His to Claim (8 page)

She just stared at his sky blue eyes, glowing with warmth. Could she dare hope it
was true?

His lips captured hers in a warm, sweet kiss. Her arms swept around him and she held
him close as his tongue curled over hers and undulated in a dance of passion. She
arched against him, wanting to feel his body against hers, then reached down and grasped
his thick cock and glided it over her thighs. He rolled over her, holding his weight
on his elbows as she guided his thick cock between her legs. When it nudged her slick
flesh, he pressed forward, stretching her opening as he glided inside. Their gazes
locked as he pressed deeper inside her. Then deeper still. Her eyelids flicked closed
briefly as pleasure shimmered through her, then she opened them again to meet his
gaze.

Once he was fully inside her, he continued to watch her. There was a depth of emotion
she couldn’t read. Then he drew back and surged deep again, taking her breath away.

He moved in a fluid rhythm, smooth as silk as he filled her deeply again and again.
She clung to his broad shoulders as his cock pumped into her, stoking her desire to
a feverish pitch. Her fingernails dug into his flesh as a surge of pleasure rushed
through her, then she gasped, and moaned long and loud.

He thrust faster, driving her pleasure higher.

“Oh, God. I’m going to…” She sucked in a breath, as bliss seared through her. “Oh,
Storm.” She tightened her grip on his shoulders. “Yes.”

She wailed as he flung her to ecstasy.

He continued to pump into her, then groaned his own release.

Finally, he dropped onto her, then rolled to his side, still holding her close. She
could hear his rapidly beating heart. She lay there contentedly, listening to it slow
to normal, along with his breathing. Her eyelids fell closed as her excitement turned
to a blissful elation, then she dozed off.

*   *   *

Melanie opened her eyes to the bright sunshine. Storm’s arm was tossed over his head,
and her gaze glided along the tattoos adorning his arms, then across his chest. She
still couldn’t believe she’d finally lived out her fantasy of being with him.

His eyes opened and he smiled. “Hey, there.”

She smiled back. “Hi.”

“What were you thinking about so intensely?”

“Oh, just…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Sure it does. Tell me.”

“I was just thinking how lucky I am. Last night was incredible.”

He chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. “Hey, I was pretty lucky, too.”

She laughed. “Why? You didn’t get to sleep with a hunky, burgeoning rock star last
night.”

“Maybe not, but I got to be with you.” He tugged her to him and kissed her, then rolled
her over, their mouths still joined.

She ran her hand over his rock-hard chest, loving the feel of him ravaging her mouth
with his tongue, his body pinning her to the bed.

“Is that all you were thinking?” he asked once he released her mouth.

“I’ve wanted this to happen between us for a long time,” she admitted.

“So you’re saying you lusted after me when I was your boss?”

“Well, of course. You were the sexiest boss in the world.”

“So we both finally got smart and pursued our mutual attraction.” His lips brushed
hers. “It was worth the wait. I’m glad you picked me for that wild, crazy fling you
talked about.”

Doubts suddenly flared inside her. Now that they’d crossed the line and ended up in
bed together, what came next?

He stroked her hair back from her face. “Melanie, you did realize that I’m not looking
for a commitment right now, didn’t you? I mean, after the disaster of a relationship
I had with Jessica, I’m not ready for more than that right now.”

She shook her head. “Oh, of course. I get that.”

But her heart sank. She
had
been hoping it was more than a fling. Especially when he’d acted so possessive of
her around Travis.

Now that she’d finally experienced what she’d dreamed of for so long, she knew for
sure it wasn’t a simple crush, or infatuation. She had real feelings for him. If,
or rather, when it ended between them, how would she get over him?

*   *   *

Storm drove the bike along the highway heading back to the city, Melanie’s arms tight
around his waist.

What the hell had he been thinking? He really liked Melanie, and last night had been
incredibly intense and sexy, but was he leading her on? Of course, he wanted to keep
seeing her … and sleeping with her … but was that really fair to her? After the disaster
of a relationship with Jessica, he wasn’t ready to jump into relationship-land again.
Even with a woman as fun and delightful as Melanie.

