Steel Rush (In the Shadows#5) (43 page)
“Hand me the soap again. I must not have put enough on your shoulders. The feathers are being stubborn.” Calder clasps my hand and pulls me in front of him, kissing my jaw. “That’s because it’s there to stay, angel.”
“What?” I squeeze his bicep, then turn him around once more to stare at his shoulders. The skull is gone and the only bit left is the raven’s wing across his shoulders and down his arm. The feather design covers most of the Celtic tattoo except for the bit on his ribs next to the words Solus.
“Why did you decide to keep the raven’s wing?” I ask, stepping back under the spray with him.
He smiles and shakes his head. “It’s not just a raven’s wing, Cass. It’s a raven. It has always been a raven.” Turning, he points to the curve where his neck and right shoulder meet and that’s when I see what I haven’t before…a raven’s head and beak along the curve of his neck and shoulder. Apparently the whole time I thought I was seeing a raven’s wing, I was actually seeing an entire raven wrapped around his shoulders.
My heart is so full of love, I can only gape at him. Calder smiles and turns me back around in his arms, pulling me fully against him. “You told me that now I’ll never be alone.” Folding his tattooed left arm across my chest, he continues, “And now you’ll always have a raven watching over you, angel.”
Deep sentiment floods through me, and I grip the feathers on his bicep wrapped around my chest. “Calder, that’s the most romantic gesture. I’m just—” I swallow my emotions and try to calm my racing heart. “You know, if you need a place to crash closer to work, I could use a roommate…” I trail off and hold my breath.
“Sorry, not interested in the roommate thing,” he says briskly, shaking his head.
“Oh, okay. I just thought I’d offer.” I keep my tone light to cover my disappointment.
Calder chuckles as he lifts my hand and slides a gorgeous black diamond on my ring finger. “I couldn’t resist. The way it shines, I immediately thought of a raven’s eye. I love you, Cass. Deeply, passionately and without reservation. I want to protect you and make love to you until we’re old and gray. You are
all
I want.”
I turn to him and touch his jaw. “I love you very much.”
“Say you’ll marry me, angel. Then Ben can stop asking you out.
Hemming asshole
.”
Laughing, I clasp his neck. Calder lifts me in his arms and I wrap my legs tight around his waist.
His nostrils flare and he grips my hips as he slowly glides his cock inside me. “Is that a yes?”
When he’s as deep as he can go, I gasp and flex around him, moaning.
Calder sets me against the shower wall and thrusts deep, his voice turning rough when I dig my fingers into his skin and mewl my pleasure. “I’m not hearing the right word, angel.”
I lean my head back and let my body answer for me, moaning through a long wave of satisfaction as my orgasm takes over. I shudder and tremble through the tremors of happy bliss.
Calder’s breathing rushes against my neck and he drives into me as if he can’t get close enough. His shoulders bunching, his chest crushes mine as he roars through his own release.
We’re both panting and I shiver as the warm water pounding down on us suddenly turns cold. Calder grunts and sets me down to quickly shut off the spray.
I laugh softly unable to keep my hands off his body while he rubs my skin and hair with a warm towel. When he’s done and takes the towel to himself, tousling his hair into a wild array of spiky sexiness, I press a soft kiss to his lips.
“Is that your answer?” he says impatiently, then drops the towel to scoop me in his arms and carry me over to the bed.
“Hold that thought.” I quickly wiggle out of his hold before he can lay me down. Walking over to my purse, I retrieve the raven leather necklace from a zipper compartment inside.
I smile and start back toward him, but pause when I’m a foot away and stare down at the leather collar in my hand. Rubbing my thumb across the teeth marks along one side, I turn glistening eyes to his. “This is the band from your hat from the party, isn’t it?”
Calder nods and pulls me close. “I told you I found the perfect material for the choker.” Taking the necklace, he hooks it around my neck, then lifts my chin, his intense gaze holding mine. “I never want to wake up to an empty space beside me again. I love you, Cass. No matter where we choose to live, you are my home. Marry me, angel.”
Not a question, but a statement. It’s so Calder.
