Page 16

Piper

The bike started to skid sideways just as a rickety old shack came into sight on the right side of the highway and I felt Beast tense.

This couldn’t be good. Beast was my rock, and rocks didn’t scare easily.

I tightened my grip around his waist and sent up a silent prayer to whatever gods were listening. Up to now, we’d always headed for shelter if the weather looked threatening. This was my first time on a bike in a storm.

Focus on the little things you can control .

The one thing I’d learned on that cross-country trip on the back of Beast’s motorcycle was that my body needed to follow his at all times.

If he leaned right, I leaned right. Whatever he did, I imitated it exactly.

Balance is key, he’d told me, when you only have two wheels under you.

Made sense. I took a deep breath, trying to ignore my gut feeling, and focused on his body language.

Beast turned the handlebars and leaned right, steering in the direction of the skid.

At the same time, he shifted his weight back.

The bike moved sluggishly, and I tried to squelch down a growing twinge of alarm.

Moments later, the bike wobbled slightly as the rear wheel regained traction and the bike stopped its sideways slide.

The butterflies in my belly settled back into place. Of course Beast managed to regain control. Why had I doubted him? He’d probably done this a hundred times.

The bike slowed, and we turned onto the weed-covered path leading to the cabin.

Beast circled the structure completely before bringing the bike to a stop at the back of the building.

I wasn’t sure if he was checking to make sure it was safe or just trying to find the dryest spot to park.

If he was looking for a dry spot, he was wasting his time.

The torrential downpour showed no signs of easing up.

He pulled up as close to the building as he could get, and I slithered off the back of the bike. Not bothering to take my helmet off, I bolted for the door. Beast grabbed the saddlebags and followed hot on my heels.

I squelched down an insane urge to giggle.

I knew it was caused by nerves but that didn’t make it any easier.

We made it. We were safe. And bonus, as derelict as the cabin appeared from the outside, the roof didn’t leak, and I didn’t see any signs of rodents or insects scurrying around.

The powers that be were feeling generous for a change.

I dropped the helmet on the shelf beside the door and shrugged out of my jacket and chaps, grateful for the water shedding ability of leather.

My backside was a little damp but considering the monsoon rains we’d come through that was hardly worth noting.

Tossing his helmet beside mine, Beast strode to the table on the far side of the room and lit the candle sitting on it with the matches someone had left handily beside it.

He cast me a sideways look. “That got a little rough at the end. You okay?”

I nodded, running my fingers through my hair. “Yeah. It wasn’t so bad.”

“At least there’s one good thing.” He grinned.

“And that is?”

“We can be fairly sure Drake had nothing to do with this.”

“True.” I gave him a rueful smile. “But I can blame him anyway, right? I’ve kind of got into the habit of blaming him for anything that goes wrong in my life.”

Beast took off his chaps and cut, hanging them over the back of a wooden chair to dry out. “You’re a fierce little wench, aren’t you? Who would have thought a pint-sized singer could hold such a mean grudge?”

I bowed mockingly. “That’s me. Small but fierce. He did try to have me killed so I think I’m justified. You might want to keep that in mind if you ever cross me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He moved to the kitchen counter and looked at an old-fashioned metal coffee maker, the kind you set on a stove. Ground coffee, sugar, and powdered creamer were neatly stowed in glass jars beside it. “Looks like whoever was here last left us some supplies.”

“A stovetop coffee maker? Do you know how to use that thing?” I remembered the type well from all the times Mom hadn’t paid the power bill.

“Yeah. Not my first time here. It’s kind of a community shelter for whoever is passing by and needs to stop.

Unwritten rule is you leave it stocked for the next guy.

It doesn’t always work out, but it’s nice when it does.

Should be one of those green camp stove things in the cupboard, and hopefully some fuel for it. ”

He reached over and turned the tap. A trickle of orangish colored water splashed down into the sink.

I wrinkled my nose. “I think I’ll pass on the coffee. That looks nasty.”

“Good thing we still have a couple bottles of water left from our picnic. You want coffee, I can make it happen.”

“No, but thanks.” He really could be sweet despite his name.

