COWBOY ROMANCE: Justin (Western Contemporary Alpha Male Bride Romance) (The Steele Brothers Book 1) (139 page)

Good Lord, but he
is
hot.

“Er, will there be time to get me back tonight?” Raine asked meekly. “My mom kind of needs me now.”

“Don’t worry about your mom,” Antony told he. “She’ll be fine without you for one night.”

I suppose that’s true. Wait what does he mean ‘one night’?

They pulled into the front of a massive building, garnished by flags, a monolithic sign reading
The Moorcroft Hotel
grew from a small garden opposite the main door. Their driver opened the doors for them, taking Raine’s hand as she climbed out. Antony joined her, and they walked up the four stairs, hand in hand. The door was held open by a man dressed in a top hat and tails who seemed to know who Antony was, greeting him by name as they entered.

Inside, the palatial hotel was polished in marble from floor to ceiling, with silent staff flitting around other users of the place like ants running their colony. Raine had only ever seen this kind of luxury from a distance, and she felt a little self-conscious walking through the middle of the massive foyer as if she owned the place.

What if he
does
own the place?

They approached an internal set of doors – the wood polished to such a high shine that Raine could see her own reflection – which were opened for them by yet another member of staff to gain entry to a cavernous dining room.

“Mr. DuBesne, such a delight to have you here again.” The
maître d’ spoke as if Antony was a regular. “If you would follow me.” He led them between tables of people dining to a more intimate area, where a smaller table had been laid with two places. Unusually, they sat almost beside each other, with Antony sitting on Raine’s right-hand side.

Raine looked at Antony, feeling drawn to him regardless of the small fortune he must have spent so far.

“This is amazing,” she told him. “Thank you for bringing me.”

“Believe me, mon cher, the pleasure is all mine,” he said.

Raine had felt a little shiver the first time he had called her that, and it came again this time. Antony asked what she would like to eat, apparently there were no menus, so she told him some of her favorites. When the waiter approached, Antony ordered for both of them in French.

“I usually prefer to order my own food,” she said with a hint of annoyance. “What am I having?”

Antony looked at her. “Wait and see,” he ordered her. “You will love it.”

Raine shook her head and surveyed the place. From their vantage point, she had a near perfect view of just about every table and made a mental note of the people at each one. Most of their fellow diners were either businessmen and women or couples. Raine couldn’t see any families, no children. There was an almost subdued atmosphere to the place, with the waiting staff dashing around in near silence. Raine had always frequented noisy bars and dined in steakhouses. This opulent and reserved place was as far out of her comfort zone as she had ever been.

“You don’t really like it here do you?” he asked, making her jump. A guilty blush crawled up her face – it was as if he could read her mind – and she turned to him.

“I love the place,” she said, “but it’s the kind of place people like me never go, and it’s all so new to me.” Raine tried to explain how she felt. “It’s the same kind of thing I felt when I moved to Chicago,” she added. Antony took her hand again. “It is great but also a little...daunting.”

He pursed his lips and tilted his head. “So you’re nervous about...?” He let the question trail off.

“Messing up, looking stupid and making a fool of myself by doing or saying the wrong thing.”

He nodded, at least pretending to understand. “You could never look stupid,” he told her, “and I promise not to let you make a fool of yourself. Would you prefer to go somewhere else?”

Raine was shocked. The amount of time, planning and money he had spent just to come there must have been astronomical, and he would drop it all down the toilet if she wanted to go?

“Antony! No, I don’t want to go anywhere else.” She thought for a second. “Do you?”

“As long as you are there, it is where I want to be.” He threw this out as if it was nothing, as if they hadn’t met less than twelve hours ago.

He’s mad! Batshit crazy if he thinks I’m anything special.

That thought stung.

“Aha! Food.” Antony announced. Waiting staff appeared, apparently from nowhere, with covered plates, setting them down in front of Raine and Antony.

At least I’ll find out what he ordered me.

Raine could do nothing but stare at the feast he had ordered her when the waiter took the cover away. Rather than the tiny morsel of French cuisine she expected to find, sitting on her plate was a large steak, oozing juice and surrounded by bright yellow, thick cut fries. Raine was speechless.

He could have bought me this about ten miles outside of town! There was no need to fly us halfway across the state, to get steak.

“I know what you are thinking,” Antony said.

“I really don’t think you do.” She retorted, and he laughed.

“You think I am some kind of madman to bring you all the way across Texas just to get a steak.” Making a face, Raine nodded. “And I would be.” He grinned, “But this is the best steak money can buy.” Raine had started to feel a little unwell, and he noticed immediately. “Do not worry, Raine, the jet was scheduled to come here anyway. I just took advantage of an opportunity to show you a good evening.” He shrugged and cut at his own steak.

Alright you can breathe a bit now. He’s not as crazy as you first thought. Just taking advantage of the jet...

“If the jet was coming here,” she asked him, “will it be going back?” He made a face that she had trouble interpreting.

“About that, ah, how do you feel about hitchhiking?”

“You actually think you’re funny don’t you?” she asked with a smile.

“Eat your steak,” Antony ordered her, gesturing with his own knife. Raine did as she was told and the pair ate in companionable silence.

Sipping the coffee he had ordered, Raine was quietly satisfied with the evening so far. The steak
had
been good, there was no doubt about that, and his company was exquisite.

“Thank you for this evening,” she said again. He smiled at her, and her stomach flipped.

Jesus, I only just met him today, but my body’s ready to let him have his way with me!

“Are we going back to Crutch Junction soon?” Raine asked, half hoping the answer would be a firm ‘no.’

“The jet will not be leaving until tomorrow morning,” Antony told her. “There are rooms in this hotel we can use.”

