AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A smile pulls at her lips. Soft and mesmerizing. It grips and twists my heart.
“I love you,” she says.
My whole world stops. I can’t breathe. I’m paralyzed by the gentle force of her words as it obliterates me while rendering me speechless as I hold deep inside her. I couldn’t get any deeper if I tried, and yet all I want to do right now is burrow beneath her skin. To live inside her in a way that doesn’t make sense to me. But it’s a need that I can’t control as I grind into her.
A sadness that threatens to tear me apart flits over my face. I know she wants me to say it back, and the words are on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t. No matter how deeply I feel her words resonate with every affection I hold for her—I can’t say it. All I can do is kiss her and love her body with mine. Showing her physically what I can’t vocalize. Hoping that it’s enough as my being holds on to hers, desperately needing her to understand that she is everything. She’s my entire world and there are no words that will ever be enough to express it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The spa is just what the doctor ordered. The massage I had earlier has already eased some of the tension I had and lying beside the pool now is bliss.
“I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name,” a voice says, pulling me out of my daydream. Looking up I see Natalya standing next to me, her blue bikini showing off her incredible model figure.
“Rosie,” I offer, before closing my eyes and hoping she’ll just disappear. I don’t want her bursting my bubble of serenity today.
“Rosie. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry about yesterday. Are you enjoying your first race experience?” she asks, as she takes a seat on the bed next to mine and I turn to look at her, curious as to her game.
“Yes, thank you. Most people have been incredibly welcoming,” I say, offering a not-so-subtle dig.
“Oh. Well, I guess I deserved that. Can we start again?” she asks, and I sigh.
“Sure,” I offer, I mean, she’s Brody’s teammate's girlfriend. I assume that means we’ll see quite a bit of each other.
“Thanks. It can be a bit of a lonely life, following an F1 driver around the globe. It’s nice to have friends,” Natalya says, laying back on the bed and letting out a breath. “It does have its perks though.”
“I bet.” I giggle. We talk a little more and I think maybe I was wrong about her. She seems nice enough and it is nice to be able to talk to someone who understands.
“Did you want to grab some lunch? I know this great place not too far from here,” Natalya asks, smiling over at me.
“Oh, I actually have plans with Brody, but some other time?”
“Sure,” she says.
My phone pings and I reach down and grab it from my bag, Brody’s name on the screen making me smile. But that soon fades a little when I see the message.
Brody: So sorry, Angel. Something has come up, rain check?
So much for my lunch plans.
“Problem?” Natalya asks, looking over at me. I mull it over. It would be good to get to know Brody’s teammates and entourage a little better; and other than sitting at the spa all day, it’s not like I have much else to do.
“Something’s come up. Does your lunch offer still stand?” I ask, while texting Brody back telling him not to worry. He needs to do his job, I get that.
Her smile reminds me a bit of the Cheshire Cat and she nods, “Sure does. How about we have another half hour and then go get ready? The restaurant is opposite the best shoe boutique too. We can get a bit of shopping done.”
“Perfect.” I take a breath and get up, heading to the steam room. It’s empty so I slip in and sit on the wooden bench, enjoying the stifling heat and taste of salt in the air.
After a quick change into a lilac maxi dress, I meet Natalya at reception and she arranges transport for us. She’s so at ease with everything, evidently used to this crazy lifestyle. But I feel a little more relaxed knowing that I’m with someone who knows what they’re doing and where to go.
We make small talk on the drive, Natalya telling me about the fashion show she did last month and how the designer personally requested her. She exudes confidence, her perfectly manicured acrylic nails tapping against her Louis Vuitton purse. She’s the type of woman I see jet-setting around the world with an F1 driver.
“Here we are,” she singsongs as the car pulls up outside a fancy looking restaurant. As I step out of the car, I hear the shutter noise before I see the flashes. The dread that spreads through me is instantaneous. It’s like lava spreading from my toes to my face, heating every part of me as my pulse skyrockets. I’m getting used to a lot of parts of Brody’s life, but the paparazzi still has my anxiety soaring. Trying to even out my breathing, I turn toward the restaurant and feel Natalya slip her hand in mine.
“Just keep your head down, we’re almost in,” she says, her tone soothing as she leads me away from the photographers like a pro. I don’t register anything they’re saying, blocking it all out and focusing on getting inside.
As soon as the door shuts behind us, I let out a breath and sag in relief. Natalya drops my hand and runs a hand through her long hair, checking herself in the mirror no doubt making sure she was picture perfect. She didn’t need to be worried, she was perfect.
“Thanks,” I say, offering Natalya a grateful smile. Maybe I was too quick to judge her. God knows what I would have done just now if she wasn’t here to coach me through it.
