by Aliyah Burke
“Louis?”
“Have another brother I don’t know about?” Dorian leaned in close, surrounding her with his masculine scent of sandalwood and pine. “You’re stunning. As usual.” Their mouths were a hairsbreadth away from one another. “I’ve missed you.”
“You knew where I was. You chose to stay away.”
“I had something else to take care of.”
Jealousy speared her. “Another damsel in distress to save?”
He cocked a brow and turned his gaze from hers to land on her belly. “No, something more important.” He held her gaze. “Much more important.”
She nearly covered herself but held still beneath his perusal. “And that would be?”
The other half of the stadium roared as their team took the field. Dorian never looked away from her, and she lifted her own eyebrow in return.
“Did you want me to guess?” Her fingers dug into the side of her cup.
“Not at all.”
“Get rowdy, Thunder fans, here comes your team. Give a huge welcome to the Miami Thunder!” the announcer roared. The people around them surged to their feet, whistling, calling, and shouting.
That snared her attention, and she tore free of his hold, rising to her feet, searching for sign of her brother. She cheered the team on as they ran past the lines of cheerleaders in their black and gold, as well.
She didn’t take her seat again until after the National Anthem. Louis waved before reaching for his helmet. She knew he would be focused on the game and not her.
“You going to eat that?”
“Huh?”
Dorian pointed to the partial pretzel in her hand. “You eating it?”
“No, here.” She passed it over and looked back out to the field. As they went out for the coin toss, she inched to the edge of her seat, hair beginning to stand up on the back of her neck. She cut her gaze to the left and found Dorian watching her, not the game.
“Why are you staring at me?”
He didn’t respond, and she faced him. Dorian slipped his hand around the back of her head and brought her close to him. “I missed you.”
Then, he kissed her. Instantly, she leaned into him, one hand placed upon his chest. His taste surged along her taste buds. He drew back, thumb skimming along her lower lip.
He winked and pointed to the field where she saw Louis and the D-line running out onto the gridiron. The game was close through the first two quarters, and she was exhausted at halftime.
Lord, this is stressful.
Dorian’s squeeze snagged her attention. When had they started holding hands? She retrieved her hand, despite his eyebrow lift and the slight frown that tipped down the corners of his lips. To cover her nervousness, she took a drink of her warm beverage.
“Can I get you something else?” he asked. “Another drink? Something to eat?”
“I’ll get another one in a bit, thank you.” Why was it so hard to remain distant from him? “What about you?”
“I’ll have something when you do. When they come by, we’ll get something. I’m sure you need to eat some food.”
“I’m at a football game; I’m more worried about losing my voice.”
“I see.”
Something in his voice had her angling her head to see him once more. He was different. Somehow.
“What are you seeing, exactly?” She ignored the halftime show and gave him her focus.
“Differences. Healthy glow. Body changes.”
Her heart thundered beneath the black and gold jersey. “Meaning?”
“You and I need to have a discussion.”
He knew. Was that why he’d come? Had Louis told him? How the hell had Louis found out? She’d not seen much of her brother, passing it off as being busy with school, which she was, so it wasn’t an entire lie.
“Am I supposed to ignore the game and have it, now?”
The smile he gave her reminiscent of the one seconds before he snapped cuffs on her. Her nipples tightened more, and her clit cried for attention.
“No. I’d love to go home with you. After.”
God, much more of his bedroom voice and she would embarrass herself. He took her hand and kissed the back of it before nipping the tip of her index finger. A place on her, he’d learned during their time together, which was a highly erogenous zone. She whimpered. Dorian winked and placed her hand on his leg.
“Definitely love to go home with you after.”
She didn’t have any way of telling her body no when it came to this man. Not a single one. True to his word, he got her another drink and some nachos later on during the game. She waited for him to get himself a beer, but he never did.
