Double Dare

by Melissa Whittle

  And then he was on her. She let him lead her to his room. The long hallway was cut in half with his hastened pace, but his mouth never left hers. The urgency vibrated off him, strumming through her.

  Tobias did everything he hadn’t that first night. There was nothing G-rated in his touches. At some point he rid her of the leather jacket and before Emma knew it, she was in his room, in his bed and on his sheets. The texture was soft and inviting and cool against her hot skin. His hand cupped her mound as his palm rubbed against her clitoris. She rocked against the roughened skin.

  “Be still,” he murmured against her lips and slipped his tongue into her mouth. His hand and mouth took up the same rhythm until she moaned out his name. “Why are you naked?” he asked when she came.

  “For you,” she said.

  He tsked against her ear and brought her to another climax. “Emmaline, wrong line. It’s ‘Long story.’ Get it right.”

  She opened heavy lids and met his gaze. “I lied. The story is simple. I want you inside me. The end.”

  Tobias undressed above her, taking less than a second to open a drawer, and then he was back sheathed and nudging her slick entrance. She let her hands roam over the taut muscles on his arms and chest, because unclothed he was a sight to behold.

  “What happens next?” he asked.

  She lifted her hips off the bed and he slid inside her with the motion. “We stop talking.”

  His thrusts were hard and deep. He trembled over her, breathing heavily for a couple of moments, until he caught his breath. He started to move again and the usual calm and stoic man was lost with every stroke. Each groan was followed by a nip to her flesh. His hands roved every bare piece of skin while his mouth worshiped her.

  Tobias’ actions told her exactly how he felt about her in his bed. And in his bed she felt like his prey and he the predator. He stroked and stalked her, forcing each violent climax until Emma was mindless with him and because of him.

  How could she ever believe he showed no expressive emotion? For him to touch her was to know him. She never wanted to leave his bed if it meant having to use words again. If it meant having to decipher a look or a ghost of a smile.

  Emma knew her place with him as he brought her to another climax and met her there. There wasn’t a doubt. There wasn’t a need to explain. There wasn’t an expectation he had to meet that he hadn’t already exceeded. He knew how to touch her, how hard, soft. Fast or slow. Shallow or deep.

  No words were needed.

  Breath and energy spent, he pulled her over him, and Emma allowed herself to weave the fantasy of him being her Prince Charming, if just for that night.

  *****

  Emma stirred and could tell from the darkness spilling through the bedroom’s window morning had yet to break. Tobias hummed deep in his throat and his hold tightened around her waist. She’d slept with her back to him, spooned together.

  “Trying to sneak out?” he asked.

  “Not looking for an exit. Just woke up.”

  I love you, I love you, I love you perched on her lips, but she bit it down. She wanted to say it when he could say it back. The truth was he didn’t know her. Tobias had opened up his life like a book with the pages ready to be read. He’d told her about his parents and Gabriella. He let her in without question. The intimacy went one way and there was no way he could love her with so little facts about what made her Emmaline.

  Saying the words now might make him feel trapped or forced into saying something he really didn’t mean. And how pathetic to say it after having sex? Men had run for the hills on less. She didn’t want to give him any reason to run.

  “It doesn’t feel like we’ve been having half days,” she said. “I’m exhausted and a day off wouldn’t hurt.”

  She felt the smile against her shoulder. “I’ve been chasing you during those half days. It’s tiring for mere mortals.”

  “Oh, right ’cause you’re a goddess.”

  He pulled the cover around them. “Damn straight. You did make that ‘hmmm’ noise many times.”

  “Could you be anymore cocky?” She glanced over at him.

  “I could.” His face was serious as he said it. “But my mother taught me humility.”

  “I simply cannot reply without insulting your mother.”

  “I know.” He grinned.

  “Well, I have to get ready and I don’t have a car.”

  He placed a kiss on her shoulder. “How’d you get over here?”

  “Cab. Had half a drink. Didn’t want to drive.”

