“Again,” Cade shouted.
Dawn’s hand shook as she tried to aim the gun, but with the wind whipping around her, and Cade leaning so far forward she could barely hold on, she worried her aim was off. And if the bullet hit one of the men instead of the bike … “You need to get closer.”
“What the fuck do you think I’m doing? They’re almost at the border.” He kicked up the acceleration and Dawn gave up any further thoughts of shooting out Trey’s tires in favor of making it through the ride alive.
But although Cade was fast, he wasn’t fast enough. Jimmy and Trey shot across the Conundrum border and Cade slowed his bike, pulling up in the empty parking lot behind Big Bill’s Custom Cycles and Paint. CLOSED ON SUNDAYS.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. Dawn’s heart thudded against her rib cage, the beat matched by the throb of the pulse at the juncture of her thighs and the heated rush of blood through her veins.
When she was able to loosen her fingers from Cade’s cut, she slid off the bike. Cade followed suit, and then he turned to face her.
“What the fuck kinda shooting was that?” His voice rose in frustration. “When I give you an order, I expect it to be carried out right away.”
Shocked by his anger, a curious mix of adrenaline and desire boiling through her veins, she answered him back with the same vehement tone. “Don’t shout at me. I spent two days at a shooting range with Arianne. That’s all the experience I have. I couldn’t get a clear shot, and I didn’t want to take the risk I’d hit one of them. And I don’t take orders from you.”
His eyes glittered in the setting sun, his body quivering with unspent adrenaline. “If you’re gonna ride with a biker, you’re gonna have to suck it up. The man is the boss. And you’re gonna have to learn how to shoot in a straight fucking line.”
“I did the biker thing,” she spat out. “You saw how that turned out. I don’t know why I got on the back of your bike, but I’m sorry I did. I should have just taken the bus.” Her voice rose in pitch as she struggled against the conflicting needs to slap some sense into his thick, chauvinistic skull, and to tear off his clothes and soothe the ache between her thighs.
“Jesus Christ.” Cade whirled around and thudded his boot into the brick wall of the store. “Don’t be so damn difficult. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“Difficult? I don’t spend my time taking shooting lessons because I don’t want to shoot anyone. And this ride was a onetime thing. I’ve never been in position to act against Jimmy before, much less run him out of town. But it wasn’t an invitation to be bossed around.”
Damn it felt good to shout and stand up for herself without being afraid of the repercussions. Jimmy would have beaten her for much, much less. But Cade stared at her, feral hunger in his gaze, burning her with its intensity.
Then he turned and walked away.
“Where are you going?”
“Wound up too tight,” he muttered. “And you … that fire … those green eyes … your hair wild around your shoulders … fucking beautiful when you’re angry … too damn hot. Need to cool off.”
Caught in a maelstrom of emotion, adrenaline, and lust, Dawn heaved in a breath. “Cade Raider Tyson,” she shouted. “You get back here and fuck me right now.”
He stopped.
He turned.
And in less than five seconds he had his hand twined through her hair, his body pressed against her, his thick thigh between her legs, and his tongue down her throat.
She loved that about him. No questions. No second-guessing. No uncertainty. She wanted him and he was with her all the way.
“You don’t know what you’ve unleashed, sweetheart.” He sank his teeth into the sensitive spot between her neck and her shoulder and Dawn shuddered at the exquisite sensation.
“Yes, I do.”
He yanked open her jeans and shoved her up against the cold, brick wall, his face almost fully obscured by the lengthening shadows of the forest behind him. “Not gonna be gentle. Not gonna take my time. Need you so bad, I’m gonna fuck you hard and fast, so you’d better be ready for me.”
“If I wasn’t ready for you, Cade, I wouldn’t have asked.” She eased her jeans down over her hips, toeing off her boot to slide one leg free. God, if anyone came out here … But why would they? The shop was isolated and, thankfully, closed.
Cade pulled a condom from his back pocket and shoved down his jeans. “Didn’t hear much asking. Heard a sexy girl telling me she wanted my cock.”
“I didn’t…”
He grabbed her hair, tugged her head back, and cut her off with a kiss. Fierce. Demanding. Possessive. His tongue delved into her mouth and she tangled it with her own, savoring his taste.
With a low growl, he pulled away and sheathed himself, then slid his hands over her ass, cupping her cheeks as he lifted her against him.