Collided (Dirty Air, #2)

by Lauren Asher

I like to read at least a chapter of a book every night before going to bed. It’s a tradition I’ve had since childhood that I still keep, despite a busy schedule.”

“What’s your favorite book?” Doubt colors my voice. “If you have a favorite, I don’t trust you. Any book lover has at least five they can name off the top of their head.” His blue eyes hold mine.

“A man who prefers to live in a fantasy. How cute.” “I’d be your best fantasy, no book needed.”

I turn toward the child. “Ciao, amico. Che cosa vuoi⁠—” The stranger cuts me off. “Shit. You’re hot and speak Italian.” He smiles wide at me before he looks over at the kid. “Twenty euros. Leave.” The blond-haired, blue-eyed man holds out a crisp euro note straight from a designer wallet. The kid gets the meaning of his words as he grabs it and runs, leaving us alone yet again.

“You’re no princess. You’re a motherfucking queen. Don’t let anyone forget it, not even yourself. People think the king matters, but the queen brings down all the other pieces. Good luck in uni, and chug a beer in my honor.”

Men should be the least of his worries because, excuse my language, but I’m ready to fuck shit up.

“Did you buy a vibrator yet? If not, I thought about having a company create a copy of my dick for you. I googled it and found a website that seems legit. You can even pick the color, although I’m partial to Caribbean blue.”

“See, Sophie, I drive like I fuck. Slow, then fast, then slow again until you’re all out of gas. I treat my car like a lover, stroking her before I enter her, only offering the best kind of foreplay for my girl. I don’t recklessly race because I prefer to be attentive. I fuck like I do everything else, with precision and strength—control and care.”

To be fair, I’ve also purposefully flashed a bit of cleavage to distract them, but God gave me the goods, so it’s my job to use them.

After I park the car, we stroll together along the jagged shore before I tell her to walk in front of me in case she falls back on the slippery rocks. I came up with an idea out of the goodness of my heart. Checking out her ass ends up being an awesome plus.

“Why did you convince me to go cliff diving? It’s so reckless when you have a race tomorrow. What if you get injured?” I didn’t come up with this idea. Do I tell her this? No way. A stupid man would do that.

“Everyone knows the books are better than the movies or TV shows.” “Says who?” “Says everyone who reads books!”

My Pinterest includes boards of my future wedding, my dream house, and pins of random babies dressed up for Halloween. Basically, all my deepest desires.

If I wasn’t racing, I’d probably go to school for something. Maybe to study architecture. I’ve loved checking out the buildings we visit in different cities and learning their stories.”

“But remember this. I want to get to know all of you, including the parts you’re too scared to share. I want to learn about the man no one else knows. So give me every part of you because I’m not here to piece you back together. I like you too much, just the way you are, broken parts and all.”

“That’s my fear with someone like you. You take and take until I have nothing left to give. You’d be easy to fall in love with until you walk away, breaking my heart in the process.”

Liam breaks out into a deep laugh he saves for me. “Matches made in heaven are overrated anyway, being all saintly and shit. Doggy-style is the devil’s work.”

I do things without thinking because my plan has already gone to shit. Since I’ve lived my whole life like that, why stop now? Fuck it.

Screw platonic. I want catastrophic.

Basically, to put it short, Liam is fine as fuck.

“My beautiful angel. Too wicked for heaven, too good for hell.” I may be his beautiful angel, but he’s my masked devil—too naughty for my heart, too irresistible for my body.

“This isn’t how the young ones dance at parties.” She stifles her laugh. “Keep cracking jokes about my age. You won’t like what happens.” “Will you make good on the threat? Because I bought you a birthday present that may or may not include a subscription to a Life Alert necklace.”

“Will you work for beer? Because this can be arranged.” Lukas smiles at me. Liam smacks him across the back of his head. “Quit flirting with my girl.”

“And Onkel Niam no win.” Kaia raises her chubby fist. Kaia officially became my favorite, repeating the rule I whispered in her ear a few minutes ago. What a quick learner. Liam glares at me as I hold back a laugh. He lifts a finger, conveniently flashing me the middle one. I curl over from escaped giggles.

Liking Sophie is kind of like jumping out of a plane. Exhilarating, addicting, and damn near impossible to forget.

I pull away from her and assess the situation, which I probably should’ve done the moment Sophie planted herself on my lap like a goddamn present.

“We better go.” She lifts herself off my dick, my come seeping out of her. “Damn, I’m locking away that visual for-fucking-ever.”

