Laurie stretched in the bed, longing for Steele to return, her whole body aching for him. She could still feel his massive cockhead against her intimate flesh and … oh, she ached at the thought of it pushing inside her.
She could hear his footsteps on the stairs. Hurrying. Returning to her.
She could hardly wait to feel him slide inside her. Her insides ached with need and she stroked her nipples as she watched the door, waiting for him.
His footsteps hurried along the hardwood floor toward her, then the door burst open.
She smiled and opened her arms to him¸ but to her surprise, he just scowled.
“You’ve got to get up. Right now.” His harsh, commanding voice tore through her. He grabbed a T-shirt from the small duffel bag on the dresser and pulled it over his head.
Her stomach clenched. “Steele, did I do something wrong?”
“What?” He stared at her, and suddenly seemed to see her. His glittering granite eyes softened. “No, baby. We’ve just got to get out of here. Fast!”
Her heart raced at his words, filled with the threat of oncoming danger. She pushed the covers aside and sat up, then grabbed her undies from the floor and pulled them on. As she pulled on her bra, she caught him watching her as he stuffed things into his bag, his gaze lingering on her breasts as she tucked them away in the lacy cups.
“Fuck, the timing on this sucks.”
“The timing on what, exactly?” she asked as she tugged on the shirt she wore last night, then retrieved her jeans.
“Officer Grainger is on his way over to make an arrest.”
Her gaze shot to his. “He’s going to arrest you for kidnapping me?”
“No, baby, he’s going to arrest you for stealing that diamond necklace your jackass boyfriend gave you.”
“Donovan? Oh, God. But he gave it to me. I’m sure we can—”
“You can explain it until you’re blue in the face, but whose word are they going to take? Yours? Or his?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “He’s trying to punish me.”
“That’s right.” He grabbed her hand and drew her out the door with him, his bag in his other hand. “And he might not stop at jail.”
* * *
Laurie clung to Steele as the bike sped along the highway, her arms snug around his waist, her body pressed tight to his. The rest of Steele’s crew had sent them ahead while they finished packing up. Steele had told her they would catch up with them at a predetermined place.
She and Steele had gotten out of the house in less than ten minutes and had been riding for hours, but the feel of his hot, hard body and the vibration between her legs kept her body hot and ready.
In the bedroom, before he’d shocked her with the news that they had to run, they had been so close. His plum-shaped tip had teased her wet opening and had glided inside, however briefly. She squirmed on the seat, aching to feel him inside her.
She tried to ignore it. The adrenaline when they’d fled before the police arrived to arrest her had dwarfed the feelings for a while, but then they’d built up again.
She squeezed him, her aching breasts crushed against his back. She couldn’t stand it any longer. She needed to feel him.
She ran her hand over the supple leather of his jacket, caressing his chest, but she couldn’t feel him, so she slid her hand down and stroked over the front of his jeans. Up and down until she felt a bulge form.
Oh, God, she wanted him inside her. She pulled his zipper down and slipped her hand inside. As she stroked his thickening cock, still under the scant protection of his boxers, his hand grasped her wrist and held her still. Then he drew her hand away. Undeterred, she glided her other hand over his growing erection and slid under the cotton to wrap her fingers around him.
If he really wanted her to stop, he could pull over and tell her so. She stroked him and he released her other wrist, grabbing the handlebar of the bike again, his fingers clamping tightly around the grips, just like she gripped tightly around his hard shaft.
He shifted on the seat, then she felt the bike turn and he pulled off the highway onto a side road. She squeezed his big member, and drew it from his jeans, then stroked his length.
He veered off the road, then pulled onto the shoulder.
I guess he wants me to stop.
He dismounted the bike, drawing himself free of her hold, his face looking stern as he zipped himself back up. Then to her surprise, he slid her forward and mounted behind her. Suddenly, they were speeding forward again, but with his arm snuggly around her waist, pulling her tight to his body. She could feel his erection pressed against her backside, straining against his pants.
His hand slid up and stroked her breast, then he cupped it and kneaded it in his hand. The wind rushed past her face and she could barely catch her breath. Her nipples, swollen and hard, ached for him. He slid to her other breast and squeezed it, then his fingers traveled down to the hem of her T-shirt and slipped underneath. He cupped her breast again, then tugged down the lace cup to free her nipple. At the feel of his fingertips pinching her sensitive bud, she arched against him, her head resting back against his shoulder.
The wind rushing past her face … the bike … his touch … all left her breathless and aching for more. He continued to stroke her, alternating from breast to breast. Sometimes cupping and stroking, sometimes teasing her nipples, until her senses were alight with intense desire.
Then he slid down her belly and unzipped her jeans.
Oh, God, his fingers slid inside and underneath her panties until he stroked her slick flesh. She opened her thighs wider and his fingers glided over her. She arched forward as he stroked her slick folds. The feel of his calloused, masculine fingers gliding into her soft, wet passage drove her wild.
Pleasure pulsed through her as he stroked deep inside her, then drew out and touched her clit. She moaned into the wind, then he tweaked and she gasped. He slipped inside her again, this time ignoring her aching clit.
He alternated, gliding deep inside her, and slipping out to tease her swollen button.
She wanted him inside her. She needed release.
As if reading her mind, he slowed the bike and pulled off the road. She glanced around and realized they were now on a small dirt road with trees all around. He pulled over and stopped the bike.
“What the fuck are you doing to me, woman?” He pulled off his helmet as he dismounted, then unfastened hers and pulled it off.
Then his mouth was on hers, his tongue driving into her insistently. She opened for him and he filled her, driving deep, exploring her mouth with authority, his hands cupping her face.
Then he drew back and grasped her leg and pulled it over the bike so she was sitting facing him.
“Take off the fucking jeans.”
She wiggled them down her hips and he pulled them off her legs. She watched with hunger as he unzipped his pants and pulled out his erection. Then he stepped toward her and pulled aside the crotch of her panties. She moaned at the feel of his hot, hard member against her.
“Fuck, woman, you were driving me to distraction.” Then he drove forward, impaling her.
“Oh, God.” She clung to him, holding his body tight to hers, then he drew back, the ridge of his cock dragging on her passage, sending tremors through her.
Then he drove deep again and she moaned.
He drove into her again and again, her whimpers building to long steady moans as pleasure swamped her senses.
“Oh, Steele, yes.”
He nuzzled her neck as he drove deep again. The feel of his lips heightened her senses and she cried out. Her nerve endings glistened with intense sensations and when he drove into her again, she felt the tidal wave begin.
“Oh, yes.” She clung tight to his shoulders. “Steele, I’m…” She gasped as pleasure rushed through her. “I’m coming.” She wailed, throwing her head back as she shot to heaven, her body exploding in a tumultuous burst of ecstatic bliss.
He groaned as he thrust, then jerked forward, holding her tight against him as he pulsed inside her.
They stood like that for a long moment, ensconced in each other’s arms. Finally, he smiled down at her, and kissed her, his hands cupping her cheeks.
“Now we need to get back on the road.”
She smiled, feeling more content than she had in … forever. “Yes, sir. Whatever you say.”
* * *
It was getting late in the afternoon and Laurie’s stomach was rumbling. Steele had grabbed a handful of granola bars and several bottles of water on the way out of the cabin this morning, but the two bars she’d eaten weren’t enough. She wanted dinner and didn’t know when or where Steele would stop to get something to eat.
