Damn, the rules are tricky, and I’m a total chicken.
Stewing over the party, my mood darkened throughout the day. Zayn came up front for our normal chat. I tried. He gave me a strange look before he headed out less than five minutes later.
Shit. I worked hard to avoid bad moods but today, my funk refused to be banished. Taking my anger out on the glass, I buffed it with fast, furious circles; maybe I needed to work off my attitude.
I screeched when Dare’s arms circled my waist.
“Red, you okay?” He laughed in my ear.
I searched for a mood not black and came up empty. “Yeah. I’m kind of stressed about the party tomorrow.”
He flipped me so fast my ponytail whipped into my face.
“Why?” A frown marred his forehead.
Now I’d done it.
“MJ said she wanted help cooking. Do I bring something? And what time are we getting there? Or should I go early and help get ready?”
His crooked smile sent flutters through my middle, and the first bubbles of happiness popped inside me. “You arrive on the back of my bike. If you need to bring shit, Zayn will stop by and get it. I’ll have MJ call you, stat.”
Relief seeped through me, he hadn’t thought my questions silly, and my dour mood evaporated with his kiss. He had my back, even if he hadn’t been very specific. It was enough.
I tilted my head up to kiss him and stopped. Now he had the shadow of worry hooding his eyes. I raised my hand to cup his chin. “Baby, don’t make me erase the frown with my mouth.”
And his fuck-me look was there with his hand clenching my ass to pull me close. “Your place, now.”
Chapter Ten: Lila
I didn’t hesitate, leading him upstairs. Inside the door, he flipped me and braced me against the wall. His hands squeezed my breasts, and his cock ground into my jeans-clad ass.
“How long until my next appointment?” He spoke into my ear, tickling it.
“Two hours.” I gasped. “But I didn’t tell Zayn I was leaving.”
“Naked, your bedroom, now.” He took his phone out and spoke a couple sentences to Zayn, I guessed.
I hurried to the bedroom before I shimmied out of my jeans and panties, and pushed my ass back toward him.
I heard him join me in the room. “Baby, you have a fine ass.” He caressed said ass. “We need to talk about your ass.”
I turned to him, unease skittering through my middle. “What?”
He shoved hands roughly through his hair. “I’m an ass man, Red, not that tits should be ignored.” He tucked the hair behind my ear with the trace of a smile. “I dream of my cock in your ass.” His voice scraped. “Eventually, ropes and ass, and then...”
He was swirling fire, blue and hot and I wanted to touch the flame, but did I dare? I didn’t know if I was brave enough.
“Oh.” I gulped, trying to gather my thoughts. I stepped away from him, needing distance, some room to think.
“It has to be right for both of us. Don’t agree unless you mean it.” Passion still burned but was restrained now.
“I didn’t say no.” I paced my bedroom, struggling with how to put my thoughts into words. I worried how he’d react to my answer. Gathering my courage, I stopped pacing.
“I need to think about it.”
Had I said no to him? What would happen now?
Dare moved toward me with slow steps, maybe this was the end.
He caressed my cheek. “Red, turn around.”
I shook my head.
“Red, now.”
I faced him to see warmth, not anger, in his expression.
“I’m a selfish bastard. Take your time, and if never is it—that’s fine with me. Your wildness drives me toward more and more. I want to do everything with you. You fucking top all my expectations.”
“Until now,” I whispered, trying to look away.
He held my chin firm. “Not even a bit. It’s a big step if you’ve never done it. Think it over, and see what feels right. No hurry. No pressure.”
I gulped, unable to believe he let me off the hook and made me feel like I’d chosen the right answer.
“Okay.” I adored him. He’d given me a real choice, not the fake choices leading to a single response.
I circled my arms around his shoulders. “Can I kiss you?”
His brow wrinkled in confusion, so I pressed my mouth to his. I didn’t have words for what filled me up, so I poured it into my kiss.
He stumbled back even as he grabbed me to him. Then he devoured me, catching me up and carrying me to the bed. Our lips never parted.
He laid me on the bed and smiled down at me. His fingers dancing across my skin, he slid my T up my torso then tugged it over my head. His mouth teased my breasts as he unclasped my bra, removing it.