Page 111 of Twisted Steel

“Your observation skills are impeccable.”

She bites her lower lip to hide a smile.But that does nothing to help the situation.

Raven appears beside us with Milo at her shoulder, both of them wearing expressions that mean trouble has formed a committee.Raven looks at Harper.Then at me.Then at where my hand rests on Harper’s waist.

“Oh, good,” she says.“The sexual tension portion of the evening has arrived.”

Harper closes her eyes.“Why are you like this?”

“Trauma.Good hair.Low tolerance for denial.”She holds up a finger with each point she makes.

Milo nods.“As an emotionally invested bystander, I support this summary.”

I look at him.“Do you want to live?”

“Obviously.That’s why I stand near Harper.”Harper laughs, but it turns into a breath when my thumb strokes once beneath the hem of her shirt.

Raven sees it and her smile turns wicked.

“The garage is empty,” she says.

Harper’s eyes snap to hers.“Raven.”

“What?I’m discussing property availability.”

Milo gasps.“Are we enabling?”

“We’re creating logistical opportunity.”

“I support women in logistics.”

Harper’s cheeks go pink, and I lower my mouth to her ear.“You want to slip away?”

Her fingers curl in my shirt but not enough for anyone else to see.Just enough for me.

“That depends,” she says.

“On?”

“Whether you’re asking nicely.”

Heat hits like a fist.I turn her toward me, blocking her from the yard with my body but not hiding her.Giving her room to look up at me without twenty drunk outlaws watching her face change.

I keep my voice low.“Come with me, Harper.”

Her pupils flare.“Where?”

“The garage.”

“Why?”

I brush my mouth over the shell of her ear.“Because I want to put my hands on you while the party keeps going outside.I want your mouth against my neck so you can try to stay quiet.I want to hear you fail.”

Her breath shudders.

Raven says, “I can still hear you, Steel.”

I don’t look away from Harper.“Then walk away.”