  He stilled behind her. “You didn’t want me to worry?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re very considerate, Emmaline.” His fingers made a trail up and down her arm.

  She would have smiled, but her breath wasn’t coming as easy anymore. “I know.”

  He didn’t kiss her neck, but gently placed his lips on the skin. “I think we have time for an encore presentation before Josh gets back home.”

  “He knows,” she said.

  He finally kissed her neck. “I’m starting to believe he set us up. For last night.”

  Emma tilted her head to give him better access. “He was so convincing. ‘I can’t take it when he’s like this. What did you do to him?’ Puppy dog eyes pleading with me to let him stay the night and for me to fix it, because you’re making crack in a cup.”

  He laughed and it rumbled through them both. “I love that kid.”

  “I do too,” she said. It relieved some of the pressure of wanting to say the three words to another Merchant man. “It worked.”

  “He raided your refrigerator after you left, you know that, right?”

  His fingers were still working their magic, but now on her stomach and breasts. “It feels wrong to be talking about your brother while you’re touching me like this.”

  “Let’s talk about your striptease then. The German judge gives you a ten.”

  “Russian.” Her breathing picked up pace.

  “9.8, because you put on that jacket in the end. I can never take it back now. Not without seeing you in it.” He nipped at her neck and cupped her right breast. “Or without wanting you to distraction.”

  “The American,” she said.

  “Had to leave the stage and watch that Monroe video.”

  “I have a feeling we’re going to be running late today.” He was hard and ready, pressed along her backside. She lifted her leg, propping her foot on his knee and he groaned against her ear.

  He shifted and came back so fast sheathed and ready, she had to give him brownie points. He said, “You keep doing that to me.”

  “I’m impatient.” And then she lost her breath completely when he entered her.

  “Apparently, so am I.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “It’s starting to feel like I’m living a double life,” Emma said to Abigail as she entered her friend’s apartment.

  The sleek and straight-line interior reminded her of Tobias. Not because he was constantly on her mind, but because Abigail also had an affinity for black. Yet, her friend only used it as an accent to the muted grays and splashes of green. The coffee table held a jade Buddha. Emma almost snorted. There was nothing Zen or peaceful about Abigail, at least not at the moment. Abigail paced the spacious living room, barefoot, but still in her work clothes. Though the jacket lay over the gray linen couch.

  “She still hasn’t called me. Since she sent that missile to my side of the battleship, she has to call me.”

  “That’s a stupid rule.” Emma plopped down onto the couch, picked up a Tootsie roll-shaped pillow and hugged it. “We have been friends too long to let rules be what breaks us.”

  “It’s not just a rule. It’s a principle. A boundary.”

  “Those things you always keep in mind when you’re on the war path?”

  That stopped the movement for only a second. “That’s not the point.”

  “It is the point. You were bombarding a boundary without respect to the
person you were bombarding. You know Sash is sensitive. And you know what? In elementary school we had it right. We made friends based on who was nice to us. We were loyal. We had fun. So, the first one who smelt it dealt it. You crossed the line; you should be the one to call.”

  Emma sighed, and Abigail went still again, this time her friend’s chocolate-brown eyes narrowed. “Now you’re keeping things from me? When did you have sex with Tobias?”

  It would be nice to play dumb, but what would be the point? “Last night. This morning. Depending on how long this intervention takes, tonight too. And every time Tobias looks like he’s got the urge to take my scenic route.”

  Everything within her went tight with the thought. He held up and beat out Late Night. She would have sighed again, but Abigail was making her way to the couch.

  “This is serious.” Abigail plopped down next to Emma.

  “Not really.”

  “You didn’t see your face.” Abigail tilted her head and then gasped. “You love him, don’t you? Oh, my God. You do.”

  Emma glanced around the apartment, away from the inspection. “Did Miguel move out already?”

  “His apartment manager was happy to get him back. Two weeks and not a bite to rent out the apartment. He took it very well. Now when did this happen? Why?”

