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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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TheRealRiverDaniels: Congratulations @vanessalennondriver! Can’t wait to see what you can do. See you on the grid.

tommy_boy.racing: Seriously? You’re on their side? I thought you were better than this.

skedaddleformula1: Never thought I’d see River bowing to pressure. Tell us how you really feel? Cause there’s no way this is real.

chasingwistoragic: I think this is so great. Thank you for supporting a woman on the grid!

abandongurgle: Just fucking say someone else is managing your socials, bro. We know you can’t be happy about this.

drumsplosion99: Pussy.

https.racing: Guess I have to find someone else to root for this season.

I blew out a breath and released the tension in my body. Practicing the simulation in wet conditions was still hard, even not being in the car. Whatever race ended up being my first Formula 1 race in wet conditions was something I wasn’t looking forward to.

Rain equalized a lot of things. You could have the fastest car on the grid, but that didn’t matter shit if you couldn’t keep the car from slipping off the road.

“Not too bad,” Annika said from where she sat beside me.

“Yeah.” I stretched. “I think I’m done for today.”

“Good. You can show me around the place and make sure I packed enough stuff.”

“The second one yes, though it’s not like I need much for one night. The first one no because I barely know my way around. It took me twenty minutes to find the gym this morning.”

She laughed. “They didn’t help you?”

“They had work.”

At least I thought they did. Beck was the only one I’d seen today. It was late in the afternoon now, so I imagined they’d be home soon. Then…

This was so weird.

I grabbed the bag Annika brought and she followed me up the stairs into Grayson’s room. As good a place as any until we figured out where I was actually sleeping.

Annika whistled. “Nice.”

“Bit bigger than mine.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Lace was the thing that greeted me when I opened the suitcase. Lots and lots of lace. “What the fuck?”

“Figured you might need it.”

Lingerie I’d had in the back of my closet for a long time was neatly piled inside. I’d never had a chance to wear it, I just thought it was pretty. And it looked like…

Yep. She brought all of it.

“Please tell me you packed actual clothes?”

“Am I your best mate or not? Of course I did. They’re in there.”

They were. Thank goodness.

“You really think I need this much lingerie? For one night?”

“I mean…” She thought about it. “Yes.”

“I’ve been meaning to fire you.”

“You wish.”

Putting on my own clothes felt strange, but also good. Who cared if it was just leggings and a t-shirt? It was nice not to be swimming in excess cloth. Not that I wouldn’t wear their clothes again. I would.

The thought of them finding me in their clothes?—

“Earth to Vanessa.”

“Huh?”

Annika raised a knowing eyebrow. “Chill with whatever fantasy you’re having.”

“I wasn’t.”

She gestured to the air around us. “The metric ton of perfume in the air begs to differ.”

“Sorry.” My cheeks flushed. That was something I needed to get under control. Thank fuck my racing suit was already customized to cover Omega perfume. There was no avoiding that anymore.

Annika stood. “I don’t blame you. Now I’m going to get out of here before your boy toys come back. Have fun, and I’ll text you tomorrow.”

“I’ll see you on the plane.”

She shot me finger guns before disappearing out the door. If there was something cheesy, Annika would do it. It was one of the reasons I loved her. The woman had no shame, and in turn, it helped me loosen up.

My stomach growled. I didn’t want tonight to turn into another night of food and no sex. So I texted Grayson.

Vanessa

I need to fuel up for my workout tonight.

Grayson

There are prepared meals in the fridge for River. Take one of those until we can get some for you. I’ll make a note with the chef and nutritionist.

“Oh wow.”

My own voice startled me. The team had a nutritionist, but they had their own? Okay. I could get behind that.

This would be a transition. Before Formula 1, as a racer, you were around money, but didn’t have it unless you came from it. I had some thanks to Grandpa. I was taken care of and didn’t have to worry. But it wasn’t my own personal chef level of money.

I wasn’t going to complain, and I certainly wasn’t going to refuse. Even if I rarely admitted it, I loved being spoiled. It wasn’t just Omega instincts either. Something about a person going out of their way to do something for you or give you something meant everything to me. Because they thought about you. They cared and took the time.

The kitchen was a stainless steel dream. You could probably do a photoshoot for a magazine in here. The kinds with smiling chefs and a plated meal with absolutely no visible mess in the kitchen. Because that was realistic. Or maybe I was just a messy cook.

