by Lauren Bach
She looked at him sadly, tears pooling in her eyes. “That first night, when I was in the pantry. Snake brought Michaels into the kitchen. He, he had been badly beaten. Bogen questioned him...and when he refused to answer...Snake stabbed him. In the back. I watched through the door.”
“Jesus.” Closing his eyes, Dallas held her as she wept, the entire story spilling out in bits and pieces.
In silence Dallas grieved for his friend, angered by the cruelty, stunned by Tess’ horrific chronology. By the time she finished, she was spent. Still he embraced her, drawing strength from her as well as giving it, amazed once more by her fortitude.
Even though he and Barry expected the worst with Matt’s disappearance, it was still a blow to learn the truth. His friend was dead. By Snake’s hand. Dallas looked up at the rafters, offering a silent prayer. Remembering. Regretting. Promising.
He’d notify Barry first thing in the morning, though he knew they wouldn’t be able to search for Matt’s body yet. Lake Summer, particularly Scab Point, was a popular spot with the gang. Any suspicious activity would be noticed right away and could imperil the carefully laid snare. And it wouldn’t bring his friend back to life.
The fire had died down, and he got up, cinching the towel tighter at his waist.
“Don’t leave,” she implored.
“I’m just adding more wood.” When he returned he pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Thank you for telling me.” He picked up one of her hands, alarmed to find it felt lifeless. “You’re still freezing. We’ve got to get you warm.”
Dallas grabbed the oversize quilt and shook it open. Piling the pillows behind him, he motioned for Tess to move closer.
“Sharing body heat is the quickest way to warm up,” he explained.
For a moment, she debated getting up, getting dressed. Except...she didn’t want to leave his side, afraid the fragile peace would flee. And she desperately wanted, needed to be held. By him.
Holding on to her sheet for modesty, Tess moved up beside him and was instantly drawn into his arms as Dallas wrapped them into a quilt cocoon.
“Better?” he asked.
She nodded. It felt safe to be in his arms. Familiar. She thought back to her ordeal in the lake, how she thought her life would end. How she’d thought of Dallas. He’d saved her.
She had nearly died tonight, only to realize she’d scarcely lived. Too much of her life had been spent being the ideal daughter, the model student. Pleasing others.
No more. It was time to please herself.
She was tired of contemplating her every thought, questioning each emotion. She didn’t want to think about right or wrong. For now, she just wanted to be with Dallas. To feel alive.
Only one thing seemed certain. She wanted this man in ways she’d never desired anyone before.
“Dallas?”
“Hmmm?”
“Kiss me.”
Her words surprised him. For a moment he hesitated. There were a hundred reasons why he shouldn’t kiss her. It was one thing when he’d been playing a part, with a specific goal in mind. Seduction in the line of duty.
Burning, blinding desire was another thing. It was personal. Unstoppable. And he could no more deny her request then he could deny breath to his own body. He captured her lips in a hungry kiss.
She opened to him, drawing him in. Ready and willing. The cravings she’d been fighting since they met flared to life, burning away her misgivings, her fears. Her inhibitions.
Dallas pulled her close, allowing her to fill his senses. “Tess.”
He sucked in a breath as her hand gingerly slid up his side to caress his chest. He moaned, encouraging her, his own hands tightening on her waist.
Dallas lowered his mouth to the side of her neck, tasting her, knowing he’d never get enough. His lips traveled lower still, trailing kisses down her throat, eliciting faint sounds from her.
He pulled back, looking at her in the dusky glow of firelight. Her long hair tumbled across the pillows like liquid gold. The two love bites on her neck looked erotic, primitive, reminding him how he’d marked her, claimed her. A savage, animal act. She was breathing heavily, the sheet barely clinging to her breasts, hiding the treasures he longed for. He ached with wanting her. Yet he held back.
Something had changed tonight. At other times she had been slow to respond to his kisses, always pulling back when things started to heat up.
