(FYI - if any of the below smut is out of your comfort zone, stop and skip down to where they exchange I love you's or further to the first page break. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, and you won't miss anything important to the plot.)
Once he got the door closed behind him, he was on her, and pushed her back against the kitchen wall. "That was very brave of you," he told her, and then leaned in and bit at her earlobe. "To turn all of my attention, adrenaline…" He pressed his body fully against hers. "Towards you. Are you sure that was wise, love? Do you think you can handle it?"
She swallowed hard at the pop of the T and the look in his eyes. Slightly out of breath, she replied, "I'm sure I can, but can you?" A feral smile was all that greeted her as his mouth claimed hers.
Killian's hands were quick. He pulled Emma's shirt over her head, had her bra unclasped and pulled down, dangling from one of her arms in an instant, and then his mouth was latched onto her breast. He sucked the peak hard as his hands moved to her pants. Her jeans were down, along with her underwear, as his mouth sucked harder.
She moaned in pleasure, a flood of wetness rushing between her legs in the excitement. Her fingers laced through his hair, holding on for dear life, as he then picked her up from the floor enough that she could kick her shoes off along with the rest of her garments.
Once her feet hit the floor, his mouth switched to the other breast, continuing its assault. Her fingers tugged at his hair, making him bite the skin, and a free hand came up to squeeze at the abandoned breast, his thumb swiped over the hard, tortured peak, and she mewled against him. His other hand shot straight to her core, and feeling her drenched, he didn't even wait and plowed his three fingers in deep. She keened against him, her back arching. "Fuck!"
"Aye," he growled as his fingers continued to moved fast and hard into her and his thumb curled up to to swipe against her clit. "Come on my fingers, and then I'll fuck you nice and deep, love." He curled his fingers inside her, stroking that spot she craved at every thrust of his fingers. "I know you want to be filled." He plunged his fingers deep again. "Stretched with my cock." He felt her body tensing, her walls fluttering around his questing fingers. With a hard grind of his thumb her to clit, she screamed his name, her fingers pulling tight on his hair as she came hard in his arms.
As her body quaked, he pressed her back to the wall to support her. His hand on her breast came up to unzip his firesuit, letting it fall down his legs. He stooped and brought the same arm under her rear and lifted her body up to the right height. He quickly removed his fingers from her still-quivering quim, and slammed his rock-hard cock inside her.
Her eyes popped open in surprise while her mouth moaned at the needed intrusion. He stopped fully seated inside of her. Eyes connected, he brought his fingers coated in her pleasure to his lips and sucked on all three at once. Her eyes fluttered at the sight, and he smirked as brought both of his hands came to her hips. He licked his lips still tasting her, and then with a slow pull out. With a snarl of "Mine!" he slammed back into her.
Her one hand moved to his shoulder as the other stayed in his hair, clenching and pulling at his sweat-soaked tresses. "Yes!" she screamed back as he started a fast, hard pace. His hands used her hips for leverage, and she wrapped her legs around him. "Yours...all yours." She knew it was true—she was his. "More...more," she pleaded as she felt her next peak already approaching.
He pulled her legs up higher on his waist and with another growl, he plunged back in, his new angle getting him deeper, making her gasp in a silent, pleasure-filled moan. He gritted his teeth; he was much to close to his release for his liking. His need to claim, to take still stirred within him. His mouth latched onto her neck, trying to leave his mark, as his hips somehow picked up the pace, hammering back into her.
When her body started to shake, he knew he couldn't hold out anymore, and with one more thrust, her body contracted around his and he let it take him. For as much as she was his, he was fully and completely hers as well. With a grunt, he pressed deep and let the pleasure consume him. Their hands gripped each other tight as the bliss washed through them.
He caught his breath first, and leaned in to kiss her. The soft kiss turned passionate once again, his tongue plunging into her mouth once more. She moaned against him as he pulled back from the wall with her still wrapped around him. He broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck, his tongue licking at the hickey she had blooming on her neck from his mouth just minutes earlier. She pulled his hair and had him turn to look at her; his eyes were still dilated, and she could already feel his deflated length twitching inside of her. "More?" she asked breathlessly.
His lips curled into a smirk. "I thought you said you could handle it."
She swallowed hard. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good, because I'm not done with you yet, love." He walked into the bedroom and lowered her to the bed, slipping from her, and then pulled back, hovering over her. She could tell he was trying desperately to calm himself. "If you don't want this, you need to tell me. But...I want…"
She pulled him back down to her mouth and kissed him deeply, only to barely pull back to whisper against his lips, "I'm yours. I trust you, completely."
He kissed her hard once more, and then stood up. "On your hands and knees," he commanded as he turned to the nightstand beside the bed, pulling out a tube of lube as he tried to take calming breaths to reign back his need. He could still feel the adrenaline and testosterone cascading through him, the need to claim her, make her his. But he also needed to slow down—he didn't want to hurt her.
