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casspurrjoybell-33 · 8 months ago

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Wreckless - Explorers

*Warning Adult Content*

Emmett

Finnegan is amazing.

Thursday and all of yesterday he took really good care of me.

He even cooked.

This morning he decided that we could bump me up to 'light physical activity' and gave me an amazing blow job.

I've showered and then yes, napped but now I'm all his.

He wants to buy a car.

I get that he has very little time and I want to help him so a car it is even though it's not how I prefer to spend my Saturday afternoons.

Besides, I need to get out of this house.

"Thanks for coming, Emmett. Did you and Peter decide about yours?"

"Yeah, it's not worth fixing. There was so much wrong before and this is just... yeah. To the scrap heap."

"I'm sorry. Are you sure you feel up to going?"

Of course.

"Yeah, as long as I don't have to do any driving."

"Absolutely not, not until Monday at the earliest."

"It'll be Monday, I have to go to work."

He just huffs.

I'm going to have to do some figuring and looking and see if I can get myself a new car.

Well, not new, new to me.

Something that runs.

It's a shame to because I had been seriously considering taking that photography course.

I figured we'd be in a house by then and if I don't have to pay the mortgage because it's being rented out, I could sneak two weeks off of work.

Now that's not going to happen.

I took a Tylenol earlier but I can still tell I'm feeling a ton better because I can actually keep my eyes open as we're driving down the street.

I don't know where the nearest BMW dealership is but that doesn't matter because we end up in a Ford lot.

"Are you going to get another one of these?"

He talked about it on the drive to the beach.

"Yeah, unless there's something out there better?"

"Nah, this one is nice. Keep it simple."

Not that this car is simple, it's great but if he knows he likes this one, why drive all over looking around?

He immediately gets accosted by a salesman who's about to become his best friend because Finnegan just points to the rental and says he wants one just like it with all the bells and whistles.

Does it have side curtain airbags?

Yes, yes it does.

What about OnStar? Yes.

Does it come in a hybrid?

I didn't see that one coming but yes, it does.

Not in the model Finn wants though, only in the mid-range.

But apparently the really nice one has eco-boost and that's good enough for him.

We're walking towards the showroom when he asks...

"What color should we get? Stick with black?"

"Black is boring but safe and very presidential. The blue is sweet."

And it is.

It reflects the light and makes the trim pop out.

"Do you have one in stock in blue?" he asks his new bestie.

That the salesman has to check.

Apparently they have a blue hybrid but it doesn't have the top of the line stereo system in it or the premium electronic package with the ipod in the dash.

"That doesn't bother me Emmett, what about you?"

Since my stereo hasn't worked for two years, I'm not one to complain about only having eight speakers and not fourteen.

"I think it'll be fine without but you can always keep the rental another week if you want, I'm sure they can order it. But hey, heated steering wheel, Finnegan. Not just remote start and heated seats, nah, that's not enough. Warm hands."

It's insane.

"Nah, we'll take this one. Credit okay?"

He's literally going to charge a car.

A very expensive hybrid SUV that costs more than half of what my house did.

I would blame the concussion for not hearing him right except it doesn't surprise me that much.

Finn is filling things out and things are getting printed and he takes the paper and slides it towards me.

"You need to sign this one."

"Why?"

"Because it's yours."

I'm stunned but the salesman fills the silence.

"I'll need your license, too."

Now they're both looking at me and I somehow have a pen in my hand.

What?

"What? Mine? Um... Finnegan..."

"Do you want something else?"

No, that is not the issue here.

"You can't buy me a car."

"I beg to differ. Besides, you need one, don't you? And we need something big enough for our beach trips. Please."

I'm looking down and flipping because I'm pretending to read so I don't have to answer.

And then I see the price.

Not half my house, almost as much.

Granted, this is a fine piece of machinery and my house was pretty much a shithole when I bought it. Still.

"It's... Finnegan, do you see the price?"

He just shrugs. Shrugs.

As if it's not ridiculous.

"You need something safe. I don't want you getting hurt again, Emmett."

"I can be safe for a quarter of this money."

Oh, bestie doesn't like that.

"We can get that price down for you."

That's just fueling Finnegan's decision.

"See? It's fine. Emmett, let me do this for you. You need something reliable to bring me lunches and take me to the beach. You deserve it."

I've been giving a lot of thought to moving in with Finnegan and him buying the house and everything that's involved with that and I'm getting used to it.

It doesn't sting quite as much now but this?

Wow, this is something else.

This car is worth more than all of my other cars put together that is not an exaggeration.

I've only ever had two and the first one I got for three grand and the newest one I paid about seven for.

This car is sixty thousand dollars.

Sixty. Thousand. American Dollars.

"Please sign it, Emmett."

He tells the salesman that it would be nice if someone brought it around and that he'll need to leave his rental here over the weekend.

Oh no, they're happy to return it for him.

I guess so, they'd probably lick his shoes and his balls at this point.

"What are you going to drive?"

If they're keeping his rental...

"I ordered the roadster yesterday and they're dropping it off this afternoon. Had to drive it up from D.C."

He orders cars like I ordered pizza.

"The roadster cost more than this, if that makes you feel any better. I got the convertible."

Of course he did.

"Besides, I owe you a birthday present."

A car is not a birthday present.

Is he gonna put a bow on it like those stupid commercials at Christmas?

Mr. Salesman has excused himself.

He wants us to sort this out and it's nice of him to give us some privacy.

"The lower model, the hybrid. I want that one instead."

It's gotta be cheaper and there's been enough blood shed over oil.

"Besides, that's not the right blue," I tell him, looking at the one they just drove up.

It's a lighter blue, not the deep metallic that I like.

"Whatever you wish, Emmett."

The salesman comes back and Finnegan leans back in his chair.

"Make him happy," he says, leaning his head towards me.

"Sell it to him and then swipe my card."

It takes us another half hour but I love the new one so much that I wish I could drive it home.

Finnegan jokes that he may never get another chance and I can tell he loves it too.

It's a big step up from our rental... all the things I loved are the same but now we have ass warmers and leather seats and plenty of bells and whistles for my taste.

"Thanks Finnegan, you didn't have to do this."

"I know but I wanted to and isn't that the best reason?"

Maybe.

"Promise me you'll be careful, please? I don't want you meeting other guys by crashing into them like you did me."

"You hit me."

"Emmett, you're a wreck magnet. Wreckless," he jokes.

"Too soon?"

"Bite me."

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martin-cambell · 11 months ago

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BMW iX1 Breaks Ground at just Rs 66.9 Lakhs with 313 Bhp Robust Power and 414 Km Range

In a bold move into the dynamic world of electric vehicles (EVs), BMW, a stalwart in the luxury automobile market, has recently unveiled its latest offering in India—the BMW iX1 xDrive30 SUV. Priced at an attractive Rs 66.90 lakh (ex-showroom), this EV promises to redefine the Indian automotive landscape with its enticing blend of performance, design, and cutting-edge technology.

Design and Interiors

Derived from the celebrated BMW X1, the iX1 maintains the iconic design language of its combustion-engined counterpart while proudly displaying an 'i' emblem on the front grille to signify its electric identity. The 18-inch alloy wheels and adaptive suspension contribute to the SUV's sleek silhouette and provide a smooth, comfortable ride.

Inside, the iX1 offers a modern and tech-savvy cabin. The 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, integrated with BMW's renowned iDrive operating system, takes center stage. Complemented by a 10.25-inch digital information display, the iX1 provides easy access to a range of functions, ensuring a seamless driving experience.

Features and Safety

Loaded with advanced features, the iX1 includes two-zone climate control, massage functions for the front seats, a Harmon Kardon sound system with 12 speakers, and six ambient lighting modes. On the safety front, adaptive LED headlights, automatic tailgate operation, and parking assist enhance the driving experience. Notably, the artificial sound generation system alerts pedestrians about the silent EV's presence, ensuring overall safety.

Performance and Charging

Under the hood, the iX1 boasts a dual-motor setup, providing all-wheel drive capability and a combined power output of 313 hp. With an extended range of 440 km on a single charge, the iX1 accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in just 5.6 seconds, showcasing BMW's commitment to driving pleasure in the electric domain.