And they were way past that point tonight. While part of him was elated, the other part recognized why she was suddenly without inhibitions. She’d been through a terrible shock tonight, and, as much as he wanted her, he couldn’t take advantage of her.
“Tess, think about this. Where this is heading.”
She closed her eyes, gulping in air. She had thought about it. Every time Dallas kissed her. Or touched her. And even when he didn’t. On some level he cared for her.
For now that was enough. The encounter with Liz and Snake had made her realize one thing: She didn’t know what would happen next. She could have been killed tonight, and only one thought kept her from hysteria. Dallas had saved her.
She wanted him with a rawness that overwhelmed her. The circumstances be damned.
She looked at him, saw the uncertainty in his eyes. Those sexy, sinful, silver eyes. In that moment she knew they were going to make love. “I have thought about it, Dallas. Often. Don’t make me beg.”
Her words pushed him over the edge. “I should be the one to beg.” He caught her mouth in his, kissing her soundly as he pressed her back down, tugging the blankets free. He had never wanted a woman this badly in his life.
The sensation of bare skin on bare skin shook Tess. His masculine strength complemented her feminine softness, her feminine strength. She moved, enjoying the rasp of his coarse chest hair against her hardened nipples.
Dallas’ hands traced the outline of her breast, teasing, circling, driving her wild before capturing the tip between his finger and thumb. She moaned when he tugged, rolling the sensitive peak between two fingers. Her nipple elongated, responding to his touch.
“Touch me.” Dallas’ voice was low and commanding. Hypnotic.
“Where?” Hands shaking, Tess eased her fingers past his ribs, pausing at the towel tucked in at his waist, afraid to loosen it.
“Lower,” he urged.
Her hand skimmed downward, nervously testing the length of him through the terry cloth. He felt impossibly large against her hand, and with increasing curiosity she ran her hand up and down his complete length, measuring.
She knew the basics of what happened between a man and woman. She’d heard talk about size not being important. But this? Inside her? Would it hurt?
For the first time in her life she felt inept because of her...lack of experience.
She felt Dallas’ fingers trail across her abdomen to the juncture of her thighs. Heat flashed along her nerves. His hand slipped down, sure and confident, cupping her, caressing her intimately. His mouth suckled her breast, a heavenly feeling directly connected with the growing pressure between her legs. The sensation seemed wildly taboo. And arousing beyond belief.
“Open for me,” he commanded, finding her hot and wet when his fingers parted her.
“Damn, you’re tight.” He kissed her tenderly sliding his finger in slightly before stopping completely. He knew immediately. “Tess?”
She was on fire now. More than anything she wanted to go forward, follow this wondrous feeling to the end. She heard the question in his voice, sensed his slight withdrawal. If she said “no,” it would end. She knew that, and was grateful.
But it was too late to turn back.
“I haven’t done this before,” she confirmed, voice shaky. “Please...”
Clamping an iron band on his thundering passion, Dallas closed his eyes. Never in his life had it been a struggle to take the high road. To be a gentlemen. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to remove his hands from her. And push away.
Tess
didn’t reciprocate, tightening her hold on his hardened flesh where she’d been stroking him through the towel.
Dallas groaned and she immediately relaxed her grip. “Did I hurt you?”
Unable to resist, Dallas leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. He would love to be the one to teach this woman. To give and receive. But...
“I won’t take advantage of you,” he whispered hoarsely. Damn ethics. “And I can’t take any more of this.”
He thought about getting up, going to the bathroom. The need for release was crippling. Two strokes, maybe three and he’d come. Unsatisfying, but necessary. He captured her wrist, pulling it away from him.
She searched his face in the flickering firelight, seeing the struggle reflected in his silver eyes. She’d always been right about him. He wasn’t like the rest.
And with that realization came the admission she trusted him. And she wanted him more than ever.
