by Wendi Zwaduk
“Get into the front seat so we can talk, then.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Please?”
Groaning, Astra opened the car door and slammed it shut. For a heartbeat, he thought for sure she’d just stroll into the apartment building without a backward glance. Astra yanked the passenger door open and plopped down in the seat.
“Happy?”
Slade shifted the car into gear and placed his hand over hers. “We’re leaving like you wanted, but you owe me something.”
“Owe you?” She snorted. “I owe you. Wonderful.”
“Hey, I didn’t ask for you to get snotty with me, little girl. I need to know what’s going on so I can sort out the situation and keep your ass safe.” He wrapped both hands around the steering wheel to give her space. “You asked me if I was okay the other day, so it’s my turn. Are you okay?”
Astra folded her arms and turned away from him. “It’s nothing.”
“Who’s giving you trouble?”
“No one…yet.” She gave him a wobbly grin. “Do you want to give me trouble?”
Slade gritted his teeth. He’d get the truth from her or die trying. “You try my patience. If I can, I’ll help you. I’ll help if I can’t, too.”
“That makes no sense.” Astra twisted her ring around her middle finger. He could see her in his peripheral vision. Her brows knotted and the corners of her mouth drew down in a frown. She shook her head and edged further away from him.
Slade sighed. Whatever was wrong with her, she wasn’t about to tell him. He pulled into the parking lot at the Capricorn and cut the power to the headlights. “We’re here.”
Astra fidgeted but didn’t get out of the vehicle.
“What?” Slade put his hand on her chilled thigh. Heat, and not from the car, spiralled through his body. His cock sprang to life behind his zipper. Well, hell. He hadn’t managed a damned erection since he’d signed the papers to give Darly the divorce.
“Looks like you’ve got more on your mind than keeping me safe.” She nodded to his crotch. “Is it a registered weapon?”
Slade tipped his head. God. At least she knew how to break the tension. “Hon?”
Astra turned quickly. “I have some money. We can get a deluxe suite and you can”—she cupped her hand over his erection—“put that to good use.”
His mouth ran dry. She made him feel like a damned teenager with nothing more than a touch. He needed to get his bearings or the whole op would fall apart. He breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth. “Are you sure? You barely know me.” He sighed again. Great, another woman to climb under his skin and fluster him. “I mean—”
Astra placed her index finger over his mouth. “I’m not propositioning you…well, no. I am, but I’m not doing it right if you’re not interested.” She nodded to the building. “I can afford the hotel room. We’ll get a good night’s sleep if nothing else.”
Good night’s sleep his ass. She wanted more than a decent slumber and he wasn’t about to let her down. “I’m a gentleman, even if I beat the shit out of the drunks at the club. I can’t let you pay for a hotel.”
Astra rolled her eyes, groaned and fiddled with the handle. “I should be happy you’re not like most guys. Promise me you really are a nice guy and didn’t do shit to my car so I’d trust you.”
“Hold on.” Slade stilled her actions. “Lay it out for me. I don’t mess with cars or hurt women. Other than the light, what’s wrong with your car?”
“Not here. Please? We can talk upstairs. I promise.”
“I don’t know that I get what you’re doing, but I’ll take you where you want to go.” If it killed him, he was going to find out what the hell was going on. “Want to play Mrs McMann?”
“Yes.”
“You got it.”
Astra settled into step beside Slade, matching his long strides. Mrs? She’d never been a Mrs and belonging to him sounded too good to be true. But why? She deserved a bright spot in her life. God knew she’d spent too much time in the crumbling building Tiny insisted the dancers all live in. Too much time alone and too much damned time knowing things she didn’t need to know.
She grinned as she took in the sight of the gleaming marquis lights. No wonder she loved the Capricorn Hotel. The neon and stucco reminded her of a time long past. A time when men had cherished their women, and women had trusted their men implicitly.
