Heart of Steele Page 5

  The silky material of her dress slid up her legs, over her breasts. She reached her arms toward the headboard and let him pull the dress completely off, tossing it to the edge of the bed where it fell, soundless.

  She looked up at him straddled over her, one muscled thigh on either side of her hips. He'd taken off his shirt and if she hadn't been looking at him in the flesh, she would've been certain his muscled chest and taut, rippling abs had been photoshopped.

  She reached up to touch him, letting her fingers brush the tan skin, smooth over hard ridges. Desire, hot and tingling, gathered low in her belly.

  She could feel the intensity of his gaze and brought her exploration to his ruggedly beautiful face. His mask was intact, black hair slicked back. He didn't smile, but his lips were parted and she felt the heat of his ragged breath on her fingers.

  She tried sitting up, wanting to be closer to him, and he reached around her shoulders, his arm solid and warm as he lifted her. Autumn turned her cheek against his warmth, reveling in the pulsating heat of his skin, her hands sliding across his hips, hugging him to her. She was fully aware of his rigid cock pressed like a hot brand against her breasts, and she let her mouth linger just above that place, his moans cascading through his body, sweet echoes of pleasure.

  She lifted her eyes to him, and he cupped her face, lowering to taste her trembling lips. His tongue slid tenderly into her mouth, his thumbs moving slowly over her cheekbones.

  He backed off the bed, taking her with him. He had already discarded her feather and now worked to remove the net and pins from her hair, thick masses tumbling over her shoulders.

  Gently fisting a portion, he brought her closer, his breath, warm and spicy from drink, mixed with his heated skin, making her body hum with desire. He flicked his tongue across her lips, reaching around to pop the clasp of her bra. The quick ease of his movements told her he had done this many times before. She was in the hands of an expert.

  She shifted her shoulders as the satin slid down her arms and freed her breasts into his hands, his tanned skin bronze against her pale flesh.

  He squeezed and she sucked in a sharp breath of pleasure, watching his fingers move to her tightened nipples. He brushed the hard peaks, a jolt of lust skating directly to her lower region. She dropped her head back, her fingers tensing, digging into his hips.

  "Jesus, you are sweet." He clasped her hand, lifting it to his waistband, allowing her time to pull back before he slid her palm down over his dick. The heat jumped through his pants scorching her skin. She molded her fingers around his erection, stroking him through the material.

  He bent, slowly brushing his lips in a circle around her nipple. Autumn shivered in anticipation, arching forward, her breath rapid and shallow, her body humming with need.

  He took the invitation, his mouth covering her nipple, his tongue rolling, licking and pulling it firmly with his lips. She grasped his hair and let him take her on this pleasure ride.

  Steele slipped his fingers into the sides of her panties and slid them slowly over her hips, down her legs, until they puddled near her dress. She shivered as he stood, his strong and slightly rough palms burning her skin as he trailed them along her sides.

  He held her naked hips, cupping her ass, kissing her mouth, and he didn't stop her when she reached again to touch him, shaping her fingers around the hot thickness of his cock. His breath was raspy against her cheek, hot as he nibbled her ear, searing when he pressed his mouth to her neck.

  Wrapping his arms around her waist, he guided her back until she was sitting on the end of the bed. He moved to kneel behind her, still kissing her, his hands sliding lightly over her shoulders and breasts. She could feel his erection pressed against her spine as Autumn leaned back.

  "Spread your legs." He commanded, his mouth at her ear. She did as she was told, letting her thighs fall slightly open. He nudged her to the edge of the bed, her legs widening, then swept her hair to one side and began kissing her neck as one hand moved to cup her, his thumb brushing her sex.

  His skillful fingers began moving around the sensitive spot in lazy circles. Autumn cried out on a soft breath, heart thrashing, heat rushing to the surface, pleasure pooling at his touch.

  His other hand moved to one breast, taking her nipple between his fingers, rolling and lightly pinching in the same rhythm with his hand between her legs. She pushed herself into his hands, wanting these dark, forbidden sensations to flood her.