On the other hand, to stop now would make Melanie feel like a discarded one-night
stand. And he didn’t want to stop. Hopefully, they could continue a casual relationship
and still remain friends.

*   *   *

The bell over the door rang as Melanie returned to the back with the bucket and mop
she’d used to clean up the cream that had spilled all over the floor when a customer
had accidentally knocked over a full jug. There were about six customers in line,
but both Sue and Karen, the manager, were on bar, so everything was well in hand.

“Hey, Melanie. There’s a hot guy here to see you.”

Melanie glanced up at Sue, who’d popped her head in the doorway.

“Storm’s here?” She smiled, despite her concern that Karen would be annoyed at her
having a friend stop by to see her.

“No, not Storm. This is a new incredibly sexy hunk.” Sue grinned. “Man, you’ve got
to tell me where you’ve been hanging out, because I definitely want to get me one
of those.”

Melanie washed her hands, then hurried to the front, wondering who it might be.

She glanced around as she stepped through the doorway.

“Hi, Melanie.”

She turned toward the vaguely familiar voice and was shocked to see Storm’s friend,
Travis, stand up from one of the small round tables near the cash register. In his
jeans and sleeveless T-shirt, his muscular arms and shoulders were on full display.
He looked tough, but very sexy.

Unlike Storm’s tattoo-laden arms, Travis had one snake tattoo encircling his bicep.
His longish sandy hair was unkempt, in a stylish way, and his strong jaw was shadowed
with whiskers.

“Oh, hi. How are you doing?” Why in the world was Travis here?

Storm’s words echoed through her head.
Travis and I are good friends, but if he could steal you away, he would. It’s just
a weird rivalry that started between us when we were on the road.

His smile was boyish and wickedly sexy at the same time.

“I wanted to know if you’d join me for lunch.”

“Well, I’m not sure if—”

“Oh, my God. You’re Travis, the lead singer of Savage Kiss.” A young woman who’d been
sitting with two friends at a table a few feet away bolted to her feet and rushed
over. “I saw your show last week. You were amazing.”

Travis smiled. “Thanks, darlin’.”

She thrust a menu at him. “Can I get your autograph?”

“Oh, me, too,” one of her friends said. Both young women had joined her and they were
crowding around him.

He signed autographs for all three of them, and a few other people who came over.

He turned to Melanie and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Please say you’ll join
me and we can go somewhere quiet.”

Sue walked over. “Hi, I’m Sue.” She grinned broadly as she held out her hand.

Travis shook it. “Nice to meet you, Sue.”

“Travis, that’s our supervisor over there. I happen to know she saw your concert on
Thursday night and is a big fan. I’m sure she’d be thrilled if you go say hi, and
I doubt she’d turn you down if you ask if Melanie can leave for lunch a little early.”

“Thanks for the tip, Sue. I’ll be right back.”

“What are you doing, Sue?” Melanie said as soon as Travis stepped away. “I’m seeing
Storm.”

“Listen, Mel, you have two sexy men pursing you.” She winked. “Keep your options open.”

Travis strolled back to Melanie. “Ready?”

“I … guess so.”

*   *   *

Melanie and Travis sat down at the table on the patio of Genaro’s, a little café a
couple of blocks from the shop. The hostess handed them menus, and after a quick glance
at the specials, Melanie closed hers.

When the waitress came by, Melanie ordered the chicken-and-pineapple wrap with a salad
and Travis asked for a beer and a burger.

“I’m surprised you came to see me,” Melanie said.

“Why?”

She couldn’t help staring at his blue-green eyes, which sent waves of warmth through
her every time he focused on her, which felt like all the time. It was as if she was
all he could see.

After years of working with Rafe and feeling invisible, it was a heady feeling. He
continued to watch her with unabashed interest, as if he could peer into her soul
and know her deepest secrets.

“Well, you don’t really know me. And I didn’t think you were staying in the city.”

“I wanted to spend some time with my sister. I only met her fiancé briefly when they
came to see us play on Thursday, and we didn’t get much time to talk. I can’t let
my little sister just marry some guy without getting to know him.”

She smiled. “And do you approve?”

He grinned. “That depends. Do you like the guy?”