But she knew he would take care of her. She rested her head against his solid back, her arms snug around his waist.
Steele veered off the main road onto another road that disappeared into trees. Soon they turned onto another smaller road and drove for a while. The road split at a Y junction and as Steele continued, after a short time, the gravel road diminished into a dirt road, then soon became a narrower path with clumps of grass studding the surface. He pulled into a clearing and stopped the bike by a big tree, then dismounted.
It was a lovely spot by a small lake, trees surrounding them, giving them lots of privacy, though this far off the paved road there was probably no one around for miles. The sun glittered on the calm surface of the water.
He pulled off his helmet and opened the storage compartment on the back of the bike and tugged out a blanket and spread it on the grass, then handed her a bottle of water. She opened it and took a swig.
He settled down beside her and gazed out over the water.
“This is a nice spot,” she said.
He nodded. “We have several places like this across the country where we like to stop when we’re in the area. Sort of regular places to camp. This one’s well off the beaten track, so it’s a good place to go when you don’t want to be found.”
“Do you often not want to be found?” she asked.
He shrugged. “We’re not criminals, if that’s what you mean. But I like getting away from it all. I grew up in a city. Crammed into a little box called an apartment. Working all the time. I always wanted to get away. Ride the open road.” He sipped his water. “Be free.”
“So what stopped you?”
“Commitments. Time. Money.”
“What kind of commitments?”
He gazed at her, his expression somber.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”
He sighed. “No, it’s okay.” He capped his water then stretched out on his side, head propped on his hand. “I had a little sister. Chrissy. Our mom…” He shrugged. “She took off when I was a teenager, leaving just Chrissy and me to fend for ourselves. I dropped out of school and got a job. Several, actually, while trying to keep Chrissy in school.”
“Where is she now?”
His eyes darkened in pain and she instantly regretted asking.
“She died of a drug overdose.”
Laurie reached out and placed her hand on Steele’s arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“She was sixteen, in with the wrong crowd.” He shook his head. “I tried to keep her safe, insisted she stop hanging with them, but she wouldn’t listen. When I was home, I could keep on top of things, but I often worked nights as a bouncer, so I left her alone too much. Wild Card would look in on her when he could, but”—his hands balled into fists—“fuck, she still managed to get into trouble. I scared the shit out of the guys she dated, to make sure she didn’t get pregnant, but…” He just shook his head.
She took his hand, her stomach tightening at his obvious pain. “You did the best you could.”
“If I’d done my best, she’d still be alive.”
She stretched out beside him, facing him, and stroked his cheek. “Sometimes things happen … people do things … you can’t control. It’s not your fault.”
He pursed his lips and said nothing. She knew he wasn’t convinced, and nothing she could say would change his mind. All she could do was be here for him. Listen if he wanted to talk.
Now she understood why he had tried so hard to keep her at the cabin. He couldn’t protect his sister, but he would do his best to protect her.
After a few moments of silence, he pushed himself to a sitting position and stared toward the sun hanging low on the horizon.
“The others should be here soon,” he said. “You want to go for a swim?”
She would love to go in the water, especially since she’d had no chance to shower this morning, but she had no bathing suit and really didn’t want to be swimming naked with Steele when the others showed up.
Though the idea of swimming naked with Steele was exciting. Of seeing him peel off his T-shirt and reveal that massive tattooed chest of his. And his impressive cock.
A shiver ran through her. She wanted to climb on top of him and ride him to heaven.
But the others would be here soon and she didn’t want to be caught in an embarrassing situation.
“I think I’d like to just relax.” She gazed at him. “You could go for a swim. I’ll watch.” She grinned.
He laughed. “I don’t know if I should just give you a free show.” He leaned down and brushed his lips on hers, then smiled, a gleam in his granite eyes. “Maybe you should entice me to take off my clothes.”
He lay down and pulled her in for a deeper kiss. His hand found her breast and he cupped it in his big, warm hand. She leaned into his palm, loving the feel of his big fingers caressing her soft flesh.
“That’s nice, but I don’t really want to … you know … get naked when the others might arrive at any time.”
He chuckled. “We don’t actually have to get naked to fuck. We’ve already proven that.”
He rolled her onto her back and prowled over her, covering her with his big, solid body, his rising erection pressing against her stomach. He tilted his pelvis, grinding his hard shaft against her mound, sending heat humming through her.
Oh, God, it felt so good.
But she pressed her hands on his shoulders and pushed.
“No, Steele, I’m really not comfortable with this.”
He gazed down at her, then frowned, but he drew back.
“Because the others might show up in an hour?”
“Or earlier. I’d be … embarrassed.”
He sat up. “If you’re going to be my woman and travel with the crew, you’ll have to get over that kind of thing.”
His woman? Travel with them? Was he serious?
The idea of traveling with Steele was exciting, but could she really live that way?
She’d moved a lot as a kid, with her dad in the army, and she’d always wanted a real home. When her parents had died when she and Craig were still young, they’d gone to live with her grandparents in Jasmineville. She had been about thirteen and found it difficult to make friends in a new town, still suffering from the loss of her parents. She had longed to have friends who knew her, whom she could talk to, share her deepest secrets with. She wanted a stable home, with a network of people who knew and cared about her.
She wanted roots.
She had started to build that dream. She had friends, though none as close as she’d like. She still seemed to keep up barriers, but she was working on that. And she’d bought a town house six months ago. Her own real home.
She was already worried about losing her job—a job with one of Donovan’s companies. He could, and probably would, have her fired, and she could forget about getting a good reference for a new employer. Her chest compressed. She had no savings, and without a good job, she didn’t know how she would pay the mortgage, but she knew she had to find a way. She would not lose her home.
She frowned. No matter how appealing it might be, she couldn’t just take off and ride with Steele and his crew.
Anyway, she’d only met Steele a few days ago. She had no idea if they’d be compatible in the long run. Her common sense told her they wouldn’t be. What did she have in common with a tattooed, nomad biker? She liked her stability, and was horribly unsettled by this whole situation.
She sat up and hugged her knees, tipping her head to gaze at him, and decided to ignore his comment about being his woman to delve into a more troubling issue.
“Steele, what do you think is going to happen? About the charges against me, I mean. If they arrest me, won’t they put me in jail for a long time? That necklace must have been pretty expensive.”
“No one’s going to arrest you.”
“How do you know that? We can’t keep running forever.”
He pulled her into his arms and held her close. “Because I won’t let them.” He kissed the crown of her head with a soft brush of his lips. “I told you. You’re my woman.”
She sighed. She should probably set him straight, but it felt so good in his arms like this. She felt so protected.
He lay back on the blanket, taking her with him, and she snuggled more deeply into his arms and felt herself dozing off.
* * *
Laurie awoke to the roar of engines. She opened her eyes and glanced up to see two men towering over her. She blinked and, in the fading light of the setting sun, she recognized Wild Card and Shock staring down at her.
“You two lovebirds hungry?” Shock asked.
The smell of food tickled her nose. “I’m starving.”
She sat up and glanced around. Rip and Raven walked toward them with paper bags from a fast-food restaurant in their hands. Magic spread a blanket beside the one she and Steele were on and the others sat down. Dom pulled containers of fries and wrapped sandwiches from the bags and passed them around.
