The Way to Steel

PAXTON

I snorted, lowering my phone. Torturing Mom was one of my favorite pastimes. It didn’t hurt that I was positively tanked.

I turned to consider my mysterious savior...this Connor Steel. His sculpted, tat-covered arms, driving my car. His hooded black eyes, reflecting the lights of the road ahead. His jaw, clenched with severity.

I knew we’d just met, and maybe it was the liquor talking…

But, Lord, did I long to know him better. In more ways than one.

“So, Connor Steel,” I said. “You never answered my question.”

“Who I am? That one you mean?”

“Ex-exactly,” I hiccuped.

“Well, Paxton Bradbury, I own the garage down on Govern Drive. Which actually means I’m the only guy in town that can service your car.”

“Mechanic, huh?”

I noticed two bikes roaring behind us.

Remembering his two friends, I asked, “And why are they, those, uh, bikes following us?”

I found the words slipping from my mouth. Was it getting harder to talk, or was it just me? Not that it mattered.

It wasn’t like Connor Steel was treating me any different. I appreciated that. Nothing was worse than someone talking down to you when you were drunk.

That always made me lose my shit.

But Connor was patient, nodding into his rearview.

“Those are my friends. They’re following us until we drop you off safely. Then I’ll head home on my bike.”

I smiled, lifting an eyebrow. A biker. Nothing like a bit of danger.

“You ride?”

“Or die. Better believe it.”

He winked, and I practically melted on the spot.

Jesus, was this the whiskey? Or was this man really as hot as he looked?

But as I looked back out at the road...everything seemed darker. Maybe there just weren’t as many lights out here in the country. Or maybe I was...just getting...tired. So tired.

If I were to rest my head...just for a second…

CONNOR

“You still with me?”

I gently shook her shoulder to check, and she just slumped to the side. Yup, passed the fuck out. Well, that was all right. I was gonna make sure she got home safe and sound. No problem.

I chuckled a little bit, imagining how her father was going to react.

The sheriff.

The man already hated my guts. But this?

Showing up at his doorstep with his passed-out-drunk daughter in my arms?

This was really gonna make me public enemy number-fucking-one.

As a streetlight illuminated Paxton, I couldn’t help but gaze at her. On the one hand, she looked so innocent while she slept.

But on the other...that body. Those long luscious legs hanging out the open window. That chest rising and falling with each breath.

Making me hungry. A shame she’d had to drink so much. We could’ve had a fun night.

Maybe next time.

Finally, we pulled into the driveway of the old country house, and sure enough, there he was, the pompous ass, waiting. I’d never seen the sheriff on his home turf.

He was wearing his sidearm over elephant print pajamas.

Does he really sleep in the fucking thing?

When he saw the two bikes behind Paxton’s car, I saw his expression go from shock to boiling rage. The man hated bikers more than Catholics. And that was saying something.

“Stop that car!” he barked, pulling his Glock.

“I’d put that damn thing down if I were you,” I shouted back. “Precious cargo, understand?”

I saw the message compute, and he holstered the gun, still staring with murder in his eyes. I parked, got out of the car, and pulled his daughter out of the passenger seat. She lay comatose in my arms, her head flopping back, her body limp.

“What did you do to my daughter, Steel?” Sheriff Bradbury hissed.

“Saved her damn life, that’s what.”

Holding her tight, I walked up to the front door.

“I may have been locked up, Sheriff, but I’m not an asshole. She was too drunk to drive. She could have killed someone or herself.”

I handed her over, and I saw his eyes reeling. He didn’t want to say it, but he’d be a dick not to.

“Thank you,” he managed through clenched teeth.

“Anytime, Sheriff. I may be responsible for fucking my own life up, but if I can save someone, you better believe I will.”

He nodded, about to step inside, and a wicked idea crossed my mind.

“Oh yeah, and, Sheriff?” I asked.

“What?”

“When she wakes up, tell her...next time.”

With that, I turned on my heels and walked back to my bike. Patch disembarked and joined Trixie.

I could feel the sheriff’s eyes boring into my back. I knew he was going crazy, wondering what the hell “next time” meant.

Sure, I was a cruel bastard. But, after the way this pious sonofabitch had treated me, he deserved it.

We got on our bikes and left the property.

And I wondered if the girl...if Paxton-Rose Bradbury would even remember me...

Paxton

My throat.

It was so dry it felt like someone must’ve poured sand down my throat while I was sleeping. No, I could thank the liquor for that.

I groaned, blinking open my eyes, asking myself what the hell I did last night. Last thing I remembered was shot after shot at Ollie’s. Then…

But before I could continue to probe my murky memory, a very distinct, pungent smell of heaven drifted past my nose…

Coffee. Thank fuck.

