Boxed Set: Steel: Blacthorne MC Romance

S
TEEL
by Carrie Cox
is an addictive new motorcycle club romance perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and readers of Nicole Snow.

Once you’ve had your first bad boy biker, there’s no going back…

Ella Anderson had no idea what she was getting herself into when she gave into temptation and agreed to a one night stand with hot, tattooed biker, Nick Steel.

She stumbled onto the Blackthorne Motorcycle Club’s darkest secret, and they are not prepared to let her go until they know their secret is safe.

She’s in serious danger of losing her heart, and if she’s not careful, her life.

(This romance contains steamy love scenes and lots of twists and turns.)

ebook categories

—> Romance Anthologies

—> Outlaw romance

—> Motorcycle Club romance

—> Alpha Male

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

N
ick

The moment I saw her, I knew I needed to make her mine.

I’d noticed her as soon as she’d walked in. It was hard not to. A fresh-faced college kid with sinfully hot curves, she looked completely out of place in the biker bar, and I’d guessed she’d come down with some college friends to celebrate the end of the school year.

Las Vegas, party time.

She had a cute heart-shaped face and a body to die for. The red dress she wore clung to her curves in all the right places. It was cut low enough at the front to give a hint of cleavage and made me imagine unzipping her from that dress and releasing her lush, hot curves.

God, I wanted her, but I couldn’t have her, not tonight. I was supposed to be working. I tore my eyes away from the curvy temptress and scanned the rest of the bar. Other members of the Blackthorne Gang were set up in position, but we still had at least an hour until things were due to kick-off.

An hour… I turned my attention back to the gorgeous chick, sipping her margarita. I could get a lot done in an hour.

I was about to head over and make my move when I felt a hand on my arm. That showed exactly how distracted I was. Tonight was the one night I should be keeping my guard up and know exactly when anyone was approaching me.

I turned sharply to see a slim brunette standing beside me. She flinched and took a step back at my angry glare. She swallowed hard, and then she seemed to recover herself, adjusting the straps on her dress and making sure I got an eyeful of her cleavage. She wasn’t my type, too toned and muscular for my liking. Her hair was carefully curled with not a lock out of place. Too high maintenance.

She’d probably spent at least an hour on her make up tonight.

“Hi, there,” she said. “My name is Clarissa and I wondered if you would like to buy me a drink.”

I barely looked at her. “Sorry, I’m spoken for.”

But when I turned back to claim my prize, my curvy Margarita girl had disappeared.

I threw down some cash to tip the waiter who’d been serving me and scanned the bar.
Where the hell had she gone?

From across the room, I caught a glimpse of my cute temptress at the bar placing another order.

Obviously waitress service was too slow for her. She was definitely in Vegas to party.

I checked the time. Everything was still on schedule, so I drained the rest of my beer and headed towards her.

As she picked up her drinks, she turned towards me, and as she looked up I felt my breath catch in my throat. She really was beautiful. At that moment she caught me looking at her, and her eyes widened before she quickly turned away. Her cheeks flushed.

Damn. She was hot.

Before I could get any closer, a heavily-muscled guy on her left staggered back, knocking the drinks and spilling the contents all over her.

He was a biker. I could see that much from the branding on some of his tattoos. He turned to face her with a leer.

“Here let me help you,” he said, and pretended to brush the drink from her dress, while really just taking the opportunity to cop a feel.

“Hey,” she said, trying to push him away, but her hands were full as she was still holding the half-empty glasses. “Don’t worry about it,” she said, trying to step out of his reach. But the biker had clearly enjoyed his first touch and was determined to get more.

E
lla

I was sure the asshole was enjoying it. As he pretended to dab at my dress with a napkin, his fingers skimmed over my nipples.

“Cut it out,” I said, slamming the glasses back on the bar and pulling away from him.

People were staring at us now, and the leer on the guy’s face had changed into a nasty smirk.

