Faster Harder (8 page)

“I just think the whole secret weapon thing is a shady move
on McClain’s part,” Charlie says, “It’s not playing fair, keeping him all
cloistered away from us while he trained. Part of this sport is knowing the
other drivers in your race, that’s how strategy is built.”

“I know how strategy is built, Charlie,” I say shortly, “And
frankly, I think McClain has a pretty great one with Harrison.”

“First name terms, huh?” Charlie asks.

“Look,” I say, “You might be settled in your little macho
rut of acting like an asshole to anyone who’s halfway decent at this sport, but
I’m not. Why don’t you put on your big girl panties and start acting like an
adult.”

“Where are you going?” Charlie asks as I stand up from the
bar.

“I’m going to congratulate my friend on a great preliminary,
and offer my condolences for Naughton,” I say, “You got a problem with that?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you company,” Bex tells Charlie,
laying a calming hand on his arm, “Send McClain our best.”

My heart begins to pound against my ribcage as I weave
through the tightly-packed bar. Harrison and his crew have settled down in a
booth in the far corner of the space, away from prying eyes. Perfect. I walk
past the McClain booth, pretending to be headed somewhere else entirely. But in
no time, they’ve spotted me on their own.

“Look who it is!” Andy calls as I approach.

“Hey Siena!” Cora says, beckoning me over to their table.

Harrison smiles knowingly as I approach. I wonder if he’s
seen through my little ruse already? I smile back gamely and scoot into the
booth beside Sara.

“Hey you guys,” I say, “Glad I ran into you.”

“So are we,” Sara says. I ignore Shelby’s disinterested
expression and accept the warm greeting anyway.

“Quite a day for McClain,” I go on, “I’m so sorry about what
happened to Naughton. Are you all holding up OK?”

“It’s sweet of you to ask,” Cora says, “Everyone’s a little
shaken up, but we’re hanging in there. It’s the risk all the drivers take, you
know?”

“Do I,” I say, my mind straying back to my own family, “I
can’t imagine having one of our drivers get seriously injured like that. What’s
Naughton’s status?”

“He’s pretty banged up,” Andy tells me, “But he’s no longer
in critical condition. He’ll pull through, but he’s out of the tournament for
sure.”

“Which means that McClain’s got a new superstar, eh?” I say,
looking pointedly at Harrison.

“So it would seem,” he says, “Personally, I would have
preferred to see Naughton happily retired before I took his place, but things
don’t always pan out the way we’d prefer.”

Like getting all hot and bothered over a bad boy race car
driver who happens to be your brother’s competition? Yeah. I think I know the
feeling.

“Your drink is looking a little empty there, Siena,”
Harrison goes on, “Shall we do something about that?”

“Sure,” I say, sidling back out of the booth.

“Shouldn’t you be getting some shut eye?” Shelby asks
pointedly, “I’m sure you’ve got a long day ahead of you tomorrow. The media’s
going to want to know all about how your driver is taking Harrison’s success.”

A white hot charge of anger gushes through me. It’s all I
can do to keep my tongue in check. I don’t know what this girl has against me,
but her attitude is getting on my last frayed nerve.

“Our driver is a professional, and so am I,” I tell her,
“It’s an important attribute to cultivate, professionalism. Just a little tip.”

Andy cackles as I turn away from the McClain table. I can
practically feel the daggers in Shelby’s gaze as I walk away. Harrison lays a
hand on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowded room toward the
bar. And though his touch is all I want in the world right now, I have to keep
my distance from him.

“I don’t mean to be forward,” Harrison says, surprised by my
flinching away, “Well, that’s a bloody lie, actually. I always mean to be
forward.”

“This isn’t exactly the most private environment,” I point
out.

“Are we looking for somewhere private?” Harrison asks, “I,
for one, am completely in favor of that course of action. Who knew Italian
American girls were so insatiable?”

“Oh, good. Sweeping generalizations. Precisely the way to a
girl’s heart,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Listen—why don’t you get me another
drink and meet me somewhere we can talk. Alone.”

“Your place or mine?” he smiles.

“Neither,” I say, “There’s a path down to the beach behind
the hotel. I’ll meet you there. OK?”

