Summary: Open your eyes and let your love shine,
you are finer than wine, dearest of mine.
Come now, I must tell you as soon as we meet,
the wildest secrets of my lonely heartbeat.
Nothing is sweeter or deeper than love
when rapture is dancing within the soul,
Giving off a feeling of completion, a feeling of being whole…
Poem – Heartbeat by: Joyce Hemsley and John William McGrath III
For Justin, his desires, aspirations, life, love, career and ambition all escalated from and gravitated towards her – his support system, his air supplier, his beating heart, his burning fire…
Contains: Alternate Universe, Romance
~
Open your eyes and let your love shine,
you are finer than wine, dearest of mine.
Come now, I must tell you as soon as we meet,
the wildest secrets of my lonely heartbeat.
Nothing is sweeter or deeper than love
when rapture is dancing within the soul,
Giving off a feeling of completion, a feeling of being whole…
****
There he was…palms sweaty, breathing labored, senses heightened and adrenaline pumping.
Darting his head to the left, he smirked at his opponent.
This was it – The championship finals.
This race would determine the champion and the proud owner of the 2008 Cup.
That was going to be him.
Fixing his helmet on his head, his palms fell to his steering wheel, gripping it tightly, his gloves rubbing against the sensitive skin of his hands.
He briefly glared into the audience, the many faces a blur as the screaming and shouting around him was easily tuned out.
He needed to focus. He couldn’t allow his mind to drift. He had to keep his eyes on the prize.
He heard that familiar buzz and his heartbeat instantly increased in speed – the intensity of the moment sending him into a temporary haze.
Shifting his gears, he drove up to the starting line as the long stretch of road in front of him was magnified and giving off a 3-d effect in his eyes.
There was the beep and he quickly darted his eyes over the starting lights.
Gulping down hard, he held his breath while placing one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the gearshift as his feet rested snuggly and attentively on the accelerator.
Oh yes, this was really it…this was the deciding factor between the winner and loser.
His heart was now pounding vigorously as his pulse created a rhythmic musical pattern for his listening pleasure.
And he blinked slowly…
Then the red light flashed…
He shifted in his seat, adjusting the seatbelt tightly across his chest.
The yellow light flashed…
It was now or never.
He felt the sweat on his forehead dripping unto his goggles while his blue orbs widened when the yellow light disappeared and…
The green light flashed…
That…that meant go!
And he was gone…
Like a flash of lightening, he and his opponent were off, hitting their accelerators and peeling out on the flat stretch of road, the force and speed of their takeoffs pinning them back in their seats…
****
The entire experience was over just as soon as it started. It happened so quickly, he didn’t have any time to process it.
The moment he pressed on that accelerator, his sole focus was to shift those gears in proper sync with the bite point so he could obtain full advantage in top velocity. And he did. He changed those gears easily, skillfully and without breaking a sweat.
He sped down that track with one goal in mind – winning.
And, for a split second, he allowed himself to be carried away to another world entirely, where he felt like he was invincible and no harm could come to him as he flew across the asphalt in what he thought was similar to the warp speed of light…
But, it all came to an end just as quickly as it had begun…
And now, he was sitting quietly as his chest rose then fell slowly with each deep breath he took; his pulse significantly slowed down while his eyes regained focus on the many faces around him.
It was over.
He was back to reality and by the deafening screams and the many people crowding around his ride at the finish line, he knew that he obtained his ultimate goal. He knew victory was his.
With that exact thought and at that exact moment in time, a smile played across his lips before he undid his seatbelt and ripped off his helmet, allowing his crew to help him out of his racecar so he could claim his place in the winner’s circle.
****
“Justin!”
“Mr. Timberlake!”
“J.R.T! Over here!”
Trying to get through the mass of bodies surrounding him and the many screaming fans, Justin stopped dead in his tracks when he heard someone call out to him by his initials. The media was relentless with their hounding about his victory win. He won by one point two seconds but in racing every millisecond counted. Justin prided himself on his skill and loved the endless attention he got from being with NASCAR but this was ridiculous. Still, he just won the championship. He had been at it for years now and rightfully earned his place at the top with all the legendary racecar drivers. A little interview wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Shrugging in defeat, he moved over to one of the reporters as his publicist followed close behind.
Putting on a tight smile, he clutched his championship cup in his hand, waving to the surrounding fans as the camera flashes went off in his face threatening to blind him.