“And when were you going to let me know all this?” she demanded, getting cross when he just shrugged in reply. “What about my mom? She needs me there to make sure she’s okay?”

“Your mother is being taken care of,” he said flatly. Raine went cold as visions of someone creeping into her house flashed through her mind.

“What have you done?” she demanded in a dark voice. Antony looked at her with some concern.

“Oh, Rainey, nothing like that!” he said with a laugh. “I mean I sent someone round to be with her while you were with me.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, “Who do you think I am?”

“I’m beginning to wonder,” Raine said sarcastically, “You’ve basically kidnapped me, flown me halfway across the country and then got strangers to look after my mom.”

“Call her and see if she is okay,” Antony suggested gently. Raine opened her purse and dug her phone out, giving him a raised eyebrow. Antony sat back and nodded at her with a smug grin on his face.

“Hello?” Her mother’s voice sounded odd. “Who’s this?”

“It’s me, mom. How are things there?”

“Oh we’re having a great time here, honey,” Her mother chuckled. “Susie got all the old board games out, and we’ve been playing poker for the last half hour.”

Raine heard someone shout in the background. “Your mom’s a cheat!” Her mother laughed harder than Raine had heard in years.

“I’ve got to go, baby, you have fun now.” And with that, her mother hung up. Her eyes fell on Antony, who just raised his own eyebrows in response.

“Couldn’t you just have told me?”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“Fun!” she cried. “Making me worry like that is
fun
?”

“All right, All right. I’m sorry. I should have told you,” he admitted. “But admit it, you’ve been having fun.” Raine sat back in her chair and offered him a skeptical look.

“Maybe a little.”

“Do you want to see your room?”

“Is this where you get me upstairs alone and try to have your wicked way?”

“Did someone tell you?” He joked, looking around as if to see who had ratted him out. Raine giggled. “It’s all very above board,” he explained. “The company keeps a suite of rooms here, so there’s plenty of privacy.” Raine was surprised at the stab of disappointment she felt when he told her this.

Antony escorted her to the bank of elevators, producing a key when they were inside and inserting it to gain access to the very top floor. Raine’s nerves jangled as they rose quickly. The small space and close proximity to Antony gave her a heady mix she felt in every fiber of her being. The doors opened onto a pristine sitting room, which had several sofas and a fairly large dining table.

“Come,” Antony said with a smile. He led her into the luxury of the room.  Raine turned in a small circle, trying to take everything in. He poured himself a measure of whiskey and offered her one, which she accepted, sipping the liquid fire down. Warmth spread through her.

“Let me show you your room,” he said. Raine dutifully followed him to a double room with a massive bed. A picture window offered views over Houston, and she looked out over the twinkling lights of the city. Something caught her eye, and her focus shifted to catch Antony’s reflection as he blatantly ran his eyes over her. His gaze was so intense that it was as if Raine could feel it as it traveled from her calves, dragged over her thighs and hovered on her butt. His molten stare followed the contours of her body in the figure hugging dress, while she watched him. As his eyes reached hers, a lascivious smile spread over his features.

He knows I’m watching him look at me.

Raine was breathing fast when she turned round, her breasts heaving as she stared into Antony’s green eyes.

“I should go,” he said in a voice dripping with sexual charge.

“I don’t fucking think so!” she replied, shocking them both. Within the space of two heartbeats, Raine had stepped down out of her shoes, dropped her glass on a table and grabbed Antony by the lapels. “You want me? You got me!” she said and reached up to grab his head.

Their lips met in a wet wrestle, almost battling for supremacy. Raine moaned as she felt him suck on her lower lip, followed by the top one. His tongue flicked across her lips, demanding admittance. She allowed him through. Raine’s hot mouth opened, allowing Antony to penetrate her with his tongue. His hands pulled her against him, and she moaned again when she felt his iron hard body against her. His tongue filled her mouth, lapping against her own as she fisted her hands in his hair and pulled him to her as if the world were going to end.

Raine broke the kiss, panting and red-faced, and searched his features. They were an inch apart, and he kept sucking at her mouth. Blood coursed through her veins, and her heart beat like never before.

“I wanted you…” Antony declared with a kiss, “as soon as…” he kissed her again, “I saw you this morning.” His mouth covered hers again, and she thrust her tongue in his mouth this time. Her hands ran down his shoulders and dragged at his jacket, which came off easily. Antony cast it aside, while he sucked her tongue.

“You should have said so,” Raine told him. “I wanted you then too.” The heat built between them with their admissions, and Raine started undoing the buttons on his shirt until he ripped it off himself, sending the buttons flying across the room. Her hands roamed over the flat, hard planes of his chest, grabbing his ribs and scratching her nails down his sinewy back. Their mouths were still locked to each other as Antony drew the zipper on her dress slowly down. His strong fingers delved inside, finding the skin he had wanted to touch all day.

“I have had a hard time keeping my hands off you since you boarded the plane earlier.” Antony told her as he dragged kisses along her jawline, up to her ear. Raine was starting to lose herself. Tingles flowed across her skin, starting wherever he touched and darting down to the deepest part of her abdomen.

Antony kissed his way down her neck, nuzzling her collarbone, which made her gasp, before making his way back up the other side of her neck. He sucked little bits of her soft skin in between his lips and nipped at them, making Raine moan. When he reached her face again, his tongue entered her mouth once more. His hands managed to slide the top half of her dress down and now roved freely over her naked skin, exploring her curves and squeezing gently at various areas.

“Antony,” she breathed.

“Oui, mon cher?” he said, slipping into French. She smiled.

“I want you,” she panted. “Badly.” Antony trailed his tongue down her throat and kissed his way to her cleavage, kneading her heavy breasts through her bra. Raine tossed her head back and cried out at his touch. He reached round and undid the clasp, freeing her from the confines of her bra.