“I’ve never heard of anything more OK in my life,” Harrison
says.

I dart away from him, my face flushed. Every single word out
of those full, gorgeous lips gets me more riled up. How can I be so turned on
and so flustered by the same person? This whole going after someone I actually
dig thing is quite the trip.

Making sure to stay way out of Charlie’s range of vision, I
beat a quick path through the bar and out onto the open terrace beyond. I skirt
past wickedly attractive men and women, the cream of the F1 crop, and finally
start along the sandy path that leads down to the beach. The sea opens up before
me, a deep black abyss in the dark of night. During the day, the water is a
clear, cheerful blue; but with only the stars and moon hanging above, and the
reflected light of innumerable bars and hotels along its shore, it’s inky
black.

I wrap my arms around my waist, thankful for the warm breeze
off the water. The salty spray whips my curls, and I close my eyes to enjoy a
moment of relative quiet. These tournaments are so chaotic, so noisy and
crowded, that this rare moment of peace is something very special. Now if only
my racing heart would quiet down, too.

The soft shuffle of footsteps in the sand catches my
attention. I peer over my shoulder and see Harrison Davies making his way
toward me on the beach. He’s got a fresh drink in each hand, and offers me one
with an endlessly charming smile.

“It’s dangerous, you know,” he says, “Standing out here,
looking as beautiful as you do. Someone with less than noble intentions could
wander by at any time.”

“Someone like you?” I ask.

“I’m hurt!” he says with a theatrical pout, “My intentions
are as noble as they come. I intend to spend as much time with you as possible
during this tournament of ours, and make you very glad of it along the way.”

My imagination flashes through a dozen fantasies of Harrison
making me glad. I have to wrestle my mind away from thoughts of his ripped,
naked body on mine and back to the present moment.

“About that, Harrison...” I begin.

“Oh dear,” he says, sipping his cocktail, “That’s never a
good start. It seemed like you enjoyed my company enough last night. Did I
misinterpret something between us?”

“Not at all,” I say, laying a hand on Harrison’s sculpted
arm, “Last night was...well, incredibly hot, to be frank.”

“I thought so too,” he says, placing a hand on my hip.

“However,” I continue, stepping out of our loose embrace.

“You’re trying to kill me with these ‘however’s’,” he
groans, running a hand through his wind-tossed hair.

“However,” I repeat, “You weren’t entirely honest with me at
the club.”

“Wasn’t I?”

“You conveniently failed to mention the fact that you’re
McClain’s secret weapon,” I tell him, “Call me crazy, but that seems like
pretty pertinent information.”

“I never lied to you, Siena,” he says, “I told you that I
worked for McClain, and I do. I may have failed to mention the exact nature of
my employment...”

“It’s called a lie of omission, Harrison,” I say.

“Well, you would know,” he shoots back.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow
at him.

“Just that you’re being very touchy about me not being entirely
honest with you after knowing you for all of twenty minutes,” he says, tossing
back the rest of his drink and placing the empty glass down in the sand.
“Especially considering the fact that you, my dear, have not been entirely
honest with me.”

“I haven’t lied to you either,” I insist.

“Is that right, Miss Lazio?” he asks, the corner of his
mouth twisting upwards.

I stare at him blankly for a long moment, unable to
formulate any sort of comeback.

“How did you...How do you know my full name?” I ask.

“Aha,” Harrison smiles, taking a step toward me, “So you
admit, you were hiding something from me, too.”

“I was...It was just easier not to mention it,” I say,
setting my glass down beside Harrison’s. God, what I wouldn’t give for another
one of those right about now.

“I agree,” Harrison says, “It was far easier not to mention
my little secret, as well.”

“When did you figure out who I was?” I ask.

“Long before you walked into that club last night, that’s
for sure,” he laughs.

“What?”

“Come now, Siena,” he says, running his hands down along my
bare arms. “With all the research you do, scoping out your brother’s
competition, don’t you think I’ve done a spot of my own? You’re not exactly an
invisible presence on the team.”

“That’s not how it feels,” I tell him, as goose bumps spring
up along the trail of his light touch.”

“You can’t really think that,” he says, taking my hands in
his, “You can’t truly believe that someone as beautiful as you could ever be
relegated to the background?”