Coming to this bar had been a bad idea. I’d come with my friend Claire. It was just the two of us now at the end of a week of Las Vegas partying. Tonight was our last blowout night and Claire had wanted to do something outrageous, something different.

So we’d left the hotel and headed to this bar, called Wheels, that was on the outskirts of the strip. Clare had said it would be an adventure, and I’d enjoyed it so far. The music was hard rock, the bar was buzzing and I’d been enjoying my margaritas. The drinks were much cheaper than our hotel too. But now I thought we might have bitten off more than we could chew.

The big bulky biker stared down at me as if he wanted to gobble me up.

As he reached out to grab me again, I suddenly realized we had company.

My eyes widened. It was the guy I’d seen earlier. Claire had nudged me and told me he was checking me out, but I didn’t believe her. Men like him didn’t check out girls like me. He was beyond hot and looked even better close up. He had a strong jaw, piercing blue eyes and chiseled cheekbones. The trace of stubble lining his jaw made me want to reach up and touch his face.

“Leave the lady alone.”

He practically growled the words, and I shivered in response. He had a low, deliciously sexy voice.

I couldn’t believe it this guy who looked like he had just stepped off the cover of some magazine had come to my rescue to be my white knight. It was like something out of a movie.

“It ain’t any of your business,” the brutish guy said as he slowly turned to face my rescuer.

But the glare he received in return was enough to make him back down. The beautiful stranger wasn’t any bigger than him, but he had an air about him, something dangerous. There was a definite threat beneath his words.

“It was just an accident,” the guy muttered and headed off, weaving through the group of people gathered by the bar.

I stared up at the gorgeous man who had rescued me. I’d always had a tendency to romanticize things and this was no exception. I chewed down on my lower lip. I had to get a grip. He was just a nice guy, that was all. It wasn’t as if he was hitting on me.

“Are you okay?” he asked me.

I nodded. I couldn’t speak. Now that I could see him up close, I could see how gorgeous he was. He wore a T-shirt that fitted his torso like a second skin, showing his lean toned body and his broad shoulders. He was tall, over six foot, and well built. From what I could see from his arms, he definitely worked out, and I found myself imagining what the rest of his body looked like.

Jeez. I had to get a hold of myself.

He reached up and put a finger under my chin, tilting my head to make me look at him. He had large hands and long fingers, and as I imagined what I would like him to do to me with those long fingers, I felt a rush of heat sizzle through my body.

“Can I get you another drink?”

“Um. I should really buy you a drink,” I said. “I mean for rescuing me. I appreciate it by the way. It’s a good job you came along when you did. I hate to think what might have happened. I’m here with my friend, Claire. We haven’t been here before and thought it might be a nice change…”

Oh for goodness sake why was I babbling like a mad person? It was something I did when I was nervous, and this gorgeous stranger made me
very
nervous.

The corner of his mouth lifted up in a smile and then he said, “I’ll buy the drinks. Margarita?”

I nodded. I’d been drinking margaritas all night and developed quite a taste for them.

I stood beside him as he placed an order with a cocktail waitress and took the opportunity to study him.

His arms were covered with tattoos. Was he a biker too? He definitely looked like one. I briefly indulged in a fantasy that he would wrap those tattooed arms around me. I wondered what it would be like to have a one night stand with a bad boy biker. It would be totally out of character for me. The last time I had had sex was eighteen months ago, and that had been with a guy in my dorm who was studying law. It hadn’t exactly rocked my world, but I had a feeling that this guy would be a hell of a lot better in bed than Jeremy.

As he reached for the drinks, I noticed he had a tattoo of a blade and a snake on his muscular forearm. I imagined kissing that tattoo and running my mouth along his skin.

“Your drink,” he said in that same low, sexy voice.

I glanced upwards and blushed, knowing full well that he had caught me checking him out. He had a smirk on his face.

I was feeling lightheaded, and I didn’t know whether that was the margaritas I’d had earlier or the fact I was standing so close to this gorgeous guy.