The twenty-minute ride between Carrington Falls and Jarvis might as well have been a ride into a whole new world. The fears, tensions and frustrations in the Sanborn couldn’t breech the walls of the Capricorn. There, she could tell him the contents of her heart.
She’d watched Slade for the past six months. There was something about him that broke the mould. He wasn’t like the other bouncers. He’d smile while kicking a man out of the club. He waited for the girls to leave—to make sure they got home or because he was a control freak, she wasn’t sure. Part of her couldn’t care less.
“Hon?” His large hand engulfed hers as he stopped in the spacious foyer. “Would you like a suite?” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’ll get a couple rooms if you’d rather.”
“A couple?” Astra wrapped her hands around Slade’s biceps. “I invited you and I insist you stay with me. I’ve got the most to lose here.”
“Hon…”
Now was her chance. If she didn’t tell him about the mistakes in her life, she might not have a chance to make them right. A song in her head played the words—‘trust in your faith’.
Well, faith, don’t fail me now. “Can I trust you?”
Slade cocked his head and a serious look crossed his eyes. “Absolutely.”
No hesitation, but finality. That she could work with. Maybe she’d found one of the good guys after all.
“We need to talk.”
Chapter Five
Slade followed Astra into the luxury building. Something felt off about their being at a hotel. For all he knew, she could do something drastic to him upstairs. He doubted it, though. The fear in her eyes didn’t kick his cop senses into overdrive. No, the oddity was the frankness in her voice and the tremble in her hands.
She’d acted so calm and collected at the counter. Like she knew what she wanted. The contradiction wasn’t lost on him. The sway of her ass called to him like a siren’s song as she sashayed to the elevator. He should walk away. Should get into his car and drive back to the Sanborn. He should, except the longing and desperation in her face arrested him. Call him a sucker for a woman in distress.
When the elevator doors closed, Astra levelled her shoulders. “You work for Tiny, right?”
“Like you.”
“That’s what I want to know.”
The bell for their floor pinged, interrupting the conversation. “That,” she said, shaking her head, “is the fastest elevator I’ve ever been in.”
“Yeah.” Slade followed, hot on her heels. The speed of the elevator was the last thing on his mind. The last time he’d been to the Capricorn had been the night he’d married Darley. Few things had changed in the ten years since. Same cream-coloured wallpaper and crimson-checked carpets. Even the gilt on the doors looked as if it had hardly aged.
Astra stopped in front of a door. “Have you been into his office? I don’t mean the chintzy panelled one, I mean, his office?”
Slade stared too long for his own comfort. Another office? Hell, he only knew about the one. Maybe he should’ve made time with Astra earlier. Would’ve helped the investigation.
“Then you don’t know about…now we really need to talk.” Her hands trembled as she opened the door.
Fear? Hesitation? Slade palmed his gun in his coat pocket. Better to be safe than sorry. Astra dropped her bag on the massive bed and turned. Her hair fluttered about her shoulders. Had it been a different situation, he’d have yanked her into his arms for a thorough fucking.
Her lips parted as she closed the distance between them. She shrugged out of her jacket and dumped the disc
arded garment onto the floor. Her T-shirt, torn at the collar, slipped off one creamy shoulder. Astra placed her hands on his shoulders and backed him against the hotel room door.
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you,” she murmured, her mouth a whisper away from his. “Make me feel alive.”
He didn’t have time to process her words before she pressed against him, chest to breast, mons to groin, and face to face. She placed an open-mouthed kiss to his lips.
Holy hell, he’d waited for this moment. He turned her around, pressing her back against the door and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He splayed his hands on her ass. If they were going to fuck, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be up against some cold door. He wanted her in the bed, mussed sheets surrounding her.
Slade sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, thrilled when she groaned. She threaded one of her small hands into his hair, tugging at the strands. Fuck. His cock throbbed. He needed her naked. Now. His legs connected with the edge of the bed, but instead of placing her on the mattress with grace, he tumbled down on top of her.
