“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.”