Racing for Freedom

chapter Twenty Seven



I wake early the next morning and shift carefully as the hard body beside mine groans and rolls. I spent the night with Slade, I guess you could say we’re a couple now…right? I don’t know, but I do know I want to help him and I’ll do anything to make him happy again. I also know he makes my heart do things no one else has ever made it do and that is enough to make me want to fight for him. For us.

I stare down at his bruised back and stroke my fingers over his soft skin, poor Slade, he doesn’t deserve to be beaten by his own father. I can’t imagine how it feels, to be twenty-three and still running. He should have his own life now, but instead he hides in his father’s shadow because he’s so afraid of losing the one thing he’s worked so hard to be amazing at. Knowing Michael, he would drag Slade’s career into the dirt. The man has serious problems.

I straighten my shirt when I step out of bed and smile down at Slade who is breathing deeply and peacefully. We didn’t have sex last night, but sleeping with him, feeling his arms around me, it was nice. I tiptoe from the room and into the kitchen. After fumbling for the light, I finally manage to flick it on. I squint as it burns my eyes and continue to fumble for the coffee. When I get it on and it’s brewing, I slide onto the bench and wait.

I touch my puffy eye and wince. It feels warm and tender under my fingertips. I think about Lucas and I hope he’s ok, I’ll text him later to check on him but I get the feeling he doesn’t want my contact, not for a while anyway. I let my thoughts drift over to Michael. I try to think back when we were younger, and I wonder how I didn’t know. Though, there was that one time I saw him and Slade fighting. It did get pretty heated.

“You are off your game, Slade!” Michael yells.

I’m crouching behind some old shipping containers on the side of the track. When the race was over, I was coming to see Slade but Michael beat me to it. Not wanting to be seen, I duck down and peer around the containers instead.

“I’m trying dad, I really am.”

Michael grips Slade's arm and Slade winces. “Trying is not good enough, you have to BE the best. I don’t want trying Slade, I want winning.”

“You don’t think I want to win?” Slade snaps, then winces again as Michael steps closer.

“No, I think you’re too busy concentrating on other things.”

“I’m not, it was one race!”

“Hear me son, you WILL start picking up your game, or you’ll pay. You will NOT embarrass my name!”

Slade puts his head down and winces again as Michael shoves him backwards, letting go of his arm. “Sorry dad.”

Michael spins and storms off, and I quickly rush out from behind the containers. Slade sees me and his eyes brighten.

“Slade, are you ok?”

“Sure Dashy, I’m fine.”

“Did he hurt you?”

Slade looks away for a moment, then turns back to me with a fake smile on his face. “No, come on, let’s go get some ice-cream.”

“Hey…”

I snap my head up and the thought trails off into the back of my mind. I smile at Slade walking into the kitchen, shirtless. I admire his beauty, even underneath the bruises, Slade’s body is beautiful. It’s taut, lean and very appealing to the female eye. His wide chest narrows down to a beautiful set of abs, which slide down into his pants with that perfect ‘V’. He’s truly breathtaking.

“Hey,” I say, quietly.

“How’d you sleep?”

I shrug. “Ok, you?”

He walks over and strokes my puffy eye. “Ok.”

“I have to go and see him today Slade.”

Slade nods, knowing I’m talking about my father. “Yeah, I know.”

“I don’t know what I’ll say to him.”

“Just tell the truth Dash, tell him how you feel and be honest.”

I nod, biting my lip. Slade leans in and runs his tongue along it and I shiver.

“I wish I wasn’t bruised and battered,” he murmurs.

I giggle. “How charming.”

“I can’t wait to be inside you again Dash, feel you around me…”

His voice is deep, husky and low. I meet his eyes and cup his face, bringing his lips to mine and kissing him so deeply I know it hurts him, but he doesn’t complain. He kisses me back with as much intensity as I’m giving him. He forces himself to pull away and then he sighs.

“I can’t get enough of you.”

I look away for a moment, then I turn back and speak. “Slade, what about your dad?”

He closes his eyes and his body goes rigid. “I’ll deal with that later.”

“Are you afraid of him, Slade?” I say, gently.

“It’s not about being afraid, this is as much my dream as it is his. I don’t want to lose my place because he beats me half to death, nor do I need him dragging my name down to save his own. Once I’m in that championship, I’ll get my own sponsors and I will be able to flick him off.”

“Do you really think it’ll be that easy?”

Slade nods. “It will be, because I will fight back.”

“Slade…”

“I will Dash, one day I’ll fight back and he won’t dare touch me again.”

“I can’t bear to see you go through this, it’s wrong.”

He strokes my cheek. “I know Dashy, but it’s life, for now.”

“It’s unfair,” I breathe.

Slade strokes my cheek. “I know baby.”

“What about us Slade, are we…”

He smiles, leaning down to brush his lips across mine.

“Oh babe…we are…you just wait until I’m feeling better.”

I giggle as he wraps his arms around me. Right now, in this moment, at least one thing feels absolutely perfect.