I reached for my drink and took a nervous gulp. “Thanks,” I said. “My friend is around here somewhere.” I looked around over my shoulder, but I couldn’t see Claire. Maybe she’d gone to the ladies room.

He didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with a hot, intense gaze that made my body tingle.

Christ, how was it with just that one look he could turn me on more than Jeremy had during a whole night in bed?

Could I flirt with him? Would I just embarrass myself?

“So,” I said. “Do you come here often?” As the words left my mouth, my heart sunk in horror.
Seriously. Of all the cliched things to say, I had to pick that one
.

He was only staying here with me out of politeness, and now that I’d used that line on him, I was sure to send him running for the hills. But he didn’t run, he gave me a slow, sexy smile and reached out his hand.

I held my breath as his fingers grazed my cheek and then gently tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. His fingertips felt rough against my skin and I imagined how they would feel touching other parts of my body. “Are you coming onto me?” he asked.

I flushed scarlet. “I… er…”

Great. Way to go. So sophisticated. How could he possibly resist me now?

He chuckled. “I’m just teasing you. I come here now and again.” He leaned forward, put his mouth close to my ear and whispered the words. I could feel his breath on my cheek. It sent delicious tingles down my neck, and I felt my nipples pucker beneath my dress. I swallowed hard. I hoped he couldn’t see just how much he affected me. “I’m more interested in what you are doing here? It doesn’t really seem like your kind of place.”

I was so nervous. I reached out and took another sip of my drink, savoring the warming sensation of the alcohol.

His eyes travelled down from my face to linger on my breasts. I was breathing faster than normal.

The gorgeous stranger leaned forward again, and I felt his lips hot and soft against my ear as he whispered, “I would really like to take you to my room right now.”

He pulled away just a fraction to study my face for a response.

Oh my God. Was this really going to happen? Was I really going to have a hot one night stand with a tattooed stranger? It wasn’t like me. I was Ella Anderson, first-year medical student at Columbia. I studied hard and got good grades. I’d only ever slept with two men before. Could I really go through with it?

It seemed that every part of my body was screaming yes.

He leaned closer to me again so that his body was pressed hard against mine and said, “What’s your name?”

“Ella.” I barely recognized my own voice.

“Nice to meet you Ella. I’m Nick.” His lips grazed my cheek and I let out a shaky breath. “Would you like to come to my room, Ella?”

Oh, God, yes, that was exactly what I wanted.

But there was something stopping me saying yes. This man was a stranger. Could I really trust him? Just then I caught sight of Claire out of the corner of my eye.

“I’ll just tell my friend what we’re going to do…” I flushed. “I mean not
tell
her what we’re going to
do
! I just don’t want her to worry when she realizes I’m not around.”

He smiled at me and then chuckled as if he found my babbling amusing or endearing. “I’ll wait here,” he said and leaned back on the bar, giving me a sexy grin.

I had butterflies in my stomach as I rushed over to Claire. I needed to talk to her quickly and get back to him before he changed his mind.

Claire was sitting at a table next to a dark haired guy with multiple piercings.

I leaned down, and whispered in Claire’s ear, telling her what I was about to do.

She was shocked. I could see that from her face.

“Are you sure? Where is he?” she asked, trying to scan the bar and check out my mystery man.

I jerked my thumb in his direction, trying not to look too obvious.

Unfortunately, discretion wasn’t one of Claire’s strong points. “Holy Crap! He’s gorgeous!” she squealed.

I grinned back at her. “Don’t wait up for me,” I said and winked.

When I turned around, I saw that he was looking at me. My stomach flipped over and I swallowed hard.

Was I really about to do this?

“
I
have a room upstairs
,” he said to me when I reached his side.

I blinked in surprise. I hadn’t realized the bar was part of a hotel.

As if he guessed what I was thinking, he said, “There’s just a couple of rooms here on the third floor for regular guests.”