As he moved away, Tess reached beneath the towel, taking him in her bare hand. She gasped at the unexpected sensation of heat and strength, felt his penis pulse in her hand.
“You’re right. You’re not taking advantage. I am.” By backing away, he’d given her the gift of choice. It was her choice to do this. With him.
Surging up, seeking his mouth, she sweetly pulled him down. “I want you, Dallas, and I want this.”
She wanted him. The last of his reservations crumbled with her words. With her bold touch. He would be her first. The thought echoed in his mind and made him feel oddly possessive. Powerful.
Stripping away his towel, he closed his hand over hers, marveling that her small fingers could scarcely span his width, teaching her what he liked, how he wanted to be handled. Her feather-light touches weren’t enough, drove him mad for more. He liked a firm grip. Like that.
“Good girl,” he praised, voice tightening.
He lowered his mouth, capturing a taut nipple gently between his teeth. He heard her sharp intake of air and tugged lightly, knowing she had yet to learn what she liked. The possibilities were endless. And he planned to take all night showing her.
As he suckled, his hand moved down, trailing to the damp tangle of curls. Gently he parted her, patiently stroking.
“Spread your legs,” he urged.
She did and immediately felt the heated sweep of his fingers invading her flesh. His thumb flicked over her swollen nub, causing her to grow wetter, easing his way, causing delicious tremors of pleasure to wash over her.
Tess trembled at the sensations, cried out at the pressure building inside her. “I can’t take this.”
Her grip had tightened on his manhood, stroking up, up, faster, harder. Dallas yanked her hand away, desperately close to losing control. He had never known a need this fierce. “Easy, sweet. I’ll explode.”
“No!” As if to deny his words, she touched him once more, pushing him dangerously near the edge. “Please!”
Grasping her hands, Dallas eased her onto her back, then levered his weight on top of her. He held himself propped on his elbows, letting her get used to the feel of him.
Her eyes widened with comprehension. Apprehension. He was big all over. He could crush her. But she knew he wouldn’t. The momentary panic fled on the heels of wonder as she acquiesced to his dominance.
Dallas watched her eyes as he slowly slid his shaft against her. Unable to stop himself, he groaned, and repeated the motion. Sweet Jesus. She was heaven.
Tess bucked beneath him, grinding her hips against his, shuddering at the sensation.
“Tell me what you need,” he rasped.
She pressed her lips against the base of his throat shuddering. “You. Inside me. Now.”
Her confession slashed the last of his restraint. He ran a hand down her side, to her hip, positioning her, holding her. “Raise your knees,” he instructed.
He drew back, his blunt tip poised at her slick opening. Slowly, he let some weight ease forward, watching her face for signs that he was going too fast.
He pressed deeper, feeling her body’s resistance. At her soft moan he hesitated, wishing he could make this first time easier for her. Wished he could make it last forever. Her eyes fluttered shut.
“Look at me, Tess. I want to watch you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I want to be the only thing you think about. The only thing you feel.”
Tess wrapped her arms around his neck, locking her eyes onto his. She gasped at the sensation of him parting her, entering her, knowing this was only the beginning.
He lowered his mouth and started tugging at her nipple. She felt the heat increase and moved against him slightly. Experimentally. She wanted more of him. All of him. The pain... The pleasure...
The pressure between her legs grew, invading, cleaving, until it felt as if she might split in two. For a wild moment she wanted him to stop, the pain too great. She cried out, unable to stop the tears. Then there was a sharp tearing, a burning sting.
And he was in. Deep. Filling her like nothing ever had. Hurt gave way to marvel at the feeling of being joined, of being one.
He rained kisses across her face reassuring her with soft words. “Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.”
“Sure?”
She caught his mouth, wanting his lips on hers. “Positive.”
He withdrew slightly, then slid back in, deeper, saw her eyes widen. “What are you thinking?” He wanted it all; her thoughts, her feelings, her physical response, wanted nothing held back.