Charging the 66.4kWh battery is convenient, with a standard 11kW AC charger taking 6.3 hours for a full charge. Rapid charging is possible with a 130kW DC fast charger, replenishing the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 29 minutes.

Price and Market Positioning

Competitively priced at Rs 66.90 lakh, the iX1 positions itself as the most affordable electric vehicle in BMW's Indian lineup. In the competitive Indian EV market, it faces rivals like the Mercedes EQB and the Volvo XC40 Recharge, but BMW's brand cachet and commitment to quality set the iX1 apart.

Future Prospects

As BMW establishes its foothold in the Indian EV landscape, the iX1 may see local assembly in the future, potentially lowering prices and intensifying competition in the EV segment.

In conclusion, the BMW iX1 India marks a significant milestone in the brand's journey towards sustainable mobility, offering a compelling package for the discerning Indian consumer. As BMW steers toward an electrified future, the iX1 sets the stage for innovation and excellence in the electric vehicle arena.

To read more, click here.

#BMW iX1 #BMW iX1 India

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bikekharidoblogs · 1 year ago

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TVS Apache RTR 310 Price Begins At Rs. 2.42 Lakhs

2023 TVS Apache RTR 310

TVS Apache RTR 310 launched, full price particulars revealed

TVS Apache RTR 310 launched with a starting price of Rs. 2.42 lakhs (ex-showroom). You possibly can take a look on the full price table.

The naked bike will get a singular styling, it doesn’t resemble the BMW G 310 R in any respect. It comes with sharp looking LED headlight setup which comes with three depth ranges.

The bike will get a closely sculpted fuel tank and a sporty trying cut up seat setup.

It comes with 8-spoke dual colour alloy wheels so as to add to the dramatic styling.

The bike is being provided with three colour options – Arsenal Black, Fury Yellow and Sepang Blue (Built To Order).

You may like it : Hero Karizma XMR 210 vs Bajaj Pulsar 220 Comparison

TVS Apache RTR 310

TVS Apache RTR 310 is provided with some section first options together with cruise control, dynamic class D LED headlamp, dynamic brake lamp, 5 ride modes together with Supermoto mode, climate control seats with heating and cooling.

The bike will get 5-inch digital cluster with GoPro Control, Music Management, Voice Assist, Smart Helmet Device Connectivity, Telephony and Navigation.

It’s geared up with Race Tuned Dynamic Stability Management with 6D IMU providing Cornering ABS, Cornering Traction Control, Cornering Cruise Control, Wheelie Control, Slope Dependent Control and Rear Lift-off Control.

Another interesting options include Bidirectional Quickshifter, Race Tuned Linear Stability Control, Lightweight aluminum sub body, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Unique Reverse Inclined DOHC Engine.

You may like it : Second Hand Bikes in India, Used Bikes for Sale

TVS Apache RTR 310

The 312.2cc single-cylinder engine produces 35.6 PS at 9700 RPM and 28.7 Nm at 6650 RPM, mated to a 6-speed gearbox with bi-directional quickshifter.

It does 0-60 km/hr in 2.81 seconds and 0-100 km/hr in 7.19 seconds. The bike has a high pace of 150 km/hr.

The bike is offered with 5 riding modes together with Urban, Rain, Sports, Monitor and the new Supermoto mode that disengages the rear ABS whereas maximising the facility.

TVS Apache RTR 310 will get 41 mm diameter USD forks up front and pre-load adjustable monoshock on the rear. 110/70-R17 tyre up front and 150/60-R17 on the rear.

300 mm disc up front and 240 mm disc on the rear. It’s geared up with dual-channel ABS.

You may like it : 2024 KTM 450 Rally Replica launched

TVS Apache RTR 310 Display

The 5-inch all-digital TFT cluster presents distinctive UI themes, customisable settings together with traction management, cruise management, quickshifter, climatic seat management, TPMS, headlamp brightness and DRL control.

The SmartXonnect Bluetooth connectivity links the TVS Apache RTR 310 along with your smartphone providing options like telephony, music management, GoPro management, smart helmet connectivity, voice assist, race telemetry, turn by turn navigation with what3words, digi docs and crash alert.

Customers also can go for 12 freestyler equipment together with knuckle guard, visor, pannier and high field equipment together with 14 safety gears and life-style merchandise.

TVS Apache RTR 310 Price: Variant Price Arsenal Black (w/o Quickshifter) Rs. 2,42,990/- Arsenal Black Rs. 2,57,990/- Fury Yellow Rs. 2,63,990/- BTO (Built To Order) Dynamic Kit Rs. 18,000/- BTO (Built To Order) Dynamic Pro Kit Rs. 22,000/- BTO (Built To Order) Sepang Blue Rs. 10,000/- All prices ex-showroom

TVS Apache RTR 310 Headlight

TVS Apache RTR 310 split seat

TVS Apache RTR 310 tail light

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tirumphlover · 1 year ago

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The Triumph Motorcycles and Bajaj collaboration is a strategic partnership that aims to produce a range of mid-capacity motorcycles for the global market. One of the most anticipated products of this collaboration is the Speed 400, a naked streetfighter that combines the styling and performance of the Triumph Speed Triple with the affordability and reliability of the Bajaj Pulsar. The Speed 400 was launched in India in 2023 at a disruptive price of Rs. 2.33 lakh ex-showroom, making it one of the most value-for-money bikes in its segment. The Speed 400 offers a powerful 373cc liquid-cooled engine, a six-speed gearbox, a slipper clutch, dual-channel ABS, LED lighting, a digital instrument cluster, and a host of other features. The Speed 400 is expected to compete with the likes of the KTM Duke 390, the BMW G 310 R, and the Honda CB300R in the Indian market.

#bike #motorcycle #motorsport #triumph #motorbike #riding #speed400 #triumphspeed400

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caddyedge · 2 years ago

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Refreshed Cadillac XT4 - A Stronger Family Resemblance Inside and Out

Quick…picture the Cadillac XT4.

Are you sure?

We follow such things and the smallest of Cadillac crossovers only leaves us with a vague sense of a fast roofline and a distinct Cadillac grille and light signature front and rear.

But, to be honest, the overall look is very Cadillac without being memorable.

So, let’s start with a little reminder of the littlest of Cadillac SUVs with its sporty pretensions and a peppy 2.0L turbo 4.

So, still a handsome Cadillac crossover. Plenty of Cadillac DNA in its styling outside with a nice, luxury interior inside.

It would have been easy for Cadillac to leave the model alone and focus more attention on their upcoming electric fleet and I don’t think anyone would have blamed them.

But, that’s not what our friends in Detroit had in mind for a vehicle that attracts buyers into the brand…the XT4 is certainly a gateway into the Cadillac family for drivers looking for something a bit different than the BMW’s, Audi’s and Mercedes of the world.

Recent models like the Escalade and LYRIQ have both brought a slightly different light signature and an interior dominated by a wide-screen infotainment and gauge display.

If someone is looking to get into the brand, it would be disappointing to see anything but the same look and feel in the first Cadillac you might be able to afford.

So, Cadillac has brought us this:

Here a nondescript luxury interior is traded for a wide-screen, 33” display that ties very nicely into the most recent Cadillac models. It screams ‘modern’ and high-tech. Supporting Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto, the interior and display definitely provide the environment entry luxury buyers are looking for.

Then on the outside, the look of the new Escalade and LYRIQ inform the XT4 which now looks like it belongs on the same showroom floor.

Here the XT4 brings a slim, horizontal lighting element that carries from the new, glossy black grill into the vertical running light elements. Unlike the Escalade, this horizontal component is not the headlight (forward lighting duties are handled by a cluster of lights in a vertical stack lower in the bumper). But the overall look echos the Escalade look better than the XT4 that came before. Also fleshing out the expected technology previewed with the interior is integration with Google Auto as well as Amazon’s Alexa. Added to that is an extensive suite of safety systems that run the gamut from adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and the ability to warn of pedestrians and cyclists that you may not be able to see.

The XT4 seems to be tailor made for urban driving and the challenges that environment brings.

The new XT4 will go on sale this summer.

Now both you and I will know what to look for when it does.

