Page 57 of Steel

He did.

Not only did he follow, he cornered me by the kitchen table. We did a little dance with me shifting one way then moving the other. After doing so several times, we both laughed although the sound coming from deep within his throat was clearly more of a savage growl. The tone sent a spiraling effect of tingles furrowing deep within my skin.

“You can’t get away from me,” he muttered.

“Wanna bet?”

The dance continued until I was in a fit of laughter, trying very hard to keep my volume low.

He stopped, stretching his back and acting as if he was completely exasperated. But I knew better. He was doing nothing more than calculating my next move.

Which was why I did the opposite. Given what had once been very coordinated gymnastic qualities, I scrambled toward the island to try to jump over it.

I never made it.

His strong hands gripped me from the back, yanking me away from the edge. Instead of pulling me into his arms, he tossed me down on my back on the table. With the crushing weight of his body pressed against mine, I was going nowhere.

Steel laughed, low and throaty while placing his hands on either side of me. “Did you really think you could get away from me?”

“What if I told you I can do anything I want?” I pushed my palms against his chest, keeping a distance between us. Why not see just how far he was willing to go?

“Not around me.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah. And I’ll be happy to show you.” He easily grabbed one arm then the other, yanking both over my head and securing my wrists with one huge hand.

I should have reminded myself how big and strong me was, with muscles in all the right places. Maybe I was still swooning from the sight of all his colorful ink scattered across his entire upper torso to react quickly. Within seconds, I was nothing more than his prisoner.

Not a bad place to be.

As he lowered his head ever so slowly, we both heard a sound. Not just one set of feet but two feet and four paws coming into the kitchen. We couldn’t react quickly enough, although I bit mylower lip to keep from giggling. Since my little man had entered my life, I’d never once had a man inside my apartment or had even gone on a date. Not once.

I’d had coffee a couple of times with a single coworker and a drink with one, neither of which had worked out, but this was… embarrassing, my face full of heat.

The only saving grace was that when Damon fell asleep, rarely did anything awaken him.

“Mom,” he said while rubbing both eyes with his fists and almost hitting the corner of the island.

“Yes, baby?” I placed my index finger against Steel’s lips, who immediately fought his own amusement at the situation.

“Getting water.” He yawned halfway through, muddling the words.

“Okay, sweetie,” I struggled to say, the words clipped. “Go back to bed.”

Thankfully, the cup I’d pulled out as his was still beside the sink. He rose onto his toes, struggling with reaching the faucet but managing. He always wanted to do everything himself.

While the glass was being filled, I noticed Steel peering over his shoulder to the floor. I followed the trail, gasping and slapping my hand over my mouth from the way Zorro was on his haunches, staring at us with big chocolate eyes. Eyes that narrowed as if he knew exactly what naughtiness was occurring on the kitchen table where most people feasted on delicious treats.

Another series of filthy images rattled my brain.

Damon was methodical, paying us no attention as he filled his glass. Then he stood in front of the sink taking several sips.

I was certain I couldn’t hold back the laughter and had no idea what I would say to him.

Thank God, without looking in our direction he finally decided to head back to his room. “Night, Mom.”

After he’d left we could barely contain our fits of laughter.