Craving (Steel Brothers Saga Book 1) (12 page)

I finished my coffee and stood. “I’m going to shower. What time do you need me in here to start our cooking extravaganza?”

“I’d say probably around five. No, make that four. The potatoes need to bake and then bake again. Plus we’ll need to start the dessert so it can chill.”

I nodded, put my coffee cup in the sink, and walked back to my room.

And on my bed sat Talon Steel.

“
U
h
…hi,” Jade said.

“My brothers don’t want me to leave,” I said.

She shook her head. “Hi to you too. What are you doing here?”

“Are you still leaving?”

She walked to her chest of drawers, opened the top one, and pulled out a pair of underwear. I tried not to imagine the plain white cotton panties clinging to her shapely ass. What was it about plain white panties on women? God, so hot.

“No, not yet, anyway.”

“What changed your mind?” I dared to hope I had played a part in her decision.

“Nothing in particular. I mean, I took the Colorado bar, so I’ll be living somewhere in the state anyway. And I promised Marj I would try to make it work here in Snow Creek.”

Of course. For Marjorie. Not for me. Which was fine anyway, because I couldn’t love her. I couldn’t give her what she deserved. But her not being here… I’d be ripped in two.

I stared at her—at those blue-gray eyes that seemed to cut through my many tiers, at those red lips still swollen from her earlier kisses, at the lush golden-brown hair hanging in wavy layers around her creamy shoulders, at her perfectly shaped face, at her amazing and beautiful large breasts, at those brown-pink nipples poking through that damned white cotton tank. The woman could be wearing a lacy negligee from Victoria’s Secret and she couldn’t look any sexier than she did in a white tank and plaid boxers.

I wanted her again. My cock grew inside my jeans, and my balls tightened. How was this happening to me? I still hardly knew the woman. Was this simple physical chemistry? If it was only chemistry…why were my emotions involved?

Emotion… I had turned off myriad emotions long ago just so I could get through the craziness that was my life. Now feeling was creeping back into me, and as much as I wanted to stop it, I was powerless against it.

If Jade left, maybe I could get back to normal.

But if Jade left…she’d take a piece of me with her.

I had to get her out of my system once and for all. I could fuck her again. That would sate my physical hunger, but not for long, given the state of my cock at the moment. I had just had her an hour ago, and now I wanted her again. Truth of it was, I had wanted her as soon as we were done.

She fidgeted with the white panties she held, looking at the floor. “I need to shower, so if you’ll excuse me…”

Shower. I could take her into the shower with me. But no. I would have her again on her bed.

“Look at me,” I said.

She still looked down.

I rose and walked toward her. I lifted her chin and forced her to meet my gaze. “I said, ‘look at me.’”

Her eyes burned darker, into an almost midnight gray-blue. I waited for her to speak, but she did not. My cock strained against the confines of my jeans. I ached to grab her, bend my legs, and grind my cock into her pelvis while we were still fully clothed.

Instead, I lowered my head and kissed her lips. She opened for me, and we kissed softly for a few seconds, but then the kiss became more fervent. God, to kiss her was heaven. Her soft sweet tongue, her firm full lips, the tiny nibbles from her teeth… Yes, it was heaven kissing her. And heaven was a place I hadn’t known until Jade.

I brushed my hands over her shoulders, down her arms, and then up, cupping her firm full breasts. I thumbed her hard nipples through the flimsy cotton material. She groaned. I took them both between thumb and forefinger and pinched once, twice, three times…

She moaned into my mouth, the sound a tremor against the back of my throat. God, how I loved her nipples—so beautiful and so responsive. I pinched them again and again, her moans feeding my own desire. When I finally broke the kiss to take a breath, I leaned down and bit a nipple right through the fabric.

“Oh, God, Talon, yes. I love it when you pinch my nipples.”

I continued sucking and nibbling her nipples through the cotton while I brushed the boxers over her hips and onto the floor. I touched her wet pussy with my fingers. Slick and ready for me…so hot.

“Yes, just like that,” she said. “So good.”

I let go of her nipple with a soft pop and turned her around so her beautiful ass was facing me. I squeezed the firm cheeks and then knelt and slid my tongue through the crease. She sighed. Her pussy was red and swollen, dripping with her sweet nectar. I buried my face in it, rubbing my cheeks, chin, and lips in her juices, sucking her clean. She tasted so good, like citrus and sex. I had to have her. Again.

I stood and removed my jeans quickly. My cock stood at attention, as hard as ever. I ached to be inside her. I sat down on the bed and motioned her toward me. “Come sit on my cock, baby. Take off your shirt first and sit on my cock. I’m going to play with your nipples while you fuck me.”

