My Immortal (11 page)

Stevie and Storm huddled next to the receiver on the dashboard.

Bruce stomped past Todd. “We’re fine. They can’t see us. Now get in the room and get naked. I got work to do later.”

“Like what?” Cherylyn asked.

“Getting rid of her snoopers.”

Stevie gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Her voice cracked. “You don’t think he’s the one that—”

Storm held his index finger in the air. “Sit tight. When Todd comes, we’ll brief.”

Within five minutes, other tenants of the Starlight Motel exited their rooms, giving Todd the noise and commotion necessary to leave. Storm breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s out. Let’s snap the exit shots and get the hell outta here.”

Stevie scooted to the backseat of the van. She grasped Storm’s sleeve with shaky hands. He invaded her mind for a split second. She still worried about the gunman. “He won’t hurt you, babe.”

“I know, I know.” She fluttered her hands.

“We work for Edie, but my only job is to protect you. I’ll lay down my life for you if that’s what it takes to keep you safe. I promise.” Strom rubbed her knee and focused on the motel building.

She squeezed his hand. “Thanks.” Stevie nodded to the windshield. “Here comes Todd and he looks angry. I wonder what he heard.”

“Stay here until I come get you.” Storm cupped her chin. “Call it my attempt at being your knight in shining armour.”

When he slid out of the vehicle, she giggled. “Why don’t you just be my dark, moody, and very handsome protector?”

“Wait until we get home. I have lots of ways in mind to keep you safe.” Storm wriggled his brow.

Todd tossed an empty soda can on the front seat of Storm’s rental truck. “Man, they make too damn much sex noise.”

He turned and slammed the van door shut.
“Yeah?
I pegged Cherylyn as a screamer.”

“She is, but that’s not my news. We need to talk.” Todd waved him to the rear of the vehicles. “He’s not done.”

“Tripp?
Well, yeah.” Storm leaned against the back door of the van. “They go at least three rounds before they check out for the evening. I don’t know how some people can get off on listening to others have sex. It makes me cringe.”

Todd spoke in a whisper. “I meant O’Toole.”

Storm ground his teeth. “What’s he doing now?”
Besides terrorizing Stevie.

“He’s turning people.
At least three more since last weekend.
Two girls and a middle-aged guy.
He’s not just feeding from them. He’s creating a following.”

“Do you know who?”

“I think I got a lead on one of the girls, but the other seems to have vanished. The guy is one of O’Toole’s old friends—a guy named Arnie, Arnold, Armand…something like that. We can’t get a lead on him.”

Storm folded his arms. He dropped his head to his chest.
Great, three more potential foes.
“Better clue in Allan. I think Jamison’s gearing up for a showdown.”

“With Stevie as the main course.
You gonna tell her?”

“Yeah.
I have to.” Tell her and hope like hell she didn’t run screaming into the night. Sure, he had faith in her, but like the other good things in his life, there was no guarantee she’d stick around.

Todd slapped Storm’s back. “Take her home, give her some red-hot sex, and tell her you love her. She’ll understand.”

“You got it.”

* * * *

Stevie yanked the door of the fridge open and surveyed the contents. Her stomach rumbled. “Do you ever shop for food when I’m not here?” The time spent in front of the convenience store smelling fried chicken whipped up her appetite.

“Why? I’d rather microwave something. It’s less messy.” He shouted from the living room.

She nibbled the inside of her bottom lip. “Can I have a glass of your fancy wine? I need something strong to unwind.” She reached for the cobalt blue glass bottle. “Is it red wine or a mixer?”

“It’s nothing you’d drink.”

She jumped and clutched her chest. “You scared the life out of me, Storm!” How the hell had he gotten behind her so fast?

“You like blush wines. That stuff’s too heavy for you.” He shut the door. “You’ll get one of your nasty headaches, and though I wouldn’t mind being your personal nurse, I don’t want to put you through the agony.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “But I am hungry. Why don’t we shower and make a run to the Taco Hut?”

She peeked at the glowing green clock over his shoulder. “It’s almost three in the morning.”

“So? We got ice cream late at night before. What’s the difference?” He tugged her to the bathroom. “We were supposed to do this last night and I want a do-over. I fantasised about making love to you in the shower all evening.”

“We can’t.” Stevie froze next to the shower stall. Her palms turned clammy and her mouth went dry.

His eyes softened. The gold flecks burned bright against the mocha. “Babe, this is me. I won’t make you do what you don’t want.” He reached in to turn on the water, brushing her arm as he passed. “I’ll never hurt you.”

She fumbled for words and gulped oxygen. He wouldn’t harm her. Storm promised to protect her and she believed him. Why couldn’t she get the image of that horrible night from her mind?

“I’m sweaty. I want to get cleaned up, babe—with you.” He cupped her chin in one strong hand. “Take control. You tell me what to do.”

Stevie peeled the shirt over her head and shook out her hair. Storm’s mouth opened a fraction of an inch. His eyelids drooped. She unbuttoned her jeans and let them pool at her feet. “Get in, but don’t crowd me.”

“I promise I won’t.” He unbuckled his belt and stepped out of his jeans. His cock jutted out at her, thick and glistening.

Her fear returned tenfold. The scent of the antiseptic at the station came rushing back to her despite the floral air freshener wafting through the space. She shook. The room spun. “I can’t do this.”

“Breathe, babe.” He wrapped her in his arms once again. “Breathe and remember where you are. You’re safe. I have you.”

Stevie took a deep breath.
I refuse to give in to the fear. I won’t let them rule my life.
She squared her shoulders and kissed Storm hard on the lips. “I can do this. I will do this.” With the flick of her wrist, her bra sailed across the room and swung from the knob on the vanity. “I want to try sex in the shower.”

