I Dare You, King

by Sophie Stern

“All of them?” Her voice is quiet.

  “Now, baby.”

  She steps back and begins to slowly undress. Each piece of clothing is carefully, slowly, tantalizingly removed. She tosses everything on the floor: not bothering to fold or hang the items up.

  Good.

  This is how I want her.

  I want her wild and wanton and free.

  I want her thinking about nothing except my cock.

  Stroking my dick, I watch her undress for me. Her eyes are on me the entire time and that just makes me more excited, more anxious to be in her, more turned on for the moments to come.

  When she’s naked, she stands there and waits for my next command, but I don’t have one.

  I just want her.

  All of her.

  I sit in one of the chairs in front of my desk and motion for her to come to me. She walks over, swinging her hips as she does.

  “Seductress,” I murmur.

  “You love it.”

  “I love everything about you.”

  She blushes, but climbs onto my lap. Her hands find my shoulders and she steadies herself.

  “Are you ready for me?” She whispers.

  “Come on, baby.”

  She lowers herself onto my length, groaning as I fill her.

  “That’s it, little flower,” I murmur, gripping her ass. “Ride my cock, baby.”

  “Fuck,” she hisses. Her breasts are bouncing in front of me and I reach out to pinch her nipples. Instantly, she squeezes my dick harder. I almost lose it right then, but somehow, I manage to maintain my dignity and avoid coming too soon.

  I’m not some horny teenager on a first date.

  This is me and Rose.

  I want to make it good for her. Great for her.

  As she rides me, I’m swept away with her. The moment is fucking hot, to be sure, but it’s more than that. It’s sweet and romantic and special because it’s with her. It’s with the woman I want more than anything else in the world.

  It’s with the woman I love.

  We come together, reaching our orgasms at the same time, and she melts into me. Rose lets her body fall against mine in the chair. Sweaty, sated, and happy, we hold each other, and I realize I never want this moment to end.

  13––––––––Rose

  The day of the funeral is rainy, which seems appropriate for a sad occasion. Parker and I sit together in a pew in the back of the church while the preacher talks about Janine’s life and the legacy she leaves behind. Mike is in the front row of the church. He sits up straight, but he dabs his eyes throughout the ceremony, and I wonder how hard it is for him to keep it together right now.

  After Janine and Parker broke up, Mike stopped showing up around the office, which is understandable, but he also completely checked out of Parker’s life. As far as I know, Parker hasn’t seen him since the breakup, and it’s got to hurt them both.

  They were the best of friends.

  About halfway through the funeral, Parker squeezes my hand, then gets up and walks down the center aisle to the front row. The preacher doesn’t stop talking, but a few heads turn as Parker sits down next to Mike. I see Mike turn and look at him with surprise, but then Parker wraps his arms around his old friend and just holds him, and Mike relaxes.

  And they cry together.

  Nothing about this is easy or simple or clean. Love never is. There’s no such thing as a clean breakup or a simple split. This just doesn’t exist because love is messy and hard and dirty. You play for keeps and you play to win, but what happens when you lose?

  Today, there are no winners.

  Today, we’re all losers.

  The funeral ends and Mike and Parker talk for a long time. I sit in the pew and wait patiently, watching all of the mourners who came to pay their respects. Despite the fact that Janine broke Parker’s heart, I can’t bring myself to think of her as a bad person. We all make mistakes. We all make bad choices.

  Hers just happened to have a pretty big impact on a lot of people.

  Finally, the crowd disperses and Parker and I leave the church. We get in his car and drive off in silence. He takes us to a little diner that’s close to the church. By the time we arrive, the rain is coming down in sheets and I can barely see the neon lights of the restaurant.

  “Are you ready?” He asks, turning off the engine. We both eye the rain warily.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  We get out of the car at the same time and run into the restaurant. We stand in the doorway for a second, dripping on the tile floors.

  The diner is empty, save for a lone waitress who looks like she hasn’t had a day off in years. Her smile is genuine, but she’s got dark circles under her eyes, and she eyes the puddle in the doorway wearily.

  “I’m sorry for the mess,” Parker says, stepping further into the restaurant. He hands her some cash and whispers something I can’t hear, but suddenly, the woman’s smile seems a little brighter. She disappears and Parker and I head to the last booth at the end of the diner.

  We slide in on the same side and hold hands. I lay my head on his shoulder and just think about the day, the week, the year. So much has changed, yet he still offers me comfort and peace when everything around me feels like it’s in turmoil.

  The waitress reappears with two hot cups of coffee and a couple of menus. We thank her and she heads to the front of the restaurant to start mopping up our mess.

  “How are you holding up?” I finally ask Parker. Today couldn’t have been easy for him, couldn’t have been simple. I’m sure there are a lot of emotions he’s experiencing right now.

  “I’ll be okay.” He pauses, then continues. “I feel bad for Mike. I’ve missed him. I don’t know if I realized just how much until today.”

  We sit there for awhile, together in the silence. Sometimes silence is what you need. Sometimes silence is good, freeing. Sometimes it gives you a moment to clear your head and think about where you’ve come from, to think about where you’re going.

