“It looks a bit rough to have been a planned surgery.”
“It was a last-minute thing.” I lied. It was a disfigurement after all, and I hated it. I remember how I cried about it to Harper weeks after my recovery. Harper had scars and was so understanding and helpful. My friend told me I’d come to accept it, but I still wasn’t at that stage. It wasn’t a vanity thing; it reminded me of what I’d lost that night. And now that thing I had lost was standing right in front of me, staring down at that mark without knowing its true meaning. “Does it bother you?” I asked, momentarily dazed.
He frowned, lifting his chin. “Of course not, at least, not in the way you mean. It’s a blemish, and it only makes you more human.” Reed then lowered his head, placed a kiss there, and pushed my top back over the area. “I just wish I’d been there for you during your recovery. The sight of this bothers me more.” The latter part of that sentence made my gut clench. He was referring to Jasper’s ring on the necklace I was wearing. Again, a surge of annoyance that I hadn’t left it in the car hit me.
I swallowed, keeping my mouth shut. What could I say? Fortunately, I didn’t need to reply as he took the chain and pulled it. At first, I thought he was going to snap the links, but he didn’t. Reed just threaded the chain so the ring fell out of sight and down my back. He then kissed the skin of my neck, before drawing back with that same question in his eyes. “Please, Storm. Stay with me? Just for one night?”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
And I did that one thing I had promised myself I wouldn’t do.
I surrendered. “Yes, Reed. OK. I’ll stay with you.”
“Yes?” The way his face morphed into hope seared into me.
“Yes, but only for tonight.”
And with those words, I sealed my fate.
We drove back along the freeway in silence, anticipation of what was to come pumping through my veins. As Reed pulled the bike into the lot beneath the Bayberry Hotel, I climbed off. He helped me with the catch on my helmet and asked if I was OK after our ride.
After ensuring the bike was secure, he took my hand and led me to the elevator, swiping his key card to access it.
We rode in silence, my hand in his, and as we got to the door into his suite, Reed turned and looked down at me.
I knew it was a bad idea; he should have remained as part of my past. He was also a client. I was blurring the lines, but at that point, I couldn’t stop myself.
“Now is the time for second thoughts. Are you sure about this?”
“More than anything else in my life right now,” I replied truthfully.
Reed’s expression was full of warmth and lustful intentions, and I knew my face would mirror that.
He pushed open the door and tugged me into the room, kicking the wood closed with his booted foot.
I didn’t even have time to take in his suite before he threw his motorcycle gloves onto the floor, turned, and pinned me against the door.
We were all fingers and thumbs as he started to slide my jacket off, my hands lifting to the zip on his leathers while toeing off my boots.
Reed discarded my coat and moved to help with the stiff zip of his jacket. Finally, he managed to wiggle his broad shoulders out and kick off his own boots, and I lifted the tee off my head.
There was nothing overly romantic in the way we shed our clothing; it was quick and desperate, and as I stood there in my jeans and bra, we were both breathing heavily. Reed’s tee was plastered to his chest, showing off all the bumps of his mouthwatering pectorals.
“Let’s take this someone more comfortable,” he husked, bending to lift me off my feet bridal style. I wrapped my arms around his neck, taking in that masculine scent mingled with biker leather.
Our eyes clashed as Reed lowered me onto the bed and stood back. “God, I’ve missed you,” he said, his hands going to the flies of his pants.
I pushed up on my elbows and watched him tug the leathers down until he was standing in black silk boxer briefs. His huge cock was tenting the front, and I almost licked my lips.
Reed glanced down to where I was focused before his smug smile turned wolfish. Suppressing a shiver, I forced myself to look back up into his gorgeous face. I noticed that his jawline was sharper and those cheekbones were much more defined.
“I hope you’re ready, Teacup, as I don’t know how much foreplay I’m capable of right now. I haven’t touched you properly, and I’m ready to explode.”
Lifting my gaze, I raised an eyebrow, casting him a sultry look. “Then you’d better get over here, Prescott, and put your mouth on me already.”
And he needed no further encouragement as he stood out of the leathers, reached over his shoulder, and yanked his tee off over his head. I swallowed, a flutter of nerves stirring in my belly as he then released his cock from his underwear.