She needed no further urging. When she sank her moist pussy onto me, I nearly shattered. So good, that suction, that sweet grip. Bracing her knees on either side of my hips, she rose slowly and plunged back down. A man of my word, I cupped both breasts, fingering one nipple and biting the other.

“Yes, Talon. Bite me. Bite that nipple. God, I’m going to come so hard.”

“Yeah, blue eyes, come for me. I want that sweet little pussy to come all over my cock.” I clamped my lips over her hard nipple again.

She rose and sank, rose and sank, and then imploded all over me. Her convulsions clenched me as she rode into her climax.

“Oh, Talon,” she cried. “I’m coming, baby. Coming. So, so good.”

I was ready to spew into her, but I wanted her to have another orgasm. Plus I wanted to taste that sweet little cunt.

I pulled her off of me and laid her down on the bed. I spread her legs and shoved my face between them, eating her. I sucked on her clit and stuffed two fingers inside her. Soon she was clenching around me again.

My God, I loved making her come. Her responses drove me insane. I had never been so concerned about a lover’s pleasure before. I liked for them to come, but if they didn’t, I didn’t worry about it too much. But with Jade—every orgasm that shattered through her shattered through me as well.

Our pleasure was joined somehow.

One more climax with my fingers curled inside her, and I could take it no longer. I climbed atop her and thrust into her. Sweet, sweet home. She gripped me like no other, and as I pushed into her, bit into her neck as I fucked her, she moaned under my touch.

Two, three, four more thrusts, and I was coming all over again. Squirting into her, coming home.

I rolled over onto my back and closed my eyes, breathing hard.

A few minutes later, I opened my eyes. She was on her side, her head resting in her hand, her gorgeous hair falling over those creamy shoulders, staring at me. I waited for her to speak, but she didn’t. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

She looked at me expectantly.

“I’m glad you’re not leaving,” I whispered.

She smiled. “Not for the time being anyway, as I said.”

I nodded and closed my eyes again.

“Talon?”

I recognized the tone of her voice. She wanted to “talk” about this. I didn’t know what to say to her.

“Talon?” she said again.

Now or never. “What?”

“What exactly is this thing between us?”

I could more easily explain the meaning of life and the existence of God. “It’s…sex.”

She punched me in the arm, but at least it was a friendly punch…or so I thought.

“Clearly it’s sex. But the first time you took me to your bed, you said it would be the only time. That hasn’t ended up being the case. So what is going on with us?”

“What do you want to be going on with us?” All the potential answers to that question scared the hell out of me, but it was easier to ask it than actually answer hers.

“Well…I haven’t felt like I could tell Marj what’s going on between us. Do you think it would be okay if I…told her?”

Not exactly what I had been expecting. Most women would want to talk about commitments, emotion, and all that other garbage. All Jade wanted to know was if she could tell her best friend. Something in me saddened a bit.

“Do you want to tell her?” Score two for me. Another question instead of answering hers.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Normally I would. She and I don’t have secrets. But something about this situation seems…very private to me. Why do you think that is?”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Oh, no, you don’t. Don’t think I haven’t caught on. You’re answering everything I ask with another question. I’ve been to law school. I know that tactic. I want an answer. What is this? And why do I feel like I can’t talk about it?”

Her cheeks were red, her body still flushed from her orgasms. Private? I didn’t know why it seemed private. I had no answer for her, and right now…I was longing for her again.

“I want your pussy again,” I said.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’ve never been more serious.” I moved downward and spread her legs. “You’re so beautiful down here. Especially after you’ve come. So red and swollen and juicy. I could eat you up.”

“You’ve done that several times— Oh!”

I slithered my tongue over her wet folds. Delicious, perfect. I pushed her thighs forward, tongued her tight little asshole, and then sucked her entire labia into my mouth and pulled.

“God! God, that’s good.”

Between her legs, I met her blue-gray gaze. Her nipples were hard and puckered. “Touch your nipples for me, baby,” I said. “Pinch those hard little nipples for me.”

She brought her hands to her breasts and cupped them, fingering them lightly.

“That’s hot, baby. Now pinch them. Pinch those hard little nipples while I suck your cunt.”

She pinched them, and my cock hardened into granite. Damn, she was so hot. I lapped at her pussy, sucking, tugging, and then looked up again. “How does that feel, baby? How does it feel when you pinch your nipples like that?”

She moaned, writhing, grinding into my face. “Talon, I’m going to come again.”