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taevisionceo · 2 years ago

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📰 TAEVision Engineering 's Posts - Tue, Feb 07, 2023 TAEVision 3D Mechanical Design • Parts AutoParts Aftermarket HKT Corp GlowPlugs suspension shockabsorbers • Automotive BMW M3 Series Sedan 01 - Data 256 Parts AutoParts Aftermarket HKT Corp GlowPlugs ▸ TAEVision Engineering's Post on Tumblr 02 - Data 258 Parts AutoParts Aftermarket HKT Corp glowplugs ▸ TAEVision Engineering's Post on Tumblr 03 - Data 080 Parts AutoParts Aftermarket suspension shockabsorbers ▸ TAEVision Engineering's Post on Tumblr 04 - Data 492 3D Design Applications Automotive BMW LIGHT-SHOWROOM BMW M3 Series Sedan ... BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke 3.0 liter M TwinPower twin-turbocharged Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine 425 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive. Sakhir Orange Metallic. 19" M Double-spoke forged black wheels ▸ TAEVision Engineering's Post on Tumblr

📰 I just updated my Pressfolio: TAEVision Mechanics's Online Portfolio - Global Data - Feb 07, 2023 ▸ TAEVision Mechanics's Online Portfolio

Global Data - Feb 07, 2023

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stefanorossiautomotiveinternat · 4 months ago

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Pick of the day - dal mio superblog stefanorossiautomotiveinternational.blogspot.com : La mia scelta del giorno ricade oggi su un'ottima offerta commerciale di BMW Serie 3 berlina G20 - o serie attualmente in produzione; modello ante-restyling. Si tratta, nella fattispecie, di un 320d duemila turbodiesel mild-hybrid da 190cv con cambio automatico ed allestimento top di gamma M-Sport. Recente, in quanto immatricolata nell'aprile 2021, con soli 51.000 km all'attivo (chilometraggio contenuto per un turbodiesel di questo livello qualitativo), dotata di clima automatico a 3 zone, cruise control, navigatore, tetto apribile, cerchi in lega da 18 pollici, fari a LED, telecamera per retromarcia, impianto hi-fi amplificato, sedili sportivi in Alcantara e tessuto con cuciture a contrasto Blue, shadow line, Ambient Light e tanto altro ancora - viene messa in vendita da PENSKE CARS, gruppo plurimandatario con vettura visibile presso loro showroom di Milano, all'allettante cifra di 33.470,00 euro. Già, l'usato ha il suo perché.

#bmw serie 3 g20

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decordreamscom · 2 years ago

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The first all-new Mini hatch in close to a decade – and the first built in China for the world – has been snapped during a photo shoot ahead of its global unveiling. PreviousNextThe 2024 Mini Cooper electric hatchback has been photographed without camouflage during a photo shoot in the US, ahead of its global unveiling later this year.The new three-door Mini – now officially known as the Cooper – will be available in two versions: a petrol-powered, UK-built model on similar underpinnings to the current car, and a new Chinese-built electric version on a dedicated electric platform developed with China’s Great Wall Motors.Due for unveiling later this year ahead of European showroom arrivals in 2024, it is the electric model that has been spied here, wearing California licence plates and seen following a camera car on the streets of Los Angeles.Pictured in 160kW Cooper S form, the production Mini Cooper Electric’s design is consistent with leaked photos out of China 18 months ago, with a simpler, cleaner take on Mini’s traditional design cues.MORE: New Mini Cooper hatch due next year with petrol or electric power – reportPreviousNextThe large circular bug-eyed headlights, a large front grille (or at least the surround for one), blacked-out roof pillars and contrasting roof and mirror caps remain, with shorter overhangs than the current petrol-powered car.There are flush door handles similar to the latest BMW models, while the current Mini’s rounded rectangle-shaped tail-lights have been swapped for sharper triangular units with a new style of Union Jack signatures (which show the blue inside of the flag, not the red and white lines).Previous leaked photos (below) have shown a minimalist interior with a large circular central touchscreen – which also serves as the instrument cluster – with a head-up display ahead of the driver, and a row of toggle switches.PreviousNextOverseas reports say new petrol and electric Minis will use an ignition key – despite the EV not having an engine – in a nod to older Mini models.The new electric Mini Cooper is expected to be available in two models at launch: an entry-level E with a 40kWh battery and 135kW electric motor, and a sportier SE with a 54kWh battery and 160kW motor.According to the UK's Autocar, driving range will be rated at 386km in the Cooper E, up from 233km of today's Mini Cooper SE (32.6kWh). A figure for the larger battery has not been announced.The 2024 Mini Cooper electric hatch is due to be unveiled towards the end of this year, ahead of first overseas showroom arrivals in May 2024.

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karahalloway · 3 years ago

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(Un)Common Attraction: Chapter 33 - Gunpowder and Lead

Series: TRR (following the events of Book 1, with some changes)

Pairing: Drake Walker x OC (Harper Gale)

Rights belong to Pixelberry, most characters and some dialogue belong to them.

Book Synopsis: Harper Gale is a small-town girl working as a waitress at a seedy New York dive bar. After a chance encounter with nobility sees her jetting halfway around the world to compete for the hand of the Prince of Cordonia, her dream of seeing the world starts to come true sooner than she expected. But as the completion heats up, Harper quickly learns that life at court is a lot more than just pretty dresses and fancy balls, and that the polished aristocratic smiles often hide deceit. Does she have what it takes to rise above the gossip and intrigue of the social season, and beat the nobles at their own games? And, more importantly, does she actually want to become the queen of a small European country? Or will her heart have other ideas?

Masterlist: (Un)Common Attraction

Chapter Summary: Drake drives Harper to the local police station so she can report Tariq... but things take an unexpected turn.

Word Count: 3,400

Rating/Warnings: M (swearing, high-stress situation)

Chapter theme song:

Please read: Author’s Note

Also available on Wattpad.

Chapter 32 - Gunpowder and Lead

"Is... that yours?" I ask as we step out of Beaumont House after a quick detour via the kitchens to grab some breakfast... and some Tylenol.

"Yup," Drake confirms, pressing the fob in his pocket to unlock the car.

"It's very you," I admit, taking in the sleek lines of the cobalt blue BMW X5 M crouching on the gravel drive, like a coiled panther ready to pounce.

It suited Drake right down to a T – it was just the right mix of practical utility (being slightly higher off the ground than the average BMW), and responsive, sporty performance. Much like the bike.

"But how did it get here?"

"I picked it up from Applewood while you were having one of your marathon naps," he says, opening the passenger-side door for me.

"Hey," I protest, sinking into the plush, caramel-coloured seat. "I was following your orders, Walker."

"Not that you needed them," he remarks. "I've never seen anyone sleep as much as you, Gale."

I roll my eyes at him as he shuts the door with a wry smile.

While he walks round the front of the car, I take a moment to admire the lush interior. It had a showroom fresh smell and there was not a speck of dirt or dust anywhere.

Drake obviously loved this car.

"Buckle up," he advises, sliding into the driver's seat.

As we both pull the seatbelts over ourselves, Drake presses the ignition button and the throaty engine purrs to life. Reaching into the compartment in front of the gear stick, he pulls out the blue tinted aviators and hands them to me, before extracting the other pair for himself.

"Thanks," I say gratefully, slotting the shades on. Not only would they provide some anonymity when we got into town, but the glare of the midmorning sun was quite strong and I wanted to avoid a headache at all costs, considering that I hadn't seen natural light for days.

"You're welcome," he drawls, shifting the car into gear and pressing the gas pedal.

The 567 horses under the hood spring to life and we're off like a shot, spitting gravel in our wake.

"Do you ever drive like a normal person?" I gasp, gripping the handle of the elbow rest as the sudden acceleration throws me back in the seat.

"Normal people get into accidents," he replies calmly, Tokyo drifting the car round a bend in the drive at breakneck speed. "I don't."

"Well, you are definitely tempting fate...!" I blurt as he throttles the car again to pull it out of the turn, kicking the tail out.

"Chillax, Gale," he murmurs as he takes a microsecond to check for oncoming traffic before merging onto the main road at the estate gates. "I know what I'm doing."

"Yeah..." I mutter under my breath. "Giving me a heart attack."

