Race to Redemption (5 page)

Chapter Seven

Alone in the bathroom she splashed water on her face and stared hard at her reflection in the mirror. Very softly she said, “Get your act together, girl. Maybe he wasn’t behind the crash, but he’ll still get you kicked out of the race if he finds out the truth.” Taking a few deep breaths she fluffed her hair, fixed her skirt, and went back out into his room.

She wanted to be in control, she wanted to show him a cool, confident woman, but when she came out of the bathroom and found him without his shirt her heart leapt into her throat and all she could do was stare.

Breathe
, she told herself.
You’re in charge here, act like it.

“That’s not fair,” she said. He turned to face her and the chiseled abs and chest were even hotter than the muscled back. “You got to undress me last night.”

“Do you want me to put it back on?” he teased, his eyes twinkling.

“No need, I’ll just have to make do.”

His eye brows shot up. “Make do? Is that what you think of me?” The smile teased the corner of his lips.

“No, that’s what I think of your shirt. Now move it, Mr. Hot Shot Race Car Driver, into bed and no touching.”

He made a grab for her and caught her waist, making her yelp. “I don’t know if I can keep my hands off your perfect body. You look stunning in that dress, by the way.” He tried to wrap her in his arms tight against his chest but she pushed away.

“Flattery will get you nowhere. Into bed and if you touch before I tell you it’s okay I’ll find something to tie you to the bed with.”

“Ooh, I didn’t think you were into that sort of thing,” he teased. “Do you have a whip in your purse too?”

“I’m sure you’d love that. I thought the bad boy image was all rumour.”

“I said mostly rumour.” He settled on the bed. “Boyd paid my bail when I got picked up for street racing at eighteen and stuck me in a stock car.”

“Sounds dangerous,” she said, crawling into bed after him.

“The bookies and gangs and rival drivers were a lot scarier than the actual driving. I mean street racing isn’t that different from oval track—you just have more obstacles and fewer rules. Out on the street you actually had to be careful that a rival driver didn’t mess up your car.”

“I wouldn’t mention that to my brother or he’ll never believe you didn’t sabotage him.”

“You know, your brother Brant sounds like a real piece of work.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” she muttered. Then she kissed him once to shut him up and again because it felt good. “Lay back so I can explore.”

I can’t argue with that.” His smile was lazy and just a touch cocky and she kissed him because she loved that grin so much already.

He settled back against the plain wooden head board as she kissed his stubble roughened cheek and chin and rubbed her nose against it, enjoying the sensation on her soft skin. She kissed the side of his neck and the hollow of his throat beneath his Adam’s apple then along the ridge of his collar bone. She nipped at his shoulder and straddled him, tracing her fingers down the muscle lines of his chest.

He loved the way her fingers felt soft and rough at the same time as they wandered across his skin, and the line of black along the edges of her nails that meant she was often roped into helping with her brother’s car. But Brant Bye was the last thing Trey wanted to be thinking about so he returned his full attention to the brunette angel on his lap.

She flicked her tongue over his nipple, her feelings in a jumble. Curiosity wanted to explore his body, passion and desire were demanding she rush in and simply enjoy the carnal pleasures he offered, and intimacy wanted to slow down and make something romantic and meaningful out of the whole beautiful, wondrous experience. Doubt, however, had been silenced the second she had seen him without his shirt. Whatever else was going on in her life could wait, she could question and analyze and poke holes later. For now being in his bed, in his arms, was all she needed.

To buy herself a moment she shrugged out of her top, tossing it to the floor and helping him out of his jeans.

He groaned. “You’re killing me. Why can’t I touch? I want to feel your skin.”

She shook her head and shot him a wicked grin. She cupped her breasts in her hands and tossed her head back as she touched and caressed herself.

“Stop, please. Oh, god Chloe, that’s so fucking hot.” He reached out to touch her but she caught his hand and brought it to her mouth. He watched as she took the tip of his finger in her mouth, sucked lightly, and drew it out with agonizing slowness. She repeated the motion on his other three fingers before turning to his thumb. This time she took his whole thumb in her mouth, swirling her tongue around it before drawing it slowly out of her mouth.

“And that’s for teasing me yesterday,” she said.

“You win,” he said, breathing hard. “Anything you want, I swear it.”

“I like the sound of that.” She raked her finger nails lightly down his chest leaving faint pink lines. Her fingers closed around his cock and his eyes fluttered shut. He leaned his head back in surrender to whatever pleasure she chose to give him.