  He moved his lips over her cheek, her neck, her shoulders all while skillful fingers teased her clit and tugged her nipples.

  Autumn could feel the tension of an orgasm. Her legs spread wider, her breasts jutted forward in his hand, her head thrown back against his chest, his breath ragged and shallow, panting hot against her skin, his erection rubbing with leashed desire against her.

  "Come for me. Come in my hand." He murmured in her ear, circling the contours with his tongue.

  He slipped a finger inside her, the wetness of his other finger sliding against her clit. A light burst, sensation stormed and ravaged. Her scream was ripped from her as the orgasm slammed her back, convulsing against him, sparks shooting up her thighs and her stomach, spasms trembling through her.

  He held her tight against his hot, hard body as he continued to rub her clit in the slick heat of her orgasm.

  "Oh yeah. That's it." He whispered hoarsely. "Beautiful." He kissed her cheek.

  "Oh my god." She whispered, until her breath steadied. Her nipples felt hard and sensitive. With his fingers still stroking between her folds, over her clit, she felt her body responding again, another orgasm rushing.

  "I'm going to come again." She whispered, her surprise turning to a cry as her hand covered his, pressing it into her as another orgasm ripped through her, this one lasting longer than the first. She felt the waves crashing through her, cries tumbling, spilling from her chest.

  He wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her until her body relaxed, satiated.

  A few moments passed, then Steele shifted from behind her and she felt pillows at her back, propping her up. Her eyes fluttered open and she watched as he knelt between her legs.

  He cupped her face and moved his thumb over her lips in a gentle caress. She found his eyes, holding his gaze while she attempted a smile.

  His lips twitched and lifted. "Ready for round two?" He asked quietly.

  Steele brought her closer, kissing her, his mouth meeting hers with a need that matched her own. He left her lips, traveled over her breasts, down her torso, his mask slightly rough on the sensitive skin.

  Autumn laid her hands on his head, threading her fingers through his hair. He sighed as she stroked him, laying his cheek against her belly, his hands stroking her sides.

  He began kissing his way down as her eyes fluttered closed, and she felt his tongue, warm and wet, sliding at the lips of her sex, patiently parting them with slow strokes until she felt the soft insistence of his mouth sucking her.

  Oh wow. Shivers pulsed along her limbs. Her legs fell open as she pushed herself against him. She felt his hands at her inner thighs, pressing her wider, his tongue sliding, harder, faster.

  Autumn's hands gripped his arms, fingernails digging into the hard muscles as she arched against his tongue, pleasure tingling, sensation tightening and coiling, converging to a point of breathlessness.

  She let out a cry, her mind blank, thoughts scattering as bliss speared through her.

  Her body pulsed, quivered, and sank into peaceful, incredible oblivion.

  Slowly she opened her eyes and saw Steele unzipping his pants and pushing them over his hips, his gaze not leaving her. She watched him but couldn't quite get her mind to work, that analytical part of her brain was in some nebulous land of Bacchus. She stretched languidly. She didn't want to think anyway; she only wanted to feel tonight.

  He came toward her naked, his mask hiding his expression. A momentary apprehension and thrill tripped along her spine. The memory of how he had just mad
e her feel high on her list of reasons she didn't move. She wanted his hands on her, wanted his chest rubbing against her breasts, his hips moving between her legs. She wanted this stranger more than she'd ever wanted any man.

  She traveled down, every inch of his body hard, tanned and gorgeous. Her perusal landed on his erection, thick, stiff and throbbing. Her breath left her. She had held him through his clothes, and she expected something to match his strength and physique but his penis, jutting directly toward her, was more than she could have imagined.

  Anticipation undulated down her middle, pulsing at that sensitive place where his fingers and tongue had just been.

  Steele knelt on the bed between her legs, his eyes trailing over her breasts and stomach, down her legs. She shifted one hip up nervously, closing herself off to him. She hadn't meant to move away, but some sense of self-preservation she couldn’t quite grasp in her fogged thoughts, had pushed its way to the front of her mind.

