Page 18 of Green Flag (StormSprint #2)

Everly

Luca Mendes’s arm was in the crook of my waist. All my senses heightened to his body behind me, my back pressed into him, his soft snores just above my ear.

We had cuddled.

I reached for my phone on the bedside table slowly so as not to disturb his much-needed sleep.

The last thing I’d known was that we’d showered separately — because I couldn’t let him see me completely naked — and had another session, and then he’d come out with a wet towel to clean me as I went in and out of blissful consciousness.

He had the most soothing voice, rough and clear, deep and throaty enough to lure me into sleep.

The exhaustion from the number of times he’d made me come helped me fall deeply too.

And that was exactly why my heartbeat quickened, thinking of how long we’d been asleep.

The hotel corridor would be crawling with StormSprint workers, including my father.

Luca was a good guy; I couldn’t put him in the middle of this, even if it meant pissing off my father.

Luca being a good guy also meant my dad might not even care. He might have warned everyone, but Luca wasn’t exactly a man any father could disapprove of.

Exhibit A: He’d put my phone on charge. And there was a pint of water beside it.

Which I knew made my bar pretty low but, if we continued like this, I would no doubt fall in love with him.

Because Luca Mendes was oh-so-fuckable and oh-so-lovable.

Damn the Mendes’s genes.

I glugged the water, parched from last night’s activities.

As I set the drink aside again, I managed to slide my phone off the side, gravity pulling it free from the charger and falling onto the floor.

He didn’t flinch but his snores stopped, his thumb rubbed at my bare stomach and then he was out again after pulling me closer to him and sighing in my ear.

I’d come six times last night. Six.

But because I hadn’t been filled… there was this unsatisfied tingle within me. I still needed more. I pressed further back into him, feeling his morning hard-on. The stamina of a fucking horse, this man.

For a few minutes, I allowed myself to enjoy his embrace, eyeing up the muscled arms that held me in place, the solid feel of his chest against me. The length of him that I wanted to wriggle on.

And I could feel the fall. The opening of my mind. Like I was stepping closer and closer to the cliffedge without realising.

I’d always been like it. When I loved, I loved freely and fiercely.

That couldn’t happen here. I had a purpose and Luca Mendes was a distraction.

Without mercy, I ripped myself from his grip and ran to the ensuite to clean my teeth, grabbing some pyjamas on the way.

“Everly?” he called after me, voice hoarse.

“Yeah, one second,” I said, shoving my legs into the silk trousers.

I’d done nothing wrong, but I wanted to cry. My hormones were all over the place.

It wasn’t that I owed Pedro anything — definitely not — but this was the first time I’d cuddled anyone other than him… and felt something too. There was a relief, freeing my breaths, but also an overwhelming tug on my heart because I didn’t know where to go from here.

When I came back out, somewhat refreshed, he was sitting up in bed, scrolling through his phone. He looked up at me with a lazy smile. “Your pyjamas are nice. They look soft.”

On the bed, I shuffled over to him on my knees. He took my hips, stroking the silk, his finger running under the elastic band.

When he reached up to kiss me, I gave him an awkward peck, eyes open, when it was clear he’d been after more.

I fell to sit back on my heels.

He nodded, looking away at his phone.

Shit.

“We have to get you out of here before someone catches us,” I told him. “I didn’t think through the morning.”

“Neither did I,” he said. “I was too busy enjoying our cuddles. I’ve never done that before.”

“Cuddled?”

“Stayed the night at someone’s,” he said.

I shrugged, taking another sip of water for something to do. Luca, with all his golden retriever energy, wasn’t a stay-the-night kind of guy? That didn’t match the entirety of his personality. “I’ve never done that on a one-night stand either.”

“I don’t mean on a one-night stand.”

Ever? I supposed that last time I’d stayed in his bed. But he’d asked me to stay. Right?

“I wouldn’t be able to tell,” I complimented. “You were a very good cuddler.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. So humble.

“You’re my first blond,” I said.

His chuckle was even deeper this time. “Is that so?”

“What can I say? You’re not my usual type, Mendes.”

He cocked a brow. “What is your usual type?”

“Dark, tall, older.”

“I’m only a year older than you. But I am nearly a foot taller.”

“Everyone is a foot taller than me,” I laughed and stood, gesturing to my height.

“Your first blond ,” he mused, looking thoughtful as his eyes raked over me.

“My second most things, to be fair,” I confessed. “I’ve only really been with one guy. Like that, anyway.”

“I’m honoured, Everly.”

“Honoured you might be, but we need to get you out of here.”

He nodded and grabbed his stuff as I poked my head out the door.

“Are you good at sneaking around?” he stage whispered.

I shook my head before I let that thought really mean something.

“It’s 8 am the day after a race,” he said. “No one will be out there unless they’ve been up to the same as us.”

He was right. The coast was clear.

When I turned around, he was just chucking his top on, his jeans still unbuttoned.

Some things come our way to test us. Luca was one of them. My resolve was slipping. As was my grip on the door handle.

It slammed shut, taking me out of my trance, and he grinned at me as he did his belt up without looking down.

Now, how was that hot? Anyone could do that. Yet that quick, confident movement… he needed to leave .

“Get out, get out, get out,” I muttered. The palm of my hand wasn’t harsh enough, so I thudded my forehead against the door instead and groaned.

He brushed my hair back off my shoulder, pulling my attention to him and he kissed my cheek. “It’s been a pleasure to be your friend, Everly. Don’t be a stranger when you come back.”

“I won’t,” I said and lifted on my tiptoes to kiss him on the mouth. A simple, less-than-a-second peck.

