Page 62 of The Price of Love

I return her smirk and see by the look in her eyes she likes it. “Care to define weirdness?” I say in my huskiest voice.

“Fuck,” she says, drawing the word out. “You can’t use that voice with me.”

“What voice would you like me to use?” I say with a high-pitched nasal tone.

She laughs. “Just when your sexiness level goes off the charts, you do something like that.”

I raise an eyebrow. “So you’re saying I’m not sexy anymore?” I’m not certain where this boldness is coming from, but she’s so easy to flirt with.

By the widening of her eyes, I think I’ve taken her by surprise, but then a twinkle fills them. “What if I told you that you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met? Would you hold it against me?”

Her compliment lands and feels unfamiliar, so I chuckle. “You know that’s not how that expression goes, don’t you?”

“How does it go then?” The mischief still dances in her eyes.

I shouldn’t play into her hands, but I can’t resist. “If I said you have a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?”

She covers the distance between us in one step and says, “I thought you’d never ask.”

I laugh as she wraps me in a hug. Her body is solid against mine. The muscles in her shoulders and back are hard, showcasing her strength, which makes me feel safe and protected. Something else I’m not used to. I melt into her, letting my worries fall away.

Neither of us lets go, and soon I find myself pressing my chest against hers. Storm takes a sharp intake of breath. Encouraged, I turn my torso, so my breasts rub against her much smaller ones. Her powerful arms pull me closer, and her hand trails down my back. She puts pressure on my lower back, so my pelvis pushes into hers. It’s my turn to let out a surprised gasp.

We haven’t even kissed yet, but every nerve ending in my body is on alert. It’s been too long since I’ve been with a woman. Not since Margot left. Though I wouldn’t consider that being with a woman, either. More like pleasing one.

I push Margot out of my mind. That’s the last person I want to be thinking of when I’m in Storm’s arms.

Storm’s breath is warm against my neck, and I shiver. When her lips brush against the soft skin right below my jawline, electricity shoots through my body. I tilt my head to give her better access, and she takes the invitation. Her mouth is warm and soft on the sensitive skin of my neck.

The gentle kisses are another welcome surprise. One of many I’ve found with this dangerous biker. If I let her keep kissing my neck, I’m not sure I can stop the runaway train raging inside my body, so I pull away and put my hand against her cheek. The desire in her eyes sends another shockwave through me.

I do the only thing I know to stop the flood of emotions rushing through me. I close my eyes. She takes it as an invitation. Was it? I don’t resist as her tongue gently parts my lips. I didn’t think her kisses could get any gentler than the ones she’d planted on my neck. I was wrong. Her lips are like feathers against mine, teasing me in ways I’ve never been teased. I want to devour her lips, but I hold back, letting her take the lead.

I didn’t realize that I’d thrust my pelvis against hers until she lets out a moan. Jesus. What am I doing? There are so many reasons this is a mistake. One of the biggest is that she’s the president of the Iron Thorns. As much as I want to continue, I close my lips, pull back my head, and open my eyes.

Initially, her eyes are unfocused, but they clear. We gaze into each other’s eyes, but neither of us speaks. She reaches up and brushes my hair off my forehead. Her fingertips are as gentle as her lips.

Storm smiles. “Should we go pick up your bike?”

I nod, not trusting my voice.

CHAPTER 27

STORM

After that kiss with Shadow, I can hardly think straight, and now I have to ride to Cinder Ridge with her sitting behind me. The fuck. First, I have to walk down two flights of stairs on wobbly legs when all I want is to kiss her again.

By the look in Shadow’s eyes, the kiss affected her, too. All she’d managed was a nod when I asked if she was ready. I reach out and take her hand. I can’t leave it like this. Her warm hand slips into mine, and it fits like it belongs.

“Hey,” I say. “I know it’s complicated, but there’s something here, and I’m pretty sure you feel it, too.”

She nods but still has no words.

“When we met, I was drawn to you.” I dig deep for the courage to open up. “The past three weeks, the highlight of my day was talking to you. I didn’t know how things would be today. I thought this might be it. You’d pick up your bike and disappear, and the thought scared the shit out of me.”

I reach for her other hand, and she reaches back. We stand facing each other, our fingers intertwined.

“But as soon as I laid eyes on you, I knew I couldn’t handle letting you disappear from my life. I wasn’t planning on kissing you, but—”