Race for Redemption Read online

  “Don’t hold back, babe, go with the flow,” he whispered.

  Her hair was splayed out on the bed…her head shaking from side to side. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire. It vibrated with a desire she had no control over. She wanted him just that much.

  “I can’t,” she moaned.

  “Yes, you can. More than once. I can guarantee that,” he said, adding another finger to the other one that was already inside of her, using the palm of his hand to press down on her mound. “Come for me darlin’.”

  The sound of his deep southern drawl, his wicked fingers filling her, the sucking of her nipples, and the pressure on her mound from his hand sent her spiraling over the edge. Her body bucked and bowed out of control.

  “That’s it, go with it, darlin’,” he said softly.

  Tracey gasped as he removed his fingers from inside of her and ran his hands down her body, his fingers spreading her thighs wide. He replaced those fingers with his mouth—using his tongue to part her vaginal lips, delved in, and began to eat her like she was his favorite flavor of ice cream. His wicked tongue did all kinds of things to her, first licking, then sucking on her swollen nub, then licking again.

  “OhmyGod, what are you doing to me?” she murmured, her body in a frenzy.

  He kept on doing what he was doing, grunting and groaning as if he was enjoying himself immensely.

  The feel of his naughty tongue inside her sent little shocks through her. She began to quiver with the awareness that she was on the verge of another orgasm.

  “I’m going to come again. Oh my damn,” she breathed out, just before he pushed her over the edge once more. He kept licking and sucking her until the last of her tremors had subsided.

  Spreading her thighs even wider, he moved between her legs and entered swiftly. Tracey gasped at the abrupt intrusion.

  “Damn, you could give a sistah a warning,” she chided.

  “Darlin’ the minute I laid you out on this bed was all the warning you needed. Now hush up and let me give you some good lovin’,” he chuckled, not giving her a chance to respond as his lips took hers in a scorching kiss.

  “Wrap your arms and legs around me, darlin’, and hold on for a long, hard ride,” he whispered near her ear. “I can’t hold on, so I hope you can handle me.”

  “I can handle anything you bring, lover man,” she sassed, then groaned as he withdrew and thrust back into her—hard. He was hard all over. His corded muscles rippled under the touch of her hands as he pushed in and out of her.

  “Good. Let the ride begin,” he growled, using his hands to lift her hips, allowing him better access, as he thrust long and hard into her.

  Tracey picked up his rhythm as best she could and hung on for the ride. And a ride it was.

  Sweat dripped from both their bodies as they raced over the precipice of climax.

  “Oh, baby, I’m coming,” she cried.

  “Say that again,” he demanded.

  “What?”

  “Baby. Call me that again,” he said, this time more softly. “You’ve never said that before.”

  Tracey was puzzled as to why it would matter what she called him in a moment of passion. “Why would…?”

  “Just say it, darlin’.”

  “Baby.”

  “Thank you,” he said, sealing her lips with a kiss and pushing up in her for a final time. They both came on a scream.

  “Oh, hell yeah,” he screamed as he released his seed into her. Relaxing his grip on her hips, he loosed his hands and collapsed on top of her. “Damn…Damn.”

  Tracey screamed so loudly that her voice cracked. Both their breathing was labored.

  “Damn, that was sweet,” Shane chuckled. “Darlin’, you screamed so loud we might get a knock on the door from security.”

  “Shut up and get off of me, you big lug,” she croaked out.

  Shane kissed her lips again before moving off of her.

  “What are you doing here, Shane?” Tracey whispered, realizing the question was a good hour or more overdue.

  “Adam told me about the accident. I called County and they told me you’d been released. I figured you’d be staying here. I have contacts that got me your room number, and the rest is history,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “But what if someone had seen you?”

  “They didn’t. Plus, I was incognito,” he chuckled.

  Tracey snickered. “You had on a baseball cap and sunglasses. You’re a real private eye.”

  “Doesn’t matter. No one saw me.”

  “Shane.”

