Dare to Dream (Carolina Beach #1)

by C. A. Harms

  “I let ya,” Dean said as he forked a slice of ham and slid it onto his plate. “I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of the pretty lady by showing her what a wuss she was dating.”

  Darren was amused and his tension was now gone as he placed his arm over the back of my chair and let his fingertips graze my shoulder possessively. I turned my head to look at him just as he moved in to place a kiss to my lips. It was simple and sweet, but the meaning was clear. He was telling his brother that the game was over. He had won.

  ***

  “I adore your Aunt Stella,” Darren’s mother, Fiona, said as she and I moved to the living room after dinner. “She and your uncle were so helpful during our holiday event at the marina.”

  I smiled because that was my do-gooder Aunt Stella. She loved to help anyone in need.

  “Your grandmother, now she is my kind of woman,” she added, and I could just imagine the two of them together. Oh my, what a trip that would be.

  “They’re good people,” I said, because they are.

  Vivian and Violet entered the living room and came right over to me, and I didn’t hesitate to bring them in closer. I let Violet crawl onto my lap and tucked Viv against my side with my arm over her shoulder. I looked up to find Darren’s mother watching us closely.

  “Those two are crazy about you,” she said, and my heart beat rapidly.

  “I adore them too,” I told her. “All three of them sort of took over my heart almost instantly.”

  “He has some very deep feelings for you too,” she added as she looked to her left toward the kitchen, where the guys still were.

  I should have felt weird having this kind of talk with Darren’s mother, but in a way I felt like she was one of the family by now. She resembled the women in my world so much that it was hard not to be comfortable around her, even though I was a little unsure at first.

  And yes, in the back of my mind, I was still a bit worried she thought I was a porker, but she also had made me feel at ease around her.

  “I’m gonna get real with you for a minute while I have the chance,” she added, and suddenly the comfortable feeling I was just settling into became nervous energy. My stomach knotted up and my mouth went dry instantly. Was this the point in the evening where she’d tell me that she thought I was all wrong for her son?

  I nodded, squeezing the girls a little tighter, using their closeness to stay settled and grounded, even though they were both so engrossed in the TV show we were watching that I don’t think they heard a word we were saying.

  “After Lynn passed I think we were all scared Darren would never recover. He hit rock bottom so fast that at one point, Lynn’s parents along with Larry and myself were debating which of us would step in and take the girls if he couldn’t look after them. The weeks after her burial were a rough, scary time.”

  Tears formed in my eyes as I imagined the hardship he’d faced and the suffering he’d gone through.

  “But at some point, he found the strength he needed to get back up and take care of the two lives they created together.” She looked at her granddaughters, probably thinking the same thing I was. These special girls had saved their father. “Until now, I never thought he’d move on. I figured he would just focus his life on his girls and that would be it.” I looked up from the blonde beauties to find she was once again looking at me. “I see the way he looks at you,” she added. “He’s happy, and as a mother I love to see that look in his eyes. Darren is a good man.”

  “He is,” I agreed without hesitation.

  “I’m glad he found you.”

  Her words made my heart ache in the greatest of ways. I wanted to buy her something big and expensive to express my gratitude.

  The conversation ended on that note as Darren and Dean entered the room, followed by their father. The two boys were playfully shoving at one another, and I felt better about the events that took place earlier. They clearly had no hard feelings toward each other. Darren wiggled into the spot at my side and created more space to get closer to me by lifting Vivian onto his lap.

  “What are you girls talking about?” he asked, looking between his mother and me. When neither of us answered, he tickled my side.

  “Just girl talk.” I squealed, wriggling away and feeling slightly embarrassed at my reaction.

  “Mom meddles,” Dean said from across the room. “She fishes and keeps pushing ’til she gets what she needs, then she pokes atcha a little more to get any last bits of info she can.”

