Riding Steele #1 (5 page)

His gaze shifted to the glint of diamonds around her neck.

“True. But I think the necklace trumps the dress.”

Her hand flew to her neck. “Damn.” She reached around behind her neck, but her towel slipped and she grabbed it.

Clearly, she wanted the choker off.

“Here, let me.” He walked behind her and stroked her hair to the side, then worked at the catch on the diamond necklace.

*  *  *

The feel of his warm fingers brushing against her skin as he unfastened the choker sent shivers down Laurie's spine. His touch was gentle and somehow reassuring.

The necklace dropped away from her neck and she drew in a deep breath. It was like finally being free of Donovan.

Steele slid the necklace from her skin, then walked in front of her again. Then he held the very expensive necklace out to her. She took the delicate piece from his big fingers, not quite sure what to do with it. She wanted to throw it out the window, to totally reject the unwanted reminder of Donovan, but she couldn't do that.

The fact that Steele gave her back the expensive piece of jewelry reassured her somehow. If he wanted money, that thing was probably worth a lot. Of course, the gesture was just symbolic, because as long as he held her captive he could take it from her at any time. He could just be giving her a false sense of security.

But her gut said otherwise.

“I put a change of clothes on the bed for you. Hopefully, more to your liking.”

She walked toward the bed where a T-shirt and jeans sat neatly folded. She picked up the black shirt and glanced at it. It was adorned with hearts and skulls and a smattering of glitter, and was far too small to fit either of the big biker's broad chests.

“Where did you get women's clothes?” she asked.

“Those are Raven's. She rides with us. I thought you'd like a change of clothes and she was happy to help.”

“Oh, well, please tell her thank you.”

He nodded. “I'm going downstairs. Join us when you're dressed.”

She watched him cross the room and go out the door. As soon as the door closed behind him, she dropped the towel and tugged the shirt over her head. Then she pulled on the jeans. They were well worn, with shredded bare spots on the legs, and were a little loose around the waist, but there was a studded, black leather belt on the bed, so she pulled that through the loops and tightened it.

She glanced in the mirror at herself. Add black leather wristbands and a leather jacket and she'd pass for a biker chick.

This Raven woman
was
a biker chick, which meant she was one of the gang. Any hopes of gaining her sympathies and maybe talking her into helping Laurie escape evaporated.

She sat on the bed and wondered what to do next. If she just stayed up here, Steele was bound to come and get her. Maybe at that point his patient manner would change, just like Donovan's charming manner had changed when he became annoyed with her. She didn't want to chance it.

Anyway, she could use a cup of coffee, and she was getting hungry.

She walked to the door and grasped the heavy black doorknob, then turned it, her heart thumping loudly. She peered out the door and saw no one in the long, wide hallway. She slipped from the room and closed the door, then walked along the hardwood toward the stairs. She could hear masculine voices talking downstairs.

“There you are,” an unfamiliar male voice said behind her, then strong arms wrapped around her waist and she sucked in a breath as she was tugged through a doorway and spun around.

Also by Opal Carew

Bliss

Forbidden Heat

Secret Ties

Six

Blush

Swing

Twin Fantasies

Pleasure Bound

Total Abandon

Secret Weapon

Insatiable

Illicit

His to Command

His to Possess

His to Claim

Opal Carew is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of fifteen previous erotic romances for St. Martin's Press. To learn more, visit her on the Web at
www.opalcarew.com
.

RIDING STEELE
Get ready for the ride of your life.

Don't miss any of the installments in this sexy serial!