He opened the tube and put a generous amount on his fingers as he turned back to her. "Rest your head on the pillows, and put that beautful arse in the air." She did as he told her, and he grinned as he set the lube on the bed within easy reach. He climbed onto the bed behind her, resting on his knees. "Spread your legs wider."
As soon as she did, he groaned at the sight. Her cheeks and lips parted, allowing him to see all of her. To see his seed running from her core, and down her thighs. He clenched his jaw, reigning in his libido, as his fingers came up to her cheeks, spreading the lube on her puckered hole.
He massaged the the opening in a circle, eliciting a moan from her, and he smiled as he pressed the digit slowly inside. This part at least wasn't new to her, so her body was relaxed, and he was able to slip the second finger inside, slowly pushing them in and out of her body. She groaned and pressed her hips back against him. "You like that, don't you?"
She moaned at the small smack to her cheek when she didn't answer at first. "Yesss…" she said, pressing back once again.
"Want another?" He needed to know she wanted it, both for her permission, and the knowledge that she wanted it turned him on even more, thought he wasn't sure how that was possible since he was already hard as steel once again.
"Yes...please…" she groaned.
He reached for the tube, and on pulling out his two fingers, he applied some more liquid, and then slowly he pressed three into her. With a gasp, she tightened on him, and his free hand moved around her to circle her clit. "Relax."
She moaned as he manipulated her bundle of nerves, and when her muscles did as he requested, her pressed the three digits all the way inside. She whimpered and her hips pressed back against him, and he groaned at the sight. "Fuck...Emma. You are so damn tight." He pulled them out a little and pressed them back inside, making her keen loudly. His fingers kept playing with her clit, as his others slowly thrust in and out of her back passage.
When her moaning grew louder and her hips pushed back onto him, fucking herself harder on his fingers, he knew she was ready. He was more than ready, as his cock was straining for attention. His fingers left her clit and squeezed more lube directly onto his length. He pumped into his hand, making him moan at the contacted while also spreading it over him.
His hand went to her hip, and on his next pull back of his fingers out of her ass, he used them to line up his cock. He pressed the head to the hole, and slowly pressed inside of her. When the head popped inside, they both moaned. He gritted his teeth, urging himself to go slow, as he slowly sunk inch by inch into her tight ass.
About halfway in, she tensed, her muscles tightening, and he stopped. "Want me...to stop?" he asked through gritted teeth. She shook her head no, and his free, clean hand moved under her, and caressed her breasts, lightly tweaking the nipples. She sighed, and he leaned over her, letting another inch press inside, making them both groan at the feeling. He kissed her shoulders, and the back of her neck, as his hand trailed from her breasts back to between her legs, circling her clit once again.
She whimpered in pleasure, and her body opened for him, allowing him to slide all the way inside. He groaned at the feeling. "So bloody fucking tight." His fingers continued to move over clit as he straightened back up, and his other hand grabbed her hip. He bit his lip at the sight before him: her tight hole stretched around his cock. His fingers moving through the wetness of her arousal and his own seed, the knowledge almost too much for him to take.
With a press of her hips once against back onto him, he growled, and taking her hint and readiness he pulled out a bit, and pressed back in, making them both moan at the pleasure. Each pull out and thrust back in, he went a little faster, a little harder, testing her. But her moans and the rocking of her hips told him she was right there with him.
"Harder...harder…" she pleaded, and with that, he lost all restraint as his hips slammed into her, pressing her further up the bed; sounds of pleasure from them both filled the room.
"Bloody fucking hell," he groaned as he plowed back inside, the pleasure intense, too intense. He wanted her to come around him, needed to feel the sensation, hear her sounds, and he was so close. His fingers on her clit dipped lower, and two sunk into her core.
"Fuck! Yes...oh yes," she moaned as he pressed them in further, feeling himself thrusting through the thin wall between his fingers and cock. He growled at her bucking her hips back, seeking the feeling, going wild on him, and the feel of her even tighter with his fingers inside of her.
"Oh, fuck...you love it, don't you?" he asked; she only was able to moan her answer. "Love me fucking your tight ass." He was bucking wildly into her, on the verge himself, his fingers questing and massaging that spot inside of her again.
"Oh god...yesss...yesss…" With that, her body tensed and she screamed, and he felt the ripples of her contractions over his fingers and cock, and he thrust twice more, and then followed her into the storm of pleasure as he erupted and emptied himself inside of her.
They fell to their sides and he slid out of her, both whimpering and trying to calm their racing hearts. He kissed the back of her shoulder, his adrenaline now quenched. "Love you."
She smiled softly, and managed, "I love...you...too."
"Are you...okay?" he asked with a worried tone.
She let out a small giggle. "Wonderful."
He let out a small laugh of relief. "Good." He sat up. "Stay there; I'll go get some wash cloths."
He trotted into the bathroom, and washed his hands and himself with some soap and water. He then grabbed two hand towels and prepared them, one with soapy water and the other with plain, and went back into the bedroom. He groaned at the sight of her. She turned at the sound to look at him, as his eyes were focused on her rear.
