#Junkie (GearShark #1)(65)

Excitement sparked in his blue eyes. “Yeah, apparently, the calls Gamble has been making have seriously caused a stir in the racing world.”

“Well, in the world of speed, word travels fast.”

“Hopper might also have said some things to Gamble’s other drivers and dropped a few major hints to all the headquarter staff… People are talking.”

“The pro world is going to be steamed the indies are stealing their thunder,” I mused.

“This interview is basically going to be the first official announcement of the new racing division. Alongside my piece, Gamble is releasing a statement, and some of the sponsors he’s already got interested are all going to be mentioned.”

“Free press for them.” I nodded, thinking how smart Ron Gamble really was. “So where and when is the interview?”

“GearShark is sending a crew here to me. The guys down at the speedway are opening up the track for us, ten a.m. We’re going to do the shoot there at the track, and then I’ll sit down and answer some questions.”

“Pick me up early so we can get coffee on the way,” I said. Then I thought better of it. “No, I’ll just pick you up. I’ll probably have to drag your ass out of bed.”

“Yeah?” he seemed mildly surprised. “Don’t you have class?”

“Fuck class,” I drawled. “This is more important. Your first big interview and it’s with GearShark, no less. It’s a national magazine, dude. A bible to all drivers.”

“I’m so pumped.” I could hear the excitement in his voice. “That magazine is the bomb. My first interview and your first official job as my manager.”

“You ready to be famous?” I asked.

He scoffed at the idea, but I knew it was only a matter of time. The realization made my stomach twist, but I ignored it.

“So what’s been going on with you?” Drew asked.

“Con tried to get me tossed out of the frat.”

My hand was ripped away from his when he jackknifed up off my lap and slammed his feet onto the floor. “What?”

It was kinda cute the way he was all outraged. But it was unnecessary.

“What a douche,” I cracked. “Of course, it didn’t work.”

“He was that pissed you didn’t back him as the new president?”

I sneered. “Now he’s out of the election completely.”

“He still giving you a hard time?” Drew’s face darkened.

Oh yeah. But those details weren’t welcome in this moment, not in this bubble we created. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“I got your back. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

Drew leaned back against the couch, our bodies pressed together from our shoulders all the way to our feet. He leaned his head on my shoulder, and it felt so good I drifted off, even though I tried to stay awake. I wanted to remember every moment of tonight, but I was just so f*cking content and his steady breathing lulled me to sleep.

I didn’t know what time it was, just that it was very late, when he shook me gently.

“Yeah?” I said, blinking up as he leaned over me.

“C’mon, let’s go to bed.”

“Bed?” I echoed. Even half asleep, I was still surprised.

“You’re staying over tonight.” He held his hand out to me, a silent invitation.

I looked between him and his hand, then slowly surrendered mine. He kept hold of me the entire way upstairs and down the hall.

I hadn’t been in his room since that night months ago. But I was totally sober now.

He went in, and I hesitated on the threshold. He glanced back over his shoulder, giving my hand a slight tug.

“I’m not drunk this time.” I cautioned. “I won’t be forgetting anything in the morning.”

His hand slipped away from mine and my stomach plummeted. It was for the best anyway; better to know now before I fell even deeper in love with him.

Drew didn’t move away like I thought, though. He rotated back around, swiveled his hips in my direction, and stepped up close. It reminded me of the way I’d stepped up to him in the kitchen.

His eyes met mine. Neither of us had to look down or up. We stood level, on even ground. Drew curled his hand around my waist. His fingers crawled across my back and rested against my spine. He moved with agonizingly deliberate intent. I remained still and let him approach.

Our gazes remained locked together until just before our mouths touched. His eyes drifted closed first, and mine followed his lead.

Tender isn’t a word I would ever use to describe Drew, but that’s exactly what his kiss was. He fit his lower lip between mine so his mouth enclosed around my top lip, sucking the fullness in and then releasing to come back and do it again. Our lips brushed together, like they had their own personal handshake no one else knew.

It was everything in that moment, his lips, his breath, and the feel of his tongue slowly tangling with mine. His other hand grasped the other side of my waist and our chests came together.

It was the first time our skin touched like this, the first time we were skin to skin.

I loved the hardness of his body, the way his arm muscles flexed when he gripped me tighter. I lifted one arm and wrapped it around his shoulders so there wasn’t even a centimeter between us. Even though this was his kiss, I deepened it, and he growled into my mouth and followed my lead.