Race for the Throne | Formula One

35. I Want You

I walked through the door. Wordlessly, Charles moved his blanket and opened his arms for me, making room on his bed. Crawling in the bed, I held him gently. He rested his head on my chest, his arm around my waist.

I smoothed his hair and kissed his forehead. "I already talked to your mom and Lorenzo. Pierre is calling them again right now to give them the latest update."

"I'm sorry I scared you. I shouldn't have put you in this position," Charles said quietly, unable to look me in the eye. "I understand if you don't want to deal with this. I'll always love you whatever you decide."

I looked at him incredulously. "You have nothing to apologize for. Yes, I was scared but that's because I love you. This changes absolutely nothing. You were willing to enter my crazy world, I'm not going to run as soon as something bad happens in yours."

"But-"

I lifted his chin so he would look at me. "Charles, do you want me to leave you?"

His eyes widened. "No! That's the farthest thing from it! Kat, I love you and I want you to stay. I just- I know it can be difficult to get involved with a driver-"

I pressed a kiss to his mouth to stop his panicked rambling. He relaxed in my arms. Cupping my cheek, he deepened the kiss.

"We should probably stop." Charles pulled back for a moment to catch his breath.

"You're right. I don't want to hurt you." I leaned back.

"I'm not worried about you hurting me. I'm more concerned about the audience." He gestured with his chin towards the door.

I looked over my shoulder. "Carlos and Pierre!"

The two drivers didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed at being caught. Instead Carlos let out a cheer and Pierre gave a thumbs up. They came into the room, Pierre claimed the armchair and Carlos took the spinny stool.

" I thought it was only two visitors at a time?" I pointed out.

"Yeah well, when we told the doctor that we would also be staying the night and not taking no for an answer, they said it was ok." Pierre leaned back and put his hands behind his head.

"Oh and we used the fact that you're royalty to get in. Alvaro says hi by the way," Carlos added.

I shook my head in mock dismay. "I always knew you guys were just using me for my title."

Charles looked over at Pierre. "What did my family say?"

"They're very relieved that you're alive, very worried about you, can't wait for you to get back to Monaco. Arthur said that he's glad you're ok because he'd hate to have anyone else as a roommate," Pierre said with a laugh.

"Mate, you might want to do something with the media because it's going crazy right now. The team released a statement but it might be better if you or Kat say something as well, give the people some peace." Carlos looked up from his phone.

"Kat, that'll have to be you. I have no idea where my phone is. It was in my driver's room so someone from the team probably has it now. And I'm too tired to think about it." Charles snuggled closer to my side.

I tapped his forehead lightly. "Hey, no sleeping yet, you have a concussion so until the doctor says it's ok, you have to stay up."

Charles grumbled but opened his eyes. While I typed up a social media post, Carlos hunted down a deck of cards.

📸 kathrine.montagne posted to story:

For the next couple hours we played cards until Pierre started dozing off, sitting across his arm chair. Another chair had been brought in for Carlos.

The other Ferrari driver yawned and stretched. "Kat,do you think you can keep an eye on him for a bit?"

I looked at Charles and winked. "I think so."

"Hey hey hey, just because we're sleeping doesn't mean we're not still in the room," Pierre called out.

"Oh hush," I laughed. "You guys haven't even changed, you're still in your race suits."

"They're like not very comfortable pajama onesies," Carlos said, settling into his chair.

Charles and I remained quiet until the two driver's breathing evened out. I played with Charles' hair, just enjoying being close to him.

"Kat?" He whispered, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?" I caressed his cheek.

"What is it that you want?" He asked.

"I'd love a puppy, I've always wanted one."

He covered my hand with his. "I'm serious. What is it that you really want?"

My brow creased and I stared at the ceiling, trying to collect my thoughts. "My whole life I've been told what to want. I've been told where to go, what to do, everything. People think that being a princess is this magical gift but it's really not, it's rules and regulations and no real freedom. In the past, I acted out in any ways that I could just for some semblance of control over my own life. And I know that since I've known you, I do have what seems like freedom but I really don't. At any moment, I could get called back to the palace. My parents are letting me do my own thing right now because they approve of you but also because they blame themselves for what happened when I was in university. I never wanted to go to that school but they had insisted because the children of other leaders were going there."

I brushed the hair off of his forehead as he listened attentively. "I guess I'm rambling now but to answer your question as simply as possible, I want you, I need you. I've never felt anything like what I feel when I'm with you. For once in my life, I don't want to be anyone else or do anything else. I just want to be with you, I love you."

He touched my cheek. "I just want to be with you too. When the crash happened, my only thoughts were of you and how I would hate to leave you. I love you and you mean everything to me."

"Charles, kiss me, please." I cupped his jaw.

He balanced on his good arm and looked down at me on the bed. Ever so gently he pressed his lips to mine. I twined my fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss. Charles pressed his body against mine. I bit my lip to quiet a moan as he kissed my jaw and down my neck, nipping at my ear.

Pressing my other hand against his chest, I pushed him back onto the bed softly. "Carlos and Pierre are asleep in those chairs, a doctor or nurse could walk in at any moment, we shouldn't be doing this here."

Charles groaned. "We have to get out of this hospital as soon as possible."