CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
KATE
I thought Gray’s dropout from racing would be permanent for a long while, considering all the news he got about it and no real explanation, causing many people to be upset. But news of what happened to me had leaked, and pretty soon what started as a story of an irresponsible race car driver who abandoned races as he pleased turned into one of a hero who saved the love of his life and sacrificed his winning career.
It put me under the spotlight, which horrified me enough to avoid it and stay at home as much as I could—in this case, in Paul’s rented place, where he was temporarily residing and I moved in for a while as I didn’t think I could stand to be in Gray’s place and…well, not touch him while I was there.
Plenty of fans blamed me for Gray’s situation, but those were the extremes. There were a lot who supported us, and plenty of written articles about how Gray had changed because of me. Had they known the extent of it, I would have laughed. As it was, all I could do was worry about what this outburst of news would do to his career.
My worry, however, turned to shock when Gray announced that another sponsor wanted to speak with him—and he wanted me to come. It was such an odd request and my curiosity got the better of me and I dressed quickly. We drove in his car, and he discussed his dilemma over the matter, especially since he had a feeling that the sponsor only wanted him because of the current headlines featuring him and earning him more popularity. He’d become just as featured as Scott, who had ended up winning the Daytona 500.
Apparently, I was brought to assess the situation and be his second ear. I prepared myself for it, then got so surprised when we drove to a very familiar house—the huge mansion of the one who held the party weeks ago, the widow who was a huge fan of the sport: Mrs. Montgomery. She met us in her backyard, where she had a patio and the lushest garden I had ever seen in my life. Everything was casual at first, but she brought the subject up soon enough. I listened as she and Gray talked and a few minutes in, I realized that Gray’s earlier suspicion was unfounded.
She was sponsoring him not for the publicity, but because she truly believed in his skills as a driver and wanted to venture into it instead of just being a fan. Gray must have believed her, too, because he relaxed enough to consider her proposal. Then, before I knew it, they were shaking on it and drawing up a contract that would last for six months. Then they would see it from there.
I was so happy that I almost couldn’t contain myself, but I managed to until we were in the car and driving away. I told him to stop on the next corner, which he did by parking just beside a signboard in a grassy area. When the engine stopped running, I jumped him, hugging him excitedly and telling him how happy I was with the news. Gray laughed while I rained him with kisses, his hands holding my waist as I straddled him and told him that this was the best restart for his career.
The kisses started out innocent enough, but of course, they didn’t stay that way—none of our kisses ever did. Soon I was moaning out his name as he deepened the kiss and involved his tongue, and my hands were wandering under his shirt to touch his hard abs. I could feel his erection against my clothed core, hot and pulsing, and I ground against it before I could stop myself. Gray groaned and thrust his tongue inside me, his fingers seeking under my shirt and sliding inside my bra to tweak my nipples until they were aching for him.
“Gray…” I murmured.
“After…the wedding…” Gray gritted out.
“Okay…” I moaned out.
We both pulled apart reluctantly. Then we stared at each other and laughed, wondering how long we were even going to last. The wedding was in a month, but it felt like an eternity with how much I wanted him.
Needed him.
But I was patient, and because it mattered to him to wait, then I was going to wait, too.
It was going to be worth it.
*****
Gray had one minor race after the contract with Mrs. Montgomery, and it was held in Los Angeles. This was two months after the Daytona 500, and the fact that he was back alone had the media and people getting curious, resulting in bleachers all filled and people cheering his name. I cheered for him from the sidelines too, sitting beside Mark whose loyalty stayed with Gray as he came as soon as Gray asked if he was available to be his PR agent again. Mark had visited me once when I was in the hospital, leaving a bouquet of flowers and a thoughtful note.
Of course, Gray won the race, which made the crowd pretty much wild. I stayed out of the spotlight and didn’t rush towards him like I normally did when we were still pretending, instead staying in the garage with the crew. He was swarmed by reporters and groupies alike, and the groupies threw offers like taking a ride in his car. I rolled my eyes and waited it out, watching as he offered few details about his comeback to the reporters and politely declined the groupies before heading towards the garage. I opened my mouth to congratulate him, but he pulled me in and kissed me before I could utter the words. I melted into the kiss right off, hugging him tight, and the cheer of the crew had me flushing hot. I could hear the cameras flashing but I didn’t care.
Before I knew it, it was the wedding day, and I was walking down the aisle, looking at the man I was going to spend my life with. His gray eyes were so intense on me, and every guest and aspect of the wedding became a blur as I took his hand and just kept looking at him. I barely even heard what was being said other than our promise to love each other no matter what. Then we were announced as man and wife, and he was lifting my veil up and drawing me down for a long, sweet kiss.
