Kara stumbled backward into the bedroom, unable to remove her lips from Gregor’s. The man’s kisses were so captivating, even after the thousands they’d shared. Would they ever get old? By all rights they were in the sparkly early stages of a love affair, but still, she wondered: what would this be like in three months? In six? In twelve? What about when it came time to divorce? Would they even want to?

All thoughts whisked away as Gregor eased her back onto the plush king bed in their master suite, the golden afternoon light filtering in to leave streaks on the white down comforter. His mouth drew an invisible map on her skin, trailing hot and moist down the front of her chest. He gently removed her shirt, then continued his private journey: lips exploring under the swell of each breast, tongue drawing a path down the center of her stomach, teeth nipping at the swell of her belly.

With Gregor, it felt like being worshipped. Each kiss was a sign of adoration, his lips charged with something that seared through to her core. Goosebumps flared as he undressed her, reverent and slow, until she was left in panties and nothing else. Gregor stepped out of his clothes quietly, their gazes unbroken. Her breath caught in her throat. Today seemed different. This time was different. In a way she couldn’t even articulate.

Gregor slipped his briefs off, his cock bobbing fat and heavy in front of him. His eyes went to the V of her pussy, as if he was eying up his prey. He climbed onto the bed, his knees leaving a soft indent in the bedspread between her legs.

“You’re so beautiful, Kara.” He traced his fingers up the side of her thigh, making her voice shrivel. He pressed his mouth to her low belly, tongue leaving a wet trail just above her panty line.

“S…So are you,” she forced out, pussy clenching with anticipation. She just wanted him inside her, but she never wanted the delicious torture to end, either.

He tugged at her panties with his teeth, revealing the swell of her pussy. She tensed, watching as he dragged her panties down to midthigh with his teeth then nuzzled between her legs. She gasped, spreading her legs as far as she could with the panties. He gave an appreciative moan and breathed against her crease, flicking a tongue in to meet the expectant nub.

“Oooh, Gregor.” Not being able to splay open was torture. She wanted him to access all of her. Take in every last bit.

“I love to taste you,” he murmured from between her legs. “I could eat you out every day.”

“You almost do,” she breathed.

He gave an evil chuckle, flattening his tongue against her clit. She gasped, legs jerking wide. Rrrrrip. The panties gave way to the pressure of her thighs. She gasped and then burst into laughter when she saw the damage: nearly torn in half.

“Look at what you do to me,” she chided as he tugged the scrap of fabric down her legs. “Gregor the Panty Ruiner.”

“At least I know what my Viking name is now,” he cracked, settling between her legs. He dove in again without warning, suckling and slurping at her, pressing his tongue inside her as deeply as it would go. She writhed beneath him, clutching fistfuls of his hair, the pleasure coiling tightly in her core. How many orgasms would be enough with this man? It seemed the more she had, the more she needed.

“Please,” she whispered. “I want you inside me.”

He grunted from between her legs, sucked on her clit one last time and the disengaged, coming up to meet her at face level. “Your wish is my command, darling.”

Her head spun as he reached for the bedside drawer, his abs jutting out like rocks as he fished the condom out. He sat back on his heels, his smooth, wide chest stealing her attention just as it did every day they found themselves in this position, his tiny pink nipples the size of dimes.

“You have the world’s smallest nipples,” she commented, pinching one as he rolled the condom on.

“But the world’s biggest dick, right?” He winked, easing down on top of her. “Don’t talk about my nipples like that. They’re sensitive.”

She snorted with a laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck as he positioned himself between her legs. “Good. I like my men sensitive.”

He creased a brow, feigning indignance. “How dare you refer to my manly being as sensitive.” He wiggled his hips, his fat cockhead nudging into place. She gasped; it never failed to surprise her

“Sorry,” she whispered with a laugh. “Only your nipples are sensitive then.”

“And my stomach, I guess,” he added after a moment, pressing himself into her. She groaned, loving the stretching sensation, the way that he filled her. She tossed her head back, digging her nails into his back.

“Somehow this conversation is insanely sexy right now,” she gasped.

“It’s because I’m fucking you, darling,” he whispered hot into her ear. And then he started pumping, in and out, his breath coming as sharp puffs at her ear. Kara let out a shuddery sigh, her entire body lighting up. Every hair seemed to stand on end as he worked her, the only sounds filling the room the slick noise of their pounding and little grunts from Gregor. Kara grabbed handfuls of the bedspread, locking her ankles behind his back.

