Barely Undercover (18 page)

Christ. Didn’t she understand he
had
to know, just like he
had
to breathe? A danger so great she had packed a suitcase and prepared to run was a danger he needed to know about.

“Thanks for the offer but we’re staying in tonight.” Lana pulled away. “I’ve had enough of bikers. And it’s probably better if we don’t spend too much time together.”

“What?” Jackie’s voice rose in pitch. “We’re staying in instead of going to watch a gang of bikers racing their crotch rockets around a track? Are you crazy? It will be one hell of a party.”

“Jackie!”

“Give us a moment.” Jackie gave James a reassuring wink before dismissing him with a flick of her fingers.

James walked through the living room and over to the window. He spotted Kickstand outside, guarding their bikes. Good kid. Too bad he’d fallen in with the wrong crowd. He would get a wake-up call when his biker worship got him five to ten in the local penitentiary, and he hadn’t even been involved in any major crime. James sighed. Maybe he could save Kickstand too.

After five minutes, Jackie raced past him. “We’re coming. Back in a minute. Stay out here.” She returned a few minutes later with an armful of black leather.

Five minutes became ten, became twenty. James paced across the living room. If they didn’t leave soon, they would be late. Rex wouldn’t be pleased. And the way things were going between him and Rex, he couldn’t afford another black mark against him.

Finally the bedroom door opened. His breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened.

Lana and Jackie had kitted themselves out in black leather from their stiletto boots to skintight pants, corsets to fitted jackets. Lana’s glorious red curls spilled around her shoulders and over the creamy expanse of the swell of her breasts.

And he’d thought the milkmaid costume was hot…

No way was he allowing her at a Hades gathering dressed like that. No fucking way.

Jackie grinned at his scowling face. “Gotta dress the part. I keep some spare disguises in my trunk. This outfit was from the time I had to crash a
Grease
party. Lana’s got her own reasons for having a closetful of leather.”

Lana winked and posed for him. “What do you think?”

Christ have mercy
. She was beyond tempting. “Change. Now.”

Her face fell. “I thought leathers were appropriate attire for your old lady.”

“Not those leathers.” He struggled against his stirring lust. “They’re too…tight and…leathery.”

Lana’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and she sauntered over to him, all fire and curvaceous charm. “I can move just fine. You want me to go with you, then this is what I’m wearing. If not, Jackie and I know a club where they appreciate a girl in leather.”

James’s scowl deepened. The thought of other men watching her, touching her, set his blood to boil. A low growl escaped him and Lana’s lips curled into a smile. “Does that mean I’m coming with
you
?”

He clenched his jaw and took a slow, deep breath. He didn’t want another fight. Too much was happening: Rex, the weapons, the DEU not having his back, Bones and his suspicions. Too many things to worry about. He needed to know he had one thing under control. He needed Lana soft and sweet in his arms. And if that meant letting her parade around in skintight leather, he would choke back his jealous, protective side and keep his mouth shut.

But only once.

And he would make sure Ryder, Kickstand and Jackie stayed with her. Maybe Claw as well. Slider was always on the ball. And Spook…

And maybe he could find a burlap sack to put over her.

“That means you’re going to pay for the stress you’re going to cause me.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and clasped her hand. “Let’s go. We brought extra helmets for the race. Might be a bit big but they should do the trick.”

“We?” Jackie raised an eyebrow.

“Kickstand is outside. I had just planned to stop in for a few minutes before heading off to the race. You can ride with him.”

Jackie grinned. “Oooo. The little golden boy. I’d like to get my claws into him.”

“Last I heard you were with Ryder.” James ushered them out and locked the door. Lana huffed and glared at his key. Well, she could huff all she wanted. No way was he giving it up. He needed to know he could get to her if she was in danger.

“It was just one night,” Jackie groaned. “Seriously, have you never had a one-night stand?”

He shot her a warning glance and followed Lana down the stairs. As if he was going to answer that question with Lana nearby. Especially after last night.

“I think what James is saying is maybe Ryder thinks differently,” Lana said over her shoulder. “And if he does, then he has to say it’s over. In the biker world, if the guy doesn’t say it’s over, it’s not over, and no one else can touch you until he does.”

James frowned. No way was Lana getting this biker information from television.

“Jeez Louise.” Jackie slapped her head. “I thought bikers were supposed to be anarchists, flouting the law, thumbing their noses at societal conventions. I’m beginning to think they have more rules than the real world has laws.” She waved to Kickstand as they crossed the street and then blew him a kiss. “As you know, I’m not one for rules.”

“Unfortunately, Kickstand has to be or he’ll never get his patch,” James said. “Talk it out with Ryder. He’s not an unreasonable guy.” Ryder had only briefly mentioned Jackie, and he had no idea what his friend thought of what had happened between them.

He helped Jackie mount up behind Kickstand and then held out a hand to help Lana.

“Babe. On the bike.”

“Where did you get the V-Rod Muscle?” She ran her hand over the artwork on the back fender—an exact replica of the Hades patch. “Where’s your Rocker?”

Hell, she even knew her Harleys.

“This one’s better for speed.”

“He won it in a poker tournament.” Kickstand grinned. “He beat out everyone in Hades until it was just him and Bones left. Bones was out of cash but he thought Ice couldn’t beat his straight flush. So he threw his bike into the pot.”

Lana’s hand flew to her mouth. “No.” She looked over at James. “What did you have?”

“Royal flush.”

Kickstand bounced on his seat, clearly eager to finish the story. “Bones accused him of cheating or counting cards. They had a big fight. Ice won. Bones never forgave him. He’s hated him ever since. Bones went trunking the next day and got some cash to buy a new bike but it wasn’t the same. He’d modded this one out and got that fancy artwork on the rear fender…”

Lana tilted her head to the side and studied the V-Rod. “It’s a nice bike but pretty heavy. Might not be a match for the crotch rockets.”

