Chameleon Soul (Chequered Flag #1) (15 page)

“Of course, we have an exam.”

“All right, I guess I’ll see you soon then.”

I hung up and turned to Teo. “You ready?”

Both guys looked at me worriedly, although Dustin threw his glance over his shoulder since he was walking back to his room. I made a mental note to pressure him into talking when I got home, because he hadn’t been the same since Elora stopped by. He’d been retreating into himself, only showing a glimpse of how he used to be on rare occasions.

Teo spun his car keys around his finger as he waited. I grabbed my bag off the sofa and joined him near the door. Taking his hand in mine, I squeezed it tightly as we made our way down to the mob of press all eager to snap our picture.

* * *

When I stepped from the car with Teo, all eyes in the car park were on me.

Well, not really, but I felt like they were.

There were a lot of people who noticed Teo, yet no one seemed that bothered by our arrival. When Teo took my hand, it actually helped to block them out. His thumb tracing over the back of my hand soothed and allowed me to refrain from becoming too self-conscious because all I could focus on was his touch. I was sure he knew the effect he had on me too. His smug grin gave him away.

I hadn’t expected him to follow me all of the way around campus, but I should have known better. By the time we reached the exam hall, I was thankful of his presence and reluctant to give it up. Considering all of my classmates were there, and they had no doubt seen the magazines, I knew it would be the worst moment of the day for sure.

Teo let go of my hand to wrap an arm around my shoulder, no doubt sensing my hesitation to approach anyone. He pulled me close to his side and kissed the top of my head.

“It’ll be fine. I’m here.”

It still shocked me how well he could read me considering I’d changed so much in the year we were apart. He was still able to follow my every cue and interpret what I needed before I could voice my desires.

Wrapping an arm around his waist, I squeezed him tightly, pressing myself as close as possible when heads began turning our way. Of course, the first one to notice me was David, quickly followed by Nadine, who blocked my view of him when she sashayed over.

“How are you holding up?” She hugged me awkwardly around Teo’s grip. Neither of us wanted to be separated.

“Okay, so far. This is the part I’m dreading. What have people been saying?”

Teo made a sound of disapproval. “I thought we were going to ignore it, baby.”

I kept my gaze focused on Nadine, urging her to answer the question.

“It’s mostly David stirring things. Everyone’s seen it, but it’s not a big deal,” she lied. The slight twitch beneath her right eye gave her away every single time.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw David approaching, and suddenly everyone became a lot more interested in us. The hushed whispers grew in volume and heads turned to us. It took all of my focus to stop myself recoiling into Teo and hiding behind him.

“So the magazines got it right this time? I guess your stalking paid off,” he said, his voice not concealing the pleasure he was getting from my discomfort. He held out his hand as if he expected Teo to shake it. “David Hennington. My father owns Hennington Media.”

I glanced up at Teo. His eyes were calculative, boring into David with a fierce intensity. “You mean the Hennington Media that owns the magazines that have been printing so much shit about us?”

David dropped his hand slowly, realising Teo wasn’t about to shake it. “That would be the one. Although, we do extensive checks on everything we print and have reliable sources, so there must be some truth to the stories.”

“None whatsoever.”

“So she’s never stalked you and she doesn’t have an unbalanced personality? Because I’ve seen her run from campus numerous times looking like a demented person.”

“Fuck off, David. What have you got against Raine?” Nadine spat at him, angling her body between the two of us so I was mostly blocked from view.

Beside me Teo stiffened, his muscles coiled as if prepared to strike. His grip tightened painfully around my shoulder, but it was a pain that made me feel safe.

“I don’t have a problem with Raine.”

“Bullshit.”

I reached out and placed a hand lightly on Nadine’s back, signalling for her to let it go. David had hated me ever since I started getting better grades than him and supposedly “stole” an internship he was meant to take up in our second year. I never stole anything—I earned my position, and it wasn’t my fault he thought he could slack off and get by on his family name.

“Is there a point to this conversation? Because if there isn’t, I’d like to talk to
my girlfriend
alone before her exam.”

David snorted. “Girlfriend? How long’s that going to last? If none of those grid girls were special enough to hold your interest, I can guarantee she’s not.”

Teo’s gaze hardened. He took a step forward, dropping his arm but keeping hold of my hand. “You obviously missed it the first time, but that was my polite way of telling you to fuck off.”

“I don’t think you want to cause a scene with me, Coates. My father can ruin you quicker than he built you up. You’re the nation’s favourite driver
because
of him. Without Hennington Media, you’d be like all of the others.”

