Tracker's End Read online

  She puts her hand on his chest.

  I see red.

  I stand up. “I’d rather you didn’t do that.”

  She turns to me. “What?”

  I ignore her and walk up to Tracker, moving her out of the way. I thread my hand through his hair and pull him down to me, kissing him hard. When I pull away, he’s out of breath and his eyes are alight with passion.

  “God, Lana,” is all he manages to say. I smile up at him, proud of my own nerve. I nod toward the women, who look pissed off and confused, and he takes the hint.

  “Ladies,” Tracker says, turning toward them but keeping his eyes on me. “I’m off the market. This is my old lady, and if I were you I’d stay the hell away from her. Now, baby,” he says to me, “let’s get going.”

  When we walk outside, he turns to me, “Christ, that was the hottest thing you’ve ever done. I’m so fucking hard right now.”

  I shrug, feeling my cheeks heat. “You’re mine. I wanted to let them know.”

  My man studies me. “I think you fit in with us fine, Lana.”

  My lips twitch. “Only because you make it that way.”

  THIRTEEN

  AFTER spending the rest of the day with Tracker, stopping by Rift and their bike shop, he takes me out for a bite to eat and then drops me off at home. When walking me to my door, he grumbles, “Why don’t you just move into the clubhouse? I don’t like you not being there.”

  “I’m actually going to look for a place of my own,” I tell him, pausing. “You know, you can stay here tonight. My mom will be working.”

  He tilts his head to the side. “You want me to stay?”

  I nod. “Yeah, I do.”

  He smiles slowly. “You getting as addicted to me as I am to you?”

  I bite my lower lip. “Is that what you want?”

  He swallows, his throat working. “You know it’s all I want right now. I don’t want you to see something you don’t like and want to run. I need you tied to me. Bound. In deep.”

  I shake my head. “You want me to be tied to you so when the realities of your world hit me, I won’t run scared?”

  He nods, then scrubs a hand down his face. “Sounds fucked-up but it’s the truth.”

  “At least you’re honest,” I reply in a dry tone.

  “I’ll always be honest with you, Lana,” he replies in a serious tone. “I don’t lie. The truth hurts, but lies cause even more shit.”

  Yes, they do.

  I tilt my head to the side. “Okay then, I have a question for you. Let’s go inside first.”

  I open the door and the two of us head straight to my bedroom. We sit comfortably on the bed, facing each other.

  “What did you want to ask me?”

  “Did you used to have feelings for Faye?” I blurt out.

  He frowns. “Where did you hear that?”

  Not about to drop names, I ignore his question. “Is it true?”

  He sits down next to me. “When Faye first came to the clubhouse, confused, lost, and pregnant, we became friends. Just like I did with Anna. Yeah, I felt something for Faye. I thought I wanted her. If Sin didn’t want her, yeah, I would have had her. But more than that, I think I wanted what they had. Faye was a good woman. She won’t cheat, lie, or backstab. She can be trusted. She takes care of not only her man, but the other men in the MC too. A true old lady. That’s what I really wanted.”

  “Then why did you choose Allie?” I grumble.

  He chuckles. “She was there; she wanted me. I was lonely, I guess. Arrow and Sin seemed so happy after finding their women, and I guess I wanted that. Looking back, I know I didn’t have real feelings for Faye. Or Allie. Do you know how I know this?”

  “How?” I ask.

  “Because what I felt for them is nothing like what I feel for you. It pales in comparison. It’s fuckin’ nonexistent. Do you understand? You are what I was searching for. Waiting for. Not them. I can’t even understand it. I saw you, I wanted you, and I knew you were it for me. I resisted for a while because Anna kept threatening me away, but nothing can keep me from you now.”

  “That simple, huh?” I say, barely a whisper.

  “Getting you wasn’t simple,” he replies, amusement lacing his tone. “You put up a good fight, babe.”

  “I tried anyway,” I tease.

  “Aren’t you glad you gave in though?” he asks, pulling me onto his lap. “I’m going to take such good care of you.”

  “I don’t need to be taken care of,” I tell him honestly. “But I am glad. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

  I kiss him.