The Lumineers’ song “Ho Hey” begins to pump through the speakers. Its lyrics are so appropriate for us, I get teary.
We
belong to each other. I cup his face and whisper against his lips, “Don’t sell your childhood home. Let’s make it happy again with our own family.”
He hooks his hands around my waist, his fingers flexing, emotion churning in his gaze. “That’d better be a yes.”
Tears spilling, I throw myself against his hard frame, knocking us onto his bed. “Yes, I’ll marry you, you stubborn, beautiful, complex man.”
When Calder presses a kiss just above my necklace, I sigh my happiness and tease, “Sebastian says you collared me.”
Lust fills his gaze and he tugs me underneath him. “If I could stamp ‘property of Calder Blake’ on that gorgeous forehead of yours without you wanting to kick me where it counts, I would.” His attention slides to my necklace. “But since the choker isn’t waterproof, I’ll just have to give you a reason to keep that ring on every single day.”
“It’s perfect, Calder.” I lift my hand up and admire the beautiful ring he’d chosen for its personal meaning, then slowly trace my fingers along the side of his face. “And I can’t wait to experience the
many ways
you do that.”
“I’m glad to hear it, because you’re mine, Cassandra Rockwell Blake.” Calder bites the heel of my hand and then my wrist. Sliding his thigh between mine, he nips at my collarbone, then clamps down on my neck as he slowly eases himself inside me. A flood of heat envelops my whole body when he releases my throat and rumbles against my cheek, “And I’m never letting you go.”
I twine my fingers in his hair and tug his mouth to mine. “You’d better not. I’m yours Calder Jackson Blake. Always and only yours.”
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STEEL RUSH
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Did you love Cass and Calder’s story and want more?
If you haven’t read books 1-3 (
MISTER BLACK, SCARLETT RED
and
BLACKEST RED
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IN THE SHADOWS
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trailer
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If you’re interested in other contemporary romances by me, check out my
BAD IN BOOTS
series written under Patrice Michelle.
If you’d like to read another epic romance story like the IN THE SHADOWS books—the kind of love story that spans across several books—check out my
BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS
series written under P.T. Michelle. These books were written to be enjoyed equally by upper teens 16+ and adults.
P.T. Michelle Books
In the Shadows Series (Contemporary Romance, 18+)
Mister Black
(Book 1 - Talia and Sebastian)
Scarlett Red
(Book 2 - Talia and Sebastian)
Blackest Red
(Book 3 - Talia and Sebastian)
Gold Shimmer
(Book 4 - Cass and Calder)
Steel Rush
(Book 5 - Cass and Calder)
Black Platinum
(Book 6 – Talia and Sebastian) – Coming Fall 2016
Brightest Kind of Darkness Series (YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance, 16+)
Ethan
(Prequel)
Brightest Kind of Darkness
(Book 1)
Lucid
(Book 2)
Destiny
(Book 3)
Desire
(Book 4)
Awaken
(Book 5) - Coming 2016
Other works by P.T. Michelle writing as Patrice Michelle
Bad in Boots Series (Contemporary Romance, 18+)
Kendrian Vampires Series (Paranormal Romance, 18+)
Scions Series (Paranormal Romance, 18+)
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To my fabulous beta readers: Joey Berube, Amy Bensette, and Magen Chambers, thank you for always going deep, giving great wish lists and feedback, and for helping me see the book through your eyes. I appreciate you reading
Steel Rush
so quickly. You ladies definitely helped make
Steel Rush
a wonderful read.
To my wonderful critique partner, Trisha Wolfe, thank you for reading
Steel Rush
so quickly, and for all the awesome brainstorming! Major hugs, girl!
To my family, thank you for understanding the time and effort each book takes. I love you all and truly appreciate your unending support.
To my amazing fans, thank you for loving my books and for truly broadening my audience with your mad love of the IN THE SHADOWS series and characters! I appreciate each and every one of you for spreading the word by posting reviews and telling all your reader friends about the series whenever you get a chance. Thank you for all the fantastic support you continually give!
P.T. Michelle is the
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