Laurie unwrapped her burger and bit into it. Shock handed her a bottle of beer, and one to Steele. It was cold. She twisted off the cap and took a sip.
Soon they were all settled on the blankets, enjoying their meal.
“So Shock is an odd name,” Laurie said. “Why do they call you that?”
He grinned. “It could be my shockingly large cock.”
Steele laughed. “Your shockingly small one, you mean.”
Shock snorted. “Not fair comparing me to your behemoth.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Dom said. “You may have noticed that Shock likes to cook. Well, he used to share a place with Steele, Wild Card, and me, and someone had left behind this old electric griddle and he’d cook pancakes on it every morning. The thing was old and the wiring faulty so he got a shock every time he turned it on. But he insisted on using it every day.”
“It had really even heat and browned the pancakes perfectly,” Shock explained defensively.
“So they call you Shock because you got an electrical shock?”
Wild Card laughed. “Yeah, I think it’s more because of his resemblance to a housewife rather than a biker dude.”
Shock threw a crumpled wrapper at Wild Card’s face. “Yeah, you want to take over the cooking?”
Wild Card grinned. “I wouldn’t think of it, sweetheart.” Then he puckered up and sent him a kiss.
“And talking about big cocks…” Raven said with a grin.
“Were we?” Rip asked. “Or was that just in your mind?”
She laughed and squeezed his knee. “You want to know how this one got the name Rip?” Raven grinned. “He told me it was short for Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”
Laurie watched as Raven stroked Rip’s thigh affectionately.
“Of course, I assumed it was because…” Raven’s gaze dropped to his crotch and she grinned. “But it seems that Steele should have gotten that name.”
“Yeah,” Shock said. “What Rip never told you was that he got the name because someone caught him reading the Ripley’s book. I think it was to win a bet, but maybe he’s just a bookworm.”
Raven gazed at Laurie and winked. “Either way, I think I got stuck with the wrong biker.”
Rip laughed and pulled her tight to his body. “Baby, I haven’t heard you complaining when we’re together.”
Her eyes glittered in delight. “Well, I do get a taste of Steele’s generous member on occasion.”
Steele cleared his throat. “And Wild Card. He’s just trouble brewing. Just when you think things are going along fine, he’ll pull a Card Trick … do something totally random … to throw everything off.”
“Like kidnapping me?” Laurie asked with a smile.
Steele slipped his arm around her and pulled her close. “That was one of his better tricks.”
Laurie gazed up at him. “And how did you get your name?”
“You haven’t figured that out?” Raven asked.
Laurie stared at her, then at Steele, wondering if she was missing something. Some sexual innuendo? Because he grew hard as steel?
“Doesn’t he remind you of someone? Someone famous?”
Laurie stared at his features. “When we first met, I did think he looked a bit familiar, but I couldn’t place him.”
“Think Remington Steele,” Raven said. “Like in the old TV show.”
A young Pierce Brosnan flickered into her mind and she realized Steele looked like a very rugged version of him, with his glossy dark hair swept back off his face, his square jaw, and extremely handsome face. “My mom used to watch that show.” Laurie smiled. “That’s it. That’s where I’ve seen you before.”
Steele just rolled his eyes.
“This is fun,” Laurie said. “And Magic?”
“Well,” Magic said, “that story’s a little crude and has to do with the fact that I’m bi. Let’s just say, people say I work magic.”
“Okay.” But Laurie couldn’t help wondering what he meant specifically. Maybe he would tell her sometime. She turned to Dom. “And you, Dom?”
Was it because he was a Dominant? She’d seen him command Raven. And Magic.
Dom laughed. “My name is Dom.”
Laurie nodded. “I know.”
“No, I mean my name is Dominic. Dom for short. The fact that I like to order people around is just a happy coincidence.”
“And me…” Raven pointed at her head of long, glossy black hair. “Raven hair.”
Steele stroked his hand along Laurie’s hip. “We’ll be keeping an eye on what ride name to give you, so keep that in mind.”
Because she was his woman and he assumed she’d be riding with them, a thought that warmed her heart, and at the same time, sent dread through her, because she knew at some point she’d have to set him straight.
“What about Tempest?” she asked, just because she liked the sound of it.
“You can’t pick your own ride name,” Rip said. “We pick it for you.”
Raven winked. “So be careful you don’t do anything embarrassing, or they’ll pick a name to forever remind you of it.”
They finished their food. As they cleared everything away, Wild Card and Magic started a fire, then they all sat around it and had a few more beers.
“So how did you all get together?” Laurie asked.
“Steele and I go way back.” Wild Card was laying on the other blanket they’d spread out and leaned back on his elbows. The breeze stirred his spiky blond hair. “We met Dom on a construction site we were working one time and the three of us hit it off. Started sharing a house together.”
“The one with the shocky griddle?” she asked with a grin.
“Yeah, that thing was in there for a year before Shock showed up and started using it.”
“Him we met in a bar fight,” Dom chimed in. “He was new in town and being a bit belligerent and five guys jumped him.” Dom shrugged. “We thought we’d even out the odds.”
“I was holding my own,” Shock said.
Steele laughed. “Yeah, sure you were.”
“And Magic?” Laurie asked.
Wild Card plucked a bright yellow dandelion flower and twirled the stem between his fingers. “Oh, one day on the road we went out drinking and the next day, Dom just showed up with him. He’s been with us ever since.”
“Sort of like Rip showed up with me?” Raven smiled.
Dom and Magic were sitting cross-legged, side-by-side, and Dom put his arm around Magic’s neck and pulled him close with a chuckle. “Yeah, a lot like that. But he came with his own bike.”
Laurie sipped her beer. She loved the camaraderie between these men. And the easy acceptance of the intimate relationship Dom and Magic obviously shared.
“You said you were all in a house. Where is it?” she asked. “Do you all live there now?”
If they were just traveling around temporarily, maybe Steele would be amenable to the idea of settling down. Could she convince him to come and live in Jasmineville? Her house could easily accommodate the two of them.
She knew it was probably a crazy idea. Steele didn’t want to leave his crew, but if he was open to the idea of moving, maybe they could figure something out.
“No, that place is back in Chicago,” Shock said. “We’ve been on the road for a year now, and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”
“Steele and I always talked about hitting the open road,” Wild Card said, “but we had to earn a living. Then Shock came along and changed all that.”
“Really?” She gazed at Shock.
“His family’s got money.” Magic took a swig of his beer. The thorny tattoo around his wrist, designed to look like sharp thorns were tearing into his flesh and making it bleed, still disturbed her. “He doesn’t like to talk about it, but he’s got access to funds and doesn’t mind sharing.”
“Don’t get us wrong,” Steele added. “We don’t live in the lap of luxury, but Shock covers the basics. We live simple.”
Laurie’s hopes of settling down with Steele came crashing down. He’d always wanted to be a drifter, and she wanted roots.
It was getting cool and she shivered. Steele noticed and slid his arm around her. She leaned into his warm, solid body.
“I think it’s time to turn in,” Steele said.
Rip stood up and walked to his bike, then opened the compartment on the back. He tossed Steele two sleeping bags. “We stopped and got one for Laurie, too.”
“Good thinking.” Steele unrolled the two bags, but zipped them together to make a double. He pulled back one side and climbed in, then patted beside him.
Laurie glanced around a little self-consciously, but noticed Raven climbing into a sleeping bag with Rip. Laurie slid in beside Steele and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his hard, muscular body. And his thick, hardening cock. She stiffened, but he rubbed her shoulders with his big hands.
