Fierce Fighter: Single Mom Second Chance Romance (Steel Series Book 9)

by Victoria Pinder

  She whispered, “Must be time for the speeches.”

  The guy who’d been next to her during the ceremony was off with his girlfriend. So I took his seat. She gulped her water, but her leg brushed mine as someone spoke about the groom.

  Her legs were a tease. I lifted her knee under the table to put it on my lap. She sat back like she was paying attention, but I needed her. If I let her go, I was half afraid she’d say no again.

  So I inched my fingers up her inner thigh. Her soft sighs told me she liked it. When I teased her hot thighs, she trembled slightly, like I remembered from years ago. That meant she was into it.

  Whoever was speaking had us holding champagne flutes. I let one of her legs go to comply, but my finger curled around her underwear. She let out a gasp as I teased her secret apex, and everyone clapped for the happy couple.

  I needed to pound her hard and now. My finger found the prize I sought, and I said, “I need you.”

  She sighed, then I pleaded with her, “I’m hard and ready for you.”

  She bit on her lower lip like she wanted to stop whatever she might say. I tickled her clit, and she leaned closer to me like that might stop me. Then she said, “I’m yours, if you want.”

  “Let’s go.” I plunged into her once then fixed her skirt under the table.

  She kept her head down, but she took my hand as I led her out of the ballroom. She glanced around like she needed to ensure no one had noticed us. I tucked her in my shoulder to shield her from prying eyes, but I was crazy with need for her.

  Chapter 5

  Vanessa

  The passion in Stone’s strong arms as he’d fondled my womanhood earlier had driven me half wild. I wasn’t a little girl anymore, though I hadn’t had a man since he’d left me years ago. All the lies no longer mattered. For one night, I wanted to remember how he completed me. I couldn’t deny him or myself anymore.

  We were headed up the steps to his room, and I hungered for him, so we didn’t need to speak. As he opened the door to his room, desire coursed through me. I ignored the cravings I’d rekindled with him for a moment and stepped inside.

  My room only had a bed with white sheets and a blue comforter and overlooked the vineyard, but unlike mine, he had a living room area and a balcony.

  Underneath us, the music from the wedding flowed up to the balcony, but I twirled toward him as the door closed behind him. “Your room is nicer than mine.”

  My pulse quickened as he stepped toward me. “I don’t care about the fucking room, Vanessa.”

  Neither did I. Although the view outside was serene and green, I wasn’t there to sight-see. I ached for his kiss and to find out if he would be even better now that he was all muscle and sexier than sin. I fingered my necklace and backed toward the balcony door. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

  Once I started on the path of lies, it was like I couldn’t stop. This wasn’t me. I knew exactly why I’d come upstairs with him. Why am I so crazy when I’m near him? At home, I was the epitome of responsibility.

  Goose bumps grew on my arms as he came toward me like a bullet aimed right at my heart. “You want me the same as I fucking want you.”

  Hell yes. My face was hot, but adrenaline was coursing through me as I finally stopped lying and said, “I do, but I’m in the wedding. People will notice if—”

  “So what?” He claimed my lips in a kiss, and I surrendered. I was his. As his lips nibbled lower to my neck, he said, “No one will care.”

  In his arms, no more arguments came from my lips. I only felt. His muscles pressed to mine, and my heart swelled for him. His large fingers cupped my sides, holding me close. I was his for the night. This was exactly what I wanted, and I tugged his belt and hard body to me. “Just this once. Okay?”

  He pushed me against the balcony door, and fire exploded inside me as he said, “Whatever you say.”

  Who cares if anyone sees us? The question faded when he kissed me, and his lips only ramped up my need for him as he nuzzled my neck. I didn’t care if he left his mark, because I would never forget this moment.

  He was mine, and I was his, tonight. It had been too damn long. As he let me go, I knew my lips were pouty and aching for more. But he cupped the back of my head and rubbed gently. Despite his hands being larger than my scalp, I was safe with him. I knew he wanted me, too, from his every touch, and my hairs stood on end as I waited for more. My reasons for avoiding him faded into nothingness.