A thrill bubbled into me. “Yeah, baby, come for me. Come all over my face. Let me suck all that sweet cream out of your pussy.”

She shattered, bathing me with her sweet essence. My cock throbbed, yearning for her hot sheath. While she was still coming, I inched forward and thrust into her. I fucked her. Fucked her harder. I got on my knees, lifted her hips, and plowed into her.

Thrust. Thrust. Thrust. Thrust.
My balls tight.
Thrust. Thrust. Thrust
. Tiny convulsions started at the base.
Thrust. Thrust. Thrust
. My brain exploded, my skin tingled all over, my cock throbbed as I released into her juicy heat.

The most explosive climax I could remember…and still I came and came and came…until finally I pulled out and collapsed in a heap next to her.

Calm peacefulness surrounded me as the afterglow whisked me to a different plane. I lay there, sated. Her presence next to me filled me with a tranquil headiness that was foreign to me. I floated downward, melting into the soft comforter.

God, dare I think it?

I felt…
good
.

But a few minutes later…

“What exactly is this thing between us?”

H
e didn’t answer me
. Not that I expected he would. I got up to take my shower. I figured he’d let me this time. He’d had three or four orgasms already today. He wouldn’t be after me for another.

I turned to look at him, his eyes still closed, his arm over his forehead as usual. One of his knees was bent and strewn over his other leg. Naked glory—he was indeed the epitome of masculine beauty.

I walked to the door to make sure it was locked, and I went to take a shower.

Twenty minutes later, when I walked out of the bathroom to dress, Talon was gone.

“
I
can’t believe this
.” Marj brought in the steaks from the grill and set the platter down harshly down on the patio dining table. “I told him six sharp.”

Jonah and Ryan were relaxing in the hot tub with a beer. I was sipping a glass of Ryan’s Rhône blend in a redwood Adirondack chair. My heart lurched. Worry for Talon consumed me. Had he fainted somewhere?

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Sis,” Ryan said jovially.

Always jovial, that one. Ryan always had a smile. I’d miss working with him when my bar results came in.

“Is it a crime to want to have dinner with my family?” Marj shook her head. “My
whole
family? I’ve been cooking for two hours!”

Jonah got out of the hot tub, his trunks dripping, and wrapped a towel around his waist. “It smells great. Don’t feel bad, Marj. You know how Talon is.” He sighed. “I just wish he were here. He was just in the ER yesterday, for God’s sake.”

So Jonah was worried too.

“He ruined my special dinner,” Marj said, her dark eyes somber.

I gulped down the last of my wine. I hated to see my best friend upset. Yes, I was concerned, but I wouldn’t let Marj down. I rose. “Come on.” I put my arm around Marj’s shoulder. “Joe and Ryan are here. I’m here. And everything smells great. Plus, I worked really hard sprinkling salt and pepper on that asparagus.”

That got a slight smile out of Marj.

“Listen to Jade, Sis,” Ryan said. “I could eat a horse. Let’s pour some more of that Rhône and have some chow.”

Dinner was delicious. At least I assumed it was. It all tasted like cardboard to me. Worry for Talon pounded in my gut. Alongside the worry churned anger. How could he do this to Marj? She had lightened up a bit after a couple glasses of wine, but she was clearly hurt that he had stood her up. I put on my happy face and talked with Marj and her brothers, but an underlying current of malaise was thick around us.

Where was he?

I helped Marj clear the table and then offered to serve the dessert. I went into the kitchen to fetch the French silk pie from the refrigerator, when the doorbell rang. Marj and the guys were outside and hadn’t heard it. I walked out of the kitchen through the hall to the doorway. Who would be calling on a Sunday evening?

I opened the door. A cop stood on the front porch.

“Yes?” I said.

The cop cleared his throat. “I’m Officer Steve Dugan, ma’am. Is Mr. Steel at home?”

“Which one?”

“Talon Steel.”

I shook my head. “No, he’s out. But his brothers are here.” I held out my hand. “I’m Jade Roberts, Marjorie’s friend. Do you…want me to get Jonah and Ryan for you?”

Dugan nodded. “Yes, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure.” I held the door open. “Come on in.”

He stepped in and removed his hat. Polite.

“I’ll just be a minute.”

I walked quickly through the kitchen to the patio. They were laughing. At what, I had no idea. It was the first gale of laughter I’d heard tonight, and with the news I had, it would no doubt be the last.

I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, you guys, but there’s an Officer Dugan here to see Talon. He wants to talk to the two of you.”

Jonah arched his eyebrows. “Steve? What’s going on?”