I tugged on Teo’s hand, urging him back to my side. Whether David was right or wrong, a brawl wasn’t going to help either of us. Teo, however, didn’t move.

“Really?” he said. “Because from where I’m standing it seems
I’m
the one who can ruin
you
. If I make a few calls right now and refuse to promote Hennington Media, who is your father going to blame when there’s a blank spot on my car at Silverstone in a few weeks where your logo should be? I know the type of man he is—business comes first over family. He’ll cut you off, refuse you any responsibility if I do. One mistake is all it takes with men like your father, even if you’re his son. Isn’t that right, David?”

David paled. When Teo pulled out his phone, he became even whiter.

“Do you want me to do it?”

“How about I give you the opportunity to tell your story and set the public straight?” David hurried to offer. “You give Hennington Media an exclusive on what’s really happening.”

“Like I’m going to help
you.
Fuck off and leave us alone.”

David faded back into the crowd, and so did everyone else’s gaze. People became disinterested at the lack of drama and returned to their own conversations.

“I knew I always liked you,” Nadine said, beaming up at Teo.

He was still trying to shake the anger raging within him when his mobile rang.

“What’s up, Mickey?”

I couldn’t hear what his manger said on the other end and Teo only hummed, not giving me any clue as to what the conversation was about.

“Okay, got it. I’ll be there.” He hung up and pocketed the phone as they started calling us into the hall.

“You’ll be where?”

“They want me to run some tests on the car next week, but that’s not important right now. Just think about your exam, okay?”

“I know. Thank you for that.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I’d do anything for you, Raindrop.”

Drawing my face up to his so I was standing on tiptoes, he placed a gentle kiss on my lips. His comment about focusing only on my exam was rendered completely useless. How was I supposed to concentrate when all I’d be able to think about now was his lips upon mine?

All too soon he pulled away and I whimpered in protest. The sound drew a chuckle from him, his chest rumbling against me. “You have to head in, baby.”

I glanced around. Only Nadine and I were left outside the hall.

Teo released me and pushed me in the direction of the doors. “Good luck, Raine. I’ll pick you up here after.”

I shuffled along, willing my legs to work. I needed a lot of luck after that kiss. Media Studies was the furthest thing from my thoughts, which didn’t bode well seeing as I was about to write five essays on the subject over two and a half hours.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Teo

Keeping to my word, I returned to pick Raine up fifteen minutes before her exam was due to end. I’d left to collect something, but also because I needed the drive to cool off. What that asshole had said still played on my mind. It made me want to phone up Mickey to see if he could find me another sponsor just for the hell of it. I doubted I had that kind of power, yet it was nice to watch the prick squirm. He had no idea I wouldn’t do it because I wouldn’t risk causing any negative feelings towards me in the team. As their current number one driver, I wanted it to stay that way. Aston was losing support of the public and trailing by twenty-seven points so far this season. All of that worked in my favour on race day.

Finally people started to spill from the hall. The majority looked sick with nerves and regret while a few talked animatedly about the questions they’d answered. Like I expected, Raine and Nadine were the last to leave, trailing behind everyone else. Raine looked neither overly pleased nor unhappy; then again, she’d never been one to overthink exams after they were done. She studied hard beforehand to make sure she was prepared and could leave the room knowing she’d done her best.

The instant her eyes met with mine, her lips curved up. The sun caught her eyes, causing them to sparkle and appear amber as she approached. I liked being the reason for her smile. She deserved to be happy and I never wanted to be the one to take that away from her. It was one of the reasons I dreaded hearing what had happened to her. Her drunken words refused to leave me, only adding to the nagging suspicion that I had somehow caused everything. It gutted me every time to think I may have caused her so much pain. To see her once again smiling because of me had me feeling ten feet tall. In that moment I made her a promise in my mind to make sure she showed me that smile at least once every day.

I had been stupid not to fight harder for her the first time around.

I should have hopped on a plane the second I had even a minute free and forced her to see me. She wouldn’t have been able to ignore me then like she did with my phone calls.

“Hey,” she said, suddenly in front of me.

I dipped my head to kiss her, then pulled back and held up the large white paper bag I’d been holding.

Her eyes instantly locked onto it, her grin growing even wider. “Is that—?”

“Fifteen different flavours of fudge? Yeah.”

