Page 28 of Fueled Fury

17

Austin

I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. One moment, I have a clear set route; the next, she obliterates that path with one look.

“I don’t even have to try to make you look bad. You handle it all on your own.” Eli laughs as he walks into my bedroom. For all intents and purposes, I’ve been hiding in here since I parked her car in the garage, safe and sound.

Remaining silent won’t make him go away. He continues mocking me, telling me how I fucked up her night. How she’s done with me. The words out of his mouth don’t hold the weight hers do. Even if they sting, they don’t cut—not like hers.

“Just keep doing you. It won’t be much longer.” Eli points a finger at me, then turns his hand up flipping the bird. As much as I want to break his finger off, I remain in place, thankful he retreated.

If he’s home, she is too.

Walking down the hall, I stop in front of her door. As I reach for the doorknob, I hesitate to turn it. Instead, I knock softly, wanting her to let me into the room as opposed to just barging in.

The door surprisingly opens, her slight smile falling when she spots me standing there.

“I thought it was Eli. You never knock.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

She seems less optimistic about my changed ways and rolls her eyes to punctuate her thoughts. “What do you want?”

You. “To give this back.” I hold out the spare key her dad gave me, knowing I’d need some extra tools to keep her off the track. Boy, had he ever been right. Though, I won’t be utilizing them any longer. I’m done standing in her way. Maybe if I get out of her way, I’ll get out of my own in the process.

She swings the door fully open to snatch the key from my hand. “Where did you get this?”

“It doesn’t matter.” I can’t answer that. Her father will hate me if I out him. Even if he decides to throw me under the bus, I won’t do the same to him. Not as long as I have hope to salvage some approval from him.

She steps back into her room, tossing the key on her dresser. “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow night? Should I expect slashed tires or maybe an explosion?”

“No.”

“Come on, Austin. Give me a hint. What lengths are you prepared to go to keep me from racing?”

“It’s not up to me anymore. You get to decide.”

Something is comical because she doubles over in laughter, full-on cackling. I stand watching until she covers her face with her hands, then slides her fingers in her hair, pulling at the strands. “You’re fucking insane.”

I can’t disagree with that. “Just be careful, Lainey. A lot of people have gotten hurt on that track.”

She gives me a wary look, raising her eyebrows at me. “Is that a threat?”

“No,” I huff, understanding why she’s confused by my sudden change of heart but unable to believe she’d think I’d go to dangerous lengths to keep her from racing. I was trying to keep her safe, not harm her. It’s not surprising that she doesn’t see it the same way after how much I’ve hurt her.

“Why do I even bother trying to figure out what’s going through your warped mind?” She turns, walking away as I step into her room, shutting the door behind me.

“You. You’re what goes through my mind.” Stepping in front of her, I slowly raise my hand, cupping my palm against her cheek. Remarkably, she doesn’t jerk away as I soak in the soft feel of her skin against me. “I won’t interfere with racing again.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispers, her eyes searching mine for answers, but I don’t have any to offer.

“I don’t either.” Nothing has made sense since she tilted my world on its axis, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s worth it. Cautiously, I wrap my arms around her, leaning down to press my lips against her shoulder, pulling her body against me. Every part of me craves her, wants to touch her again, and not have to let her go.

“Austin,” she breathes, her fingers clinging to my shirt as my hands glide down her back.

“Let me stay.”

“Is this the game? Sweet to me tonight so I let my guard down, then you can screw me in bed tonight and on the track tomorrow?”

Dismay moves through my every muscle at what’s going through her mind. I want her to feel good, trust me, relax with me, and she thinks it’s all a twisted game. “Endgame is the only one I’m playing now. Push me away, pull me to you. As long as you’re touching me, I don’t care what you do … just don’t let go.”

Walking her back until she’s against the door, I bring my hand up, dipping my finger in the elastic waistband of her pajama pants, rubbing my knuckles against her stomach. “Has anyone else touched you since we were together?” The question is a loaded one, but it’s one that has kept me up at night, imagining her in bed with another guy, someone else touching her, experiencing her as I have.

The answer wouldn’t matter, she’d still be mine. But a million pounds are lifted off my mind when she shakes her head and whispers, “You’re the only one I’ve been with. The only one I’ve ever wanted to be with.”

“Always mine.” As I lean down, she shifts her head to the side—as she does every time—making sure I don’t put my mouth to hers, and I fully anticipate the move.

What I don’t expect are her fingers gripping the bottom of my T-shirt, lifting it over my head, and dropping it to the floor. Her hands skirt along my abs, her palms dragging lightly over my skin. “Stay. I just want to sleep.”

That’s all it takes. That’s all I want—her touching me, giving in to what we’re both undeniably craving: each other. And I won’t fuck it up this time. She’s barreling towards the finish line, I’m gonna take the slow, steady route to her.

Kicking off my jeans, I crawl in bed beside her. Wrapping my arm around her, I pull her to me. When my lips brush over her shoulder, she tenses slightly before relaxing against me, her body molding with mine. Right where it belongs.

There’s no one who can touch what’s mine and no one that I’d want touching me. Not after experiencing the power she has over me, the healing light that radiates through her. Hopefully, I don’t dim her radiance because it’s just starting to shine through again as she gives me a slight smile before closing her eyes. This time, I’ll damn myself to hell before I remove her halo again. Because an angel as sweet as her deserves to be cherished. And that’s what I’ll do, even if it means doing it from afar to keep her safe.