Inevitable (34 page)

I had showered and made some toast before Tilly arrived on my doorstep. I had found an old T-shirt of Nathan’s and was wearing a pair of his boxers, turned over at the waistband to make them fit, and surprisingly I liked my new outfit. It smelt of his spicy sandalwood body wash.

Tilly was really lovely, the sort of person who I immediately clicked with, another English girl who came from “up north” as we southerners called it. She told me a little about her and her daughter Sarah, I could tell there was more to the story than met the eye but I curbed my journalistic instinct. I knew to leave the twenty questions until we had got to know each other a little better, as I didn’t want to frighten my new found friend away. She had brought me by a couple of vests and another pair of denim shorts. I watched as Max and Sarah played with a ball just outside of the open trailer door.

Once I had changed, the three of them showed me around the huge place we were in, everything we needed was on site, like a small village. However, it was the roar of bikes practising that called to me and we wandered closer to the track. I was so bloody intoxicated with him I knew I needed to go and find him, I wanted to watch him ride his bike even if it was from a distance. We sat ourselves down on a small grassy bank and watched the bikes go around the track, much to Max’s glee. He certainly had some knowledge for a little boy, he spotted Nate before I did.

I watched as the man I loved sped around the track in front of my eyes. It was different to watching it on TV, the smells of the track invaded my nostrils, and the sounds took over most of my senses, making my increasing excitement rise as it overtook my nervous system. The rumbles entered my body, every rev seemed to be in time with the beat of my heart. I watched Nathan in control of the powerful machine, and after the control he had over me last night, my body as usual started to respond, even though he hadn’t laid eyes on me.

The next few days went by so quickly. Nate and I snuck away whenever we could, much to the amusement of all who seemed to know him. I was introduced to the team that surrounded him and made his racing possible. I was introduced as his and whenever we were together he was in my personal space, it even shocked me how much I revelled in our constant touching, whether holding hands, kissing or sitting on his lap. I loved waiting for him to finish testing, he would look for me immediately and come and place his arms around me, as he bit into my neck or nibbled at my ear marking me as his. He made no excuses for his behaviour in front of others, our constant presence and reassurance to each other was exactly what we needed, it didn’t matter to us what anyone else thought. He made sure everyone knew we were a couple, much to the disgust of a few of the girls that seemed to run errands for the team. He had probably been there and done most of that, but I wasn’t asking, I didn’t want or need to know the answer. The best of it was that Brock said Nate was racing with a sense of purpose, rather than with the need to obliterate and lose himself. He knew I was waiting for him whenever he finished. This meant he was on time and more efficient and effective than ever.

After a long call from Frankie, we learnt that everyone was coming to watch Nate this weekend. It was of course his “home” race, as the other races were in various parts of the world, and with what we had all been through recently we felt their support even more strongly.

I was not only excited to see Frankie, Alex and the others, but for us all to spend some quality time together. Most of all I wanted to show off our relationship to them. I had never really been in a proper adult relationship and it meant everything to me that we could go out as as a couple, not the fuck buddies we had previously been. They would be arriving on Thursday and not only were they arriving with most of the family, apparently they also had a surprise for us.

Tilly and Brock very quickly became good friends to us both. When I could convince Nate, we had shared a few beers with them on a couple of occasions. It appeared as my man was beginning to relax, Tilly’s was becoming more and more stressed.

‘What’s up with Brock?’ I questioned Nathan, as we sat and had a meal I’d cooked.

He looked up at me as if trying to form the words around a mouthful of steak pie. I had revived my few womanly skills, in the kitchen as well as the bedroom, something very primeval in me loved to look after Nate, and no one was more shocked than me.

‘It’s hard to explain… I’m taking a guess at what I think it is… he hasn’t said anything, yet,’ he answered, as he swigged down a gulp of water.

‘OK,’ I raised my eyebrows at him.

‘You’ve met Liam Hendry…’ I looked at him and smiled. He knew I had, as Liam had done nothing but flirt with me from the moment he knew I was with Nathan. It seemed I also loved watching my man in full on jealous mode. ‘Well, he brought his team with him when we joined together… his sponsors are old sponsors of Brock’s… a large family of wealthy business men… the Grangers. One of their daughters, Claire, is Max’s mom.’

‘Oh bugger… that’s what he meant by pasts catching up with you.’ I went over our conversations in my head, ‘He also said the sponsors were breathing down his neck?’

‘Yep… that’ll be why.’ I watched as he dug back into the meal I had made for him. All those years of sharing rooms with Frankie had rubbed off on me, and watching him enjoying something I had made, I was so bloody grateful for the skills she had taught me.

We continued with our meal and made lighter conversation. He told me how his day had gone, the adjustments to be made on his bike, and his hope for the next day’s practise. I told him how much I liked Tilly and Brock, I wanted to make sure Nate and I helped them however we could.

I finished eating what I wanted and pushed the plate away from me. ‘OK, sex God the washing-up is all yours.’ I threw the tea-towel at him and it hit him square in the face. I pushed back my stool from the breakfast bar and moved quickly away, ‘I’ll be in the shower when you’ve finished… come and join me.’ I threw him a look and waggled my eyebrows at him as I disappeared into our bedroom. I loved to tease him and showed him one leg around the edge of the doorframe, enjoying the effect I knew I had on him. I pointed my toes and curved my long, smooth, bare leg that was only sporting an ankle chain and newly painted nails, and used it like a beckoning finger. My legs being only second to my rack, I knew it would have the desired effect. I heard a loud groan and the sound of him moving quickly towards me. The stool he had been sitting on previously crashed to the floor as he crossed the few steps towards me.