Like a starving animal, she snatched the bag from my hand and opened the top. Inside was an array of colours. I’d bought everything—rum and raisin, coconut ice cream, banoffee, lemon cream, double chocolate, and her favourite mint chocolate swirl. She couldn’t resist dipping her hand into the bag. To no surprise, since she’d been craving it all morning, she pulled out the rum and raisin. She placed the corner of the square between her teeth to take a bite.

“Wa-wun,” she mumbled, covering her mouth with one hand and holding out the bag with the other.

I shook my head. “I never understood how you could eat the stuff.”

“It’s good,” she protested, the sound still jumbled as the fudge stuck her jaw together.

My look of disgust said it all. I had to be desperate to eat fudge, although I didn’t mind tasting it on her. It made her sweeter. In fact, I was surprised she hadn’t called me out on my lie this morning. She should have known I’d never have touched her fudge unless it was to bin it, which I had. I had been hoping to reduce her stock slowly and convert her to something healthy. Yeah right.

“How’d the exam go?” I asked.

“Okay, I guess. I’m just glad it’s over,” Nadine answered, since Raine kept nibbling away on the fudge like a squirrel.

“I don’t envy you, that’s for sure.” I’d have gone stir crazy in a place like university. “Do you need a ride home?”

“Nah, I’m parked further on down.” Nadine then asked Raine, “You coming out later to celebrate finally being free?”

Raine glanced up at me before answering. “We’ll see; I’m not sure yet. I’ll text you either way.”

She didn’t know it, but if I had my way then she wouldn’t be leaving the house tonight. I’d reserved a table at a restaurant in town and after, I planned on taking her back to my house to reclaim her fully. We’d both waited long enough.

When Nadine eventually left, because
God
that girl could talk, I guided Raine over to my car. On the way over Raine had mocked me for not having a flashy, expensive car. What she didn’t know was I had a garage with a few at home; I just didn’t use them when I was trying to remain inconspicuous.

“Where are we going?” she mumbled, figuring out that I was driving in the opposite direction of her home. She still munched away on what I guessed to be her third piece of fudge and how she wasn’t feeling sick was beyond me.

I refrained from commenting. I now knew better than to get between her and her fudge. Well, I always had; I’d been getting my hopes up over nothing.

“I thought I’d take you out to dinner to celebrate. We can do something else if you’d prefer.”

“Dinner sounds nice…” She glanced down at her shorts and loose fitting t-shirt and scrunched up her nose. “I’m not really dressed for the occasion.”

I had no idea what she was seeing because she looked better than great to me. I couldn’t fault one thing with her appearance.

“You look beautiful, Raine.”

“Won’t I stand out in this, though?”

Everything fell into place in my mind. Of course Raine wasn’t worried about how she’d look; she was worried about not blending in. I hadn’t even considered that when I’d made the reservations. It wasn’t an overly fancy place, and we could get away with what we were both wearing, but Raine would undoubtedly be dressed differently from everyone else.

“How about we go shopping first?” I’d have to change the reservation, although one of the perks of my fame was people tended not to mind.

Raine looked at me even more confused. “
You
want to go
shopping
? Since when did you like sitting in dressing rooms?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Because we both hate it? That’s what computers and free returns are for.”

I laughed. I agreed with her there. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Like a pre-date.”

“I thought this was a celebration.”

“Can’t it be both?”

“Oh-kay, torture me if you must, but I want another bag of fudge.”

“You still have three quarters of a bag there.”

“Not for long.”

* * *

“How about this one?” Raine’s voice came through the heavy grey curtain of the dressing room and I glanced up from my phone when she pulled it back. She was standing there in a short, pale yellow summer dress. Her long hair had been swept over one shoulder to hang down over her breast while exposing her neck on the opposite side. I wanted to trail my lips down the side to her collarbone, nipping her gently as I went.

The thought had my throat swelling closed and my cock hardening. When I took in the material clinging to the top half of her body then flowing out at the base, my longing only intensified.

At least until I noticed her hands hanging awkwardly at her sides, twitching as if she wanted to wrap them around herself. She smiled hesitantly, and I realised my lack of response was making her nervous.

“Teo, are you listening?”

Clearing my head so I could once again see the room, and not the mental images of peeling Raine out of that dress, I noticed she was standing in front of me.

“What were you saying?”

She rolled her eyes. “What do you think of this? It’s not too bright, is it?”