Outside the bar, we stopped beside the elevator, and I could hear my heart thumping in my chest. I was so nervous.

As the elevator doors opened, I took in a deep breath. I could still back out. It wasn’t too late.

I shot a glance at my white knight.

He didn’t make a move to enter the elevator. Instead, he put a hand out to the door to prevent the doors closing.

“Second thoughts, Ella?”

I shook my head. “No. It’s just… I don’t normally do this sort of thing.”

He kept his hand in place on the elevator door and took a step inside before turning to face me.

“It’s your call, sweetheart, but if you come with me now, I promise you won’t regret it.”

My gaze focused in on his soft lips as he gave me another one of those slow, sexy smiles.

I took a deep breath and followed him inside the elevator.

The doors had barely closed when he put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me back against the wall of the elevator.

I gasped as he pushed his body against mine, and I put my hands on his rock hard chest. My body felt like it was on fire as he lowered his head to kiss me. He smelled of citrus and mint.

He pressed his lips to mine, and my body responded immediately. I’d never been kissed like that before. He was intoxicating.

And he tasted so good. His lips were soft in contrast to his stubble that lightly scratched against my skin. I imagined feeling that same sensation lower down my body, and my nipples tightened into hard peaks as his tongue explored my mouth.

He pulled away, and it was only then that I realized the doors had opened and two heavily tattooed bikers stood watching us and grinning, waiting to enter the elevator.

Nick reached out, took my hand in his and led me out of the elevator towards his room.

It seemed like every nerve ending in my body was on high alert. Even the touch of his hands on mine felt erotic.

We were in his room, he closed the door and then turned to face me. He approached me slowly as if savoring the anticipation.

Finally, he grabbed both my hands and held them high above my head, keeping them there with one hand, he reached behind my dress to find the zipper and slowly lowered it.

My heart was beating fast as my dress slipped down my body, leaving me standing there in only my underwear.

All my old insecurities flooded back to me. What would he think of my body? Surely he could have any woman he wanted, so was I a disappointment? But if I was, he showed no sign of that.

He looked down at me with burning lust in his eyes. He grinned at me sexily as he released my hands. “Are you ready, Ella,” he said.

I managed to nod and then I gasped as he slid my bra straps down past my shoulders. With a practiced movement, he unfastened my bra and the lace fell from my breasts to the floor.

My nipples tightened as he stared down at me.

“God, you’re beautiful, Ella,” he said.

Before I could respond, he put his mouth over mine, kissing me deeply and passionately as his hands cupped my breasts.

He traced a rough fingertip across my nipple, and I moaned in pleasure. I could hardly stand the sensations shooting through my body. He paused for a moment, turning me so that my legs were against the bed, and then he pushed me down gently onto the mattress.

I sat there in awe as he tugged off his T-shirt. Tattoos covered his arms and his pecs. The rest of his torso was free from ink, just tanned, smooth skin. I reached out to touch his abs, and my fingertips traced the V that disappeared beneath his jeans. My eyes fixed on the huge bulge behind his zipper.

I bit down on my lower lip as I undid the button on his jeans and then slid the zip down slowly. His body jerked in response, and I felt a warm glow of satisfaction that he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

But before I could touch him, he pulled away and said, “Not yet.”

His hands ran along my thighs and clasped the elastic of my panties, and then I felt him pulling them down. I shifted slightly so he could remove them. The light was still on, and I felt incredibly self-conscious, but he didn’t seem to notice.

His hands moved upwards slowly, gently stroking my inner thighs and getting closer and closer to the heat between my legs. He slid a finger along my wetness.

“You’re so ready, Ella.” As he spoke he slid a finger deep inside me, and I gasped in pleasure.

“Do you like that, Ella?”

I nodded, afraid to speak. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this with a man I’d just met, but it felt so good.

His thumb made a slow circle around that sweet spot, and my hips jerked in response. I was so close already and he had barely touched me. I squirmed, pushing upwards desperate for more pressure.