He bit his lip at the sight, seeing his seed now dripping out of both of her orifices. "Like what you see?" came her words and his eyes darted to hers, and he saw the knowing smirk on her face.
"Can't help it, love. It stirs something very primal in me."
She carefully moved up onto her hands and knees. "Oh, really?" He nodded and swallowed hard at the look in her eyes. "Does that primal side want the tri-fecta?" He raised an eyebrow at her, but she knew that he knew exactly what she was referring to. Her eyes darted to his cock, and the twitching she saw indicated just how much he would like that; now it was her turn to take some control. "Sit on the bed, with your back against the headboard."
He grinned at her, and the determination in her eyes. There wasn't a chance in hell that he would refuse the gift that she was willing to give him at that point, and his body was in agreement, already half hard at the prospect. He moved into position quickly and she crawled toward him, her hair dragging over his thighs, her ass high in the air, and that's when he noticed that he could see her in the mirror across from the foot of the bed.
She caught his eyes and grinned. "Like the view?" she asked just as her hands gripped his length.
"Fuckkk…" he replied to the touch, and then to her question, "Yes."
She gave him a smile and then lowered her mouth to the head of his quickly growing erection. Sucking on the tip had him moaning, so she added flicking her tongue to the underside, which got the intended reaction of his hands into her hair. She moaned around him as his fingers tightened in her hair and his hips bucked up slightly at the vibrations.
Fully hard in her hand, she lowered her mouth further, taking him deeper, only to pull back off. She smiled and took a quick breath until his hands pressed her back onto him and she moaned again.
"Bloody...fuck," he groaned again, his eyes moving between her mouth taking him down, the view over her backside in the mirror, both of her thoroughly fucked holes, and thighs coated with his pleasure. He can see the pleasure on her face, feel it in her moans around him, raising his as well, knowing that she was aroused by what she was doing to him. His hips bucked up again at a particularly gratifying swirl of her tongue. "Play with yourself…while you suck me, love," he groaned out as her throat swallowed around him, taking him deep.
She pulled off of him, licked her lips, adjusted her stance to rest on one hand, and trailed the other under her to between her legs. His eyes watched the mirror; as her fingers dipped inside her, she then took him back into her mouth, taking him to the base. He moaned loudly and his eyes drifted shut, head flying back a second, only for her to pull off. "No, watch the mirror," she commanded.
His eyes instantly reopened to look at her and her smirk. "Yes, ma'am," he replied and looked back to the mirror. She then took him deep once more, as her fingers pressed inside her at the same time. She moaned around him against, and the groaned, struggling to keep his eyes opened.
She pulled her mouth back off as her fingers retreated, and he could see them glistening. "Emma…" he whined, "You're killing me." He felt the smile on her lips as she took him deep in again, sucking hard as she thrust her fingers back inside. His hands tightened in her hair again, and he pressed her back down.
Their movements started to speed up, her fingers and mouth working in tandem, fucking herself as she sucked him deep, his hands clutched the back of her head as his hips fucked her willing mouth as she got deep. Both their movements became frantic, his body tensed first, and she pushed her mouth fully onto him, swallowing around him as he erupted with a grunt of her name down her throat.
She swallowed what he gave, and then pulled off to breathe as her fingers continued to plunge inside, trying to find her own release. With a few deep breaths, he pulled her up into his lap, her knees on either side of him. His own fingers replaced hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as she rode his fingers, harder, pressing her clit against his softening length. His mouth found hers, and he moaned at tasting himself on her lips.
With another rock of her hips, her back arched, her head flew back and she screamed her pleasure as he held her tight, his eyes watching the bliss wash over her face. As her body stilled, his hand caressed her cheek. "So beautiful."
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and she smiled at him, a content look on her face. He smiled back, and gave her a soft kiss. She pulled back to look at the now-cool towels, and went to reach for one.
Killian shook his head, "At this point, I think we should just take a shower."
She turned to look at the clock. "We are so late, your driver—"
He wrapped his arms around her and stood from the bed, carrying her with him to the shower. "Since there hasn't been a knock on the door, I have a feeling Robin told him to not bother us." She blushed at that, and he laughed. "With all we just did, you blush at that?"
She laughed as he slowly set her still-shaking legs down, but kept an arm around her as he turned on the water. "But this is just us, you and me."
He growled at that, and nipped lightly at her earlobe. "It better be. Or do I need to stake my claim again?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You know, I'm all yours."
He leaned in and kissed her. "And I am yours, as well, my love."
She kissed him again, and then pulled back, a small smirk on her face. "But by all means, claim me as much as you want." She pressed her hips into his and kissed him hard again.
"Minx," he growled and pressed her back against the shower wall, claiming her mouth once again. It was much later before they left the RV, and headed to the airport to go home. Both exhausted, they slept the entire plane ride home.
It was a good thing that Emma had agreed to take Mondays and Tuesdays off, because they slept in until almost noon the following day. They lazed around the bedroom watching movies, or tried to watch movies, only to get tangled up with each other multiples times. On Tuesday, they took the opportunity to head out onto the water, and attempted to figure out something for them to do the upcoming weekend since it was a NASCAR break week.