I dragged my feet to the dresser and threw on some sunglasses.

God, mornings are the worst…

Shuffling down the stairs into my parents’ kitchen, I swore it felt like there were bulls running continuous circles in my head.

This was the hangover of the century.

“Here, baby.” Mom handed me some pain meds and water.

“Thanks,” I croaked out. I downed the water and pills then went to the coffee pot to get myself a cup. Then I heard a less pleasant voice from the doorway.

“You were passed out drunk in the arms of a criminal!” my father snapped.

“Do we have to do this now?” I groaned. “I’m not feeling too great at the moment.”

“He’s an ex-convict, Paxton-Rose. An ex-con at my house. How do you know Connor Steel?”

“Who?”

“And what does ‘next time’ mean? That was his message for you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. He and his motorcycle cronies drove you home while you were out cold… You brought a convicted felon onto my property!”

“Careful, Dad, can’t have the public hear you losing your temper.”

“I’ve had enough of your attitude. You can’t just roll up here after all these years and expect us to bend over backwards for you.”

“You won’t bend over backwards for me, but you were more than happy bending that slut over and shoving your dick in her!”

I screamed it out before I could help myself. Then I stormed off upstairs.

I hated him.

I hated him for ruining us.

I hated that I was the one who walked in as he was cumming in her. I could never erase that image from my head.

I hated that I blamed him for destroying my trust in all men, for being the reason I picked the wrong men to this day.

Suddenly, I felt an unmistakable, sour lump in my throat.

I was going to puke my guts up.

I ran into the bathroom and let it all go into the toilet. The smell of vomit and whiskey permeated the air, and it kept coming up until all I could do was dry heave.

I spent the rest of the day in my childhood bedroom with the door locked.

Mom tried to talk to me, but under no circumstances was I allowing her in. I only snuck into the bathroom to drink water from the faucet when I was sure she was downstairs.

After I’d slept off my hangover on and off throughout the day, a particular character returned to my memory bank, a rather handsome stranger who I presumed was the elusive Connor Steel my father was so fired up about.

I remember saying his name to commit it to memory.

Connor Steel. I wonder what you’re up to now, Mr. No-Good-Criminal?

I lowered my phone, looking out the window at our sprawling property on the edge of town. The place used to be a Highway Inn. Now? It was the official clubhouse for the Red Riders motorcycle club.

I knew what people would be thinking. Thugs. Criminals. What’d Sheriff Bradbury always call us? That’s right.

Filth.

Sure, we dabbled in illegal shit from time to time, but most of our profits came from legitimate business.

Now, especially, I felt I had to be careful. I wasn’t ever going back to prison. That didn’t stop the sheriff from trying to pin shit on me, though.

How had this all started? It was a long story. Let’s just say we had an accountant who cheated us and fixed the books. Of all the things to get busted for?

Fucking tax evasion.

Needless to say, that accountant didn’t make it to his next birthday.

Yeah, I looked scary with my bulky build and tats. I was intimidating, and thankful for it. Otherwise, I would have ended up someone’s bitch in lockup.

But it was my dark hair and black-as-night eyes that sent the men pissing their pants and the girls creaming.

But in that moment, I knew the only girl I was interested in making cum anytime soon.

In the ten months since I’d been out of prison, not to mention the seven years I was in, I hadn’t been laid. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had the opportunity, but it honestly just hadn’t felt right.

The old me used to fuck anything with a short skirt and tight ass that moved, but since getting out, I’d wanted something more. I was done with the one-night stands.

In all the time I was behind bars, not a single one of those bitches from before came to see me.

Made me realize I wanted something more meaningful. A real relationship with someone who cared about me just as much as I cared about them.

I stripped my clothes and stepped into the shower. I stood naked, water cascading down my body, gripping my thick girth, imagining my hand was hers. Imagining she was in the shower with me right now.

Begging for it.

Paxton.

I could almost hear her voice right now.

“I want you inside me, Connor Steel.”

I began stroking my hand up and down my hard dick, thumb gliding over the tip, conjuring images of taking Paxton from behind.

That soft but firm ass slapping as I slipped in and out of her.

Tight.

Moaning.

Soaked.

I jerked harder, imagining her screaming now. Slamming inside her. My release building.

Even the imaginary Paxton was pushing me over the edge.

I could see her moaning with uncontrolled pleasure, about to climax right then and there.

“Ooooohhhhhh,” I howled.

Sweet release.

I shot my cum onto the shower floor.

What a waste. To think, I could’ve done that in real life inside her. Fuck me, I would do just about anything to take her now.

I swore then and there I’d do whatever I needed to make that happen.