Hunter let the other man’s hands explore his body freely. The warmth of Winston’s palms clearly conveyed his desire for him. Initially, Winston had only been leaning in, but he soon lifted one leg and pressed down on Hunter.
However, as Winston’s fingers moved to unzip Hunter’s jeans, Hunter tensed. In that split second, he almost turned away to avoid Winston’s actions.
It felt like an instinctive response, perhaps a reflex from his numerous practice sessions with Owen.
Ultimately, Hunter didn’t pull away because he didn’t want Winston to be sad.
Winston paused, his hands braced on either side of Hunter’s head, his gaze calm as the ocean.
“Is this why you’ve been hanging around with Owen?”
Hunter froze, realizing Winston had seen through him.
“He taught you how to seduce me, but now he’s teaching you… how to reject me?”
“No! I never thought of rejecting you! I didn’t!”
“Then can I hug you?” Winston asked.
He still spoke with a gentle voice, which always managed to make Hunter’s emotions sway easily.
Compared to being screwed to death, Hunter couldn’t bear to see him upset.
Even practice matches or rankings held no importance for Hunter compared to Winston.
Hunter looked up and met Winston’s eyes. “…Yes.”
In the next moment, his clothes were torn off, his jeans rendered useless, everything moving so fast it felt like being engulfed by a tsunami.
Hunter closed his eyes, not daring to breathe.
He clenched his teeth, the feeling akin to hurtling off the racetrack at high speed and shattering into dust in the run-off area.
As Winston got closer, Hunter’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
But to his surprise, Winston merely kissed his cheek gently.
“I’ve never thought of killing you… so you don’t need to act as if you’re bracing for death like this.”
His voice remained as gentle as ever. It suddenly dawned on Hunter that Winston’s actions had been a test.
He wanted to see if Hunter could accept him, but in the end, Hunter had disappointed him.
“We can take things slowly.” Winston’s fingers stroked Hunter’s brow bone. “Actually, what you’re afraid of isn’t me hurting you… You’re just not used to giving yourself to me. Giving yourself to me doesn’t mean you lose your identity or lose me.”
Hunter’s eyes burned, and his throat trembled.
Even though his actions had made Winston unhappy, Winston was the one comforting him.
After losing his parents, Hunter had become accustomed to shouldering everything alone. Now, Winston was willing to solve all his problems, accept him, and cherish him. If he embraced his lifelong hopes and desires and gave himself to this man, only to lose him… Hunter wasn’t sure if he could bear it.
Hunter hugged Winston tightly, pressing himself against him and refusing to let go for a long time.
“Dummy. Don’t let Lawrence Owen teach you how to overpower me anymore.”
“…How did you know I asked Owen to teach me that!” Hunter was stunned.
Could that scumbag Owen have betrayed him?
Winston sighed. “All you think about is stuff like that.”
Hunter felt frustrated at being looked down upon.
“Next time, if you want to pin me down, I’ll teach you myself.”
Compared to the coldness and inscrutability from a moment ago, Winston’s eyes now held a warmth and indulgence that Hunter loved most.
“You’ll teach me? You’re actually willing to teach me how to overpower you? I don’t believe it!” Hunter’s eyes widened.
Winston kissed his lips once.
“If you think you can overpower me with brute force, then you’re just plain foolish.”
“Why? We’re both racers. We’ve both undergone similar physical and strength training. So why do you always manage to take me down?”
Hunter couldn’t wrap his head around it.
“Because I’m better at using my limbs than you,” Winston replied.
“All of them?” Hunter tilted his head and asked softly.
“Mm.”
“Then kiss me properly, not like you did just now.”
Winston paused for a moment.
“I know you were mad earlier… but now you’re not mad anymore, so… I want…”
Before Hunter could finish speaking, Winston flicked out his tongue, brushing it gently against Hunter’s upper lip. The sudden change from gentleness prompted Hunter to suck on it.
Though he had asked Winston to kiss him, it turned out that he was the one initiating the kiss.
All the confusion from before had now transformed into a craving desire. Winston closed his eyes and responded to Hunter’s sucking.
It wasn’t until Marcus called that Winston reached for his phone.
“Hello? Are you guys at the hotel now?”
“Yeah, don’t worry,” Winston replied, supporting himself with one hand as he looked into Hunter’s eyes.
At this moment, Winston’s hair was slightly tousled, and his T-shirt collar had slipped to one side, revealing his beautiful collarbone.
Hunter reached out to touch it subconsciously.