  “Or this.”

  I bite his neck.

  Then I whisper in his ear, “Have your way with me, Tracker.”

  “Fuck, Lana,” he groans. “Only you make me this fuckin’ crazy. Strip down and lie back for me. You’re going to be a good girl and do exactly as I ask, aren’t you?”

  I nod.

  Within reason, of course.

  “Good,” he grits out, stripping down himself, watching me through heavy-lidded eyes as I do the same. I lie back, fully naked. “Now spread your legs.”

  I spread.

  “You want my mouth or my cock?” he asks, stroking himself, eyes connected with mine.

  “Both,” I reply, making him smile seductively.

  “My greedy woman,” he says. “I think I’m going to take from you first, before I give you everything you want. Open that pretty mouth for me.”

  I open my mouth and let him gently slide himself inside. I start slow, moving my mouth on and off his cock. I run my tongue over his piercing, and hearing his groan, I do it again, grabbing the base of his cock with my hand, making an okay sign with my hand. Then I speed up, and he starts thrusting slightly, gently, as though afraid he’ll hurt me. My hands go to his ass, using it to push him deeper into my mouth, silently giving him permission to thrust harder. I feel his body spasm and he fills my mouth.

  After he comes, he keeps his word and makes me come with his mouth and his cock.

  Twice.

  * * *

  I wake up to my mom making Tracker breakfast in the kitchen. You’d think she’d be opposed to my relationship with a huge, tattooed biker, but no, my mom just goes with the flow. I suppose she had a thing for bad boys too, considering who my dad is.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” I hear her tell him, sliding him a plate piled high with a mountain of bacon. She’s busy in the kitchen while Tracker sits at the breakfast bar.

  He looks down with wide eyes. “Thank you, Nicole.”

  “’Morning,” I say, glancing from Mom to Tracker.

  “’Morning, baby,” Tracker says with a smile, standing up and coming to me, giving me a hug. “Help me eat all this food, please.”

  I smile into his chest. “As if you can’t finish it.”

  “I’m gonna go to bed,” my mom says, “Just got in. Take care of my daughter, Tracker.”

  “Always,” Tracker replies, looking at me when he says it. “Thanks for breakfast.”

  “No problem,” she calls out as she makes her way to her bedroom.

  I look up at him. “Ever had a girl’s mother make you breakfast before?”

  He grins. “No, this is a first. Your mom is a nice lady. Can see why you’re so sweet. She’s also the first mom ever to actually like me.”

  I laugh. “She doesn’t judge people. If I’m happy, so is she.”

  “I better make sure I always keep you happy then,” he murmurs, leaning down and sucking on my lower lip.

  “Mmmm,” I sigh. I’m loving the normality of our behavior, the way he looks at me and touches me. “Let’s eat and get to the clubhouse before Faye has to go to work.”

  “Okay,” he says. “Better get to work on this pile of bacon.”

  “You don’t have to eat all of it.” I laugh.

  “I know. But . . . it’s bacon.”

  “Greedy.”

  “Cute.”

  We get to the clubho
use just in time.

  * * *

  Later that evening, as we lie in his bed, Tracker announces, “I’m gonna be gone for a couple of days.”

  “Where are you going?” I ask quietly. I don’t want him to go.

  “On a run with the men. Club shit, babe,” he says, tracing a pattern over my bare shoulder with his finger. I want to ask where he’s going and what he’s doing, but I know he won’t answer. Can’t answer. Can I get used to this lifestyle? “One of the prospects will pick you up and take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “That’s not necessary—”

  “You being with me means people can try to hurt the club by hurting you,” he interrupts, kissing my collarbone. “Just humor me, all right? For my damn piece of mind, just let me make sure you’re safe.”

  “I don’t know any of the prospects,” I protest. “It will be awkward.”

  “You’ve met Blade,” he says gently. “He’ll be the one dropping and picking you up. I trust him. And if anything happens, just call me, okay?”

  I have met Blade. He’s younger than me, around twenty-one, and a pretty good-looking guy.

