On and Off the Track

N I N E T Y T H R E E.

We took our time leaving the paddock, stopping to sign autographs for the fans who had gathered outside. Charles was gracious, as always, but I could sense his exhaustion beneath the surface. I stood beside him, offering smiles and taking photos, knowing that this moment was just as important for the fans as it was for us. As we stood in the elevator, Charles let out a deep sigh, leaning his head back against the wall.
"What a day." I smiled, leaning into him.
"And it's not over yet." He chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"I guess not." When we finally got to our room, the weight of the day seemed to catch up with us both. The excitement from the race and the whirlwind of emotions left us both a little exhausted. I sank onto the edge of the bed, the soft sheets inviting me to relax.
"Maybe just a quick nap?" I suggested, yawning as I leaned back against the pillows.
"Yeah, that sounds perfect," Charles replied, settling in beside me. He turned onto his side, propping his head on his hand as he looked at me.

As soon as my eyes fluttered closed, I felt the warmth of his body next to mine, and it was as if the world outside faded away. Just a few minutes later, I drifted off, lulled by the comfort of his presence. I awoke to the nightsky slowly beginning to arrive, and for a moment, I was disoriented. The room was quiet, and when I turned to look at Charles, I found him still asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. A smile crept across my face at the sight of him, peaceful and relaxed. I quietly slipped out of bed, not wanting to disturb him. The celebration tonight was still on my mind, and I wanted to look good for him. I moved to the bathroom, planning to freshen up before we headed out. As I stood in front of the mirror, I began to do my hair, but I felt a presence behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Charles leaning against the doorframe, his hair tousled and still a little damp from our earlier shower.
"Hey," he said, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," I replied, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "Just trying to get ready for the evening." He stepped closer, his hands finding their way to my waist.
"I can't wait to show you off," he murmured, his voice low and inviting. I turned back to the mirror, trying to concentrate on my hair, but it was hard with him so close. He watched me with an intensity that made my heart race, and his fingers began to trace gentle patterns on my waist, sending shivers down my spine.
"Charles," I said, half-laughing as I tried to focus. "I really need to get ready."
"I can't help that I have a good looking girlfriend," he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He moved behind me, his hands sliding around my waist and I couldn't help but smile. 'I love you.' He whispered into my ear causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. His hands turned me around, our faces near touching. I smiled, one which he couldn't resist. Before I knew it, he leaned in, capturing my lips in a passionate kiss. The moment his lips met mine, a rush of warmth surged through me, igniting every nerve ending in my body. His hands slipped to the small of my back, pulling me closer as I melted against him. The kiss deepened, our breaths mingling, and I could feel the heat radiating from him.
"Charles," I murmured, breaking the kiss just long enough to catch my breath, my heart racing. But he was not finished. He wrapped his arms tighter around me, lifting me slightly off the ground as he pressed me against the wall, our bodies fitting together perfectly.
"God, you're perfect," he murmured, his lips brushing against mine, teasingly close. I could feel the tension building between us, a palpable energy that left my skin tingling.
"Charles we are going to be late, everyone is waiting for us," I said, my voice low and playful, as I leaned in for another kiss, wanting to feel every moment of his warmth. He chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent shivers down my spine.
"I don't care, they can wait."
"I love you, and there is nothing more that I want to do than stay here with you. But we can't leave them all waiting," I whispered, my breath hitching as he pressed his forehead against mine, our eyes locked. There was something electric in the air, an undeniable chemistry that drew us closer, as if the world outside had faded away, leaving just the two of us suspended in this moment. Charles leaned in again, his lips trailing down my neck, sending soft kisses along my collarbone. Each touch made me gasp, every kiss igniting a fire deep within me. I tilted my head back, surrendering to the sensations flooding my senses, my fingers weaving through his hair, pulling him closer.
"A few minutes won't harm anyone," he breathed against my neck, his voice husky. I could feel the heat of his breath, and it made my heart race even faster. I could hardly respond; all I could do was pull him back to me, urging him to kiss me harder, deeper. Our lips moved together in a rhythm that felt instinctual, primal. My hands roamed over his shoulders, down his arms, savouring the feel of the muscles beneath his shirt. In that moment, nothing else mattered. The chaos of the day, the excitement of the victory, all melted away. It was just him and me, lost in our own little world.
"Okay, five minutes," I whispered against his lips, my voice breathless with desire.
"Five minutes? Bronte you know I can do better than that." he replied, his eyes dark with passion as he captured my mouth again, pouring all of his emotion into that kiss.  As our kisses deepened, the world outside ceased to exist. Each brush of his lips against my skin sent electric sparks coursing through me, igniting a fire I had never felt before. With each kiss, I lost track of time, lost in the heat and the urgency of the moment. Before I knew it, we were both breathless, our bodies intertwined, our passion reaching a crescendo. He lifted me effortlessly, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bed, our laughter mingling with soft gasps. We fell onto the sheets, the warmth of his body enveloping me as he explored every inch of me with kisses that made my skin tingle.
"Charles," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper as I pulled him closer. I could feel the tension building between us, a magnetic pull that left me craving him even more. But as the time ticked passed, reality began to seep back in. A sudden thought hit me, jolting me out of the blissful haze.
"The party!" I exclaimed, pulling away just enough to meet his gaze. "We're going to be late!" Charles blinked at me, his eyes still heavy with desire, but then realisation hit him too.
"Shit, we are late!" He jumped up, raking a hand through his tousled hair, trying to catch his breath. We scrambled out of bed, laughing and still trying to steal kisses in between our frantic movements. I searched for my clothes, throwing on my dress with one hand while Charles fumbled with his shirt.
"Can you help me?" I asked, my voice a mixture of urgency and teasing as he moved to zip up the back of my dress.
"Hold still," he laughed, stepping close to help me while trying not to get distracted by how good I looked, our cheeks flushed from our earlier activities. As he finished zipping up my dress, our bodies were mere inches apart, and I could feel the pull between us again.
"We should really hurry," I said, my voice teasing but my body betraying me as I leaned in for another kiss, feeling the urgency of the moment.
"I know, but I can't help it," he replied, brushing his fingers along my arm, igniting the same heat we had just shared.
"Okay, okay," I said, reluctantly pulling away to grab my shoes. "Let's go before they send out a search party."
"Wait, I need to look presentable!" he joked, running a hand through his hair as I caught sight of him in the mirror, still slightly dishevelled but undeniably gorgeous.
"We'll fix that in the car," I said, tossing my shoes on and grabbing my bag. We hurried out the door, our fingers intertwined.