Craving (Steel Brothers Saga Book 1) (5 page)

“We’ve been through this time and time again. There was nothing you could have done.”

“I should’ve been there to protect you. You were there to protect Ryan, and I should’ve been there for you.”

“And what would that have accomplished? You would’ve gone through the hell instead of me? Or maybe we both would have? Is that truly what you wanted?”

“Of course not. What I would’ve wanted was for neither of us to go through it. But if it had to be one of us, I would’ve preferred it to be me.”

My skin prickled. The thought of either of my brothers enduring what I had nauseated me. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, Joe. Look at me. I’m alive. What more can I want?”

“You’re not alive, man. You’re a goddamned corpse walking around—no feelings, all those walls. That’s not living, bro.”

“I’m doing the best I can. This is all the living I know right now.”

“Talon, that’s a fucking lie and you know it. You know what? I changed my mind. I
do
need that little plot of land for pasturing. I don’t want you building a house there, or anywhere, for that matter. If Jade is getting inside your skin, I’m all for it. You won’t let any of the rest of us in. If she can get in, maybe she can help you.”

“Fuck you,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m going to go start the process for the permit. That land belongs to me too, damn it.”

My older brother sat down and threaded his fingers through his tousled hair once more. “Fine.”

I turned and walked out the door.

Right into Jade Roberts.

T
he Great Wall of Talon Steel
stopped me in my tracks. Damn. “Sorry.”

“What are you doing here?” He didn’t smile.

Of course, he never smiled.

“I came to see Jonah. Why is that any of your business anyway?”

“Joe’s getting ready to head out to pasture and check on some steers. And everything that happens on this ranch is my business, blue eyes.”

I doubted that, but why argue? Besides, my tummy was fluttering from the “blue eyes.” I had a feeling he could call me just about anything and I’d react. “I haven’t seen him since I’ve been here, and I want to say hi and thank him for letting me stay.”

“I see. Well, don’t let me get in your way.” He turned and walked away.

I knocked on the door and then opened it. “Is anyone here?”

“Yeah, come on in.” Jonah was in the corner, checking the spurs on his boots. “Hey, Jade.”

“Hi. Sorry if I’ve come along at a bad time.”

“Not at all. I have a few minutes. What’s on your mind?”

Talon.
But I couldn’t say that. “Not a whole lot. I just wanted to come by and thank you for letting me stay at the main house with Marj.”

“Oh, that’s no problem at all. As you’ve seen, we’ve got the room. We’re happy to have you.”

“I’m glad. I really appreciate all you guys are doing for me.”

“Any friend of Marjorie’s is a friend of ours.”

“Yeah… Well, I’ll see you around. I’ll let you get back to your work.” I turned.

“Jade, wait a minute.”

I turned back. “Yeah?”

Jonah walked toward me, his spurs clacking on the floor. “There’s something I want to ask you, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

“I understand you’re helping Ryan over at the winery.”

“Yeah. I’m really excited about it.” Was that what he wanted to know about?

“So…” He hedged a bit. “What do you think of my brother?”

Ryan? That was who were just talking about, right? “He’s great.”

“Great. Hmm.”

“Yeah. I mean, he didn’t have to give me a job at the winery.”

Jonah shook his head. “Oh, no, I’m not talking about Ryan. I’m talking about Talon.”

Talon… What could I say about Talon?
Oh, he’s the best kisser in the world, but other than that he hardly speaks to me, and when he does, he’s usually rude
. “Well… He… I don’t really know what to say. Talon keeps to himself.”

“Have you and he…”

What in the hell was he talking about? And then it dawned on me. Talon might have told Jonah about our kisses. Did brothers talk about things like that? I had no idea.

“Have he and I what?”

“Never mind.”

But suddenly I wanted to know exactly what he meant. Talon was such an enigma. “I’d really like to know what you’re going to ask. In fact, I’d really like to know more about Talon.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, he’s so…closed up, you know?”

Jonah nodded. “He’s been through a lot.”

“Yeah, I know. Overseas. The Marines.”

“Yeah…overseas…” Jonah’s dark eyes held a faraway look. A hint of sadness.

“I asked Marj about him, and she said that’s just the way he is. Ryan didn’t say much more, except that it wasn’t his story to tell. What story is he talking about, Jonah?”

Jonah looked above me, his gaze seemingly fixed on a spot on the wall. “Whatever story he’s talking about, it’s not mine to tell either.”

That was no help. Why was I not surprised?

“But could you do me a favor?” Jonah asked.

“Sure. What do you need?”

“Don’t give up on Talon. There’s something about you… He’s responding to you in a way I’ve never seen him respond to anyone.”

“How could you think that? You’ve never seen us interact.”

