Riding Steele: Aftershock (5 page)

He was still trying to scare her, to push her away. She knew that. But unfortunately, he was succeeding.

Had it been a mistake coming here?

Her stomach twisted and she turned away, then headed for the door to the room she shared with Wild Card.

*

Steele watched Laurie walk down the dark hall and open the bedroom door, then slip inside. His gut clenched at the thought that she’d be climbing into bed with another man.

He went into his room and closed the door, then slumped onto the bed. With his hands behind his head, he stared at the white ceiling above, visible in the soft glow of moonlight. Laurie was probably snuggling up beside Wild Card right now, her soft body close to his.

Fuck! He rolled over, glowering in the darkness.

It’s not like she and Wild Card were together. But, damn it, the man wasn’t made of stone. With Laurie close and soft in his bed, why wouldn’t he make love to her? He’d already fucked her before when they’d been sharing.

It would be meaningless, just physical intimacy. But it wasn’t meaningless to Steele. The thought of Wild Card touching her drove him insane with jealousy.

God damn it, Steele loved her. He’d known it all along. But he couldn’t be with her. He couldn’t take a chance on hurting her.

But his heart ached with need. If only she would come over here right now. Slide into his bed and tell him again that they could work things out. Right now, maybe he’d actually believe her. Because he wanted it so badly.

With her help … maybe they
could
make it work.

A knock sounded at the door and his heart stopped.

“Come in.” He sat up and turned on the light on the bedside table as the door opened. Was it Laurie?

“Hey, there,” Raven said, peering in at him. “May I come in?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Raven closed the door and walked to the bed, then sat on the edge.

“I thought you might want to talk,” she said.

He shrugged. “About what?”

She rolled her eyes. “You are such a guy. About Laurie, of course.”

Raven leaned toward him. “Why don’t you try telling her how you feel?”

He raised an eyebrow. “And how do I feel?”

“You’re crazy about her. And either you’re denying that to yourself, or you’ve found some reason why you think it won’t work.”

“Rave, leave it alone.”

She pursed her lips. “If I actually thought you meant that, I would. But you have that lost little-boy look and I know you just need to be pushed in the right direction.” She leaned in close. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re fighting this?”

He stared into her stubborn face and knew he wouldn’t get away with shrugging this off.

“You know what she’s been through. The last thing she needs is a domineering jerk like me controlling her in the bedroom.”

Raven laughed. “Oh, is that all. I thought this was something serious.”

“Raven.”

“No, you listen to me. You are big, intimidating, and possessive.”

“You’re not making things better.”

“And you are protective, loving, and caring. She couldn’t hope for a better man. She knows … we all know … that you will take care of her. And protect her.” She jabbed him in the chest with a fingertip. “Even from you.”

He didn’t share her confidence.

“If I start to dominate her—”

“What, you’ll scare her? That girl doesn’t scare easily.”

“But what if I go too far? What if I hurt her?”

Her face softened with a smile. “You would never do that. You’ve been dominating women for a long time. You can sense what they want and what they don’t want.” Her eyebrow quirked up. “And she can speak up, you know. She’s not just going to lie there and let you hurt her. If you get out of line, I’m sure she’ll call you on it.” She tipped her head. “Have you ever gone too far with a woman?”

“Of course not.”

“Okay.”

“But she was abused.”

“And so she’s definitely going to push back. I’ve gotten to know Laurie and she’s not going to let anyone treat her the way that rat-bastard did again.”

She patted his hand. “Well, think about it.”

Then she stood up and strolled to the door. She opened it and glanced over her shoulder. “Have a good night.”

Steele turned out the light and lay in the darkness thinking about what Raven had said. Could he make this thing work between him and Laurie?

Fuck, he wanted to so badly he could taste it.

*

Laurie lay in the bed beside Wild Card. When he’d volunteered to help her with this plan to win Steele back, he’d offered to give her the bed while he slept on a sleeping bag on the floor, but she’d insisted he share the bed with her.

In his sleep, Wild Card had rolled over and slid his arm around her, then drew her close. Now she was tight against his hot, hard body and she could feel his cock swelling against her thigh.

Clearly, she hadn’t really thought it through.

He murmured softly then nuzzled her ear. His hand started to wander from her waist upward.

“Wild Card,” she whispered.

“Mmm. Yeah, baby.” His hand cupped her breast. She knew he wasn’t really awake and was just responding to a woman in his bed.

The feel of his big, warm hand on her was comforting … and stimulating.

But all she could think of was Steele.

He stroked her breast, then slid to the other, his lips caressing her neck now.

She turned her head to face him. “Wild Card?”

His eyelids opened, and he blinked. Then he slid his hand away. “Aw, sorry, Laurie. I didn’t mean to—”

“I know.”

Wild Card started to turn away, but she grasped his muscular bicep.

“Don’t go.” She gazed at him with wide eyes, not quite sure what she was asking for. She just knew she wanted him close. She needed to feel wanted right now.

He slid his arm around her waist again. “Whatever you want, you’ve got it.” He smiled. “You’re just a little confused right now, but don’t worry. I’m sure Steele will come around.”

She gazed into his hazel eyes, so filled with warmth and understanding. She rested her hand on his raspy cheek, then stroked it. “Thank you.”

She felt so close to him right now. She cupped his face between her hands, insecurity and need building in her. She leaned toward him and brushed her lips on his, then deepened the kiss.