But when I opened the door to let him out, looking left and right, the lift doors pinged open — and out stepped a flash of pastel pink and perfect posture. Livie. Fuck.

“Shit,” I cried and went to close the door, but we’d made eye contact, and she waved, telling me to wait.

My stomach sank. There was only one reason she might speak to me. I was already out of the job. So… someone at the trailer park had told her of my snooping.

I swallowed and plastered on a fake smile.

“Livie’s outside,” I muttered through it and stepped in front of the door, shooing Luca behind me.

“Hey, Everly,” she said with a bright smile. She was so pretty and proper, it hurt. Everything matched — from her white trainers with the pink stripes down to her pink coat.

“Hey,” I said and gestured to her attire and overnight bag. “Been anywhere nice?”

The bag was suddenly behind her. “I was coming to find you.”

Right. My brows rose.

Her room was three down from mine on this corridor. She didn’t need a coat or a bag to say hey.

I’d been so damn close. Bella had told me more details about the plane searches; she was sure someone else was continuing Pedro’s drug dealing. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was never his or that the real criminal was my father.

I wrung my hands, pulling on each of my fingers with more force than was pleasant, relieving some of the itch in my palms.

“The song you posted,” she started, but I already had to stop her.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I should have told you before I posted it. That was reckless of me.”

She shrugged, tilting her head from side to side as she considered.

“Maybe. I would appreciate the heads-up next time. But it’s okay because it worked.

Listen,” she said, leaned in and lowered her voice.

“Between you and me, we have a documentary being filmed next month for StormSprint, and we’ll be heavily featured.

I went to them with your song and, well, they loved it.

They want to use it as promotion and — I don’t want to get your hopes up — but your dad mentioned using it as the intro song and one of the producers loved it. ”

My mouth parted and I could hardly see her chuffed smile as I blinked so frequently. “What?”

“So they want you in the studio to record it properly,” she said with a nod. “No rush on that. Filming starts next month and it’s not scheduled to be released until Summer of next year.”

“You’re serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

Luca snickered behind me and I coughed to try and cover the noise.

She became all business, smile gone, straight-faced. “I’ve already looked into it. We’re in Florida at the end of the season. I’ve made some calls and it looks like studio time then could work out. That is only if you wanted to make a full song out of it.”

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “No, of course.” I paused, my frown growing. “ We’re in Florida?”

She nodded slowly. “The last race of the season. First week of January.”

“But I thought I wasn’t… I thought you’d replaced me.”

Her eyes widened and she dropped the bag behind her.

“Oh god, Everly, no. I would be explicit if that were the case. Your dad pushed for the job to go back up. But I was going to talk to you about applying. Then you could get the permanent contract so he could shut up. If you’re ever worried about your job, come to me.

” She sighed, glancing up at me through her lashes.

“But, again, why would you when I was such a bitch? I’m sorry about the other week.

I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you.

I know you only wanted to help Luca and…

who wouldn’t, hey? He’s such a little charmer.

” She smiled softly. “I’ve just… I’ve got a lot going on in my personal life and — it’s no excuse, don’t get me wrong — I’ve let it get on top of me a little.

The inquiry is taking up more of my time than I’d initially expected.

” Her cheeks pinkened and she shook her hair back.

“What I’m trying and failing at saying is welcome aboard. ”

She offered her hand for me to shake. Even they were soft in the fleeting time I held one.

“I’ve really enjoyed being back,” I told her, leaning against the door frame, hoping she hadn’t caught Luca’s noise.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing the press interact with you,” she said with a light laugh.

“Got them scared of you, but all I’ve seen has been really positive.

The public’s reaction to Ciclati has been tumultuous the last few years…

and I know yours has been up and down. I feel like this could be great for both you and the team. ”

“With the song, it seems like it might be.”

She beamed and gestured at me with a shake of her head. “Sorry, I was so keen to tell you. Anyway, I obviously stopped you while you were on the move.”

“Uh, yeah.” Shit, what could I say? My pyjamas were hardly corridor-appropriate, and I had no shoes on. “I ran out of tea bags in my room.”

She nodded as if that was a reasonable excuse. “The hotel ones are never the same as home. I’ve got some in my suitcase. English breakfast tea. I can grab you some?”

“That would be great, thank you.”

She dashed off and I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn’t been caught snooping. Nor screwing Luca.

He sat on my bed, leaning back on his palms, trying to stifle a laugh. “Congratulations, Everly.”

“That was a whirlwind,” I said, pressing my back against the door.

“You’re on the team, though,” he said with an impressed grin. “And you’ll get royalties for a song you wrote in the space of a night.”

“That you helped me with,” I told him.

“I supported you with. You did it all on your own.”

“So…” I started, gazing at the floor as I stepped forward, unsure how to bring up all the emotions roaring quietly inside before Livie returned with her tea bags.

“So,” he repeated awkwardly, lips pursed in thought. “I don’t think—”

“It’s not a good idea—”

He nodded. “Yeah. I know what you mean. I, er, with everything going on with Alv… my mind is too busy for anything. Even fuck buddies.”

Because Bella was right. He wouldn’t commit, and I’d stir my own little pot of drama by falling in love with him too.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“But we are friends, Everly,” he said and stood, grabbing his jacket from the chair by the desk. “Even though it will be a struggle, I’ll try not to flirt with you at every opportunity.”

“You can flirt with me,” I said because I loved his sense of humour. His honesty. His view on the world. He made me feel seen. “I wouldn’t want to see you struggle.”

He chuckled. “Good. Well, I’ll see you next week.”

I agreed with a mumble.

He leaned down to kiss my forehead. “Enjoy your tea, friend .”