  “Okay,” I concede. I remember what happened with Anna when she tried to leave the clubhouse without an escort. She was kidnapped. Yeah, I didn’t want that. With Tracker gone, at least I could get some writing done, even if I would miss him like crazy. He’s become such a huge part of my life so quickly. It’s amazing but terrifying.

  “Okay?” he asks warily, pulling down the blanket and licking my nipple. “You’re not gonna give me shit? Just . . . okay?”

  I nod, now concentrating on what he’s doing with his tongue. “Yeah.”

  “Fuck, you’re so good to me,” he says, now sucking my nipple into his mouth.

  “Pretty sure it’s you being good to me right now,” I rasp, closing my eyes, my hands fisting the sheets.

  He blows on one and then the other, teasing me. “You’re mine, Lana. I’ll always take care of what’s mine.”

  Freeing his hair from its bun, I run my fingers through it, cradling the back of his head as he worships me. Tracker loves making love, but he also likes playing, just like this, with lazy strokes and slow seduction. He’s not always in a rush to make us both come. Like right now, sometimes he just enjoys being with me, drawing out my pleasure. One of his fingers slowly touches me intimately, the softest of caresses. He’s going to kill me. Death by pleasure, I’m sure it’s a thing. If it’s not, then it should be.

  “You gonna miss me?” he asks, licking down my stomach.

  “No,” I reply, earning me a nibble just under my belly button.

  “You sure?” he asks again, pressing openmouthed kisses down my inner thigh.

  “I’m sure,” I say in a husky tone. “I won’t miss you one bit.”

  He flips me over in one quick motion and spanks my ass.

  “Don’t lie to me, Lana,” he says, sounding amused. “You’re gonna miss me like fuckin’ crazy. Get up on all fours.”

  I slide up on my knees, spreading my legs.

  “Good girl,” he croons. “Now tell me.”

  He licks me once, right on my sweet spot, spreading my thighs with the hard grip of his hands. “Tell me what I want to hear.”

  I need his tongue, so I say, “I’m going to miss you.”

  He slaps my ass again. I love it.

  “What was that for?” I snap.

  “That one,” he chuckles, “was just for fun.”

  Jerk.

  Then he puts his mouth on me and I don’t think he’s a jerk anymore.

  FOURTEEN

  THE next morning, Tracker leaves with Rake, Irish, Arrow, Trace, Ronan, and Sin. Vinnie is staying behind, currently peering over my shoulder as I make breakfast. His usually shaved head actually has a little hair on it for once.

  “Be patient,” I tease.

  “Uncle Vinnie is hungry,” Clover calls out from where she is drawing on the dining table. “We need to feed him or he gets grumpy.”

  “I can see that.” I look at Vinnie, who is grinning at Clover affectionately. “Clover has more patience than you.”

  He stares at the waffles longingly, then glances up at me. “They smell so fucking good.”

  Clover gasps. “That’s a bad word. I won’t tell Mommy though. I’m not a snitch. I heard Daddy tell Uncle Arrow no one likes a snitch.”

  Vinnie and I share a glance, then start laughing. The things this kid remembers!

  When the waffles are ready, I let Vinnie and Clover eat first, then make a huge pile of them for anyone else who wants them. When Blade steps into the kitchen, I point to the pile and he grins.

  “Can we keep you?”

  I laugh. “I’m here every weekday until I start school again.”

  “You need a ride anywhere today?” he asks as he eats.

  I look to Clover. “Where do you want to go today, Clo?”

  She thinks it over. “Can we go to the animal farm?”

  I nod. “Sure. Are you going to come with us, Blade? We can have some lunch too.”

  He shifts on his seat, suddenly looking uncomfortable. His dark eyes stay on mine as he says, “Sorry, Lana, I can only drop you off and pick you up.” I squint my eyes at him, wondering if that is Tracker’s doing or if there is something else he needed to do. He runs a hand over his short dark hair, waiting for me to say something.

  “Oh,” I say. “Okay, if you don’t mind.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.”

  Clover and I get ready and Blade drives us in a black four-wheel drive. When we get there, he double-checks that my phone is charged and that I have his number before he drives away. We have lunch first, then see all the animals. A few hours later we get picked up and head back to the clubhouse. Faye is waiting for us when we get there, having gotten home early from work.

