Dash of Peril

by Lori Foster

  Her face flushed and she looked down at her hands. “You mean my grandpa.”

  Without intending to, he smoothed back her hair. “We’re friends, too.”

  “No,” she said in a tiny voice that crumpled at the end. “You don’t even like me.”

  The last was said almost as a sob, ripping at his heart. If she hadn’t spent so much time flirting with him, he’d...what? Hold her closer? Touch her more? Cannon shook his head and tried to think of her as his little sister.

  Right.

  “Don’t be silly,” he whispered, his voice gruff. “I like you fine.”

  “I’m sorry.” She sniffled. “I know I should stop crying like a baby—”

  “You’re upset. Anyone would be.” He sat back from her a little. “But I don’t want you to worry. Reese said he’s going to have cops patrol the area for a while, and my friends and I will keep a watch on things, too. You’ll be protected.”

  She nodded, but covered her face. “Nothing is ever going to be the same again.”

  Lost, Cannon gave in, pulling her into his lap and cradling her against his chest, rocking her a little. She leaned into him, saying over and over, “I’m so sorry.”

  He felt her rounded bottom on his thighs, her breasts against his chest.

  He felt himself sinking.

  Hugging her closer, he lied and said, “No problem.” It was a big problem—but somehow he’d deal with it.

  Determined, he kissed her temple, smoothed her hair. Somehow he would make everything okay. It wouldn’t be easy, but few things in life ever were.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE SLOW, ALMOST RESISTANT way Margo moved her knees apart fired Dash’s blood.

  “A little more,” he insisted softly.

  Staring straight ahead out the windshield, she bit her bottom lip—and pressed her knees farther apart. “This is silly.”

  “You with your legs open for me?” He stroked her slender thigh, feeling the muscles taut with expectation. “That’s as sexy as it gets.”

  “You can’t do anything in the car while driving.”

  “I can get you primed.” And himself, as well.

  She stilled, then admitted, “I already am.” She glanced at him, her eyes dark and mysterious and heated from within. “It seems that with you, I always am.”

  Progress. Soon she’d realize that she needed him, only him. “I’m glad. I like seeing you like this. Open to me. Ready.” He skimmed his fingertips up the inside of her thigh, but didn’t touch her between her legs. Not yet. “You are ready, aren’t you? Tell me you’re wet.”

  Embarrassment heated her face, but she gave one faint nod.

  With the backs of his fingers, Dash touched her warmed cheek. “Remember something, honey. When you’re with me like this, you’re not a lieutenant. You’re not the boss. And you’re definitely not holding the reins.”

  She trembled...with excitement.

  Pushing her, Dash whispered, “I know what you need, and I know when you need it.”

  Being in control was important to her. Dash knew it, and that was the main reason he wanted her to trust him to do what was best for her. He wanted her to let go completely.

  With sex, with him, it was the only time she’d ever let that happen.

  She shifted slightly. “What if someone sees us?”

  “What if they do? You’re a woman enjoying the touch of a man.”

  “In a car, in the open—”

  “And that’s not proper?” He lowered his fingers to her breast, lightly brushing over her nipple before resting his large hand around the very top of her thigh. “I don’t want you to be proper,” he told her, keeping his voice low, cool. Commanding.

  “Then what should I be?”

  Dash didn’t hesitate. Clasping her thigh firmly, he drew her legs farther apart still. “Carnal.” Damn, he loved seeing her like this. “Honest. Open and real.”

  Her eyelashes fluttered, her lips parted with fast breaths.

  “Before we’re done tonight,” Dash promised her, “I’ll make you sweat and cry. And come. I’ll touch every part of you and taste you all over.” He gently cupped her mound. “Especially here.”

  With her right hand, she gripped the door handle as if to ground herself. “Dash...”

  Keeping his attention on the road wasn’t easy. “You’re too stiff. Relax your spine a little.” Hell, he was the stiff one. No way could he do this and not get hard. “That’s better,” he told her as she exhaled and relaxed her shoulders back against the seat. “I’m wondering about something.”

  In a small voice, she asked, “What?”

  “Will you be as agreeable without the drugs?” He trailed his fingers back and forth along the seam of her slacks. Even through the material, he could feel her softness and heat.

