Alaric

The private jet touched down smoothly on the Bahrain International Circuit runway at exactly 9:37 p.m. on Thursday night.

The moment the cabin door opened, the desert air rushed in and wrapped around me instantly, clinging to my skin even as the cool air conditioning from the jet fought to hold it back.

Lights from the terminal stretched across the tarmac in long golden lines, reflecting off the dark asphalt.

I let out a groan as I descended the stairs with my bag slung over one shoulder, and once I reached the bottom of the stairs where Dorothy, my manager, was already waiting, I let out another groan and stretched my limbs.

"Welcome to Bahrain," Dorothy said briskly as she fell into step beside me and Dami while we walked towards the line of sleek black SUVs waiting to whisk us away. "We are heading straight to the hotel after a quick team briefing. The engineers want to go over the tyre compounds for the heat tomorrow," she announced as she scrolled through her notes without missing a beat.

"Brake balance adjustments for Turn 8, and how we’re planning to manage qualifying simulations. The track is going to be extremely abrasive, so we need to be smart with degradation. You felt good in the simulator runs, but real conditions here are brutal, especially since it’s been so long since you last raced."

I nodded, only half listening. My mind kept drifting back to Nico’s words and the image of his hand wrapped around the cock that he had sent to me on the plane.

It was hard to take it off my mind, especially since I had spent most of the hours I wasn’t sleeping just staring at it.

Dami nudged me on the shoulder when Dorothy said something and I had zoned out.

I gave him a questioning look.

"She is asking if you are alright?"

I forced a smile on my face and scratched the back of my head before responding to her. "Yes, I am fine. I can’t wait for practice tomorrow."

Dorothy nodded and then continued to brief me about tomorrow.

Once the rest of the team had arrived, the team meeting took place in one of the spacious hospitality suites at the circuit. I sat at the long polished table with Dami beside me, surrounded by engineers, strategists, and data analysts.

Graphs and telemetry flashed across the large screens as we dissected every possible scenario for the weekend.

One of the senior engineers leaned forward. "Alaric, your braking points into Turn 1 looked strong in the sim, but we’re predicting higher track temperatures tomorrow. We recommend carrying a little more front wing for stability. Dami, you’ll focus on long-run tyre management. We need data on how the softs hold up after ten laps."

Dami asked detailed questions about fuel mapping and differential settings, his enthusiasm filling the room.

I contributed where I could, suggesting adjustments based on how the car had felt during my last test sessions. The conversation flowed for nearly an hour, covering everything from pit stop strategy to how we would handle the expected sand on the track.

By the time it wrapped up, my head was spinning with numbers and possibilities, and I couldn’t wait for the weekend to come for my first race in two years.

We were assigned luxurious suites at the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay by Dorothy, who had already taken care of everything.

I took my key card the instant we arrived at the hotel and said goodnight to the team before making my way to the twentieth floor. I was jet-lagged from the six-hour flight, and for tomorrow’s practice, I needed to sleep early to have the strength to carry on; otherwise, I would definitely break down.

The moment the door clicked shut behind me, I let out a long, exhausted breath and dropped my bag onto the floor.

The suite was stunning. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the illuminated marina, where luxury yachts bobbed gently on the dark water, their lights reflecting like scattered stars.

I peeled off my jacket, kicked off my shoes, and collapsed onto the massive king-sized bed. For the first time in hours, the silence felt like a mercy.

I was so ready to have a long sleep before morning came, but then my phone vibrated on the nightstand where I had dropped it.

"Who is..." I let out a groan as I reluctantly picked it up with my eyes half awake, and I frowned when I saw the message pop up on the screen.

It was a blur at first, but when I blinked, it was another message from Nico.

Nico Park: Landed safely, princess? What hotel are you at?

I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Then I locked the phone and tossed it aside. I wasn’t going to answer.

Nico should have gotten the hint by now that I didn’t want to speak to him after I ignored the messages he had sent on the plane, but that annoying motherfucker was persistent.

He loved getting on my nerves.