  Autumn frowned as he moved to the edge of the bed and clasped her ankles, pulling her toward him. She reached up to grab something, but only found a pillow which dragged with her.

  He was between her legs, his palms caressing her thighs as he gazed at her with no smile, no nothing. Then he bent forward, his tongue finding her nipple, and his erection, the head hot and demanding at her entrance.

  She arched her breast as he sucked on the hardened peak, her head pushing back against the bed. He continued to suck her while his hand cupped and squeezed her other breast, his thumb moving back and forth over the nipple. Autumn moaned, pressing up against the tip of his wet cock, inviting, insisting that he slide into her.

  His hand left her breast trailing caresses down her side to cup her bottom and then suddenly he was flipping her so her cheek lay on the mattress. She gasped, her eyes wide as he gripped her hips, lifting her while his other hand fisted her hair. Autumn held her breath, completely exposed, her heart racing, her body pulsing with desire. Waiting.

  What was he doing?

  "Please." She moaned.

  "I can't hear you, sweetheart." He rasped, his breath coming hard, brushing her skin with the hand holding her up.

  "Please. I want you to..." She didn't finish, her breath catching as he slid slowly into her, every spot touched brought tears to her eyes as pleasure and pain combined for a soaring sensation.

  "You feel so good, baby, so fucking good." His voice ended on a moan as he drove into her.

  He didn't move as his thumb brushed the skin of her hip, his fingers kneading into flesh. She felt his lips pressed against the middle of her back, his taught abs meeting her bottom, before he pulled out, then thrust in. She cried out and he murmured words, his mouth trailing across her body.

  His hand tangled in her hair, pulling her up slightly as he built a rhythm, sliding in and out his strokes long and hard. Her hands grasped the bed as pleasure spiraled, heart pounding, her mind completely losing all thought.

  He pulled out and flipped her again. His hands went to her thighs and pushed them against her torso, the inside of her knees against his shoulders.

  Sweat glistened on his chest, a lock of hair fell over his forehead, biceps bunched and strained. She had her hands at his back, nails digging into damp muscle, urging him on, hips rocking in rhythm with his.

  He slammed against her, desperate for release, squeezing her ass, holding her in place as he fucked her.

  She had never spoken dirty words during sex, but now the words spilled out before she could stop them.

  "Harder. Fuck me harder." Her sultry whisper shocked her, but it seemed to create a firestorm in him. He snapped his eyes open, so dark and full of lust. She was turned on all over again.

  His thrusts filled her, his tongue claimed her mouth, and she felt him focus every thought, every stroke into his climax.

  "Oh fuck." He groaned, as his body stilled, holding her tight. She felt a gush of heat pulsing through the condom. He didn't move, his chest rising and falling, his eyes closing.

  He slowly pulled out of her, reaching between them to slip off the condom and toss it away. She wanted to open her eyes, but she couldn't. She was limp, satiated.

  He lowered himself, shifting slightly so she felt his breath on her cheek, his arm embracing her middle, one leg between her thighs.

  She caressed his back and turned to kiss him before slipping, surrendering to the exhaustion that wound through her.

  Chapter Nine

  Autumn kicked off the blankets. "Ugh." The air was like a furnace.

  She blinked her eyes open and squinted in the slice of sun torching her face. Her head was hammering and she felt sick. She needed water.

  Opting for crawling off the bed rather than swinging her legs and jumping up, Autumn held her head as she padded to the kitchen, reached for a large glass and filled it to the rim with water.

  She guzzled half of it down and leaned against the counter, the water working its magic down her stomach. She either needed to consume more alcohol to become immune or she needed to abstain from drinking altogether.

  This occasional binging was going to kill her. Memories of the night before brought heat to her cheeks. Or completely and utterly humiliate her.

  She'd had sex with a stranger. Hot sex with a hot stranger, but still...a stranger. What would her sisters say? What would her brothers say? Well, they would never know. Her first and last one night stand. Every girl needed one, right?