  “I don’t know.” Still resting back against the seat, legs open, she turned her head to see him. “Maybe. Depends.”

  He glanced at her, then back to the road. “On what?”

  “On whether or not you leave me hanging.”

  His smile quirked. Even now, with her legs sprawled and her eyes dark with need, she tried to wrest control from him. He understood that instinctive reaction; it was in her nature to always push. “I already told you that I’ll give you an orgasm. More than one. In fact, I’m going to enjoy making you come again and again.”

  A low groan escaped her, and for only a moment she closed her eyes. “I want you inside me, Dash. I want to feel your weight on me, feel you sinking in.” She stared at him. “I want you filling me up.”

  Damn. She said it and he saw it, him over her, her legs around his waist, or maybe on his shoulders. His gut knotted with the need to take her, but losing to her now could mean losing her forever.

  As a strong woman, she needed a stronger man. He intended to be that man.

  “It’s going to happen.” Her eyes flared, and he added, “Eventually.” Then, chastising her, he added, “Not tonight, though.”

  She started to close her legs, but Dash pressed his hand against her more firmly. “I’ll have my fingers in you.” He waited two heartbeats. “And my mouth on you.”

  Reluctantly, she settled back with another groan of impatience. “God, I can’t wait.”

  “But you will, because I’m going to feed you first.”

  “Damn it, Dash!” She caught his wrist, but didn’t push his hand away. “You’re talking hours from now!”

  “One hour, that’s all. I bought boneless chicken. It cooks quickly.” He kept his smile contained. “You need to eat, honey. And you need some aspirin.”

  Sizzling frustration made her voice high. “Then why start teasing me now?”

  That particular tone was all woman without a single sign of badass cop in sight. “I like touching you and teasing you. I love knowing you want me.” He cupped his hand over her. “And you like it, too.”

  Chest heaving, her face flushed, she finally released his wrist and, in a sign of surrender, stopped straining away from him.

  “Plus,” Dash said softly, his fingers once again exploring, “you’ve forgotten all about your work and worries.”

  Her lashes lowered over her eyes and she shifted uneasily. “So you’re making me wild to help me?”

  “Oh, no, honey. I haven’t even started yet on making you wild.” Picking up again as if she hadn’t interrupted, he said, “After dinner, we’ll take a bath. Yes, we. I want to sit behind you with your back to my chest. I have long arms, Margo. Long arms and big hands and I’ll be able to reach every inch of you. You can trust me to be thorough.”

  Eyes dark as midnight and full of sultry expectation slanted his way. “You’ll have to be naked, too.”

  “Naked and nestled up against your sweet little ass.” Hi
s testicles tightened just thinking about it. He squeezed her thigh. “It’ll be torture for me, but I’m looking at it as a character builder.”

  She shook her head and, surprising him, gave a tense, breathless laugh. “You are so nuts.”

  No, he was in love—but she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. So instead he’d win her over with sex and the freedom she’d have around him, and he’d ease her into the idea of more. A lot more.

  Like everything. And forever.

  “After our meticulous bath, where I promise to pay special attention to certain areas—” he bobbed his eyebrows at her, making her groan with excruciating need “—I’d like to have you on my lap. Facing me.”

  The smile faded. “Still naked.”

  “Yes. You’re beautiful, Margo, always. But never more so than when I can see every sweet inch of you.” He pressed his fingers more firmly to her sex. So much heat. He couldn’t wait to have her, all of her, in every way. “Your pretty thighs will be wide open around me so I can look at you and touch you as much as I want.” As much as she needed. He lifted his hand and brushed his knuckles repeatedly over her left nipple. It stiffened, making her catch her breath. “And with your breasts right there, even with my mouth, it’ll be easy to—”

  “That’s enough.” Trembling a little, she straightened, drew a long broken breath. Like a threat, she said, “Tomorrow when I get this sling off—”

  “Then all bets are off,” Dash agreed, “and I’m going to fuck you senseless.”

  With an explosion of heat, Margo stared at him, bit her lips again and nodded. “Okay.”

  * * *

  DASH’S HAND SLIPPED AWAY from her body—and didn’t return. He had ratcheted up her need to the point she knew it wouldn’t take much to have her begging for release. It was diabolical the way he pushed her only so far, then retreated, only to get her going again. With every touch her body thrummed more insistently, the heat building, the sweet tension coiling tighter.