  “Mom! I had so much fun today,” Clover says after she hugs Faye. “I fed a horse!”

  “Sounds like you had a ball,” Faye says, kissing her head. Clover runs off, and Faye looks at me. “You’re so good with her, Lana. I know that every time I leave she’s going out to explore and have fun, not just sit here and watch TV all day.”

  I shrug a little shyly. “She’s a great kid.”

  “That she is,” Faye replies, grinning. “Do you wanna stay and chat for a bit, or do you have to leave?”

  I think of all the work I have waiting for me at home. “Love to stay, but I better go.”

  She nods. “No problem. See you tomorrow.”

  “’Bye, Faye,” I say, smiling, then walking to the front door. I look around for Blade but don’t find him. When I spot Vinnie I ask him if he can give me a ride home instead.

  “Of course I can,” he replies. “But I need to go somewhere else after so we’re taking my bike.”

  I’ve never been on anyone else’s bike.

  “Ummm,” I mutter, not knowing if this is okay.

  Vinnie laughs. “It’s just a ride. I’ll deal with Tracker.”

  It’s not like Vinnie is an ex, like the situation with Allie. And Tracker is the one who made me promise I wouldn’t go anywhere alone. Shrugging, I get on the back of his bike, not pressing my body to his like I usually do with Tracker. When we get to my place, I thank him, then walk to my front door while searching for my house keys in my small handbag. When I find them, I unlock the door, waving to Vinnie. Once I’m safely inside, I hear the rumble of his bike as he rides off. Closing the front door, I turn the lock. I’m about to spin around when something hits me on the back of my head, pushing me against the door.

  My vision flashes.

  I hear a voice. Female.

  And another. Male.

  Another hit.

  Laughter.

  And another.

  I slide down the door, falling to the floor.

  I fight to stay conscious.

  I don’t want to leave Tracker. I just got him.

  “Tracker,” I mouth, but no sound comes out.

&n
bsp; All I feel is pain, all I see is darkness.

  * * *

  I wake up, my whole body hurting.

  Every inch of me is in pain. My ribs are throbbing. My legs feel numb. My jaw is swollen.

  My right eye is swelled shut, but my left manages to open.

  “Lana?” I hear my mom call my name. “Thank god.”

  I feel her hand in mine. I squeeze back.

  Then I fall asleep again.

  * * *

  “Lana?” I hear his voice. “Fuck. Lana, can you hear me?”

  I open my left eye and look at him. He looks like hell. His eyes are red and his face pale. “Tracker?”

  My voice is weak.

  Broken.

  “What happened?” I ask him.

  “You’re hurt,” he whispers. “Christ, Lana, whoever did this to you is going to wish they were dead.”

  I shiver at the intensity of his voice.

  “You were hit on the back of your head. Doctor thinks you passed out on impact. You’re mainly bruised. A few broken ribs. You were kicked.”

  Who would want to hurt me? I didn’t do anything to anyone.

  “How long have I been here?” I ask him.

  He takes my hand in his, kissing my knuckles. “This is your second night here. They gave you pain medicine and you’ve been in and out of it. I rode back as soon as Faye called me. Your mom found you and called her to tell her what happened and that you wouldn’t be in to take care of Clover.”

  I lick my dry lips and he instantly brings me some water with a straw. “Drink, baby.”

  I drink greedily until he pulls it away. “Not so fast.”

  Even swallowing hurts.

  “Can I get you anything?” he asks.

  “No,” I whisper. “Just stay here with me.”

  “I haven’t left your side,” he says. “It fuckin’ hurts to see you like this, but I’m trying not to be selfish, since you’re the one in pain, not me. Trust me, if I could take the pain away for you I would in an instant.”

  “Tracker,” I whisper. “I love you.”

  His fingers tighten on my hand. “I love you too, Lana. ’Bout time you realized it though.”

  I fall asleep feeling safe.

  * * *

  “I’m fine,” I tell a fussing Anna, who won’t leave me the hell alone.