  Then Parker continues talking.

  “He told me he had planned to propose to her next weekend while they were at the lake.”

  Fuck.

  “He never got his chance,” I say, the reality of it suddenly hitting me full force. Mike truly loved Janine, and he didn’t get a chance to tell her how he really felt. He didn’t have the chance to give her what he wanted: a promise of forever.

  “He waited too long,” Parker agrees. “He wanted a perfect moment, but perfect moments don’t come naturally. You have to make them happen.”

  Then Parker does something I don’t expect, something I never thought I’d see from him. Parker climbs out of the booth and gets on one knee, and then he takes my hand.

  “Parker,” I whisper. “What are you doing?”

  “I love you, Rose. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. I always thought I was no good for you. I always thought you were out of my league, but I’ve come to realize that we’re perfect for each other. We both mess up and we both make mistakes and we have our faults, but I think we owe it to ourselves to try.”

  “I love you, too, Parker,” I whisper. Now the tears are coming in full-force. I notice the waitress mopping at the door, and I think she’s wiping away a stray tear or two herself. “And I think you’re incredible. I can’t imagine my life without you. I can’t imagine going back to not having you around.”

  “I want more than what we have, Rose. I want forever. I want you. I want you to marry me.”

  He stands up and pulls me out of the booth and into his arms, then kisses me. We’re both still wet and cold, but somehow, the warmth in our hearts spreads to the rest of our bodies and suddenly, I think that everything is going to be okay.

  “Marry me, Rose,” he whispers. “I dare you.”

  “I’ve never been one to turn down a dare,” I whisper, and he kisses me once more.

  Epilogue––––––––Rose

  The historic brick church is filled with people, fl
owers, and more people.

  It’s everything I hoped it would be.

  As I peek out at the crowd from the foyer, I try to count how many of our friends and family members managed to make it on such short notice. Somehow, I feel like most of the people we invited made it out to watch us get married, and that thrills me. The people we care most about in the world could have chosen to spend their day doing anything they wanted, but they came here. They came to be with us. They came to celebrate.

  It’s only been a few months since Parker proposed, but we didn’t want to wait any longer than we had to. We booked the church, invited everyone, and threw together a sweet, romantic wedding ceremony we’ll remember forever. It’s everything I never knew I wanted, and the best part is that I get to marry my very best friend. The best part is that Parker is just as fantastic now as when I was just his assistant.

  “Hello, little flower,” I hear his voice at my ear, but when I try to turn around to kiss him, Parker wraps his arms around my waist and holds me in place.

  “Parker,” I protest.

  “Now, now, little one. You know the bride isn’t supposed to see the groom before the wedding.”

  “You mixed it up,” I giggle. “It’s the other way around. You’re not supposed to see me.”

  “Oh, is that right?” He asks playfully, and nips at my ear. I groan, and he licks my neck. Fuck. Am I supposed to be horny on my wedding day? I feel like I’m not. I feel like I’m supposed to be dignified and proper and well-behaved today, but if he keeps going, none of that is going to happen.

  “Parker,” I protest lightly.

  “Rose,” he says teasingly.

  “Oh, get a room,” Stephanie appears. I can practically hear her rolling her eyes. She places her hands on her hips and raises an eyebrow.

  “Hello, bridesmaid-of-honor,” Parker greets her, but doesn’t release me.

  “It’s time for the ceremony, groom-of-horniness,” she says in response.

  “Pity,” he says. “We were just getting started.” He twirls me around, then, and kisses me hard. “Until later, beautiful,” he winks, then saunters off to find the groomsmen.

  “He’s something else,” Stephanie laughs. “But I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride,” she says, suddenly serious. She looks at me with tears in her eyes, suddenly, and I know that she’s truly and genuinely thrilled for me.

  I never really thought this day was going to come.

  I never really imagined that one day, I’d be standing in a church and promising to love someone so deeply.

  I never really imagined that this could happen for me.

  And I never, ever, ever, ever, not in my wildest dreams, ever thought that Parker would be the one I’d be spending forever with.

  I tear up, and I know that I shouldn’t because it’s a happy day, not a sad day. It’s the happiest damn day of my life. I can’t believe Parker and I are here together, getting ready to promise to spend forever together.

  I can’t believe my dreams are about to come true, and they’re about to come true with him.

  “And just think,” Stephanie says, adjusting my veil. She pulls me into a tight hug, and then she whispers, “It all started with a dare.”

  THE END

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  Author

  Sophie Stern writes paranormal romance and contemporary erotica for readers who like to have fun and explore new worlds. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her pole dancing or reading zombie novels. Sophie lives with her ex-military husband who is always happy to help her conduct research for her books.

  Find out more or at www.sexysophiestern.com or join her mailing list to receive updates and information on sales.

  The Feisty Librarian

  Do you love contemporary romance? Sweet girls? Bad boys? Spankings? Turn the page for a sneak peek of THE FEISTY LIBRARIAN by SOPHIE STERN: A contemporary BDSM-lite romance.

