Page 24 of Steel

We talked about it back when we were seeing each other.

Didn’t we?

Whatever. I don’t have time to worry about that shit. There’s too much other stuff going on.

Bailee straightens when I pull into the parking lot of Sinful Saloon. “Why are we here?”

“Goin’ to be your new home for the foreseeable future. Until we can figure out what’s happenin’, this is the safest place for you barrin’ the club. Someone will always be around. Got two apartments on the basement level. Reva, our bar manager, lives in one, and you’ll be takin’ the other.”

“Okay,” she says timidly, biting her lip and looking away.

Reaching over, I grab her chin in my hand and turn her to face me, using my thumb to pull her lip away. “Not goin’ to let anything happen to you, Hummingbird. Called me for protection, let me do what I can to give you that.”

She blows out a breath, the warm burst of air brushing against my thumb. My dick twitches, and I grind my teeth while I fight my response to her.

A puff of air.

A goddamn puff of air against my thumb and I’m about to nut in my jeans like a fucking teenager just introduced to a centerfold.

Bailee is fucking potent. She’s the drug that travels stealthily through my veins, bringing a high that makes me feel light and free, turning me into an addict who is hooked on her. Each hit leaves me strung-out and craving more until an endless hunger gnaws at my stomach.

Flames flicker to life in her eyes before she blinks and extinguishes them. “I know. I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t trust you, Steel. You tell me what to do and I’ll listen.”

“Sit still. I’ll come help you out. Need to keep weight off your leg as much as possible.”

I grab my phone off the dash and pull up the camera feed for the strip club. I run through them all, checking every inch of the club to see who is on duty. None of the brothers seem to be working tonight, so we shouldn’t have any issue going in through the front.

Shoving my phone in my pocket and grabbing my gun from the console, I slide it into the shoulder holster under my cut before climbing out and making my way to the passenger side.

Out of habit, my eyes cut through the parking lot as I scan for any threats.

“Arm over my shoulder,” I order as I slide mine around her waist.

It takes a few minutes to get her to the edge of the seat because I try not to jolt her too much.

“Doin’ okay, Hummingbird?”

Her jaw is clenched, and her nails dig into my shoulder hard enough to break skin.

“I’m good. Keep going.”

The tightness in her voice contradicts her words, but I’m going to trust that she knows her limits.

Once her feet touch the ground, I move her arm around my waist, and she settles her weight against me.

Our trek to the door is slow-moving, and by the time we get there, her breath saws in and out of her lungs.

Tightening my hold, I carry a little more of her weight so I’m nearly holding her up.

Mario, one of our bouncers, holds the door open. “Boss.”

“How’s it goin’ tonight?”

“Busy. Surprisingly calm, though.”

“Don’t count on it stayin’ that way. Know it doesn’t get rowdy until after eight or so,” I warn as we walk past.

The hairs on my arms rise as the bass of the music vibrates against my skin the farther inside we go. Lennox is on stage doing a routine I haven’t seen yet, and any other time, I’d settle in and enjoy the show, but I’m not so much of an asshole that I’d make Bailee sit beside me while I watch another woman shake ass, tits, and pussy in my face.

---