His Ultimate Prize

She looked over her shoulder. ‘I thought it was incredible.’

He stilled, an arrested look on his face. ‘You enjoyed it?’

‘Very much. The girl has an amazing spirit. I can’t wait to find out more about her journey.’ She glanced at him. ‘That is if you intend to continue with it?’

A look passed over his face, gone too quickly before she could decipher it. ‘With such a rousing endorsement, how could I not? As it happens, I have a few more chapters.’

Pleasure fizzed through her. ‘Will you let me read it?’

He smiled. ‘You mean you want to read more, despite the lack of X-rated material?’

She huffed in irritation. ‘Why did I think a lovely conversation with you would last more than five seconds?’

His low laugh curled around her senses. She was so lost in it, she didn’t realise he had led her away from Axel until he pushed her into the seat next to his.

* * *

The Monza circuit, perched on the outskirts of the small namesake town, was situated north of Milan. The view from above as Rafael’s helicopter pilot flew over the racetrack was spectacular.

A riot of colour from the different sponsor logos and team colours defied the late winter greyness. She felt the palpable excitement from small teams readying the race cars before they landed.

Casting a glance at Rafael, she couldn’t immediately see his reaction due to wraparound shades and noise-cancelling headphones, but his shoulders, the same ones she’d caressed barely ninety minutes ago, tensed the closer they got to the landing pad. If they’d been alone she would’ve placed her hand on his—an incredible development considering this time last week the thought of touching him set her teeth on edge—but she didn’t want to attract undue attention. The paddock would supply enough gossip to fuel this event and the rest of the X1 season as it was.

Cameras flashed as soon as the helicopter touched down and demanding questions were lobbed towards them the moment the doors opened.

Are you returning to racing, Rafael?

Will you be officially announcing your retirement today or is this the start of your comeback?

Is it true you’re suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder?

His jaw was set in concrete even though his lips were curved in a smile as he stepped out of the helicopter and waved a lazy hand at the cameras.

A luxurious four-by-four was parked a few feet away. He held the door open for Raven and slid in after her.

‘I don’t know how you can stand them without wanting to punch someone in the face,’ Raven found herself murmuring as she watched a particularly ambitious paparazzo hop onto the back of a scooter and race after them.

‘They help raise the profile of the sport. They’re a necessary evil.’

‘Even when they’re intrusive to the point of personal violation?’

‘When I engage them, I engage them on my terms. It’s a skill I learned early.’

With a surprise, she realised that everything the press knew about Rafael was something he’d chosen to share with them, not some sleazy gossip they’d dug up. To the common spectator, Rafael lived his life in the public eye but in the past few weeks she’d discovered he had secrets...secrets he shared with no one, not even his family.

‘You give them just enough to keep them interested and to keep them from prying deeper.’

Stunning blue eyes returned her stare with amusement and a hint of respect. ‘That is just so, my clever Raven.’

‘So, what pierces that armour, Rafael?’

His smile dimmed. ‘I could tell you but I’d have to sleep with you.’

Raven’s heart lurched and then sped up when, for a single second, she found herself contemplating if that was a barter worth considering. Sleeping with Rafael...

A tiny electric shock that zapped her system left her speechless.

‘Since you’re not slapping my face in outrage, dare I hope the suggestion isn’t as repulsive as you found it previously?’

‘I...I never thought you were repulsive,’ she replied. ‘You may have been a little too intense with your interest, that’s all.’

‘You dislike my intensity?’

She opened her mouth to say yes, and found herself pausing. ‘I wasn’t used to it. And I didn’t like that you had everyone falling over themselves for you and yet you weren’t satisfied.’

‘But now we’ve spent some time together you think you understand me?’ His tone held a hint of derision that chilled her a little.

‘I don’t claim to understand you but I think I know you a little better, yes.’

The warmth slowly left his eyes to be replaced by a look so neutral he seemed like a total stranger.