She could almost imagine he was Steele. Even though she knew it was wrong, she wanted … no, needed … this closeness. She slid her tongue into his mouth and sighed softly.

Wild Card drew back and gazed into her eyes. “I know you think you want this right now, but we both know that you’re Steele’s woman.”

“You’re fucking right about that.”

Laurie’s gaze darted to the doorway where Steele stood staring at them from the open doorway.

“Laurie, are you my woman or not?” Steele demanded.

Her eyes widened and she sat up in bed. “I … uh …”

“Yes or no?”

“Yes!” She gazed at Wild Card in apology, but he just grinned.

“Then get into my room and into bed.” Steele’s glittering granite gaze brooked no argument.

She pushed back the covers and scurried across the room, joy bursting through her, then ducked under Steele’s arm that gripped the door, and down the hall.

*

Steele glanced toward Wild Card and nodded. “Thanks.”

Wild Card chuckled. “Anytime. Now go take care of your woman.”

Steele turned and strode to his room. Laurie was sitting in bed, the covers around her, staring at him with her big blue eyes. He shoved the door closed behind him.

“That was a dangerous game you were playing. Didn’t you care that I might beat the living daylights out of Wild Card?”

She shook her head. “I knew you wouldn’t do that.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“Because you know I’m not in any danger from Wild Card. And you respect him, and all your men, too much.”

He walked toward her, keeping his expression stern. “You think you know me better than I know myself?”

Her eyes widened as he approached, but she didn’t cringe as he strode closer. “I know that you’re a good man, and I know that you would never hurt me, or any of your crew.”

He sat down on the bed beside her, then curled his fingers around her cheek and grasped her face. “You got that right.”

Then he captured her lips, delving his tongue inside. Claiming her. Deeply and thoroughly. When he released her lips, she sucked in a breath.

He smiled. He loved leaving her breathless.

“So you’re going to ride with us?”

She nodded.

“And have sex with every one of my crew?” he said with a teasing grin.

*

Laurie laughed at the gleam in his granite eyes. “Depends on whether or not I’m in the mood. And right now? I’m definitely in the mood. Should I go back and do that for Wild Card right now?”

He laughed and rolled her onto her back, then prowled over her.

“Fuck, no. Right now I want you right here.”

She felt his big heavy cock glide across her belly, then he ripped off her panties and dipped his finger into her folds. He pressed his cockhead against her slit and slowly pushed inside, his gaze locked on hers the whole time he filled her with his considerable length.

The welcome feel of being stretched by his generous girth sent her heart pumping faster.

Once he was fully immersed in her, he lay still, watching her.

Finally, she groaned. “Please, for God’s sake, fuck me.”

He laughed, then pulled back and glided deep again. She squeezed around him.

He nipped her ear. “Tell me you want me.”

She smiled. “I want you.”

He drew back and glided forward again, sending tremors through her.

“Tell me how much.”

Her smiled softened and she stroked his cheek. “You are my world. I want you so much it’s indescribable.” She kissed his raspy chin. “I love you, and I’d do anything to be with you.”

His eyes gleamed and he leaned in and kissed her.

“Oh, God, baby. I love you, too.”

Then he thrust deeply again, making her gasp.

She grasped his shoulders and arched her hips against him. He was deep inside her, but it wasn’t deep enough. She wanted him to consume her. She wanted to be one with him.

He thrust, and thrust again.

“Oh, God, Steele.” Tears welled from her eyes.

He kept thrusting. Filling her with his massive cock. Pleasure swelled and she clung to him, riding the waves of bliss.

“Fuck, baby, I’m so close.”

“Come for me, Steele. Fill me.”

He groaned, then she felt hot semen erupt inside her. She gasped, and catapulted to heaven, moaning his name.

He kept driving into her, faster and faster, until her moans faded to soft whimpers of pleasure, and finally she sighed, sated. He stroked the hair from her face and smiled, then kissed her tenderly.

“You are one hot fuck, you know that?”

But the warmth in his eyes glowed with love, contradicting his rough words.

She smacked his perfectly sculpted ass and laughed. “So are you.”

He rolled back and pulled her on top of him. She wasn’t ready to end this, and she was sure he wasn’t either, so she sat up and stroked her breasts. As she pinched her nipples, his stiffening cock turned to steel inside her.

She began to move her hips, loving the feel of him between her legs. Riding him like a big, powerful bike.

“Now that I’ve got you where I want you, tell me again,” she said.

He smiled. “I love you. I will always love you.”

She giggled, feeling giddy. Then she rode him even harder. Soon another orgasm swelled through her and she moaned, her whole body trembling.

And before long, he let loose a primal growl and then erupted inside her again.

Finally, she dropped onto the bed beside him, and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

“You know I’m never going to let you go.”

She laughed. “I’m counting on it.”

Also by Opal Carew

Bliss

Forbidden Heat

Secret Ties

Six

Blush

Swing

Twin Fantasies

Pleasure Bound

Total Abandon

Secret Weapon

Insatiable

Illicit

His to Command

His to Possess

His to Claim

Opal Carew is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of fifteen previous erotic romances for St. Martin’s Press. To learn more, visit her on the Web at
www.opalcarew.com
.

RIDING STEELE
Get ready for the ride of your life.

Don’t miss any of the installments in this sexy serial!