With Brad off delivering the car body panels to Tiffany’s paint and bodywork shop, the garage felt a little quieter. Bruno leaned casually against the tool rack, arms crossed as he observed Arashi tinkering with a part on the workbench.

  Bruno asked, his deep voice cutting through the hum of the overhead lights.

  Arashi looked up briefly, his hands still working. He nodded toward Esme’s SEAT Ibiza parked near the corner.

  Bruno raised an eyebrow, pushing off the rack with a slow smirk.

  Arashi chuckled under his breath.

  Bruno laughed, a rich sound that filled the space.

  Arashi grinned but didn’t look up.

  Bruno waved a hand dismissively.

  Arashi said, his tone steady as his hands continued working on an engine part.

  “Pick the best. And don’t forget—” he paused to glance at Bruno, his eyes firm,

  At that moment, Esme froze mid-step, the light blush on her cheeks blooming into a deeper shade of pink. She hadn’t expected Arashi’s words to strike such a chord, but the thought of him thinking about her safety like that made her heart flutter.

  Bruno, ever the sharp observer, smirked as he caught Esme’s reaction out of the corner of his eye.

  Arashi shrugged, brushing off the comment with his usual air of nonchalance. he replied simply, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

  Esme ducked her head shyly, pretending to busy herself with a nearby toolbox. Her mind, however, was replaying his words over and over, warmth spreading through her chest.

  Bruno paused, raising an eyebrow as he heard Arashi's request.

  Bruno let out a low whistle.

  Arashi smirked, wiping his hands on a nearby rag.

  Bruno chuckled as he made his way to the storage shelves.

  As he walked off, Esme peeked up from her spot, still faintly pink from earlier. Her gaze flickered between Arashi and Bruno, her heart skipping at the thought of Arashi’s meticulous care—not just for her car, but for her.

  As Bruno rummaged through the storage, his voice occasionally echoing as he muttered about where the rims might be, Esme seized her moment. She moved silently, her steps soft and deliberate, until she was right behind Arashi.

  she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

  Arashi flinched, nearly dropping the wrench in his hand. he exclaimed, his voice sharp with surprise but softening almost immediately.

  She giggled mischievously, her arms tightening around his waist as she buried her flushed face against his back.

  Her words were muffled against his shirt, but he felt the warmth of her blush radiating through. Arashi froze for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden affection. Slowly, he relaxed, letting out a small, amused sigh.

  he murmured, his voice low but laced with a chuckle.

  Esme peeked up slightly, her green eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and shyness.

  Arashi’s ears turned faintly red, though he tried to mask it by returning his focus to the part in his hands. he muttered, though his softened tone betrayed him.

  From the storage area, Bruno’s voice rang out.

  Esme giggled against Arashi’s back, and Arashi rolled his own eyes with a smirk, muttering,

  As Arashi’s phone buzzed with a message notification, he pulled it out, glancing at the screen. The name ‘Tiffany’ flashed across the top. With a raised eyebrow and a smirk, he read her message:

  Arashi let out a low chuckle, quickly typing his reply.

  He hit send with a mischievous grin, glancing up to see Esme peeking curiously at him. he explained briefly, still chuckling.

  Esme tilted her head, intrigued but not pressing further. Meanwhile, from the storage, Bruno’s voice called out.

  Arashi yelled back, smirking as he slipped his phone into his pocket.

  Bruno emerged from the storage, lugging the pristine Cosmis rims with ease, his muscles flexing under his shirt. Before he could say a word, Arashi's teasing tone cut through the garage.

  Arashi leaned casually against the workbench, smirking. He dramatically cupped his hands around his mouth and howled,

  Bruno stopped mid-step, fixing Arashi with an unamused glare, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

  Esme burst out laughing, nearly doubling over at Arashi’s antics.

  she echoed, joining in the fun.

  Bruno rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth quirked into a grin.

  Arashi shot back with a grin, unfazed.

  Bruno shook his head, setting the rims down with a heavy thud.

  Arashi laughed, clapping Bruno on the shoulder.

  Arashi leaned casually against the workbench, arms crossed with a confident smirk, his eyes glinting with nostalgia. he began, turning his gaze to Esme, who was still giggling from the earlier antics.

  Esme’s eyes widened, curiosity lighting up her face.

  Bruno, who was wiping his hands off after setting the rims down, chuckled and shook his head. he pointed a thumb at Arashi,

  Arashi laughed, clearly unbothered by Bruno’s ribbing.

  Esme’s jaw dropped.

  Bruno groaned, but there was pride in his tone.

