He gave her a salacious look and took the stairs two at a time to join her at the top. “Where do you think I learned my skills? I knew one day I would want to look up a milkmaid’s skirt, so I made sure I had lots of practice.”
“I’m not a milkmaid,” she huffed. “I’m a frisky fräulein.”
James pushed open the door to his room and ushered her inside with a firm hand against her back. “Well, frisky fräulein, you disobeyed my order to stay away from Rex and the clubhouse.” He slammed the door closed and slid the bolt with a loud thunk. “You’re going to need all that friskiness to pay the price for your disobedience, and I promise it’s going to be high.”
Breathless with anticipation, Lana forced herself to focus on the real reason she had come and backed up against the wall, out of his reach. “Before any prices are paid by frisky fräuleins, I have something important to tell you. There’s a mole in the DEU. He’s reporting to some guy who has met with Rex a few times. The guy told Rex there’s a rat in Hades. He offered to give a name for a price but Bones said it was you. Rex isn’t sure. He’s setting up a trap to catch the rat himself. He said it was on an island…Kirkland, I think.”
Other than a slight widening of the eyes, James appeared remarkably unperturbed. “I knew there had to be a mole. Every time I called in about a possible raid opportunity something went wrong. And Bones hasn’t made any effort to hide his suspicions about me. I’ve been waiting for them to set some kind of trap.”
Lana deflated. “I guess I didn’t need to risk your wrath after all.”
“You came to warn me.” His eyes warmed and he closed the distance between them. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate it. It goes some way toward mitigating your otherwise unacceptable behavior.”
He leaned his forearm against the wall, blocking her view of anything except him. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent, raw and masculine, leather and grease, with an ocean-breeze chaser.
“That’s a shame,” she whispered. “I was hoping we might put this frisky fräulein outfit to good use.” She bit her lip and whispered, “Willst du mit mir schlafen gehen?”
Her request for sex didn’t meet with the expected response. James scowled and an angry rumble rolled through his chest.
“Did someone at Oktoberfest say that to you?”
Lana’s cheeks burned and she bit her lip. “Mmmm-hmmm. Some guy outside the restroom. My friend Hans translated it for me.”
“You will never wear that outfit again, except in front of me. Is that clear?” He traced her lips with his thumb, then gently parted them. Lana’s insides quivered and she trembled.
“Crystal.” Warmed by his smile, Lana leaned up and tentatively brushed her lips over his. “You didn’t give me an answer.”
“That’s because I don’t have to.” In one swift, sudden motion he lifted her arms, pinning them over her head with one hand. His body pressed against hers, trapping her against the wall, his answer evident in the hard ridge of his erection pressed tight against her stomach.
Lana shivered uncontrollably. James had been the only lover to understand this side of her, to see her need to yield but not submit. The first time he’d fully restrained her had been the first time she had really let go. It had been the first time she’d ever trusted anyone enough to give up control. It had been the last night they’d been together.
A shudder racked her body. Too much. Too far. Too fast. They no longer shared that level of trust. Not even close.
“James…” Her words caught in her throat.
Somehow, he understood. Dropping her wrists, he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.” She bit her lip and drew in a ragged breath, remembering as she did the picture in his dresser drawer. “And it’s not just that. I can’t do this. You have someone. It’s not…right.”
Chest heaving, James pulled back and frowned. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
Her face flushed. “The girl. In the picture. In your drawer. I was looking around.” She grimaced and her cheeks reddened.
His mouth tightened and pain reflected in his eyes. But only for an instant. “She died ten years ago.”
Oh God. That’s what she got for snooping. Her heart swelled, ached. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up.”
“We’ll just add it to your list of misdeeds,” he said softly, his lips curving in a smile. He stroked the bloom of her cheek with his thumb. “Such a gentle heart for such a frisky fräulein.”