  Her memories were fuzzy, but her body seemed to recall every touch...and his tongue. Autumn sighed, closing her eyes at the memory.

  He had been the best, the sweetest, hottest lover she'd ever had...and she would never see him again. She chewed her lip, feeling depressed.

  It was crazy. She meant nothing to him. He should mean nothing to her. Then why did she feel so wretched?

  One thing she didn't remember was coming back to the cabin. Had she walked home? Had he taken her home?

  She glanced down at her clothes. Her dress was off and she had on her pj shorts and top. She didn't remember coming home, let alone undressing. Had he done that?

  A knock sounded at the front door and she jumped, staring at the door but not moving to answer it.

  Autumn took a deep breath while her heart thudded. Then she shook her head, banishing the crazy idea that Steele would pay her a visit this morning. That would be ridiculous but how had he known where she was staying? If he'd wanted to know her and to continue seeing her, he would have taken off his mask.

  She blew out a breath and padded to the door, leaning over to look through a small side window. It was Mike. She sighed with relief.

  As much as seeing Steele right now might be a fantasy come true, the humiliation of last night would be too much and the fantasy would shatter with extreme awkwardness.

  She put her hand on the knob and hesitated. Mike was such a decent guy. He would probably be disgusted if he found out about her behavior, but how would he find out?

  Besides, he wasn’t her boyfriend.

  And although she valued his opinion as a friend, she had enough bossy men in her life. She didn't need another one.

  And it wasn't like it was the fifties or even the eighties. Women were freer to make their own choices without shame.

  Autumn turned the knob and pulled the door open. Mike stood on the threshold. His black hair fell across his forehead and he had a smile that was just this side of nerdy, but it just happened to be exactly what she needed this morning. His eyes were so blue. She found herself drowning in them, but that's pretty much what she'd been doing for the last few days.

  "Good morning." He said quietly, searching her face.

  "Hey Mike." She pulled the door open in invitation and winced as the morning light blazed into her eyes. "You're just in time for coffee." She smiled, shielding her face and stepping back to allow him in.

  "Thanks." He stood awkwardly just inside, and Autumn reached up to take his jacket.

  "Oh. Thanks." He said again, shrugging out of his bulky co
at. Autumn hung it on the coat peg. "Hey I can make it."

  "That would be great. I need just a few minutes to take a shower. Would you mind?" She asked, feeling weirdly relaxed around him.

  She'd only known him a few days and was already comfortable enough to take a shower with him in the house. Mike was that kind of guy. Totally trustworthy. She could see it in his expression, his eyes, the way he stood. He didn't hide anything. Everything was right there, on the surface. It was one of the things she liked most about him.

  "Take your time. I'll get this started." He strode to the kitchen while Autumn headed for the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

  Fifteen minutes later, showered and dressed, leaving her hair towel dried, slightly messy and smelling like strawberries, Autumn could smell the soothing aroma of coffee and toast. He would make some lucky woman very happy.

  He must have heard her. He came out of the kitchen with a plate of toast and a coffee mug and set it down. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing muscled forearms.

  His physical beauty didn't mesh with his personality. It threw her off every time.

  She felt his sex appeal, his masculinity, his raw power, then wham, he'd laugh or smile or dip his head or slump his shoulders, and all that sexual tension would vanish. She'd be left feeling confused and disappointed.

  "Wow. Anyone tell you how beautiful you are in the morning?" He gestured her to the chair he held out and Autumn slipped into it, smiling at the compliment.

  Mike brought out another plate of toast and coffee and sat down across from her.

  "Do you mind if we say grace?" He asked warily as if she might think it a dumb suggestion.

  "Oh. Of course." Autumn quickly put down her mug and bent her head as Mike cleared his throat. They said grace in the family home, but she hadn't kept up the practice while she'd been away at school.

  "Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, this morning repast and the company of this angel across from me. Amen." Heads bowed, they made the sign of the cross.