His to Claim (17 page)

What must he think?

And she didn’t blame him. His gaze locked on her and she leapt to her feet and strode
across the room, then took his arm and guided him into the hallway. She didn’t let
herself stop to think, just used momentum to steer him to her room.

Once inside, she closed the door.

“I know this looks bad, but there was really nothing going on. Travis just got a tattoo
and he was showing the guys.”

“And you.”

“I’d already seen it.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve seen his ass?”

She sucked in a breath. “I went with him when he got the tattoo.” She stared at his
intense blue eyes. “I designed it for him, so he wanted me to go.”

She took his hand and squeezed it. “Storm, that’s all there is. There’s nothing going
on between Travis and me.”

He stared at her for what seemed like a lifetime, but she realized it was only a couple
beats of her rapidly pounding heart.

“I believe you.”

The words hung in the silence as she stared at him.

“You do?”

“Of course. You told me if I don’t trust you, then this won’t work between us.” He
grasped her shoulders, sending heat pulsing through her. “And I intend to make this
work.”

Then he drew her close and lowered his face to hers. His lips brushed hers sweetly,
then his arms glided around her and he pulled her tight to his body as his tongue
slipped past her lips.

She threw her arms around him and held him tight as passion flared within her, and
she opened to let him in. He swirled his tongue inside her mouth and she sighed, melting
into his arms.

“Oh, God, I’ve missed you,” he murmured when his lips parted from hers.

“Me, too.” She gazed into his sky blue eyes. “So much.”

And her body ached for him.

She stroked her hands over his solid chest, needing to touch him.

“Why are you here? Do you have business in town?”

He smiled. “No. I’m here to be with you. I’m going to ask Travis if I can continue
on the tour with the band.”

“What about your brother, and the company?”

“In fact, my brother pointed out that I should be here with you. That I can travel
with the band and follow my heart, but still keep in touch with him on the phone and
through e-mail for any major decisions. He doesn’t really need me there to run the
company on a day-to-day basis.”

She stroked her finger down his hard chest. “Remind me to thank him next time I see
him.” Once she reached his belt, she tugged his T-shirt from his jeans and slid her
hands underneath, then stroked over the solid wall of ridged muscles upward to his
chest.

She found his nipple and ran her thumb over it.

He shrugged off his leather jacket and let it drop to the floor, then tugged off his
T-shirt. He took her hand and placed it flat on his chest again. She teased his bead-like
nipple with her fingertips.

The edges of his lips curled up. “You know, I have a hankering to see that tattoo
of yours.”

She smiled and stroked over her breast coyly. “Well, I’ve had quite a few requests
to see it, but you should know that I will only show it to someone very special.”

He smiled and slid his hands around her waist. “And who is this special someone?”
His lips played along the base of her neck, sending ripples of pleasure through her.

“Well, his name’s Storm.” She grasped his raspy, square jaw in her hand and moved
his face to hers, then planted a firm kiss on his sexy lips. “And I absolutely adore
him.”

Then she grabbed the hem of her camisole and pulled it over her head. She was rewarded
with his heated, blue gaze locking on her breasts with a look of awestruck wonder.
She reached behind her back and unfastened her bra, then lowered it from her breasts
slowly, watching the desire flare in his eyes.

“God damn, I don’t know how I stayed away from you as long as I did.” His fingertip
came to rest on her breast and he outlined the bluebird adorning her skin. Then he
leaned forward and kissed it, his lips brushing the surface like the delicate brush
of a rose petal.

She grasped his head and pulled him tight to her breast. He chuckled and she felt
his tongue lap over her skin, then he shifted and his warm mouth covered her aching
nipple.

“Oh, Storm. Yes.”

He teased her hard nub with his tongue, then after a few excruciating laps, he sucked,
and she whimpered.

“Oh, God, I’ve missed you.”

He glanced up at her and grinned. “Me or the sex?”

She laughed. “The sex. Definitely the sex.”

He swept her up and carried her to the bed, then placed her on it.

“Well, then I’d better get on with it.” He unfastened his belt, then drew down the
zipper of his jeans.

