Page 26 of Fast Track to Forever
Reluctantly, like a lamb to slaughter, she crosses the threshold. “I'm not staying long. Just came to?—”
I put my hands on her tense shoulders. “Hey, hey. What's the matter? Is this still about your parents? Because if it is…”
Her shoulders sag for a moment then tense again. “Someone told me you were in town yesterday with another girl.”
Worry gnaws at me. “What? No, no way. I was in town to do some shopping. I signed autographs, took a million selfies, but I guarantee I wasn't with anyone.”
She swallows. “They also told me you have models lined up in Italy and Monaco.”
I laugh. “Absolutely not. And who is thiswell-meaning persontelling you all these things?”
She looks down. “How can I believe you?”
I sigh. “Youknowme, Kat. You've known me since I was thirteen and you were ten. I made you that twig headband. You never made fun of me.”
She looks up at me, her blue eyes boring into mine, searching for the truth. She surrenders and rests her head against my chest. I exhale and envelope her in a fierce embrace. I stroke her hair. “There is nobody else, Kat. No one else I think about, dream of.”
She sighs against my chest, and I vow to hunt down whoever hurt her. “I brought you a present.” She leaves my arms and leaves me bereft.
Kat hands me a small green pouch. The velvet is so soft, just like her hair. I smile and tip the contents of the pouch in my palm. A thin pleated leather bracelet stares back at me. It's gorgeous. Breathtaking.
“Did you make it?” I pick it up with my thumb and index finger. She nods, with a smile. “It's exquisite. You should start a business with this.” I hold it out to her.
Her smile becomes even wider. “I'm glad you like it. I made it for you to bring you good luck while you're racing… and I have been thinking. I know what I want to do. I want to start my own ethical fashion and accessories label.”
“Amazing idea!” I lift her up and twirl her. She squeals with joy. I put her down. “Now it's my turn.” I grab the package from the kitchen counter and hand it to her.
She shakes it and taps it. “Feels like a book.”
I chuckle. “I forgot you like to guess what's inside. Hope you like it.”
She starts tearing the paper, careful not to damage the contents. The book shows itself to her. Her eyes widen. She looks at me, then back at the book, her mouth slightly open.
“What does it say?” I ask, fully knowing what it is.
She swallows, looks at me again, then back at the book, and clears her throat before reading the title. “100 ways to say I love you in different languages.”
I wrap my arms around her again. “I love you, Kat.Ik hou van je.” When she doesn’t reply, I try to fill the silence. “That's the extent of my languages, I'm afraid. But I can learn some more.”
Kat runs into my arms and starts sobbing quietly. She lifts her head up. “I love you too, Will.”
We kiss again and I lift her up and place her on the sofa. She wraps her arms and legs around me, like she never wants to let go.
I continue kissing her, urgency overtaking us. She starts tugging at my shirt and sends it flying across the room. I quickly dispatch her dress and the rest of our clothes.
“I need you, Will.” Her eyes call out to me, and I sink inside her. She feels amazing.
She soon shatters around me, and the sound and feel of her pleasure pushes me over the edge. I bury my face in her neck.
Kat runs her fingers through my hair. “Merry Christmas, Will!”
I laugh, my face still in her hair. “Merry Christmas. I can't move.”
“I can't move either. Maybe we should stay like this forever.”
I nuzzle her neck. “We should.”
She sighs. “I need to go back home for dinner. But tomorrow I'm definitely spending the night, no matter what everyone says.”
