Rush: Part One & Two (The Pitstop Series Book 3)
Rush: Part One & Two: Part 2 – Chapter 48

The flowers in my shaking hand are heavy. I don’t know what to do or what to say. With slow steps, I make my way down the path that leads to Maxime Thomas’ gravestone.

When I met Gabriel, Maxime was still alive and healthy. Four years ago, he died in an accident in his Formula One car. It flipped ten times before landing upside down, no halo on top to protect him. I was at that race, and it was horrible. None of the drivers left the hospital and neither did I until the doctor came out and gave everyone the news no one wanted to hear. I’d never seen Gabriel break down like he did that day. Losing Maxime was like losing a sibling, a mentor, his moral compass.

When I finally reach Gabriel, he doesn’t hear me, and I do my best not to scare him. I hear sobs leaving his mouth, and the tears welling up in my eyes are out of my control. I love him too much not to feel his pain.

My hand moves to his neck, but he doesn’t even flinch. All he does is look up at me with his tear-stained face. I squat down on the ground next to him and place the flowers in front of the gravestone that reads:

Maxime Arthur Thomas

Friend, Son, Godfather, Formula One Driver

“I miss him so much,” Gabriel says, and I wipe away his tears with the back of my hand.

“I know, baby,” I reply softly, and before I can move another muscle, Gabriel pulls me into his lap and wraps his arms around my body.

Another sob escapes him, and he hugs me tighter. We sit on the ground for a while, giving Gabriel time to calm down.

“You can’t ever die, chérie. I could never live in a world without you in it.” I lean back, place my lips on his briefly, and then slide my hands on each side of his face.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry I didn’t remember earlier.” Gabriel’s gaze shifts from my lips to my eyes.

“Don’t apologize, and don’t ever stop taking care of yourself. You’re—you’re—” He cuts off, and more tears fall from his eyes.

“I know,” I say.

I’m not supposed to disappear, not like everyone else he’s ever cared for. Seeing him like this, heartbroken and vulnerable, makes me want to take all of his pain and put it on myself.

The redness in his green-brown eyes makes my heart thump rapidly against my ribcage. It’s hard for me to understand how so much pain could be focused on one person. I put my thumb on his bottom lip and the rest of my fingers on his cheek.

“I know it hurts, but you have to remember one thing: you are strong, you can do this,” I tell him, and his full lips form a straight line. “You are talented and wonderful, and I am so proud of you. I am proud of the man you are, the driver you have become, the friend you’ve always been, the whatever-you-are-to-me you are.”

We both laugh a little, and I go back to building him up.

“Having you in my life has brought me so much joy, happiness, and love. Yes, it may have brought me heartache too, but from that pain, you have taught me how to be stronger, more independent, and most importantly, you’ve taught me how to love someone in a messy and exciting way.” His eyes fixate on my lips, and I smile at him. I didn’t say the words, but we both know what I meant. My love for him is consuming and thrilling.

“Let’s go,” he says and stands back up on his feet.

Gabriel holds his hands out for me, and I slide both of mine in his. He helps me up, and his lips find mine before he leads me away from the one place that is strong enough to drag him down.

Gabriel and I go back to his home and spend most of the day cuddling on his bed, watching movies on his laptop. We decided to watch all the Marvel movies in chronological order, and he got snacks for us. He rubs my back and plays with my hair for most of the first film, and by the time we reach the second one, I get up and take off my jacket. Gabriel is watching me closely with warmth in his eyes but doesn’t say anything. During moments like these, I wish I could crawl into his mind to know everything he’s thinking and feeling.

After another hour, I feel his fingers on my chin, and he lifts my head so my gaze meets his. His lips press onto mine, but the kiss feels different. It feels more honest, more meaningful than all of our other ones. It isn’t rushed, and it’s not suppressing any feelings between us.

“Gabriel! Aunt Nicolette and Aunt Domi are back, and they brought a surprise,” Jean screams, and Gabriel groans.

