Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 134961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 675(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 675(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Which, to be fair, he has.
For what it’s worth, Frederic doesn’t even flinch.
“What is it?” he asks. His voice is calm - almost bored.
The man clears his throat. “The debrief is in ten minutes.”
Frederic sighs again, rubbing his jaw before finally nodding.
“I’ll be there.”
The man lingers for a second and then nods before slipping back out, leaving us alone again.
But the moment is broken, the tension now gone.
I exhale, brushing my hands over my dress, trying to ignore the lingering heat on my skin.
“You should go,” I say, forcing a light tone as I look up at him once more. “Wouldn’t want you getting in trouble for skipping your meeting.”
His lips twitch, but he doesn’t move. Instead, his fingers catch my wrist again, holding me in place.
“Will you be here tomorrow?” he asks.
I hesitate slightly before nodding. “Yeah. VIP access, remember?”
He tuts, his grip on my wrists tightening.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Oh.
Before I can respond, he leans in closer, his lips just barely grazing my jaw.
“Be good for me until then, mon ange.”
Then, with a final smirk, he releases me and walks away, leaving me there.
Breathless. Flushed.
Completely wrecked.
And already counting down the hours until I see him again.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Poppy
It’s late by the time we’re back at the hotel, and Emma has Not. Stopped. Talking.
“I mean, seriously,” she exclaims, flopping onto the bed and dramatically tossing her heels aside. “Why did nobody tell me that drivers are this attractive? Poppy, does Frederic have any single friends? Specifically, driver friends?”
Jas groans from her spot on the other bed, rubbing her temples.
“Emma, if you don’t lower your voice, I swear to God, I will murder you in your sleep.”
“Well, excuse me for trying to manifest my way into the paddock. I don’t see you coming up with any solutions to this problem.”
Meanwhile, Leah is preoccupied with her phone, only half-listening as she scrolls.
“I won’t be coming with you all in the morning, by the way,” she announces. “Jacques is picking me up. I’ll meet you there, though.”
Jas and I exchange a look. Of course she’s going with Jacques.
We each take turns showering, the exhaustion of the day settling in as the minutes tick on. The lingering smell of saltwater and sun lotion washes down the drain, and by the time I curl up in bed, my body feels heavy -
But my mind is utterly restless.
I sigh, reaching for my phone, and my stomach flutters when I see a new message from Frederic.
Miss me yet?
I bite my lip, rolling onto my side.
Should I?
His response comes immediately.
That’s not an answer.
I smirk as my fingers hover over the keyboard.
Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping? You do have a race to focus on, you know.
I’m teasing him, sure, but there’s truth behind it, too. Sometimes, I wonder how this man functions - I swear I need a minimum of ten hours of sleep to be in a half-decent mood, never mind work.
It’s pretty hard to sleep when I’m thinking about you, Poppy.
A slow, warm sensation curls in my stomach, my body reacting before my brain even catches up.
Oh.
I hesitate, then slip out of bed, quietly tiptoeing into the bathroom and locking the door behind me.
The screen glows in my palm as I type. I delete it, start over and delete it again several times before finally plucking up the courage to send it.
And what exactly are you thinking about?
My heart is in my throat as I watch the delivered turn to read, and I suddenly feel like I’m back in high school.
It’s ridiculous, the effect this man has on me.
I shouldn’t be half as flustered as I am right now. My cheeks are warm, my breathing is uneven, and my fingers tremble slightly as I tighten my grip on the sink.
It’s just words. Just messages.
So why does it feel like he’s right here in the room with me?
My phone vibrates again, and I rush to read his response.
How much I wish I had you in my bed right now.
I exhale shakily, setting my phone back down as a deep, full-body shiver rolls through me.
I shouldn’t entertain this. I should be logical, should remind myself that this is just a fling, that this is nothing.
I do not get flustered by men. I don’t.
But then my thumbs move before my brain catches up.
Oh?
And what would you do if I was?
I hesitate - god, should I even be doing this? - before pressing send.
There’s a slight pause.
The longest pause, in fact.
Then:
You really want to know?
My stomach clenches.
I shouldn’t be smiling at my screen.
But I am.
I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.
I wait, my pulse hammering as I watch those three dots flicker on the screen.
I’d start slow, and tease you - just like you love to be teased.
I swallow hard.
I’d have you stretched out beneath me, all soft and perfect and ready.