But I can't help but be impressed by how precisely he handles the car, just like he did everything else he touched.

A rare laugh escapes him. "Here," he says, pulling his phone out of his pocket and briefly holding it up to his face to unlock it before passing it to me. "Put some music on if you want."

Plugging the phone into the car via the USB charging cord, I tap on the music player app on his home screen. Scrolling through his playlists to assess the options, I note that he has a mishmash of everything, but I am not surprised to see that country and classic rock dominate.

I hit shuffle and Rascal Flatt's Life is a Highway comes blaring through the speakers.

"Good choice," grins Drake, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel in time with the beat.

"Can't go wrong with a timeless classic," I agree.

When the first stanza starts up, we both join in. But as I catch sound of Drake's rich baritone, the words die on my lips and I stare at him in disbelief.

"What?" he asks, raising a brow.

"You... you didn't tell me you could sing!"

"Because I can't."

"That's bull and you know it!" I exclaim. "You sound like Luke Bryan's twin!"

"Nah..." he demures, an uncharacteristic flush rising up his neck.

"I'm serious!" I insist. "You have a good voice. Don't tell me you play the guitar too..."

He stares at the road, jaw tight.

"You do, don't you?"

"I mess around with Dad's old Gibson sometimes," he admits.

I arch a brow at him. "What else are you hiding from me, Walker?"

He smirks. "Wouldn't you like to know, Gale?"

His suggestive tone makes my breath catch in my throat.

I look quickly out the window.

After a moment, he says, "Would you believe it if I told you that a while back, Max convinced his brother, Chris and me to form a barbershop quartet?"

My head whips back around towards him. "He did not!"

"Sure did," affirms Drake. "The Palace organised a sort of Aristos Got Talent show one summer, and Max got it into his head that we should sign ourselves up as a singing act."

"Not dancing?"

"Bertrand can't dance anything apart from ballroom, so that was a no go."

I snort in amusement. "I would've paid to see him try! So, what did he do to convince you to be part of the team?"

"He bet me two hundred push-ups that we could win. I agreed, thinking that it would be an easy bet."

"Was it?"

"No. But I got one helluva workout out from it."

My jaw drops to the floor. "You won the competition?"

"No idea how..." huffs Drake. "And Max would not shut up about it for weeks afterwards..."

"You really are a man of hidden talents, Walker," I grin.

"You know I'm not one to boast, Gale," he murmurs.

The song winds down and a moment later an eerily familiar tune replaces it.

"Oh, my God!" I gasp in sudden realisation as I focus on the music. "This is what you sang!"

"Yes."

"I love this song..."

"Dad used to sing it when I couldn't sleep. Figured it would help you too."

"It did," I reply softly, placing my hand on his as it rests on the gear stick. "Thank you."

"Anytime," he murmurs, running his thumb gently over my fingers, the sound of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads filling the car.

We spend the rest of the drive in companionable silence as we listen to the familiar songs from Drake's playlist. The mundane normalcy of it all is a welcome change from the horridness of the past few days, and I find myself relaxing as we cruise along the windy backcountry lanes until we reach the edge of a small town.

"We're here," advises Drake as he pulls the car to a stop.

Glancing out the window, I can see that we have arrived at a squat, cream-coloured neo-Baroque building, with POLICE MUNICIPALE carved into the stone above the entrance.

My stomach twists into a tight knot of anxiety as I step out of the car. But no matter how apprehensive I felt, I knew I needed to do this – not just for my sake, but for Christian's as well. Because we had to find Tariq to not only bring all the conspirators to justice, but also to prevent a potentially explosive scandal from overshadowing the end of the social season and the Coronation.

"Gale?"

"Let's get this over with," I declare, squaring my shoulders and forcing myself to walk up the stone steps to the door with a lot more confidence than I felt.

Stepping inside the cool foyer, Drake leads me up to the main reception.

"Bonjour," he greets in a flawless accent.

Even though I had heard him speak French briefly back at the shooting range, it still felt bizarre listening to him talk in another language, given that we always spoke English with everyone at court, and I thought of Drake as just being Texan.

The policewoman manning the desk looks up from her papers. "Bonjour, monsieur. Comment puis-je vous aider?"

"Nous sommes ici pour signaler un crime. Cependant, nous aurions besoin de l'aide d'un agent qui parle anglais pour mener l'entrevue. La dame ici qui a subi l'agression ne parle ni français ni italien."

"Je vais demander qui est disponible," she replies. "Est-ce que je pourrais avoir votres noms?"

"Certainement," nods Drake. "La dame s'appelle Harper Gale, et je suis Drake Walker."

The policewoman glances up in what looks like surprise. "Avez-vous dit 'Drake Walker'?"

"Oui..." he replies. His expression remains neutral, but I feel his body tense beside me. "Voulez-vous que je l'épelle pour vous?"

"Cela ne sera pas nécessaire," the officer responds quickly, picking up the phone. "Un instant, s'il vous plaît."

"What's wrong?" I whisper while the receptionist speaks in rapid-fire French with whoever is on the other end of the line.

"Not sure..." he admits.

"Merci pour votre patience," says the officer, hanging up the phone. "Un officier sera sur place pour vous aider momentanément."

"Merci," responds Drake, pulling me away from the desk. "Nous reviendrons dans une minute."

"What's going on?" I demand as he begins walking me slowly, but deliberately back towards the doors.

"Something's not right..."

"Arrêt!" commands an authoritative voice from behind us.

"Shit..." mutters Drake under his breath as he quickly brings us to a stop a mere foot from the door.

"Drake...?" I squeak, clutching his arm nervously. I can hear the ominous sound of heavy boots stomping across the tiled floor behind us.

"Do you have Chris' number?"

"Wha—?"

"Do. You. Have it?" he hisses.

"Yes!"

"Good. 'Cause you're gonna need to call him in a sec."

"Drake Walker!" commands the voice from behind us. "Vous êtes en état d'arrestation pour avoir commis un acte de barbarie contre Tariq Besnard et Harper Gale le jour du 18 juin."

Glancing behind me, I pale as I see no less than five police officers lining the corridor, all with guns drawn on us.

"That fuckin' bastard..." seethes Drake as he clasps his hands together behind his head. "I'm gonna murder him..."

"Drake?" I whisper in a terrified voice. "What's happening...?"

"They're arresting me for assaulting Tariq... and you," he mutters, eyes flashing with fury as two policemen holster their weapons and grab him roughly.

"What?!"

"Vous faites une grave erreur, monsieurs," Drake tells the officers as they proceed to cuff his hands behind his back.

"Silence!" orders one of the men as they drag him away.

I stare after them mutely, my body frozen in shock at the sudden turn of events.

"Are you alright, Mademoiselle?" asks another officer, appearing at my side. "Did he hurt you?"

"What?" The preposterousness of the mere suggestion was laughable! "No!"

He glances at my face sceptically. "Maybe Mademoiselle doesn't remember what happened, but—"

"I remember exactly what happened!" I retort, making the man flinch at the intensity of my outburst. "Tariq tried to rape me and Drake – the man you just arrested – stopped him."

"That is not the information we received..."

"No shit!" I cry. "If you would've bothered to do any police work, you would've known that Tariq was lying to save his own sorry ass. There are other witnesses who saw what happened."

The man stares down at me, a muscle working in his jaw. "You're going to have to come with me, Mademoiselle."

"Not before I make a phone call," I tell him, pulling my phone out of my pocket.

"Mademoiselle..."

"I have the right to a phone call," I inform him curtly, scrolling through my short list of contacts and pressing the dial button. "Especially if you are planning to arrest me on a trumped-up charge as well."

The officer crosses his arms with a scowl, but chooses to hold his tongue.

The call connects after the second ring. "Harper? Are you okay?"

I snort. "Hardly. We're at the police station and they just arrested Drake."

"What?!" exclaims Maxwell.

I knew Drake had told me to call Christian, but given what had just happened, I didn't think he would be of much help.

"Seems like Tariq got here before us and fed the police some bullshit story that Cordonia's finest bought hook, line and sinker," I gripe, flashing an irate look at the man in front of me, who has the good graces to shift his weight uncomfortably.

"Holy crumpets...!"

