Page 148 of Hyperspeed
That smile wasn’t for the crowd.
It was for me.
Kai’s gaze locked with mine, warmth and quiet joy radiating from him. He lifted his silver trophy and blew me a kiss, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. The drones caught the way my skin flushed in soft shades of pink, but nothing else mattered.
Seeing him there, proud and glowing, was a victory all of its own.
Plus, Kai was hot in general.
Sue me.
He lowered the award and pointed at me, then at the podium where he stood. I imagined his voice in my head.
Next year, rookie, this will be you standing right here.
But I was never one to settle for second best, not if I didn’t have to. So I shook my head and pointed at myself, then at the spot where Zylo stood.
I’ll be in first, hotshot.
He winked at me, and when I gave him a wide, unfiltered smile, he blew me a kiss.
Zylo had won the championship after Kai dropped out to save me. A part of me still worried he might resent me later on, that his loss would cause a rift between us, but Grandma would have my ass if she knew what I was thinking, because Kai wasn’t like that.
We both knew there was more to life than the ASL, even if that was sometimes easy to forget.
The time for running was over. Kai loved me, and I loved him. I just had to trust in what we were building together. After years of feeling like an outsider, I knew it would take time.
But with Kai by my side, I felt like I belonged, and that was better than anything.
Ceremony over, the press and cameras pulled the drivers in all directions, but they surrounded Kai, Zylo, and Jax—who’d come in third—far longer than the rest of us.
I was busy too, especially now that news of what was coming for the Iskari had broken.
The sky had darkened by the time we wrapped up.
I leaned against the wall outside Zenith’s garage, watching as Kai strolled over, a skip in his step and a casual sway to his hips. The end of the season prompted most crews and drivers to head home early, ready to celebrate before the paddocks were cleared tomorrow.
The vehicles were lined up outside their teams’ garages—including my blackened heap. They looked stunning under the fading light, but my eyes focused on something far better looking.
Kai approached with a wry smile I could no longer resist.
“Well, look what we’ve got here,” he said, stopping just in front of me. There was barely an inch between our chests, and he planted one hand on the wall beside my head, caging me in.
Luckily for him, there was nowhere else I’d rather be tonight—or at any other time.
“There’s that cocky grin I know so well,” I mused, tracing a finger over his cupid’s bow. “Well done on at least one win, hotshot.”
Kai might not have won the driver’s championship, but Nexus still took it for the constructors, thanks to his and Jax’s combined points.
“I won something much better than a championship, rookie,” he said, voice low.
He leaned in, pressing his lips against mine, and I slid my hand up to his neck, holding him close. When he licked along the seam of my lips, begging for entry, I opened up. Our tongues met, dancing and exploring each other’s mouths, and Kai swallowed the sound of my moans, as if keeping my pleasure just for himself.
Just how I wanted it, now and always.
Before things could get too intense, Kai pulled back, breaking the kiss. I wasn’t ashamed when I followed his lips with a quiet whine. I would never tire of kissing Kai, the way he consumed me with something as simple as his mouth on mine.
And thankfully, I wouldn’t have to.
