It's nearly midnight and despite the fact that Alex won the race, I am back in North Carolina. I stayed long enough to congratulate the 48 team and take a few victory lane photos before boarding my jet for home. Hendrick is now three for three this season and for once I am not having any snarky thoughts because I am trying to be better. I could have stayed at the track longer, but I was ready to come home.

Except I'm not home. I am standing on Ryan's front porch working up the nerve to ring the doorbell. There is a full moon and the stars are shining brightly, illuminating the darkness. Despite the late hour, I know he's awake. The lights are on inside and I hear footsteps and I can hear him talking to his dog Sturgill.

I could have waited until tomorrow to show up, but I'm worried. He crashed again today. Although the damage to his race car was severe, his team repaired it enough for him to finish the race, albeit several laps down. What concerned me though was the fact that when I snuck a listen to his radio, I heard him ask his team for some Advil because his head was killing him. Why the hell did he stay in the damn race?

I'm having second thoughts about ringing the doorbell as I'm pacing the front porch. This is not me. I have never chased after a man before. Usually they pursue me. But this is Ryan. Ryan is different and he may be hurt. He may not want to see me, not want anything to do with me but I have to make sure that he's okay. If I can get him to give me another chance in the process, then it's a win win.

With that final thought, I rang the bell. The silence of the late hour was immediately replaced by Sturgill's anxious bark, then footsteps and shushing of the dog.

"Somehow I'm not surprised it's you. Over or not, I figured you were the only one to show up at my doorstep at this hour." He sounded annoyed but still opened the door wider to let me in. "What do you want Mia? It's late."

This wasn't going to be easy. Ryan was not happy to see me, but I couldn't help but notice he didn't look all that well. His eyes were dull. His expression grim.

"I'm worried about you." I said simply, letting myself all the way into the house, grateful he didn't shut the door in my face. Maybe he was willing to listen or maybe he was just too polite to slam said door.

"I'm fine. It's late though and you shouldn't be here."

"Are you really fine Ryan? I heard you complaining about your head. Two hard wrecks, and as an owner I've dealt with drivers with concussions who thought they were fine too." I stated emphatically, although I refrained from mentioning Alex's name as he was the one the team had dealt with having a concussion.

"I was checked and released and I've got contacts with some of the best concussion specialists in the country through my foundation, one of whom I've just gotten off the phone with." He replied.

"What did he say?" I asked eagerly.

"He said to continue my routine, take Advil or Tylenol, get plenty of rest but to wake up every few hours to monitor my symptoms." His voice was a monotone, void of any emotion.

"You need someone to stay with you, to wake you up every four hours. Is Erin home?" I asked.

He shook his head. "She's out of town. She'll be back tomorrow."

"Then I'm staying here tonight with you. I know you're mad at me, but like it or not, you need me." I said.

"Don't you have to work tomorrow?" He asked.

"No. I've already notified my assistant not to expect me in the office as I'm sure I will be dealing with jet lag and getting back so late. I have my phone and my laptop in case I'm needed." I replied.

"Fine." Was his only reply, and frankly, I was surprised he didn't argue anymore with me.

I took a seat on the couch and motioned for him to join me. I had a lot I needed to say. "Ryan, I...." I started to speak.

"I heard you got in touch with Monster on Lindsey's behalf. They offered her her job back." 

"Yeah well, I needed to make things right." I shrugged it off, searching for just the right words that I needed to say. "I fucked up Ryan. I know that, and I regret the way I went about everything. Alex and I have called a truce. Maybe more of a cease fire. Not because I still have feelings for him, but because it needed to be done. You were right to call me out for using my position to get revenge, but I don't want to be that person anymore. I know I'm a lot. I'm too spoiled, too self absorbed, too used to getting my way. I'm not the easiest to deal with. I'm a lot to handle, but I'm working on that. I'm asking you to give me another chance. Give us another chance." My last sentence was nearly a plea.

The look he gave me appeared a little sad and my heart immediately sank. "I want to Mia, but I'm not sure that I can trust you. Without trust, I...I just don't know."

It hurt to hear that, but I couldn't give up. "Just give me a chance to try and re-earn your trust. Please Ryan. All I'm asking for is another chance. I want to do better. You make me better. I don't want us to end. Let me show you that I've changed." I pleaded my case more.

I saw his hardened expression begin to soften and my spirits began to lift. "Okay. I don't want it to end either. I'm willing to wipe the slate clean and start fresh." He said, and it took everything in me not to throw myself on him, but I remembered why I had come here in the first place...the possibility of him being concussed.

"Thank you. I promise you won't regret it." I took his hand in mine and squeezed it.

"We should probably get some sleep. You know, doctor's orders." He said releasing my hand then patting it awkwardly. I could sense his reluctance, but he did agree to give us another chance so I tried to take comfort in that.