“Don’t worry about it,” he murmured against her ear.
She relaxed a little and lay there under the stars, fully conscious of the fact a whole gang of bikers and one biker chick lay in sleeping bags around her, and their leader’s arms were around her. And his cock was big and hard from wanting her.
Crickets chirped loudly and she saw the odd firefly flare in the darkness, but despite Steele’s big erection pressed tight against her, sparking her desire, she finally slipped into a deep sleep.
* * *
Laurie awoke to Steele’s big hand cupping her breast, holding her close to his body. She murmured her approval and smiled, opening her eyes to the bright sunshine. To see grass close to her face, and Magic and Shock sitting drinking coffee a couple of yards away.
Oh, God, she was turned on and so was Steele, from the feel of his hard shaft against her backside. He squeezed her breast.
“Steele,” she murmured.
“Mmm. Yeah, baby?”
He was just waking up. Probably not yet aware of their surroundings.
“Time to wake up.”
“Believe me, I’m awake.” He pressed his cock tighter to her butt.
“Steele, everyone can see us.”
He chuckled and pulled her onto her back, then prowled over her, trapping her beneath his body.
“Don’t worry about them,” he said, a glint in his eye as he stared down at her, then he took her lips possessively.
“Yeah, just carry on. Don’t mind us,” Shock said.
Heat flashed across her cheeks. She pressed her hands to Steele’s chest, struggling a little, panic blasting though her. He released her lips, but didn’t move away.
“I told you, you need to get over this shyness.”
“But I can’t … not in front of them.”
“Then let’s go somewhere private.”
She sucked in a breath. It didn’t matter. The others would know what they were doing.
“Don’t worry about it,” Magic said. “We’re going with Raven for a swim.” He winked. “We’ll be too busy to notice what you two are doing.”
Steele rolled onto his back, then unzipped the bag and sat up. So did Laurie. Raven and Rip were already at the water’s edge and the others were joining them. Raven stripped off her T-shirt and dropped her jeans, then stood there looking sexy and gorgeous in her bra and very skimpy panties.
“Bitch, kneel down and suck my cock,” Dom commanded.
Raven tipped up her chin. “Who’s going to make me?”
Shock stepped behind her and grabbed her arms. “I will, then you’ll suck me next.” He urged her toward Dom and pushed her to her knees. She stroked over Dom’s jeans, then unzipped and pulled out his big cock. She smiled at his erection, then wrapped her lips around it and glided down.
He closed his eyes. “Ah, fuck, that’s what I want.”
Laurie felt need rising in her. Raven was so relaxed and accepting of her role in this group. She certainly seemed to enjoy it, and despite the fact Dom and the others seemed to be dominating her, it was clear that she was the one who was truly in control.
“I don’t feel right watching them,” Laurie murmured to Steele by her side, but she couldn’t drag her gaze from the scene in front of her. Raven had serviced Dom for a bit, and now she was working on Shock. Rip had shed his pants—they all had—and stroked his cock while he watched his woman pleasure another man.
God, Raven had kidded that she was with the wrong biker because of how big Steele was, but Rip was nearly as big. In fact, none of these men were slouches when it came to their endowments.
“They don’t mind. And I think it’s turning you on as much as it is me.” Steele drew her onto his lap and stroked her hip, then his hand glided over her crotch.
She arched against him.
He grinned. “I knew it. Why don’t we join them?”
She gazed up at him. “You would really let those other men touch me?”
“Touch you. Fuck you. Yeah, the very thought turns me on so much I could come right now.”
“But how could you want that?”
He tipped up her chin and gazed into her eyes. “I trust these men with my life. I share everything with them, and they with me.”
“So your woman is just a piece of property to be passed around?”
He frowned. “No, baby. It’s not like that. When I have something truly wonderful, like Rip has with Raven, I want to share with them. I want them to experience the joy I have.” He shook his head. “But don’t for a minute think that means any more than sharing a physical experience. Because you are my woman and they all know that. Just like they know who Raven belongs to. And who belongs to her.”
Steele pulled her into a deep kiss. “You’re mine. And nothing and no one is going to change that.”
She stared at him, dumbfounded. She should say something. Set him straight.
But she liked the possessive look in his eyes. Directed at her. Despite the fact he was willing to share her, it was clear he wouldn’t give her up to anyone.
It gave her a surge of joy. And confidence.
She knew she could actually walk over to the naked men only thirty yards away and strip down to nothing, then let them touch her and fuck her, and Steele wouldn’t be jealous. Yet she knew there would be dire consequences if anyone hurt her in any way.
To be cared for like that intrigued her. And made her feel like there was somewhere she belonged.
* * *
Steele knew he was pushing Laurie hard, but he was hoping to break her out of her narrow view of what a sexual relationship could be. If she couldn’t accept being shared by his crew, he could live with that, but he knew he’d have to push her boundaries to see what she would be willing to do.
She could always say no, and he would be fine with that.
“Steele, do you have a beach towel?”
He gazed down at her. “Sure. Is this an idle question or do you want me to get it for you?”
“Yes, please.”
He pushed himself to his feet and approached his bike, wondering what was on her mind. Maybe she’d worked up the nerve to go swimming in her bra and panties. He pulled the towel out of his duffel bag in the storage compartment.
When he turned around, his eyes popped as he saw Laurie standing on the sleeping bag, facing him, totally naked.
She held out her hand and he stepped toward her and gave her the towel. Of the others, only Shock noticed Laurie’s nudity and his gaze traveled the length of her, but he could only see her from the back. He didn’t have the glorious view Steele did of her luscious round breasts, and her pretty little pussy atop delightfully long, shapely legs.
Laurie wrapped the towel around herself and walked toward the water. “Are you coming?” she asked.
As he watched her delightful ass sway as she walked, his cock twitched. “Very nearly.”
She laughed as he moved into step beside her. She took his hand, but as they got closer to the others, she squeezed his fingers and slowed down.
“Steele, I’m a little nervous.”
Fuck! He wanted her to do this, but he didn’t want her to feel she had no choice.
“Look, babe, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“No, it’s not that. The thought of doing this is really exciting, but…” She gazed down at their joined hands. “It would be easier if you just took control. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
Fuck. That meant he had to reel in what might happen because he had to anticipate her discomfort.
“I have an idea. Your safe word is ‘sparrow.’ That will stop everything and allow us to regroup. But you can use the word ‘parrot’ if you’re not comfortable with something that is happening, so I can shift what’s going on. That way I can push your limits without being worried I’m going too far, because we both know you can slow things down, or change direction if you’re not comfortable. Okay?”
She smiled timidly at him. “Perfect.”
She glanced toward Raven, who was sitting on a tree trunk moaning as Rip licked and sucked her pussy. The men were gathered around watching her, the ones who hadn’t come yet stroking their cocks. Laurie watched and waited, her cheeks flushing as Raven gasped and wailed her release.
Rip leaned back, a smug look on his handsome face. Laurie stepped forward and waited until all of the men glanced her way. Once she had their full attention, she gazed at Steele and he nodded, then she dropped the towel.
All the men stared at her magnificent naked body. Wild Card’s jaw dropped.
“Men, I want to introduce you to Laurie. I’m making her available to you for your enjoyment.” He gazed at her, delighted by her prettily blushing cheeks. “Isn’t that right, Laurie?”