  Fiona narrowed her eyes, then smiled knowingly. She was clearly proud of her information-gathering abilities. But even though she got on her boys’ nerves, she was a good woman, and after spending time with her, I knew she was largely responsible for Darren’s ability to treat a woman well.

  “Why don’t your father and I keep the girls tonight?” she asked, regaining Darren’s attention and my own. “I’d like to have a movie night with my granddaughters, and the two of you could enjoy some adult time.” She wagged her eyebrows suggestively, and I bowed my head to hide the heat rising in my cheeks.

  She so did not just do that.

  “Smooth, Ma,” Darren said with a chuckle.

  “What?” she asked innocently, as if seeing nothing wrong with her choice of words. “Every adult needs adult time. Your father and I get to have—”

  “I don’t wanna hear about your adult time with Dad,” Darren announced as he held his hand up in protest.

  “Neither do I,” Dean added. “I’ve walked in on those times more than I can count. I think that’s what’s wrong with me. Those things can damage a kid.”

  “You’re not a kid anymore,” Larry said from his recliner as he focused on the television.

  “Maybe not now, but I was the first time I found you and Ma using the kitchen table for something other than eating.” Dean faked a shiver, and I laughed.

  “I was eating,” Larry added with an amused grin.

  “Ah hell no,” Darren groaned.

  “What?” his father asked, finally taking his eyes off the television.

  “If I’m expected to have adult time with my lady, I sure as shit don’t need those types of images in my mind.” I was amazed at how freely both men spoke to their parents about such intimate moments.

  “Okay, Larry, that’s enough,” Fiona said. “We’re messing with our sons’ performance.”

  Oh my, it just kept getting better—or worse.

  Chapter 19

  Darren

  We were on our way back to my place after telling the girls and my parents good night. Dean left long ago, I assume to find his next conquest. I wasn’t sure he would ever find the true meaning of finding that one special person. To him being tied to one woman forever only limited his options.

  He was a fool.

  I looked over at Greer, unable to contain my smile. She looked gorgeous, yet her quietness since we left made a little concerned. She continued to look out the passenger window at the passing cars and scenery, as if lost in thought. I could only imagine the things that were rolling around in her mind after leaving the nuthouse.

  Not that I blamed her. Most of the time, my own brain felt scrambled after a visit with my mother. The woman could be exhausting at times.

  “So did they scare you off?” I asked, suddenly feeling nervous that she might say yes.

  She turned to face me with a smile stretched across her lips, surprising me.

  “They’re great.” She laughed as she placed her hand on my thigh. I swear I felt her touch in every single nerve in my body, like a jolt of excitement.

  “You mother is hilarious and reminds me so much of my gran. Your dad is quiet, but I think that’s because Fiona does most of his talking for him. And he’s completely okay with that, which only makes me like him more. He adores your mother. It’s so cute.”

  I slowed to a stop at the light and placed my hand over hers as relief washed over me.

  “You didn’t really punch your brother, did you?” She looke
d concerned, but I grinned wide, remembering the look on the asshole’s face when my fist was flying at him.

  “Hell yes,” I said with a chuckle, “and I’d do it again too.”

  “Darren,” she gasped.

  “What? The dick had it coming. He was testing me, it’s how he is.” She looked torn, and I needed her to understand this was common for me and my brother. He and I almost always had some type of brotherly conflict we quickly pushed aside after one or both of us reached our breaking point. It just so happened I reached it first and his face paid for it this time.

  “He now knows to keep his eyes and hands off you,” I said, squeezing her hand. “That was nothing, babe, honestly. Don’t worry about it.”

  She looked as if she wanted to say more, but chose to remain quiet instead.

  The rest of the ride to my house was silent except for the soft sounds of the radio. I kept my hand firmly over hers the entire time. When we got back, I hit the garage door opener above the visor and looked at her. Still nothing, as she continued to look out the passenger-side window.

  “Greer.” When her eyes were locked on mine, I lifted my hand from hers and touched her cheek. Her eyes closed as she leaned in to my touch.

