Page 8 of Echoes of Desire
Steel smirks faintly. “Had to see what she’s made of.”
“And?”
“And she didn’t disappoint,” he says simply.
That’s high praise coming from my brother. Steel doesn’t waste words, and he doesn’t hand out compliments lightly. Not even to Knox and Del, and those are his two favorite people in the world.
Apart from me and our future person, of course.
I push off the wall, pacing a few steps before turning back to him. “So, what do you think? Is she the one we’ve been waiting for?”
Steel’s eyes narrow slightly, his gaze distant as if he’s weighing every interaction from the evening. “Too soon to tell. But she’s got potential.”
“Potential,” I echo with a grin. “You’re practically giddy with excitement, brother.”
He gives me a flat look, but I can see the flicker of amusement behind it.
“You were testing her tonight,” I say, crossing my arms again. “Subtle, sure, but I saw what you were doing. Hell, I did it too.”
Steel doesn’t deny it. “And you saw what I saw. She’s a natural submissive, whether she knows it or not. The way she deferred to us, the way she sought reassurance even when she didn’t realize it... It’s instinctive for her.”
“Instinctive,” I agree, nodding slowly. “But does that mean she’s ready for us?”
Steel’s lips press into a thin line, his gaze sharpening. “No. Not yet. She doesn’t even know what she’s walking into.”
“That’s never stopped us before,” I say with a smirk.
Steel’s expression softens just a little. “This one’s different, Blaze. You know that as well as I do.”
He’s right. I feel it, too. That pull, that sense that Raven is more than just another man or woman crossing our path.
“So, what’s the next move?” I ask.
Steel glances in the direction Raven disappeared, his voice steady and deliberate. “We wait. She’ll reach out. When she does, we take things slow. No pressure, no games. She has to come to us willingly.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Slow isn’t exactly our style.”
“It is now,” he says firmly.
I can’t help but grin. “You’re really invested in this one, aren’t you?”
Steel doesn’t answer right away, but when he does, his voice is softer, almost contemplative. “She’s worth it.”
I let his words hang in the air for a moment, then clap him on the shoulder. “Alright, brother. Slow it is. But don’t forget,” I tap my chest twice. “We’re in this together. If she’s worth it for you, she’s worth it for me, too.”
Steel nods, his gaze meeting mine before repeating my action and tapping his chest twice. “Together.”
I nod. “We should really warn her about what she’s walking into, though.”
“Why?” Steel asks as we make our way into Oasis.
“Steel, we’re part of a motorcycle club. We own a BDSM club and spend most of our time surrounded by naked men and women writhing in pleasure-pain,” I remind him. “Oh, and let’s not forget the part where we have this craving of watching a person submit to our every ministration. Inside the club and out.”
Turning right to head to the Little’s room, I add, “I feel like I’m forgetting something. Oh, there are two of us, and we plan to share her. How many subs do you know that can handle two doms?”
“Most of them think they can, but when reality hits, they realize they’re not as submissive as they thought,” Taylor, one of our brothers and the club’s lead security man says as he steps out of the Little’s room. “Got a message from your check-in lady. Your interview appointment has been canceled. Something about not wanting to be around naked men all the time. Anyway, what’s going on? Did you two find a plaything?”
“Damnit,” Steel curses. “I’m going to have to cover the bar tonight.”