  Chapter One

  She didn’t have any business being in the library. She was a programmer, for fuck’s sake: not a research assistant. Victoria wasn’t interested in books or reading or sitting around smelling the mold that was definitely inhabiting this musty basement. She just wanted to find the information she needed and get out. Easy peasy. In and out.

  That was it.

  Her thesis was half-finished, open on her laptop screen. It was secure enough in her little cubicle on the 3rd floor of the library. People in other cities might be shocked that she would just leave her belongings unattended while roaming around a library basement, but Victoria wasn’t like other people.

  Besides, Mischief was safe. It was one of the safest towns in the state, at least when you looked at the statistical analysis of the crime rates when compared with the population, which Victoria did on a regular basis. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay in Mischief after graduation, after all, and that date was looming, approaching much more quickly than she was comfortable with. She’d have to make a choice. She was already receiving job offers from other places, other cities. Soon she’d have to make the call as to whether she wanted to stay or go.

  The idea of moving to a new place and starting fresh was tempting. It enticed her the same way strawberry ice cream did. It looked good, but it wasn’t really something she needed. Still, Victoria had toyed with the idea for awhile now, wondering whether it was the right choice or whether it was something she would later regret.

  Victoria moved through the shelves stealthily. She hadn’t really spent a lot of time in the basement at the library. It was dusty. She was guessing that the custodian probably didn’t spend a lot of time down here, and she didn’t blame them. Who would want to wander around in an area that was spooky and dark? She didn’t.

  “Come on, book. The sooner I find you, the sooner I can finish my thesis.” She mumbled, but didn’t say what she was really thinking out loud.

  She didn’t say that she was wondering if she should give up her current job.

  If she should accept a new position.

  If she should...

  She just didn’t know what she wanted.

  She didn’t know what was best.

  Sometimes it seemed like moving would be an incredible opportunity full of possibilities and freshness. Then again, Victoria had gotten a pretty fantastic offer right here in Mischief. That in itself wasn’t surprising: she was good at what she did. What was surprising is the fact that she was seriously considering staying. A year ago, she wouldn’t have thought twice about leaving, but Mischief was a comfortable place to live and it carried with it many interesting places and people. There were little book nooks and shops. There were trinket stores. There were restaurants and cafes and she had an incredible roommate she loved. Holly was irreplaceable.

  Still, Victoria tended to get wanderlust. She’d never stayed in one place too long.

  Was working in Mischief for the foreseeable future something she’d be comfortable with?

  Would she be satisfied?

  The pay at the potential job was a little less than the other positions she’d seen, but she wouldn’t have to move. She wouldn’t have to leave. Restarting her life in another place could be interesting, but was that what she wanted? Victoria wasn’t sure. There were just so many decisions she had to make. She had to decide what she was going to do about her thesis and what she was going to do with her future and what she was going to have for fucking dinner. Right now, she didn’t want to have to make another choice.

  What she did want was to find the volume she was looking for. The library directory had indicated there was an older book down here that she could use to round out her paper and she desperately wanted to find it before the library closed. There was a storm brewing and she needed to hurry up and finish her work so she could get home before things got really bad outside. She didn’t live far, but nobody wanted to drive on the ice, least of all her.

  Victoria’s paper, Math in Gaming: The
Impact of Technology in the Classroom, was going to be something incredible. She could feel it. She knew this topic inside and out. She hadn’t spent five years as a programmer and another two in graduate school getting her education degree to sit by idly while kids around the world struggled with something that could be fun.

  Math could be fun.

  It didn’t have to be scary numbers and these big, huge, terrible problems that were stressful. With her ideas for classroom integration, small and medium size classrooms across the country could truly begin to revitalize the way kids learned math in middle school.

  That is, if Victoria could find the damn book she needed.

  She walked down the aisle, trying to ignore the flickering lights. She shivered. Then she shook her head in disgust at her own weakness. She wasn’t weak. She certainly wasn’t the type of girl who got scared because she was hanging out in some dark room. Not her. Nah. Victoria was stronger than that. Braver. She was more intelligent.

  She certainly wasn’t scared of the dark.

  She strode down one aisle and then the next. There were no other patrons down here, which was understandable. She’d been at the library the better part of the afternoon and chances were the building would probably close soon, anyway. She figured she still had enough time to find her book and churn out a few more pages. It just showed how determined she was.

  Well, she was either determined or stupid.

  Anyone with half a brain had long ago gone home to get out of the coming storm. They’d returned safely to spend time with their loved ones and to cuddle their children and family and pets.

  Victoria didn’t have any of those things.

  Holly was at a club tonight, so Victoria had no one to go home to. Aside from the storm, she wasn’t really in any sort of rush to go home to her lonely little apartment. There was nothing waiting for her except homework and chores, so she had an advantage at the library. She could take her time.

  That was a great thing, she lied to herself. It was. She had freedom and flexibility. She had the ability to do whatever she wanted when she wanted. She could make whatever choices she wanted to make. She had it all.