  “Will you stay with me tonight?” I asked as I skimmed my thumb over her lower lip.

  A gentle nod the only answer she gave.

  ***

  I wandered down the hall toward my bedroom after locking up for the night. Greer had gone ahead of me, and I’d told her I’d be there soon. Now here I stood in the doorway of my bedroom, looking in at Greer, whose body was highlighted by the light streaming in from the hall behind me.

  She wore only her shirt from earlier, which pulled tight across her chest, revealing she was no longer wearing a bra beneath. The panties peeking out from under the hem did very little to hide what lay beneath.

  My hands ached to touch her, to please her, but I refrained, instead taking the time to appreciate the gorgeous woman before me.

  “Hi,” she whispered as she took a few steps in my direction.

  “Hi,” I said, seeing a playful gleam in her eyes when she paused only a few feet away.

  Greer lifted her hands to the waist of my jeans and began unfastening the button with trembling fingers. The gentle touch of her fingertips against my stomach had me reacting instantly. I was already hard from seeing her standing in my room when I entered, but now, from the mixture of her scent and touch, I was beyond ready to take her. I’ve craved her every second since our first time together. Waiting for this moment was the hardest thing I’d ever done. But tonight, we had all night, and I planned on taking full advantage of our time alone.

  I gripped the back of her neck and pulled her lips to mine, taking her mouth and owning it. The sweet taste of her lips and the way her soft tongue mingled with mine had me moaning almost instantly. My hunger for her only seemed to grow. It was so intense that my body began to tremble with desire. She continued to toy with my pants, and I didn’t stop her. I wanted control, I wanted to take and take and keep taking, and I wanted to hear her scream for more, but I gave in to her instead.

  I controlled my urges as I continued to kiss her, driving us both to heights I could already tell would be explosive.

  She pulled back from our kiss, and my nostrils flared as I fought the urge to demand more. Images swarmed my mind of pinning her to the bed and giving her no other option but to allow me what I needed, but I controlled them, even though doing that was hard.

  I closed my eyes when she began to kiss along my jaw and down my neck. My heart raced and my need for her only grew. I moaned when I felt her tongue glide across the base of my neck, and she began to move lower, over my chest and along my stomach. She placed a kiss along the space just above the band of my boxer briefs. She paused there for only a moment, but it was long enough for my mind to come into focus. I realized then that she had begun moving my jeans and boxers down.

  I looked to the floor and found the woman of my dreams kneeling there, looking up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, the same blue eyes that had entranced me from the first time I saw her perched upon her balcony looking down at me and my girls like a princess.

  As she fisted my hardness in her hands, her eyes remained locked on mine. This was one of the few moments in my life where I’d felt weak, lost, and unable to breathe. I was speechless as my heart raced so fast I felt like I may crumple to the floor.

  I whimpered when she licked her lips. Yes, fucking whimpered. And when she took my cock into her mouth, I had to brace myself against the doorframe. Had I not, I would’ve surely melted to the floor.

  “Baby,” I moaned, reaching out with my other hand to push back the hair that had fallen into my eyes. I didn’t want to miss a moment of this.

  She took charge and owned me in that moment. Giving up control felt foreign to me, but

  I’d give it to Greer over and over if it meant I’d see that hunger in her eyes.

  My head spun with each stroke of her tongue, each soft suck from her lips. My toes curled into the carpet and my thighs tensed as I did all I could to refrain from blowing.

  She was lethal.

  Chapter 20

  Greer

  Darren was unbelievable. He was without a doubt the most giving, attentive lover I’d ever had. He took—oh my, did he take—but he also gave so much that my body felt like it was made of Jell-O. Holy hell, the pump-pump-swivel-pump thing he did with his hips was sinful. The sinful swivel, that’s what I’d call it, I decided. My mind was cloudy, and I swear I could barely remember to breathe.