“I haven’t a clue,” I said, “but he’s waiting in the foyer.”

Jonah rose and walked past me, Ryan and Marj following. I strode quickly on their heels. I might not be family, but I needed to know what was going on. My nerves were a wreck.

“Steve”—Jonah held out his hand—“what’s going on, buddy?”

“Hey, Joe.” Dugan shook Jonah’s hand and then Ryan’s and Marjorie’s. “I’m sorry to barge in like this.”

“I guess you’ve already met Marj’s friend Jade?” Ryan said.

Dugan smiled…sort of. “Nice to meet you.” He shook my hand.

His hand was big and meaty. And clammy with perspiration. This cop was nervous. Or hesitant.

“Come on into the living room,” Jonah said. “You want a drink?”

Dugan shook his head. “I’m here to see your brother.”

“You putting together another poker game?” Ryan smiled. “Why don’t you ever ask me to play?”

“Because you suck, Ry,” Dugan said, “but that’s not why I’m here.” He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid this isn’t a social call.”

Apprehension clogged the air. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“I need to take Talon in. I have a warrant for his arrest.”

I
was helping
Marion in the winery office the next morning, trying desperately to get Talon out of my mind.

He hadn’t come home last night. I’d made several pilgrimages to the kitchen, hoping to find him staring at that damned glass of water, but to no avail. I hadn’t slept, and from the looks of Ryan when I came in this morning, neither had he.

I nearly dropped the file I was working on when Marjorie burst in like a tornado, her cheeks flushed pink and her eyes rimmed with darkness, carrying a legal-size envelope. Clearly, she hadn’t slept either.

“Jade”—she forced a smile—“your bar results came.”

My stomach rose in my throat. The last thing I wanted to do was open that envelope in front of Marj and Marion.

“Morning, ladies.” Ryan strode in, his signature smile missing from his face. “How’s everything going this morning?”

And now in front of Ryan. Why couldn’t he have stayed over at the warehouse with the barrels?

Goosebumps froze on my arms. “Marj…”

“Oh, what are you afraid of? You know you passed with flying colors. My brilliant BFF could do no less.” She sighed. “Besides, we could all use some good news this morning.”

I couldn’t argue there. Marjorie, who usually slept like a baby, had clearly tossed and turned last night. Her eyes told the tale.

Ever since college, Marj had labored under the delusion that I was brilliant. The truth was I was no more brilliant than anyone else. I studied. I had to, to get scholarships. Marj, coming from the Steel Empire, hadn’t needed to worry about money. I had worked hard in school my whole life, my father driving into my head that I needed to go to college and I needed to get scholarships to be able to do it. I’d always had scholarships, and I’d taken loans to cover the rest that my dad couldn’t and then worked to cover my living expenses.

And here Marj was building me up in front of Marion and Ryan and waving my bar results in my face. What was I supposed to do? I had to open them. And if I didn’t pass… Nothing much. I’d be mortified, that was all.

But as I had done for all tests in my entire testing career, I had studied for the bar exam. And when I studied for tests, I usually got As. So I had to go with the odds here. Why worry yet?

“I’m on pins and needles here, Jade.” Marj thrust the envelope at me.

I reluctantly took it. Telling her I didn’t want to open it in front of everyone would do no good. They already knew it was here anyway, and whatever the result was, they would know that eventually as well.

“Yes, please don’t keep us in suspense.” Marion smiled.

I took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope. Inside were two pieces of paper. My vision blurred as I tried to read the first piece. Name, address,
scan scan scan, scan scan scan
…

Status.

I drew in a deep breath.

Pass.

I widened my eyes to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong.

Pass.

“I passed!” I squealed.

Marj launched herself at me, giving me a hug. She nearly stumbled, but Ryan steadied both of us.

“Easy there, squirt,” he said. “Her first lawsuit will be against you.”

Marj let me go, and I was shaking as I looked at the second sheet of paper.

“What’s that?” Marj asked.

I scanned it quickly. “It’s about the swearing in ceremony next month in Denver.”

“That’s great.” Marj clapped her hands. “We’ll all go to support you.”

“That’s not necessary. I may not even go myself. It’s not like it’s a requirement.”

“Nonsense,” Ryan said. “You should definitely be there. We’ll make sure we all get it on our calendars.”

I took a deep breath. Thank God.

If only Talon were here…

Marjorie interrupted my worries. “You need to go look for an attorney job,” she said.

“I’m kind of working here today, Marj.”