“We’ll work up to it.” He unwound his arms and ripped his shirt over his head. “No rushing.”

She closed her eyes, allowing his strength to wash over her. A weight lifted from her shoulders. She could do this. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “You get in first and stand against the wall.”

Storm did as she asked. He held out his hand, welcoming her into his embrace.

Calling her home.

Her heart slammed within her chest. This man cared about her. While his hands roamed up and down her arms, his kisses fluttered over her cheeks. “Let me wash you, babe.”

Once she brushed a soggy lock of hair from across her forehead, Storm squeezed a dollop of her body wash onto a washcloth and created a thick lather in his palms. As she closed her eyes to diminish the onslaught of lust coursing her system, a low moan escaped her lips. Her skin tingled as he caressed every inch of her body and soul. How did she get so lucky to be cared for by him? Sparks radiated at her core and seeped between her thighs. Dear God, she needed him—loved him.

Storm made a noise that was a cross between a moan and a growl. “Look into my eyes and show me what you’re feeling.” He nuzzled her neck. “Don’t make me think I’m the only one having a good time and please don’t make me stop.”

She giggled. A wave of desire and need crashed within her. Make him stop?
Never.
She wanted—no, needed—to take him right there in the slippery stall. Her ghosts and fears could go straight to hell. And did he just say please?

Storm dropped to his knees and gazed up at her. The same desire she felt deep inside mirrored in his eyes. She shivered. “What?”

“I need to give you a thorough cleansing, babe.”

She wound her fingers in his damp hair and pressed his face to her slick nether lips. A chuckle rose from his throat.
“Oh, Stevie.”
He lapped at her cream, swirling his tongue over the tight bundle of nerve endings around her clit.

“Yes.” She leaned against the cool tile wall and held on for the duration. She shivered.

“You own me, sweetheart. No one can take me away from you.” Storm grabbed her ass, digging his fingers into the tender flesh. His dark hair stuck to his forehead in clumps.

The full meaning of his statement sluiced over her with the heated water. No one ever cared like Storm and she didn’t want to give him up—ever.

As he nuzzled her cleft, she shivered. A groan escaped her lips. His tongue should be registered as dangerous. “Make love to me.” She panted and twined her fingers in his hair. “Help me replace my past with our future.”

“Yes.” Nipping her inner thigh, he blazed a trail of heat up her stomach to the dip between her breasts. As he stood, he slid his hand under her leg. “Open to me. Hook your sexy body around my waist.”

As she grasped his shoulders for leverage, she whimpered and closed her eyes. She wasn’t light by any means, so how did he manage to hold her like she weighed nothing?

“I can’t hold back, babe.” Inch by delicious inch, he entered her. Although he stretched her, she loved every sensation. She gasped and opened her eyes, intent not to miss a moment.

When he surged forward, he matched the movements of his cock with his tongue in her mouth. She swallowed his groan. Making love to him, feeling him stroke in and out of her body was addictive.

His thrusts, gentle at first, gained speed and intensity. His grip on her hips tightened.

Arching her back to send him deeper into her core, she moaned.
Being in his embrace felt right—like coming home.
He saw her scars, inside and out, and held firm. Could he love her? She already loved him.

“Fuck yes, Stevie.” As he pistoned in and out of her slick channel, Storm gritted his teeth. A smile twisted the very corners of his mouth.
“So beautiful.”
He rested his forehead on hers and reached between their soap slickened bodies to pluck her clit.

Spasms and a unique combination of pleasure and pain rocketed through her system. Teetering on the ragged edge, she clasped him tighter. With each thrust, each surge into her body, Storm knocked her against the cool tile wall.

“Come with me, Stevie.” His breath fanned over her tingling mouth. “Don’t let me feel this alone.”

A moan slipped past her lips. “Oh.” Excitement coiled tight in her belly. She dug her nails into his shoulders, marking him.

“Yes, baby.” With one final push, Storm lurched forward and buried his length to the hilt.
“Holy fuck!”
He added a couple of residual thrusts before he stilled within her.

When she lowered her leg, her knees quaked. She dragged air into her lungs. The weight on her shoulders melted as his arms curled tighter around her. The bitterness and revulsion dissolved. No, he didn’t define her, but his care, his attention helped make her whole again. He cared for her when few others did.

She shivered. The water, once scalding, shifted to lukewarm and chilled her. Storm slid his hands up her sides to cup her jaw. His chest heaved with laboured breaths. “You’re mine.”

The veracity of his words tripped her up.

His?
Sure, she wanted to be his woman. Hell, he made her feel brand new. She licked her lips and fought to come up with a fitting reply. “I’m yours.
Always.”

Chapter Ten

After another round of lovemaking, Storm curled Stevie against his side. Every nerve ending in his body belonged to Stevie, whether she wanted it or not. When he slid into her mind, he saw the desire and something more—devotion. She cared for him as much as he loved her. The sweet scent of her arousal mixed with the soft rose of her body wash. A wave of calm and serenity washed over him. Peace. The more he held her, the stronger he felt. Even in the darkness, she brightened his life. Still, he couldn’t read everything on her mind.

He needed to tell her everything. “How do you feel about me, sweetheart?” He drew in a ragged breath and waited for her reply.

She sighed and wriggled in his embrace.
“Consumed, but content and a bit tired.
You wear a girl out, but it’s a good worn-out.”

He kissed her fevered skin, savouring the unique taste of Stevie.
“Just content?
I’d better improve my performance until I rate higher than that.”

Stevie pressed her taut nipples against his chest and twined her fingers behind his head. “I’m a little overwhelmed, but for good reasons. You’re the hottest lover a woman could ask for. You’re more than I deserve, but I refuse to send you back.”

Storm wanted more than a lover. He wanted his mate. He’d tasted her, knew her heart and soul. It was time. “I love you, Stevie.”