He was a guy, no way he’d say no to me.
Just then he and his client came to the front. Dare handed me the invoice and I checked the guy out, a simple system. We stood in silence, staring out the front windows.
Just say it, Lila.
“You know we talked about going to—”
“I wanted to say th—”
We both spoke at the same time. “You go.” I pointed at him.
“Thanks for the help this morning, you kept a cool head and helped us out, a lot.” Dare ran fingers through his hair, not looking at me.
“Anytime. Practice makes perfect, I guess.” I remembered all the times I’d had to work through my pain to figure out how to survive or to get the help I needed. Eventually, freaking out, even tears, were luxuries I couldn’t afford.
He frowned at me. “Yeah, seems you might know something about—”
“Don’t go there.” I held up a hand. “Unless you want to dredge up your past too.”
He clamped his mouth shut. “Anyway, thanks, you didn’t have to take care of her, help her, and I appreciate it.” He leaned on the counter facing me. “What did you want?”
So many ways to say it, but now that the moment was here, I blanked. “You. I want you.” What else was there to say, after all?
“You want to fuck me?” He drew me into his arms.
“It would be just a sex thing?”
He cupped my chin. “It’s all I do. Don’t mistake this for a relationship.”
“I don’t want a relationship either.”
He started to smile but I held up my hand.
“Fair warning. Guys always say that to me, and then we end up all tangled together physically, emotionally—it’s never stopped with the casual.” Men made me stupid, but I never recognized the changes. Each choice was an incremental step underground until one day I’d be buried and clawing my way out.
The guys I attracted needed more and more of me. They’d push me out until only what they created remained. And then the trouble started, because I couldn’t be what they’d created for long. My old self resurfaced, cuing the angry rollercoaster ride—sometimes they’d belittle me, sometimes they’d punish me. The real me was never enough.
Chapter Six: Dare
When she’d said she wanted me, I lost track of the conversation. My cock hardened and I barely restrained myself—I wanted her now. Here. I’d waited a damn eternity. Now she said some shit about it not being a casual thing, so I concentrated on her words.
“Are you playing me?” I didn’t understand her, she wanted what I wanted, but warned me that never happens. Just when I thought she wasn’t another player.
She flinched and tried to pull out of my hold, but I wasn’t letting her go now that she’d said yes.
“How many?” I grunted.
“What?” Confusion played across her face.
“How often is always?” I worked to keep my voice even, though I was tempted to yell.
Lord help her if she tries to play me.
She help up three shaky fingers.
Did that mean she’d only had three lovers? If so, I should leave her alone, no way she was in any of our league. But even if it was true, I couldn’t walk away. Not from the girl who’d said the words I’d longed to hear for weeks. I want you.
I smoothed her hair behind her ear. “Three is hardly always, Red.”
“If you say so.” She exhaled the breath she’d held.
No more words.
I kissed her, claiming her mouth, and that was only the beginning of what I’d take tonight. She brought her hands to my face, so soft against my cheeks. The need banking all this time flared inside me. I wanted to bury myself inside her and make her scream my name.
Breaking our kiss, she dropped to her knees, unfastening my jeans and freeing my cock in seconds. When she licked the tip of my cock and flicked my apa piercing, I thought I’d come on the spot. Moaning, I dug my fingers through her curls.
I’d planned to be the one who rocked her world, but this way worked, real well. Not that it would last long, I’d wanted her too much for too long. I tried to hold back, but when she swallowed me to the root, I forgot everything.
The buildup felt like a freight train on a fast track ready to blow through me—knees tightening and pushing up my thighs.
“Coming,” I struggled to say. “Like that. Fast and hard. Don’t stop.”
She squeezed my tight balls, tracing the path back. I jerked and came hard, not only did she swallow, but she continued sucking. Sexual satisfaction consumed me. No one had done that before, it was fucking perfect. The tension and pressure from today slipped away with the soft caress of her mouth.