  Emma crinkled her brow to immolate confusion, but Abigail only glared harder. She sighed. “It crept up on me, but it’s nothing.”

  “You love him.” Abigail scooted back on the couch and glared up at the ceiling, before turning that gaze back on Emma. “This is ground-breaking territory here. Did he say it back?”

  “I don’t see the reason in saying it. It’ll pass. It’s infatuation.”

  “Nice closing arguments, but the jury still says guilty of loving him. You can’t help but smile when you’re thinking about him. It all makes sense. The secrecy. Those weird little conversations where you said ‘over’ or ‘out.’ You’re trying to protect him from us. Spill.”

  Emma pointed at Abigail. “There is no us. Why? Because you said screw it to boundaries. You couldn’t leave well enough alone. So now I’m alternating my days between you and Sasha.”

  Abigail pffted. “You’re the one who has been missing from the group. Do you know how many times Sasha and I went to McNally’s the past two months since Tobias breezed into town?”

  “Probably plenty, but it’s mainly to prepare for our business deal. On top of the Whitmen wedding coming up in two weeks. It’s not all Tobias.”

  “But you admit it’s some part him.”

  “You sound jealous,” Emma said.

  “Damn right I am.” Abigail shrugged without an ounce of guilt. “We’ve been friends for a long time. I’ve gotten used to being able to drop by your house when I’m craving sweets or just company. You haven’t been home, not really. And now when I think you might be I can’t just waltz in for fear I’ll see Tobias’ man parts swinging. How can I eat in the kitchen wondering which surface you were serviced on?”

  Emma’s mind swerved to Tobias’ cherry syrup comment. She shook the image out because it was distracting from the conversation. “We haven’t had sex in the kitchen.”

  “Yet.”

  She couldn’t argue against the possibility. “So, you’re saying the only way for us to be friends is that I have to stay single?”

  Abigail let out an exasperated breath. “I’m saying what I feel isn’t rational and I don’t know how we go forward. I don’t know if you going this path means I’ll lose you. You’ve been telling me to shove it a whole lot more often.

  Emma shifted closer to her friend and lifted her shoulder. Abigail stilled and then sighed, leaning against it.

  They sat in that moment quietly. Emma glanced at her friend and smiled. “Maybe I should have been telling you a whole lot more before now.”

  Abigail snorted. “He’s changing you.” Her shoulders slumped. “All great love does and quite frankly it makes me bitchy.”

  Emma laughed. “Yes, it’s all about you.”

  “I know, right?” Abigail lifted her head, a smile curving her lips. “Why are you my friend?”

  “Because we’ve been friends since forever or at least it feels that way. You’d know exactly what to say to me that would put doubt in my mind about Tobias. You haven’t done that despite me falling for him makes you feel bitchy.”

  “Not feel,” Abigail corrected and placed her head back on Emma’s shoulder. “I am.”

  “You are.” She put her head on top of Abigail’s. “It’s not a great love. It’s infatuation.”

  “And that’s how I know it will be for you. You told us everything about you and Sean.”

  I wasn’t scared then. She hadn’t had the sense then to know it could all end with a word. A change in mood. Too young and dumb to know opposites could repel as strongly as they attracted when one key fact came into the picture. “It’s infatuation.”

  “Ok,” Abigail agreed with the single word, but her tone didn’t.

  Emma ignored the insinuation. “And you call Sasha.”

  “You still won’t tell me what’s going on.”

  Emma sighed, exasperated but amused. “It’s not mine to tell.”

  “You hold us together, you know that, right?”

  And wasn’t that the problem? Despite all her bravado, Emma knew she could never be that with Tobias. He had his one great love and the woman had died in his arms. Were you lucky enough to get two, or more? She wanted to be the love that held him together. But, that would mean she’d be the one to tear him apart. That was a heavy burden. He’d barely survived it with Gabriella. He was still putting together the pieces. It was selfish to want him to go through it again. It was crazy for her to go through it again.