“Actually, I was just coming in to tell you guys that there’s not much to do around here today,” Ryan said. “Marion can handle everything. Why don’t you take the day off, go get your dress blues on, and go into town? There’s only one firm in town, plus the city attorney’s office. You can see them both today, strut your stuff. Maybe one of them will have an opening.”

“See?” Marj said. “Everything is working out. Let’s go back to the house, get you dressed, and I’ll go with you. I’ll treat you to lunch. Besides, it’ll help get my mind off of…”

Talon.

She didn’t have to say his name. We were all thinking it.

This was all hitting me so fast. I wasn’t sure I could speak coherently, let alone try to get a job today. I opened my mouth to say as much, but Marion and Ryan ushered us out the door.

“Go on, you two,” Marion said. “Ryan and I can hold down the fort here. You get yourself a job, missy.”

N
o sooner had
we lunched at Enzio’s Italian eatery—the eggplant parm, usually my favorite, had been flavorless due to my worry—than Marj was marching me toward the city attorney’s office.

“The city attorney’s name is Larry Wade. I don’t know him very well, but I believe he and my father did business together. Do you want me go in and introduce you?”

I shook my head. Marj had already done so much for me. Besides, I wanted to do this myself. “No, thanks. I’ll go alone. I don’t want it to get around town that I’m going around asking for favors because I know the Steels.”

“I understand,” Marj said. “Now run in there and show them what you’ve got.”

I gathered my courage and walked through the door of the small city building. I was used to the massive city buildings and courthouses in Denver. This was a tiny brick building that apparently housed the mayor, the city attorney, and their staffs, which didn’t appear to be very abundant.

A young lady sat behind a wall. I walked up to her. “Excuse me.”

“Yes, may I help you?”

I cleared my throat. “I’d like to see the city attorney, please, if he’s available?”

I let out a breath. I had done it again, inflecting my voice at the end of a statement and making it sound like a question, as if I were asking for a favor, as if I weren’t worthy of seeing the city attorney.

I had to stop doing that.

“Do you have an appointment?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“May I tell him what this is regarding?”

I drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m an attorney. I’m looking for a job here in Snow Creek.”

“Oh, then you came about the ad.”

“The ad?”

“Yes, they’re looking for an assistant city attorney. I’m sure he’ll want to see you. We haven’t gotten many applicants. There aren’t too many attorneys who choose to live in Snow Creek.” She let out a quick laugh. “Let me tell him you’re here.”

My heart soared. They were actually looking for someone. Could my timing have been any better? Things like this never happened to me.

The receptionist turned back to me. “Larry is in the office and will see you. He’s very excited that you’re here.”

I looked around. Surely there couldn’t be that much work for a city attorney in Snow Creek. Why was he looking for an assistant? The money would probably not be much, but as long as I could get a small apartment and move off the ranch, it would be enough for me.

“Go ahead and have a seat.” The receptionist gestured to the sofa and a few chairs in a sitting area. “He’ll be down in a minute.”

A few seconds later, a balding blond man of medium height, wearing khakis and a button-down shirt, walked toward me, his hand outstretched. “I’m Larry Wade. Are you the attorney?”

I stood and nodded. “I’m Jade Roberts.” I took his hand. “It’s great to meet you. I really appreciate you seeing me.”

“Not at all. I’m thrilled you’re here, to be honest. My workload is getting heavy, but as Carol likely told you, we don’t get a lot of attorneys settling here in Snow Creek.” He led me back to a small conference room and gestured for me to have a seat. He sat down across from me. “So what brings you to Snow Creek, Ms. Roberts?”

“Please, Jade. Actually, friends. Marjorie Steel is my best friend.”

His eyebrows shot up. “The Steels?”

“Yes.” Was that a problem?

“Good people, the Steels.”

Okay, maybe not a problem. “Yes, they are.”

“So how long have you been practicing law?”

Warmth spread over my cheeks. “I haven’t, actually. I just got my bar results this morning.” I tugged the paper out of the small briefcase I was carrying and slid it across the table to Mr. Wade.

“Well, congratulations, then.” He smiled. “And welcome to the club.” He took a look at my resume, scanning it. “So you clerked for Davis and Stubbs. Good, very good. You have any experience doing city work?”

I shook my head. “I’m afraid I don’t, but I do know my way around a courtroom. I sat with Sherry Malone on several of her medical malpractice cases, did most of her legwork.”

“As you can imagine, we don’t have a lot of high-profile cases here in Snow Creek.” He chuckled. “Anything big gets sent up to the County DA in Grand Junction. But we do have a lot of traffic tickets, curfew violations, drunk driving, assault and batteries, a little domestic violence sometimes. Nothing too exciting, but we make do.”