"My thoughts exactly," I reply. "We need to set the story straight. Can you come down here with Hana asap to give a statement?"

"Of course!" he declares. "Hana's still back at Applewood. She said she'd stay behind and be our eyes and ears at court to see if she could find out anything about who Tariq is working with. I'll ask her to come down and we'll meet you at the station."

"Thanks. I'll see you soon." I hang up and shove the phone back in my pocket. "Let's go, Officer."

* * *

I spend the next God-knows-how-many hours in a small and stuffy room, being interviewed about what happened at Applewood.

After providing my personal details, getting mug-shotted and I relaying my story — no less than three times — the police officer insisted on picking it apart bit by bit, as if trying to catch me out in a lie. Like, why I didn't report the assault straight away? Why we left for Beaumont House instead of staying with the court? Why the Beaumonts were not with me? Why...why...why...?

"That's it!" I declare. "I've had enough. I told you what happened, so you can either take it leave it."

"Please, Mademoiselle..."

"Don't 'Mademoiselle' me!" I retort. "If you don't believe me, then arrest me for obstruction of justice, or whatever, but I am not staying in this room another minute! It's hot, I'm thirsty and I need to use the bathroom. So, if you'll excuse me..."

The officer fixes me with a stern look.

I glare right back at him.

Because contests of will went, this guy had nothing on Drake when it came to stubbornness. So, after less than five seconds, he drops his gaze. "Toilets are at the end of the corridor on the left side."

"Thanks," I grit, shoving the creaky wooden chair back from the table and letting myself out of the room.

I find the bathroom and make a beeline towards the sinks. Turning the tap on full whack, I splash cold water on my face to clear my head and cool myself down. I could feel another headache coming on courtesy of the stress and sitting in an airless room for so long... not to mention the fact that the Tylenol had worn off ages ago and my entire face felt like it had been slapped by a frying pan, thanks to all the talking I've had to do...

Shutting the tap off, I stomp angrily into one of the stalls, slamming the door closed behind me harder than was strictly necessary, but I was in pain, hungry, and pissed off.

I could not believe that that bastard Tariq had so selfishly twisted the events at Applewood to save his own skin!

Yes, Drake may have broken the guy's wrist (which amounted to assault), but one would've thought that since Tariq had been the instigator of aggression in the first place, he would've had the good manners to know that the retaliation he had suffered at Drake's hand had been well and truly deserved. But, as Drake had repeatedly told me, these so-called nobles played by their own rules and would stop at nothing to advance their own interests...

I only hoped that with the help of Maxwell's and Hana's testimony, the police would see that he’d been only trying to protect me, and they would consider letting him go without pressing charges.

After washing my hands and having a quick drink from the tap to quench my thirst (and help ease my growing headache), I make my way back to the reception to wait for Maxwell and Hana. I had no idea whether they were going to keep Drake overnight, and since I had no intention of hailing a cab looking like I did at the moment without any make-up on, I would need to catch a ride with Maxwell back to his house.

"Harper!" calls a familiar voice from behind me.

Spinning around, I feel tears of relief well in my eyes at the sight of someone I know. "Christian!"

I rush over to him and he wraps his arms around me in a tight hug. "Hana told me what happened on the drive down. Are you alright?"

"No..." I admit, sinking my head against his chest. "I just spent the past several hours being treated like I was the one that had made up a bullshit story. God only knows what they're doing to Drake..."

"Don't worry about him," he assures me. "He'll be fine."

"Are you here to bail him out?" I ask hopefully.

"No," he says. "I'm here to take you back to the Beaumonts'. Hana and Maxwell went in not too long ago to give their statements, so they will be a couple of hours at least."

"We can't just leave him!" I object, pulling back in disbelief. "He did nothing wrong!"

Christian sucks in a breath when he sees my face up close. "Good God, Harper... Drake said Tariq had laid his hands on you, but..." He trails off as he runs his eyes over the cuts and bruises.

"Yes. And he would've done much worse had Drake not shown up. You have to convince the police to let him go!"

Christian gives me a measured look. "The royal family is not permitted to interfere with the workings of the justice system."

"But there must be something you can do!"

"Harper, please. Don't worry about Drake... He is not your concern right now."

I stare at him incredulously. "So, you're saying that you're just going to leave Drake to fend for himself? After doing what you asked him to do, which is look out for me?"

"Harper, you misunderst—"

"No!" I retort. "I understand perfectly! You aristos are all the same! Pretending to care until your asses are on the line, and then you shove anyone and everyone under the bus like they're nothing!"

I push past Christian and stomp out of the station, tears of rage rolling down my face. I don't know what I was more upset about – the fact that Drake had taken such a massive fall for me, or that Christian had shown his true colours.

I knew that I shouldn't really be so surprised, though. Drake had warned me enough times that I couldn't trust anyone. I just never thought that that warning would extend to his best friend.

"Harper, wait!"

"Fuck off, Christian."

"I understand that you're upset..."

A humourless laugh escapes me. "No fucking shit!"

"...but you need to trust me when I say that Drake will be fine."

"Why should I?" I hiss, rounding on him furiously. "You just said you're not going to help him. The last thing he will be is 'fine' if he ends up with a criminal record – or in jail for God-knows-how-many years. Tariq's expensive lawyers will make sure of that."

"It won't come to that." Christian grabs my hands in his, a pleading expression on his face. "If you'll just let me explain—"

"There is nothing to explain," I cut in, wrenching my hands from his grasp. "You obviously cannot be bothered to help your best friend, even after everything he's done for you! But I’ll be damned if I let him rot in jail! I'll get him out myself if I have to!"

This was the last straw. My eyes had finally been opened to the shitty reality of what living at court was really like. And it reinforced my decision to get the hell out of Dodge at the earliest possibility. But not before I found a defense lawyer and paid Drake's bail — even if it bankrupted me. Because after everything that the guy had done for me, I was not letting him get steamrolled like this.

Spying a taxi out of the corner of my eye, I march into the middle of the road to hail it.

"Beaumont House, please," I instruct the driver as I jump in without a backwards glance, leaving Christian standing on the sidewalk like the massive dick that he was.

The story continues in Chapter 34 - Secrets and Lies

A/N: So, a couple of things...

1. Car — I noticed that in most other fanfics, authors give Drake a pickup or a Jeep. But as much as I agree that Drake is a utility vehicle kinda guy, the reality is that in Europe, it is very unlikely that he would own either. Not only are trucks and Jeeps rather niche vehicles (as people tend to drive Range Rovers and similar 4x4's if they need to go on rough tracks and for hauling, they tend to use so-called white vans, so trucks are rather difficult to get hold of, and there is not as much variety), but they are insanely expensive to run (as fuel is much more expensive in Europe than in North America). In addition, he would never be able to park it anywhere and getting a truck through the narrow country roads and streets of Europe would be a nightmare. So I gave him a BMW, which is not only speedy, but also handles great, and is capable enough to cope with varied terrain without being huge and unwieldly.

2. Voice — As you may have gathered, in my head, Drake sounds Luke Bryan 😇 If you've never heard of him (i.e. you don't listen to modern country music) then do check him out (very sexy voice in my opinion!)

3. French — you will notice that I have written the conversation between Drake and the police in French (and this is certainly not the first time that I will do something like this in this series). I did this deliberately because even though everyone at court 'appears' to speak English all the time in the game, the fact that Cordonia is located along the Mediterranean (as mentioned in Chapter 2, I placed it between Italy and France) would mean that the local language would not actually be English (unless Cordonia was a British protectorate at some point in its history, like Gibraltar, but even then, people would speak a mixture of languages). I have tried to be as accurate as possible with the French, but if any native speakers notice anything horrendously wrong, then please let me know, so I can correct it!

For reference, here is a translation:

"Good day."

"Good day, sir. How can I help you?"

"We are here to report a crime. However, we will require the services of someone who speaks English to conduct the interview. The lady who suffered the aggression doesn't speak French or Italian."

"I will inquire who is available. Can I please have your names?"

"Of course. The lady is called Harper Gale, and I am Drake Walker."

"Did you say, 'Drake Walker'?"

"Yes... Do you need me to spell it for you?"

"That will not be necessarily. One moment, please."