Sure enough, there were stacked meal containers. I took one that looked like chicken and rice, barely managing to heat it up before I devoured it. Yum.

I hadn’t seen Beck since he went with the delivery guys. Where was everyone?

Vanessa

When will you all be home?

Grayson didn’t answer the message. A new message, in a new thread, popped up instead. This one had all five of us. My stomach did a silly little flip-flop.

Grayson

Vanessa would like to know when we’ll all be home. I’m leaving now, little one.

Beck

I am home. But she knows why she can’t see me. Surprise.

River

I’m almost there. I’ve been about to gnaw my arm off because I should have been home hours ago.

Elias

I’m in the elevator.

I sprinted.

The tiny voice that cautioned me not to be too eager was easily pushed aside. They were mine, I was theirs. If I couldn’t be eager with them then there was something wrong with the world.

As soon as the doors opened, I leapt, and Elias was right there to catch me. We didn’t make it far. His hands palmed my thighs, dragging my legs around his waist as he pinned me to the wall. “I could get used to a greeting like that,” he said before our lips met.

I drowned in the scent and taste of huckleberry, every movement of his lips and tongue gifting me with more. Beck had been right—we all needed this together. Because once we breached that barrier, there wouldn’t be any holding back.

I held on as long as possible before I needed to breathe. “Where were you?”

“Pit practice. But I also had to go see my family.” He rolled his eyes. “Always a joy, I assure you.”

“No?”

He chuckled, carrying me further into the penthouse, hands still on my ass, legs still around his waist. “No. My parents are aristocrats. Nobility, actually, and rather than being their fine society son, I’ve chosen this career. They can’t imagine doing something so ordinary as touching a car .”

“How horrifying.”

“For them it is. Getting dirty? Unthinkable.”

Leaning in, I pressed my face to his neck and inhaled. The warmth of his skin and the way he held me… “Depends on the kind of dirty.”

“Not to my family.”

“Did you tell them about me?”

I felt him shake his head, and he sat down on one of the couches so I straddled him. “I didn’t. First, I don’t trust them not to gossip, and second, I want you to myself for a bit. They haven’t earned the right to be first ones I tell. At least not my parents.” A shade of sadness crossed his face, quickly hidden.

“I’m sorry.”

Elias smiled softly. “They made their bed. But they’ll love you.”

“If they hate what you do, I highly doubt they’ll be enthusiastic about a woman who does it.”

“Tough shit for them.” After a second, he looked at me. “You’re not wearing my clothes anymore.”

“Well spotted. Annika brought me some of mine.”

He slid his hands over my legs. “I like these, but I also already miss you in my clothes.”

“I’m sure I’ll be wearing all your clothes again.”

“Better be.”

We both paused, and I was struck by how natural this felt. Like I hadn’t just met them yesterday . That was the beauty of instinct, but it still bathed me in a sense of awe I couldn’t shake.

“What are you thinking?” He smiled like he couldn’t help it. “Because whatever it is, a guy could get used to being stared at like that.”

“Just doesn’t feel real.”

Without breaking eye contact, Elias grabbed my hand and slid it down his chest until it pressed against where he was hard. “Real enough for you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen it yet.”

He winked. “Don’t worry. Just because it doesn’t have a knot doesn’t mean it can’t get the job done.”

“Oh?” I tilted my head as I stood from his lap, pretending I didn’t know what he meant. “And what job would that be, exactly?”

Blowing out a breath, Elias made a face. “How do I put this? Oh .” He leapt to his feet and grabbed my hand, towing me behind him as he sprinted to the kitchen. I almost slipped in my socks and he caught me a second before I ran into the counter.

“So,” he reached for a banana from the bowl of fruit on the counter, then shook his head before he touched it. “No. Hold on.”

I leaned back against the counter, unable to stop smiling. My chest and cheeks ached from holding in laughter. Elias was in the fridge. Sounds of drawers being opened and shut and things being moved reached me, along with him muttering something under his breath.

All my restraint disappeared when he turned around holding a cucumber in one hand and an eggplant in the other. I burst into laughter. Fuck , I couldn’t breathe .