  He stared at me, and I lifted my chest for him to remember what we’d just done downstairs where anyone in the ballroom might have seen us. I licked my lips as I nudged him to take me. Then he slid his hand under my leg. My girly parts were already half crazed for him.

  My hand traced his muscular body, past his belt, and brushed against Little Stone. I didn’t remember him being so big, though I was absolutely satisfied in his arms. Clearly his interest in me grew as his cock enlarged, and my heart fluttered.

  The party grew louder, and for a second, I flinched like someone might see us. His bulge pressed against my body, and I knew we were alone.

  Excitement strummed in my veins, and I remembered how his dick made me explode, so I cupped him and went down to take off his belt. I quickly glanced at the door like I heard a noise, but then I pulled his belt off and tugged down his pants.

  Big Stone was sprung and ready for me. I closed my eyes and licked his dick, which I now knew for sure was bigger than ever. My lady bits needed him, but for a moment, I sucked on him and flicked my button, which I tended to ignore.

  He groped at my dress and unzipped me. Half-naked with Stone was hot and delightful. Then he jiggled my breast to get me to glance up. I let him out of my mouth, and he flicked my nipples to get me to stand.

  As I did, he caressed my skin, and a fire grew inside me. He helped me out of my dress, and as he kneaded my breasts and body against the glass doors, he pressed his cock into me. My nether lips squeezed him as he dug deeper.

  Forget fire… I was a volcano ready to explode. As he pumped in and out, I thought I heard someone knock lightly on his door.

  My eyes widened as I whispered to him, “Who’s knocking?”

  He kneaded my pebbles, which were more like raspberries, as his manhood was buried inside me. “I don’t care.”

  I clung to him as the heat inside me erupted.

  He thrusted into my lady bits and said, “Probably the wrong room.”

  My ears listened but nothing else. He nibbled my neck as he pushed deeper into me with that cock of his. My pulse grew faster, and I let out a small scream.

  He ravaged my body, seeking my core, and I was completely his and flexible to his thrusts. Stone turned the apex of my thighs into an inferno. I clawed at his shirt, but as his organ met my flesh, I held him like I needed him to center me.

  A knock was clearer this time. With his privates still inside me, I said, “That’s your room.”

  He grazed my nipples with his tongue, and a moan escaped my lips. “Just be quiet. Maybe they’ll go away.”

  My muscles quivered, and I gyrated. “Don’t stop.”

  He hammered me harder, with more urgency. My eyes rolled backward, and I saw stars. I had to cover my lips while he drove into me.

  A voice echoed in the air as someone jiggled the door. “Stone Steel? Are you in your room?”

  He drilled me like he needed me but said, “It’s Olivia.”

  “Shh,” I said, but I was too far gone. At least it wasn’t another woman in Stone’s life. I bit my lower lip to stay silent, but my center was in the middle of a hurricane.

  My mind went blank, and I was in bliss. I held it together long enough to hear his raw, passionate grunt as he exploded inside me. We climaxed like we’d both waited years for each other.

  Another bang hit the door as I was coming back into my body, and Olivia said, “Stone, the police are downstairs, looking for you. I need you to come and straighten this out.”

  His eyes widened. Why would the police be
here for him? I slipped into my dress and had him zip me up. Then I fixed my hair as he tugged on his pants. No one could see us like this. Never. I’d been a wild animal, but I hid in his bathroom to fix myself as he threw open the door and asked Olivia, “The police?”

  She coughed, and I imagined she was checking out the room, looking for me. I stilled to not make a sound as she said, “Yeah, they think you kidnapped Emily.”

  My hand went to my heart. She’d been downstairs with a guy she’d clearly liked. It seemed fine to leave for a few minutes with no responsibilities, unless, of course, Lana had something to do with it.

  He said, “Crazy. My sister?”

  I stepped out of the bathroom door, staying out of sight, but if he needed me, I would be there.

  Olivia’s voice went higher as she said, “And—”

  Stone’s face was white now. “What?”

  “Lana accused you of abusing her. You’ll need a witness.”