“I didn’t think you’d fit...this well.”
Dallas grinned. The fit was perfect. Cupping her bottom, he drew her closer, moving in and out with longer strokes, watching her reaction, enchanted.
Tess bolted as if hit by lightning. The slight change in positions brought him in direct contact with her center. The sensations he caused were building, growing.
“Dallas.” She felt painfully short of breath. “More.”
Her simple plea nearly made him lose it. He fought for control and found it. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”
She did, moaning as Dallas buried himself to the hilt -- then pulled back. Only to do it again and again and again, raising her slightly with each stroke.
She felt him intimately, buried inside of her. Fanning the flame. Now she understood where the feeling was leading. If he kept this up, she would burst into a thousand pieces.
Dallas had no choice but to continue. She was too tight, too hot. He pumped faster, deeper. Harder. Showing her the rhythm.
Tess squirmed beneath him, panting, crying. Within seconds she screamed.
Dallas sealed her mouth with his, absorbing her cries. When she raked her nails down his back, he felt his control slip, on the verge of snapping.
Time to stop.
But when he moved to pull back, Tess suddenly tightened her legs, grasping his buttocks to hold him in place as she scraped her teeth against his shoulder, nipping him, lost in her own vortex of shimmering passion.
Dallas felt her womb clench tightly, milking him. Unable to stop, he exploded in a powerful climax, claiming her.
Cursing, he stiffened as he felt himself pouring into her, too late to withdraw.
Too late to use protection.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Two days later, in the middle of the night, Dallas hurried along the dark path toward his cabin.
The air was oppressive, charged with static from the approaching storm. Behind him the wind kicked up, blowing dirt and grit. It was going to be one helluva storm. Long overdue.
The path turned sharply, the ground inclining as the cabin’s outline finally appeared around the bend. Against the black horizon the small structure appeared even darker. No light shone from within.
He scowled. Friggin’ electricity was probably out again. If she was awake, she was probably terrified.
He took the porch stairs two at a time. Unlocking the door, he slipped inside and paused, allowing his eyes to adjust to the much darker i
nterior. He listened carefully for a noise to confirm his worry. All he heard was his own harsh breathing.
You promised never to leave her again, like this, at night. Cursing himself and the circumstances that required his absence, he eased from the doorway, silently picking his way across the room to the bedroom door.
He entered quietly, grateful for the hazy moonlight filtering through the window. The slight form on the bed didn’t move. Dallas released a pent-up breath as he stepped closer and confirmed -- thankfully -- that she was sleeping soundly. She wouldn’t ask questions about how long he’d been gone.
He felt the stab of conscience. She was probably exhausted. She’d slept little the night before, and they’d made love twice before he’d left.
He watched her, his eyes skimming over her from top to bottom. She was lying on her left side, in the middle of the bed, her head half on his pillow, half on her own, arms extended over her head.
His hostage.
The quilt covering her rose and fell slowly, following the rhythm of her deep, even breaths.
Shifting back, Dallas shrugged out of his leather jacket and silently pulled off his boots, his eyes never leaving her. A thousand weights seemed to drop from his shoulders knowing she was safe -- asleep -- just as he’d left her.
He removed the nine-millimeter semiautomatic he had tucked at his back, securing it within easy reach, before he peeled off his shirt. In the distance a low roll of thunder rumbled. The storm was moving in.
Tess stretched slightly, drawing his attention once more to the bed. Damn, she was beautiful. He felt himself harden and enjoyed the uniquely male sensation. Did she know she had the power to arouse him so instantly, so innocently?
The top button of his worn jeans gave way. She’d entered his life a little over three weeks ago, captured his heart and nearly destroyed the master scheme he and his partner had been working on the past two years.
He kicked aside his jeans, brooding.
Every thought, every move had been meticulously calculated. Nothing had been left to chance. Every option had been preplanned, every action purposeful. Except for her. Except for his reaction to her.