“Yes, sir.”
For a split second, he wondered if he could go through with this. He had only felt her sweet pussy around him once. A part of him wanted to sweep her away and take his fill of her, again and again, until he was satisfied before he shared her.
But he knew he would never be satisfied.
He would never get tired of touching her. Kissing her.
Fucking her.
Damn, who was he kidding? Making love to her.
“Wild Card, you obviously want to touch her,” Steele said. “Do it.”
“What?” Wild Card’s wide eyes turned to Steele, then a grin spread across his face. “Yes, sir.”
Steele watched his friend walk toward Laurie. He had swirls of blue, purple, and red tattooed the full length of his left arm, with three two-inch stars left blank. He’d gotten it not long after Chrissy had died, and Steele suspected the stars represented Wild Card, Chrissy, and him.
Wild Card had been his friend for a long time and there was no one he would rather share his woman with.
Wild Card ran his fingers through his spiky blond hair as he walked toward Laurie, a huge grin on his face, then he stood in front of her, smiling down at her.
“Damn, I’ve wanted to do this ever since I first saw you.” He ran his finger from her shoulder to the swell of her breast, then he cupped her lovely mound of flesh.
She drew in a breath as he caressed her. He found her other breast and caressed both at the same time.
Steele’s cock pressed hard against his jeans, begging to be released from the tight confines.
* * *
Laurie felt strange and embarrassed standing there naked in front of the men, but Wild Card’s big hands on her breasts and his gentle caresses had her blood pressure rising. It brought back memories of being on the bike with him after he’d kidnapped her. She’d been filled with adrenaline then, and she was now, too. His big cock had pressed against her, but despite the fear that had flooded her then, she had known deep inside he wouldn’t hurt her.
He had saved her from Donovan. He’d protected her.
And now he was touching her with gentle strokes.
“Wild Card, kiss her. And Shock. You stand behind her.”
“You bet.” Shock walked toward her.
Wild Card cupped her face and lowered his lips to hers. His tongue stroked her mouth and she opened to allow him in. Shock stepped close behind her. His hard, hot body pressed close against her and he wrapped his hands around her hips and pulled her tight to him. She could feel his hard cock against her back. As he pressed tighter to her, she felt Wild Card’s erection pressing against her belly. Her insides heated with need.
Shock’s hand glided up to her waist, then along the sides of her breasts. Wild Card drew his face from hers, his hazel eyes dark as he stared at her with desire. Shock’s hands covered her breasts and he caressed her.
Wild Card leaned down and Laurie felt him move one of Shock’s hands out of the way, then her breath caught as he took her hard nipple in his mouth.
“Hey, Steele, we want to try the new woman, too,” Magic said as he and Dom stepped beside her, watching.
“I’ll help as you’re waiting your turn,” Raven offered as she walked toward Magic. She crouched in front of him and wrapped her hand around his hard cock.
Laurie watched the big shaft glide in and out of Raven’s mouth as delightful sensations rocked through her at the feel of Wild Card’s tongue teasing her sensitive nipple. Shock moved in front of her and took her other nipple in his mouth and she moaned in appreciation.
Rip stepped behind Raven. “Stand up, baby.”
She stood, Magic’s cock in her hand, then bent over, exposing her behind, then began to suck Magic again. Rip stroked her round behind, then slid his finger into her slick folds. Raven slid from Magic’s cock, holding it in her hand and turned her head to gaze back at him.
“Rip, you know I’m loving that, but you can have me anytime.”
He smiled. “Okay.”
Rip moved away from Raven, then stepped behind Laurie and grasped her hips and pulled her back to him, just like Shock had done. His thick shaft pressing against her was bigger than Shock’s. She was getting so hot, she wanted a cock inside her, but could she really go through with this? How many of them would actually fuck her?
All of them, a voice in her head begged, shocking her socks off.
Rip drew her backward. After a few steps, he sat down on a large, fallen tree trunk, pulling her onto his lap. Shock and Wild Card followed and both knelt in front of her and captured her nipples again. Shock began to suck, making her moan, as Wild Card’s lips brushed down her stomach. He stared at her folds, then pushed her knees wide. His finger pressed into her dampness and he stroked her slit. She sucked in air as pleasure pounded through her.
“Very pretty.” Wild Card glided his fingertip through her folds again, then slowly pushed a finger inside her.
Panic welled through her and her gaze shot to Steele, who sat on a rock and watched her, his big cock in his hand.
She felt guilty enjoying the attentions of the men, but seeing how turned on it made Steele reassured her.
She heard muffled moaning and glanced beside her to see Dom thrusting into Raven from behind while she continued to suck Magic. She pulled his cock free of her mouth periodically to suck in air.
“Oh, yeah, baby. I’m close.” Magic groaned as Raven took him deep.
Laurie contracted around Wild Card’s finger as she watched Raven bob up and down on Magic while Dom thrust into her faster and faster. Wild Card leaned forward and his tongue lapped between her folds. Laurie’s eyelids fell closed as heat surged through her. Beside her, Magic grunted, then a moment later, Raven moaned loudly.
Oh, God, Laurie wanted a man inside her, too.
“You are so sweet, baby,” Wild Card said when he came up for air.
“Let me taste.” Shock pressed his face to her dampness and his tongue pushed inside her.
Rip covered both her breasts and kneaded them in his palms. Wild Card stood up and wrapped his hand around his cock.
He stepped closer and offered his big shaft. She licked her lips and glanced at Steele again, who was stroking his enormous erection. She wrapped her lips around Wild Card and took his cockhead into her mouth. She squeezed and sucked him while he stroked her hair back from her face.
“Sweetheart, that feels so good,” Wild Card said.
Heat swelled inside her as Shock found her clit and teased it. Then he sucked and her pulse rocketed upward. Pleasure exploded inside her and her head fell back, her mouth dropping the cock in her mouth. Wild Card groaned, then erupted, the stream of white fluid spurting upward, then drizzling down his shaft.
She felt Shock’s blunt tip press against her and he pushed forward, impaling her in one deep stroke. He drew back and thrust into her again, pushing her against Rip’s solid body behind her. Shock pounded into her and she groaned, then began to moan as another orgasm claimed her. His big cock kept moving inside her, extending her pleasure, until he groaned his own release.
Shock leaned forward and kissed her, then stood up, his spent cock dropping free.
Laurie leaned back against Rip’s muscular chest, catching her breath, which was hard with his big hands still caressing her breasts.
“Laurie, I want to see you between Rip and Magic,” said Steele. “I want to see both their cocks driving into you at the same time.”
She stared at Steele, not quite comprehending, her head still spinning from the divine pleasure she’d just experienced.
“Both?” she stammered.
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”
What was the word? Parrot?
She could stop this anytime she wanted. She drew in a deep breath.
“No problem, sir.”
She stood up and as she turned to Rip, she saw that Raven was sucking Magic’s cock, making him hard again for Laurie. Raven slipped from the shaft and winked up at Laurie, then she sat down on the grass to watch.
Rip, who was standing now, took Laurie’s hand and drew her close to him, then kissed her. His lips moved on hers with passion and his tongue dipped inside her. Her tongue tangled with his as his hands cupped her bottom and he pulled her close.
“Bend over, Laurie,” Steele commanded.