I resisted the urge to sigh. I might have been playing it cool with regards to not knowing what happened to her, but it continued to eat away at me. When she made comments like that it only added to the gnawing irritation. I was nearing my limit of how much I could take, yet I didn’t want to scare her off by forcing the issue.

“You look great, Raindrop.”

Her nose bunched in disbelief. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. Go get changed and pass me the dress so I can pay for it.”

“I can pay for it…” Her words trailed off limply as she took in my disapproving frown. With a rueful sigh, she cocked her hip out. “Teo, you don’t have to buy me things.”

“I want to, so deal with it.”

“But—”

I cupped her face, drawing her attention to the devilish glint in my eyes. “You can repay me tonight if you really must.”

She inhaled sharply and her cheeks flushed pink. With wide eyes, she watched me, trying to come up with something to say. I used the opportunity to swipe my thumb across her bottom lip and felt her sharp breath over my finger.

Dipping my head so my lips were level with her ear, I dropped my voice. “What do you say, baby? Do you want that?”

She took a step back into the dressing room with shaky steps. When she spoke it pleased me to hear her voice betrayed her as well. The words came out in a choked rasp rather than the stubborn brush-off she had no doubt intended. “You should be so lucky.”

“Oh, I’ll be lucky.”

Raine shut the curtain on me instead of responding. A minute later an arm reappeared through the gap holding the dress out to me. I took the dress and her arm flinched at my touch.

“Do you mind if I go and pay now, or do you want me to wait here?”

“You can pay. I’ll follow you out in a sec.”

“Are you sure?” I didn’t know whether I should trust her answer. Neither of us needed a repeat of the experience outside the bar, especially in a place so public.

“I’m not going to break down, Teo. It’s not dark.”

Not able to resist, I poked my head behind the curtain. She had her back to me and her arms raised above her head as she fought to pull on her t-shirt. I used the precious seconds to study her creamy skin, deliberately avoiding the area I knew bore the scar. It wasn’t that I thought she was ugly because of it; it just shredded my heart to see and imagine all of the situations she could have been in to get it.

My gaze travelled over her bare legs, moving up higher until my eyes landed on her firm ass, covered by nothing…other than a thong. A deep purple, barely there strip of lace.

My Adam’s apple bobbed in my throat, my gaze transfixed on her curves. Unable to tear my gaze away from a sight I’d been denied for a year, my mouth dried and my cock strained against my jeans.

“Teo! What are you doing? Get
out
!” she cried, snapping me from my trance and drawing my gaze level with her mortified stare in the mirror. Quickly, she grabbed her jeans, pulling the material in front her and spinning so her ass faced the plain wall.

I met her expression with a cheeky grin, not able to control the curve of my lips. “Sorry, Raindrop. I couldn’t resist.”

When her cheeks flushed even more, turning a deep crimson, it only made me chuckle.

“Can I get changed now?”

“I’m not allowed to watch?”

She mumbled under her breath, “Someone’s definitely not getting lucky tonight now,” and scowled at me, pointing over my shoulder to signal I should go.

“All right, I’ll go and pay for this.”
While thinking of how much I want to grind my cock against your ass,
I added silently.

I headed to the checkout and paid for the clothes. I was pulling the bag off the counter and collecting my receipt when a sickly sweet voice shouted my name across the store. It was one I couldn’t forget—the childish twang to her words enough to get rid of my hard-on instantly. My balls literally cowered at her voice.

I turned to confront the blonde, not able to pretend I didn’t hear her. The whole fucking store heard her by the curious glances thrown in my direction. For a model she was surprisingly natural. It had been one of the reasons I was attracted to her in the first place. Her make-up was classy, her hair natural, and her body free from surgery. She looked like a girl you’d take home to meet your family, but boy I was wrong on that account.

I’d been able to put up with the baby voice. However, what happened in that hotel while she sucked my dick was bordering on landing me in therapy. The details of what she tried to do to me will be a secret I take to my grave. Just thinking about her fingers sent a shiver down my spine. They may have looked small and dainty, but they did not feel it when she—

I forced the memories from my mind. I’d hightailed it out of the room faster than the top speed on my Formula One car, not once looking back. Why out of all the fucks I’d had did it have to be…uh, Rebecca? Rosy? Rita? Damn, what was her name? I knew it began with an “R.”

My brain refused to remember. Out of all the things it could have forgotten from that night, why did it have to be her name? Couldn’t it have wiped the actual event?

It was too late to berate myself over my fucked up decisions. She stood in front of me with an insincere, photoshoot smile, her whitened teeth on full display.