“You can judge for yourself when we get there. We’re already late but we should still make the first heats.” James circled his arms around her waist and lifted her onto the bike before swinging his leg over and taking his seat. He pushed in his earplugs and tugged on his helmet. Then he twisted around to give Lana a hand with her helmet.

“You weren’t planning to stay more than a few minutes at my place tonight, were you?” she said as she snapped the strap into place.

His stomach clenched.
Fuck.
Last thing he wanted her to know was why he had gone to her apartment or what had changed his mind.

“James?” She tilted her head to the side and gave him a questioning look.

He tapped his helmet, pretending he hadn’t heard her and then turned away to start the engine.

Some questions were better left unanswered.

Chapter Fourteen

The ride was torture.

Without the benefit of rear grab handlebars, Lana was forced to hold on to James for the entire trip. Already hot from his heated response to her leathers and the press of his muscled back against her breasts, the throaty rumble of the motor between her legs was almost as good as her rabbit vibrator, and far more arousing. By the time he reached the abandoned Surrey airstrip, she was almost ready to beg him to take her. Preferably over his mouthwatering bike.

The V-Rod Muscle was an exquisite piece of engineering. Built to Harley standards, but designed for speed, the V-Rod quickly changed her mind about its ability to keep up in a race against lighter, faster bikes when it roared down the Fraser Highway, leaving Kickstand to eat its dust.

Sex throbbing, pulse pounding, she slid off the motorbike after they pulled to a stop at the far edge of field and considered finding somewhere private she could relieve the ache between her thighs. She was so close to orgasm all it would take was the lightest of touches…

“Don’t even think about it,” James said softly, coming up behind her.

Lana whipped around, eyes wide, cheeks aflame. “What are you talking about?”

His eyes darkened. “I know that flush on your cheeks, babe. And I know what it means when your eyes turn that particular shade of green. I’ll take care of you when I’m done tonight. He slid his hand between her thighs, cupping the curve of her sex, his touch at once possessive and arousing.

Shocked, aching, confused, her voice caught in her throat, “James…”

“You want me to stop?” he murmured, his hand still gently stroking over her leathers.

Desire raged through her like a tidal wave, sending her body from hot to raging inferno in a heartbeat. Where was her resolve? He was supposed to be out of her system. A distant memory. But the minute he’d walked into her apartment, she couldn’t deny the sexual chemistry between them. She suspected he’d intended to end whatever was between them, but something changed his mind, and part of her—the stupid part—was glad he’d had a change of heart.

“No,” she breathed, “but…I thought we decided not to do this anymore.”

“If you want me to take you home after the race and walk away, I will.” He pressed the heel of his palm over her throbbing clit. “But I won’t pretend it’ll be easy.”

“How about we go home now? Or over there in the trees?” she said, her voice thick with desire. “Actually, I’m almost at the point where I don’t care if anyone sees us. How about here, now, over your bike?”

He pressed harder, his palm tracing a slow, agonizing circle around her clit. Her body tightened. Her sex squeezed. She gripped his shoulders and teetered on the edge of climax.

Then he walked away.

A thin whine escaped her and James grinned over his shoulder as he headed across the field to the dimly lit racetrack.

“Bastard,” she shouted, dipping her head so he couldn’t see her smile.

James spun around to face her and winked. “You have no idea.”

Half an hour later four motorcycles lined up on the tarmac behind a chalky white starting line. Cars dotted the runway, their lights illuminating the worn pavement of the rough oval the bikers had created for the race. Hay bales were stacked in the corners and stolen traffic cones marked the edges of the track.

The summer air was fresh and warm, and the bonfires from the kindling-filled barrels in the spectator’s area scented the air with the faint fragrance of cedar. Save for the orange glow of the city far in the distance, there were no lights visible from the field. No highways. No cars. No houses. No towers. They were in their own dark, dangerous world lit by fire and moonlight and the warm yellow glow of headlights.

The Hades crew had come prepared to party. Pickup trucks filled with beer kegs and snacks dotted the field. Bikers and their old ladies greeted Lana with warm welcomes and plastic cups filled with warm beer. While James prepped his motorcycle, Lana chatted with the people she knew and made a few new friends. Although a part of her was still wary about being around the bikers, she didn’t feel like she was acting a part. Here, tonight, she was Ice’s old lady and the knowledge warmed her from head to toe.

Of course he had put a watch on her. She was acutely aware of Ryder shadowing her every move. Kickstand had intervened when a drunken Diesel had fingered her curls. Spook and Slider flitted in and out of the crowd, appearing instantly at her side if anyone so much as brushed against her shoulder. She felt perversely safe.

Except from Rex.

Although she had only caught a glimpse or two of his blond ponytail and broad shoulders over the course of the evening, she felt his eyes on her everywhere she went. Had he recognized the tattoo? Jackie had put enough doubt in her mind to keep her from running, but she couldn’t afford to totally drop her guard.

She patted her pocket, checking to make sure her new minicam hadn’t fallen out during the ride. Jackie, a self-taught electronics expert, was still trying to retrieve the pictures of Rex and Portia from her lipstick camera. If Jackie hadn’t pointed out the race was yet another opportunity to get the pictures she needed for Angel, Lana would never have come. Not even for the chance to dress up in leather. But now that she was here, she was glad she had listened.

Lana joined a group thronged around Bones’s pickup truck. Always the life of the party, Jackie was at the center of the crowd, laughing it up with Diesel and Tally. Ryder leaned against the tailgate, arms crossed, watching her, his eyes glittering with amusement. Every so often Jackie would glance in his direction and give him a shy smile.