“Yes, darling,” he murmured, hooking a hand under her thigh. “Get up there. Yes. Higher.” She raised her legs as high as she could, pleasure searing through her as he pounded her at the new angle. A strangled cry escaped her, one that surprised even her.

Another evil chuckle from Gregor, sweat at his brow. “I’m close, Kara.”

“Me tooooo,” she moaned, tensing as their rhythm increased. The feel of him buried inside her was too good; she could never last long when he started by eating her out. She grabbed at his forearm, a low moan turning into a shriek as he drove her to climax. Stars burst behind her eyelids; warmth seeped into every limb.

“Ohhh fuck!” She pinched her eyes shut, head tossed back as she came and came and came. Gregor didn’t let up, pounding her into oblivion, until his own release came with an animalistic grunt. He collapsed on top of her with a satisfied sigh, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

“It just keeps getting better,” he murmured, stroking his thumb in lazy patterns along the side of her breast. “Better and better and better.”

Gregor’s words rang in her ears the whole night and essentially haunted her the entire next day. It just keeps getting better and better. He’d never been more right—and somehow, his rightness meant that she had a decision to make.

The big race in Milan was the following Sunday, a mere week away. If she was going to do something to combat his unwillingness to avert death, then she had to step in. Had to, at this point. There was no option, as far as she could see. She wanted this to keep getting better and better, because it would get better, as long as he stayed alive.

But with the admitted engine malfunction he had no intention of fixing? Yeah, that needed to be solved. Instantly.

Kara mulled over this problem every minute of every day, even when she was thinking about other things. She researched as much as she could about Gregor’s company and his grandfather’s company. And then she made the call she’d been dreading: Nana.

Kara openly sweated while the phone rang, practicing her words for the umpteenth time in her head. When the cool, refined British woman answered, Kara froze.

“Hello?”

Kara swallowed a knot of fear, and launched into her plan. “H-hello. Nana. This is…Kara. Gregor’s girlfriend. I…I’ve called because there’s something I want to discuss with you. Is now a good time?”

“Certainly. Is everything okay with my grandson?”

She ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Yes. He’s fine. For now, that is.” She launched into a brief history of his race career and what had happened the previous week during trial runs, outlining everything from the engine malfunction to the statistical likelihood for a crash. When she’d said it all, she made the pitch. “I want to help him fix this engine, but it needs to be fast. He doesn’t want to be out for the season—he’s made that much clear. But for some reason his company can’t accomplish it. Your late husband’s company was at the leading edge in this area…I just wonder if someone from his company can come help find whatever error Gregor’s team might be missing. A two heads better than one sort of thing.”

Her request hung heavy in the air between the countries, and after a few moments Nana murmured quietly. “Well, I think you make quite a valid point. My grandson’s safety is the top priority. Especially with the next race so near.” She paused. “He’s lucky to have such a crafty partner to look after him as you.”

Kara smiled before pushing past the compliment. “So can you help?”

“I’ll speak to the head of the company, see if he can’t organize a team of engineers to fly out to Milan immediately. I’ll ring back when I have more information.”

Kara buzzed with accomplishment when they hung up, growing even more excited an hour later when Nana called back to say she’d secured the team. They were en route and would arrive later that afternoon via private jet from London.

Kara whiled away the rest of the morning and early afternoon with more planning with Lexie, barely able to concentrate as she awaited the appointed hour to head to Gregor’s garage. She wanted to be there to break the news to him.

When the time finally came, she could barely contain her excitement. He didn’t know she’d be arriving, so there was the romantic surprise aspect to it. Followed up by the ingenious-girlfriend-being-sweet-and-inventive plot line, and she was certain this would be a win-win for everyone involved.

When she stepped out of the car at the garage, Gregor was the first to emerge, squinting at her as if she might be an apparition.

“Kara.” His lopsided, boyish grin made her knees weak. She hurried toward him, wrapping him in a hug.

“Hello, honey.” The pet name slipped out without meaning to. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, the tang of sweat and grease mixing pleasantly with his woodsy aftershave.

“Everything okay?” He squeezed her waist. “Or are you just here for a quickie?”

She giggled, rubbing her forehead against his chin. “No, nothing of the sort. I actually have a surprise for you.”

He arched a brow. “Surprise? Let me guess: you’re appearing in a Broadway show.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please. I’d have to learn how to sing first.”

“You’re starting a new career. One as a stripper.”