“So,” he said again, clearing his throat and presenting the cucumber. “This is me, minus some absolutely incredible jewelry. And the job you asked about is when I use this, or rather, something a little warmer , to fill?—”

I jumped forward and pressed my hand over his mouth, laughing. “I’m good. I understand. No need to continue.”

Elias tossed the cucumber on the counter and caught my wrist, kissing my palm before peeling my hand away. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “But I haven’t even gotten to the part where this ,” the eggplant, “is your Alphas with a knot and what happens.”

I took the eggplant and placed it back in the refrigerator. “If any of you are actually the size of an eggplant you’re going to break me.”

“If by breaking you mean a lot of orgasms, then yes, I agree.”

My face turned a shade of red that was decidedly not eggplant as I grabbed the cucumber and put it back. Arms wrapped around me from behind with a soft chuckle. “Did I embarrass you?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m just not used to it.”

“Teasing?”

It took a second for me to realize that yes, it was that. I had to take myself seriously all the time, because if I didn’t, then no one else took me seriously. Of course I laughed, but the last time I’d been just silly ? I couldn’t remember.

You can be both .

“That and talking about sex.”

Elias kissed my neck and turned me so my back pressed into the fridge. “Do you not want me to tease you about it?”

I smirked. “You can, it’s just unraveling some stuff for me. You try making racy jokes in a paddock full of men and see how they view you. Or even being a bit goofy.”

His face dropped. I saw the way that reality cracked into him, and I felt a little bad about being the one to say it. But they did need to know.

With his eyes finally locking on mine, he grinned again. “Looks like we have some fun to make up for then, don’t we?”

Relief swept through me that he didn’t labor the point or try to tell me how sorry he was. We would simply fix it and move on.

Mint and chocolate reached my senses seconds before River strode into the kitchen wearing Xelerate team gear. “I’m never leaving the house again,” he declared, stealing me from Elias. “Never.”

Before I could respond, his lips met mine, and fuck I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the feeling of all of them. The effortless way they made me theirs, and we hadn’t even gone all the way yet. Soon.

River teased my mouth open so he could kiss me deeper, leaving no part of me unkissed. It was like he wanted to brand himself onto my soul. Too late. He already did that with one breath of his scent.

“Good,” I whispered against his mouth. “If you never leave the house, that means I’ll kick your ass from here to Espana.”

“I don’t think so, baby. If I’m staying, you’re staying with me.”

“In your dreams.”

“The ones last night? Yes.”

A soft chime came from the other room—I must have missed it when River came in. But a chime meant the elevator, which meant Grayson was home too.

“Are you hungry?” River asked.

“I just stole one of your meals from the fridge, so no, why?”

River began to purr, pressing our bodies together so I felt every bit of vibration. “First?” He nipped at my bottom lip. “And again, I’m sorry in advance, but instinct. You’re my Omega .” The words contained enough growl to fuel heat in my veins. “My instincts are off the charts in every way, and that means taking care of you. Whether that means keeping you fed or fucking you until you’re screaming, it doesn’t matter.”

I swallowed, breath shallow. Mine were off the charts too. I wanted to curl up in the dark with them and let them spoil me. Let them pleasure me. Be a real Omega for the first time in my life. “Is there more? You said first.”

“Second, the only thing I plan on eating right now is you , and I don’t want to wait. So I need to make sure you’re fed before I carry you off like a caveman.”

“I’m sure I can walk to whatever surprise you’re all hiding from me. Besides, we have to wait for Beck, wherever he is.”

“I’m here.”

I startled, suddenly seeing both Grayson and Beck standing near the entrance to the kitchen. “Where have you been hiding?”

Beck said nothing, just smirked. Grayson walked over and took me in his arms, kissing my forehead. The deep inhale was shared between both of us. “Hello, little one.”

“Hi.”

Elias’s hands landed on my hips from behind. “We’re all here, Nes. Ready for the surprise?”

It didn’t matter if I was ready for a surprise. We were all in the same room together, and their scents merging made my head swim in that delicious way I couldn’t control.

Just the thought of them and me set me on fire. If I didn’t have them soon, my Omega would lose it.

“Yeah,” I finally said.

“Perfect.” River threw me over his shoulder in one movement, carrying me toward the stairs, and I couldn’t stop laughing.