On Wednesday, Emma went back to working on the upcoming grand opening party, and strategizing with each of the staff on various other aspects. Belle had already gathered some regular volunteers, including a dark-haired woman, Dorothy, and her Aunt Em. Emma had a feeling the woman's aunt was happy to find something to do during the days of her retirement. Dorothy, on the other hand, Emma had a sneaking suspicion had more to do with a certain someone that worked there. The more she saw Dorothy and Mulan talking and laughing with each other, the more her suspicion grew. Mulan laughing...that was her biggest tipoff.
Killian wasn't at the shop today—he was out at the racetrack, testing some changes to the car, but she would see him back at the house later that night. And that was where she found him, once again getting dinner ready. "How was the car test?" she asked after she sat down her things and came over to take the glass of wine he already had sitting out for her.
"Good, really good. Robin says they'll make the adjustments for the next race." He stirred the stew on the stove and then walked over to her, giving her a soft kiss. "Missed you."
She smiled. "Me too."
He then went back to the stove. "I also made a formal complaint to NASCAR about how Jefferson raced. He was either overly aggressive and tried to crash me deliberately or was completely negligent."
She smiled. "Good. When will we find out what they decide?"
He tilted his head back and forth, and with a shrug, said, "Maybe next week." He stirred the stew again and sighed. "I highly doubt anything meaningful will come of it."
"But that was—how did Ruby put it—'detrimental to racing'."
He grinned at her use of the well-known rule phrase. "Yes, that would be true. I'm sure they will rule something. But a small penalty won't mean much to him. I don't see them putting him back on probation or docking him points. He'll probably have some excuse."
Emma was angry for him. "But that's not fair. Everyone knows he is crazy out on that track. A loose cannon. He could seriously hurt someone..." She let herself drift off, her thoughts remembering the other time where he had seriously hurt someone. She looked up into his eyes, and he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"It's okay, Emma. I'm okay." He hugged her tight, and she pressed her face into his chest. "So, have we decided? Since you want to work Saturday, we'll take the Sunday to Tuesday and go out on the boat for a long weekend?"
She knew he was changing the topic deliberately, but she was more than willing. "Yes. I just need to work with the sponsors and charities here for the grand opening."
With the plan in place, that was what they did. The stocked the yacht with food, took a couple changes of clothes, and made their way out onto the water. There wasn't anything like laying in each other's arms after making love on the boat, with the waves rocking them back and forth to sleep.
They got the news the morning after they got to the Bristol track: Jefferson was penalized for 'actions detrimental to racing' but was only fined thirty thousand dollars, and no points reduction. While it sounded like a lot of money, Emma also knew that it was a minor slap on the wrist, not to mention how much Jefferson won from being the winner of the race.
The girls had just sighed and told her to get used to it—that unless it was something major, nothing but small fines and penalties happened. With that, they changed the topic, and Ruby gave her some names and numbers to contact for the charity.
Killian qualified in fourth for the short track, and the next day, on Saturday night, when the race started under the light, he quickly made his way to the front of the pack. Just like last time at the half-mile track, there were many cautions, no car left untouched, as the leaders had to navigate back through the lap-down cars. There were so many cautions for debris, blown tires, and cars getting into each other and the wall, that none of the cars had to come in for fuel or tires while it was green.
With ten laps to go, Killian would for sure finish with the most laps led. But what made Emma nervous was that Jefferson and Victor were closing in. Killian would go to block one, and the other would start charging forward, and vice versa. Emma was going to give Victor hell later for helping Jefferson, especially since due to the maneuver from Jefferson, Killian had to slow to not rear end him and have them both end up in the wall. But because of that, Victor took the lead and Jefferson took second place, with Killian finishing in third.
Only this time when Emma got down to pit lane, Killian wasn't at his car, he was storming over to Jefferson's pits. Killian's crew was following him, Robin trying to get him to calm down. Anton, his jackman, clasped a hand over her shoulder. "Emma, wait here."
"But—"
He shook his head. "If this get's ugly, he wouldn't want you in that mess. I need to be there with him, but you must stay here. Understand?" She nodded in defeat, and Anton ran after the rest of his crew as she watched the big TV monitor, which was now focusing on the commotion.
Killian ignored Robin, and shrugged off his crew's hands trying to pull him back. "Back off!" he yelled at them as he stormed up to Jefferson, who was in the middle of an interview. The reporter instantly stopped and backed away, but motioned for the camera to get whatever was going to happen.
Jefferson looked surprised for an instant, but then slowly headed over to Killian, his hands raised. "Look, man."
"Dont. Look. Man. Me," Killian yelled. "If I hadn't slowed down, we would have BOTH crashed! What the bloody hell is wrong with you?"
"But we didn't," The man said, too calmly for Killian's liking.
