Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 66 | Candles and Kisses

October 16, 2023

I felt a gentle trail of kisses along my neck, soft and warm, and I turned, catching Aria's smile as she cuddled closer into my arms. She was here. My first thought upon waking up, and there she was, already making the morning feel like the best start to my birthday.

"Happy birthday, my amour," she whispered in my ear, her voice soft, making everything else fade away. I couldn't help but smile, cupping her face as I leaned in to press a kiss on her lips.

Without breaking the kiss, I lifted her towards the shower, her hands running over my shoulders, his fingers pulling at the hair on the nape of my neck. The water washed over us, but all I felt was her...her warmth, her touch, and the intimacy that made every moment with her feel new and endlessly beautiful. In that space, just us, nothing else mattered, not even the race. She was all I wanted.

Afterward, we dried off, sharing looking that held everything unsaid. I watched her get ready, stealing glances as she pulled on her outfit, an effortlessly elegant red dress. I barely focused on getting ready myself, too captivated on her smile, the way she fixed her hair, even the little concentration in her brow as she applied some lipstick. It was moments like these that made me realize how lucky I was.

As I finally finished getting ready, Aria stopped me by the door, her eyes lit with excitement. She bit her lip, looking down at the small gift bag in her hands. "I have something for you," she said, a hint of shyness in her voice. "Well...a few things actually, but I want you to open this one now."

"You didn't need to get me anything, mon coeur, you're all that I need."

"I know, but I wanted to, so let it be my turn to spoil for you a change."

"Well you definitely spoiled me in the shower this-"

"-Charles!"

Laughing, I took the bag from her, feeling the weight of her thoughtfulness already. I opened it slowly, feeling the anticipation she'd built up. Inside, there was a beautifully wrapped ring, one that looked vintage. It was the same metal as my other rings, ones my papa had given me.

"Aria..." I looked up, feeling this swell of emotion I hadn't quite anticipated. "This is...perfect."

Her cheeks flushed a little as she looked down, almost shy. "I thought you could wear it, especially on the race weekends when I'm not there," she said softly. "Just a little reminder."

I slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer as I leaned my forehead against hers. "It's more than a reminder. I love it and I love you."

She laughed softly, brushing a hand down my arm. "There's more, but you'll have to wait until later to see those," she teased, tapping the bag with a mischievous look.

I kissed her once more, savoring the moment and feeling this surge of gratitude. She always knew how to ground me, how to make these days, which could feel overwhelming, into something more meaningful.

"Ready?" she asked, snapping me back to reality with a smile.

"As I'll ever be," I laughed, slipping my hand into hers as we left together. We made our way to the paddock, my heart beating faster up as it always did on race day, but this time, I was hoping to win, on my birthday.

In the car ride there, I caught her looking at me a few times, her eyes bright, filled with some secret she wasn't telling me. I knew she had planned something for my birthday, she'd hinted at it a few times, but she refused to give any details. Instead, she just held my hand, squeezing it every so often as if to remind me that she was here, cheering for me, celebrating with me.