Can't Help Falling in Love {Ryan Blaney}✔️

| fifteen |

warning: sex scene towards the end.

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"Lara!" A reporter greeted her as she climbed out of the car. "Tell us about your day?"

Lara grabbed the drink that Alison had handed her. She took a long drink, using that moment to think of an answer. They had finished fourteenth. Part of her was disappointed that she hadn't cracked the top ten but she could almost hear Ryan reminded her that fourteenth was a solid finish.

"Yeah, the 48 Ally Chevy was strong all day. Our crew, engineers, everybody in our garage worked their tails off to give me a good car this week and I'm so thankful for each and every one of them. They make my life so much easier. We were not as fast as some of the cars but I think we managed to hold our own pretty well. All in all, I have no complaints about how our day went, ready to see what the west coast has in store for us." She smiled into the camera until the red light went off. The reporter thanked her before moving onto the next driver.

Lara had turned to Alison, waiting for the next reporter to approach her when Alison's eyes widened, looking past her.

"What?" She turned around, coming face to face with Chase. "Oh." She muttered, suddenly understanding.

 "Walk with me back to the motorhome lot?" Chase asked, his voice almost pleading. "Please."

Lara nodded slowly, "I'll see you later, Alison."

Alison bit her lip, almost as if she wanted to say something but instead she just nodded. Lara had a weird feeling about Alison, but she shook it off and instead turned back to Chase.

They walked quietly until they were out of sight when Chase reached over, grabbing Lara's waist and tugging her closer to him.

"Somebody is going to see us," She hissed, her heart pounding at the idea.

"Wouldn't that be something?" Chase chuckled, his brown eyes dancing with amusement, dropping his arm from around her. "The media would combust."

Lara couldn't help but laugh, "It would be funny if we wouldn't have to face the wrath of my grandfather."

Chase pressed his lips into a tight line, lifting his hat and running his hand over his hair. "I'm sorry, Lara. I don't know what else to say besides that I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that from me, as a teammate or as a boyfriend."

The sincerity in his voice had Lara's head spinning. She was all but done with him but now? The Chase that she had fallen for was back and he was sorry. Logically, Lara knew that she should accept his apology and move on but she was anything but logical. She hated that she was ready to fall at his feet.

Lara reached out, squeezing Chase's arm, "It's okay. Just don't make it a habit, okay?"

Chase cocked his eyebrow up, "Just like that?"

Lara shrugged, she knew that she shouldn't let him off so easy. She had been so angry at him for saying what he did on tv, so angry for him doubling down in the garage but now that he was sincerely apologetic, the anger had melted away. A piece of her had missed Chase or maybe she missed the thrill that came with sneaking off with him.

"Lara?" Her grandfather's voice called from behind.

Instinctively, Lara jumped back, away from Chase. "Yeah?" She turned to her grandfather.

"Is everything alright?" His blue eyes studied her intently. "Alison said I should check on you."

Lara's eyes widened. She wasn't sure if Alison's intentions had been pure or if she had been trying to get Lara caught. "Yeah, Chase and I are just talking, trying to put this mess behind us. Right, Chase?" She glanced up at Chase.

Chase nodded, "Exactly." He offered Rick a smile. "Just two teammates trying to work it out." Lara shot Chase a warning glare and Chase promptly shut his mouth.

Rick nodded slowly, his eyes flicking back and forth between both Chase and Lara. He let out a sigh, "Alright, well I'll let you guys finish your conversation."

Both Lara and Chase stayed silent until Rick was out of sigh. "And that," Lara gave Chase a playful shove, "is why we have to be careful."

Chase grinned, a full grin that made Lara's head spin, her heart pound. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Lara gave Chase a reassuring smile, hoping that he wouldn't catch the insincerity in her voice. Sure, she missed the Chase she had gotten to know in the offseason but she hadn't missed him this week. But he had seemingly reverted back to offseason Chase so maybe she did miss him after all.

She wasn't sure.

Chase stopped in front of his motorhome, "Do you want to come in? Finish talking?" He winked after the second question.

Lara smiled as she followed him into the motorhome. She opened her mouth to say something but Chase cut her off with a kiss.

Lara leaned into the kiss, tangling her fingers in Chase's hair. She had been waiting for the passion, the butterflies but the kiss fell flat. She deepened the kiss, but there was nothing.

Chase tugged at the zipper of her firesuit. Lara shrugged it off, unzipping Chase's in return. They both stepped out of their firesuits and Chase grabbed Lara's hips, lifting her up onto the table.

He placed hollow kisses up and down her collarbone, his hands running up and down her sides. His lips found hers as his fingers slipped underneath her panties but Lara knew that this time there was no move for pleasure, he was just preparing her for him.

Chase rested his forehead on hers for a moment, "I don't have a condom," he muttered.

"I'm on birth control," Lara offered.

"Are you sure?" Chase lifted his eyes to meet hers, studying her.

Lara nodded, "Yes." She whispered, hoping that maybe once they were one she would feel the spark again.

Chase pushed her panties aside, entering her. He pulled close to her, his movements quick. He placed a placid kiss on her lips. She hummed as his movements grew intense, his breathing growing ragged.

Without saying a word, Chase climaxed. He pressed his forehead against hers for a moment, his brown eyes meeting her blue ones. Lara couldn't help but feel a little underwhelmed, the spark between her and Chase had faded into a dull glow.

Or maybe it had gone out completely.

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not going to lie, i struggled majorly with this chapter.