I lean back from the kiss, but Gabriel guides me closer so he can capture my lips again. A giggle escapes my throat, and I push away from him. It sounded like Jean was excited, which means whatever the surprise is, it has to be good.

“Go, I’ll be waiting here,” I say, and he frowns at me.

“No, you’re coming with me, and you’re going to meet my aunts,” he replies, and my heart skips a beat.

I’m meeting his aunts, now, at this very moment.

I swallow hard, and Gabriel flashes me a grin, revealing his perfect dimples. It calms me in an instant.

We walk down the stairs, and Gabriel laces his fingers through mine, trying to comfort me to the best of his ability. I take a deep breath, and by the time we reach the bottom of the staircase, a genuine smile is on my face.

He leads me into the kitchen, and surely enough, Domi, Nicolette, and Jean are all standing there, smiling at each other. Nicolette, a tall, beautiful woman with long, red hair and light brown eyes walks up to us and wraps her arms around Gabriel.

“We’re having a baby,” the woman says in perfect French, and the smile slipping onto my lips is entirely out of my control. She turns to me with a warm expression then. “Valentina, it’s nice to finally meet you,” she says before hugging me. “I’m Nicolette.” She didn’t have to introduce herself since I’ve seen videos and pictures of her. It does, however, surprise me that she knows exactly who I am.

“It’s nice to meet you too. Congratulations,” I tell her.

“Thank you, beauté.”

Nicolette steps away, and I look at Domi, yet another gorgeous woman. She is a bit shorter compared to her wife and her curves are to die for. Her brown, coily hair complements her brown eyes, and her pinched nose highlights her full lips. Domi introduces herself as well, and afterward, I move over to give Jean a hug.

I find out Domi is the one who is carrying their baby and that the couple has been trying to have one for a year now. Finally, the artificial insemination worked and Domi got pregnant.

For the rest of the evening, I get to know Gabriel’s aunts. Nicolette is Gabriel’s father’s sister, and she met Domi when they were sixteen years old. Eight years later, they got married, and four years after that, they started to try and have a baby. Nicolette is very open with me, she shares her stories and asks questions in return.

As much as I’m enjoying this, getting to know the women who raised two of my favorite people, this is an intimate moment. I feel like I’m intruding, which is why I decide it’s time for me to leave.

“I have to go,” I whisper into Gabriel’s ear, and he takes my hand to lead me from the living room, up the stairs to his bedroom. He shuts the door, and I put my hands on his chest when he comes close to me again. “What’s going on?”

“Don’t leave,” he says, and a small smile spreads over my lips.

“I think Domi and Nicolette want to spend some time alone with you and Jean,” I tell him, and he frowns at me.

“Stay,” he begs when I step back, and I don’t have the strength to say no again.

“What would we do if I stayed?”

A wicked grin spreads over his face, and I know whatever he is going to say next is going to make my body ache.

“We could do a lot,” he whispers as he bends down, and his lips brush the lobe of my ear.

A shiver runs down my spine, and I’m close to letting him do whatever he wants to me.

“I could let my fingers roam into your panties, or you could fall apart all over my tongue.” I grab his arms because my legs no longer have the strength to hold me up. “Or I could pin you down on the bed, spread your legs wide open, and make you mine.” His lips find my earlobe once again, and a low moan leaves my lips. “I love that sound,” he continues, and I make the same one again.

His hands drop to my ass, and he picks me up off the ground. A gasp escapes me, and I giggle when he slams me down on the bed. I like the aggressive side he’s showing. I like that he can take things slow but also knows when to go fast.

“So, tell me, what do you want to do?” He pulls his shirt over his head, showing off his incredible abs.

“I think the last option sounds really good,” I reply, and he takes half of his bottom lip between his teeth.

“Are you sure?” he asks, but I’m already removing my shirt and pants so I’m lying on the bed only wearing my underwear.

Gabriel hasn’t moved a centimeter, waiting for me to reassure him.

“I want you inside me,” I admit, and a smirk spreads over his face. His dimples alone excite my body.

“Fuck,” he replies and pins my wrists down on the bed.

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