Forged in Steele by Maya Banks Page A

focal point in the room.
    “Just something I don’t want to ever forget,” he said quietly.
    Sensing the subject was a sore one and also closed, she let it go. Instead she knelt up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She pressed her cheek to the top of his head and held him tightly.
    He reached for one of her hands and pulled it to his mouth, kissing the inside of her palm.
    “Like being here with you,” he rumbled. “It’s nice. The quiet. You wrapped around me. Me being able to touch and smell you. Never thought it would happen.”
    “All you had to do was ask,” she said against his head.
    His body shook with silent laughter. “I was convinced if you had any clue how lascivious my thoughts were that you’d have my balls. And since you’re usually in a position of power patching up our wounds, I really didn’t want to piss you off.”
    She smiled. “So tell me, Mr. Badass, we’ve got a few hours until you pull out. What are we going to do with them?”
    He swiveled in her hold, wrapping his arms around her as he dragged her onto his lap. He molded his mouth to hers and thrust his tongue past her lips, delving deep.
    “I promised you multiple orgasms,” he said against her mouth.
    “Mmmm, so you did.”
    “I’m a man of my word. I never go back on my word.”
    “I can see that.”
    “Then know you’re going to have many more orgasms.”
    “God, I hope so.”
    He chuckled and kissed her again. “I like your enthusiasm.”
    “Know what I want?” she asked.
    “What’s that?”
    She leaned in until her lips brushed over his ear. “I want to taste you. You may have fantasized about how I taste, but I’ve had just as many fantasies about having your cock in my mouth and making you wild for me.”
    His entire body went rigid. He stiffened, his grip on her almost painful.
    “I didn’t think I could get any harder,” he muttered. “Jesus, Maren. If you had any idea how long I’ve wanted my dick in your mouth.”
    She grinned. “Does that mean I get to fulfill my fantasy?”
    “Oh hell yeah,” he breathed. “I’m all yours. Do with me whatever you want.”

CHAPTER 6
     
    MAREN was awake the moment Steele slid from the bed. One minute she was snuggled deeply into his arms, her head resting against his shoulder, and the next she was wide awake as he slipped away.
    Her heart was heavy with regret. She so wanted to hold on to this moment forever. She didn’t want it to end. She’d savored every single minute with him, but now he was preparing to leave, and things would go back to the way they’d been before.
    She would barely exist in his world. She would return to being ignored. No words and definitely none of those earth-shattering smiles she’d enjoyed for the past several hours.
    “Steele?” she whispered.
    She’d sworn to herself that she wouldn’t say a word when it was time for him to go. She’d sworn she wouldn’t make a fool of herself. Wouldn’t humiliate herself or make herself vulnerable. That hadn’t lasted long at all.
    He turned just as he finished pulling his pants on. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat sideways, pulling up one leg so he faced her.
    “You heading out?” she asked in a low voice.
    Regret flashed in his eyes. Maybe he was as reluctant as she was to end their time together. She would keep that thought, even if it made her delusional.
    “Yeah,” he said just as quietly. “Time to meet the team and get the girl home.”
    “Be careful,” she said lightly.
    “Always.”
    To her shock, he leaned forward and kissed her long and leisurely. It was a slow, sensual kiss. Nothing like the heated, breathless kisses of the hours before. It was a sweet kiss, a gesture that showed tenderness and regard.
    Her heart seized and a knot formed in her throat.
    Damn it, she was not going to make an idiot of herself by getting all emotional. They’d had one night of sex, for God’s sake. It wasn’t like he’d put a ring on her finger and