  “Yes.”

  “You forgot to use a condom again.”

  “I really wasn’t thinking about that. I hadn’t planned on this happening. Seems to me anytime we are alone we can’t keep our hands off of each other,” he snickered. “Face it love. We are meant to be together.”

  “If you get me pregnant I am going to kick your ass,” she said. “And if you give me a STD…”

  “They’re called STI’s now darlin’. You don’t have to worry about any diseases from me. I would never put you or myself in that situation. And if I get you pregnant, then we’ll get married and have a whole bunch of other mini-me’s. Besides, we’ve never used a condom. You’ve been on the pill.”

  “Shane, that was last year, you nitwit. We broke up remember? I haven’t had any reason to be on the pill since then.”

  “Oh.” He couldn’t help smiling at the thought of her getting pregnant with his child or the fact that she had just admitted that she hadn’t been with anyone since him.

  She punched him in the arm. “It’s not funny. I have a race to run, and we are broken up. Not only that, what do I tell people if I suddenly pop up pregnant with no boyfriend or husband in sight? Most people think I’m a lesbian because they never see me with anyone.”

  “You and I both know that’s not true. And for the record, you broke up with me. You were the one that chose to keep our relationship a secret. Not me. Quite frankly I don’t give a damn who knows,” he said.

  Tracey sighed. “You know the reasons. Anyway, you have to leave before someone discovers you here. This can’t happen again, Shane.”

  “It can and it will. I won’t push until after the race. After that, all bets are off,” he said, pulling her on top of him. “But for now, I am taking one for the road. How about showing me what you’re made of?”

  “Is that a challenge?” she asked through squinted eyes.

  “Hell, yeah.”

  “You’re on.” She smirked. “This is the last time for real Shane. I have a race to run.”

  “Whatever you say darlin’ now hush up and let me show you what you’ve been missing out on, again,” he grinned.

  That was all the talking either of them did for a while.

  Shane left around three o’clock in the morning, leaving Tracey sleeping soundly. She’d only stirred when he eased from under her sleeping form, sneaking out the same way he’d come in. Or so he thought.

  Chapter Three

  Tracey awoke to a loud banging on her door. Hair disheveled she got up, slipped on her robe and went to answer it.

  “Who is it?” If it was Shane again, at least he’d be pleased that she’d remembered to ask. But it wasn’t Shane.

  “Open the door, Tracey,” her brother’s voice boomed.

  Opening the door, Tracey was surprised to find not just her brother but an entire delegation of family members who stared at her with expressions ranging from surprise to outrage.

  “Have you seen the news?” Declan asked, pushing past her and into the room.

  “Please come in,” she smarted.

  Her brother marched over to the television and turned it on. Everyone else followed him into the room. She opened her mouth to demand some respect for her privacy, but the image on the screen silenced her immediately.

  Right there, in full color, was a picture of Shane leaving her room in the wee hours of the morning. As she watched, another picture flashed on th
e screen, one of him entering her room while she stood there in nothing but a towel. Tracey began to sweat. One picture might just be a coincidence, a member of the stalkarazzi getting lucky. But two pictures? It could mean only one thing. She and Shane had been set up. They were definitely being watched.

  “What do you have to say for yourself?” Her brother demanded, pushing out his muscled chest like a banty rooster.

  “Everybody get the hell out of my room.”

  “Not until you explain just what is going on here,” Declan demanded.

  Tracey walked up to Declan to stand directly in front of him. She got right in his face. “Listen and listen well, Declan. There is nothing going on and if there were, it would have nothing to do with you. So back off,” she said in a voice laced with acid.

  “When it has something to do with the team and this family, it is my business,” he yelled.

  “Hold on, Declan, let Tracey explain. I am sure there’s a reasonable explanation for this,” her father said. “Well, Tracey?”

  “Well, what?” she responded.

  “Explain yourself young lady!”

  “Explain, what, Daddy?” she snorted.