...

"Thank you for your patience. An officer will assist you shortly."

"Thank you. We'll be back in a minute."

...

"Stop!"

...

"Drake Walker! You are under arrest for assaulting Tariq Besnard and Harper Gale on the 18th of June."

...

"You are making a serious mistake, sirs."

"Silence!"

Permatags (let me know if you want to be added!)

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zephfair · 2 years ago

Text

Drive me crazy

Sometimes you just want to stick your favorite blorbos into a fluffy situation and make them have fun. This is 4,800 words of fluff, comedy and cars. And ice cream. Adam/Ronan. Rated T for language? And driving crimes.

Adam stared into the distance, the notes from his morning’s online philosophy class running through his mind, when Mike bumped into him, hard.

“That is so creepy, bro.”

Adam came back to himself long enough to ask, “What?”

“You. When you do that thing.” Mike stood up straight and made his face empty, trying to copy Adam’s thousand-yard stare over the car lot. But he only succeeded in making Adam hope he didn’t actually look that much like last week’s dead fish in a supermarket display.

“Thanks,” Adam said as dryly as possible.

“I mean, you can stand here all day and just stare. Like, what are you looking at? What do you see?”

“The vast expanse of time and space. The future, the past, and all the tortuous present,” Adam said in a hollow voice that made Mike give a little shiver. Then Adam smirked evilly, “Of course, if you’d just let us get on our cell phones while we’re waiting for customers, you wouldn’t have to watch me staring into the abyss.”

“Ugh, sorry, man, it’s corporate policy. I know we’re not exactly busy all the time, but we can’t let our sales associates be on their phones if a customer does roll in. Corporate says it makes us look unapproachable.”

“We’re car salesmen. We have the well-deserved reputation of being anything but unapproachable. We’re literally graded on how fast we approach the poor customer.”

“I know, I know. Just, continue staring,” Mike said with a grand gesture toward the lot and the busy road beyond. “Or, come in and shoot the shit with us.”

Adam shook his head. “I’m not trying to be anti-social—”

“You are absolutely anti-social. We all know it. Enjoy your little patch of shade all alone.” Mike clapped his shoulder and turned to head back into the dealership’s air conditioned showrooms.

“All men are all alone,” Adam intoned and Mike shot him a look that made Adam smirk a little again.

The conversation did make him change position a bit, leaning more of his weight on his right side for a while. This wasn’t his idea of a great job, by any means, but it was a steady paycheck over the summer with a chance of even more decent commission, and he could still take a couple online summer gen-ed credits. Plus, it was kind of nice to be on the outside of the cars for once without getting grease and oil stains under his fingernails.

The biggest problem was just the boredom of standing around and waiting for a customer to decide that today, of all days, was the day to stop and shop—and hopefully purchase—a brand new car.

Adam had just started reviewing what he could remember about the difference between Socratic and Platonic knowledge for the next morning when the screech of brakes made him twitch.

He didn’t bother turning his head; the four-lane street that ran along one side of the dealership had a grass median separating north and southbound traffic, but there was an opening right there where fool-hardy drivers who missed the turn at the light at the end of the block could make an illegal and highly dangerous U-turn. It happened once every couple days, and while he’d yet to see a crash, there was usually a lot of horns honking and cursing from open car windows.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a sleek shape take an illegal U-turn at the light and come back down then turn immediately into the opening and speed just in front of oncoming traffic. But instead of racing back south, it careened into the dealership and screeched to a stop with its front bumper about a foot away from Adam’s hip.

He looked down at the shiny bumper then up at the driver’s side of the windshield, but thanks to the sun’s glare he couldn’t see the driver. He did add his own glare to the sun’s.

It didn’t matter that it was a really nice car, an older BMW that looked like it’d been lovingly maintained, despite the obvious wear and tear on its poor brakes. Despite its age, it was a much better car than anything on the lot Adam was trying to sell. It was a classic, well-built luxury car and would easily get more than a hundred thousand miles on it, something that the midsize sedans and sport vehicles would struggle to survive.

The door popped open and a man popped up slinging one arm over the door.

Adam kept his expression at thoroughly unimpressed even while his eyes cataloged shaved head, sharp features, nice arm and tattoo visible at the top of his shoulders exposed by a plain black tank top. The guy’s mirrored aviator shades reflected back how completely indifferent Adam was to this obvious menace even though he was definitely attractive in an arrogant douchebag way. Definitely not Adam’s type. At all.

Adam finally said, “What can I help you with today? Sir.”

“Saw something I liked, had to stop.” The guy took off his sunglasses and hung them from the front of his tank.

“Ah. So what are you interested in?”

The ice-blue eyes raked up and down Adam’s body, and the guy actually licked his lips but probably didn’t even know he was doing it, Adam thought. When BMW-guy didn’t answer Adam prodded, “Are you in the market for a compact car? Minivan? SUV? Pickup?”

The look the guy gave Adam was pure affront as though Adam had just insulted his mother. “Do I look like a minivan driver to you?”

“Perhaps you need one for all your many, many children?” Adam suggested with a little smile.

The guy swore under his breath and slammed his door shut. Adam got a good look at his tapered waist, long legs that went on forever in artistically ripped jeans, and boots that added to his impressive height. When he crossed his arms over his chest, Adam made sure to maintain eye contact and only check out his biceps and pecs from his peripheral vision.

“Did you have something special in mind or are you just looking today?” Adam tried to rein himself in, get back on his script.

“I am looking for something special,” the guy allowed and stepped closer to Adam, who suddenly remembered one of the finer points of his customer service training.

He stuck out his hand and said, “I’m Adam Parrish, and I’d be happy to help you out today with whatever you need.”

The guy eyeballed him, raised an eyebrow, then looked down at Adam’s hand like he had no idea what to do with it. He finally took it in a tight grip and gave it a perfunctory shake. “Lynch. You always this happy to help out a customer with whatever he needs?”

“Only when the customer needs special help and attention. You look like you do,” Adam said sweetly. “So what would you like to look at today?”

“One of those, over there,” Lynch gestured to the farthest side of the lot, a block away, where the compact cars were. Adam rolled his eyes when Lynch couldn’t see.

“Certainly, sir. I’d be happy to show you all the amenities that come with our smallest but most economical models. Although, you may have some trouble fitting yourself comfortably into one.”

Lynch scoffed and put his sunglasses back on. “Show me anyway.”

Adam led him across the lot, Lynch walking closer than strictly comfortable with a stranger, his bare arm brushing against Adam’s from time to time. Adam had a moment of embarrassment as he pictured himself in the uniform of khaki slacks and baby blue polo shirt which was only a step up from Gansey’s norm because it was a pastel and instead of a logo there was the company name on the breast.

As they ambled across the lot under the boiling sun, Adam pointed out various models, describing what made them desirable or special. He stopped Lynch a couple times with a hand on his bicep to show him a particular vehicle’s features.

Lynch only grunted once or twice, but he didn’t pull away. So Adam double-downed. He stopped at a pickup truck and gestured toward the special scratch-resistant bedliner and when Lynch spared it a brief glance, Adam spread his hand on the middle of Lynch’s back and leaned close to his ear, “Take a good look at that bed. It’s really something special.”

Lynch’s back stiffened for a second then he straightened and smirked at Adam. “It’s not how special the bed is, but what you put in it,” he said.

Adam thought maybe this guy was finally picking up what he was putting down.

But Lynch didn’t show any more interest until they’d walked the length of the lot and Adam stopped him by a tiny hatchback. “This is one of our bestsellers for fuel economy. It has a 1.4 liter, four-cylinder engine with a manual or variable transmission. That’s nothing like what your Beemer is packing under the hood. Are you interested in trading it in towards a new vehicle?”

“Fuck no,” Lynch snarled, crossing his arms over his chest again and probably glaring at Adam and the car in equal measure.

“Okay,” Adam said in a reasonable tone. “Do you know what kind of engine you’d prefer?” And he went on to list what was offered in that model.

Lynch seemed entirely disinterested in even looking under a hood. Adam had to stop himself from sighing. He’d seen this more than once, and always with men for some reason. He’d read horror stories by women who’d had terrible treatment at car dealerships when they’d shopped, being shown the interior options like mirrors and cupholders instead of talking about the engine capacity and mileage.