Killian grabbed the other man by the front of his firesuit, and Robin and Leroy each grabbed an arm, trying to pull him off. But Killian didn't budge as he got right into the man's face. "Fancy a game of chicken, do you? Trust me, mate. Next time, I won't flinch." With that he shoved the man away from him, shook his crew's arms off, and stormed back to the RV, not stopping for reporters.
She was much too quiet for his liking on the late night car ride to the airplane, and he had a feeling he knew why. Once they got into the air and the plane steadied, he was proven right.
She took off her belt and started pacing. "What the hell was that?"
He turned towards her, undoing his own seatbelt, not really wanting to ask, "About?"
She rounded on him. "You know exactly what I'm talking about? Why would you challenge him like that? Him of all people? He is insane!"
He sighed. "Because no one else has stood up to him."
"So you think you need to?"
"If someone doesn't, he will think he can get away with it."
"So, it's revenge then?"
"Yes! I am already guaranteed a place in the Chase; right now, before it starts, I have to make my point! If he does it during the Chase, he could end things for me or someone else way too early."
"But it's not worth your safety!" she screamed.
That was her real worry. He stood and enveloped her in his arms. "I promise I won't do anything...too reckless."
She looked up at him, an incredulous look on her face. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Uhhhh...yes?"
She shook her head and buried her face in his chest. "I don't like this."
He kissed the top of her head. "I know. I'll be careful." She didn't answer, but just hugged him back harder.
On Wednesday, Killian, Emma, and Belle took a look at the new office space. The contractors were gone, the walls were opened up, the wood paneling was gone, and lighting was changed. Just some paint and new flooring was needed. They looked through the space and Belle held up the narrowed-down list of paint colors and flooring samples.
After taking a look at it all, they decided on a light gray for most walls, white trim, and a maroon red for accent walls—the same red that Killian had for his car. For the floors, they decided on a black heavy-duty tile for the main open area, and a short pile multi-colored carpet that ranged from light gray to black. It was similar to the carpet Emma had at the shelter, just in different colors; the multiple colors helped to hide dirt and stains, which was very much needed around so many children.
Belle called in their order as they both explored the rest of the building. He walked into the big corner office that looked out to the back and side of the lot. The big windows let in a ton of light and a great view, But the reflective, one-way surface reflected the sun so that it wouldn't heat up the room, and gave all the offices a sense of privacy, not allowing anyone to spy inside.
"So, you found your office?" Emma asked, walking up behind him.
"Oh, no, Swan. I was thinking this was perfect for you." He turned to her and pulled her into his arms.
She shook her head. "This is the nicest office in here; you should have it. It's your charity, after all."
He kissed the top of her head. "But, I won't be here as much as you will. I have other things to do. Besides, I already brought it up with the board and they agreed."
She groaned, and laid her head back against his chest. "You keep pre-empting me by going to them, and you know I can't say no."
He chuckled. "It's too much fun, love." He kissed her head and then looked around. "Besides, if I'm here, I'll probably be in here with you. Annoying you." That caused her to smile. "And I'm taking the one next door."
"Oh, alright. If you insist, I'll take it." She sighed and rolled her eyes. He just chuckled louder, and hugged her tighter.
When she woke up on Friday, both of them getting ready for work just felt right—Him for practice, her for meeting with the local charities. She was getting used to it and felt more confident each time. The next day, with the sponsors, she was able to bring in even more donations. Soon, they would have the funds to help each of the charities she was meeting with, If they needed additions to the building, more staff, clothes, new books, or whatever it was that they were looking for.
The late August weather in Michigan was still hot, but luckily there was a light breeze when the race on Sunday started. Emma watched Killian in fourth come up to the starting line as the green flag waved. She also kept an eye on Jefferson, who was back in tenth, unable to forget the challenge that Killian had issued to the man. The only question was if Jefferson would back down or not.
By the way he was moving through the pack, Emma was pretty certain he was going to keep doing what he had before. She just hoped that Killian made it to the front and Jefferson didn't.
By lap 23, Killian and made it to the lead, but at lap 47, Jefferson had made it to second right behind him, and that was when the battle began. Emma's knuckles were white as Killian was true to his word and didn't give an inch to the crazy man. She held her breath so many times as they fought out on the track, bumpers clipping, tires rubbing, and cars running against the wall.
What she also noticed was that the other drivers were staying out of their way as the two feuded. No one wanted to get near them. She could hear Robin attempting to calm him down, but Killian was having none of it. "I'm going to bang some sense into that bloody wanker one way or another, mate."
Though she did have to give it to Killian—he didn't pull the same things on Jefferson that the crazy driver was pulling on him. He just didn't slow down or take drastic actions to avoid him, and both their cars showed that.
At the last lap, just after the last corner, Jefferson was trying to get in front of him, just like the last race, trying to get Killian to slow down. Only this time, he didn't, and Emma was on her feet as she watched Jefferson try to come down too early, and Killian just kept going. But when Jefferson's car started turning into the 71, Killian moved up the track, pressing Jefferson into the wall right before the line. Both cars bounced off the wall and then spun around to find their way over the finish line backwards, Killian a half car length in front of Jefferson.