  “Don’t get flippant with me, young lady. Show some respect,” he said.

  “Oh like the respect you all showed me by showing up at my door and banging on it like you were the police,” she snapped.

  “Tracey, don’t be disrespectful,” her mother chastised. “You have to admit that all of this is kind of odd.”

  “Why is it odd, Mother?” Tracey asked eyeing her mother. “Is it the fact that he’s white, or is it that fact that he’s supposed to be our ‘rival’?”

  “Both,” Declan screamed.

  “Oh screw you. You would do kindly not to raise your voice at me again Declan,” Tracey turned her frosty glare on him. “I already have a set of parents. You’d do well to remember that.”

  “You’d do well to remember that Shane’s a rival competitor. The newspapers are going to have a field day with this. I knew you were angry with us for replacing you with Daniel, but who knew you’d go as far as sleeping with the our chief rival to show just how much,” he barked.

  “Well according to you and Daddy, Daniel was an addition and not a replacement, although we all knew the truth. So now you all see a news report that has Shane entering and leaving my hotel room, and now I owe my family an explanation. Not to mention that I’m a grown woman who doesn’t need to report whom I’m sleeping with. But, here’s the kicker: you don’t even know that I slept with Shane. You’re assuming, just like the news reporters. If I had an entire army of Shane’s in my room, it still wouldn’t be anyone’s business but mine. Understood? Now get the hell out of my room,” she yelled.

  “Tracey…” her mother started.

  “No, Momma!” Tracey cried her voice full of emotion. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t stop the tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m tired, I’m sore and disappointed. Not one of you even thought to ask how I was feeling after my car flipped yesterday. Your only concern is that Shane Westbrook was caught leaving my room and it might look bad for the great almighty ‘Powells’. Well at least Shane had the decency to check and see how I was doing. Can’t say that for my ‘supposed’ family, now can I?”

  “Tracey’s right,” Sam chimed in. “Declan, you don’t know what happened, nor do you care. You’re thinking of yourself as you always do. Tracey had a freak accident yesterday that not only scared her but me, too. You don’t even know Shane, and you’re condemning her for something you don’t even know happened. Shane is not the bad guy here. He’s a much respected racer who has done nothing to this family as far as I know. I suggest before you start peeking in someone else’s window, you’d do best to make sure yours are clean.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean, Sam?” Declan barked.

  “Enough, all of you,” Barbara Powell said firmly.

  “But, Mom…” Declan started.

  “Don’t you ‘but’ me, Declan. J.D., you and Declan get lost for a bit. I need to have a word with my daughter,” she said to her husband, giving him a keen stare.

  “Come on, Declan, your mother has spoken. Let’s leave these ladies alone for a moment. Just so you know, Tracey, we will talk,” her father said sternly.

  Although Tracey gave an affirmative nod she knew she didn’t have any intentions of speaking with her father for a while. She’d had enough of him and Declan. Tracey loved them both dearly but enough was enough. It was time for her to either sink or swim, and swim she would.

  Tracey watched her father and brother leave the room. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She was still seething inside.

  “Have a seat, Tracey,” she heard her mother say.

  Tracey just stared at her mother without saying anything.

  “Now!” her mother barked out.

  Tracey rushed over to the bed and sat on the edge, as did Samantha. Her mother’s tone brooked no argument. Their mother rarely raised her voice but when she did…watch out.

  “So tell me what’s really going on with you and that Shane man?” she asked, taking a seat on the bed next to Tracey.

  “There’s nothing to tell, Momma,” she said running her fingers through her disheveled hair.

  “Please, little girl, don’t lie to me. I’m your mother. I know you like the back of my hand,” she scoffed. “Talk.”

  Tracey inhaled and then exhaled heavily. “Shane and I are not seeing each other…anymore,” she spoke quietly.

  “So you two did have a relationship?” her mother asked.

  “Yes, but not anymore.”

  “When?” Sam cut in surprise evident in her voice.