Adam was always twice as nice to women customers, but he was pleasantly surprised at first because they were far and away more prepared for car shopping than the men. Maybe they felt like they had something to prove, but he had enjoyed one afternoon of discussing exhaust output, transmissions, and the company’s history of braking problems with one woman while her husband wandered the lot and picked out one to test drive because it had gray leather seats.

That had led to a sale. Adam was pretty sure this conversation wouldn’t.

“May I ask what, exactly, you do? What will you be using the car for?” Adam asked.

“I have a farm,” was all Lynch said.

“Are you looking for something that you can transport livestock or feed in?”

“No,” was the short answer.

Adam waited for the long answer but it never came.

“Well, then let me show you this model,” Adam said, slapping the roof of a nearby small SUV. “You can fit so many chickens inside this one.”

That made Lynch actually take off his sunglasses to glare at Adam.

“The defibrillator is also super-powered so you’re looking at a load more torque and drive-train power through the chassis.”

Lynch squinted at him. “It sounds like you know what you’re talking about,” he said suspiciously, clearly confused a little by Adam’s gibberish but not knowing enough to dispute him.

Adam smirked. This guy obviously didn’t know anything about cars.

Lynch was casting an angry glance around the whole lot so it surprised Adam when he said, “I want to drive one.”

“Sure, you can take a test drive,” Adam recovered quickly. “Which one would you like to try?”

“You’d have to go with me, right?”

“Yes, that’s our corporate policy.”

Lynch nodded and met Adam’s eyes. “Then let’s go for a ride.”

“Which one are you interested in taking out?”

This time, there was no mistaking the way Lynch’s eyes went up and down Adam’s body and the way he bit his own bottom lip when he focused on Adam’s mouth. Adam gulped. “If you could pick one to drive,” Lynch asked slowly, “which one would it be?”

Adam had to clear his throat before he could say, “Follow me.”

He led Lynch much more quickly back to the front of the dealership but had to stop when they spotted Mike and two of the other salesmen admiring Lynch’s BMW.

“What a beauty! They don’t make them like this anymore,” Mike said excitedly. “Are you going to trade it in? I’d be happy to make you an offer.”

“Fuck no,” Lynch repeated, and Adam had to hold in a snicker at the offense Lynch put into those two little words as if Mike had asked to purchase one of his kidneys.

“Well, if you’re ever interested in selling it, please, let me know. I could give you top dollar in a trade or even just buy it outright.” Mike patted the hood gently and Lynch bared his teeth like he was a second away from biting Mike’s hand off.

“Actually, Mike, Lynch here is looking to take a test drive of a sportier model.”

“Oh, great, which one takes your fancy?”

Lynch looked to Adam in bewilderment, but Adam just smirked. “He wants to take the Princess out.”

“Oh wow,” Mike said reverently.

They’d nicknamed the car the Princess because it was the top-of-the-line sports model the company made. And it had every deluxe package offered, with all the crazy little extras that the company overcharged for, so it was far and away the most expensive car on the lot. They actually had three of the sports model on the lot, but only the Princess was so overloaded with extras. Plus, it was a convertible.

“Isn’t that right, Lynch?” Adam nudged his elbow into Lynch’s ribs.

Lynch jolted. “Yeah, that one.”

“Wow,” Mike said again, “okay, uh, sure. We don’t usually allow test drives of that model right away because of liability and, uh, other issues.”

“He means, they don’t let anyone waltz in and drive it unless they prove they can actually afford to buy it,” Adam said bluntly.

Lynch raised an eyebrow as though amused with the dare. “You want to talk to my bank? If I wanted to, I could pay cash for it today.”

“Oh, I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” Mike said, all but wringing his hands. “I’ll just need your, uh, driver’s license and insurance card. And if you don’t mind terribly, I really should run a credit check on you. It’s just corporate policy, you know?”

Lynch didn’t answer, just got into the BMW and rummaged around the glove compartment until he came up with the paperwork that satisfied Mike.

“Thank you, Mr. Lynch. Now, if you want to wait at the Princess, Adam can tell you all about her while I go make copies of these.”

Adam watched Mike all but bow at Lynch before scurrying off to the office. Lynch looked at Adam blankly, but followed when Adam tilted his head in the general direction.

The convertible was bright cherry red, of course, and the top was down to show off its perks. Mike carefully pulled it out from the secure garage every morning when the weather was fine, and made sure to take it back in if there was even a hint of rain in the forecast.

Adam gestured with a flourish. “Meet the Princess.”

Lynch trailed his fingers over the convertible as he slowly circled it. “Why the hell’s it called the Princess?”

“Because it’s pretty, all dolled-up, and has some very sexy curves,” Adam replied promptly.

Lynch snorted and pulled his hand back. “I’m not into dolled-up and sexy curves,” he said bluntly. Then he gazed at Adam from underneath his thick black lashes and said quietly, “I’m not against pretty though.”

Adam’s stomach, and something lower, clenched. “Well, you can still have fun with her, on a strictly friendly level.”

“It looks like a toy.”

“It’s speedy and handles well. That should feel like fun, even if it looks like a toy.”

“Let’s take it out,” Lynch said and put on his sunglasses with a savage grin as Mike hurried over to them. He all but thrust the key into Lynch’s hand and gave Adam a discreet thumbs-up and a grin as he slapped a plate on the Princess’ rump.

While Lynch climbed behind the wheel, Mike gave him a run-down of the car’s controls which Adam should’ve probably already covered. Instead, he just got in the passenger’s side and made sure his seat belt was secure.

“Well, you’re all ready, Mr. Lynch. Listen to that engine purr,” Mike enthused when he finally let Lynch start the car. “Take her for a spin and see what you think. I’m sure you’ll agree that she’s a beauty.”

“I’m only into handsome,” Lynch said and took off with a little squeal of tires.

Adam looked back at Mike as Lynch pulled right onto the street and waved, but Mike was soon just a dot behind them. Lynch had to stop at the next red light, so Adam took the opportunity to say, “Normally I take people down here so they can get a feel for city traffic. Then we can jump on the interstate so you can let her loose a little before we get off the next exit and circle back.”

“Sure,” was all Lynch said.

Adam settled back and grinned, letting the hot sun melt him into the leather seat. Lynch handled the car with all the precision Adam would’ve guessed from his driving the BMW, weaving them through the busy four lanes of the city’s shopping district, then taking the interstate on-ramp at speed.

As the car accelerated with grace and ease, the wind hitting Adam felt good enough to make him forget the Virginian humidity. He relaxed as Lynch blew past other vehicles, their speed edging ever upward as he ruled the left lane. Adam’s yell about the upcoming exit was ignored, and he shut his mouth before he could swallow a bug.

He just let Lynch drive, going past one then two more exits until they were well into rural territory. Lynch had settled back into his seat, left hand on the wheel, right hand resting on the gear shift. Adam flicked his eyes between watching his profile and the blur of greenery as they sped past.

“Handles great, doesn’t it?” he finally yelled.

Lynch shrugged.

“It’s nice to feel the wind in your hair,” Adam shouted.

That made Lynch look over at him. Adam was sure he and his bald head weren’t amused.

Lynch turned his attention back to the road to zip around a tractor-trailer, and Adam idly wondered how many people had ever gotten arrested or at least a speeding ticket while on a test drive.

He studied Lynch, his devastatingly handsome face and body along with his handling of the car were a really terrible combination for Adam’s appreciation of hot guys, hot cars, and a mile-wide competency kink.

Lynch looked over with a smirk as though he could hear Adam’s thoughts. Adam just shut his eyes and smiled into the sun and wind. Convertibles were really shit for comfort and mileage, but, by God, it was fun.

Then Lynch took the next exit without hitting the brakes, leaving Adam grabbing for an oh-shit handle that wasn’t there and instead clinging to the door. But Lynch handled the change in deceleration beautifully, didn’t have to yield to any oncoming traffic, and continued to barrel south now on a two-lane road.

Adam looked around in curiosity, never having had a reason to stop at the exit where there was a gas station and a few scattered houses. Lynch continued a mile or so until he pulled into a gravel parking lot and finally hit the brakes. Only it spun the car right into a tight circle until they skidded to a stop directly in front of the tiny local ice cream stand.