The two cars broke apart with Jefferson's running into the grass and Killian's limping down the track but still running. She could hear him cheering over the com link, with a "Take that, you cheeky bastard," thrown in.
She looked over to Robin. "Does that count?" she asked as they took off their headphones.
He shook his head and sighed. "It does...for now. Depends on what officials want to say."
She shelved the information away for later and quickly made her way down the ladder and over to victory lane to watch Killian drive his battered car inside. After the victory splash of cola, and a deep kiss from him, he had to turn from her to talk to the reporter.
The redhead was smiling at him. "That was some show out there on the track today, not to mention one amazing finish. After the last race, you vowed not to back down from Jefferson, and you certainly showed that. Do you have anything to say?"
"Just to remind everyone that while I did not slow my race car down or move out of the way for the reckless way he was driving. I did not do the same to him or anyone else on that track. Besides that, I want to thank my team, Mills Racing…" He then continued on thanking his sponsors, the line of dialogue that Emma now knew very well.
After the stream of pictures and press, they were finally on the plane heading home when Emma got to ask him the question that Robin had lodged in her head. "So, what are the officials going to do to you?"
He sighed as he stood up, and pulled her out of her chair and over to the couch with him. As they snuggled together, he finally answered. "I don't know."
Killian didn't get to relax much on Monday as he was called in for questioning in the race. Emma wanted to go with him, but since he wasn't sure how long it would be, he had her stay home. He wasn't shocked by the questions, but he was shocked by how calm he stayed during them, something that would not have happened prior to meeting Emma. But after one specific question, he knew he was going to get some type of penalty, because he answered it truthfully, and questioned them in return.
"Mr. Jones, will you continue this behavior the track?" asked one of the officials.
"I will until he either stops his reckless behavior, or until NASCAR does something about him." He could see that his comment angered some of them, but he had at least said it directly to them and not the press.
He returned not much later to have Emma rush into his arms and ask, "So? How did it go?"
"I don't know, love. We'll find out, but I wouldn't worry about it." And he wasn't going to; he had other things on his mind anyway.
That Wednesday afternoon, he sat at the diner that he and Emma went to for their first date in Storybrooke. He sipped on the iced tea that the waitress had brought over for him, his mind a jumble of what he wanted to say, so many thoughts in his head, and the favor he would ask.
He was brought out of his thoughts by his lunch date sitting down across from him. "Well, this was a surprise invitation." David smiled and motioned to the waitress to bring him the same drink Killian had.
"Thanks for meeting me for lunch, mate. I'm not stealing too much time from policing the town, am I?"
David laughed. "Well, I don't have anybody going over a hundred miles an hour anymore."
"Oi, that was one time...and…" He shrugged. "I have to admit that I am quite glad how it turned out."
The other man shook his head. "I can't believe that I actually agree with that." Both men chuckled.
"I'm glad you feel that way, because I actually wanted to ask you a favor." David just raised his eyebrow waiting for Killian to continue. Killian took a deep breath and asked.
On Thursday, the RV driver picked them up when Emma got home from work to take them down to Darlington, South Carolina. It was only a two-hour drive, so it didn't make much sense to take the plane. Due to the chaperone, they ate dinner while watching a movie.
The next day, it was announced what penalties NASCAR issued for the Michigan race. Like Killian had thought, he did receive a penalty, but luckily it was no where what it could have been. Both himself and Jefferson were penalized fifty thousand, and no points docked. He was happy to see that Robin hadn't been penalized for it either, since crew chiefs were sometimes as well. Granted, if he had been, Killian was ready to pay his friend's portion since it was his own actions.
But what it really told Killian was that NASCAR really didn't mind what he was doing. As a matter of fact, the news outlets were going nuts over it and driving up buzz over the 'rivalry.' The only reason the penalties were probably issued was to make it look like the officials were doing 'something' about it. He wanted to laugh that they were throwing up their hands and basically letting him deal with the Jefferson issue himself.
This time, Killian started in third, behind Victor and August, with Jefferson in fifth. Emma watched with apprehension to see if the crazy driver would try to get back at Killian for the prior race, but she didn't have to wait long for him to get up to fourth, and try to push him up the track. Luckily, Killian was prepared for it and countered, sending Jefferson down the track to the grass. The ding to the 71's side panel worth seeing Jefferson's 12 eat some grass before righting himself and getting back on the track, though it did loose Killian a couple positions but not as many as the other driver.
About thirty laps later, when Killian was in second behind Victor, the 12 caught up and gave a thump to the 71's back bumper. Emma smiled and agreed with the stream of cuss words that came from the com link, but she watched him stay calm and tap on the break just enough to smash in Jefferson's own front bumper.
"Ease up, mate. Don't get him to crush your rear too much so we can't get the fuel in." Killian did ease up then, but when Jefferson attempted to get around him, Killian would just move up or come down on him, their side panels hitting, and made Jefferson wobble the first few times when he didn't expect it. Emma had to hand it to Jefferson, he was damn persistent and learned quickly and adjusted technique. Now if only he could learn that quickly about what he shouldn't be doing, Emma thought with a sigh.