On her feet at the end of the game when the Miami Thunder claimed their divisional championship title, she had pretty much lost her voice as feared. As the thousands of screaming fans departed the Thunder Dome, she waved to her brother. He beckoned her down, and when she got there, she bent over the rail, enabling herself to hear him.
“Congratulations!” she cried.
“You’re coming to the Super Bowl, and no, that’s not a question. I’m getting you tickets.”
“Of course I’m going, I’m already excited about it.” She grabbed his hand and kissed it. “Go, celebrate. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yes, you should.” He stared by her shoulder to where she was positive Dorian stood. “You have some of your own talking to do.” He gave her a pointed look. “You’ve been miserable.” He waved and headed off with his teammates.
A passing person jostled her, and she bit back her curse as Dorian steadied her. “Careful.”
“It wasn’t me; it was that jackass.”
He pressed his lips to the sensitive spot behind her ear. “I wouldn’t let him hurt you.”
“I suppose we should go.”
Instead of moving, he slid his arms around her and placed his hands on the slight mound of her belly. “Like I said differences.”
She took that statement to mean he was definitely aware of her pregnancy. Sakharre dampened her lower lip and rested against his chest. “Right, and you came all this way for an explanation. I would have told you, just needed some time to come to accept it all myself.”
“No,” he said. “That is not why I came.” He turned her so her lower back was against the metal rail. “I came all this way for you.” Dorian captured her chin. “I was going to wait until we got to your place, but I guess you want to do it, now. So, fine. Here, it will happen.”
She crossed her arms. “What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t come earlier because I was drying out. When I got back from overseas, I was a drunk. I was when Tyler called me to find you. Because he asked for my assistance, I sobered out enough to do the job. Then, you left, and I realized, if I wanted you in my life, I had to be better. I couldn’t be a drunk any longer, so I had to dry out.”
“That’s why you let me leave?”
“Yes. I had to be worthy of you.” He glared at someone who tried to jostle him as well. “I’m in love with you, Sakharre. I want us to be a family. All of us.”
He sank to one knee and pulled a box out of his pocket, opening it to show a lovely diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”
“Say yes, Sakharre!” Louis’ booming voice carried to her ear.
She turned to see her brother standing near, watching the interaction. One hand over her mouth, she stared at the man on one knee before her. She nodded. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you, Dorian.”
He rose smoothly and gathered her close, claiming her mouth. Surrounding cheers faded as she gave herself over to his kiss. This was her future. This man who’d turned her world upside down. He was hers, and she was his.
“I love you, too, Dorian.”
The way he held her made her wonder could anyone be more precious?
“Maybe we can take this somewhere private? I’d really like to celebrate without part of the Miami Thunder watching me, as well as news crews. What I have in mind has
a lot less clothing, and I’m not about to share your body with the world.”
She pushed up on her toes, mashing their lips together once more. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
The future may be uncertain, but right now, all was well. Dorian was back in her life, and they were going to be parents. It would work out. Of that I have no doubt. He’d thawed the ice surrounding her heart.
Dare to Love Series by Carly Phillips
Dare to Love (1)
Dare to Desire (2)
Dare to Surrender (3)
Dare to Submit (4)
Dare to Touch (5)
Dare to Hold (6)
Dare To Rock (7)
Dare to Seduce (8)
OTHER BOOKS IN DARE TO LOVE KINDLE WORLD SERIES
AUTHOR: Carly Phillips
TITLE: Dare to Love | Dare to Desire | Dare to Surrender | Dare to Submit | Dare to Touch | Dare to Hold | Dare to Rock | Dare to Seduce
NEWSLETTER:
AUTHOR: Aliyah Burke
TITLE: Icy Dare (smarturl.it/aqjm04)
NEWSLETTER: http://www.aliyah-burke.com/newsletter.htm
TAGLINE: Sometimes the most passionate heat resides behind walls of ice...
AUTHOR: Rhian Cahill
TITLE: His Daring Moves (http://smarturl.it/vqihfq)
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/byrsf
TAGLINE: He’s got daring moves on — and off — the field.
