by Shelly Davis
He pulled the knife from my shoulder and sprung toward Toni. I dove for his legs, knocking him to the ground face first.
A crash sounded from somewhere else and then Toni was at my side.
“Jules!” she cried. “Oh god Jules, are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” I pulled my uninjured arm up to her face and stroked her tearstained cheek. “What about you, he didn’t get you, did he?”
Pressing herself into me and wrapping her arms around my waist, she buried her face in my chest. Her body shook with sobs and she finally was able to relax into me. I felt her shake her head. “No, I’m fine,” she whispered. “I’m fine because of you.”
~oOo~
Richmond Motor Speedway
Federated Auto Parts 400
“Welcome back race fans, it’s been a heck of a day here in Richmond, Virginia. For those of you just joining us from the commercial break, this yellow flag is a result of the ninety-seven and zero-zero getting together in turn one. They’re both in the pits trying to get their cars together to finish out this race.”
“Right, Gus. Today we wrap up our regular season with a great race. Right now, we have Rhett Walker in the Trescane Toyota fighting Julius Fuller in the Icecore Ale Chevy for the checkered flag. Their starts this time around are going to be what determines the outcome of today’s race.”
“These two have been dominant the last few races, Bud. Leading all but twenty laps today. One of these two is bound for Victory Lane, no doubt.”
“Rhett’s had a heck of a season so far, Gus, landin’ himself in the Chase early in the season. The combination of Rhett and his new crew chief, Frank Stoll, has been quite the force.”
“But the real story this season has been Fuller and his number fifty-five Chevy. With the combination of Kyle Redding and our first female crew member, Toni Rizzo, he’s been basically unstoppable.”
“Y’all will remember back in May when Fuller had that terrible accident which landed him in the hospital and out of the driver’s seat. That could’ve crippled the number fifty-five team, but they came back stronger than ever. They’ve been in contention each week since Fuller’s return, never finishin’ below fifteenth place in the last ten races.”
“I wanna talk about Toni Rizzo for a moment, Bud. So many thought her addition to the team, working so closely with Kyle Redding and Kevin Dunn, was a huge mistake. The unprecedented addition of a second crew/car chief was questioned by most, and the fact that it’s a woman was even more controversial.”
“Not since our first female driver has there been this much controversy on a team, Gus.”
“Yeah, Bud, but look at what the combination of Kyle, Kevin, and Toni has been able to accomplish on that team. I’ll be surprised if Fuller doesn’t make a good showing in the Chase.”
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the pace car’s just gone back into pits. It’s time to go racin’.”
~oOo~
“You got this, Jules,” Toni’s voice reverberated through my helmet. I loved hearing her voice surrounding me.
“Alright old man, bring home the win,” Kyle added. “Get out in front of the sixty-eight and hold the line. Only five laps to go.”
I didn’t respond. Coming around to the green flag, I knew I needed focus. I needed to pull ahead of Rhett to take the lead and the checkered flag.
“White flag, Jules. Bring it home,” Tom encouraged.
Coming around for the last lap, Rhett alongside me, trying for one last chance at the win. Around turn three, Rhett and I were so close we traded paint. Going into turn four, he inched up trying to gain the spot but I wasn’t giving up. Half way through turn four, I slammed my foot down on the gas. One final push to win the race. Rhett edged back, unable to finish what he tried to start.
I could see the checkered flag flying as Rhett and I, side by side crossed the start-finish line. I held him off, his front end at my door as we crossed under the checkered flag. The race was mine.
“Wooo, hooo!” I shouted into the void of my helmet and car. I pulled down the net covering my window and raised my fist out of the car as I did my victory lap around the track. Stopping at the line, I held the break and started my burnout. Smoke covered the entire track as I came to a complete stop so one of the officials could hand me the flag.
I emerged from the smoke, spinning tire the entire way down the track toward the pits.