Due to all the bumps, rubs, and hits into the wall by both of them, both cars wore quite a bit of Barebond, which also led to more time in the pits, which put them further back in the pack on restarts, but they kept catching back up to the top five. With two laps to go, Jefferson seemed to have had enough of Killian's tactics, and all out shoved him into the wall to get past him.
Killian had no choice but to let him go so he could get off the wall. His spotter rattled off the damage but told him he could make it to the end. The 71 attempted to try to make it back up to at least the top five after losing spots against the wall. Jefferson, however, was all over the track attempting to get to the front, as he cut off drivers left and right. He clipped Phillip's fender and ran the middle in too tight of a space between Sean and Eric, causing Sean to scrape the wall and Eric to skirt the edge by the grass.
Emma sat there with wide eyes, not believing what she was seeing, and since the fans were almost all on their feet as the cars came out of third turn of the last lap, she was sure they were, too. Jefferson, with Eric right on his tail, was now just behind Victor and August. She watched the two lanes of cars go into the fourth turn, and Jefferson went low to take first and then came back up too soon, forcing Victor to slow so they wouldn't collide, while August and then Eric flew past him.
She couldn't believe that the crazy driver made it across the line first, followed by August, Eric, and then poor Victor, who had led most of the race until the last lap. Killian managed to bring his busted up car in sixth, followed by Sean.
When Emma got to pit lane, Eric, Sean, and Phillip were already at Killian's car. All four drivers were talking louding, clearly all very angry, but as she got closer, she was relieved that they were all angry at the right person: the driver of the 12 car.
"I told you, he's a bloody menace," Killian said, and then saw Emma approaching. He stretched out his arm, and she leaned into him as his arm came around her.
Eric continued, "I can't believe they aren't doing anything!"
"Maybe after this race they will," Sean sounded hopeful. Emma hoped that as well, but from all the reporters' questions, she could see them salivating at the war that was waging going into the Chase. NASCAR was seeing the dollar signs this could mean for the end of the season; she just really hoped no one got hurt.
It was really early Monday morning when Emma's phone rang. It took them both a minute to register that it was her phone and not the alarm clock before she reached over to pick it up from the nightstand, answering it and bring it to her ear. "Hello?" she asked with a yawn.
"Emma…" it was David and she was immediately wide awake.
"What's wrong?" was her worried response that got Killian's attention and he sat and turned on the bedside lamp, as worry lined his features.
"Mary Margaret is in labor; we are at Storybrooke General."
Emma did a quick calculation. "She's not due for two more weeks!"
At that, Killian was up and out of bed and headed for the closet as David answered. "Well, he wants out now. I need to get back to her."
Emma looked up to see Killian lay out a pair of jeans, shoes, and a shirt on the bed for her. She gave him a smile before she responded to her brother, "We'll be there shortly." They said their goodbyes and she was out of bed and changing into the clothes Killian had given her. "Thank you," she told him as she met him in the bathroom, both doing a quick brushing of their teeth and hair.
"No problem, love. I had a feeling we would be going." With a quick rinse, he grabbed his keys and wallet and she her purse, and then they were in his car on their way to the hospital.
At just after three thirty in the morning, there was no one on the roads, and it took almost no time to get to the hospital. Once they were in the waiting room, she texted her brother they were there. About ten minutes later, he came out, and ushered them back to the room.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret smiled at her, and then at Killian. "So glad you could both make it." The last word was a grimace, as her hands gripped the bed's railings, and David rushed to her side, trying to coach her breathing.
Killian pulled Emma close, his arms around her middle as she leaned back against him, both unsure what to do, but once the contraction passed, her sister-in-law was all smiles once again. "Sorry about that," she said.
Emma laughed. "Are you kidding me? You do NOT need to be sorry." They both approached the bed, and Emma's left hand reached for Mary Margaret's. "So the kid is coming today, huh?"
"Oh yeah." David smiled. "She's already dilated to 7 centimeters."
Killian smiled at them both. "Not much longer then, mate."
Emma looked at him with a questioning look as to how he knew that, he shrugged his shoulders, "My nephews." She smiled at them and took his hand her right.
"Oh, Emma, can you do me a favor?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Sure? What do you need?" At the moment, there wasn't much she wouldn't do for her friend.
Her sister-in-law twisted off her wedding ring, with a look of pain on her face. "Swollen fingers...there!" she said as the ring finally came off. "They don't want me wearing it in the delivery room; do you mind?"
"Oh, okay. Wouldn't you rather David—"
He stopped her. "I'm going to be a bit pre-occupied Emma, just watch it for us."
With a nod from Emma, Mary Margaret took the ring and shoved it on Emma's ring finger. The brunette laughed. "Perfect, one less thing I have to worry about."
Emma smiled down at the ring. "I'll keep it safe," she vowed.
