The celebration had been electric, filled with the thrill of Ferrari's double podium, the champagne, the laughter, and the heady rush of victory. But as the night stretched on, Alice felt the weight of the alcohol, the adrenaline, and the strain of the day catch up to her. She wasn't used to this level of intensity, and the world around her began to feel distant, a blur of colors and sounds.

Lewis, ever perceptive, noticed the change in her and, without hesitation, steered her away from the noise of the party. His hand was warm on her back as he led her to the sanctuary of his hotel room. There, the chaos outside faded, and it was just the two of them-quiet, still, with the city lights casting a soft glow through the curtains.

Alice, a little unsteady, sat down on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. Lewis sat next to her, his gaze soft, filled with concern. He wasn't in a rush. His touch was gentle, as if to reassure her that this moment was theirs, and theirs alone. With a soft smile, he reached for her shoes, slowly pulling them off, his fingers brushing against her skin with a tenderness that made her heart race.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice a calm whisper in the stillness of the room.

Alice nodded, but she couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine as his fingers lingered, tracing
the curve of her ankle before moving upward, the heat of his touch sending waves of warmth through her body. Her breath caught, her pulse quickening as the air between them grew thicker, charged with something undeniable.

There was no urgency in his movements. He was slow, deliberate-his lips brushing her skin as he moved closer. The tension between them seemed to stretch, as if the room itself held its breath in anticipation. He kissed her then, a soft, lingering kiss that deepened with the growing heat of their shared desire. Alice responded, her hands finding their way to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

As they kissed, the world outside disappeared. There was no race, no victory to celebrate-just the two of them, sharing a moment that was intensely private. The feeling of his hands on her, the way he held her close, as if afraid to let her go, made her feel cherished, wanted.

Time seemed to lose all meaning as they moved together, their actions slow, intimate, filled with the kind of connection that transcended the physical. It wasn't about the act itself-it was about the way he made her feel: seen, respected, adored.

When it was over, and they lay there in the aftermath, the room still heavy with the warmth of their closeness, Lewis gently brushed a strand of hair from Alice's face. His touch was soft, comforting. "You're perfect," he whispered, his voice hushed, as if savoring the moment.

Alice, her eyes half-lidded from the depth of the connection they'd just shared, smiled softly. She knew things had changed between them, but this... this felt like the beginning of something even deeper.

As the morning light filtered into the room, Alice slowly stirred, her body cocooned in the warmth of the sheets. The night had been a blur of adrenaline, laughter, and the intoxicating energy of the celebration. But what lingered in her heart now was something more—something soft and steady. She felt Lewis beside her, the steady rise and fall of his chest a reminder of how present he had been in every moment.

As she turned to face him, she noticed how peaceful he looked, his features relaxed in sleep. The intensity that usually characterized him on the track was nowhere to be found. In its place, there was a quiet strength, a gentleness she had come to appreciate more than she could have expected.

Lewis opened his eyes to meet hers, a soft smile tugging at his lips. His hair was slightly tousled from sleep, and he looked at her with that familiar, warm gaze, his eyes twinkling with something unspoken. It was that look that always made her feel like the only person in the room, like he was completely focused on her, no distractions.

“Morning,” he mumbled, his voice husky from sleep, but still carrying that playful edge she had come to adore.

“Morning,” Alice replied, the corner of her lips lifting as she traced a finger along the outline of his jaw. There was a warmth between them now, a deeper connection that transcended their usual playful teasing.

Lewis let out a contented sigh, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. "You okay?" he asked, his hand lingering for a moment longer than necessary. It was a simple question, but it carried weight—he genuinely cared, wanted to know how she felt.

"Yeah," Alice said softly, feeling the sincerity in his words. "I feel... really good. More than I expected."

Lewis chuckled, the sound low and comforting. “That’s a relief. I’ll take full responsibility for making you feel that way,” he teased, his fingers lightly brushing her arm.

Alice smirked, half rolling her eyes at his confidence. "You’re insufferable," she teased, but there was affection in her tone.

“I know,” Lewis grinned, leaning in to kiss the top of her head, his lips lingering there for a moment. “But you love it.” His voice was soft, his tone almost conspiratorial. He wasn’t just confident about his racing, he was confident about them, about their connection.

As Alice lay there, she realized that everything about the night with Lewis had been perfect—not just physically, but emotionally. He had taken his time with her, showed her a level of care that she hadn’t expected, and now, in the quiet morning, he was still the same—present, attentive, and completely unguarded.

She felt his hand gently resting on her back, a simple touch that spoke volumes. She could tell he was trying to make her feel as comfortable as possible, ensuring she knew this was no fleeting moment, but something deeper. “Take your time, yeah?” he said, his voice a little more serious now, breaking through her thoughts. “We don’t need to rush anything.”

Alice nodded, a smile spreading across her face. “I don’t want to rush anything,” she said quietly, her hand resting over his.

They spent the next few minutes in silence, the morning light growing brighter as they simply existed together, letting the world outside wait. For Alice, it felt like the first time in a long while that she had something solid, something she could trust. And it felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

The comfort and sincerity Lewis showed, especially after everything they’d shared, left her with a deep sense of calm. For the first time in a long time, Alice felt truly at peace with herself, with them. And though she knew the world would continue to push them both in different directions, in that moment, with him beside her, she felt complete.