“Julius, don’t you burn up that damn engine,” Toni yelled as I continued my burnout all the way around the track. Even when she was bitching at me, I loved the sound of her beautiful voice.
“Great win,” I shouted. “Great way to start the Chase, fellas. Tonight we party!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Toni
We stood on victory lane, waiting for Julius to climb out of the car. He climbed up onto his door and raised his hands in the air while confetti flew from above and flashbulbs created a strobe effect all around us, a bottle of Icecore Ale in hand. It was such a surreal experience, every time he won. He climbed down and proceeded with the standard interviews. Kyle and I were also interviewed by several people about race strategy, and what we thought about our chances in the Chase. They no longer asked about being a woman on the team. They didn’t care to know if mistakes and other issues were my fault as they had at the beginning of the season. Now I was just another team member, it was a great feeling.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Julius as he moved from interview to interview. He smiled and talked to the reporters, posed for pictures, and was gracious and sincere with each person who stood in front of him. But he also seemed distracted. He was constantly looking around, seeming like he was looking for something or someone.
His eyes locked with mine while he was being interviewed. When he caught my gaze, he smiled hugely, his warm brown eyes never deviating from mine. This was what I loved about this man, no matter what was going on or who was around, his eyes always sought me. I often worried I wasn’t enough for a man like Julius, but he always took those fears away, just with the way he looked at me. Todd always tried to claim me, telling me I was his, but I was never anything to Todd. The moment I met Julius, he consumed me. He owned me—heart, body, and soul.
He turned away from a confused reporter and bypassed several others who were shouting out questions. He strode across the victory platform until he stood right in front of me. His heated stare penetrating through me, making me feel vulnerable and beautiful. I was barely aware of all of the people around us, cameras flashing, and the shouts for his attention.
“Hey,” he whispered for only me to hear.
“Hey you,” I said in return. “Great race.”
“I’m here to collect my trophy,” he said. My eyes widened when I registered what he said. We had kept our entire relationship from everyone except the team. But his intentions were clear; he was here to claim what was finally his.
He swooped down, devouring my gasp with his mouth. The kiss was claiming, passionate, and quick. He didn’t linger or caress, and when he pulled back, he smiled.
The storm of shouts and camera flashes that resulted were enough to disorient anyone. Julius held my hand tight, making sure everyone knew we were together. He held my hand tight in his and pulled me across the platform to where the man who was interviewing him stood. I tried to pull away, the last thing I wanted was the attention, but Julius wasn’t giving me a choice. This gorgeous man was declaring to the world that he was spoken for. His dark hair was sweat covered and encased in an Icecore number fifty-five baseball hat, his deep and soulful brown eyes smiled as he spoke with the anchorman, avoiding all questions about me. I was being thrust front and center in my fire suit and messy bun, but he didn’t answer one question about me. I couldn’t have been happier.
He leaned in just after answering the last question, and whispered, “Tonight baby, we party.”
“Yeah, with the entire team,” I teased.
“Oh no, honey. Make no mistake, this party
is all about us.”
~oOo~
We laid together, wrapped in around each other in Julius’ trailer. After the post-race interviews, posing for the winner’s photos, and all of the other commitments, we were finally able to relax a little and celebrate with the team. We weren’t only celebrating his win, we were also celebrating going into the Chace. It was quite the accomplishment since he’d missed a full race. His backup driver had saved the season for him. Now he was going into the Chase with enough points to keep him in contention for the championship. There would be no rest for us until the end though. We still had ten long weeks to prepare for, but for now, we were together and relaxing.
“Great race today,” I whispered as I trailed my fingers through the hair on his perfectly sculpted chest. Julius’ body was magnificent. His strong arms encircled my body, holding me tight to his side, my slim leg stretched across his, as my body half draped over his.
He ran his fingers absentmindedly though my hair, and hummed in appreciation. “It was a great race,” he said quietly in return. “It feels so good to just lie here and relax with you.”
