Page 43 of Racer

I gaped at them, but Kane didn’t even look up from his phone.

“Love you like a sister, Em, but I’m not taking a bullet for you,” he muttered. “After what he just pulled off, he’s earned the right to be a possessive asshole for five minutes.”

I huffed and crossed my arms.

“I can’t wait until it’s your turn,” I growled.

Kane finally looked up and rolled his eyes. “Don’t hold your breath while you wait.”

I started pacing again, frustration and adrenaline buzzing through every nerve. I wasn’t going to be calm until I saw Jude with my own eyes. Then I was going to kill him for scaring me like that. Right after I kissed the hell out of him.

The door slammed open so hard it bounced off the stopper. Jude stalked into the owner’s box, helmet in one hand, the other clenched at his side. He was still in full racing gear—sweat-slicked, flushed, and brimming with adrenaline-fueled fury and triumph.

I didn’t hesitate.

I launched across the room, running full tilt until I collided with him. His arms caught me mid-sprint, wrapping around my waist and lifting me clean off the ground. Then he spun me once with a sharp exhale, as though he needed proof that I was safe, even though I hadn’t been the one in danger.

My legs clung to his hips, my arms locked around his neck, and my face buried in his shoulder. For one perfect second, the world disappeared.

Then I yanked back just enough to glare at him.

“You’re not allowed to do that again,” I snapped, jabbing a finger against his chest. “My heart can’t take it.”

His smirk was maddening. “That your way of saying you love me?”

I tried to pout, but it crumpled the second I looked at him.

“Yeah,” I muttered, dropping my forehead to his. “I love you, you big jerk.”

“Big jerk?” he echoed, his grin widening.

“You totally turned every club brother against me,” I complained.

He quirked a brow. “Only because I know you so well. You never would’ve known if you hadn’t tried to leave the owner’s box—like I told you not to.”

“Whatever,” I mumbled, since I couldn’t argue with his logic.

Pressing his finger under my chin, he tilted my head up to meet his gaze. His smirk vanished, replaced by something raw and reverent. “I love you too, baby.”

Jude showed me how he felt every single day, but hearing those words from him settled something deep inside me. My heart felt full to bursting as his mouth found mine in a kiss that wasn’t soft or slow. It was everything that had built between us—weeks of tension, fear, wanting, and relief—all crashing into one moment.

The guys hooted behind us, someone shouting something crude, but I didn’t care.

I melted into Jude and celebrated our victory against the monster who put my brother in his hospital bed by kissing the man I loved.

A throat cleared behind us, loud enough to break the spell of the kiss. Jude didn’t release me right away, pressing his lips to my forehead before glancing over his shoulder with a growl of irritation.

Fox stood in the doorway, arms crossed and mouth quirked in a half-apologetic, half-amused grin.

“Sorry to interrupt the lovefest,” he drawled. “But we have club business. Need you, Racer.”

Jude’s jaw flexed. He looked back at me, eyes dark with something fierce and unreadable, and cupped my cheek in one gloved hand.

“I gotta go for a bit,” he said, voice low and rough. “I’ll meet you at the Redline Kings clubhouse when this is done.”

I nodded, trying to hold back the disappointment that flared in my chest. This was how MCs worked. I knew that. Even respected it. But I wasn’t happy about the timing of his president’s request.

Jude leaned in and kissed me again, slower this time. Then he released me, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip before stepping back.

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