Breathing His Air (21 page)

He studied her. She remained holding onto him and kept eye contact. He played her answer over in his mind, looking for any clue she was lying. Yet her blue eyes stared up into his, concern and impatience written on her face.

“Rain … you’re scaring me,” she whispered.

Then she laid her cheek against his chest, and he was damned if he could hold her away. He held her head against his heart and closed his eyes, letting the fear that she was a member of the Lagsturns leach out of his body. He’d seen the fear in her face the first day he found her surrounded by other bikers, trying to talk her way out, and he’d held her the night the Lagsturns brought out the gun and scared her to death.

“Babe.” He kissed the top of her head. “Tell me you don’t have any connection with Sanchez.”

“Wh-what?” She frowned. “I don’t even know who he is, or understand why he bothers you, except that your ex-girlfriend is connected to him.”

He swallowed. “Good.”

“Are you okay? Your heart’s racing.”

“Yeah.” He stepped back and ran his hands over his face. “I’m fine. Although nothing was resolved at the meeting, dammit. I don’t trust Sanchez, and I don’t want you to go anywhere alone. Hear?”

“It’s not over?”

He shook his head. “Not until they’re out of town. It’ll never be over.”

“You should go to the police, Rain. I know you don’t want to, and you’re used to dealing with them by yourself, but this is harassment. You shouldn’t have to live like this.”

“I’ll handle it.” He hooked his hand around her neck and pulled her forward, kissing her softly. “Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon, and we’ll keep watching. I won’t let him get to you.”

“I don’t understand why he’s picking on me.” She pursed her lips.

“I know.” But, he knew exactly why Sanchez noticed Tori. For the same reason he did. She had no idea how appealing she was, or how men wanted to be the one to protect her. She had a way of making him want to provide for and shelter her. He leaned down. “Trust me, babe.”

“I do,” she whispered.

“Good.” He gave her one more kiss and straightened. “I need to go fill in the others. They’ll be waiting.”

When they returned to the bar, everyone was standing around, looking to him for answers. He raised his hand. Proud of his biker family, he needed to let them know how much he appreciated their support and the way they’d handled tonight’s activities.

Slade acted fast the second they’d pulled into Cozy Inn and found at least twenty bikes lining the curb. Sanchez met Rain alone, but he could feel eyes on him the whole time. Slade, going by instincts, called for backup, and his men surrounded the block, prepared to shut it down.

“I met with Sanchez. Told him to stand down. He’s given me his word, which I expect is full of shit, so we’ll continue to stay on guard,” he announced.

“What about the fire?” Ronny’s mouth hardened. “We can’t let him get away with that.”

“They won’t. But, we have to stay smart.” Rain had to keep the upper hand. “If we catch them even looking in this direction, we’ll take them down. Otherwise, we stay alert and keep each other covered.”

His men throbbed with a need to fight. They took any threat against the family seriously, as did he. He held up his hand again, asking for quiet. “Same rules. Tori and the women are our main concern. We don’t react until they make us move. Understand?”

He marched toward Tori. “Get your coat, babe. We’re out of here.”

“Let me say goodbye to Taylor and the others. I’ll be quick.” She grabbed her jacket and hurried over to the group of women at the far table.

Despite the security of believing Tori had told him the truth and she’d hit town on her own, he couldn’t ignore the niggling suspicion something wasn’t right. He glanced around, found Bruce, and motioned him over to the side of the room. He took his job as leader seriously, and he’d feel better once he checked everything out.

Bruce turned his back to the room and faced him. “Boss?”

“Contact Jim. Have him run a check on Tori … Baldwin.” He met Bruce’s gaze. “Keep it quiet. I don’t want anyone knowing, and let Jim know to cover his tracks.”

Jim, another rider who was absent for today’s shutdown because he ran a private investigating firm over in Kalama, would drop everything to help the brotherhood. He schooled his features. If it were only himself he had to worry about, he’d take the chance he was wrong about his woman. But he wouldn’t put his family on the line.

“Damn … ” Bruce scowled. “You sure?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

Bruce quickly hid his disappointment. “I’ll call him now.”