‘Fuck the washing-up…’ he growled.

Before I knew it, he was backing me into the shower, as he dispersed my few items of clothes. The feral look in his hazel eyes was hypnotic. Within seconds he had removed his clothes. I was pushed up against the shower wall firmly and held into place, the warm water fell down over my body, caressing my constantly aching skin, such was my need for him. Swiftly he fell to his knees in front of me and lifting me up slightly, pressing my shoulders into the cold tiles, he placed my legs over his shoulders. His face looked up to mine, water cascading over him.

‘And now for my favourite dessert,’ he said, with a lopsided grin and a wink, and dipping his head he immediately started to suck at my already swollen clit.

My head fell back as far as the shower wall would allow it.

At this rate the neighbours are going to think I’ve opened a church inside a silver bullet.

I couldn’t stop the large smile that spread over my face at the thought, before a sudden gasp came out of me and an ‘OH GOD’ just fell away from my mouth.

BELLA

I
t was Thursday and everything had been arranged, ready for the family to arrive. Nearby hotel rooms had been booked and I, being the domestic goddess I now was, had tidied up the trailer for probably the tenth time. Nathan had left an hour ago to get a final few laps in before the race weekend really began tomorrow. The raceway was now at full capacity, all the teams and their entourages had arrived in the last couple of days and the atmosphere was ramping up at a fast rate.

I was so looking forward to seeing everyone.

We were going into a nearby shopping mall this afternoon, girlie shopping had been called for and I planned on getting something hot for our evening out tonight. Nate and Brock had decided we were off to a local karaoke bar.

There is no way in hell I’m singing, but it would be fun to watch and cheer on the others.

I decided to make myself a tea and go and sit outside the trailer, just listening to the roar on the track made me feel closer to Nathan. Although it was still only the middle of the morning, the heat haze was rising and dust was floating around distorting the view. The sky was a bright clear blue; it was all set to be another glorious day. I sat down on one chair and placed my legs up on another. I had the sort of skin that tanned easily and I planned on finding something to wear later that was short and would show off my legs to Nathan, so a little more colour on them wouldn’t hurt.

I was blowing and sipping at my boiling hot drink when a couple of cars appeared around the corner of our row of trailers. They had to be the Blackmores arriving. Blacked out glass and shined to perfection. Once I saw a Range Rover in the middle of them, I knew I was correct in my assumptions. Alex only drove Range Rovers. I stood up and placed my hand to shield my eyes, trying to get a better look at the people getting out. Realising Alex was now helping his wife out of the vehicle I looked for somewhere to place my mug, finding nowhere fast I decided to just drop it to the floor. I ran towards Frankie and the others as they clambered out, squealing my happiness.

‘Morning, Bella,’ I heard from the booming voice of Alex, as he watched me, with a smile on his face, racing towards them. I didn’t have time to reply, I just managed to slow myself down enough before I took my beautiful bestie into my arms and we stood there hugging for all we were worth. I wanted to squeeze her tighter but the baby bump had grown again, even though we had only been apart less than two weeks. We stood stock still for a few minutes letting our fears, concerns and now our relief at being back together, escape with the tears that ran down our faces.

‘Enough, woman… she’s a hormonal mess already, without you helping her along.’ I pulled away from Frankie and turned around, guided by Alex as he tucked one of us under each arm. He walked us back to Nate’s trailer. I smiled through my tears of joy at the others standing there. Scott and his wife Ruby, holding Eloise in his arms. Edwards and Jassy and Frankie’s Aunty Jean and Uncle Robert, and appearing behind them another man. He was familiar but it took me a while to recognise the boy he once was.

It was Petre.

I ducked out from underneath the protective arm of Alex and moved quickly towards them all. I said hello to them all, but hugged my sister first, whispering in her ear as I did so, ‘You so need to tell me what’s going on.’ I pulled away and looked over her shoulder at Edwards, who was staring at us both with a guarded expression. Jassy nodded and smiled at me.

‘Sure,’ she said, ‘as soon as I’ve worked it all out, I’ll be sure to let you know.’ She spun her head around and from the side of her face I could see that she glared at Edwards.

I released her reluctantly and saw Petre coming nearer to me.

‘I don’t understand, how are you here?’ I asked him, as I stood in front of him. I was so pleased he had different colouring to his brother, otherwise I knew it would have been too much to handle, however pleased I was to see him. He had very coveted fair hair and lighter brown eyes. Fair hair was so unusual in his native country that the women often dyed their hair blonde to attract a husband.

He grabbed hold of one of my hands and lifted it up to kiss it.

‘It’s good to see you, Arrabella… you look so well.’

‘It’s just Bella here, Arrabella brings back memories I would rather it didn’t.’

He nodded in understanding.

‘We explained everything to the FBI… Petre hadn’t absconded court bail, he wasn’t under arrest and after talking to Frankie I knew he had helped you, so we decided to help him,’ explained Alex, closing the small gap between us.