“Jesus shit, Ronan! Dammit, what were you thinking?!”

Ronan’s shoulders were up around his ears, but he tried to shrug nonchalantly. “The fucking brakes are weird.”

Adam swore again. “That’s because your dad didn’t dream up ABS for the BMW. I told you to watch how touchy they were.”

Ronan just hmmed, and Adam shook his head, looking around them to see two minivans parked on the other side of the small building, a gaggle of moms and small kids at picnic tables staring at them.

He looked back at Ronan in growing horror of what could have happened only to see Ronan take off his sunglasses and peer up at the ice cream stand’s menu board like he was calm.

“Their special flavor of the week is teaberry. You want a cone or a tub?”

“Did you seriously bring me out here for ice cream, Ronan?”

Ronan studiously avoided Adam’s flat look. “You want a banana split? Black cow?”

“No, I don’t.” But then Adam sighed. “I’m just really thankful you didn’t hit anybody, pulling that stunt.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Ronan admitted, finally glancing over at Adam. “I didn’t think the brakes would pulse like that. I thought I’d skid right in like the BMW does.”

“And I always bitch at you when you do that in the BMW too,” Adam reminded him. “You’re going to blow out a sidewall any day.”

“I wouldn’t have done it if I’d known there were kids here,” Ronan nodded his head toward the group.

“Well, we’re all okay. And the car’s okay. But seriously, we set up this whole test drive scenario and all you can think of to do is stop and get ice cream? I thought we were going to find a quiet place to make out or something.”

Ronan put his hand on his chest and gasped. “Really? You think I’d just pick up some random sexy car salesman then make out with him after an hour? What am I, a manwhore?”

“I’m not saying you take after Declan but…” Adam teased.

Ronan’s look was not impressed. “This was fun and all but if you’re expecting me to put out on the first day we meet, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Adam unhooked his seat belt and leaned over to put his face close to Ronan’s and his hand on Ronan’s on the wheel. “Yeah, but you got to take a fast car for a ride. You could at least give the salesman a little ride too.”

“I don’t wanna take a fast guy for a ride. I like it long and slow and … uh, road trips…” Ronan trailed off when Adam nosed against his cheek and squeezed his hand.

“Think you lost control of your metaphor there. But I’m glad you’re not putting out for any guy you just met. It’s sweet.”

“I am not sweet.”

Adam touched his cheek and Ronan leaned into it, of course, and Adam kissed him gently. Then Ronan turned his body to get his hands around Adam’s face and he turned the kiss much deeper, licking into Adam’s mouth, tempting his tongue to come play.

So Adam had to move closer, one hand sliding up Ronan’s thigh, as the exhilaration and excitement of the day caught up to him, and they shared kisses sweeter than any ice cream.

Until a loud “Excuse me!” came from the direction of the picnic tables. Adam pulled off Ronan’s mouth long enough to glance over to where one of the mothers was standing and staring at them pointedly. When she met Adam’s eyes, she called out, “There are children here.”

“Well, we’re not going to be making any kids in here,” Ronan said, but thankfully not loud enough to carry. Adam had to snort back a laugh and squeezed his leg harder. That seemed counterproductive because Ronan pulled him back in for another kiss that carried on until Adam bit his bottom lip.

“We’d better stop before she calls the cops and reports us for public indecency. Or before Mike reports the car stolen.”

Ronan harrumphed and shot a dark look at the mother who was still watching them and glaring. Adam grabbed his wrist right before Ronan’s middle finger cleared the dashboard. Ronan sighed and surrendered.

“I really am getting ice cream. Tell me what you want before I get you the biggest tub of teaberry they have.”

Adam knew it wasn’t an empty threat and he grimaced at the thought of Pepto Bismol flavored ice cream, so he asked for a strawberry sundae with chocolate ice cream. Ronan nodded approvingly and returned from the order window with it and a hot caramel sundae with chocolate ice cream for himself, along with a soft pretzel to share. Adam made him return to the window for wads of paper napkins to make sure the car stayed spotless.

When the garbage had been dumped and a few more sticky kisses exchanged, Ronan murmured, “What are you going to tell them back at work?”

“Well, it depends. Do you wanna buy this little beauty?”

“No way. It’s nowhere near as good as my car.”

“You’re right. But it is nice,” Adam patted the dashboard lovingly then realized Ronan was looking at him strangely.

“Do you want it?” Ronan asked seriously.

Adam laughed. “No way in hell. I’m not near to having my mid-life crisis yet so I don’t need a showy convertible. It’s just nice.”

“Fine,” Ronan said, settling back in his seat, “so sorry, I’m not buying this toy.”

But Adam was still laughing, struck by a sudden thought. “That would really show them, though. You come in, take me for a drive, you buy the car, and then give it to me.”

Ronan smiled and joined in his laughter. “You gonna let me finally make you a sugar baby?”

“No,” Adam wiped at his watering eyes with a napkin, “because if I was looking for a sugar daddy, I would’ve taken Gansey up on it years ago.” And he burst out laughing again.

Ronan didn’t seem to think that was funny at all which only made Adam laugh harder.

“So, you going to tell them at your job that we’re actually going out?”

“Nah,” Adam tried to get himself under control again, “it’s more fun like this. You can come in again in a couple weeks, look around, maybe we can try out a SUV or minivan.”

“For all my kids and farm animals?”

“No, for the big, roomy back seats,” Adam leaned over and bit Ronan’s ear lobe making Ronan give a full body shudder. But it did put him instantly into a better mood.

“OK, deal. I’ll tell them you were a fine salesman but this car just doesn’t fit my farming lifestyle.”

“Good,” Adam sighed and leaned back to stretch his arms up until he felt a satisfied pop in his back. “And thanks for breaking up the monotony of my days on that car lot. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to put down roots right through the asphalt.”

“Anything for you,” Ronan said. “But next time, I’m coming up with the role play scenario.”

“I can barely wait,” Adam promised Ronan’s smirk that assured him it would be good. “Now. Let me drive back.”

“No! You can drive it whenever you want because you work there!”

“Yeah, and they know that with all the more they pay me that I’ll never be able to afford a car like this. So let me drive it back, and I’ll let you top tonight.”

Ronan pretended to consider it but he couldn’t shove the key at Adam fast enough. “I wouldn’t want you cheating on me with dolls and pretty princesses and curves anyway.”

“Sure, sweetheart. Whatever you need to tell yourself.” Then they scrambled over each other trying to exchange seats, and Adam nabbed Ronan’s sunglasses with a smirk as he settled behind the wheel. “Think I can beat your time getting back to the lot? Hold on to your hair, oops sorry, bad joke.”

Ronan was still grumbling when Adam pulled out, much more carefully than Ronan had entered. But it didn’t stop Ronan from twining his fingers through Adam’s on the gear shift or his loud whoop of happiness when Adam finally got it into fifth gear. Princess or not, it was a good day to spend with his very own Prince Charming.

*This is dedicated to the car salesman I watched standing there looking like that Ben Affleck picture only without the cigarette. He was no Adam Parrish though.

*One of the craziest things about writing in this fandom is allowing out the weird Appalachian vocabulary I grew up with and finally speaking the language of my foremothers. Bless.

*The author has only had one good car buying experience and it was with a young man about Adam’s age so this is dedicated to him too. Granted, they don’t usually make you give up your driver’s license when a salesperson rides with you and I’ve never had one ask for insurance but this is Ronan MF Lynch we’re talking about and no one is handing him the keys to a vehicle unless they have some proof that he actually has a license and insurance. And possibly enough money to cover for stealing and/or wrecking a sports car.

*So I’ve got two other fluffy comedies that I’ve been poking at for a while. Should I finish and post them? Does anyone else out there need some escapism and (hopefully) at least a sensible chuckle once in a while? Along with some kissing (and more 😉)?

#ronan lynch #adam parrish #the raven cycle #trc #trc fic #my fic #i'm sorry all i can write these days is fluff and silliness #Now on AO3 #Teaberry is a very underrated and delightful ice cream flavor #i love it #it's really good in sundaes too

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