Road to Desire (16 page)

“But you can’t.”

“Why can’t I?”

“It’s too soon.”

“Is it?”

I let out a frustrated squeak. “Quit volleying with me.”

Austin laughed, pulling me down on top of him. “I’ve had the kind of life that when I find something good, I see it for what it is. I love you. End of story.”

I dropped my cheek to his chest. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t have to say anything, babe.”

“You’re not mad?”

“About what?”

“Me not saying it back,” I said, lifting my head.

He chuckled. “Why the hell would I be mad?”

I sighed. “I have always wondered what it would be like to be so secure in one’s self that they can say whatever they want and not feel vulnerable and stupid.”

“You think I’m vulnerable and stupid?” he teased.

“
No
,” I said quickly, and groaned.

Austin rolled me onto my back and slid his hand to my neck, thumbing my pulse. It was his go-to when I was feeling off-kilter, and it always made me feel safe. “Talk to me,” he prodded. “You can tell me anything, Dani.”

“It was when you warmed my hands.”

“What was?”

“When I fell in love with you.” I squeezed my eyes shut expecting him to tell me I was an idiot.

“Eyes, baby.”

I opened them and shivered. He was looking at me as though I’d just given him the most precious gift.

“You talked in your sleep,” he said.

“Huh?”

“The other night. You talked in your sleep.”

“Ohmigod, what did I say?”

He smiled, running a finger between my breasts. “‘I love you, Austin. Don’t leave me.’”

“I did not.”

“Swear to God you did.”

“Is that why you’re telling me all of this?” I asked, scared of what his answer might be.

“Hell, no.” He frowned. “Do you really think I’d do that?”

“No idea,” I admitted.

“Well, just so we’re clear, I wouldn’t. I will always tell you the truth and if I can’t tell you something, I’ll say so.”

“Deal.” I smiled. “Are we done talking now?”

“Would you rather do something else?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

He grinned, sliding his hand between my legs. “Like?”

I arched my hips and sighed. He pulled his hand away. “Huh-uh. You have to say it, Dani.”

My face flamed. “Touch me.”

He touched my thigh. “Here?”

“No,” I rasped.

He moved his hand to my hip. “Here?”

I shook my head.

“Where, baby.”

“There.”

He chuckled. “Not good enough. Tell me what you want me to do to you.”

“I want… um… your mouth.”

“You want my mouth?”

I nodded and squeezed by eyes shut.

“Eyes, Dani.”

I looked at him again and my heart raced.

“Where do you want my mouth?” he asked.

“Down… there.”

He smiled, moving his hand to my stomach. “You want my mouth here?”

“Lower,” I whispered.

“All you have to do is say it, baby, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“I want your mouth on my… pu… um… pussy.”

Austin didn’t make me wait as he knelt between my legs and pushed my knees open. Guiding one of my legs over his shoulder, he covered my core with his mouth and sucked my clit, and then blew gently.

I mewed and arched into his mouth as he continued his assault. I vaguely registered the sound of tearing foil and then his girth filled me and I cried out in delight. His thumb had replaced his mouth on my clit, and then he rolled onto his back, carrying me with him so I was straddling him. I anchored my hands on his chest and lowered myself so I could draw him deeper inside of me.

“Babe,” he whispered, grabbing my bottom with one hand, while he continued to stroke me with the other.

I raised up and then lowered myself again, the sensation of him filling me while I had all the power incredibly exciting. I raised up again and smiled down at him. “Like this? Am I doing it right, Mr. Carver?” I used my very best, dumb blonde voice, and for whatever reason, his eyes widened and his breathing came in short bursts.

I lowered again and quickly found myself on my back and Austin driving into me so fast and hard, I came before he was done. I cried out and gripped his arms, wrapping my legs around him as he surged forward again and again, building something inside of me I wasn’t expecting. I burst into tears as another orgasm hit and he fell on top of me, breathing hard, and his hand going for my neck. “Baby, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”

I shook my head, unable to stop my sobbing.

“Hey.” Austin leaned up and stroked my cheek. “Dani, you’re scaring me. Talk to me.”

“I can’t.” My sobs wracked my body and I knew… just
knew
… it was the ugly cry. Like when snot flies out of your nose at the same time as gushing salt water seeps from your eyeballs and mixes with all manner of bodily fluids to give your face a sheen that no one really wants to see.

I covered my face with my hands and Austin pulled me into the safety of his body and held me, stroking my back until I was able to calm down. The tears dried up, but the hiccupping was on full tilt.

He cupped the back of my head and gently guided my head forward, kissing my forehead. “You okay?”

I nodded, taking a deep breath and then another. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“Because I’m all snotty and gross.”

Austin chuckled. “You’re fuckin’ adorable, Dani, do you know that?”

“Phlegm turns you on, huh?”

“Only yours, baby.”

I giggled, shoving my face into his neck. “I was not expecting that.”

“Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”

“Positive.” I met his eyes. “I just couldn’t stop coming and I was so overwhelmed by you. I felt beautiful and loved, and wholly cherished, and it was so much to take in.”