Taking advantage of his closed eyes she slipped from his lap and struggled out of her skirt and panties while her one hand massaged his cock. There was no sexy way out of a skirt once you were straddling a guy and she was relieved he hadn’t seen her hook her panties on the heel of her shoe in her rush to get the one off without removing the other. Her bra was much easier and when she straddled him again she was naked except for a pair of navy high heels.

He felt her bare ass settle on his lap and his eyes snapped open, taking in smooth tanned skin with no lace to interrupt the curves. He shuddered. “God, you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“I could say the same about you.” She smiled and ran her free hand flat palmed over his chest.

She raised herself up and their eyes locked. Staring into each other’s eyes a subtle, unspoken challenge arose and she lowered herself slowly onto him and watched desire play across his feature turning a softly handsome face into something primitive and purely sexual. She couldn’t decide which was more attractive. She kissed him hard and took him all the way inside.

She broke off the kiss too soon for his liking and quickly made it up to him. She stretched, tangling her hands in her hair, and arching her back. She rode him with reckless abandon, her body an exotic and erotic show and as much as he wanted to touch her, steady her, encourage her, he kept his hands by his side and let her pleasure them both.

When he couldn’t stand it any longer he whispered, “Please. Please, Chloe let me touch you. Please, you’re torturing me.”

She opened her eyes and he expected to see mischief in them. Instead there was pure, nameless emotion, raw, unfiltered, and all he could do was stare into the depths of her eyes until he came to the earth shattering realization that she loved him. More than her brothers, more than rumours, more than secrets, more than suspicions, she loved him. And he knew in that instant that he loved her just as much. No racing rivalry, no sabotage, and no over-protective brothers would keep him away from Chloe. Anything she asked he would do, without question, and he knew, somehow, that if he asked, really asked, for anything she would give it without hesitation.

As emotions and promises passed unspoken between them she whispered, “Touch me.”

They moved slowly at first, every touch of his hands or rocking of her hips softened by the intensity of what they had shared. With her hands braced against his chest and his hands caressing her breasts and thighs she rode him, unable to look away from his face.

Emotional intensity soon became physical intensity and she bowed her head as passion and pleasure built inside her. With every thrust and every caress she felt herself drawing closer and closer to her sweet release.

As beautiful as she was and as much as he loved her he couldn’t keep the mischievous thoughts from his mind. With a wicked smile he placed his hands on her breasts, subtly bracing him, and then he bucked his hips, driving himself deep inside her and throwing her off balance.

She squeaked and her eyes snapped open. She glared at him and he just smirked back at her. “Yes?”

“I was getting close and you threw me off.”

Honest to the point of being blunt. He loved it. “I’m sorry. By all means, continue.”

It didn’t take long for Chloe to rekindle the heat in the pit of her stomach and she moaned in eager anticipation, her hands going to her throat as her chin tipped up and…

She fell forward, her hands dropping to his chest, a ragged gasp escaping her throat. Glaring was an understatement and the wide-eyed innocent look on his face when she knew that he knew full well what he’d done only aggravated her further.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, a little too sweetly.

She growled, grabbed a pillow, and slammed it down on his face. He knocked it away, spluttering in surprise. “You know exactly what’s wrong!”

“Let me help.” Without waiting for an answer he flipped her over, her yelp of surprise making his body burn with feral desire, and started pumping in and out of her, his self-control frayed to the point of snapping completely.

She started to protest, she even started to push away, but then she muttered, “Oh god, yes,” and surrendered to him. Her climax, which she had been denied twice already, built quickly and before he could even think of pausing to draw her pleasure out even longer she hit the peak and tumbled down. The intensity of her release made her back arch and she grabbed fistfuls of sheet, twisting them as she withed beneath him. His every thrust strengthened her climax, keeping her in that place of intensity until she couldn’t breathe and she struggled to escape him.

He bent over her, trapping, and said, “Not yet. I’m not done yet.”

When she finally managed to draw in a ragged breath she whimpered, “Enough, please.”

He wouldn’t stop. She felt too good, she was just too gorgeous, all mussed and desperate, and he was too far gone to even care. Her back arched as another wave rolled over her and still he continued. Finally, when she started slowing down and her breathing was coming in desperate ragged gasps instead of not at all, he reached his climax and collapsed on the bed beside her.

“Evil,” she muttered, still panting.

“You looked like you enjoyed yourself,” he muttered back.

“Did you ever hear of too much of a good thing?”

“Shush. You loved every minute of it.”