The fingers that Winston had braced beside Hunter’s ear clenched into a fist. Hunter tilted his head, about to hook his fingers under Winston’s collar, but Winston suddenly moved to grab Hunter’s hand.
“Mm, I’ll take Hunter to the police station. See you tomorrow.”
After hanging up, Winston continued to frown at Hunter. “Do you want to die?”
Hunter shook his head. “Sleep! Let’s just go to sleep!”
He rolled over, intending to wrap his arm around Winston’s waist, but Winston stood up unexpectedly.
“You sleep here. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“Why?” Hunter sat up.
“Because I won’t be able to hold back, and then you’ll run out of here with your pants around your ankles.”
Winston turned his face, his gaze leaving Hunter feeling thoroughly upset.
“I… I’m not afraid of you…” Disappointment welled up in Hunter’s heart.
“I said I can’t hold back.”
When Winston got serious, no one could talk him out of it.
Thus, Hunter couldn’t sleep all night, tossing and turning on the bed.
Even though Winston was a few meters away, Hunter could see Winston’s back with just a slight lift of his chin.
He lay on his side on the sofa, his long legs extending so that his ankles dangled over the edge. A quilt covered him, but his waistline was still faintly visible.
Hunter suddenly realized that this was probably Winston’s real punishment for him.
This man had fallen in love with him long ago, so Hunter couldn’t help but wonder if, on countless nights when he himself had been oblivious, Winston had felt the same torment he was feeling now—wanting but only able to endure?
Hunter pulled the quilt over his head.
The warmth, the breath, the kisses, even the way Winston had forcefully pulled down his pants made Hunter feel like he might die.
Stop looking! Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!
The next morning, Winston woke Hunter up. After they finished breakfast at the hotel, they headed to the police station.
Hunter and Winston gave statements about everything that had happened the previous night.
As they walked out, they ran into Owen.
“Hey, Owen… Why are you here too…”
Owen smiled and walked up to Hunter. “You brat, you really got me into trouble this time!”
“What…” Hunter started to get an idea why Owen was there.
“It turns out that the anti-fan who’s been threatening me all this time was actually your deranged fan! He finally admitted that he always thought you and I were a gay couple, which is why he targeted me. He wanted to force me to leave you… But he’s got the wrong guy!” Owen shrugged helplessly and then glanced at Winston meaningfully.
Winston’s face remained calm, but when Owen’s arm was about to rest on Hunter’s shoulder, it was blocked by Winston’s hand.
“I know everything you did when you were with Hunter.” When Winston said this, Hunter got a bad feeling, and his eyelid started twitching.
“Oh— And what do you plan to do about it? Little Hunter wants to overpower you, you know,” Owen said with a hint of gloating.
“From now on, I’ll teach him how to please me while overpowering me. You can keep your useless tricks to yourself.”
Owen was stunned by this statement.
But soon, his face returned to calmness, replaced by an ambiguous half-smile.
“So how do you plan to make Hunter accept you? I heard that your thing is as big as a Coke bottle.” Owen’s gaze slid downward. “I’d be worried that you guys wouldn’t be happy together.”
Winston glanced at Hunter, who was looking down as if he were about to run away. He grabbed the back of Hunter’s shirt collar and pulled him back to his side.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of it myself.”
Hunter had to admit he was quite shocked.
You’ll take care of it?
How will you take care of it?
Is this something that can be fixed? Unless you let me top you!
“And also, if you teach Hunter any more nonsense, even if I can’t shove you off the track every time, I guarantee you’ll suffer in every race.”
Winston’s expression remained unchanged, but Hunter recalled the incident when Winston forced McGrady off the track in the past.
Owen chuckled softly as he looked at Hunter and said, “Let me tell you, this guy can hold a grudge. Do you really believe that when you’re telling him to be patient, he won’t get back at you later in bed?”
With that, Owen whistled and walked away.
Hunter glanced nervously at Winston, who stood beside him. In response, Winston gently rubbed the back of Hunter’s head.
“I would never do that.”
“Phew…” Hunter breathed a sigh of relief.
Even if Winston could be vindictive, he always kept his promises.
“But I will make you beg for me to hold you.”
Hunter felt like he’d been struck by lightning.
As they were about to leave, Hunter heard Merlin’s voice shouting.
“I love him! I love him! Why can’t I give him roses? Why can’t I cook for him? And why can’t I see him? Why!”
Hunter’s footsteps faltered, and he turned around instinctively.
But Winston’s hand reached out to cover Hunter’s eyes.
