Prince glanced around the small bar, with the air of someone who already wanted a change of scenery.
— You know what? We could go somewhere else, he whispered.
I rolled my eyes, but got up anyway. Maybe he was right... the noise of the engines and the smell of tires were starting to get on my nerves.
As I stood up, I felt my stomach rumble.
— Well, I was starting to be starved, I mumbled. Between the race, the helmet, and all this stress, I think I could devour an ox... or at least a packet of fries.
Prince burst out laughing, as if he had expected my remark.
— Perfect, we're going to find a nice place to eat. Don't worry, Babe, I'll make sure you don't end up eating your fingers.
We set off, walking side by side, the late afternoon sun sliding over the track. I savored this paradoxical moment: irritated by Prince, but unable to deny that I felt strangely... good.
And that's when, just before we reached the parking lot, I heard a voice:
— Prince?!
He immediately turned around, a smile stretching his lips.
— Hey, no way... it can't be! Marvin?
The two embraced loudly, like two old friends meeting by chance. Marvin, a tall, sporty-looking brunette, was wearing a light blue polo shirt and an easy smile. His overflowing energy contrasted with Prince's falsely jaded look.
— How long has it been, man? Two years?
— Something like that! Prince replied. What are you doing here?
— I'm accompanying colleagues for a karting session. And you?
— Same, I'm introducing the sensation of cornering to...
He turned to me with a teasing look.
— ... a friend who is a little traumatized by speed.
I raised an eyebrow, falsely offended.
— A traumatized friend who still survived your suicidal driving, I corrected.
Marvin burst out laughing.
— She has some spunk, I like that. Nice to meet you, I'm Marvin.
— I'm Babe, I replied, shaking his hand.
Marvin slightly frowned, a surprised look crossing his face.
— Wait a second... You wouldn't also happen to be a friend of Yannish, would you?
I was taken aback for a second, my heart suspended.
— Uh... yes. How do you know that?
— Oh, he said with a smirk, let's say your name wasn't unknown to me. Yannish told me about you, some time ago.
I raised my eyebrows, unsettled. I had only been talking to Yannish for a short time... so how could he have already mentioned my name to Marvin?
Prince intervened, a slight laugh on his lips:
— Actually, the three of us have known each other since high school. Marvin is Yannish's best friend.
— Ah, okay... that explains everything, I murmured, more troubled than I wanted to let on.
Marvin nodded, amused.
— Well, I'm glad to see that this little group keeps crossing paths! Anyway, I'll leave you, I have a rematch to take against a colleague.
Nice meeting you, Babe!
He waved goodbye before walking away toward the track.
Prince looked at me with a calm smile.
— And so? he asked in a more serious tone. Did he finally apologize, Yannish?
I took a breath, a little embarrassed.
— Not immediately, no. Yesterday was tense. But this morning, yes. He apologized. And... it looks like we're back on good terms.
Prince slowly nodded, a small smile at the corner of his lips, the one he wore when he knew something I didn't.
— That's good, he replied simply. That's a start. But promise me one thing.
I frowned.
— What?
— If he ever starts acting stupidly with you again, you tell me, okay?
I let out a small mocking laugh.
— And what would you do? Give him a moral lesson?
— No. I'd just make him understand that he needs to behave himself.
He said that with a quiet, almost playful smile, but his eyes were not joking.
I remained silent for a moment, touched in spite of myself.
— You really take your protector role seriously, don't you?
— Only when it comes to people I care about, he replied without hesitation.
I felt my heart skip a beat. He immediately looked away, as if to erase what he had accidentally admitted.
And I, as always, preferred to joke to hide the embarrassment.
Prince and I went to the restaurant right next to the circuit. The place was cozy, with wooden tables, dimmed lights, and that irresistible smell of frying and grilling that makes you salivate just by walking in.
We settled down, ordered simple but delicious dishes, and started chatting as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Prince, still so annoying, tried to tease me about my "disastrous braking technique," and I got my revenge by criticizing his hairpin turn. We laughed a lot, and despite our incessant bickering, I felt a genuine pleasure in being with him.