As she obeyed, Rip guided her to rest her hands on the trunk he had been sitting on. She leaned forward and Magic stepped behind her. He cupped her ass and stroked.
“What a sweet view.” Magic pressed his cock to her slickness and slowly glided inside her. After a couple of strokes, he drew out and pressed his cockhead to her back opening.
She stiffened a little and he stroked her hip. “You okay?”
She drew in a deep breath and nodded. Donovan had been rough when he’d taken her this way, but Magic’s voice was reassuring and his hand was gentle, which relaxed her. Rip stroked her shoulders as Magic eased forward slowly, pushing into her tight canal, stretching her around him. She relaxed into the steady pressure, then sighed when his cockhead was fully immersed.
Rip cupped her hanging breast and kneaded as Magic started moving deeper. Rip tweaked her nipple and she moaned. Magic pushed all the way in. Her canal hugged him tightly and they both stayed still while she got used to him being inside her. Rip teased her other nipple and she moaned.
Slowly, Magic drew her to a standing position. Rip shed his pants, then held his stiff cock in his hand. Magic guided her forward then turned her. The tree trunk was higher here, so he leaned against it. Rip stepped in front of her and pressed his cock to her opening, gliding over her slick slit.
Then Rip’s cock slid into her, too. Once he was fully immersed, she sucked in a deep breath. She couldn’t believe these two big men were inside her at the same time.
She tightened around Rip, and he groaned.
“Ah, fuck, baby. That feels so good,” Rip said. He kissed her then smiled. “You ready?”
She glanced at Steele again, and felt the heat of his gaze, desire glowing in his eyes, and she nodded.
“Okay.” Rip drew her into a kiss, moving his mouth on hers passionately as he drew back, then thrust into her.
His big, thick cock stretched her as it moved in and out, sending her pulse skyrocketing. Behind her, Magic began to move, finding a rhythm with Rip, and soon the two of them were thrusting into her, driving her pleasure higher and higher. She clung to Rip’s shoulders and began to moan. It felt so good, these cocks thrusting in and out.
She dropped her head back onto Magic’s shoulder as an electric blast of sensation quivered through her, then she wailed, pleasure pummeling her in a wash of ecstasy. The men continued to pump, then they both drove forward, trapping her between their bodies, as a long note of joy crooned from her throat. She felt their cocks pulse inside her as they both groaned.
Her knees started to give way and Magic pulled her back against him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Rip asked.
She gazed at him and nodded as she rested against Magic’s solid body.
“That was just … incredible,” she said.
Rip laughed and Magic nuzzled her neck.
“For me, too, beautiful,” Magic murmured in her ear.
Rip grasped her waist and lifted her, setting her on the tree trunk. When he stepped away, she realized Steele was standing beside him.
She smiled when she saw him and opened her arms. He stepped into her embrace and kissed her, his tongue gliding into her mouth.
“Oh, God, I want you, baby,” he murmured against her ear. “Room for one more?”
“Always.” She opened her thighs and he pressed his big cock to her opening.
He stretched her as he slid inside, since his massive cock was still bigger than any man’s there. He began to thrust, slowly at first, then picking up speed. Still in the afterglow of orgasm, pleasure swelled in her quickly.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, allowing him to go deeper, driving her pleasure higher and higher.
“Fuck, baby, I. Love. Being. Inside. You,” he said, each word punctuated by a thrust.
“Oh, God, Steele, I…” Then she gasped and wailed in the most intense orgasm yet, thrusting her to the stars.
He drove deeper still and pulsed inside her, then she felt his hot liquid filling her. She moaned, delirious with pleasure.
He held her close as her heartbeat pounded against his chest, her rapid breathing slowly returning to normal.
“Oh, God, Steele. I’ve never experienced anything like that,” she murmured.
He tightened his arms around her. “Being with multiple men, you mean?”
She drew back and gazed up at him. “That was incredible … But I mean being with you. The way you make me feel is…” She shook her head, at a total loss for words.
He grinned and claimed her lips again. When he released her mouth, he held her tight to him.
“And I’m going to keep on making you feel that way.”
* * *
Laurie glanced around nervously as she got off Steele’s bike and handed him her helmet.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea for us to stop at a restaurant? I am a fugitive.”
He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him as they walked to the door of the diner. “We’ve put a lot of miles behind us. I doubt they’ll be looking this far.” He squeezed her. “It’s an expensive necklace, but it’s not a big enough crime to warrant a huge dragnet to find you.”
Shock held the door open for her and she went into the diner, then followed the others to a roomy booth in the back corner. She slumped onto the cushioned bench seat.
Laurie loved riding the big bike, her arms around Steele the whole time, but it was good to relax for a bit.
Lunch came quickly and they all ate heartily. She was about halfway through her sandwich when she felt a prickle, as if someone was watching her. She glanced toward the counter and froze. A policeman was sitting on a stool gazing in their direction.
Her stomach dropped and she glanced away quickly.
Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.
He’d spotted her. The way he’d been staring their way … he must know.
“What’s wrong?” Magic, who sat on one side of her, asked.
She stared firmly at her plate. “There’s a policeman over there. He’s watching me.”
“Okay, just relax. We’ll figure something out.”
She glanced up again and noticed the cop was drinking his coffee, still gazing in their direction with a stern expression.
Laurie wanted to push her plate away—her appetite had abandoned her completely—but she didn’t want to do anything to attract his attention. She nibbled at her food, her stomach coiling in turmoil.
“It’s okay. He’s gone,” Magic murmured to her.
Her gaze darted to the stool where he’d been sitting and relief flooded through her. Thank heavens.
“I need to go to the ladies room,” she said to Magic, since he’d have to get up to let her out of the booth.
He moved out of her way and she stood up on shaky legs, then hurried to the restroom, needing a bit of space so she could breathe. She had to cross the length of the restaurant and head down a short hallway. Once inside, she stared at her pale face in the mirror, knowing she wasn’t cut out for this kind of thing. She’d be a nervous wreck in no time.
She washed her face, then patted it dry and sighed. Soon they’d be back on the road and Steele would lead them somewhere isolated and safe to spend the night again. Steele would look out for her.
She pushed open the door to the bathroom and walked down the hall. Seeing the policeman had shaken her, but she’d been worried about nothing. She stepped from the hallway to the main part of the restaurant.
“Excuse me, miss. May I have a word?”
She almost jumped at the sight of the policemen standing in her path.
His eyes narrowed. “Are you okay, miss? You seem awfully nervous.”
She swallowed and willed herself to stay calm. “Yes, officer, I’m fine. Why did you want to talk to me?”
“I noticed you sitting with those bikers. You looked nervous, so I just wanted to make sure that there’s nothing wrong. They’re not”—he hesitated—“forcing you to be in their company, are they?”
The irony of his statement almost made her laugh.
“No, officer, they’re friends.”
He nodded. “Fine. Then please pass on a message to your friends. We don’t want any trouble here. Okay?”
She stared at his stern expression and nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll tell them.”
Then she hurried away.
* * *
Laurie held on tight to Steele as they sped along the road. Her heart was still pounding from her encounter with the policeman, but Steele assured her everything would be all right.
A few hours later, they pulled off the main road and set up camp in another isolated area by a lake. She was tired, and when she finally climbed into the sleeping bag with Steele, she fell asleep immediately.
But when she awoke, it was still early. Only the first hint of sunlight brightened the sky. Steele’s arms were around her and his breathing was deep and even. She lay in the darkness, trying to go back to sleep, but couldn’t. Finally, she slipped from the sleeping bag and the warmth of Steele’s arms, and walked toward the water. Soft moonlight reflected on the water with a luminescent glow. She sat on a rock by the water and stared up at the fading stars.
“Can’t sleep?”
She glanced around at the sound of Wild Card’s voice.
“No, and I don’t know why because I’m really tired,” she said, keeping her voice low so she wouldn’t wake the others.
He sat down on the big rock beside her. “It’s understandable. You’ve probably never had the police looking for you.” He grinned. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling us.”
She laughed. “No, this is a first for me. As is riding with a gang of bikers.”
“And sleeping with the leader.”
She nodded. “And he keeps saying I’m his woman.” Her gaze darted to Wild Card’s face. She shouldn’t have let that slip out.
“And that bothers you.”
She shrugged. “Steele is great, and I really appreciate him looking out for me. But I hardly know him.”
“You’ll never meet a better man.”
His frank gaze and the intensity of his words reached inside her and squeezed.
“Has he told you about his sister?”
“A little bit. I know she died of a drug overdose.”
“True.”
She saw the haunted look in Wild Card’s eyes and realized that it wasn’t just Steele who suffered from the death of the young woman.
“He was totally devoted to her. He put everything he had into taking care of her,” he continued. “And when she died…”
He stared down at his hands.
“He hit the bottle pretty hard, blaming himself for her death. And I made the whole thing worse. Before it happened, I’d been trying to help. Get some money together so the three of us could move away from Chicago. Get a new start somewhere. So I started gambling. Figured I’d hit a big jackpot and save the day.”
He shrugged. “Of course that didn’t happen. I’d gotten in way over my head and one day, about a month after Chrissy’s death, some guys came by to collect some of my debts. I got beat up pretty bad. When Steele got the story out of me, he insisted I straighten up or he’d beat me to death himself. He stopped getting drunk and threw himself into working and helping me pay off the rest of my debts.”
He gestured to Steele, still asleep on the ground. “That man always has my back. Same with every one of his crew.” He locked gazes with her. “If you let him, that man will protect you and take care of you to the best of his abilities. And believe me, that’s saying something.”
She nodded, knowing it was true. And she loved Wild Card’s loyalty to Steele.
“I’m know you’re right, but … I can’t just give up my life and start riding around from place to place. I need more stability than that. I get that it works for Steele and the rest of you, but it’s just not me.”
Wild Card nodded and leaned back, then he broke the serious mood with a grin. “I could start to think you don’t like us.”
She put her hand on his.
“Of course I like you. All of you.” She squeezed his hand. “And I really appreciate you stepping in when Donovan … you know, in the parking garage.”
He took her hand in his. “There’s no way I could have done otherwise. I wouldn’t let that jackass hurt you.”
She smiled tremulously. “I know. And thank you.”
He kissed her hand. “You’re welcome.”
Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, and all the tumultuous emotions that had been roiling around inside her swelled to the surface. Tears prickled at her eyes.
“Oh, Wild Card, what am I going to do? My life is falling apart. The police are after me. My ex-boyfriend wants to hurt me.” And a crazy biker gang leader thought she was his woman.
And she was starting to believe it.
He wiped an errant tear from her eye, then pulled her into his arms. “It’s all right, sweetheart. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
He held her tight for a few moments, then he looked down at her. She met his reassuring gaze.
“You’re going to be all right.”
At the warmth in his hazel eyes, and the sincerity in his voice, she believed him.
Then suddenly Wild Card was jarred away from her. Stunned, she realized Steele had dragged him to his feet.
“Keep your fucking hands off my woman.” Then Steele’s hard fist connected with Wild Card’s jaw, knocking him to the ground.
“Steele, I wasn’t—” Wild Card stammered.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Laurie lurched to her feet. “Steele, what are you doing?” she demanded.
He turned to her, his eyes flashing. “No one touches my woman.”
Her stomach tightened and anger welled up in her. “I’m not your woman!”
This was crazy. His protectiveness had turned to possessiveness, which didn’t even make any sense given that he’d happily shared her with Wild Card and the others only hours ago.
He glared at her with an angry, possessive look in his eyes—the same one she’d seen in Donovan’s too many times—and her anger turned to fear. She jerked back a step.
The storm in his eyes froze for a brief moment while her heart pounded several beats, then he scowled and turned on his heel and strode away. The others were all awake now, watching what was playing out between them. Steele mounted his bike and the engine roared to life, then he sped off down the road and disappeared through the trees.
* * *
Laurie’s heart still pounded as she helped the others gather their things and pack them up.
“Are we really going to leave without Steele?” Laurie asked as they finished up.
“When Steele’s in a mood, he could be gone for hours,” Shock said. “He knows we won’t wait for him.”
“But … how will we find him?”
Raven patted her arm. “Don’t worry. He’ll find us.”
Shock handed Laurie a helmet he produced from his bike storage.
“You’d better ride with me,” Rip said.
Laurie glanced at Raven in surprise, and she nodded.
“I’m the only man here he will believe won’t steal you,” Rip explained with a shrug.
Raven smiled and patted Laurie’s arm. “And if he does worry about it, I’ll set him straight.”
Raven walked with Laurie to Rip’s big bike.
“I just don’t understand why he got so upset.” Laurie felt sick at the memory of Steele’s powerful fist connecting with Wild Card’s face. “Even if we were doing something, which we weren’t, after yesterday…” She stared at Raven, bewildered.
“I know.” Raven nodded and took the helmet from Laurie’s hands, then slid it on Laurie’s head. Raven smiled as she fastened the helmet for her, like a sister taking care of her own. “He’s a guy and they have a strange way of viewing the world sometimes. Rip doesn’t mind if I go one-on-one with the others, but that’s because he knows I’m well and truly his.” She finished doing up the helmet strap and patted Laurie’s shoulder. “Steele is unsure of you.” Her smile faded a little. “And I assume he has reason to be. You don’t really want to ride with us, do you?”
“It’s not that. I like all of you, but this life … it’s not for me.”
“Are you sure?” Raven asked.
Laurie nodded. “I moved around a lot as a kid and that was hard on me. Every time I made friends, I was torn away to a new place. Then when my parents died…” She drew in a deep breath, fighting back the remembered pain. “I’ve always wanted a stable place to live. Somewhere to call home. I have that now. My own place. I need that.” She shrugged. “And … I don’t even know Steele. Not really.”
And what had just happened with Wild Card proved that.
“We’ve got to get moving,” Rip said as he mounted the bike.
Laurie climbed on the bike behind Rip and slid her arms around his big torso, feeling awkward and self-conscious. It was crazy because this man had driven his cock into her yesterday and sent her into a screaming orgasm, yet she felt awkward sitting on the back of his bike pressed close to him.
Raven climbed on with Wild Card and all the bikes roared to life. Laurie tightened her hold on Rip and the bike lurched forward. Soon they were on the open road, the wind streaming across her face.
* * *
Steele sped along the road, adrenaline blazing through him. He took comfort in the feel of the bike beneath him and the miles blurring by.
Fuck, he couldn’t believe he had actually hit Wild Card. It was inexcusable to do that to one of his own men. One of his brothers. But the fury at seeing the intimacy between him and Laurie had torn through him, ripping away every shred of common sense.
