Rocky Ride (Thompson & Sons) (5 page)

One of Gary’s friends, Dustin, hit straight on and rose skyward, his bike catching air under the rims. He twisted the handlebars a few times for show before dropping toward the earth. Anna was hard on his backside, her lighter weight letting her rise even higher, propelled upward by the steep angle and her scorching-fast speed. Mitch sucked for air as she clung to the bars, but let her legs free from around the bike, shooting them out behind her to pause in a layout position.

A second later she’d hauled herself back onto the seat, but the touch of showboating had Mitch’s heart racing, a shout of delight torn from his lips to join the other riders’ hoots rising skyward.

Had he thought she was amazing? She was more than that, but he was also going to smack her ass for giving him a heart attack.

Which was not a bad thing to look forward to, all things considered. Imagining the sweet curves of her naked butt all rosy and heated under his palm made his groin tighten with anticipation.

The dim red light Mitch had seen in the trees grew stronger, mixed with flashing blue, and everyone in the field pulled to a stop as a police truck bounced its way along the rough access road. The headlights rocked like a drunken lightening bug steadily crawling forward.

Ah, fuck, what now?

Mitch pulled his helmet back on and rolled down the hill to where Gary was getting off his bike. They left their helmets behind and stepped forward to face the approaching cruiser.

“It was fun while it lasted.” Len strode from the shadows and joined them.

“Don’t worry,” Gary insisted. “There won’t be any trouble.”

Mitch folded his arms across his chest as the last person he wanted to see stepped from the RCMP driver’s side, pausing to adjust his hat. Anna’s sometime-partner Nick glanced around the strangely lit field, another constable emerging from the passenger side. “No, but it could get interesting,” Mitch muttered.

He wasn’t sure how Anna was going to react to this twist, but one thing was for certain, there was no keeping their decision to get involved a secret. Not with Nick the Nose pacing forward.

The man was a complete enigma to Mitch. Seemed nice enough, in a fake, squeaky-clean-yet-greasy kind of way. He showed up in the strangest places, at the strangest times, usually to give Mitch grief. Nick had an agenda, but damn if Mitch could figure it out.

The RCMP moved forward, a wide, insincere smile on his face. “You boys having a good time?”

Boys.
Fuck that.
Nick was maybe five years older than the group gathered.

“We were. You want to turn off the flashing lights?” Gary asked. “Makes the place look like a crime scene, and I don’t want Gramma Martin to get curious enough to come exploring through the fields on her ATV. She leaves gates open, and next thing we’ll be rounding up cattle in the dark.”

Nick ignored the request as he glanced over the group of bikes drawing nearer. “If you all have your registration and insurance, I’d appreciate you getting them out.”

“For real?” Len moaned.

“You can’t be serious,” Gary protested. “This is private property—”

“—and no one drove here or plans to leave from this location by crossing crown land?” Nick demanded.

“Nope. Every one of the bikes was transported as required by law.” Mitch gestured to the trailers, delighting in Nick’s visible dismay. The man wasn’t so cocky now that he’d discovered there was nothing illegal or immoral going on.

Nick tried again. “All off-road vehicles need to have front and rear lights—”

“They do.” Mitch cut him off. “Tough to see where you’re going in the dark without them.”

Mitch didn’t look away as Nick stared him down, tension rising. Yes, he’d been rude. No ruder than Nick, though.

Gary interrupted before Nick could speak again. “Look, this is my family land, and I cleared the group with my father. Did someone complain? Because there really shouldn’t be an issue.”

Nick shook his head, gesturing the other RCMP forward. “No complaints, just heard you were going to be here and thought it was a good chance to check…”

The rest of his words were drowned out as the final bike roared up to the gathering. Mitch fought to keep his approval from showing.

Anna skidded to a stop less than five feet from where Nick stood. She cut the engine, and in the contrasting silence someone snickered. The sound prodded Nick to straighten, becoming all official and looming.

“That bike is too large for you. I need some identification and proof of age,” he snapped at Anna. He spun toward the rest of the group. “Who’s responsible for this rider? All operators under fourteen must have an appropriately sized vehicle and be under the direct supervision of an adult.”

The situation was too tempting. Mitch shifted forward. “Well, hell, I volunteer to supervise her, but I’m pretty sure she’s over fourteen.”

Anna was off the bike and crossing the narrow gap toward her coworker, peeling off her helmet to reveal her long, brown hair.

“Anna?” Nick gasped.

“Nick.” She propped the helmet on her hip. “You trying to track me down?”

He shook his head, shock still painting his features.

She leaned around him and waved at the other RCMP. “Stewart. You guys are working late.”

Stewart finally spoke. “I’m on patrol tonight. Nick offered to join me.”

Anna glanced around at the group. “Any reason to keep them off their bikes? Most of these guys came from out of town, and I think they’d like to get in some more riding.”

Stewart cleared his throat. “No problems.” His smile was far more sincere than Nick’s as he turned to the riders. “You’re all good. Thanks for following the safety rules and have a great time tonight.”

He basically hauled Nick to the cruiser. The red and blue flashing lights clicked off as the truck edged back, then turned around in the high grass.

The gathered riders slowly scattered, Gary’s friends muttering amongst themselves. Anna stood in the spotlight of the retreating RCMP taillights, mud spattered over her jeans and jacket, and an unreadable expression on her face.

Mitch wanted to jump her right then and there, but he waited, torn between hope and fear.

Last thing he’d expected to happen—how was she going to take having Nick of all people show up the first time they went out in public?

The RCMP truck was just disappearing into the trees when Anna let out a shout nearly as loud as the roar of dirt-bike engines once again filling the night air. She faced Mitch with devil-may-care delight pouring from her in waves. “Well, then, I guess there’s no turning back now.”