Because life is funny that way, fucking you over without your consent.

Fans keep Liam occupied while Maya busies herself with sucking Noah’s face off somewhere in secret.

It looks like I fell in love with someone untouchable and unbreakable, proving to me how shattered people like Liam can’t fall apart again.

I can safely say heartbreak feels dull and hollow, leaving behind nothing but a husk of an organ.

What I’ve learned most of all is how he has very few triggers. With people like him, all I need is one spark to bring his demon to the surface, challenging his life built on illusions and half-truths. I’m about to blow this shit up like World War III.

“Please, Sophie. I really like you. Don’t ruin something between us for something like love.” His eyes plead with mine. “What does that even mean? There is nothing wrong with love.” It takes everything in me not to yell.

“I thought we were on the same page.” His look of pity adds to my distress. “Forget the same page. We’re not even reading the same book.”

“Never mind. I think the jig is up.” She giggles as Noah plops himself next to her. I point at Noah with a scowl. “You skedaddle. This is our girl time.” Noah ignores me as his face nuzzles Maya’s neck.

I’m a grown woman, and you can’t force me to go home, just like you can’t force me to live a life I hate. That’s not living. It’s surviving. And you taught me to thrive and make the world kiss my sneakers.”

“See, as much as I want to pay you off to never step foot near my daughter again, I know we both have her best intentions in mind. I did some digging. When my daughter comes to me, not eating or smiling, I will do anything to make sure whatever fucker hurt her regrets the day his parents conceived him. Forget being born because nine months in the womb counts as too much freedom.” Holy shit, he’s intense as fuck. He keeps going. “I’m livid about how she got hammered and ended up featured in a gossip article because she was unable to control her rampant emotions about you. It eats me alive, knowing she’s upset. So I found the man who needs to be held responsible for her crying. I did the heavy lifting because when my baby girl looks at me with tears in her eyes, I stop at nothing. Let that be a warning. My rules were meant to prevent this very thing from happening to her. But you slipped in and tore down her defenses, and she fell in love with you. God knows why.”

Sophie admitted to me how you’d freak out if she said she loved you. Congratulations, Liam. You won the Biggest Dumbass award. Sorry, it doesn’t come with a champagne shower and a trophy, but hopefully your heart hurts like a bitch because my daughter’s sure does.”

“Sophie Marie Mitchell, I would like to announce first and foremost that I have never known someone as incredible as you. When I met you almost four years ago, I had no idea you’d pop back up in my life years later, acting and looking the way you did. I’m not one to believe in fate or destiny for that matter. But seeing you at that gala, fuck if I’d believe in anything for you. Literally anything. When you talked to me about the stars and the sky, I knew I had to spend more time with you. The girl whose eyes twinkle as bright as the very things she loves to watch. And while you were busy staring up at the vast nothingness, I’d watch you while envying a damn sky. A sky, for fuck’s sake. But at the time, I didn’t realize I wanted you to look at me that way. With unconditional love.”

“I love you so fucking much. I never want to go another day without saying it or a moment without you knowing it. Fuck friends with benefits. Give me all the damn benefits, love included because I’m a stupid fucker for thinking I could let you walk away from me.” He pops open the lid of the jewelry box, revealing a pair of diamond star earrings twinkling under the sunlight. My eyes betray me, the tear I shed before turning into a waterfall. “You’re a little stupid. But that’s okay because I still love you.”

She hits me with more kisses and breathless thank-yous, her lips making my body hum and my dick harden. Have I said I’m a lucky man?

“Now that you’re here, I couldn’t reach the bin that has all our spring decor. I wanted to set up the table for dinner with Maya and Noah.” “My dick’s hard and ready to go, and you’re asking me to help you decorate?” “Yes. Sorry, little guy.” She pats my pants, eliciting a groan from me. “I should fuck you right now to remind you how so not little I am.” “Sounds like a plan…after you get the bins.” She leaves me with one last kiss before she sits back down on the couch.

“You’re protecting the future of F1, the very competitor against Marko Slade.” She sends me a raised eyebrow. “And if we have a girl?” “Even better. Nothing like getting your ass handed to you by a badass chick. She’d absolutely wipe the track with him.”

Damn, I love this girl with everything in me. The girl who captured my heart and never let go. The one who wishes on stars, wears sneakers instead of heels, and kisses me senseless every night. The very woman who gave me a happily ever after. Turns out I was the lost prince and she saved me with glitter sneakers and a sword crafted from love and selflessness.