“Hard to say how long we’re going to be stuck here.” He glanced over at one of the windows. “I’d better check in with Ace.” He pulled out his phone, holding it up and walking around the room.

“No signal?”

“Nope. Don’t read anything scary into it. These storms tend to interfere with cell phone signals.”

“If this were a spy movie, there would be a guy outside with a hi-tech device blocking the signal so no one would know we were being butchered,” I pointed out.

“And if this were a tropical storm in the southern states, there would be a lot of weather blocking the satellite signals. Possibly a tree or two down over the lines to kill the power, although that really isn’t an issue here.

No power to kill.” He put the cell phone back in his pocket.

“Come hold the door for me while I bring the bike inside out of the weather.”

“You’re bringing the bike inside the cabin?”

He nodded. “Damn straight. It’s our transportation and it’ll be a whole lot safer inside than being blown around in that wind, not to mention wet electronics and very wet seats.”

“Good point.” My hand went to the damp material on my ass as I followed him to the door.

I tried to hide behind it from the pelting rain as I held it wide open for him to wheel the bike inside.

Even having the door open for that brief period of time caused a big puddle to gather inside the doorway.

I hunted through the kitchen cupboards and came up with a pile of rags to help dry things up.

When we were done, the bike was safely parked against the wall where we wouldn’t be tripping over it.

He walked over to the fireplace. Crouching down, he peered up the chimney.

I frowned. “What are you looking for?”

“Just checking nothing’s taken up residence in the chimney before I light a fire.

Birds. Squirrels. Badgers. That sort of thing.

” Apparently satisfied, he proceeded to build a fire with the paper and wood stacked neatly against the wall.

When the flames were crackling cheerfully, he turned with a big grin on his face.

“Pretty good for someone who’s not a boy scout, huh? ”

I laughed. “Yeah. I’m impressed.” The damp chill was already disappearing. I guess it didn’t take long to warm up a small open space like this.

“So now what?” I placed one of the chairs in front of the fireplace and hung the rags over the back to dry off.

“We find some way to kill time until the storm passes.” He shrugged. “These things usually blow themselves out in an hour or so.”

“We could play spy.” I batted my lashes at him. He’d taken off his wet shirt after bringing the bike in, and all that bare skin and muscle caused naughty thoughts to flood my brain.

He cocked his head. “Never been much of one for games. I can think of better ways to kill time.”

“You’ll like this game, I promise.” I smirked. “You’re the enemy general, and I’m the sexy spy. It’s my job to get you to tell me your super-secret plans.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

I dropped to my knees in front of him. “Guess.”

Reaching up, I held his gaze as I undid his pants. His cock was already hardening as I slid my hand down its length. Beast pushed his pants down further, and I cupped his balls, squeezing gently.

“Going to have to try harder if you want those plans.” He leaned back against the table.

“By the time I’m done, you’re going to be begging me to take them.” I swirled my tongue across the head of his cock.

Beast let out a low groan. “We’ll see.”

I took that as a challenge, opening my mouth and taking him in. Gods, he was magnificent. His shaft, fully engorged, was long and thick. I sucked enthusiastically, my cheeks hollowing. Running my tongue down his hard length, I could feel the thick vein on the side throbbing.

“That feels so fucking good.” He reached down to fist his hands in my hair.

I angled my head to take the last few inches. His cock bumped the back of my throat, and I fought down a gag reflex. Beast threw his head back, eyes closed tight as he fucked my mouth.

I loved the feeling of control, of being able to give him what he wanted on my own terms. With Beast, there weren’t any power games. We were both here because we wanted to be, and as much as that scared me, I realized I was okay with it.

“Piper…”

“Mmm?” It’s hard to talk with a massive cock in your mouth.

“If you don’t stop, I’m going to come in your mouth.”

“Mmmm?” I failed to see the problem.

He tugged gently on my hair. “I want to be inside you when I come.”

Technically, he was inside me now, but I knew what he meant. I let his cock slide out of my mouth and lifted my head to see him staring down at me, his eyes sparkling with lust. “Oh.” I was almost back on my feet when he scooped me up and tossed me on the bed in the corner of the room.

“Hey!” I sat up and glared at him. “I’m still dressed.”