Thank God. He stepped to her side and nudged her helmet. “I know a good way to work off some steam.”

Heat flashed in her eyes a second before she gave him a wink. “So you keep saying. I think I’m going to need some proof of that.”

Hell, yeah. Mitch calculated how soon they could get rid of Len and the bikes, and get back to his place.

Chapter Four

T
HE MATTRESS BOUNCED
under her, and Anna laughed, scrambling to recover quicker than Mitch could throw himself after her.

Too late. He caught her by the thigh and dragged her back, flipping her over and pinning her to the bed with his full strength. He hovered above her, his hands trapping her wrists on either side of her head. “God, woman, I want to do everything with you. Trying to decide what to do first is like delicious torture.”

“I gave you a list—
oh
…” Anna arched her back and rubbed her chest against him as he lightly bit her neck. “That’s nice. You can keep doing that.”

His lips were soft on her skin, his breath teasing her cheek. “Your list is perfect, and dirty, but I need to add a few things. Things I think you’d have put on there if you’d thought of them.”

“Hmm, okay.” As long as he kept touching her she wasn’t going to complain. She turned her lips toward him as he licked a path to her mouth. “If I don’t like it, I’ll tell you.”

Their mouths in contact, breaths mingling as he spoke. “You’ll like it.”

A lazy, thorough kiss followed that had her relaxing back onto his bed. Mitch stretched her hands over her head, locking his fingers around both her wrists as he pressed their torsos together even tighter. With his free hand he teased a trail down her arm, lingering over her breast before tugging her shirt free from her pants. Cool fingers stroked up and over her waist until he cupped a breast in his palm.

The kiss continued, slow and seemingly casual except for how much attention he gave to her every reaction. Easing off at the right moment, pressing for more the next. Even with their lips connected, he got her shirt unbuttoned, her bra loosened off. His thumb teased out a wicked response as her nipple beaded tight under his expert touch.

Contentment rolled through as he released her, pulling her shirt and bra free and tossing them to the floor.

“Well, that was a great appetizer. What’s the main course?” Anna stroked the front of his shirt, circling her fingertips over the small buttons. Naked from the waist up, yet at complete ease with him.

Mitch put his hands to his belt, grin widening. “First, I need this.”

Oh
God
. “I need that too,” Anna teased, eyeing the bulge in the front of his jeans. “Hmm, where’s the beef?”

He laughed. “You don’t get my cock yet, greedy woman, although I’m looking forward to seeing your lips wrapped around me before the night is over. Right now I need my belt.”

Belt?
“Oh, I don’t know about—”

“Uh-uh,” he warned. Mitch pulled the leather free even as Anna curled upward. “Don’t assume. If you don’t like the things I do you tell me to stop, but wait and see before you make a judgment call. Now lie down.”

She eased back on the bed, obeying him but not certain this was a great idea. “Mitch…”

He wrapped the belt around her wrists, leaning over to once again extend her arms over her head. This time when he let go she remained trapped, the strong leather firmly attached to the headboard. Laid out like an erotic banquet before him as he took a slow, ravenous examination of every single inch.

An involuntary shiver rippled over her skin, hard enough to rock the bed.

He pressed his lips to her cheek briefly. “See? You’re enjoying this. Ready for the next thing?”

Her mouth had gone dry, and licking her lips did nothing to ease the tension. Her heart rate had doubled, maybe tripled, just from watching his expression. The hunger in his eyes was so intense, so focused as he kept his gaze fixed on her at all times.

She gave up on talking and nodded.

He undid the button on her waistband, his knuckles brushing against her stomach. She sucked in a quick gasp, a beat of desire pulsing deep inside as he pulled down her zipper and tugged the pants over her hips.

“God, you and your sexy underwear.” Mitch shook his head, nostrils flaring as he took a deep, satisfied breath. “Every time I see you in your uniform I picture this—see-through fabric, deep red against your skin. Lace and frills under your starched and stiff formal outfit.”

“Undressing me in your head, are you?”

He leaned over her until there was no way she could miss the heated expression on his face. “Every. Damn. Time.”

Anna helped, lifting her hips as he pulled her panties free, and then she was bare before him. Completely naked, tied in place, and wondering what came next.

He stripped down and joined her, her gaze greedily taking in the feast of manhood on display while he remained standing. The tats on his arms created full sleeves of fiery crimson and deep orange. Flames licked from shoulders to wrists, nearly as hot as the man himself. The fire pattern continued over his back and chest, morphing into chain links draped over his torso that came alive between the ink shading and his flexing muscles.

She never questioned him about the design before, although she’d wondered.

“Why the chains?” she asked as he crawled onto the mattress next to her. The heat from his skin was hot enough to brand her as he tugged their bodies together. “What are you keeping caged?”

Mitch’s expression turned thoughtful even as he continued to caress her, slipping his fingers over her hip and cupping her ass. The hard length of his cock was trapped between them, her breasts crushed against his rock-solid chest. Her arms were still stretched over her head, adding a harsher, more dangerous edge to the entire setting.

“I’d never thought of that,” Mitch confessed. “Of caging a beast or anything. The chains are a reminder that simple things are important.”

That’s all he said before his lost-in-thought haze sharpened and he looked her in the eye. His hand drifted lower, off her ass, and he tugged her thigh over his hip.

The position left her wide open and vulnerable, the cooler air swirling around them connecting with the hot moisture of her sex. “You’ve barely touched me and I’m already dying to have you inside me,” she confessed.

He snuck his fingers lower, stroking past the crack of her ass, lingering where she was longing for him to get to work. “You’re wet. I like that. Only I bet you’re going to be wetter in a minute. Keep your leg over my hip,” he ordered.