He smiled, handsome as anything, just like Ryan, but lacking the heat I felt when Talon looked at me.

“Call it a hunch.”

Hunch? I was supposed to “not give up” because of Jonah’s hunch? “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“Try to spend some time with him. Get him talking.”

“He barely says two words to me, Jonah.”

Jonah let out a laugh. “That’s probably two more words than he says to anyone else.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed too. “Does he ever smile?”

Jonah sighed. “Not a lot, I’m afraid. But that’s part of my hunch. I have a sneaking suspicion that you might be able to get some smiles out of him.”

“Did he tell you about—” I clamped my hand over my mouth. What was I saying? I hadn’t even told Marj about the kisses. I certainly wasn’t going to tell Jonah.

“Tell me what?”

“Never mind.” I turned around and ran out the door.

God, sometimes I was such a complete moron.

But I had made up my mind about one thing. I was going to learn more about Talon Steel. One way or another, I would find out what made him tick.

Those walls were coming down.

I
’d been sleeping better
, but I purposely set my phone to buzz at one in the morning. Maybe I could learn more about Talon during one of his midnight kitchen raids. I walked out to the kitchen, but he wasn’t there.

The next night, even though I was exhausted from my first day working with Ryan at the winery, I did the same thing.

My phone buzzed for me at one in the morning. I rose, took a quick bathroom break, combed my hair, and pinched my cheeks. I purposely didn’t put on my robe. I was wearing my trademark cotton/spandex white tank and old boxers.

I crept out into the kitchen. When I turned on the light, there sat Talon, at the same place at the table, staring a full glass of water, his dog at his feet.

“Where were you last night?” He looked up.

“I actually do try to sleep most nights.” Which was a lie, of course. He hadn’t been there last night, at least not at the same time. Was he messing with me?

I gave Roger a quick pet and then walked to the counter to begin my ritual. “Do you want some tea?” I asked over my shoulder.

“No,” he said without looking up.

Okay. Evidently, things were going to continue as usual. What was I doing? I had work in the morning, and here I was setting my damned alarm to go off in the night. This was ridiculous.

When my tea was ready, I walked to the table and sat down in my usual spot next to Talon.

“So do you ever actually drink that water you pour for yourself?”

He pursed his lips and then brought the glass to his mouth and took a drink. “Satisfied?”

Satisfied? Seriously? “Do you really think I care if you drink your water?”

“Well, you appear to, since you asked.”

“Unbelievable.” I rolled my eyes and dipped my tea bag in and out of my water.

“What’s unbelievable?”

“How you can be so rude about something so insignificant.”

“Rude? Me? You’re the one who asked me about my water.”

Touché. He was right. While the content of my question was innocuous, my tone had been a little snide. “Okay. I’ll admit I might’ve used a slightly rude tone when I asked. But I truly am interested. You’re here nearly every night, you pour yourself a glass of water, and then you sit and stare at it. What is that about?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

I looked straight into his burning dark eyes. “Try me.”

He picked up the glass, walked to the sink, and poured it out. He came back to the table and pounded it with a loud bang. “There. I took care of it.”

“And that is supposed to be significant?”

“Trust me. It is.”

I turned my attention back to my teacup. “If you say so.”

He stood and took the water glass to the sink. He stayed for a moment, his back to me, his ass looking delectable in his sleeping pants. His skin was tan, and the strong muscles of his back seemed tense. How I longed to massage all the tension out of him. Would I ever get that chance?

I’d have to break down a lot of walls to be able to do anything for his tension. Was I ready for that? Having just come away from a broken engagement?

I let out a soft chuckle. Whether I was ready mattered little. Talon was not ready and probably never would be.

He turned around and gazed at me. “What’s so funny?”

Shit. Had he heard my laugh? “Nothing.”

He walked toward me, aggression in his demeanor. “Are you fucking laughing at me?”

“No, I—”

He pulled me up and out of my chair so I was facing him, our chests nearly touching.

“You think it’s funny that I can’t sleep? That I sit here with a glass of water? Is that why you get up every night, to laugh at me?”

I trembled before him—from fear or arousal, I wasn’t sure. He gripped my upper arms, his knuckles whitening with the pressure he was exerting.

I should stop him. I should stop him now before this goes one minute further.

But I didn’t want to stop him. Yes, he was gripping me hard, harder than he should. But his touch on my skin, his hands on my flesh… It all felt right, somehow.

“Answer me, goddamnit.”

I shook my head. “Of course I wasn’t laughing at you. I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

He sneered at me. “Yes, because you’re such a nice person, right?”

“Yes.” My lips trembled.

“Are you, Jade? Are you really a nice person?”

“Of course I am.”