She could tell he was already drifting off to sleep. “I can’t stay the night,” she whispered.

“I know. I love you anyway.”

“Do you really?”

“What?”

“Love me?”

“Of course. Foolish woman.”

She smiled at him, watching him drift off into sleep, and then dressed and returned to her own room.

Chapter Eight

Seth, Chloe, and Rueben went down to the garage the next morning, no one saying a word about the extra-large coffee Chloe was toting along with her, or the sun glasses she was wearing to hide the bags under her eyes.

Who knew having a steady relationship would be so exhausting?
she thought as she took another sip of the piping hot, caffeinated beverage.

Seth was doing a visual inspection of the car, looking for signs that someone else had been in there tampering with it. Finally he said, “Well, it looks okay, but I won’t know for sure until I get under the hood. I’ll give her a tune up while I’m under there, and then we’ll be ready for those practice laps Brant demanded.”

Rueben was about to answer when his cellphone rang and he wandered off across the shop to answer it. Chloe shook her head, grateful she wasn’t Brant’s business manager. She’d never be able to deal with all the big shot sponsors or the super-strict racing officials, or idiotic airline staff who always seemed to answer the phone when they were in a rush. She looked back at Seth who was still rooting through his tool box.

“I can’t find my…” he stopped suddenly.

“Found it?” Chloe asked.

“No. I found these.” He held up a pair of sunglasses that Chloe instantly recognized. And anyone who knew Trey Williams would recognize the oversized black framed mirror tinted sunglasses too.

Chloe’s mind was racing.
Trey was in the dining room, arguing with Brant when I came down. Was he wearing the sunglasses? What about in his room last night? He wasn’t wearing them. Did I see them anywhere? The entryway table? The bathroom? Think, Chloe.

Chloe’s mouth was dry as she said, “Who do those belong to? None of us wear stupid shades like those.”

“They look an awful lot like the ones Trey Williams was wearing the other day.”

“Oh, now you sound like Brant. Do we have any real proof it was Trey Williams? Probably two hundred people in New York City alone own a pair of sunglasses like that. And that’s a very small estimate. They could belong to anyone.”

“Anyone? Chloe, how many people have a reason to want Brant out of this race?”

“How many drivers are registered?” she countered. “If Brant wins he takes every single one of them down a rank. That’s a pretty big deal to a lot of people, not just Trey. Other racers, managers…”

“Hey,” Reuben said, walking over. “Aren’t those Trey’s sunglasses?”

Seth shot Chloe a smug smile. “That’s what I said. He must have come down here sometime last night. I’ll really have to check the car over carefully now. I don’t think we’ll have a chance for practice laps but at least we’ll know the car’s safe. I told Brant he should have kept his mouth shut. I need to get to work.”

Reuben had been working for Brant, and therefore with Seth, for long enough to recognize when he was being told to leave, so he grabbed Chloe by the coat sleeve and led her out while she silently seethed. Once out of the shops Chloe shook free of Rueben, and for a moment considered turning around and marching right back into the shop to tell Seth just what Trey Williams had been doing all evening. Then sense beat out anger and a better plan quickly took shape in her mind.

“Reuben, I have a really big favour to ask of you. I need you to look into something without my brothers finding out.”

“Am I going to regret this?”

She smiled sweetly, knowing that Reuben had always viewed her as a sweet kid sister, and said, “Of course you won’t regret it. I just know that you’re not as stubborn and closed minded as my brothers.”

“Flattery, Chloe?” He raised both eyebrows in mock surprise.

“No,” she wheedled. “It’s the truth. Come on, it’s just a few phone calls, gathering a little gossip…”

“This is about Trey Williams, isn’t it? Chloe, you’re asking me to go against your brothers on this one and in a big way. If Brant found out I was sniffing around looking for proof that Trey
wasn’t
the one who sabotaged him…”

“Then look for proof that it was him. Someone must have seen him leave the hotel after arguing with Brant, after everyone in that dining room would have seen the fight. Or maybe someone saw him walk in here. Then you’re doing what Brant would want you to do.”

“And you believe that in trying to proof it was him I’ll end up proving it wasn’t him?” He still sounded skeptic.

“If you find proof, and I mean definite, beyond a shadow of a doubt, take it to the cops and press charges proof, that it was Trey Williams, I’ll help the cops arrest him.”
I’ll do a hell of a lot more than that.
“Until then, I’ll keep an open mind that this might have been someone else. Would you be willing to do the same?”