AUTHOR: Yvette Hines
TITLE: A Kissing Dare
NEWSLETTER: http://yvettehines.com/newsletter-stay-connected/
TAGLINE: He's used to being the one doing the tackling, but when love is before him will he grab hold or let it slip by him?
AUTHOR: N Khun
TITLE: Lover's Dare
NEWSLETTER: https://madmimi.com/signups/133960/join
TAGLINE: Can they get over their past to love each other again?
AUTHOR: Kaira Rouda
TITLE: The Celebrity Dare (http://smarturl.it/CDAMZ)
NEWSLETTER: http://www.kairarouda.com
TAGLINE: Sometimes chemistry is more powerful than common sense and the ingredients of love aren’t always what they seem.
AUTHOR: Sasha White
TITLE: Dirty Dare
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/fdGJ-/
TAGLINE: Sometimes a woman has to go after what she wants, to get what she needs.
AUTHOR: Lacey Wolfe
TITLE: Commit if You Dare (http://smarturl.it/pe4ycq)
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/hJpWw
TAGLINE: Neither wants a commitment, but their hearts have different plans.
Additional books by Aliyah Burke:
Megalodon Team
Kincade’s Rose
Harrier’s Healer
Connelly’s Flame
Greeley’s Spyce
Vittano’s Willow
Dimitri’s Moon
O’Shea’s Love
Chayton’s Tempest
Haikon
A Love for Lera
Graham Family
Justice Is Always Ready
Denim & Spurs
With This Ring
Dream Lover
Cottonwood Falls
Relentless
Fracture
Ravish
Spark
Savor
Intensity
Inferno
Serial
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5
Astral Guardians
Chasing the Storm
Highlands at Dawn
Fields of Thunder
Branded by Frost
Driven by Night
Interludes
Temporary Home
Alone with You
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore
In Aeternum
Casanova in Training
Harbour of Refuge
Protected by Shadows
Polar Opposites
Rakes & Rogues
What the Earl Desires
Her Reluctant Viscount
Her Pirate Rogue
Code of Honour
A Marriage of Convenience
The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife
A Man Like No Other
When Stars Collide
Born to Fly
Landing in Love
You Save Me
Wild as the Wind
Zulu Spectre
Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)
All Romance Ebooks
It Was Always You
Standalone
Code Name: Papa
Preconception
If You Dare
May You Always
Dutch & Lobo (in In the Trenches collection)
His Purrfect Mate
Under the Mask
That Fateful Ride
On the High Seas (in What White Boyz Desire collection)
The Detective’s Lover
Just a Dream
Love Under the Endless African Sky
Add A Little Mistletoe
Something Tangible
Seducing Damian
Through the Fire
Sin is Not a Four Letter Word
Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped
Raw Exposure
Co-written with Taige Crenshaw
Unbreakable Bonds
Kemet Uncovered:
Talios
Devi
Linc
Saffron
Taber
Ashia
Co-written with McKenna Jeffries
McKingley:
All the Wright Moves
The Best Thing Yet
Risky Pleasures
Pure Harmony
Irresistible Forces
Seductions Dance
About the Author:
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter: @AliyahBurke96, or Pinterest. And on TSU: @AliyahBurke
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
I hope you enjoyed reading, Icy Dare. If you could help others to find and enjoy this book as well, I would appreciate that act of kindness. You can do this by recommending it to your friends and/or reader’s groups. Also by reviewing it to let others know you liked it—and why—on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ARe, and other places.
Thank you so much for your support!!
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Table of Contents
Icy DareByAliyah Burke
Blurb for Icy Dare
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter FiveMiami
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Dare to Love Series by Carly Phillips
OTHER BOOKS IN DARE TO LOVE KINDLE WORLD SERIESAUTHOR: Carly PhillipsTITLE
Additional books by Aliyah Burke:Megalodon TeamKincade’s RoseHarrier’s HealerConnelly’s Flame
About the Author:
