“I seem to be missing my clothes.” I glanced down my body. “I’m assuming I can thank you for that.”
“You were pretty wasted… figured you’d be more comfortable that way.”
I frowned. “Are we going to talk about last night?”
“If you need to.”
“Um, yeah, I need to, Austin. You held me against my will and left me to get drunk in a dark, isolated office.”
“I did.”
“You’re not even going to deny it?” I don’t know why I was surprised, but I was.
“Nope,” he said, and opened the bottle of pain relief.
“I hate you so much right now.” I stomped my foot and turned on my heel. “I’m leaving.”
I stormed back the way I came, let myself into the bedroom, and made a valiant effort to find my clothes.
“They’re not in here, babe.”
I turned and scowled at Austin leaning against the doorjamb. “Where are they?”
“Laundry.” He pushed away from the door and smiled. “Take these.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What’s your game, mister?”
“No game, baby. Just some ibuprofen for your head.”
“No, not that,” I said, taking the pills from him and swallowing them without water. Gross. “Why are my clothes in the laundry? I’m going to have to wear them home, right?”
He shook his head and opened his walk-in closet.
I noticed my suitcase leaning up against the inside wall and made my way to it. “Why is this here?”
“You’re staying with me for a few days.”
“What? Why?”
Austin sat on the edge of the mattress. “There’s been a development that I’m uncomfortable with, and since I know you’ll be safe here, you’re here.”
“What kind of development?” I faced him again. “And if you say ‘club business,’ Austin, I swear to God, I will kill you.”
He gave me a slight smile. “I found Steven.”
“I’m sorry?”
“And your money.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“I also discovered there’s a ten million dollar kidnap and ransom insurance policy on you.”
“What?”
“Steven offered you up as an alternative to returning the money he stole from you.”
“What?” I said again, only this time it was barely a whisper.
“Come here, baby.”
I went to him immediately.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me between his legs. “I need to talk to your father and brother. I have no idea if there even is a threat yet, but I’m not happy that Steven knew about the insurance and offered it up to me at all, let alone so quickly. For the time being, I want you here where I can protect you.”
“Steven was at the club?”
Austin nodded.
I looped my arms around his neck. “That’s why you locked me up.”
“Partly,” he said. “There are other things going on that I can’t tell you about, but if it involves you, baby, I won’t keep that from you. I was being pulled in a few different directions last night and I knew if you were in my office, you were safe.”
“Austin.” I sighed and dropped my forehead to his. “I can’t say I liked the way you did it, but I will give you a little grace since you were trying to protect me.” He smiled, and I shook my head. “But… and this is a big but, so hear me here, honey. If you ever do anything like that again without talking to me first, I will cut you.”
He chuckled. “I hear you, baby.”
“Come to dinner tomorrow… ah, tonight. You can talk to my brother and dad then.”
“They won’t mind?”
I shook my head. “I’ll call my mom and let her know, but no, they won’t mind.”
“Gotta meet with Crow tomorrow, but it shouldn’t conflict.”
I nodded and smiled.
He slid his hands under my T-shirt and up my back, kissing my collarbone. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”
“Not nearly as gorgeous as you,” I said, my fingers finding their way into his hair.
He tugged my shirt off and pulled me close again, drawing a nipple into his mouth. I dropped my head back, the feeling heady as he bit down gently. He slid my panties down my hips and I stepped out of them, feeling my way as my nipple was still in his mouth.
His finger slid through the wetness between my legs and then slipped inside of me. I gasped and my hips bucked as he slid another inside me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me onto the bed, his fingers still doing unbelievably incredible things to my body.
“You on the pill?”
I shook my head, gasping as his thumb found my clit. I could feel my orgasm building, but before it washed over me, he removed his hand.
“Austin,” I hissed.
He chuckled and I heard a little whoosh of something being torn. “Condom, baby.”
He rose up above me, settling his hips between mine and guiding himself inside of me. I wrapped my legs around him and arched up.
“You’re tight, baby. Am I hurting you?”
“God, no,” I breathed. “More.”
He grinned, covering my mouth with his and thrusting deep inside of me.
“Yes,” I whispered. “More, honey.”
He drew my nipple back into this mouth again as he surged deeper and deeper, faster and faster. I had no warning of my climax as the orgasm washed over me and I cried out his name. Never in my life had I come so fast, so hard, and I gripped his biceps as I caught my breath.
Austin let out a grunt and I felt his cock pulsate inside of me before he rolled us onto our sides, staying connected to me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “Fuck me,” he whispered, and kissed me deeply.
“I think you just did.” I grinned and stroked his cheek. “Amazing.”
He chuckled. “You have very low expectations, then, baby. This is nothing.”
“That was my very first orgasm,” I whispered.
“What?” He frowned. “Ever?”
I nodded. “I had no idea sex would feel like this. I mean, I did because my sister gave me a broad stroke idea of what good sex should be, but I’ve never personally experienced it.”
“Babe,” he said, and smiled. “That’s a fuckin’ crime. You’re beautiful all the time, but when you come, God, it’s incredible.”
I bit my lip. “Can we do it again?”
Austin laughed. “Hell, yeah, we can do it again. I’ll take care of the condom. Don’t move.”
I grimaced when he slid out of me and headed to the bathroom. My body was wired, ready for him to do whatever he wanted to me. So much for my plan to make him wait a while. But ten days was a while, right?
The dip of the bed pulled me from my thoughts and I smiled up at the man who’d totally ruined me for anyone else.
“I can hear you thinking,” he said.
“Just thinking how you’ve totally ruined me for any other man.”
He leaned down and kissed me gently. “There’ll never be any other man.”
“You’re so sure, huh?”
Austin nodded. “I love you, Dani.”
I gasped and sat up, my forehead almost colliding with his. “What?”
He grinned. “You heard me.”
“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 th
e 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.
BOOKER 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.”
Road to Desire Page 12