“Thanks.” He turned and stopped. “And, Bruce? Not a word.”

“Got it, boss.”

Tori looked up from the table, caught his eye, and smiled. He winked, letting today’s news slip away. He trusted Bruce and Jim to keep this job a secret, and he had a warm woman who was going to get on the back of his bike. Until he knew differently, he’d assume his instincts about Tori were right.

He met Tori at the door, zipped up the front of her jacket, and studied her. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

He led her outside, scanned the area, and prepped to ride home. She climbed up behind him, slipped her arms around his middle, and the tension eased from him. His bike, his woman, and the wind blowing over him were all he needed. He had a lot to be thankful for tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tori stood in front of the bed. Rain’s black T-shirt hit her mid-thigh. She yawned, covering her mouth. The idea to make tacos for Rain after coming home had been a good one, but she shouldn’t have let him talk her into eating another one. With her stomach full and content, she could hardly keep her eyes open.

Rain sat up on the bed, held his hand out to her. She climbed onto the mattress, walking on her knees until she reached him.

“Tired?” He pulled her down and turned onto his side, propping his head in his hand.

“A little.” She ran her hand over his head, loving the feel of his hair against her palm. “It was a big day.”

“That it was … ” He gazed down at her stomach where his hand lifted her shirt as he caressed her bare skin. “We should sleep.”

“Right now?” She stretched, relaxing under his touch.

He chuckled. “No. I need you first.”

“Good.” She squirmed, pleased they were on the same wavelength.

He trailed his fingertips around her hip. Her body warmed, seeming to liquefy with each stroke. She used his shoulders and lifted her head to kiss him.

Greedy and wanting, she whined as he took his mouth away. Before she could protest, he’d pulled her shirt above her breasts and latched on to her nipple. She sucked in her breath. The deep pull spiraled down into her core and helped soothe the need she had growing for him.

What he did was brilliant, but at the same time tormenting. She gathered his hair in her hand and held on.

Without letting go of her, he moved above her, bracing himself on his hands and knees. She widened her legs, arching toward him with each pull of his mouth. “Yes.”

His fingers found her moistness, stroking, rubbing, preparing her. His fingers rough but gentle. The right mix for her. She moaned in a reflexive answer to what he created with a simple touch.

“Rain,” she whispered, needing him inside her.

Her hands moved through his hair, sliding down his shoulders, his ribs, memorizing every contour. He was too far away. She wanted him closer. Inside her.

He kissed his way up her chest, her neck, and took her mouth in a demanding kiss. She reached between them, found his hardness, and wrapped her fingers around the heat. So hot — incredibly warm against her palm.

That part of him throbbed, and she marveled at the way she could feel his desire for her beating in her hand. She stroked his length.

“Babe.” He groaned. “Need to be inside.”

He didn’t hesitate, but pushed her hand aside and scooped a condom off the bed. She took it from him, and with only her fingers managed to roll the protection on him while her tongue distracted him.

“Damn me, babe, but you have a soft touch.” He groaned.

She lifted her hips, guided him to her, and moaned loud. He plunged into her, filling her inch by inch in slow, delicious agony. She stopped breathing and panted, taking in his size.

Her nails dug into his back; her hips moved, helping him. She hooked her calf around his waist, digging her heels into his ass to meet each thrust. “Oh, God … ”

“Yeah.” He grunted.

“Harder.”

The rhythm he set grew faster. She gasped, wanting him never to stop, knowing if he continued she’d splinter into a million pieces in total bliss. There was no way he could make her body more alive.

It built fast, and she felt it coming and reached for it. She clung to him, holding on and letting him take control. “More.”

His mouth came down on hers, his breath harsh and ragged. “Right.”

“Yes!”

He kissed her deeper, plunged harder. The comforter beneath her bunched under her hips as he danced them both farther along the surface of the bed.

Her muscles clenched. It was happening. She could feel her orgasm right on the edge, teasing her. She tore her mouth from his, arched her neck, and screamed his name.

Her climax came out of nowhere and possessed her. Her body shook, tightening around him, pulling him even closer.