“Mr. Ranier? Yes, of course.”

“You call him Mr. Ranier?” He shrugged. “I guess he was your boss. Yeah, he seems
a bit overbearing to me, but he seems to make Jess happy.”

She nodded.

“And as for not knowing you,” he smiled, “I wouldn’t mind changing that.”

“Is that why you asked me to lunch?” She pushed a loose strand of hair, which had
escaped the elastic that bound it, behind her ear. “You know I’m seeing Storm.”

He shrugged. “I asked you here because I want to get an engagement gift for Jess and
I want it to be something special. I thought I could ask your advice. Maybe you’d
even help me pick it out.”

“Oh, that’s nice of you.” She nodded. “Sure, I could do that.”

The waitress brought their food and she picked up her fork. As she enjoyed a bite
of her salad, she gazed at Travis.

Just being at the same table with him set her off balance. Despite his tough-guy attire,
he had a sensual aura about him, and she sensed the soul of an artist in him. She
felt a strange desire to run her fingers through his sandy brown hair. As if reading
her mind, he pushed a lock behind his ear, revealing three small hoop earrings.

Why couldn’t she stop thinking about how sexy he was? Was she forming an addiction
to rock musicians? Or with Travis, was the appeal that when he looked at her, he seemed
to truly see her?

He glanced up and caught her staring at him. A slow smile spread across his face.

“So, darlin’, just how serious are you and Storm?”

*   *   *

The limo pulled up outside the coffee shop where Melanie worked and Rafe got out.
He’d tried texting her about twenty minutes ago to ask her to lunch, but she hadn’t
responded yet, so he figured he’d stop by and ask her in person. She didn’t keep her
cell with her while she was working, so that meant she probably hadn’t left for lunch
yet.

He stepped into the shop and saw the smiling Sue serving a customer, and another woman
he didn’t recognize wiping a table by the window.

“Oh, hi,” Sue said when she saw him. “Um … Melanie’s not here right now.”

“That’s too bad. I was going to take her to lunch.”

“I’ll let her know you stopped by.”

“Excuse me.”

Rafe turned to the other woman who now stood beside Sue behind the counter.

He smiled. “Yes?”

She examined his face. “Aren’t you in Savage Kiss, too?”

Too?

“Yes, I am.”

Her eyes lit up the same way he’d seen a thousand times before when a female fan recognized
him, which boosted his ego every time. But right now he wanted to know who else she’d
seen from the band, and when.

“I thought so. You’re Storm, the guitarist.” She smiled brightly. “You’re all really
good, but you’re my favorite.”

“Thank you very much.”

If he had been wearing his jeans, he’d have smiled wickedly and called her baby, since
the fans loved that so much, but in his suit it just felt … odd being recognized.
No one had ever recognized him as Storm when he was in his suit before. Actually,
no one in Philadelphia had ever recognized Storm from Savage Kiss. The band was becoming
well-known now, so if he continued to play with them when they were in town, it would
start to happen more often. That could become disruptive.

“Have any of the other band members come in?” he asked.

“Yes, the lead singer, Travis, came in about an hour ago. He took Melanie to lunch.”

Somehow, Rafe maintained his calm smile without even a flinch.

“Do you know where he took her?”

He noticed Sue glance nervously at the other woman.

“There’s a nice café on the corner two blocks east of here called Genaro’s. The staff
often go there for meals. The other likely place is Freida’s Diner another block farther.”

“Thanks.” He turned and headed to the door.

Why had Travis taken Melanie to lunch? He fumed. As if he didn’t know. Fuck, he needed
to tell Travis to lay off. That this woman was off-limits. But knowing Travis, that
would only make him pursue her harder.

Why the hell would Melanie agree to go with Travis after he’d told her Travis would
steal her away in a minute? Of course, despite the incredible night of sex they’d
shared, there was no promise of anything more. Certainly nothing that said they were
exclusive.

Once on the street, he started east, but his limo pulled up to the curb. The driver
got out of the car to open the door.

*   *   *

Melanie shifted in her chair as Travis stared at her with those unnerving blue-green
eyes of his, waiting for her answer as to whether she was serious about Storm or not.