Astra laughed. She fucking laughed as he stood back up and struggled out of his coat. The vixen. “Better not be taunting me, little girl.” He tossed the tangled mass of coat onto the floor somewhere behind him. “I’m not one of those guys from the club.”
“Good,” she said and grabbed the hem of her shirt. “Fuck me.” Astra pulled the shirt up over her head and gave the crumpled fabric a toss. Her breasts heaved with every breath.
Damn, she wasn’t wearing a bra or anything. Rosy nipples beaded before him and the flush on her cheeks spread down across her chest. No matter how hard he tried, Slade couldn’t get his tight T-shirt up over his head fast enough.
Astra stared up at him through heavy-lidded eyes and plucked at one nipple. Her hips bucked with each twist. She bit her bottom lip and cupped both breasts.
Finally getting the shirt off, Slade dropped to his knees and wrapped his arm around her thin waist. “Mine,” he said with a grunt and pulled her to him. He closed his eyes and feasted on her nipples. Her sighs and whimpers matched his every lick and nibble.
“Slade.” She ground her pelvis against his abs. “Feels so fucking good.” Her body trembled and she grasped his hair even tighter. “So close.”
Close? From sucking on her nipples? He smiled around her breast and gave her nipple one last lick. He pulled away and sat back on his heels, not to punish her, but to give himself a moment to breathe.
Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “Done already?”
Done? Not hardly. Slade hooked his fingers in the waistband of her jeans, flicking the button. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
Astra leant back on her elbows, granting him access to her jeans. She wriggled her ass and slid out of the cumbersome denim. Slade kicked the pants out of the way and soaked in the image of Astra in nothing but a skimpy pair of panties. The flame red contrasted well against her pale skin.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking my fill.” He took her left foot in hand and rubbed his nose along her calf as he removed her sock. “I can smell you.”
She shivered and pulled her legs together. Slade placed his hand on her right thigh. “Open.”
Gasping, she complied. Starting at her ankle, he licked a path up her leg. He loved women with long legs and hers didn’t fail to meet his standards—all lean muscle and alabaster skin. He pressed a kiss to her inner knee and glanced at her. Astra cupped her breasts and stroked her peaked nipples. A fresh wave of heat soared to his groin. He wanted to make her feel desired, but damn, if she kept toying with her breasts, he’d never last. He licked along her inner thigh, intentionally stopping before the heated flesh of her pussy.
A strangled whimper worked past her lips. Her brow furrowed.
“Needy?” He switched his attention to her other leg, blazing a matching trail along her goosepimpled skin.
“You want to kill me, don’t you?” Astra abandoned her breast play and fisted her hands in the sheets. “God.”
“With sex?” He drew a long breath, memorising her scent.
“By making me wait.” She scooted forward, but he stopped her actions by placing his hands on her inner thighs.
“I should spank your ass.”
“Will you?”
Flames licked his body from within. He’d sensed her submissive nature, but to hear her vocalise her need to be commanded…who knew he’d find a companion in a stripper? Without removing her panties, he kissed and nibbled her searing flesh.
“Oh!” Her hips moved of their own accord as her liquid lust soaked through the delicate satin barrier.
He considered tearing her panties off, but why waste perfectly good garments? Slade sat back on his heels once again, leaving her on the brink. “Off.”
Astra stared at him. “Off?”
“Panties. Off. Now.” He stood and folded his arms. “Astra.”
Her eyes widened as she yanked the dampened material down her legs. The moist lips of her sex glistened in the low light. Need coursed through his veins. Slade wrenched at the buckle on his jeans. He’d toyed around enough. Time for satisfaction.
For all his suave act in the club, when it came to unbuckling his belt Slade was all thumbs. The damned leather wasn’t going to cooperate and make things easier, either.
“Now who’s on the edge?” Astra scooted closer to him on the bed then worked the catch on the buckle. “That’s what you get for teasing me.” She ran her nose over his abs, sending awareness to every cell in his body.
Something other than just raw need and lust pounded in his veins. Slade grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and withdrew a condom. Astra took the condom from his hands and tore the packet with her teeth. He managed to shove his pants past his hips, freeing his cock. Good enough.