“JRT it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” The reporter smiled brightly for him, his dark brown eyes shining with admiration from behind his spectacles.
Smirking, Justin took in the guy’s appearance. He had untamed brown hair, freckles, a plaid getup and an insatiable taste for a story Justin assumed, from the way he was shoving the microphone in his face.
“Hey man what’s up?” Justin finally spoke, shifting away from the cameraman who was standing too close to him for comfort.
“I’m good thanks. But, the big story here today on the racetrack is you. This is your first championship win yes? From what I’ve understood you’re following in your dad’s footstep who was a famous racer himself back in his day. You grew up on the racetrack so it was only obvious that you ended up with that career. So how does it feel?” The reporter questioned and Justin shook his head in agreement before tugging at his sponsor branded overalls.
“Yeah man. It feels great! Just winning and the whole experience were mind-blowing. I’m really happy with the outcome.” Justin smiled sincerely and the reporter nodded his head in agreement.
“I bet huh? And congratulations on your victory. Sorry about your opponent.” He joked but Justin just waved his statement off.
“He did his best too. He put up a hell of a fight. I had no idea I was going to win until we crossed the finish line and even then it hadn’t struck me yet.” Justin explained, taking a step back and already feeling like he needed to be away from the frenzy circulating him.
“That’s admirable. But I think what the viewers really want to know is since you’ve accomplished this long sought after goal, what’s next on the agenda for Justin “Racing Heart” Timberlake?” Raising his microphone in the air and leaning forward awaiting Justin’s response, the reporter held a large grin on his face.
Briefly scanning over all the curious faces that seemed to hang on his every word, Justin just chortled as the silence took over.
“Well man. Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to celebrate this victory with my lady!” He mused in a thick southern drawl before he winked for the reporter, quickly turning on his heels to continue on his journey out of the mass hysteria.
Waving to his fans and signing a few autographs along the way, Justin swiftly made his way off the racetrack and away from all the commotion in desperate need of some peace and quiet…
****
She had been sitting there waiting for him for some time now. She was overly ecstatic and brimming with pride since she saw the entire race here in his trailer on his big plasma screen television. She was screaming ‘go’ at the top of her lungs in there by herself. She was sure for anyone who passed by, they would think she was crazy. But she couldn’t help it. She loved him and she supported him one hundred percent in his career and choices. She’d be lying if she said her heart didn’t tighten in her chest, increasing in speed and thumping forcefully whenever he got out on that track.
She always prayed and hoped for the best outcome. She always prayed he would finish each race in one piece. Still, her heart always skipped a beat in fear of all the possibilities that could happen if he lost control or something went horribly wrong during a race.
She felt like her heart was right out there with him beating the same race he was a part of, holding her breath until he’d cross the finish line before she’d let out a sigh of relief.
Still, after five years of friendship and two years in what she deemed as a fulfilling relationship, there was no way she could turn her back on him. He had her heart and she was willing to withstand the ride he took it for on a regular basis because she loved him…
Tilting her head in the direction of the entrance to his trailer, she watched intently as he walked in with his trophy in hand. The moment he stepped foot unto the platform, his grey encrusted blues met with her chocolate browns.
They just remained in place for a few brief moments, taking in each other’s presence before he broke out into a tired smile that stretched up to his eyes, the sparkle of affection in them never once diminishing in intensity.
“Hey…” She whispered as she stood from her sitting position on the couch, tugging at the red t-shirt of his she wore that read “Racing Heart…” on the front in black bold letters.
“Hey yourself.” He whispered back, unbuttoning his overalls and removing the upper part, remaining in just his white wife beater.
Placing his trophy down on a nearby table, he ambled towards her memorizing her smooth brown skin, full chocolate lips, cute button nose, long ebony hair, bright glimmering eyes, curvy frame, long legs and full perky breasts. She had a nice behind too. He just thought she was absolutely beautiful and he knew he was lucky to have her as a part of his life. She was the only other aspect of his life that kept him on edge, kept the adrenaline coursing through his veins and his heartbeat pounding at a rapid rate.
She kept him on his toes and life with her was like living in the fast lane which he loved every minute of. She was the reason for his nickname…‘Racing Heart’ Timberlake. She did that to him: every time he laid eyes on her, every time she spoke, or touched him even in the most innocent way, she would drive his senses haywire.
“I saw your race. Congratulations.” She smiled sweetly, finally closing the small gap between them.