I slowly continued my ministrations, running my hand up and down the ridges of his chest, the muscles twitching and moving at my touch. Everything with Julius was perfect. We took things slowly, but we were together.
It had been months since everything happened with Todd. I was a mess for a while after the altercation. Julius saved me that day, and I turned around and saved him back. Together we managed to subdue Todd until the police came. But even after Todd was securely behind bars, my nightmares became almost unbearable. Seeing Julius stabbed repeatedly in my dreams was torturous. Between returning to see Dr. Mathews and talking about everything with Jules, I worked out my issues. Enough that after a couple weeks, not only were my nightmares becoming fewer, but I had finally agreed to spend the night at Julius’ house.
“I love you,” I whispered into his chest. Smiling at his automatic reaction to the feel of my hot breath on his bare skin.
He kissed the top of my head. “I love you too, baby.” He shifted, sitting up and taking me with him. He placed his finger under my chin, bringing my eyes to his. He looked so serious and intense. “Toni, I’m in love with you,” he said. “You’ve been staying with me most days for two weeks now. I don’t want to wake up without you anymore. I need you, Toni. I need you in my life, in my home, in my bed. Move in with me.” He pressed his lips to mine, gently. He didn’t linger or push for more; he just drew back and looked into my eyes. His warm brown eyes pleading with me.
This was true love. The kind of love I’d dreamed of all my life. I leaned in and kissed him, communicating everything I wanted from him. A life, love, and a future. I knew what I had to do, the only way for us proceed forward would be me taking some control, and maybe that’s what I also needed to do to move on with my life.
I moved around and faced him, kneeling beside his legs. I looked into his eyes and made my silent decision. Without a word of warning, I swung my leg over his and sat astride him, moving forward to straddle his hips. “Hey,” I said as I lifted myself up, placing my hands on his shoulders, pressing into him. It gave me the slightest bit of courage to know he wanted and craved my touch.
“Hey there, what’re you doin’?” he asked, his eyelids heavy with lust. He moved his hands up my bare thighs to my hips where he slid his fingers around my waist, gripping the bare skin under my shirt. He lifted me slightly and moved me away from him. I sighed, frustrated, with his constant need to be so careful. I tried to move back, but he held me tight pushing me back away from him.
I pushed my hips forward, trying to tell him what I wanted without words. His fingers tightened around my hips, but he didn’t push me away this time.
“I love you, Jules,” I whispered. Sliding my hand down his chest to his stomach. I skimmed my fingers from his stomach to mine, moving up until I reached the hem of my top. In one swift move, I pulled my shirt over my head, exposing myself to him. He looked at me, surprised. “I love you, Jules,” I repeated again. I leaned in toward him and grazed my lips across the shell of his ear. “I want you,” I whispered, moving my hips closer to him.
He groaned deep in his throat, and it was the only warning that I had. I was on my back, his big build pressing me into the mattress. His hands exploring my figure. He leaned back down, pressing into me, bare skin to bare skin. I opened to him. Feeling his hot flesh pressed to mine. He kissed me as if I was the answer to his every desire. His kiss branded me, consumed me more than any other kiss we shared. He slid his hands up my sides. Calloused hands touching and caressing me gently, lovingly. He pulled away slightly searching my eyes for permission. I smiled at him which must have been permission enough because he kissed and touched every inch he could reach. He dropped his head down, kissed along my neck and collarbone, kissing farther down.
I wiggled against him loving the feel of him pressed to me. I welcomed his weight by wrapping my legs around his waist, pulling him tighter to me. My hands ran up his tight muscled arms, fingers sliding up his smooth neck, and lacing through his thick, dark hair. I pulled him, guiding his mouth back to mine.