She sat up as she watched him push down his boxers, revealing his long—and very hard—cock.
She slid to the side of the bed and reached forward to wrap her hand around his thick
shaft. He stepped close and she stroked the impossibly soft skin.

“You look very tasty.” She leaned forward and lapped her tongue over his hot tip.
The salty taste of his precum flashed on her tongue and she opened wide and took his
cockhead into her mouth. He was so big it made her jaw ache, but she squeezed him
inside while she stroked his exposed shaft with her palm.

His fingers twined in her hair. “Oh, baby, that feels awesome.”

She glided down his length, taking him deep, then slid back again. He guided her forward
again, then set a rhythm she happily followed.

“Fuck, baby, I’m going to come.” He tried to slow her down, but she pressed aside
his hands and then cupped his balls and massaged them as she bobbed faster on his
cock.

He groaned, then arched. Hot liquid filled her mouth. She sucked and stroked as he
filled her, continuing her attention until she was sure he was done.

She drew his spent cock from her mouth and smiled up at him. “You really did miss
me.”

He drew her to her feet and kissed her thoroughly. “You know it.” Then he eased her
onto the bed and unzipped her jeans, then stripped them from her. He stared at her
tiny panties. “Now let me show you just how much.”

He tucked his fingers under the elastic and eased them down her hips, revealing her
clean-shaven mound.

He smiled and stroked over the bare skin, then he pressed her legs apart and glided
over her folds. She shivered at the exquisitely erotic sensation.

“You are so wet for me.”

She stroked over his shoulders. “I want you so bad.”

“Well, since you sucked me dry, you’ll have to settle for this right now.”

He leaned forward and lapped his tongue over her slick flesh. She moaned, curling
her fingers in his hair and holding him tight to her. His tongue explored her opening,
then he found her clit and teased it without mercy. As he flicked and cajoled, heat
swamped her senses. She had longed for his touch and now he was giving her everything
she needed. She lay back on the bed, moaning.

He slid two fingers inside her and sucked on her clit. As he stroked her inner walls,
intense pleasure rose in her. It felt so good to be touched by him.

“Oh, God, yes,” she wailed as she arched against him.

“Show me how you come, Melanie. I want to see your face in ecstasy.”

The pleasure building within her exploded in an eruption of bliss. She moaned, her
hands curled around his head as he sucked her sensitive bud. Reality melted as she
catapulted to a realm of sweet all-consuming rapture.

Finally, she collapsed back to reality, panting for air.

Storm chuckled, then prowled over her. She had yearned for his big body over hers
for so long, and now here he was. His hard cock nudged her opening.

“Are you ready for me, baby?”

She wrapped her hand around his big cock, now fully erect, and pulled him harder against
her slick flesh. “I am
so
ready.”

He smiled, then drove forward, filling her completely with one thrust. Her passage
stretched around him. She squeezed him, welcoming his hardness inside her. And that
act sent her over the edge again. At her gasp, he drew back and thrust forward again.
Then again. She clung to his shoulders.

“Oh, God, I’m coming again.”

She trembled as he continued driving her pleasure higher and higher.

She wailed, then gasped for air, then wailed again, as he kept pummeling her with
bliss. She sucked in a deep breath and moaned long and hard.

Finally, she collapsed against the bed, catching her breath.

He nuzzled her neck, then rolled beside her. He pulled her tight to his body and she
clung to him, resting her head against his hard chest.

“That was spectacular.” She brushed her cheek against his skin.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, his lips brushing the top of her
head.

“As I said, I don’t know how I stayed away from you for so long.”

*   *   *

Storm held Melanie in his arms, not wanting to let her go. Her slow breathing told
him she’d dozed off.

When he’d arrived and seen Travis pulling down his pants, standing in front of Melanie,
his mind had jumped to the worst conclusion. Melanie had been letting her wild side
free and who knew if she might harbor fantasies of having wild sex with more than
one man. He might have been walking into the beginning of an all-out gang bang.

Jealousy had sliced through him, but he’d kept calm and given Melanie the benefit
of the doubt. When she’d explained, he had believed her. She was clearly telling the
truth.