Astra grinned and rolled the slippery latex over his dick. Then she cupped his balls. He gritted his teeth. Each stroke of her fingers over his sensitive sac brought him closer to climax. And he hadn’t even entered her yet.
“Lay down.” Still in his tangled pants, Slade pushed the head of his cock against the mouth of her pussy. “So wet.”
“Want you.” She dug her fingers into his forearms and arched her hips. “Please?”
Slade entered her in one sure thrust, burying himself to the hilt. A heady sensation flowed through his chest to his cock. “Oh God.” He groaned and moved in and out of her pussy. With every withdrawal, her inner walls clutched him tight, heightening his need.
At this rate, he wasn’t going to last. He spread his hands across her hips and surged into her wet heat.
“Harder.” She moaned and her head tilted back, exposing her neck.
His thrusts became faster and frantic. Even if he’d wanted to control the speed of their lovemaking, he couldn’t have. He braced himself on his forearm and suckled on the smooth skin of her throat.
“Slade!” She cried his name once more. “Can’t hold on.” Her body trembled and pitched as she moaned. “Coming.”
Her uneven breaths feathered over his skin. His hips slammed into hers as the severity of his orgasm took over. He gasped for breath as he rode out the climax and emptied his seed into the condom. His body shuddered.
Slade forced himself to his forearms to keep from crushing her. He peered at her through fuzzy eyes. Astra smiled a sleepy smile and nestled into the sheets with him still deep inside her.
“I need to move,” he mumbled, not sure if he’d said the words aloud.
“I don’t mind.” She smoothed her hands over his cheeks and kissed his chin. “Sleep with me.”
“I just did.” He rocked back on his knees and withdrew, missing her heat. Where was the damned wastebasket? Didn’t hotel rooms usually have a hundred of them just lying around? He chucked the full condom into the nearest waste bin and wandered into the bathroom. A gentleman would take care of his girl.
Slade stared at himself in the mirror. Was she his girl? Sure, they’d
fucked, but what did she want now? Hell, if he knew. He nabbed a washcloth from the rack of towels and moistened it under the faucet.
What did he want?
Her.
He drew a long breath and let it out slowly. Until she learned his truth. He worked the extra water out of the cloth. Damn the man and damn the operation.
Chapter Six
Astra dragged the comforter over her fevered body and snuggled down in the sheets. Making love to Slade had felt so perfect, yet so surreal. He didn’t strike her as the fuck-and-run type—more like the sex-has-feelings-behind-it type. She blinked back the tears. Her track record suggested he’d be the former, working on his exit line in the bathroom. Was he hoping she’d fall asleep so he could sneak out?
“Sleeping?”
She opened her eyes as the bed dipped beside her. Slade jiggled a washcloth in his hand. “I wore you out.” He pulled the covers back and eased the washcloth across her pussy.
Astra swallowed a gasp. The guy had to be an alien. He couldn’t possibly be human. Men in her sphere of understanding didn’t clean their sex partners.
“I take care of those I care about.” He leant down and gingerly placed a kiss to her lips. “Now you can sleep.”
She stared at his back as he left the room. He cared about her? Duh, but did he really care?
Slade strode blessedly naked and sexy from the bathroom then pulled the covers back once more. He slid in next to her and wrapped an arm across her belly.
“Sleep, little girl. There will be plenty of time to talk when you wake up.”
Yes, sleeping sounded wonderful. She turned on her side and wriggled her ass into the curve of his body. The tension she’d carried for more than a year melted away in his embrace. Slade held so much power and he probably didn’t even realise it. Hell, he held her heart in his hands.
* * * *
Astra buried her nose in the pillow. The scent of pancakes permeated the room. Her stomach rumbled. Pancakes. It had been so long since she’d had anything other than cold cereal for breakfast, the delicious smell had to be part of a dream. But damn, she needed to eat something hearty.