His palm was warm, which dominated Hunter’s thoughts.
“You see, this is why you attract perverted fans.”
“Huh?” Hunter turned back to Winston. “Why do I attract perverted fans?”
“You’re too naive and lack a sense of distance from people you shouldn’t be close to, making everyone think you’re attainable. You gave Merlin hope, responded to his expectations, and allowed him to build beautiful fantasies. In his mind, you belong to him. Now, when he’s shouting that he loves you, you’ll feel sympathetic and wonder whether you should respond.”
Hunter knew that Winston was right.
“When we were on the Dubai desert safari, you sensed that Merlin was strange, didn’t you?”
Even though Winston could be aloof, he had a sharper eye than Hunter.
“I wasn’t sure if he was normal or not, but I knew his feelings for you went beyond mere fandom. That’s why I was jealous.” Winston’s response was blunt.
“You were jealous? You’re Vann Winston… You get jealous?”
Hunter was surprised. Winston’s fan base was as large as Owen’s and Ciel’s, both of whom had dominated Formula One for over a decade. Yet Winston was jealous of him for having just one fanatical admirer?
“I’m jealous of your patience with him. Jealous of your affection for him. In all the years I’ve loved you, I’ve never been treated like that.”
“You…you’ve been in love with me for many years? No way. This is my first year in Formula 1! Or did you…were you interested in karting before? But I remember you came from Formula 31Formula 3 (F3) is a junior single-seater racing category that serves as a stepping stone for drivers aspiring to reach Formula 1.!”
Winston didn’t answer the question. Instead, he raised a hand to smooth down the ends of Hunter’s hair, which were sticking up.
“Today, I realized what I truly envy about Merlin.”
“What’s that?”
“I envy how he can go crazy without worries. The things he wants to do, I want to do too… Watching you at every moment, confronting anyone who gets close to you, sneaking into your room… I want to do it all.”
Hunter was suddenly reminded of their frequent jokes about lines from the movie High-speed Murder. Maybe every word Winston said was his true answer.
“I want to be rough with you, to take revenge for losing my entire sense of self… I want to make you cry for me, to beg me for mercy, to say to me: ‘I’m so sorry, Winston, I’m so sorry I could never love you enough.’ But I can’t, because being hated by you would be like dying for me.”
Winston said no more. This was the longest thing he had ever said to Hunter.
As he stood there under the blue skies of Singapore, his hair fluttered in the breeze. Hunter suddenly understood the greatest emotional distance between them: Winston’s love for him was so profound that he couldn’t possibly fill the void left by all that Winston had given to their relationship.
Hunter walked out, side by side with Winston, taking their time.
Actually, Winston, I find that with each passing second, I love you more than the second before.
Hunter reached out and grasped Winston’s fingers. The other man didn’t say anything and only curled his knuckles.
The next day, the free practice session at Marina Bay Street Circuit began.
The city temperature was around 30 degrees Celsius, while the track temperature reached about 33 degrees. Shen Chuan led the team in adjusting the car’s settings to account for the track’s surface temperature and air density. This track required the car to carry a significant amount of fuel, which increased the load on the tires. Consequently, Hunter would need to pit at least twice, and in special circumstances, the possibility of four pit stops couldn’t be ruled out.
“Every year, almost a quarter of the racers withdraw from this track. It’s incredibly challenging.” The technical officer reminded Hunter, “I know you’re a daredevil… but this time, be serious. Our main goal isn’t for you to overtake top drivers like Ciel again but to finish the race safely and maintain your current points in the rankings.”
“Okay, I understand.” Hunter nodded.
The technical officer was a bit surprised. In previous races, Hunter would have frowned in displeasure, feeling that the team didn’t trust him enough. But this time, he saw a sense of maturity and reason in Hunter’s eyes.
“It seems being with Winston every day is having a positive effect,” the technical officer said with a smile.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“When you’re quietly contemplating something, you’re starting to resemble him more and more.”
“Just don’t mention this in front of Marcus. He might think I’m planning to move to the Ferrari team,” Hunter whispered with a grin, covering his mouth.
The technical officer was stunned for two seconds before bursting into laughter.
By the end of the third practice session, Hunter had become extremely familiar with the track.
Before qualifying began, Hunter went to find a place to smoke as usual.
But this time, he forgot to bring his lighter.
He sighed and fumbled for his phone to text Winston, but Winston appeared beside him, already ready to light a cigarette for him.
In the past, Hunter thought they had a tacit understanding, but now he realized that Winston did it to pamper him.
Hunter lifted his cigarette and took a drag. “I think this might be the last time I smoke with you before a race.”
“You don’t smoke much anyway. Are you thinking of quitting?” Winston asked casually.
Hunter turned his face sideways and blew out a smoke ring toward Winston, who didn’t even blink.
“What do you think about replacing it with kissing?” Hunter asked.
“Are you trying to comfort me? Do you think I’m unhappy because of Merlin?” Winston replied.
“No.” Hunter shook his head. “Being with you is like smoking. The more it burns, the shorter it gets. Since that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to use the time to kiss?”
Winston grabbed Hunter’s cigarette and took a puff.
“Are you sure?”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you enjoyed watching me smoke more,” Winston replied softly.
“…”
Hunter was speechless.
Did this guy already know that he watched him smoke every time and maybe even liked it?
In fact, the way Winston lowered his eyes or gently touched his lips while smoking was undeniably sexy.
Winston leaned in and returned the half-smoked cigarette to Hunter’s lips. Hunter parted his lips, but Winston pulled the cigarette away and kissed him instead.
His lips were warm, and no matter how many times they kissed, Hunter always looked forward to it.
“See you on the track.”
Winston waved the cigarette in front of Hunter’s lips. Hunter bit the filter with a disgruntled expression. “Be careful you don’t get pushed off by me this time.”
“Oh really? Then I’ll just have to ram my way in.”
The phrase “ram my way in” was loaded with implications. Hunter’s lips twitched.
Winston was already well aware that Hunter feared his “big guy.” Before the whole Merlin incident, Winston had some reservations. But now, he was openly expressing his desire for Hunter and seemed fixated on the “scheme” he had with Owen.
Hunter felt like he had fallen into a pit from which he might never escape.
That night, the qualifying rounds kicked off.
Formula 1 wasn’t the most popular sport in Asia, but many fans had traveled from all over the world to attend. More than 80 percent of the tickets had been sold, and the three most famous grandstands were completely sold out.
Hunter took a deep breath and glanced up at a banner displaying his name among the packed audience.
“Your fan base is really growing,” Mark, the instrument technician, said with a smile.
“Haha…” Hunter laughed helplessly.
The more fans there were, the more likely there would be extreme ones like Merlin, right?
…And Winston had once said that when it came to fanaticism, he was even more intense than Merlin.
Hunter looked at the Singapore sky and closed his eyes, silently making a wish: Please let me keep up with Vann Winston this time.
In the first session, the Marina Bay Street Circuit provided each team an opportunity to showcase their strengths. Colt from the Williams team made a mistake coming out of the seventh corner, nearly causing trouble for Maiden from Force India. Winston maintained the lead, with Owen right behind him, and Hunter and Ciel battling for third and fourth. In the final three minutes, Hunter pressured Ciel and secured third place.
The second round saw the competition intensify between Owen and Hunter. After switching to soft tires, Owen delivered an impressive performance by overtaking Hunter and then accelerating to pass Winston towards the end of the session.
The final qualifying round was intense, with Winston aiming to overtake Owen, while Hunter pushed himself to match Winston’s lap times.
The qualifying round thrilled the spectators. In the final minutes, Duchovny from McLaren attempted to overtake in a right-hand corner but lost control and crashed into the barrier.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Hunter remained focused, setting his sights on one target from start to finish—Vann Winston.
The person I want to overtake most in this world is you.
If I am destined to be possessed by you, then at least on this track, where we both give our all, I will possess your attention and direction.
It seemed Winston sensed Hunter’s determination. Even in the last thirty seconds, Winston showed no signs of letting up, maintaining his superior position until the very end.
The starting order for the actual race was set as follows: Ciel from Mercedes took pole position, second was Owen, followed by Winston and Hunter.
Hunter drove the car back to the garage, tilted his head back, unzipped his racing suit to let it hang around his waist, and took a long gulp from a bottle of mineral water.
At that moment, he heard applause and set down his water bottle to see that it was Nicky.
“Did you come to bring me flowers?” Hunter asked with a smile.
“Haha, if it were just a regular fan bringing you flowers, that would be fine. But if I were caught giving you flowers, Vann Winston would kill me.” Nicky pulled up a chair and looked at Hunter with his head half-raised.
This guy was a major shareholder in the team and was probably here to check if his investment was paying off.
“If you give me flowers, would Winston really kill you?” Hunter pulled up a chair to sit across from Nicky, one leg draped over the armrest, rocking slightly.
“This is where Winston is skilled. He can appear calm, meticulous, and steady to those who don’t know him well, while letting those who do understand his wild side and avoid crossing him. He also makes you feel safe in his presence.” Nicky chuckled, looking down.
“Am I not safe being by his side?” Hunter asked.
“Do you truly understand this guy’s possessiveness? Did you know he’s invested in all sorts of bars, clubs, and high-end venues around the world? Of course, I have shares in some of them, and so does Lawrence Owen…”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “What bars and clubs?”
Nicky laughed, “Like the club where I met you. Later, the staff told me that while I was with you, Winston was watching us on the surveillance cameras.”
“What?” Hunter’s eyebrows furrowed. “I thought he was waiting for me at the entrance all along!”
“No, you should be glad you weren’t tempted by me or pinned down by me. Otherwise, Winston would have stormed in and taken you right then and there.”
“What—” Hunter’s expression was a precursor to a full-blown outburst. “That bastard!”
So he had heard everything Hunter said at that time! Those words were supposed to be kept secret!
But Winston heard it all!
“He didn’t invest in these places just to watch me from the CCTV room, did he?”
“It’s probably because you have a wild heart and always want to try new things. So Winston decided to keep you within his territory. No matter how much your heart flutters, no one dares to mess with you. He can get close to you through these places you like, and he can also control you… I have to say, this plan is both extravagant and infuriating.”
Hunter clenched his fists.
If that’s the case, Winston might have been scheming all of this before their encounter in the bathroom at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“Do you feel like punching him now?” Nicky asked, tilting his head and smiling.
“You’re telling me all this to make me angry with him?” Hunter asked, glancing at him.
“Aren’t you angry? The feeling of being manipulated and kept in someone’s pocket for so long should upset you, right?”
“Ridiculous! Since he has shares in those clubs and bars, why didn’t he give me a VIP card! Why do I still have to pay! You tricked me into spending tens of thousands of dollars that time! Winston said he’d help pay Owen back for me! After all that hassle, all my money ended up in his pocket!”
Hunter flipped his middle finger to show his strength.
Nicky looked at Hunter for two seconds before turning to the side and bursting into laughter.
“What the hell are you laughing at?”
“You really like him. Even when he manipulates everything about you, you don’t get angry.”
Hunter paused, then took a deep breath and shrugged. “I’d rather be manipulated by him than never have met him at all.”
“Hunter, do you know that I was attracted to you when I first saw you?” Nicky rested his chin on his hand, his eyes seeming to recall something unforgettable.
“Don’t tell me… you’re confessing your love.” Hunter looked a bit flustered.
“Back then, you were so innocent, it was sexy. It made me imagine the enchanting expressions you’d show me. But you’re different now. When I saw you walk out of the hallway, you looked like a man who had returned from battle. Mature and decisive. The way you spoke about Winston with such ease was enviable… So, drive further and race faster. Surpass my imagination, and I won’t need to chase you with my eyes anymore.” Nicky smiled and extended his hand towards Hunter.
“Thank you.” Hunter shook Nicky’s hand.
“Thank you for becoming your real fan or thank you for revealing Winston’s little secret to you?”
“Both.” Hunter smiled as he stood up. “Tomorrow night is the actual race. Don’t forget to come.”
“Of course.”
Hunter returned to the hotel with the team.
With the matter concerning Merlin resolved, and considering Winston’s previous advice not to sleep together before the race, Hunter had to spend the night alone.
As he entered the hotel lobby, he noticed members of the Ferrari team returning, including Winston. Winston was wearing a sweatshirt, his face expressionless. But Hunter knew that he had glanced at him several times out of the corner of his eyes.
Why did he always fall into Winston’s trap?
And why had he been falling for it from the start?
Even though Hunter was now willingly allowing himself to be lured in, and even felt a bit of joy about it, he still got angry thinking about Winston’s calm demeanor…
If a few photos of him and Owen that clearly didn’t show them sleeping together was enough for Winston to refuse to sleep with him that night, then he was going to make Winston suffer a little. If he waited until he was truly fucked by that guy, he knew his heart would be too swayed to do anything.
Hunter walked over to Winston and kicked his leg with the tip of his shoe. “Hey, I’ve got something to say to you.”
The author has something to say:
Winston: You actually love me a lot already.
Hunter: You’re easily satisfied.
Winston: Because you’re already thinking about how to maintain your mental balance after being fucked by me.
Hunter: …
Winston: There’s no need to feel unbalanced. Think of it from another perspective, it’s your bottom that’s eating me up.
Hunter: …
![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