  “It was before you came back home, Sam. Before all this mess started with Daddy and Declan…about a year ago,” she murmured. “Shane’s brother, Adam, told him about the accident and he came by to see how I was doing.”

  “And you guys kept it quiet for this long? Wow,” Sam laughed. “How in the hell did y’all manage that?”

  “Samantha, watch your language,” their mother chided.

  “Oops. Sorry, Momma,” Sam flushed.

  “Just how did you two keep this quiet?” Barbara asked with a lift of her delicate brow.

  Tracey snickered. “Please, you two forget that half of America thought I was into women. It wasn’t that hard.”

  “So why’d he break up with you?” her mother asked.

  “He didn’t. I broke it off with him,” she said getting up from the bed and pacing the floor. “It was just complicated. Declan and Daniel had started this war campaign against Shane and his family, and I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. Besides, when I win I don’t want people thinking that Shane gave me any special treatment or let me win because we were having sex.”

  “Lordy, you young people…so he was just here to see how you were ‘doing’ last night?” her mom asked suspiciously.

  “Yes, Mother. Shane and I stopped sleeping together a year ago,” Tracey lied. She would leave out the part that she and Shane had had the most mind blowing sex just hours before.

  “Umm hmm,” her mother murmured, eyeing her with a look of disbelief.

  “Seriously. He must have waited until I fell asleep because I don’t remember him leaving or me falling asleep. Lo and behold, I’m being awakened by loud banging on my door and Shane’s face splattered all over the television. Ohmygoodness! Shane! He’s had to have seen the broadcast by now,” she groaned, covering her face with her hands, and plopping back down on the bed. “Oh, my life is always such a mess.”

  “Umm, hmm, not to mention the slew of reporters that are camped outside of the hotel just waiting for you to appear,” Sam said with a note of humor.

  “Oh hell! Oh hell!” Tracey chanted.

  “Tracey, watch your mouth,” her mother reprimanded.

  “I don’t have the time or the patience to be proper, Momma. Still I’m sorry,” she moaned. “I have a headache for real now. Oh ga
wd!”

  “Well you can hear what the man has to say himself. He’s on the television now,” Sam chuckled. “Damn that man is fine.”

  “Samantha Powell, will I have to wash your mouth out with soap?”

  “Oops, my bad, Momma,” Sam giggled. “Come on, Momma, you have to admit that he’s got that something. Lordy! The swagger on that man. Tracey you’re crazy for letting that go.”

  “Well…yes, he’s a handsome devil. Don’t tell your father I said that though.” She smirked at her girls.

  “Hush, you two, I’m trying to hear what he’s saying,” Tracey shushed her mother and sister.

  “That’s easy, just turn the television up,” Sam said, getting up, picking up the remote control, and turning up the volume on the TV.

  “Shane, are you and Tracey Powell seeing each other?” one reporter asked.

  “It depends on what you mean by seeing,” Shane joked.

  “Are you lovers?” another reporter asked.

  “A gentleman never kisses and tells,” he laughed.

  “So we can assume that since you were seen in her hotel room that you two are having some kind of relationship?” the reporter said slyly.

  “You can assume anything you want. You will anyway,” Shane mocked.

  “With your reputation, it’s safe to say that you two are sleeping together?”

  “No it wouldn’t be safe to say that at all,” Shane barked. “Listen, folks, Tracey is a fellow racer. She had an accident yesterday and I went to check on her. I thought it best to go later as to avoid precisely what’s happening now. I respect her as a woman and as a fellow competitor. Now I have someplace I need to be. Talk to you good folks later. I need to have all of my wits about me for the race,” he said and turned towards his car.

  “Well done, Shane,” she heard her sister say.

  “I like him,” her mother said.

  “Hmm,” was all Tracey said. She was still staring at the television when she heard the firm knock at the door.

  “That would be your father and brother,” her mother said. “Get dressed. You can’t stay here now. You’ll never get any rest. How are you feeling? For real, Tracey?”