Killian and David looked at the band on Emma's finger and then shared a look; a smile bloomed on Killian's face, and David gave him a wink before they were pulled out of their silent conversation by a squeal from Emma. "I can't believe I'm going to be an aunt!" They all laughed, and once Mary Margaret got close to ten centimeters, Killian and Emma were sent back to the waiting room.
Five hours, three cups of coffee, and a breakfast sandwich from the cafeteria later, they were both still sitting in the waiting room, watching the local news, while Emma spun the ring on her finger. As time ticked by, she got more and more nervous, which he could feel. He hugged her closer. "These things take time. Elsa was in labor for twenty two hours for the first lad."
She turned to him with big eyes. "What?"
He gave a soft chuckle. "Though the second was much easier at eleven." Her eyes widened even at that number. "What I am trying to say, love, is that she is fine. Just relax."
It was about an hour later that David came out with a huge grin on his face. "I have a son." They both jumped up from their chairs and Emma hugged her brother tight. "Mary Margaret is fine, and resting. He's so perfect. Ten fingers, ten toes. Eight pounds and 7 ounces. Twenty-one inches. Perfect."
Killian clapped him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, mate."
Later, once Mary Margaret was moved into her room, the couple were able to visit. They stood over the new mother and son while the proud papa stood on the other side of the bed. "He's so beautiful," Emma said with tears in her eyes.
"Here," Mary Margaret said, and shifted the bundle in her arms to Emma.
She took him, holding him close, and kissed the top of his head, "Hi, Leo. I'm your Aunt Emma."
Killian's heart constricted at the sight. When he looked up to Dave, the man had a knowing smile on his face as did his wife. He gave them both a smile and turned back to the small bundle in Emma's arms.
"Oh, before I forget!" Emma said, and turned towards Killian. "Do you mind for a moment?"
His eyes widened and he looked at the two parents for permission, they both nodded, and he took the baby into his arms, his free hand coming up to run his fingers gentling over the wee lad's head and his soft wisps of blonde hair.
Emma pulled off the ring and handed it back to Mary Margaret. "Don't want you to forget this." The new mother smiled back, and managed to slowly put the ring back on her finger.
Emma then turned back to Killian, ready to take her nephew back, but stopped with a small gasp at the view. The baby had his eyes open, looking up at Killian with wonder, his little fingers grasping one of Killian's. But it was Killian's own look of joy that brought a smile to her face. It was the snap of a flash that brought the two back to reality as they looked back to see Mary Margaret with her phone, having took a picture. "I want one with you, too, Emma."
They spent a little more time with the new parents, taking pictures, talking, and passing around the little one. It was late afternoon before Killian and Emma got home and dragged themselves back to bed for a long nap wrapped in each other's arms. The events of the day still brought smiles to their faces.
They were back on a plane Wednesday night due to the Saturday night race in Richmond. On Thursday after practice, Killian got a text message right before he, Emma, and the others were heading out to dinner. He smiled at Dave's message.
DN: FYI - it's a size 5.5
He responded back quickly.
KJ: Thanks, Mate.
There was an almost immediate beep.
DN: ;)
Killian laughed and Emma gave him a questioning look. He pulled her to him, as he pocketed his phone and kissed her. "I love you."
Her eyes narrowed, studying him, but she couldn't help but return the smile and the sentiment. "I love you, too. Now hurry up or we'll be late." He just nodded and let her pull him out of the RV.
Friday, right before qualifying, NASCAR issued penalties. This time, the one for Jefferson was more severe at a hundred thousand dollars, and his crew chief also faced a fifty thousand dollar fine. Robin was lucky, and no fine was issued, though Killian got one as well. But, at only twenty thousand, he knew exactly what they were telling him.
On Saturday night, Killian was starting the race second, right behind Sean and in front of Victor. Jefferson was back in tenth. This time, it wasn't just Killian not letting Jefferson pass—it was all of their friends. They were all fed up with his tactics, and since they all knew they were getting into the Chase, they weren't worried about making a statement during this race.
One would think that so many drivers giving him a hard time would clue Jefferson in, but it didn't. If anything, it seemed to egg him on, and with a battered race car, he was able to still finish the race in fifth. The other cars had damage, but since this time they shared the experience, they were not nearly as bad off. Victor was able to pull off the win, and Killian managed to come in third even with a last minute swipe by the 12 to his car that had fender of the 71 car dragging over the finish line.
When Emma got down to pit lane, Killian pulled her in for a quick hug and deep kiss before he turned to the reporter. "Killian, how does it feel to get back into the Chase this year? And not only that, but right now as the points leader, with the most wins, going into it?"
His smile was huge and he pulled Emma close to his side. "It feels bloody fantastic."
Point Standings:
Car - Driver - Points - *=leading
#71 - Killian Jones - 1025*
#8 - Phillip Haven - 999
#36 - Victor Whale - 1014
#53 - Sean Herman - 999
#65 - Eric Sirena - 999
#92 - August Booth - 1000
#12 - Tarrant Jefferson - 944