“Thanks.” He breathed softly, pulling her into his embrace.
Dropping his head into her dark locks, he inhaled her familiar fruity scent, squeezing her tightly and feeling his pulse instantly pick up.
Breaking his hold on her seconds later, he ginned from ear to ear before he leaned down and captured her soft lips with his own – the contact sending a pleasurable shiver down his spine.
Moaning into the kiss, she wrapped her hands around his neck as their tongues danced to the motion of their built up desires for one another.
Then he sighed, pulling away long enough to exhale his statement against her lips – “I love you Keisha…”
And she smiled, uttering her feelings back to him as well in the form of a light whisper into his ears… “I love you too Justin.”
“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”
They both enjoyed these quiet moments where the only things that could be heard were their breathing and steady heartbeats.
It was a moment of peace and calmness for them. But it never lasted long. Soon, his driver would arrive to bring them to their next destination which was another racetrack possibly in another state, where Justin would gear up for his next big race taking her heart with him along for the ride.
But now, now was the perfect time to just sit back and unwind before their hectic lives caught up to them again.
Breaking their embrace completely, Keisha took a few steps back to study the man that captured her heart. He was so handsome that sometimes she felt like she was in a fairy tale. Because not only was he easy on the eyes, but his personality and the way he treated her justified that he was indeed one in a million.
Staring at him intently, she picked up on his weary gaze as his beautiful blues clouded over with mixed emotions. He stood at 6’1, with golden brown hair and a toned, defined form that he worked hard hours in the gym to maintain. The best part was he belonged to her and no one else. It went both ways of course. That was something she was content about.
“So champ, what do you want to do to celebrate with your lady? I saw the short interview you did with that reporter on tv.” She smiled slyly for him causing him to let out a deep throaty chuckle.
“Well then, if you did I’m sure you can figure the rest out. But first, exclude the partying, drinking and being surrounded by my fellow crew members and racing buddies. That leaves me, you and this trailer.” He grinned, wriggling his brows mischievously.
“You’re so corrupted.” Keisha mused.
“Well can you blame me here? I’m looking right at you.” He crackled, dodging her playful swing.
“Fine. Get over here cutie.” She cooed, causing Justin to frown.
“Woman, being called cutie is not appealing for my manhood.” He growled, rushing up to her and gripping her waist tightly causing her to squeal. “So, are we on the same wavelength here?” he asked in a raspy tone.
“Uh huh.” She replied, leaning up to connect their lips together as she pulled him along with her to the back of their trailer where the bedroom was situated…
****
There was a time in his life when he thought he could never deem this as a necessity but now he was so wrong.
There was a time in her life when she felt no one could bring her to a level where she’d crave even their slightest form of affection but alas she was mistaken.
He knew it was dangerous – this devotion he had towards her. He was aware that if there was ever a time where she’d betray him in any way, picking up the pieces would be damn near impossible. But, he never allowed his thoughts and feelings to move in that direction and linger for more than a split second…
Still one obvious fact remained: they both needed each other’s gentle touches and endless showers of compliments and promises. It kept them secure, stable and aware of the other person’s existing emotions.
As she laid there against the soft, cotton filled pillow on their cushiony blue-comforter covered mattress, she couldn’t help but release a soft moan when he kissed her naked breasts, sliding his thick, full, throbbing length in and out of her depths. Arching her back off the bed, he gripped her waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace, never once slowing down his speed.
He kept a steady rhythm, his thrusts powerful and forceful as his size stretched her walls apart.
“Uh god…” She moaned while snaking her hands around his back to pull him in close as they rubbed against each other, flesh to flesh with sweat glistening on both their bodies. Their skin tones meshed together as one creating a colorful swirl of tangled limbs as he picked up his pace, working them both over the edge.
“Damn baby…so tight.” Justin muttered then kissed her square on the lips before he stared into her chocolate brown eyes. They were hypnotizing to say the least and he always got lost in them.
“Oh my god I’m gonna…I’m gonna Justin…” Keisha cried out, hearing him let out a throaty growl when her walls began contracting around him.
“Shit, me too…” He heaved as his heart pounded out of his chest when he continued to move in and out of her, delving in their most intimate connection.
It wasn’t long before Keisha felt her world erupt as a pleasurable bliss entrapped her when her orgasm laved her body sending her on an immeasurable high.
