The Teammate

02 - First, Second perhaps even a Third Date

February 2023

Max had never felt so drawn to someone in his entire life, it was as if there was an imaginary string pulling his body towards her. It took every ounce of self-control not to reach across the car and brush a knuckle across the exposed skin between the rips of her jeans. Every time she moved slightly, and the bands of fabric tightened or loosened over her tan skin, or her bare ankles crossing over the other, made it impossible to put his full concentration on the road.

Dinner was not his best work, he had to fight the same self-control. They'd be speaking, and all he could think about was how soft her hair would feel wrapped around his fingers, or what the light pink strap led to that kept poking out from underneath the hem of her band t-shirt whenever she moved her one arm. Then there were the more intrusive thoughts. Those he struggled with every time she slid more food past her lips.

"Mhmm." She moaned lightly from across the table. It had been after their main courses had arrived and she had taken the first bite of her pasta dish. "This is so good." She leaned her head back closing her eyes, and Max almost fell out of his chair. He had leaned forward, letting out a low cough, which had made her piercing blue eyes shift to him, and the corner of her lips twist up in a small smile. As if she knew exactly what she was doing.

When he had dropped her off, he was all but bursting from the inseam.

"Well, Max Verstappen." His name rolled off her tongue and he smiled, his eyes dipping to her lips. "Are you really going to stand there like an idiot? Or are you going to do what you've wanted to do to me all night?" Max bit his tongue, stopping himself from his lips parting in shock at her abruptness.

"Oh? And what would that be?" He smiled, cocking his head to the side.

"If I have to spell it out for you, then you're not the man I thought you were." She shrugged, brushing her dirty blond hair over her shoulder, and turned towards her building. Pausing halfway to the door she turned, giving him a once over. "If you care to prove me wrong, it's free parking after 5."

It was the doorman's double eyebrow raise that made Max shake his head, but it was her attitude and the swing of her hips that made him follow her into the building.

With their schedules both packed with media appearances, training, and all other obligations of being top Red Bull athletes, it was hard to see each other. While it was Max's off-season, it wasn't for Arabella. She traveled the world, competing and winning. It wasn't for two weeks after their first date that they were finally able to see each other again.

It was a better date than the first one, perhaps because the tension had lessened significantly. It was still there, hovering between the two of them, but it wasn't as strong since they both already knew what awaited them after dinner. Instead, he was able to put his focus more on her, getting to know her, letting her get to know him.

She was one of the most interesting girls he had ever met, and the most impressive. Listening to her talk about her climb to the podium he realized that she was one of the only people he had met that could understand what it was like to walk in his shoes. It was evident that she understood what it felt like to stand on the top when he had asked about her winning the gold medal. He could see it all over her face. That combined with the inability to form adequate words to describe the feeling. It was exactly the same for him.

"So, when's the first race?" She asked that twinkle in her eye made him want to skip the last glass of wine they ordered and get the check.

"Next month actually." He said giving her a slow nod. "Preseason testing starts next weekend."

"Preseason testing?" She asked her brow raising.

"It's the first time we get out on the track with the new cars, it's pretty exciting."

"And nerve-racking I assume." He nodded.

"It's more nerve-racking for the mechanics and engineers. They're the ones who've been working non-stop all winter, building the new car from the ground up. For me, all I have to do is learn to drive it, which I've been training for with the sim."

"Right, the sim. That's the video game thing right?" Max nodded letting out a low chuckle. "When do I get to come see you race?"

"Whenever you want babe." He winked at her. "Just tell me what weekend works best and I'll fly you out."

"Do you think I need you to fly me out?" She challenged leaning forward and resting her elbows on the table. Smiling Max leaned forward, meeting her challenging stare.

"Oh, I know you don't need me too." He smiled. "That's not going to stop me from pampering you."

"Is that so?"

"You don't want to accompany me to a race on a private jet? There's a lot of perks that come with being the world champion." He winked across the table at her. Smiling, she leaned back in her chair and flipped a strand of dirty blond hair over her shoulder.

"I guess I could be persuaded." The waiter showed up with their wine and she smiled pulling the glass to her lips. She took a sip and swallowed, all the while Max watched her, his eyebrow raised in a silent question. Her eyes met his again and she gave him one of her smiles that made his pants tighten slightly underneath the table. "I've always wanted to join the mile-high club." Her smile only broadened as he choked on his wine.

"You are dangerous." He said dabbing his chin with his napkin.

"Thank god you're an adrenaline junkie, then." She gave him another wink.

"Thank god I am." Motioning to the waiter, he didn't take his eyes off Arabella as he spoke. "We'll take the check please."

"Yes sir." The waiter nodded, turning on his heel her scurried off.

"Smart man." Arabella winked at him.

"Does this count as our third date?" Arabella asked wrapping the white sheet closer around her naked body as Max returned with the room service they had ordered not long after waking up. Max chuckled; his muscular body only covered by a pair of grey sweatpants he had grabbed after the knock came. Sitting up she flattened the sheets in the middle of the bed in preparation for the trays of food.

"I'm not sure." He said setting the trays down. Crawling back into bed he brushed a kiss against her temple. "I would think it's just an extension of the second." He pulled the silver toppers off the food, revealing pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns, and benedict. Arabella smiled licking her lips at the spread in front of them.

"This all looks so good." He smiled at the look of pure delight on her face, her lip tucking underneath her teeth as if she couldn't decide where to start.

"Well, dig in." Her eyes shifted up to his, wide, hungry, happy. Reaching for a fork she picked up a few hash browns and slid them between her lips. He watched her for a few moments, reveling at how much excitement she got from the food. Although he couldn't quite get the image of her biting into a strawberry out of his mind.

"What?" She asked her mouth full of a mixture of hash browns and bacon.

"Just admiring." She rolled her eyes swallowing.

"Admiring me stuffing my face in your bed?" She scrunched her nose at him.

"Admiring you naked and in my bed."

"This is a hotel bed." She challenged.

"Still." He leaned forward grabbing the fork form her hand he set it down. She protested lightly, but let him kiss her, only stopping when he moved closer.

"The food." She said pushing him back. "It'll get cold." Rolling his eyes, he pushed the trays towards the end of the bed.

"So? We'll just order more." He winked and pulled her towards him again. "There's something else I want for breakfast. Now be a good girl and don't deny me my own breakfast."