I heaved a deep sigh and shut my eyes again. Then, a few seconds later, my phone vibrated again. I tried to ignore it, but it vibrated once more.

"Oh, fuck this stupid annoying man," I groaned as I reached for the phone and scrolled through his messages.

Nico Park: 😂😂😂

Nico Park: Don’t bother replying. I already know where you are. Four Seasons Bahrain Bay. What if I told you we are at the same hotel? And shocking news, it’s the same floor. I saw you arrive.

My stomach dropped immediately. *What the hell*, I thought, and looked around my room as if he was going to appear right there.

"Is he stalking me?" I questioned myself as I looked into the empty room again.

My phone started ringing, and I turned my attention to it. It was a video call from Nico on Instagram.

I stared at it, debating whether to ignore it. I should block him and end this.

My thumb moved toward the decline button... but at the last second, curiosity won against my better judgment, and I swiped to answer.

I lowered my face, trying to come up with the meanest expression, but as I raised my head and stared at the screen, it was filled with Nico completely naked.

He was lying back against a mountain of white pillows in what looked like his own suite, one arm casually behind his head, the other holding the phone. His tattooed chest and carved abs were on full display, and he was smirking at me.

The camera angle showed everything: the sharp V of his hips, the trail of dark hair leading down, and his cock already half-hard and resting thick against his thigh.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled, my voice cracking with shock. "You sent me a picture of your cock on the plane and now this? Are you completely out of your fucking mind? Is this your way to get me distracted from the race?"

Nico’s lips curved into a slow, wicked smirk, his eyes dark with amusement and hunger. "You didn’t reply, princess. So I thought I’d show you what you’re missing instead of just telling you, and I love the fact that I am distracting you. Exactly what I wanted."

"You bastard... I..." I groaned, dragging a hand down my burning face. "I told you it was never happening again. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want any of this."

He let out a chuckle that sounded so dark it sent a shiver racing down my spine. "Then why did you pick up the call, princess?"

My face burned hotter. I opened my mouth to tell him to fuck off, but the words died in my throat when he shifted the phone slightly and wrapped his hand around his cock. He started stroking slowly, lazily, his eyes locked on the camera with that sultry, half-lidded look that made my stomach flip violently.

"Look at you," he murmured, his voice dropping into something filthy and smooth. "Already breathing harder. You’re getting hard just watching me stroke my cock for you, aren’t you?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Shut up," I snapped, but my voice came out weaker than I wanted.

My eyes kept dropping to his hand moving up and down his thick length, those prominent veins standing out prominently as he stroked himself. My own cock twitched traitorously in my pants, pressing uncomfortably against the fabric.

Nico moaned softly, the sound low as if he was trying to get a reaction from me. "Fuck... I’ve been thinking about your mouth all day. How good it felt wrapped around me on that rooftop. How pretty you looked with my cock down your throat, choking on me like you were made for it."

I groaned again, torn between ending the call and continuing to watch.

If I ended the call, he might call again and disrupt my sleep.

Heat pooled low in my gut, heavy and insistent. My thighs pressed together as I fought the growing hardness between my legs.

"I’m going to hang up," I threatened, but my hand stayed frozen on the phone, my eyes glued to the screen.

Nico’s strokes sped up slightly, and another moan escaped from his lips. It was rougher this time, enough to make my knees weak.

"Then hang up, princess. Or stay and watch me come while thinking about bending you over and fucking you raw after the first race. What do you say we make a bet? Whoever wins gets to ask the loser anything?"

My breath hitched sharply as the memories of the rooftop flooded my head. I hated how much his words affected me. I hated how badly I wanted to keep watching him touch himself and how I wanted to say yes to the bet.

But instead, I blinked and heaved a deep sigh. I had to remain focused. This was my first race back. I wouldn’t let anyone distract me. "You are insane. I already told you that this is never happening again. So get the fuck off and goodbye," I ended the call before I changed my mind and then blocked him.

"I don’t want any distraction," I muttered to myself as I lay back on the bed.

Especially from a rival who wanted me off the grid.