Page 28 of Biker's Property

“Okay. I’ll handle it then.”

“We have time until my brother shows up,” Steel says. “I’ll take you in to meet Brinley.”

I’m almost too scared to hop out of the truck. Steel is acting way too calm about the fact that I killed someone. For all I know, there could be cops hiding in that Flying J ready to take me to prison. What happens then? I’d rather die in the desert than go to prison. I’m not built for prison –physically.I don’t know what would happen to me behind bars and I don’t want to find out.

Steel doesn’t give me a chance to lean into my fear. He’s on the other side of the truck before I know it and holding onto my waist to help me out. This time, he sets me down so close to him that I can make out the different shades of light brown in his facial hair, and I notice scars on his face that I didn’t see before.

His eyes are still pretty, even in this dark parking lot with nothing but fluorescent lights and a neon smile. He has a devilish smile that would make me think he had secrets even if I didn’t know that already.

“Damn it, church girl. I should have kissed you in that motel room.”

He looks down at me with an expression that’s almost angry, then he turns toward the Flying J and grabs my forearm without looking at me, dragging me along behind him. I don’t know how he expects me to respond to that. I made my opinion on us kissing quite clear.

It’s a horrible idea.We get right up to the door when Steel finally stops dragging me across the pavement like a ragdoll. He holds me in place by my shoulders, gazing down at me from his impressive height.

“I bring you proof of your husband’s death, you’re mine,” he says. “That’s all I ask…”

“It doesn’t sound like a request.”

His devilish smile sends the most uncomfortable pulse straight through me. I hate that the tightness settles between my legs and I can’t shake the feeling while he has his eyes on me.

“You’re right,” he says. “That’s the deal. I handle this. I promise you a lifetime of protection and you become mine…”

Steel reaches his thumb out, rubbing it over my lips in a slow circle before his hand falls away.

“My property,” he whispers. “That’s all I want.”

That’s all?He says that as if he isn’t asking for my life.Forever.

He wantsme to trade one monster for another. His request doesn’t surprise me, but I expected him to take what he wanted from me without asking and I expected what Steel wanted to be more temporary. My heart skips a beat as I consider I might be able to wriggle my way out of the argument that way.

“You don’t wantme to be your property,” I say with completely false confidence. My palms are sweating, and I’m grateful he can’t see. “You want an exotic woman in your bed for one night. Or your truck. I’m guessing you aren’t picky.”

He laughs.

“That’s not what I want,” he says. “And I’ll prove it to you.”

He kissesme on the forehead again, and opens the door to the Flying J. Something about that man’s kiss is downright ominous. But I can’t place what it is. We’re in a gas station. A public, well-lit gas station. I’ll be fine… Even if Steel is crazier than a cockroach doing the Charleston.

Chapter Thirteen

STEEL

Ihave every intention of dragging Joslin into that Flying J bathroom and proving to her without hesitation that my desire for her far surpasses my desire for sex. If I just wanted sex, I would have had it. If I just wanted sex, I would have left her in the desert.

You don’t survive prison without expanding on your personal capacity for violence and cruelty. Each time I touch her, those powerful cruel impulses surge through me and it’s only when I look into her brown eyes that I’m able to pull myself away from the edge of hurting her..

But now, I have to hurt someone. If her ex-husband is alive, he’s the one I’ll hurt. If he’s dead, I’ll find his nearest relatives and hurt them instead. Once my brother gets here, hunting them down will be easy. Religious assholes from a rural place like this won’t expect outlaw bikers driving through. We pop a couple heads and disappear.

It will be easy.Satisfying. It will keep me from hurting Joslin. If it bothers her so much that she has a husband… I will thoroughly eliminate that problem.

Brinley keeps Joslinclose the moment she enters the gas station. My news doesn’t help the situation. Brinley doesn’t seem shocked, but she doesn’t seem happy either.

“I thought it would be the bike, honestly,” she says in a heavy, West Texas accent. She dries her tears and changes the subject to Joslin. Wisely, Joslin leaves the explanations up to me.

“My brother and I will be gone for a day, maybe two. If you need to keep her here past 11 a.m., call Magnum, have him set her up in one of his AirBnBs.”

Brinley gives Joslin a once over.

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