“You don’t have to flatter me, Harrison,” I tell him, “You
know I’m already attracted to you.”

“I don’t believe in flattery,” he tells me, “I believe in
speaking my mind. And in letting my body do the speaking itself, sometimes.”

“Is that so?” I breathe, the proximity of Harrison’s beautiful
lips knocking every rational thought from my mind.

“Indeed,” he says, “It’s something you should try more
often, Siena. I get the sense that you’re not accustomed to giving yourself
over to your more...inhibited desires.”

“I’m not accustomed to desiring someone like this,” I tell
him truly.

“God, that’s sexy,” he says, “Knowing that you want me as
much as I want you.”

He tucks a stray curl back behind my ear and closes the
space between us. I lay my hand on the firm panes of his chest, looking desperately
up into those endless blue eyes. We’re utterly alone out here, suspended
between the earth and sky with no witness save the sea itself. What I wouldn’t
give to let myself go, to give myself up to him here on the shore. Every cell
in my body is screaming with want of him, but my roaring mind is just as loud.

“Harrison, wait,” I plead, as his arms circle my waist.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, “Did I say something—?”

“No, it’s not that,” I say quickly, “It’s just...How can we
do this?”

“Easy. Let me show you,” he smiles, lowering his lips toward
mine.

“No, I mean...You know who I am. I’m a Lazio. My family
would be furious if they knew I was out here with you. You’re the competition,
Harrison.”

“I’m your brother’s competition,” he says, running his hands
along my exposed back. “But what does that matter? To you, I’m just a man. A
man who happens to be insatiably attracted to you.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” I tell him, “I can’t just
separate being a woman from being a Lazio, you know?”

“Perhaps you’ve just never had reason to try?” Harrison
says, pulling me to him.

I gasp as I feel his pulsing desire hard against me. I’ve
never wanted anything so badly in my life. A deep, throbbing pressure builds in
my very core, and I know that only one thing will satisfy me now. I press
myself to Harrison’s chest, and the aching desire reaches a pitch to rival the
crashing waves.

“God, you don’t make it easy for a girl to resist you,” I
whisper.

“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” Harrison tells
me, his voice rasping with lust, “If you tell me to stay the hell away from
you, I will. If you tell me to lay you down right here and show you just how
badly I want you...Oh, how I will.”

“Show me,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around his broad
shoulders, “Please...”

My plea has barely left my lips when his mouth finds mine.
His strong arms take me up, and I melt against his powerful body. I open myself
to him, savoring the taste of his kiss. My breasts billow against his hard
chest, straining at the thin green fabric of my dress. Harrison’s hands work
their way down my back, cupping my ass, pulling me hard against his
ever-growing desire.

As one, we fall to our knees in the sand. I slide my hands
up under his black tee shirt, letting my fingers play along with ridges of his
defined, cut muscles. His lips find the tender skin of my neck, kissing me all
over. He lets his mouth graze across my skin, salty with sea air. Down along my
collarbone, onto my heaving chest. I hold my breath as he tugs down the thin
straps of my dress, sliding the garment down off my shoulders. I lean into his
embrace as the dress falls away from my breasts, exposing my lacy black bra.

“God damn, Siena,” he growls, taking in the sight of me
kneeling before him in the sand, “How was I ever supposed to stay away from
you?”

“Who asked you to stay away?” I whisper, letting my hands
trail down along the length of his body. “As long as we can keep this a secret
between us...”

“Oh, I think we can manage that,” he smiles, “God knows,
it’s a secret worth protecting with everything I’ve got.”

I gasp as he lowers his lips to my chest, kissing along the
delicate boundaries of my bra. All I want is for him to peel every last stitch
off my body, but I know that we have to take things slowly. This is uncharted
territory for me, and I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew. Still,
that doesn’t mean we can’t have a bit of fun.

I push Harrison’s shoulders back, lowering him down onto the
sand. He grins up at me in the dim moonlight, his blue eyes sparkling with lust
and mischievous glee. I straddle his hips, planting my knees in the soft sand.
I can feel him hard against me, right where I want to feel him most. That place
between my legs is crying out for him, pulsing with barely restrained need.
All in due time
, I
tell myself,
all in
due time
.