I finally returned home, still a little dizzy from the day of karting and the dinner with Prince. The cool evening air greeted me and I dropped my bag in a corner, happy to finally be alone.
I headed to the bathroom, turned on soft music, and poured a glass of red wine, gently swirling it between my fingers. A cigarette in hand, I lit it with a slow, calculated gesture, letting the smoke rise in sensual curls. I settled into the bathtub filled with hot water, the glass placed within reach on the edge. The warmth of the water and the smell of the wine relaxed me, and the cigarette smoke added a note of mystery to the scene.
— Well... I murmured with a smile, Prince made me skip class today... but at least it was a funny day.
At that moment, my phone vibrated on the edge, within reach. Yannish. I took a breath, slowly brought the glass to my lips, took a drag from the cigarette, and picked up.
— Hello?
— Hi... how are you? His voice was calm, almost distant.
I smiled, a little amused:
— Busy day. Karting, restaurant... a lot of laughs and a little chaos, as usual.
He let out a small laugh but didn't ask anything about my studies or if I had truly enjoyed myself. I felt a slight pang of disappointment but chose to remain silent.
— And you, what did you do? I finally asked.
— Woke up early, physical training,theoretical classes, maneuver simulations, maneuvers on the ground... nothing very exciting, but intense as always, he replied.
I looked up at the ceiling, a little perplexed. That detached tone made me realize he didn't seem truly interested in me. I lightly shook my head to chase away the thought and preferred to focus on the pleasure of his voice and the sensual atmosphere around me.
— I hadn't asked the question... How many men have you been with, by the way? he suddenly asked, in a provocative tone.
I let out a small laugh and answered honestly:
— Three.
— Go ahead, you can tell me everything... I won't judge you, he said in a calm voice.
— Three, I insisted.
He let out an amused sigh:
— Eight for me...
I raised an eyebrow in my mind, silently judging: no way, he surely has more than eight...
— I hear water sounds around you... are you alone? he asked, his voice already charged with sensuality.
— In the bathtub... a glass of wine in hand and a cigarette, I replied.
— So, my little Babe... you enjoy smoking?
— Yes... and you?
— I don't drink alcohol and I don't smoke either, I don't really like it, he said calmly.
— You have a very disciplined life, then.
— And you are just as disciplined. It's just that... I don't enjoy those things.
— I understand perfectly, I murmured.
A silence passed over the line, barely a few seconds, before he resumed, lower, hotter:
— I wish I was there, baby. I imagine you... in your bath, all wet, warm... it makes me want to do what I prefer.
My breath hitched, a shiver ran down my lower abdomen.
— And what is that?
— I would start by taking that cigarette out of your hand, he said slowly. Then the wine... I would pour a little of it right here, on your skin. And I would lick it off.
A moan escaped me despite myself. My fingers made their way, slipping between my legs. The heat and excitement overwhelmed me, the water only emphasizing every sensation.
— Yannish... I murmured.
— Then, he continued, as if I hadn't spoken, I would focus on your breasts. I imagine them perfectly. The nipples pointing above the water... I would taste them, until you arch your back, begging.
My back arched, my breasts rising slightly out of the water. My fingers caressed my clitoris, moving slowly to the rhythm of his words, each word awakening an immediate response. The water lapped around me, gently simulating the touch I desired.
— Is that what you're doing now, Babe? he whispered.
— Are you touching yourself? Are you thinking about my mouth on you?
I let out a faint hmm, unable to speak. The world narrowed down to this bathtub, his voice, the heat and the steam. The wine, the cigarette, the karting... everything faded away. Only this electric tension remained.
My hips began to move gently against my hand, the water following the rhythm. I felt tense, ready to tip over, every fiber focused on his voice and the fire he had lit within me.
As pleasure began to overwhelm me, a wave of clarity washed over me. It wasn't enough. I took a breath, eyes wide open, voice trembling:
— Yannish... wait.