She gripped his shoulders as her hips lifted off the bed causing his grip on her to tighten. Holding her in place, Justin shut his eyes tightly as his orgasm too was building at a rapid rate – the mixture of Keisha clawing at his abs and nibbling on his earlobe sending him over the edge.
Like the sound of a trumpet in a deafly quiet room, he released his load, coating her walls and letting out a satisfied groan before he collapsed on top of her.
Still breathless, he held her tight against his damp chest. He shifted some hair out of her eyes before he kissed her forehead, nose and then lips, lingering there a moment longer.
Pulling back to stare at her he smiled sheepishly while feeling the vibrations in his chest steadily decrease – soothing his slightly trembling form.
Thump-thump…Thump-thump…was all he could hear at the moment as Keisha’s body shuddered and twitched underneath him while he remained inside of her growing limp.
“Shit Justin…” She panted, finally returning his smile as his azure eyes sparkled with love even under the dim lights.
“You’re something amazing girl.” He cooed while slicking his hands through her hair before he finally slid out to lie next to her, pulling her into his arms to rest against his torso.
“And you think you’re any different?” She giggled, looking up at him as he gazed down with an arched brow.
“Whatever.” He chortled before pulling the comforter over their naked bodies to provide a form of warmth and comfort.
Silence soon took over as Justin lay on his back staring up at the ceiling in thought, thinking about any and everything he could. He knew Keisha didn’t like the idea of him risking his life in every race, but, she was so supportive that sometimes he honestly felt guilty for the worry he knew he was putting her through constantly. Still, he was glad she understood that this was a solid part of his life. She knew what she was getting herself into. After all, they were friends before lovers and that was the best route to take.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like and what he would be doing if he wasn’t a professional racer. Well, he didn’t have to wonder too much because this was his life and he truly loved it just as much as he loved her, though he felt he loved her more.
That still didn’t stop him from wanting something a little extra. He had been thinking about it for a while and now his mind was made up.
“Hey Keish?” Justin whispered to her, hearing her breathing even out.
“Hmm?” She moaned while fluttering her eyes open to stare at her love who she thought was truly a godsend.
Eying her briefly, his lips twitched into a small smile before he diverted his vision upwards as she snuggled next him. “How do you feel about me adding an S behind my name?” He inquired.
“What do you mean Justin?” Keisha asked, her orbs twinkling in curiosity.
“You know, instead of Racing Heart I was thinking Racing Hearts with an S.”
“Why?”
“Because, it’s not just about me anymore. It’s about you too and the family I hope we’ll share one day…” he spoke in a soft tone hearing her yawn in the process.
“I like it. I think you should go with whatever you feel is best…but…I like it.” She smiled against his chest. “And I want that family part too.” She added before she yawned lightly, drifting off into sleep…
“Ok then I’ll do it.” He beamed proudly before he heard her light snores that always sounded like music to his ears for some strange reason unbeknownst to him.
Chuckling, Justin hugged Keisha close to his body and exhaled loudly before he felt the trailer start up.
A few seconds later, they were moving and he knew that meant that his driver had returned and was taking them to their next destination and to his next big race. They left a note for him on their door earlier stating that they were turning in for the rest of the evening, so, Justin was glad that he left them alone.
Turning his head to look out the window, Justin took in all the passing lights and various billboards when they got unto the highway.
Glancing down at Keisha’s sleeping form, he smiled warmly before he stretched across to his discarded overalls, pulling out a small box from the pocket. Flipping it open, he studied the piece of jewelry intently taking in the gold, diamond-encrusted engagement band.
Sighing, he shut the box and put it away quickly in any chance that Keisha might stir. Still looking at her through tired eyes, Justin couldn’t help but reminisce over all the good and bad times they shared together.
He knew they came a long way, but they still had a long way to go.
One thing was certain in his mind and heart though: no one else but her would be able to keep him in check, on edge and have his adrenaline pumping even when he was off the tracks. If that wasn’t worth risking everything over, then he didn’t know what was. For that, he was grateful – not only for the love he’d found, but, for the burning fire in his soul and the anticipated recurring beat of his heart at increased intervals…
Romance divine, tears and laughter combine,
as we let our pent-up emotions unwind.
Tell me the nice things you wish me to hear,
lonely heart secrets are drawing me near!
Love makes me whole, makes me complete,
deep in my heart, fine memories I keep…
*The End*
****
Poem – Heartbeat by: Joyce Hemsley and John William McGrath III
Quote: Judy garland