We went upstairs to his room. He took off his shirt for bed, leaving his athletic shorts on, and I tried my hardest not to gawk at his toned, tattooed torso. Sleep Mia. Just sleep. I took off my oversized hoodie, leaving my undershirt and leggings on, then unhooked my bra and removed it through the armholes of my shirt. He had already climbed into bed and under the covers.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I set two alarms on my phone, each four hours apart so that I could wake him up and check for any symptoms he might have.

"Night Mia." He said, then rolled over, back to me. Awkward indeed. He was not going to make this easy for me.

Within minutes, I heard his soft snores. I tossed around restlessly. I could not get comfortable. I never sleep in pants. They felt too restrictive. I only left them on for his benefit. Since he was now asleep, I slipped them off, instantly feeling relief from the cool sheets against my bare skin. Much better.

                                **********

Ugh. I resisted the urge to slam my hand down on the snooze button like I did most mornings to silence the blare of the alarm. Instead, I turned off the alarm and rolled over to where Ryan was sleeping soundly.

"Ryan" I said, softly shaking him. He stayed asleep, so I leaned over him and shook him a little harder. "Ryan...you need to wake up babe."

Through the dim remnants of moonlight streaming through the bedroom window, I saw his eyes pop open and look around wildly. Before I could react, one of his hands splayed across my back. The other went through my hair at the back of my head, pushing it down until our lips meshed together. His tongue invaded both my mouth and my senses and I became blissfully unaware of everything going on around me including the reason I had woke him up in the first place.

I lost myself in his kiss. He was kissing me like he meant it. Like all was forgotten and forgiven. Kissing me with the intensity of our souls meshing together and becoming one and I couldn't contain the deep moan of satisfaction that escaped from my throat.

The hand that was splayed across my back shifted and was now on my hip, and using his arm, he pushed me to where I was fully on top of him, my knees on each side of his hips. He moved his lower body, grinding his hard cock against my center, releasing his own moan of satisfaction. He slipped a finger into the thin strip of delicate fabric over my hip and with a small tug, the seam of my panties came apart. As he was still kissing me senseless, his finger was brushing against my heat, spreading my slick folds apart. It was almost embarrassing how wet I got for him with very little effort.

He slipped his hand between us, to push the waistband of his loose fitting shorts down just enough to release his cock. With his hand wrapped around the base, he notched himself against my entrance, coating the head with my arousal.

I sank down slowly, inch by inch. Fighting against the resistance, willing my body to completely open up for him as I was not quite ready. Pain mixed with pleasure coursed through my veins once I was completely seated, impaled on his cock, and I took a moment to adjust before I began to rock my lower body slowly. His fingertips were imbedded in my hips urging me on, but I was in control.

Leaning forward, I swiped my tongue across his nipple before suckling it into my mouth and sinking my teeth into it. Not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to get his attention.

"Fuck" he groaned with his eyes rolling back into his head. I moved to the other nipple, giving it the same attention and eliciting another pleasurable moan from him. "Off." He demanded, tugging the hem of my tank top.

Dragging my mouth away from his nipples, I sat up straight and dragged the top over my head then tossed it to the side. Immediately both of his hands locked onto my breasts, kneading them roughly, then flicking my nipples with his thumbs. Soon his hands were splayed across my back, pushing my upper body forward so that he could latch his lips on my right nipple. First tongue then teeth and the sensation overcame me, as if my nipples were a direct link to my pussy. A sudden flush of warmth and then my walls began to clench around him.

Before I could overcome the throes of my orgasm, he was pushing himself up and now we were both sitting, face to face. I locked my ankles around his hips, my heels digging into his ass when he crashed his lips onto mine in a deeply passionate kiss. God I never wanted this to end. Our sweaty bodies were flush against each other as if we were one.

He then attached his lips to my neck, sucking, nipping and kissing along the side of my throat all while pushing me back onto the bed, taking control, then pounding into me hard and fast just the way I like it. I was drunk on passion, my vision going hazy as another orgasm began building, its waves peaking and cresting causing me to cry out in ecstasy.

We came together with each other's names on our lips, and after a moment of catching our breath, he pulled out of me and now I just felt empty.

"Wow." He said, his breath coming in shallow pants as he rolled off of me.

"Definitely." I said, my own breathing shallow. I turned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I'll be right back."

I went to the attached bathroom and got a washcloth. After wetting it, I cleaned myself up and returned to the bedroom so that he could clean up as well. He was now back in his original position, eyes closed. "Ry." I said with no response. Well damn that didn't take long, I said to myself.

Obviously he was feeling okay because that was just fucking amazing, however, I couldn't help but feel a little let down. Barely a word was spoken between us. Brushing those thoughts aside, I laid down next to him snuggling against his warmth. We were gonna be okay. I could just feel it.

I could have sworn I saw him open his eyes and smile at me, so I took a huge leap of faith. "I love you." I said against his ear. I waited for a response, however all I got was a soft snore. Maybe he wasn't awake after all. Never mind. I'll tell him again later. I checked my phone to make sure the alarm was set for four hours later, then laid my head on the pillow and promptly fell asleep.