Riding Steele: Collide by Opal Carew Page B

He stepped closer and she backed up until the wall pressed against her.
    He stood so close that if she took a deep breath her breasts would brush his big, solid chest.
    His eyes narrowed. “Since you’ve already tried and convicted me in your mind maybe I should just commit the crime.”
    He cupped her face with one big hand and tipped up her chin, then captured her lips. A moment later, he whispered against her mouth. “But I would never do that. Do you understand me, Laurie?” Then his tongue drove into her mouth with a sure stroke, claiming her for his own. Tears streamed from her eyes because she wanted to relax into his arms and invite him to take her. She wanted him to hold her close, to feel the comfort of his body. She could feel his cock hard against her belly and she wanted to open to him and feel him glide inside.
    He seemed like such a good man. He seemed to care about her.
    But then so had Donovan. At first.
    Steele’s mouth moved on hers, his body shifting closer, pinning her to the wall.
    His lips parted and he stared at her, his glittering granite eyes boring through her.
    “Fuck, I was worried something had happened to you. That you were lost, maybe hurt.”
    The concern in his eyes tore at her gut. Did he really care?
    “I was lost. I was so glad …” Her throat closed up and tears welled. “… to … to see that police car on the road and flag it down. If he hadn’t stopped …” She sobbed. She had just felt so alone and terrified out in the woods alone, not knowing how to find her way back.
    His strong arms tightened around her and she leaned against him, taking comfort in his closeness. Her heart thumped loudly against him and she could hear the echo of his. He drew back and cupped both her cheeks, then lowered his face to hers. The brush of his lips was soft and gentle and they moved on hers with a tenderness that shocked her, sliding past all her barriers, and she found herself responding. His tongue slid into her mouth and she stroked it with hers. He held her tight to his muscular body and her nipples, already hard from the cold and wet, felt an agony of need as they bored into his rock-solid chest.
    He drew back and stared at her, looking as bewildered as she was.
    He sucked in a breath and stepped back. “You need to get out of those wet clothes.”
    She stared up at him, ready to surrender to her need at last. To strip off her clothes at his command and let him take her, whatever the consequences.
    She reached for the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head, exposing her wet, lace-clad breasts to his view.
    “What the hell are you doing? You fucking overestimate my self-control.” He grasped her shoulders and turned her around, then marched her to the bathroom door. “Get in there, strip down, and have a hot bath. I’ll be back in a few minutes with something to warm you up.”
    She couldn’t help hoping the
something
was him. After all her fighting against the idea, now that she’d given up the fight, she couldn’t wait to be in his arms again. To feel his powerful body against hers. To finally feel his big cock glide into her.
    When she finished her bath and returned to the bedroom wrapped in a big, fluffy towel, he was sitting in the armchair.
    “I brought you a hot chocolate.” He stood and picked up a metal thermal mug from the dresser and handed it to her. She took a sip. It was still piping hot.
    “When you’re finished with that, get dressed and come downstairs. Officer Grainger wants to talk to you.”
    *
    Laurie walked down the stairs and into the living room to see Officer Grainger sitting at the dining room table sipping a cup of coffee. Sitting with him was Rip, Wild Card, and Steele. Shock, Raven, Magic, and Dom were relaxing in the living room.
    She crossed the room and sat in the empty chair across from the police officer.
    “Miss Connors … Laurie … May I call you Laurie?”
    She nodded numbly.
    “I think you and I should have a talk. I think