He slanted his mouth to meet mine, fitting his lips to mine, kissing me slowly. He moved his hands over my body, feeling and fondling every inch of my exposed flesh. He kissed me deeply, removing any fears I may have had. I didn’t worry about being with him anymore. I loved him no matter what.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Julius
I kissed and mapped my way over her form, memorizing and touching my lips to every piece of visible flesh. I slid my fingers under the elastic of her panties and slid them down her long, shapely legs. Grazing my mouth and tongue up one of her legs. I reached her hip, massaging her waist as I kissed across one hip to the other. My fingers found an area of smooth skin on her hip. A reminder of what she’d been through so many years ago. I kissed and smoothed my fingers over the scars of her past, making a silent promise that she would never again feel the fear and pain she felt before.
I continued back up, kissing and grazing my lips and teeth across her. I caught her lips with mine, kissing her deeply, pouring everything I felt for her into that kiss. I opened my eyes and met hers, hooded with desire. God, she was so perfect. I never thought I deserved a woman like her. I smiled and caught her earlobe between my teeth, gently nipping the delicate skin.
She squirmed beneath me, and the gentle moan she made when my lips and tongue met the soft, sensitive skin below her ear made me wild. She whimpered when I moved to find the same spot on the other side of her neck. Her wiggling and squirming were hard to ignore as she wrapped her legs around me once again, pulling me tight to her.
I made my way back to her mouth, taking her lips in a deep, scorching kiss. Pulling back I looked down into her eyes, her dark hair a halo around her head on the pillow, her eyes seemed to be glowing with desire. I loved the way she looked at me. All her love and emotion written across her face. There were no pretenses with Toni, nothing hidden, nothing fake.
Our bodies barely touched. I held myself over her, looking down at the most perfect woman I had ever seen, loving me, trusting me. She reached her hands up, cupping my face bringing me down for an agonizingly perfect kiss. She consumed me, destroyed and put me back together all through that one kiss.
My mouth moved over hers, my hands caressed and teased every inch that I could touch. When she tightened her legs around my waist, pulling me in, leaving no space between us, I thought my heart would burst. I fell in love with her all over again. Every movement and soft sound she made broke me down and built me right back up.
“God, Toni, I love you so much,” I whispered as I trailed kisses across her face. She moaned lightly and every ounce of control I had was completely gone. She did that to me. She made me lose all my power, giving it all willingly to her. My lips caught her gasp, taking every breath with her, our hearts beating together, our movements as one.
I soaked in every beautiful
part of her, every reaction to every movement I made. I shifted, putting pressure on her and the resulting sounds were all I needed to know she felt everything I felt. I took her every moan and every whimper into me, filling me with more love and need than I’ve ever experienced.
I pressed my cheek into hers, breathing her in, and taking in everything that was Toni. She smiled up at me, as I stared at her, unable to move. I could lie there forever, secure in her embrace.
“I love you, Jules.”
~oOo~
I left the bathroom, and stopped in my tracks. Toni laid on the bed staring out of the window at the night sky, her face lit by the moonlight shining through. She was just so beautiful. How was she mine? For the first time in my life, I saw my future and I loved what I saw.
Epilogue
February 22, 2015
Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR Season Opener
“Welcome race fans to the season opener for the 2015 season. I’m Bud Brockman along with my partner Gus Steward.”
“Today, ladies and gentlemen, we have a field of dreamers and long shots, favorites and champions all vying for their first win of the season in this the fifty-seventh running of the Daytona Five hundred.”
“This is the biggest day of any for the coming year of NASCAR, Gus. Every driver who’s ever had a dream of winning has wanted to win on its biggest stage. The icons of our sport have all starred on its biggest stage, today one of these drivers wants to join in the ranks of Daytona Five hundred champions. Who’s your favorite for today, Gus?”
“We all have our favorite drivers from the past and the present, Bud. I think it’s going to be a battle of the titans today. We have Turner Racing’s number fifty-five and number ninety-five Chevys starting in the front of the pack with Fuller in the pole and Upton in the tenth positions. Rhett returning as the series champion in his Toyota in the third position.”