy miles per hour.”
“I’m at seventy-five,” I say, easing my foot off the gas.
“Don’t be a baby. Punch it,” he dares.
Fuck it. I press down on the accelerator, and the McLaren rockets forward, the engine howling as the speedometer climbs. I grip the steering wheel tight, but it’s exhilarating. The car hugs the road like it’s glued to the asphalt, and with each shift of the paddles, I feel more in control, more confident.
“How fast are we going?” I ask, now afraid to take my eyes off the road.
“Fast enough to make me proud,” Lex says, laughing. “Just keep it smooth. The car will do the rest.”
I run it fast for a few more miles but then back it down to the posted speed limit. Lex gives me a side grin, a knowing look on his face. “I knew you had a secret penchant for speed.”
“Oh yeah… how’s that?”
“Because you are no-holds-barred in bed,” he says smugly.
My head jerks his way and I stare at him, astounded. “Why would you say that?”
“Oh, come off it, Posey. You’re a tiger and you give me a run for my money.”
I want to argue with him because from past experience, I would consider myself a more timid lover, but he’s not wrong. Lex has brought out my wild side that I can’t seem to control when we’re tumbling around in the sheets.
“Tell me more about Broadway,” I say to change the subject. It’s the town in the Cotswolds where his parents have their vacation home away from London.
We chat amiably, but I get distracted as soon as we near his hometown. The landscape changes from open fields to picturesque villages with honey-colored stone cottages and charming thatched roofs. The narrow streets wind through the town, and it feels like we’ve stepped into a different world—one where time moves a little slower.
“This is stunning,” I murmur, glancing around at the quaint buildings and cobblestone streets. “It’s like something out of a movie.”
“Welcome to Broadway,” Lex says, gesturing toward the town ahead. “Quaint little village, isn’t it? A far cry from London.”
“It’s definitely not like Broadway in New York,” I say with a grin as we traverse the charming streets.
We drive through the town center, passing stone cottages, old-fashioned shops, cozy-looking tearooms, and an ancient church with a towering spire. The town is quiet and peaceful, with just a few people walking along the streets or sitting outside at cafés.
On the other side of town, we enter back into the country and only a few minutes down the road, Lex has me pulling up to his family’s estate. He gives me the code to enter in a metal box and the iron gates smoothly swing open. I’m still buzzing from the drive and the beauty of the Cotswolds. The house is just ahead, nestled among sprawling gardens and surrounded by fields.