“You are all of those things,” he said. “I thought I might have scared you. I had a flashback and it made me a little crazy.”

“What kind of flashback?”

“The kind that when I dropped you off at your place that first night, I envisioned you in thigh-high stockings, a pearl necklace and those glasses of yours, riding me while I sucked your tits.”

I gasped. “You did?”

“Yeah. Spent a few nights alone with my hand while calling up that fantasy.”

I shook my head. “You’re insane.”

“Yep. You make me crazy.”

“Ditto.” I giggled and leaned forward to kiss him. “Why don’t you have more tattoos?”

Austin had the skull of a dog with flames in the background, and
Dogs of Fire
under it, on his right pectoral. But that was all. I was surprised that his body wasn’t covered with them.

He shrugged. “I’ve never been a tat guy,” he admitted. “We all have some form of our club’s logo, but other than that, it’s just not my thing.”

“I like that.”

“You do?”

I nodded. “I’ve never been a big tattoo person, although, this one’s pretty cool. I like seeing your body.”

Austin smiled and kissed my forehead. “How’s your head?”

“Pounding,” I said. “And I’m sleepy.”

“Sleep baby. I’ll take care of the condom and be right back.”

“’K,” I said on a yawn.

Austin left me, returning quickly and pulling me into his arms. He kissed my shoulder and I fell asleep almost immediately with a smile on my face.

B
OOKER WALKED INTO
the club, his thoughts occupied by the last few hours. He’d left Dani asleep in his bed, waking her briefly to tell her where he was going, before kissing her and watching as she fell back into slumber.

He’d stopped at the front desk of his building to inform the doorman that Dani was in his apartment and to not let her leave without talking with him first.

He took a minute to grab his mail, running into his neighbor, Macey Stone, a nurse at the local hospital.

“Hey, Booker,” Macey said as she thumbed through her mail.

The gorgeous red-head looked like she’d just come in from a run.

“Hey, Mase. Where’s your husband?”

“Dallas got called into work.” She wrinkled her nose. “I really wish criminals would be more sensitive to our schedule. I’ve only had one full day with him this week.”

Booker chuckled. Macey’s husband was an FBI agent and that was all Booker cared to learn about him.

“Did I hear you tell Trevor you’ve got a lady visitor?”

Booker grinned. “My woman’s staying with me for a few days. Her name’s Dani.”

“Awesome. If I get a chance, I’ll go introduce myself.” Macey scanned her mail. “Payton’s coming over to get the rest of her stuff, so we’ll both go.”

Payton had been Macey’s roommate up until Macey got married.

Austin smiled. “I think she’d really like that.”

“Gotta hit the shower,” Macey said. “See ya.”

“Bye, babe,” he said, and headed to the garage.

“Booker,” Crow said, pulling him back to the present.

“Hey.” Booker glanced up to see the Prez with a glass of whiskey in his hand. “Shit, already?”

“Fuckin’ shit day, Book.”

“Gonna get worse.”

“Figured.” He started toward the back of the building. “Let’s talk in my office.”

Booker kicked the door closed behind him and flopped down in one of the chairs facing Crow’s desk. “You got K&R insurance on your kid?”

Crow sat in his office chair and scowled. “How do you know about that?”

“I found out from the asshole who stole Dani’s money.”

Crow pulled out his cell phone and put it to his ear. “Ace, I want Chigger on Ashley twenty-four-seven. Yeah. I don’t give a flyin’ fuck if she don’t want it, she don’t got a choice. Update me. Yeah.” He hung up. “Talk to me.”

“This douchebag has records on several folks who have insurance policies over two mil, including Dani. He seems mostly interested in kidnap and ransom, but he’s got half a dozen accidental death ones as well. I’m diggin’ deeper and I’ve got Train and Grizz on ’im until I can figure out what his game is. I cross-referenced the names on the policies and no one’s been kidnapped or killed so far, but I’m thinkin’ he wants to benefit from this information, so I’m assuming he’ll either act on it or sell it.”

“Fuck,” Crow said. “You got your woman?”

Booker nodded. “She’s safe. I’m gonna talk to her brother and father and see what they think.”

“Tread lightly there.”

“No, I’m gonna fill them in on all the club’s business, including our not so above-board dealings. Then I’m gonna hand them all the money and hold my hands out for the cuffs.”

Crow laughed. “Fuck you, Booker.”

“Got me a woman I like better, Crow.” I grinned. “But thanks for the offer.”

Crow sipped his drink. “Anything else?”

Booker shook his head. “Nope. Don’t know if you want to bring this up at church, but figured you could use the next few days to make that call.”

“Thanks,” he said. “Things good with Hawk?”

“I’m not gonna kill him, if that’s what you’re askin’.”

“Need you two to work this out, Booker. Can’t have two of my top men at each other’s throats.”

“How ’bout you stay the fuck out of it?”

Crow leaned forward, arms on the desk. “Right now it’s not fuckin’ with the club, but if it starts to, I’ll be gettin’ in the fuckin’ middle and neither of you’ll like it. Get me?”

