Danger (The Driven World)
To think.
To hyperventilate in peace.
I’ve never been the type of girl to do something like that. Something so brazen.
I find the restroom and head inside, splashing some cool water over my face. I stare at myself in the mirror. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
I think back to the ballroom, Danger’s finger inside me. The way my whole body came alive with just one touch. His deep voice seducing me into submission.
It occurs to me, Thad was in the ballroom, too. Do you think he saw?
Is that why Danger touched me?
I head back into the ballroom, scanning the room for Thad. Yep, there he is, sitting in my seat, talking to Danger. I rush over there, before things escalate.
“You need to leave,” I hear Danger say before I’m there.
Thad stands and I swoop in, grabbing Danger by the arm. “Ready, sweetheart? I really wanted to get on the road so we could get to Indy sooner.”
Danger stands, hooking one arm around my waist. “Sure thing.” And then he leans in and kisses my neck. “I just can’t get enough of this woman.”
I smile, and then we walk away. I give a quick wave to Lilah on my way out, putting my hand up to my ear telling her to call me.
“I want to apologize to Colton before we leave,” Danger says to me once we’re out of the ballroom.
“Oh, I saw them leave the ballroom earlier.”
Danger’s face appears dejected. “I heard they’re doing the race circuit too, so they might be somewhere else along the way.”
“So his wife owns Corporate Cares?” he asks.
“I don’t know if she owns it, but I know she works there. Why?”
Danger smiles. “No reason. Let’s get out of here.”
Danger and I spend the next thirty minutes checking out and loading our car, before we’re once again on the road.
Neither of us has mentioned what happened at breakfast earlier. I don’t dare bring it up because I really don’t ever want it to happen again. Maybe I should let him know that.
“You can’t touch me like that again in public. We’re supposed to be a respectable couple. In love.”
Danger just focuses on the road, silently thinking about who knows what. Maybe he’s not even thinking. And then finally, after a few moments he says, “Did you not like it?”
I did. “I didn’t,” I lie. “It isn’t something I would ever do in public. I have a reputation to uphold.”
Danger laughs. “Well, I have a rep, too.”
“Yes.” I fold my hands in my lap. “And it’s the thing we’re trying to change for your sake. You want to win, right?”
He rubs his thumb and forefinger over his eyebrow, tugging the hair absentmindedly . “Yeah, I do. Sometimes I just can’t help it.”
“Why?” I’m no therapist, but maybe just talking it through can help Danger with the reasoning behind his rambunctious ways.
He shrugs, eyes on the road. “Let’s just say I have a lot of madness in my head, and sometimes the crazy acts help calm it.”
I wasn’t expecting that answer. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“It means that when I’m being reckless it makes me feel alive.”
I laugh a little. “And all the other times you feel dead?”
He stares at me for a second before his eyes hit the road again. “Maybe not dead, but I don’t really feel alive either. Like just a void of everything.”
“That’s not a good way to live.”
He laughs. “Tell me about it.”
“So right now, right now you feel a void?”
He doesn’t say anything, just keeps driving for a few minutes. I guess he’s not going to answer, and I guess that’s fine. I’m sure I pried too far.
He doesn’t have to talk to me. This is an assignment. One to prove to my father that I can do business.
Before I can say anymore on the subject, Danger steps on the gas. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“Being a little reckless.” He smiles as he goes even faster.
I’ve grown up in the racing world. I even know how to handle my own with an Indy car. And I can drive fast, too. But I’m smart about it. I’m not one to disobey the speed limits on the interstate like Danger is right now.
“Slow down.” I grab the handle along the top of the door.
“Oh come on,” he says, speeding even faster, “I thought you wanted to feel alive.”
“I don’t think dying is a good way to feel alive.”
He laughs, and the sound only intensifies my fear. This guy is bat shit crazy. He sets his hand on my thigh with his other hand on the wheel as he speeds down the highway.
Thank god there’s no other cars around on the road.
“You’re insane.” I’m not going to lie, his hand on my thigh is making my heart pound. I’m sure it’s the fear.
He inches his hand up my thigh, and under my skirt as his speed continues. His eyes are on the road, his speed close to one-hundred miles per hour and his hand steadily inches closer to the center of my legs.