  “Don’t hold back on me, Greer,” Darren said in that demanding tone I’d grown to love. I never thought I’d like a man to be so take-charge, but I was so wrong.

  “Give it to me, baby. Let go.” He pumped his hips, pinning me to the bed, hitting the spot I needed the most.

  I fisted the sheets at my sides as I bit down on my lower lip.

  “Look at me.” His voice sounded strained. I opened my eyes instantly and found him hovering above, his gaze locked on mine. “Let go with me,” he repeated, and I could feel my body obeying.

  “Yes,” I screamed as I began to quake all over. My legs locked tight around his waist, and my squeezing did nothing to slow his movements.

  “Fuck,” he growled as he dug his fingers into my hips. There was no way I wouldn’t have bruises from the way he squeezed me, but they would be more than worth it. He threw his head back as his hips drove forward hard and fast, and I knew he was on the path to completion.

  Watching the pleasure on his face gave me such a strong sense of satisfaction. I loved that I was the one he took pleasure from. I felt possessive of all things Darren, and I wanted to be the only person he ever felt this with.

  His body collapsed over mine as he tucked his face into the crook of my neck. Hard, exhausted breaths fanned over my neck and chest. His chest heaved, and the sheen of sweat that layered our skin made us appear sticky.

  It was perfect.

  “You’re addictive,” he cooed before leaving a soft kiss on my collarbone. A smile took over my lips at his acknowledgment. “And though my mind is screaming, ‘Do it again,’ my body is telling me I need a break.”

  I was aching myself, but if he’d said he was up for another round, I’d be all for it. I knew exactly what he meant about addicting. But my aching body was silently singing praise for the time-out.

  “I want to hold you just like this,” he whispered as he rolled off me and pulled me closer. “All night and into the morning.” He kissed my shoulder as I backed up into his body, cocooning myself in the little pocket he created for me. His chest was pressed to my back, his arms curled around me, and his face rested in the curve of my neck. His lips skimmed over my shoulder as he curled his legs over mine.

  “Just like this,” he whispered, sounding tired. “Your body fits so perfect with mine. Like you were always meant to be in my arms.”

  My chest ached. He could go from being so
extremely dirty to being swoon-worthy sweet within seconds.

  “I’m so thankful you found your way into my life. You make everything so much better. You make me feel alive again,” he murmured, and I could tell he was on the edge of sleepiness. “Don’t leave, Greer. Stay here, because we need you.”

  Instantly I felt as if I couldn’t catch my breath. My chest felt so tight, and then the slow, aching tears fell.

  He wanted me. He needed me.

  And all fear aside, I needed him and his girls too.

  ***

  I woke feeling better than I could ever remember feeling before: relaxed and calm, as if my biggest worry was what I’d have for breakfast.

  The man lying at my side looked just as peaceful as I felt. I rolled over in his arms to face him and take him in. A gentle snore left his lips as he curled in closer, snuggling me. I’d come to the conclusion that Darren was the best snuggler.

  My phone rang, and I tried to wiggle away to answer it, but Darren wasn’t having it.

  “Stay,” he said without opening his eyes. “Whoever is on that phone can wait. I need you here more.”

  I felt a familiar flutter low in my stomach as I allowed him to pull me in as close as he possibly could. He opened his eyes just enough to locate my lips before pressing a gentle kiss against them. He smirked in satisfaction, because he knew in that moment that he’d won.

  He was right; I’d return that call later. Right now, we needed this moment more.

  Chapter 21

  Darren

  They sounded muffled and far away, but I was sure I heard giggles. I felt like I had a built-in radar when it came to my girls.

  When I reached my hand out to the space where Greer slept, it was cold and empty. Disappointment filled my chest.

  I rolled onto my back and listened to the voices in the other room. Giggles mixed with high-pitched squeals, and in the center of it all…my mother.

  My mother?

  Looking down at myself, I found I was still naked from the night before, and then a thought hit me.