  She was a serious piece of work. He held the door to block me as he said, “Be right down.”

  Olivia hadn’t said anything else, but he waved. Once she closed the door, I asked, “Lana?”

  He raced and grabbed his shoes. “She must want something with my sister. Will you tell them you were with me?”

  I nodded without hesitation. “I won’t let you go to jail, Stone.”

  He let out an audible breath and fixed his second shoe. “I haven’t gone near her, but I’m now worried about my sister.”

  He was a good man, and I was the liar here. I glanced down at my feet and ached to cuddle in his arms. But I could never let what had just happened happen again. I checked my necklace and said, “I’ll help you. But I’d prefer no one know what just happened.”

  He squeezed my butt as he headed out. “You’re still the hottest piece of ass I’ve ever touched, Vanessa.”

  If I couldn’t tell him about Rocky before we’d slept together, I certainly couldn’t now. He would compare me to Lana. I kissed his cheek for the last time we’d ever be together like this. “I shouldn’t like your dirty mouth so damn much.”

  “Yes, you fucking should.” He held the door for me. No one was in the hallway. “If you dumped your boyfriend and came back to me, you’d spend your days figuring out if you might ever walk straight again from me taking you.”

  “You’re so bad,” I said, but my gut twisted.

  Hopefully, his sister was fine. I would do everything I could to help him. He’d been the only man for me ever, and that hadn’t changed. Soon, though, I would fly home and be a boring mom again who never had sex and had no right to love.

  Chapter 6

  Vanessa

  Emily had resurfaced at the party. She’d been off with her new boyfriend again. Stone had settled into silence as a family lawyer spoke for him. Then finally, the police left us alone. I hoped this was the end of all things Lana and that he and Emily might live their lives without manipulation. The day my mother made her announcement—because I’d gotten pregnant—and my father stormed out of the home had left me broken. But that actually paled in comparison to Stone’s life.

  Lana had kicked Stone out after his father’s funeral and called the cops to move him so he would never see his sister again. Now that had been shocking. As it turned out, his stepmother had stolen his inheritance and the money his father’s will had intended to pay for his college. I remembered going home with him from the funeral, and on that fateful day, he’d demanded to see the will because he couldn’t believe his father had disinherited him. Maybe I should have helped him then, but I didn’t know how or who to talk to.

  Officers uncuffed him and mumbled apologies to him, but adrenaline rushed in my veins. I rushed to be with Stone, though I knew he would want to hug his sister now that he was free of handcuffs.

  Six years later, Lana was still lying. She’d called the police and fingered Stone so she could abscond with his little sister, Emily. My drama with my father was nothing like this, but at least Stone was cleared. Our fingers curled together, and he thanked the wedding guest who’d happened to be a lawyer and was willing to help him.

  Clearly, these events proved that sex had been a bad idea. Horrible things happened to him when he was near me. I’d ruined everything, though, so I considered coming clean and facing the consequences.

  We waited for the people around us to deescalate. So I held my breath and didn’t move, but his nearness caused my hair to stand on end. For years, I’d known he hated lies and liars, and I embodied both now. To protect our son, Rocky, I’d taken a job rather than following my passions.

  Today, I’d followed those passions. Now my gut was twisted, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. It was clear to me now that I cared about Stone—always had and probably always would.

  Finally, the music restarted in the ballroom, and Stone was no longer the center of attention at his cousin’s wedding. The DJ played up the bride and groom. Good.

  He held my hand so we could make an escape, but as we neared the door, I made up my mind. It was time to come clean and hope we could be friends. He needed to know there was never another man for me. I let him believe that because I’d been talking about our son; now that that was an excuse.

  All the reasons I had for keeping our son a secret kept getting proven wrong. Rocky would want his father, and Stone’s life was intense and successful. However, as we neared the door, two teenage boys pressed on Stone’s shoulder and told him his sister was gone.