The reception wasn’t any better—while it was simple yet elegant, I could barely concentrate as I found myself glancing at Gray beside me from time to time. He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo, and I found myself unable to resist. It wasn’t one-sided because I caught him looking at me, too—and the way he did had my breath stopping every now and then.
Our guests made toasts, enjoyed the food and danced. We mingled as best as we could, then danced as well, clinging to each other and kissing every now and then. I couldn’t get enough of him, the addiction setting in and making me almost go crazy.
When we went back to our table, Gray leaned over to me and breathed warmly in my ear. “If you don’t stop staring at me like that, I might slide my hand up your dress right here and…help myself.”
My breath hitched in my throat, and something hot pooled in between my legs. I was wet for him already, and I could see that it was the same for him based on the bulge under his trousers. I licked my lower lip, something that had him quietly groaning as he pulled me in for a hotter, deeper kiss this time before reluctantly breaking it and downing a whole glass of champagne straight.
Gulping, out of breath, I did the same.
Anticipation built between us and settled in the air, scorching. It had us touching each other more often, leaning against each other and pulling away at the same time, afraid of losing control right then and there. Finally, the last dance was announced, and everyone began saying their goodbyes and waving us off. Gray ushered me in the limousine and got in beside me, opening the side window so we could wave back at our guests. Then he closed the side window, making my throat dry and my heart beat a mile a minute.
“Sir, can we have the privacy partition pulled up?”
The hired driver nodded, and I watched with intense focus as the black divider slowly slid up. It felt like forever. Then it was finally fully up, leaving us completely alone as the car started up.
We had half an hour before we got to the airport, where Gray booked a redeye to fly us to Hawaii, where we would be spending our vacation. We had that much time to talk.
I turned my head to look at him. I found him already looking at me, his eyes darkening and devouring every inch of me.
We jumped each other.
I couldn’t even tell who did it first. We obviously didn’t care as our mouths practically fused, and whatever heat I read in his eyes earlier transferred immediately to the way he kissed me. Our tongues collided and his flavor exploded in my mouth, a mix of champagne and his earthy taste.
Our hands flew. I quickly unbuttoned his tuxedo pants—or at least tried to. I moaned in frustration when I couldn’t get it undone, making Gray chuckle darkly. The sound turned me on so much that I tried harder, but he managed to do so first as he wrestled my gown to my waist. My heart shaped dress allowed some wiggle room for him and he began smoothing his tongue down the valley between my breasts. He continued sliding it down, but the zipper at the back wouldn’t budge—so Gray transferred his efforts at the bottom, gathering my skirt up and exposing my legs. I felt his hands on my thighs, sliding up and about to do naughty, naughty things.
There was some fumbling going on, but his tongue distracted me as it went back up and thrust inside my mouth. I moaned into the kiss and finally managed to unbutton his white undershirt enough to slide my hands on his warm chest—
He plunged inside me.
My hands stilled, and my moan changed into a cry of pleasure. Then he was moving, thrusting that huge, hard cock in and out and not giving me any room to breathe. I sobbed out his name and clung to him, unable to do anything but hold on and ride through the pleasure—then, join him as I bounced on his lap in time with his movements.
Our moves were hungry, almost desperate, and it wouldn’t be slowing down soon. I didn’t want it to, as I reveled in the way he completely took over my body with each hard pound. His hand finally managed to free a breast, and his mouth didn’t waste any time hurrying down to suck on a nipple and make an intense aching shoot through me. His other hand held on to my hip and took control, slamming me down at his every pounding up. Every time his cock slid in, it brushed up against my clit, and everything blurred for me as my body shook. My muscles clenched around him, earning a deep, erotic groan from him that set me on fire.
One last plunge was all it took. Then I was vibrating from the pleasure, then exploding, crying out his name over and over again as I did so. Gray didn’t let me go, holding on as he prolonged the feeling and kept pumping into me. I went higher and higher into the feeling, the sensation washing over me like fireworks.
It took me a long time to come down from my high. When I did, Gray was there waiting. He plunged into me a few more times before I felt his hands tighten around my waist. Then he was bucking and cursing, right before I felt his hot seed rushing inside me. I pulled his head up and kissed him as he climaxed, loving the way our hearts and bodies melded into one.
“Language Mr. Gray,” I teased against his mouth, licking his lower lip.
In response, Gray laughed and pulled me closer.
*****