  Abigail pulled back and narrowed her gaze. “What’s wrong?”

  Emma blew out a breath and lied. “Nothing.” Everything.

  *****

  Tobias watched his arms in the mirror. His biceps flexed beneath the frayed edges of the sleeveless black shirt. In the reflection, Josh mounted the bicycle in the corner next to the treadmill.

  “Crack in a cup, huh?”

  Sweat dripped down his brother’s face, but still he grinned. “I can’t even look in your direction. Everything about you is an inappropriate thought.”

  “Put in more resistance. You’re going too fast.”

  Josh pushed a button and then leaned forward, his legs pumping slower. “When are we going to get a ring for her?”

  Tobias’ grip loosened and he almost dropped the weight. They had to stop having these conversations in the weight room. “We’re dating.”

  “Oh, ok. That’s good though, because Roger called today while you guys were on break.” Josh picked up the towel hanging over the handle bar and wiped his face. “She blushed like crazy.”

  “She what?” He practically growled.

  “I mean if you guys are just dating…” Josh shrugged. “No problem, right?”

  He partially squatted like a skier about to attack a slope, positioning himself to start the reverse flies. “Stop trying to egg me on.”

  But his brother didn’t grin, only shrugged again. Tobias’ face frowned back at him in the mirror. He and Emmaline had talked about being exclusive, but that didn’t mean they were a couple. In a sense they were still very much free agents. Then again Emma didn’t see him as a potential anything. They were lovers for now. Emma would want to get married, and she’d told him from the beginning he wasn’t her type. Sex wouldn’t suddenly make him the type she’d see herself with forever.

  Did he want to be her forever? Her face came into his mind and he could see that gleam in her golden irises when she smiled at him. Well, that was something he wouldn’t mind seeing forever. And that same gleam turning into a steely glint when he pissed her off. And the fact she called him Couch or B and E with a straight face. What the hell did it mean that he couldn’t stop smiling or laughing whenever she was in the vicinity? It sure as hell didn’t me
an she would be his forever. But did he want her to be? Did he want to be hers?

  “You look like you’re about to have a brain embolism. I was just toying with you.”

  “What?” Tobias said, not able to shake Emmaline from his mind. It was almost as if the scent of vanilla was imprinted on his senses. And the silk of her skin. Her laugh. Everything about her filled him and left him a little breathless.

  “Shit.” He settled on the weight bench because his legs didn’t feel steady anymore.

  “I was messing with you. Roger isn’t coming by. Are you ok?” Josh stopped cycling and looked like he was about to get up.

  “We won’t get married. I’ve only known her two months. That’s crazy.”

  “Pops knew Mom for a week.”

  When Pops had that heart attack and suddenly died, the news had taken their mother. A crappy way to go, but they’d gone together. If anything happened to Emmaline…he forcibly put the thought out of his mind.

  “Shut up,” he finally said to his brother.

  “Tomorrow,” Josh ignored him, “there’re some big events going on. Will you guys need me all day?”

  “What things?”

  “I’m surprised Abigail didn’t tell you.”

  His brain couldn’t move from one thought to next so Tobias asked again.

  “Extreme sports events,” Josh said. “The Dean’s been having a heart attack about it all week.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Safety first has been the theme in every syllabus. All the big wigs will be there to make sure no one gets hurt. That means you’ll be busy all day. Only day I don’t have classes.”

  “I’m sure Emmaline won’t mind,” Tobias said.

  His brother shook his head. “Why do you call her that?”

  “It’s the name she prefers.”

  “It’s a stupid question to ask, but why doesn’t she make everyone call her that?”

  “It’s who she is.” Tobias scoffed and stood up, getting into position again. “How do you know her so well?”

  Josh shrugged. “Her friend was there last night. Looked like one of those touchy-feely moments, but it passed. Then I told her you needed her.” He shrugged again. “She was out of there. That’s who she is. She’s good for a crisis. To just be there, you know?”