  Arashi shrugged, a playful grin on his face. “

  Esme’s cheeks flushed as she looked at Arashi, admiration clear in her expression.

  Arashi gave her a wink.

  Arashi leaned back with a confident grin, clearly enjoying the memory as he flexed for Esme. “He’s always so tough, you know,” he said, eyes glinting. he chuckled,

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  He let out a hearty laugh, his energy contagious as he looked at Bruno.

  Bruno snorted, crossing his arms as he leaned against a tool rack.

  Esme laughed at their enthusiasm, the playful banter clearly bringing out the best in both of them.

  Arashi winked at her.

  Bruno gave Arashi a sideways look.

  Arashi grinned, throwing an arm around Bruno’s shoulders.

  Esme smiled, clearly enjoying the camaraderie between the two. Arashi's smile turned more nostalgic as he leaned in closer to Bruno, his tone growing serious yet filled with pride. He paused, letting the weight of the moment sink in.

  Bruno’s expression softened, the pride and respect for their past victories clear in his eyes. He nodded slowly, crossing his arms.

  Esme listened intently, feeling the intensity of their bond. There was a raw, unspoken history between Arashi and Bruno that was more than just about racing. It was trust, sacrifice, and shared victories.

  Arashi’s eyes flickered to Bruno, a quiet acknowledgment passing between them.

  Esme smiled, touched by the camaraderie between the two.

  Arashi grinned mischievously, his eyes twinkling with playful teasing. He dramatically wiped his eyes, pretending to sob, earning an exaggerated roll of Bruno’s eyes.

  Bruno snorted, crossing his arms.

  Esme, who had been laughing at Arashi’s antics, suddenly felt a warm flush creep up her neck as she caught onto his playful energy.

  she murmured, her voice a little quieter than usual, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink.

  Arashi’s smirk only grew wider, noticing her blush. He leaned a little closer, his tone soft but filled with that unmistakable charm.

  Esme giggled nervously, her blush deepening as she quickly looked away, trying to hide her flustered expression. she stammered, though her eyes still betrayed her flustered state.

  Bruno smirked at Esme, leaning back with his arms crossed as he shot her a playful look. he teased, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting from both Arashi and Esme.

  Arashi immediately cut in, not missing a beat, his voice full of that signature confident edge. He shot Bruno a daring look, challenging him to keep up with the banter.

  Esme’s voice dropped to a soft whisper, her breath warm against Arashi’s ear.

  Arashi’s eyes flickered to her, his smirk turning into something more daring as he processed her words. He leaned in slightly, his voice low but filled with intrigue. He watched her closely, sensing the mischievous energy she was offering, his playful side making a subtle shift to something more intense.

  Bruno, who had been oblivious to the exchange, caught the sudden shift in the air. His eyes narrowed as he looked between the two, his brows raising in surprise. “

  Arashi shot him a smirk, one that said he knew exactly where this was going. He turned his gaze back to Esme, leaning closer. he teased, a playful yet suggestive edge in his voice.

  Esme's cheeks flushed deeper, but there was a fire in her eyes, one that matched the playful daring in Arashi's.

  she murmured, her voice full of promise.

  Bruno, now completely intrigued, couldn’t help but laugh nervously.

  Arashi chuckled softly, his voice dripping with teasing mischief. he said, eyeing Esme with a knowing grin he motioned to the car,

  Bruno’s eyes widened slightly, and he swallowed hard, the suggestion hanging in the air, making his cheeks flush darker. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

  Esme, still blushing deeply, tried to mask her embarrassment by quickly looking away, but the heat in her face was undeniable. she stammered, her voice flustered but filled with something else beneath the surface.

  Arashi leaned back, clearly enjoying the chaos he’d caused, a wicked smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

  Bruno, now nervously eyeing the rims, let out a sharp exhale.

  Arashi laughed, giving Bruno a friendly slap on the back. He then glanced at Esme with a playful twinkle in his eyes.

  Esme’s blush deepened, her heart racing as she met Arashi's gaze, the teasing glint in his eyes sending a shiver down her spine. She bit her lip nervously, then let out a soft breath, her voice barely above a whisper. she said, her words laced with a hint of lustful challenge as her eyes flickered to Bruno, a coy smile tugging at her lips. The air between them crackled with tension, the promise of something more hanging just beneath the surface.

  Arashi burst out laughing, his tone rich with playful amusement. He slapped his knee, clearly entertained by the nervous energy Bruno was radiating. Then, turning his focus back to Bruno, he grinned widely. He emphasized the tire specs with a wink, the playful atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

  Bruno, still red-faced and now caught in a whirlwind of Arashi and Esme’s teasing, nodded quickly, doing his best to keep his composure.

  He swallowed again, visibly flustered, and hurried to get the rims and tires in place, trying to focus on the task at hand to escape the playful storm swirling around him.

  Bruno mumbled, clearly flustered as he made his decision, his fingers tapping nervously on the side of the car.

  Arashi gave a low chuckle, watching Bruno’s nervous energy. He gave a knowing look to Esme, who stood by with a small, expectant smile, her eyes locked onto Bruno.

  Arashi continued to work on the Z33, but the moment Esme whispered her question, his focus shifted slightly. He caught her voice, soft and hesitant, as she asked with a blush that deepened like a boiled prawn,

  The playful, almost mischievous gleam in Arashi’s eyes never wavered as he chuckled lightly, wiping his hands before turning to meet her gaze. He let that hang in the air, knowing the effect his words would have. he added with a teasing smirk, clearly enjoying the playful nature of their conversation.

  Esme’s face flushed even more, unable to hide her embarrassment at the audacious nature of the exchange. Bruno walked in, carrying the last piece of the rim set and tires, his brows furrowed in confusion.

  Arashi burst into laughter, the sound rich with amusement. he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He let the words linger in the air, clearly enjoying the chaos he was stirring between Bruno and Esme.

  Esme, now completely red-faced, looked down at the ground, her embarrassment making it even harder to meet anyone’s gaze. Bruno’s face matched the intensity of her blush as he stood frozen for a moment, trying to process the unexpected teasing.

  Bruno muttered, though the nervous laugh that escaped him revealed he was definitely thrown off balance.

  Esme’s gaze fell on the rim set, and for a moment, she paused, eyes drifting upward as she let the image of her Ibiza with the new rims fill her mind. She imagined how it would look, and suddenly, her face lit up.

  she exclaimed, a burst of excitement breaking free.

  She then turned to Bruno with a mischievous glint in her eyes. she said with a naughty smile, her voice laced with playful seduction.

  Bruno froze for a moment, eyes widening, but before he could react, Esme walked off to grab a small towel. When she returned, however, her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened at the sight of Bruno’s chiseled muscles, his skin glistening under the lights from the sweat. His body was solid and defined, the physical labor making every inch of him seem even more impressive. Esme couldn’t help but gaze at him, her admiration clear as her eyes shimmered with something more than just surprise.

  Esme approached slowly, her breath hitching as she let her fingers graze across Bruno’s chest, feeling the warmth and firmness of his muscles beneath her touch. Her gaze dropped to his body, her lips parting slightly as she bit her lower lip in a mix of desire and hesitation. The towel in her hands moved gently across his skin as she began drying him, her fingers lingering a little too long in certain places, and her pulse quickened with every stroke.

  As she worked, a tingling sensation began spreading down her body, a warmth building between her legs that she couldn’t quite ignore. Her breath grew more shallow, the closeness between them intensifying the sensations, making it harder for her to concentrate. Each movement felt like an electric spark, and she could feel her body growing warmer, her heart racing with anticipation.

  Esme's voice was full of playful command as she finished drying Bruno's body, her eyes gleaming with desire. she said, practically pulling him by the hand as she eagerly half-ran toward the bathroom.

  Bruno, still trying to process the turn of events, swallowed hard once again, his mind racing. The combination of Esme's boldness and the intensity of the moment left him at a loss for words, and all he could do was follow her, feeling both nervous and excited.

  Arashi, watching the entire scene unfold with a knowing smirk on his face, couldn't help but murmur softly to himself,

  His amusement was palpable as he leaned against the workbench, clearly entertained by the playful chaos unfolding before him.

  As Arashi continued to work in the garage, the sound of water pouring from the shower drifted through the lobby, followed by Esme’s soft moans and Bruno’s groans. He ignored it, focusing on his task. The engine work was progressing smoothly, though his thoughts kept drifting back to Lana. It was nearly midnight, and he had completed about a quarter of the total work, dealing with the harder parts like the turbos and exhaust pipes. Even if he had to disassemble it again later, he’d set everything up for easy access.

  He glanced at the clock. 11:59 P.M. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, wiping sweat from his brow. What’s she doing now? he wondered, a small ache in his chest.

  He picked up his phone and ordered a pizza, tapping out the details with practiced speed. He hung up and quickly transferred the payment via his bank account, his mind still wandering.

  Lighting a cigarette, he stepped outside the garage and sat on a bench, looking up at the sky. The cool night air wrapped around him, and he murmured to himself,

  He took a long drag from his cigarette, staring into the stars, the weight of his thoughts pressing heavily on his chest.

  TO BE CONTINUED.