Booker nodded, stamping down his irritation.

“Ace had a computer question. After you help him, you take care of your woman.”

Booker stood and forced himself not to slam the door behind him. Hawk was a pain in the ass, and not the good kind like Dani. The ‘needed to be taken out back and beat to death’ kind.

Booker found Ace in the alcove behind the pool table. Sometimes the older kids worked on homework after school or in the rare case of a club lockdown. Ace was sitting at the one facing the side window and looked about ready to blow a gasket.

“What’s up?” Booker asked.

“Fuckin’ virus,” Ace answered.

Booker shoved the older man aside and went about diagnosing the issue. “Who was last on this?”

“Doc’s kid.”

Matthew was fifteen and already a hell-raiser. Booker shook his head. “Well, Matt’s been havin’ a little fun. He’s download some sketchy porn.”

“I thought you did somethin’ so the kids couldn’t get to it.”

“I did, but I didn’t go all out. Most kids will get up against the security and not know how to get around it. Matt’s figured it out.”

“Little shit.”

Booker chuckled. “I’m gonna have to wipe everything and reinstall, but it’ll take me a while.” He unhooked the computer from the monitor and pulled it from under the table. “Have one of the recruits bring this to my place. I’ll upgrade the other computers now and fix this before church.”

Ace nodded and went off to find someone to courier the computer to Booker’s place. After he put protection software on the rest of the kids computers, Booker took off for home, hoping to get some time with Dani before they had to leave for her parents’ place.

He walked into his condo to find Payton and Macey sitting at his kitchen island laughing at something Dani had just said. Dani handed Macey a glass of water and smiled over at him. He tried to keep his disappointment of finding Dani up and clothed off his face. She’d pulled her hair back into a ponytail and wore her sex glasses, and she looked adorable.

“Hi, honey,” she said.

“Hey, babe.” He closed the door. “Mase, Payton. Good to see you again.”

He made his way to Dani and leaned down to kiss her.

She stroked his cheek. “Get everything sorted?”

Booker grinned. “Kind of. You call your mom?”

Dani nodded. “Yep. All set.”

“This is our cue to leave you two,” Macey said.

“Uh, yeah,” Payton added.

“You don’t need to rush off,” Dani countered.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong.” Macey giggled. “Booker has the same look on his face that Dallas gets when he wants to be alone with me.”

“And, not that I’m an expert because I have no one who gives a damn, but I see it too,” Payton retorted.

“You are ridiculous,” Macey said.

“But I’m right,” Payton added.

Macey shook her head and then focused on Dani again. “Well, we’re gonna let you kids be alone.”

Booker chuckled. “Smart women.”

“Austin,” Dani admonished.

“What? It’s true. I do want alone time with you.”

Dani shook her head and pushed away from Booker. “I’ll walk you out.”

Booker grabbed a beer and flopped onto the sofa. He heard Payton and Macey still arguing as they left and he thought they’d be perfect for some television sitcom. They were hilarious.

He dropped his head back when Dani stood behind him and leaned down to kiss him, their faces upside down. “How was your meeting?”

“Everyone’s on the same page for the moment.” He took her hand and tugged her around in front of him, pulling her onto his lap. He set his beer aside so he could wrap his arms around her. “What did you think of Macey and Payton?”

“They’re really sweet.” Dani smiled. “They’re also gorgeous.”

“Are they?”

“Nice save, honey.” Dani ran her fingers through his hair. “What’s the look Macey was talking about?”

“I don’t think I gave a look,” he said. “But I had hoped you’d still be naked and in bed.”

“At three o’clock in the afternoon?”

“Yes.”

Dani laughed. “Are you suggesting that I just spend my days naked and in bed, awaiting you to service me whenever you require sex.”

He couldn’t stop a wide grin. “Is that an option?”

She leaned down and kissed him. “I’m open to negotiations.”

Austin drew in a quick breath. “What time do we need to be at your parents’ place?”

“Six.”

He kept her in his arms as he rose to his feet. “Let’s start negotiating.”

Dani giggled as he carried her to the bedroom.

* * *

I arched my back trying to get closer, but Austin gripped my waist and held me still. I let out a frustrated groan and his chuckle irked me further. I was on my hands and knees, Austin kneeling behind me and he was taking his sweet time making me come.

“Greedy,” he whispered as he slid into me again… slowly.

“Honey,” I rasped. “Harder.”

He reached between my legs with one hand and fingered my clit, while rolling a nipple with the other, then he slid his hand to my waist and anchored me. “Up, baby.”

I sat up and he adjusted me so that I was straddling him backwards, his chest to my back. This position drove him deeper into me and I dropped my head back onto his shoulder. “Austin,” I whispered.

“You okay?”

“I can’t get close enough.”

He laid his hand on mine at my stomach and linked our fingers together. Guiding our hands between my legs, he kissed my neck. “Touch yourself, baby.”

“Um… ”

“Want me to show you?”