He sighed. “I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything, and no, I don’t want to know. If I don’t know I can’t tell Brant and he’s got a way of knowing when I’m keeping a secret from him. All right, I’ll ask around and see what I can find out. But I’m not making any promises, Chloe.”

“It’s a deal. Well, if I’m not needed for the rest of the day, I’ll just go back to the hotel, maybe check on Brant, and then go see if my friend is free for a little shopping or a movie marathon or something.”

“Fine. But keep your phone handy, and don’t go missing this time, all right?”

“Sure thing Rueben. Call me if you find something, either way.” She waved and jogged off to catch a cab back to the hotel.

* * * *

Brant was sleeping when she got back to the hotel so after stopping to change into something provocative she went up to see if Trey was free for the afternoon. She knocked on his door and waited. And waited. Finally, when she started to feel like standing there in the hallway would make her look like a moron she knocked again.

There was the sound of movement and then a muffled, “Who is it?”

“Room service,” she called back.

“You’ve got the wrong room.”

“Come out here and say that to my face.”

The door swung open and his eyes went wide when he saw her.

“We sound like a bad movie,” she said, grinning. “You wouldn’t happen to have some time to spare for a lonely girl with nothing to do for about four hours?” She batted her eyes at him and smiled her sweetest smile. She might have managed to look innocent except that it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra and she’d put on the skirt she’d felt too self-conscious to wear to the club.

His eyes moved down her body then back up in one long, slow, appreciative motion. “You are certainly welcome any time. Now get in here before someone thinks I’ve taken to calling hookers.”

“Hooker!” she squeaked as he pulled her into the room. She swatted him with her purse. “Hooker? How dare you call me…”

The kiss silenced her and then it turned her knees to jelly. When he released her she wobbled and grabbed the table for support. She gave him a dazed, happy, look and smiled. “I’m still angry.”

“I’ll take my chances. You don’t look anything like a hooker, by the way. I thought you’d be helping your brother at the track today.”

“Change of plans,” she said, not wanting to mention the glasses and risk ruining a perfectly delightful afternoon.
Let Brant and Seth be suspicious and let Rueben do the digging. I’m going to enjoy myself for once, consequences be damned.

“Well then, I guess I’m the lucky one.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. Somehow they made their way to the bed and Chloe quickly forgot about brothers and race cars and sabotage.

Their first time was quick and then they snuggled in together to catch up on their sleep. When they woke he dragged her off to the shower to rinse off. Washing turned to foreplay and he chased her out of the bathroom without letting her towel off. She was still amazed he managed to get the water turned off.

They rolled about, exploring each other’s bodies and enjoying light-hearted, mutually satisfying sex until Chloe caught sight of the clock and swore. They had finished, again, and were taking turns nibbling ticklish spots. Chloe slipped from the bed and went on the prowl for her clothing.

“Good luck with that,” Trey said. “There wasn’t much of it and the bed sheets have ended up on the floor as well.”

“You could help!”

He sighed. “Fine. Oh, you can have your bra back from the other day. It’s hanging in the bathroom.”

“I thought you’d keep it for a trophy.”

“I was going to. I’ll keep you instead.” He came up with a skirt and tossed it to her.

“Trey, I know this is definitely going somewhere, and I have no regrets but…” she hesitated.

He peeked over the bed at her. “Trust, Chloe. We promised.”

“I have to help my brother with that race tomorrow. He’ll never believe I’m on top of my game if he knows I’m sleeping with the enemy.”

“Enemy?”

“Figure of speech.”

“So what exactly are you getting at?”

“Well, we’ve managed to keep things a secret thus far. All I’m asking is that we be discreet for a little longer.”

“You want to keep us a secret.”

“Hey! I did just say I had no regrets about falling in love with you.”

“Are you in love with me?”

She laughed.

“What? It’s a serious question.”

“I know. It’s just that I asked you the same question last night.”

“When?”

“After sex! You told me you loved me. And then you called me a foolish woman.”

“Oh. Well, I guess I get more honest when I’m tired.”

Her eye brows arched.

“Sometimes? Sometimes I get more honest when I’m tired. Sometimes I talk nonsense.”

“Then I guess we’re in love.” She crawled across the bed, half dressed, leaned over the edge and kissed him. “I just don’t want Brant to force us apart.”

He sighed. “All right, Chloe. Until this race is over I promise to keep this relationship a secret. But I’m not going to like it. I love you and I don’t care who knows it.”

“I’ll owe you a very big one. I promise.”