But he still sensed something more. He knew Travis’ effect on women and he suspected
that Melanie was attracted to the man. She might want to be true to Storm, but if
she had feelings for Travis, even if it was just lust, what would that mean for their
relationship?

*   *   *

As Storm sat at the table eating dinner with everyone, he could barely drag his gaze
from Melanie. Spending time away from the woman had opened his eyes to how much he
cared about her. He’d thought he was in love with Jessica, but he knew he was in love
with Melanie. But could he convince her of that? And now that Melanie was traveling
and embracing her freedom, would she want to settle down with him?

When Melanie finished eating, she smiled at him. “I know you and the guys need to
talk about integrating you back into the show, so I’m going back to the room.”

She stood up and kissed him, a sweet brush of her lips, then squeezed his shoulder.
“I’ll wait up.”

He held her hand. “You sure you don’t want to join us for a drink first?” He was reluctant
to let her go.

She shook her head. “I want to do some sketching, and I know you fellas want to catch
up.” She grinned. “And I’m sure having a female there will just cramp your style.”

She turned and walked away and he couldn’t help watching her delightfully swaying
ass as she headed toward the door.

“She’s a beautiful woman,” Diego said.

Storm rubbed his chin. “Yes, she is.”

“And very talented. You’re a lucky man.”

Storm frowned. “What do you mean, talented?”

At Storm’s harsh expression, Diego shook his head. “Hey, man. All I meant was she’s
quite an artist.”

Storm compressed his lips and nodded. What the hell was wrong with him?

He stared at Diego, who had a raw sexuality women seemed to love. It was one thing
to trust Melanie, and he did, but quite another to get comfortable with other men
noticing her. Wanting her.

“She’s been creating these artist cards with her original artwork on them,” Diego
continued. “They’re for trading, but people at the shows snap them up. I think we
should have her do artwork for posters and album covers for the band.”

“That’s a good idea. I’m sure she’d like to see her work get that kind of attention
and it would be good merchandizing for the band.”

They paid for dinner, then convened in the bar. After their discussions about the
show and how they’d fit Storm back into the tour, they sat back and enjoyed some drinks.
After a few hours, Storm excused himself, anxious to join Melanie in bed.

“Hey, man. I’ll go back with you,” Diego said.

When they got outside, Storm hailed a cab and soon they were back at the hotel. Diego
had obviously had a few too many. He swayed and Storm grabbed his arm to steady him.

“The elevator’s over here, buddy.” Storm pushed the
UP
button and when the doors opened, he steered Diego inside.

“Thanks, man. You’re a good friend.” Diego slumped against the back wall as Storm
pushed the button for their floor, then Diego noticed his reflection in the mirrored
wall beside him and jerked back. “Oh, that’s me.” He leaned closer and stared at himself
in the mirror. “You know, I don’t look so good.”

“Ah, man, you’re not going to hurl, are you?”

“Naw.” He swayed a bit, then his expression turned uncertain. “I don’t think so.”

The doors opened and Storm guided Diego through them.

“You know, I’m so glad you’re back.” Diego threw his arm around Storm’s shoulder.
“We all missed you.”

“I’m glad to be back.”

Diego stopped walking. “I know you are, man. You’re such a good friend.”

“You said that already, but thanks.”

“No, I mean it.” He threw his arms around Storm and gave him a bear hug. “I love you,
man.”

Storm patted his back. “I love you, too.”

Three people walked past them, giving them sidelong glances, as Storm extricated himself
from the hold. He guided Diego forward again.

“Let’s get you back to your room.”

Diego’s room was a couple of doors down from Melanie’s. As they passed her door, Diego
glanced at Storm.

“Aren’t you staying in Melanie’s room?”

“Yeah, I’m just going to get you settled.”

Diego shook his head. “You know, she is so gorgeous and sweet and …
sexy.
I mean, it was hard…” Then he snickered. “I didn’t mean
it
was hard, but … I mean it
was
.” He chuckled. “But I shouldn’t be telling
you
that.”