“Yeah. You should’ve stopped over. I’ve wanted you to meet him. He’s the one who’s been using.”
He ran his fingers through his long hair. “Fuck,” he said under his breath. He looked at her and smiled sheepishly. “I misunderstood the situation, just like you’re doing with Alma.”
“So she’s not your main squeeze?”
“The club girls have vicious tongues sometimes. They’re very protective of each other. I wasn’t with Alma. I haven’t been with her since I met you.”
“You mean since we slept together?”
He caught her gaze and held it, then reached out and lightly stroked her jawline with his thumb. “No. Since I met you.”
Tingles of desire teased her as warmth spread through her. “Oh.”
“Yeah, ‘oh.’ You wanna come back inside so we can talk? It’s fucking hot out here.”
She smiled and unlocked the door. “Sure.” She followed him back into the clubhouse and avoided the brothers’ gazes. A few more members were in the main room, and she noticed Lucy and Fina were sitting at a table, shooting daggers at her. “I really should get going. I’ve got a bunch of work waiting for me at the office.”
“Let’s have a quick drink. I wanna tell you I’m fucking stoked about Chenoa being able to live with me. You ran out so damn fast I didn’t have a chance to tell you that. I know you’re the reason the department changed their minds.” He picked her up and set her on the stool, then settled himself between her legs. He stroked her cheek. “You went to bat for me. You had my back. When I first met you, I figured you were just like all the others who fucked me over with Chenoa. I was wrong.” He put his hand on the back of her neck and tugged her to him, then kissed her tenderly.
The gentleness of his kiss fueled by his unassuming words sent the pit of her stomach into a wild swirl. She opened her eyes and peered over his shoulder, suddenly becoming self-conscious at all the gazes fixed on her and Steel. Pulling away a bit, she cleared her throat. “You’re going to have to move out of the clubhouse.”
“Why’d you pull away from me, baby?” He drew her close to him again. “Don’t bother with being shy. The brothers don’t give a fuck, they’re just bored, and the club girls will back off now that they see you’re my woman.” His mouth captured hers and his tongue slid in, sending shivers of desire racing through her.
“Am I your woman?” she mumbled between kisses.
“All the way. You good with that?” His mouth brushed against hers as he spoke.
“I’m more than good with that.” She looped her arms around him and kissed him deeply, glad she was sitting as a lightness spread through her body, mingling with a heat that radiated through her chest.I’m Steel’s woman.She cracked open her eyelids and noticed that the men had gone back to talking among themselves and the club girls had left. “I really do have to go. I can’t blow off work, even though I want to in the worst way.”
“We gotta go up to my room so I can claim you the way a man should,” he said, his hot breath fanning over her face.
She grimaced and kissed his chin. “You’re so bad, tempting me like that, but Idohave to go. I have a meeting I can’t miss. When’re you going to find a rental?”
“Today. I’ll come to your place tonight. Does seven work?” She nodded. “I can’t wait to claim you, baby.” He helped her off the barstool and gave her ass a swat. “A preview for tonight,” he said when she opened her mouth to protest. He gave her a quick peck on the lips and then walked her to her car. He opened the door for her and, as she slipped in, said, “Being my woman means we’re only with each other.”
She smiled. “I know. I’ll see you later tonight.” She drove away and kept glancing in her rearview mirror. He stood in the same spot watching her. She turned down the small road and he disappeared from her sight.
I’m Steel’s woman and he’s my man.Her body buzzed as she said the words over and over again in her head. The enormity of it covered her like a warm blanket.
Best day ever!