He still gripped me firmly. “Then you should probably stay the hell away from me.” He released me quickly.

I stumbled backward, catching myself by grabbing the back of the chair.

This man was dangerous. Brooding and dangerous. And sexy as hell. His dark-walnut hair framed his face in soft tousled waves. His onyx eyes gleamed, boring holes in my center as he stared at me. His muscles were tense, his whole chest clenched. He needed something. Anything, to release the tension.

“I…I guess I’ll get back to bed.” I turned to leave.

But he grabbed me again, this time pulling me right up to his chest, only the thin cotton of my tank separating us.

“I’m going to tell you this once, and I expect you to listen,” he said, his eyes burning.

Was I supposed to nod? I simply arched my eyebrows.

“Do not come to the kitchen in the middle of the night anymore.”

“Why not? If I can’t sleep, the tea helps me relax—”

His lips slammed down on mine.

Oh, God…

He forced my mouth open with his tongue and plunged inside. His kiss was…feral—more feral and animalistic even then the previous ones. Oh, yes, he needed to release tension…and I would willingly help. He gripped my shoulders, bringing us closer and closer together, as if he wanted to disappear inside my skin.

I returned his kiss, not only because I wanted to, but because he seemed to need it so much.

We kissed for several minutes until finally he eased up, and the kiss became softer. He unclenched his fingers from my shoulders and trailed one hand up my neck to cup my cheek.

And I was lost. I could never resist a face toucher. I loved the feeling of being so treasured by someone. I wasn’t laboring under any delusions that Talon Steel treasured me, but oh, the touch of his calloused fingers on my bare cheek… I was in heaven, floating on a magical cloud.

The kiss was still deep, and I still returned it passionately, but it was soft now, almost…loving. He unclenched his other hand from my shoulder and slid it down my arm, my skin prickling in its wake. My nipples were so hard I felt sure they were poking him. I longed for him to slide his hand up my side and cup one of my breasts, but we were too close together for that. I ached for his touch.

My sex throbbed. I knew I must be dripping, and all I had on were these loose boxers. God, I wanted his fingers on me, in me, stroking me to completion while he continued to kiss me.

Bravely, summoning all the courage in my arsenal, I clasped the hand that was holding on to my wrist and drew it toward my mound.

He broke the kiss abruptly, forcing me backward, his dark gaze burning into mine. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, blue eyes.”

My courage still coursing through me, I regarded him. “I do, actually.”

“I will hurt you.” Sadness laced his voice.

Why would he think he would hurt me? Was he even talking about emotional hurt? Did he actually think he would physically hurt me?

“I’m a big girl, Talon. I can make my own choices. If I get hurt, it will be my own doing.”

“You don’t know what you’re dealing with. You have no idea how much I ache for your pussy right now. I want to stuff you so full of my cock that you can’t see straight. I’ve wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you, Jade. I don’t know why, but you have a hold on me.”

My skin warmed, my pussy pulsing. Was this truly happening? “Then take me to bed. I’m going willingly.”

“I’ll never love you.”

Bam!
A brick settled on top of me. At least he was honest. I could give him that. I responded the only way I knew how. “I’m not asking for your love.”

He let out a chuckle. “Sooner or later, all you women want love.”

I chuckled back at him. “Seriously? Look where so-called love got me. Left at the damned altar. Humiliated in front of my family and friends. Why in hell would I want to repeat that?”

“Maybe you don’t want love today, and maybe not tomorrow. But you will someday.”

“And who’s to say you and I are going to be together someday?”

Another chuckle. “I can guarantee you we won’t be together someday. I don’t love, blue eyes. I take. I take what others are willing to give to me, but I can’t give anything in return. It’s not in me.”

“I think you’re probably selling yourself short, Talon, but what does it matter? Tonight doesn’t have to make a future, does it? Tonight can simply be about what it is—two people enjoying each other’s bodies and releasing some tension.” I touched his shoulders, gently massaging them. “And damn, you’ve got a lot of tension built up.”

“I don’t want to fuck you to release tension, blue eyes.”

“Then why do you want it?”

“Not because I love you.”

Yes, yes, hit me over the head with it.
“You’ve made that clear. What you haven’t made clear is why you want me.”

“Because I crave you. I crave your lips, your tongue, your body pressed against mine. I crave your sweet little pussy, your lips around my cock. I want to take you, own you, possess you for a night. I want to fuck you and fuck you and fuck you until neither one of us can take it anymore.” His eyes glowed, his dark nipples hardened, and his erection was apparent underneath his pajama pants. “I’m so hard for you right now, like granite. And maybe, Jade, maybe if I fuck you and take you, I’ll get this goddamned craving out of my system.”