“Ich kippe für die große Wurst warten.” She licked her lips and panted rapid breaths to keep her laughter at bay. She was telling the truth. Truly, she couldn’t wait for the big sausage.
His lips quivered but he didn’t even crack a smile. Maybe he didn’t understand German. Hell, how many people understood German? It would have to be her private little joke.
“Das wirst du noch bereuen,” James growled.
Lana sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes widened. What the hell had he said? Who the hell cared? Despite the harsh-sounding words, the sensual promise in his voice sent fire licking through her body. With a flash of unexpected insight, given her partially fuzzed brain, she suddenly realized the danger of being scantily clad, heavily intoxicated and speaking German with a furious and very hot James.
“He said you’re going to be sorry.” Ryder chuckled. “And that’s my cue to get back to my pretty little milkmaid.”
“You understand German too?” Her blood chilled when Ryder winked. Joke was on her.
“Thanks for bringing her. I owe you,” James said as Ryder made his way to the entrance.
Ryder laughed. “Ja sind Sie richtig!”
She and James studied each other in silence until the door slammed shut. Lana shifted her weight from foot to foot, trying to ease the pinch from her too-tight shoes. “What did he say?”
“He said ‘you’re right’.”
“So…how is it you both speak German?”
James shrugged. “My grandfather was from Germany. My family kept up the language and traditions. I didn’t know Ryder spoke German until now.”
“It’s his fault I’m here,” she lied quickly. “I had every intention of following your commands. No stepping foot in the clubhouse. No going near Rex. But as luck would have it, Jackie and I decided to go to summer Oktoberfest on the exact same day as Hades. Can you believe it?”
His scowl returned. So cute. “No.”
Lana forced her mouth into a frown. “You never were very trusting.”
“You never could lie to me,” he said dryly.
“I tried not to look at Rex,” Lana continued. “And I told Ryder I’d been forbidden to come to the clubhouse on pain of death. He insisted. He said you would want to see me. You’re lucky to have such a good friend.”
He folded his arms and his deep voice chilled. “You’re lucky I wasn’t there.”
“I was thinking that myself.” She lifted her gaze and froze. His mouth was a straight, thin line. Jaw tight. Eyes cold and hard. Maybe she had pushed him too far. Maybe he truly was done with her. Maybe he had someone upstairs…
Suddenly, she lost her nerve. “Actually, I had something to tell you and then I thought I’d head home. Get some sleep. Prepare for my day tomorrow that doesn’t involve this case, Rex or Hades.”
“Upstairs.”
Lana’s knees trembled. “Pardon me?”
“Now.” His body was tense, his face taut, the pulse at the base of his neck throbbing. A man about to lose control.
She drew in a ragged breath. If it was over, he would be sending her outside, not upstairs. His bedroom was upstairs. And his bed. And there was a door they could close. Hope flared in her chest. She prayed he had a drawerful of condoms because she hadn’t come prepared.
“Lana.” The authoritative look on his face and his unyielding tone made everything inside her turn liquid.
“James?” She shivered uncontrollably as a thrill of fear coursed through her body, unleashing an endorphin rush like nothing she had ever experienced before.
“Last time. Upstairs.”
“Or what?” she breathed, eyes wide with anticipation.
His merciless smile almost made her come right then. “Do you really want to test me?”
Yes!
No. Her rational mind reminded her they were alone in the clubhouse and he seemed to be a tad annoyed. And this wasn’t the James she knew. This was Ice. Rough, unpredictable and unrestrained.
With a sigh, she held her hands in the air. “Fine. I surrender. I’ll go upstairs.”
He grunted his approval. “Walk slowly. I want to watch your ass under that skirt.”
And just like that her tension disappeared. Her lips curled into a smile. No man could resist a woman in a dirndl skirt, and James apparently even less than most.
“Nice.” She stomped up the stairs, feigning annoyance, her Mary Janes announcing her presence with each clanging step.
“It certainly is. Especially from here.”
She looked back over her shoulder and spotted James at the bottom of the stairwell.
“How juvenile.” She snorted her derision. “I thought only teenage boys hid under the stairwell to peek up girls’ skirts.”