He thrust as he came. Suspended in the magnificent moment they created, she cried out as her core trembled and pleasure curled throughout her middle. She came down from her high when his movements became more powerful. He gripped her hip and groaned. Once, twice, three times, and he planted himself to the root and stopped.

“Honey,” she murmured against his neck, bearing his heavy weight, feeling full of him and immune to everything but him.

There was nothing in her life that even matched making love to Rain. Not the open road on the back of a bike, the security of owning her own business, or knowing she had enough clothes in Rain’s closet to last for years. She’d give all of them up to keep Rain with her.

“I love you,” she whispered.

He stiffened. Instantly, she realized she’d spoken her thoughts. She squeezed her eyes closed. It was too soon. An
I love you
was the final destination, and different from admitting she was falling in love. Falling in love gave her an out, gave him an out. It was like confessing that she found everything about him endearing, and she wanted to spend all her time with him.

I love you
was totally different.

She wasn’t even sure she understood what love was, but if she did have a clue, it would be what she was feeling at this moment.

“What?” He moved, withdrawing from her body, rolling off her, and removing the condom.

“I … ” She swallowed and sat up, changing her mind. “Nothing.”

“No, you said something. Repeat it.” He braced his hands on the bed, moved his body, and leaned against the headboard.

“I love you, but — ”

“Stop.” He hooked his hands under her armpits and pulled her up onto his lap. “Say it again, babe. Look at me this time.”

She turned her head, leaning in his arms. “I love you.”

“Truth?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I think.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know.” Her confession hurt and embarrassed her. “I know what love is supposed to be like, and I’ve seen other people love each other” — she ducked her chin and glanced away — “but I loved my parents, and what I feel for you is nothing like the love I had for them.”

He sighed deeply and held her tighter. “It’s different, babe. You have a right to love your parents, but it’s different.”

“Then what is this I’m feeling?” She stared down at the tattoo on his arm. “How do I know if it’s real, or if it’s because everything is new and exciting?”

She thought he wasn’t going to answer. Her heartbeat filled her ears, and she tucked her head into the curve of his shoulder.

“Love is like air, babe. It’s there all the time, and you don’t even think about it, or you take it for granted. Then all of a sudden, you need it, or you can’t breathe. You inhale, and for the first time, you’re aware it’s keeping you alive. You feel it brush your skin all the time. Sometimes it’s warm and other times it’s cool, but it’s there surrounding you, feeding you, holding you. When you finally realize it’s love, you become vulnerable. With that new fear of not having air, you subconsciously allow someone special to breathe life for you.”

She blinked. A tear rolled down her cheek. “This is love,” she whispered.

“Yeah, baby, this is love,” he whispered back.

They sat together, holding one another, taking in the moment. Her eyelids drifted shut, and opened when he shifted her off him. She scooted off the bed and stood.

“You good?” He pulled the blanket over his lower body.

“Yeah. Just going to use the bathroom.”

Chilled, she hurried and cleaned up, washed her hands, and returned to the bed. Rain held the covers open for her, and she slid alongside him. He pulled her against his chest, circling her waist with his arm. She sighed in contentment. All the changes in her life were too much to think about tonight and come to a firm conclusion.

“Sleep. Tomorrow morning’s coming early,” said Rain.

She snuggled down. “One more day, and I’ll have two days off from having to go in early to open the shack.”

“You don’t need to work.” He yawned. “I’ll take care of you.”

She jolted, and pushed up on her elbow to turn toward him. “I forgot. I might have a new job. I can’t believe I didn’t mention it already.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A woman, her name’s Pauline, asked me to write a love advice column in the Pitnam Daily newspaper. Can you believe that?” She laughed. “Me? Everyone thinks I’m an expert, and I only found love for the first time tonight.”

His mouth hardened and he rolled onto his back, letting go of her. She sat up. That wasn’t the reaction she’d hoped for.

“You work at the coffee shack. We go to work together, come home together,” he said.

She frowned. “You don’t want me to take the job?”

He raised his head. “No.”

“Are you kidding?” She scoffed. “It’s wonderful. I can earn more money, and Pauline says people will send me letters and emails. It’s only once a week. I doubt if I even have to go to the newspaper office … wherever that is.”