  I seriously had just seen her talking to the police about her brother. I stilled, wishing I could hold him. His eyes grew larger as he said, “She just said goodbye. I thought she was going to find you now that you’re free.” Then his gaze scanned the room. “Oh god, I hope she didn’t go back to Lana to set me free.” He was right. Lana was gone too. “Lana stands to lose millions if Emily leaves before she goes to college, but I would never think she’d stoop to getting me arrested so Emily would return to her.”

  One of the boys must have been Emily’s boyfriend, but I pressed my lips together rather than asking.

  One of the boys said, “She didn’t come to me. I told her I’d come right back. I needed to see my parents, and then when I came back, she was nowhere.”

  Now I had my answer. The dark-haired one was cute. Emily clearly liked the preppy type, though I absolutely preferred Stone’s raw masculinity.

  The second boy said, “I have an idea. Coco will tell us what she knows. She’s in my room.”

  I let out a small chuckle. Coco was technically Stone’s stepsister too, as she was Lana’s youngest daughter. She seemed closer to Emily, though, which was great. Teenagers thought they were the center of the world. Stone held me close and said, “This is Vanessa. She helped me find Emily before.”

  One of the boys asked, “You trust her?”

  I raised my eyebrows and glanced at Stone. Did lies somehow make me cast shadows on my personality? I didn’t even know them, but then the other boy said, “She was the one that gave us the will. Lana’s missing. So is Emily.”

  Will? So Stone’s knowledge about Lana’s lies years ago was still fresh.

  Stone turned, and his dark eyes were magnets to my soul. “I need to find my sister.”

  I squeezed his palm and motioned for us to leave the ballroom. “I want to help.”

  We followed the teenagers as they retrieved the girl, but we stayed back to let them talk. “Aren’t you afraid your fiancé will find out about us?” Stone asked me.

  Fuck. My chest became hollow. “The truth needs to be said sooner or later, and, Stone, I want us to be friends.”

  The boys joined us, along with the girl, and we turned to head out without really interacting. Stone must have been worried, though. His sister had taken off with the one woman who had really ruined his life—and, in a way, mine too—but he only said, “We’ll talk about it later, but I could use you in my life right now.”

  Good. Once I told him about Rocky and he dealt with being red hot mad at me where
he’d never forgive me, maybe we could forge a simpler friendship where our son might know his father.

  As we stepped outside, Stone directed the group to the cars, and I asked, “So what’s the plan?”

  “I’m getting the limo, as it might take minutes for one to circle.”

  Right. We hopped into one, along with all the teenagers, and once the driver knew our intention, I settled in the seat where my body touched Stone’s. Pins and needles of desire rushed through me as I remembered what I’d let happen earlier, but I took one of the water bottles and gulped. Once I was sure I could sound half normal, I said, “That has to be strange for you.”

  His face had a tic, but he said, “Lana kept Emily under lock and key from me for years, and I worried about her every night in that house. I’m glad Emily had a friend in that house.”

  The young girl brightened and showed us an app on her phone. Lana was clearly already inside the airport, past security, and likely at a gate.

  He gave it back as the limo drove past the airport sign. As he settled beside me, I bumped into his shoulder and said, “I’m sure Lana said something to Emily and made her think something untrue.”

  “I don’t believe she’d ever go back there willingly. She lost everything.”

  “So had you, and she still found a new way to hurt you.”

  “She can’t.” He kissed my hand. “Losing you hurt almost as much as losing Emily and my dad.”

  My heart melted a little. I swallowed and whispered, “You had your sister back, and soon, she’ll be safe with you again.”

  He met my gaze as we drove to the gates. “But not you.”

  “We’re friends,” I said.

  The limo stopped, and the boys all seemed eager as he whispered, “It’s not enough.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” I squawked out, though my adrenaline raced.

  With teenagers around us, the subject changed. We quickly formulated a plan where Jesse, Emily’s boyfriend, got a ticket and ran to the gate, as he had TSA pre-check. Stone agreed and took out his phone to get them tickets back to Pittsburgh on the next flight he could. Jesse jumped out, and Stone talked to his family. He texted with lightning speed, but I saw something about a private jet. The three teenagers were like point guards in the terminal right now, but I said as they returned, “Here they come.”