All he’d known was, he couldn’t allow Wild Card to touch her.
But now he was haunted by the stricken look of horror in Laurie’s eyes. The fear he’d seen in those blue depths had speared through his heart.
At that moment, she had been afraid of him, and he found that thought unbearable.
Fuck, he would never hurt her. How could she believe otherwise?
But he knew why. The answer was all too clear. It was all because of that bastard she’d been with before.
His heart ached at the thought that she might never come to fully trust Steele.
He’d been an idiot to slug Wild Card—it had been inexcusable. Wild Card was loyal. He would never steal anything of Steele’s. But common sense and logic had fled when he’d seen Laurie in his arms, her blue eyes soft and misty as she’d gazed up at him. In that moment, she had looked open and vulnerable to Wild Card, as if she would share her deepest secrets with him, and a wild, uncontrollable jealousy had flared through Steele.
Fuck, he was his own worst enemy sometimes. If Laurie now feared him just like she feared that Donovan bastard, how would he ever recover her trust?
How would he ever convince her to stay with him?
Because he would be lost without her.
He’d never allowed himself a real relationship with a woman. When he’d lived with his sister, Chrissy, he’d been focused on her welfare. And he wouldn’t have brought a woman around the apartment with her there anyway. Then, after she’d died … he’d erected barriers. He hadn’t wanted to open his heart to someone and risk that kind of pain again. But Laurie had caught him off guard. Protecting her had opened him up to that kind of concern again. He liked caring about her. Being open to her.
She was like a potent drug. Now that she was in his system, he would never give her up.
His gut clenched. In that way, was he really any different from her ex?
* * *
Laurie dipped her fry in the pool of ketchup on her hamburger wrapper and took a bite. Normally, she didn’t eat French fries, but nothing about her life was normal now, so why should her eating habits be? A little indulgence couldn’t hurt.
“Don’t worry,” Raven said, eyeing her over her own burger. “We’ll catch up with Steele and you two will sort things out.”
Laurie pursed her lips as Rip set down his tray of food and sat beside Raven at the outdoor tables at the fast-food restaurant. Wild Card sat beside Laurie and the other men settled at the table beside them.
“How did you two get your food so fast?” Wild Card asked.
Shock laughed. “All they had to do was bat their eyelashes and the lineup parted.”
Raven grinned. “Or maybe it was my badass attitude.”
Shock snorted. “Honey, your ass is a lot of things, but bad ain’t one of them.”
Rip laughed. “I actually think that guy let you in so he could stare at your sexy little asses while you ordered.”
Laurie’s cheeks flushed at the comment. The two men who had let them go ahead in the restaurant lineup had shown a keen interest in their backsides. And when Raven had slipped off her black leather jacket while the clerk had pulled together their food order, Laurie had glanced around and noticed that the men’s hot stares had settled on Raven’s T-shirt, specifically where it stretched tight across her generous bosom.
“Rip, you don’t mind when men stare at Raven that way?” Laurie asked.
Rip shrugged. “She’s a beautiful woman. If I got bent out of shape every time a man admired her, I’d be a mess.” He pointed a fry at her. “But if a guy touches her, I’d flatten him on the spot.”
“Except for the five men you ride with.”
“That’s right. Do you really think that’s so strange? Especially now that you’ve experienced it yourself.”
She sighed. “It’s just that, with what happened this morning, maybe it’s not as simple as you all seem to think. Clearly, Steele isn’t as comfortable with sharing as he thought.”
“There are reasons,” Rip said. “Ones that are up to him to share, or not.”
“Okay, but let me ask you this. If a new man joined the gang, you’d be okay with him having sex with Raven?”
Rip’s lips compressed. “No one new’s joining the club.”
“We’d have to know a guy really well … totally trust him,” Dom said, “before we’d let him in. He would have had to prove himself.”
“So you wouldn’t let me in?” Laurie glanced around.
“Of course we’d let you in.”
Laurie raised an eyebrow. “Why? How have I proven myself?”
Raven smiled. “Oh, hon, by the way you make Steele feel. That man’s clearly in love with you.” She reached out and took Laurie’s hand. “We’re all hoping you’ll wind up joining us, because we love Steele.”
Rip smiled. “And, Laurie, let me assure you, emphatically, that even as a new member of the crew, if you want to have sex with Raven,” his eyes glittered, “I absolutely approve.”
Raven laughed as she released Laurie’s hand, but the lingering feeling of her warm touch sent a shiver through Laurie. She knew all men fantasized about watching two women have sex, but … was he actually serious?
As Laurie took a sip of her drink, she was highly aware of the men staring at her speculatively.
Rip took a sip of his soda, then reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Raven had told Laurie that there was one cell phone in the group. Generally, they didn’t care about communicating with people outside the crew, but having one just made sense.
She wished that Steele had been carrying the phone. Then they could have contacted him. As Rip checked his messages and texts, she hoped there was one from Steele.
Rip held the phone to his ear and listened, and his gaze shifted to Laurie, a serious expression on his face. Laurie’s stomach clenched.
Was it bad news? Had something happened to Steele? Or did he just not want her around anymore?
Rip put down the phone. “That was Killer. He said that if you bring in the necklace, your ex will drop the charges.”
Laurie locked gazes with Rip, hope flaring through her. Could it really be that easy? Drop off the necklace and she would be free? She’d get her life back?
“But he says the offer ends at ten o’clock tonight.”
“That’s crazy. We’ll never get back to Marin Falls in time,” Raven exclaimed.
“We might have if I’d checked messages sooner.” Rip frowned. “It’s been sitting on the phone since yesterday.”
Raven stroked his sleeve. “Don’t blame yourself. The guy had to know it would take time for Killer to get in touch with you. He’s playing mind games.”
Rip dialed the phone. “Killer? Yeah, I got the message. Look, there’s no way we can get back there by the deadline.” Rip glanced at Laurie. “Yeah?”
The conversation went on and Rip mentioned the small town they’d passed through a couple of hours ago. After a few minutes, he ended the call.
“Killer thinks he can work something out. He’s going to call us back.”
“Could he be doing this to keep us here?” Laurie asked, anxiety quivering through her. “Now that he knows where we are, he could be sending someone to pick me up.”
“I trust Killer with my life,” Rip said. “And yours.”
Laurie nodded. The phone rang and Rip picked it up.
“Yeah.” His gaze locked on Laurie. “Really? But that’s gotta be a five-hour ride from here.” His hands clenched into fists. “Yeah, I get it. His terms.” He listened for a while, clearly getting detailed instructions from his friend. “Okay. I’ll make sure I get her there in time.”
He stuffed his phone into his jeans pocket and turned to Laurie.
“Okay, we’ll have to boot it to get there in time. Laurie, you have to take the necklace to an Officer Parker, someone Killer knows and trusts. Your ex says if Parker confirms he has the necklace by ten P.M., he’ll drop the charges. And if we don’t make it, he’ll prosecute and demand the maximum sentence.”
Laurie’s chest constricted. And with his connections and money, he’d get what he wanted.
“Don’t look so worried, Laurie. If we leave now, we should be able to make it with time to spare.”
Raven stood up and pulled on her jacket.
“Laurie, where’s the necklace now?” Rip asked.
Laurie’s gaze darted to his, and her stomach tightened. “I … gave it to Steele.”