She snorted. “Hardly. Besides, I think you’re in charge of stripping me, if you know what I’m saying.”

He gave a little growl, squeezing an ass cheek. “I give. What is it?”

As if on cue, two cars came down the long drive. She looked over his shoulder at them—they had to have been sent by Nana. Gregor followed her gaze, brow arching quizzically. “Is this the surprise? You’ve hired kidnappers.”

She shook her head, nervousness flaring in her belly. God, she hoped this would be as good as suspected. “Nope. But I did hire someone.”

He turned back to her, some of the mirth drained from his face. “Who?”

Kara paused, drawing a deep breath. “I called your grandmother. I asked if she could send some engineers to help you work on the engine problem.” When his expression turned to stone, she gnawed at the inside of her lip. The cars parked a few spots away from them, the doors opening as passengers stepped out. “I didn’t want it to derail your season, like you were worried about, so I thought—”

“No. Hold on.” He rested his hands on his hips, turning to face the cars. He watched as the men poured out of the cars, most of them already dressed in overalls and holding toolboxes. “Let me see if I understand correctly. You went behind my back,” his tone sent dread spiraling through her limbs, “contacted my grandmother to grovel for help with a problem that isn’t even yours and that is being actively handled by me and my team?”

She stared at him in shock, unsure where to begin defending herself. “N-not…exactly.”

Gregor nodded and sniffed, eyes lasered in on the approaching men. When they neared, one offered his hand. “Hello, Gregor! It’s been awhile, eh, old chap?”

“Leave.” He pointed toward the cars. “You’re not welcome here.”

“Gregor, don’t you think you could all work together to—” Kara began.

“This is my company, my technology, my innovation,” he spat, slicing his hand through the air. He turned to her, his nostrils flaring. “I don’t need any ‘help,’ much less from them.” He practically spat the word.

When the crew stayed put, Gregor’s voice grew louder. “I said leave!”

“Sir,” another began, “We were sent for a specific task, and Mrs. Montgomery instructed us not to return until the job is completed. We can help.”

“I don’t need your help!” His voice came out a gruff bark. Turning to Kara, he said, “This isn’t your domain. You don’t meddle in these things. These are my affairs.”

Kara’s eyes welled up, the intensity of his words acting like a slap across the cheek. “I was just trying to help,” she said, despair flooding her, making her legs wobbly and warm. “I don’t understand why you won’t fix the engine. It can be fixed, you said so yourself. So why won’t you fix it? Then you won’t run the risk of crashing again. If you have extra help, then you’ll be able to get it fixed and still race the season. It’s the perfect solution—”

“You aren’t listening, Kara.” The way he said her name sounded like an insult. “These aren’t your affairs. They aren’t going to help me, no matter how perfectly tidy it seems to you. I’m racing the car as is. Take it or leave it.”

Kara stared up at him, tears blurring her vision. He was being so cruel—so unimaginably rigid and brutish. This was a side of him she’d never seen, and in front of a crowd of strangers no less. I was trying to help you, why don’t you understand this?

Kara blinked out some tears, wiping them away quickly. “Fine.” Hurt seared through her. This wasn’t right. He was being an intolerable asshole. “I’ll leave it then.”

She turned on her heel, storming down the long drive, unsure where she was going as long as it was away from there. She stomped down the road, fumbling with her phone a few moments later to call for the car, expletives playing on repeat through her mind.

This is bullshit. Humiliates me in front of everyone, and then gives me an ultimatum. She swallowed a knot of tears, barely able to see the number she was dialing. If that’s what it is, then I’m gone. I won’t be with someone who treats me like that. Who can’t budge even for his own safety. For my peace of mind.

She waited by the gates of the property, keeping an eye on the road behind her. Just to see if Gregor would come after her, softened and ready to talk. But no, he never came. And deep down, she knew that he wouldn’t. He’d never budge on this. For him, racing would always come first, even if it meant risking his life unnecessarily.

And can you be with someone like that? Who won’t even participate in a partnership?

Kara knew what she wanted—someone who was all the way in with her, willing to compromise, find the middle, make her a priority in their shared lives. And maybe she was asking too much of Gregor. Maybe he could never give that to her.

But at this point, she was in too deep. She couldn’t just hang on for the payout. She wanted Gregor, and she wanted a committed partner.

If she couldn’t have both, then she had to back out.

As she slipped into the back seat of the private car, she made up her mind. She’d pack her things, find a different hotel, and fly back to America ASAP.