  Dash gave a low curse, and that prompted her to finally open her eyes. “What?”

  “Company.”

  She followed his line of vision and... Damn.

  It was a nasty trick of fate to find her father and brother in her driveway as they started down the street to her house. Disappointment overwhelming, Margo groaned long and low. The last thing she wanted or needed was another delay.

  Face set in lines of regret, Dash said, “I’m sorry, baby.”

  “Are you?” No way could she temper the accusation. “Because it’s thanks to you that I’m on fire over here.”

  His hands worked on the steering wheel as he slowed the car. “They won’t recognize the rental so I could maybe slide by without them—”

  “Yeah, nice try.” Dash was the funniest man she’d ever known—and by far the sexiest. “They’ll just wait forever. My dad is pigheaded, and West is probably worried.” Straightening, she drew three deep breaths that didn’t even come close to abolishing the lust. “God, this is awful.”

  “I know.” His hand smoothed over her thigh, this time comforting more than inciting. “We’ll get rid of them as quick as we can.”

  “My dad goes only when he wants to go.”

  Dash glanced at her. “It’s your house, honey. Tell him you have plans—which you do—and he should understand and book.”

  She snorted. “That’s not how it works.”

  Speculative, Dash asked, “So he doesn’t respect your wishes?”

  There was a wealth of interest in the question, much of it unrelated to the current untenable situation. She didn’t want to admit that her dad didn’t respect anything about her. Instead she shrugged. “Hopefully he has his own plans and won’t be able to stay long.”

  He withdrew his touch. “You and West are close?”

  How to answer that? In some ways they were extremely close. In other ways—because of her—they were galaxies apart. “I’ve always competed with him.”

  Dash frowned. “And him with you?”

  She gave him a “yeah right” look. “You saw him. He’s bigger, stronger and more intimidating than I could ever be.”

  Slowly, Dash approached the driveway. “Intimidating how?”

  Poor Dash. He kept wanting to protect her when she didn’t need protection.

  She just needed him to live up to the sensual promises he’d made.

  “Not to me, if that’s what you’re thinking.” She smoothed her hair, wondering if the lust churning deep inside her showed in some way. “West always treated me like a typical little sister, and I probably drove him nuts trying to keep up with him. What I meant is that he intimidates others when necessary. He looks at people, and they fall into line.”

  “And you crack the whip to make it happen.”

  It wasn’t really funny given how hard she’d had to work to earn the respect she deserved in the department, but still she found herself smiling. “Something like that. West, well he’s one of those guys that even while he’s putting you in your place, you still like and respect him. But whenever I had to reprimand men, they hated me for it.”

  “Sexist jerks hated it.” He put the car in Park. “Anyone with an ounce of sense would know you deserve your position, and they’d like and respect you for it.”

  “A position on your lap, naked, facing you?” As if that didn’t tease him enough, she added innocently, “And if you’re still naked, too, well just think what my hands can be doing.”

  He went still—and Margo opened the door and got out. After a few seconds, Dash rushed to join her, but she saw him adjust his jeans as he did so.

  Good. Take that, you tormentor.

  “Dad, West.” Even she heard the lingering breathlessness in her voice. Usually that’d be enough to level her. She didn’t fear her father, but she always strove to make the best possible impression on him.

  Now...well, Dash had her distracted enough that she just didn’t care. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

  West’s expression went from her to Dash and back again. Rubbing the back of his neck, he gave a chagrined smile. “I know. Sorry.”

  Dash stepped forward and held out his hand. “West.”

  Her brother accepted the shake, and Margo heard him whisper, “Sorry.”

  Dash glanced at her, but only smiled at West. “No problem.”

  Her father wasn’t nearly as welcoming. “You’re still here?” He folded his thick arms over his thicker chest.

  “Yes.” Dash stepped away from him. “She’s not supposed to be driving yet.”

  Margo felt the animosity swelling in the air and badly wanted to defuse things. “Dad, is everything okay?”

  He looked at her arm. “Still wearing the brace, huh?”

  “I see the doctor tomorrow. I assume he’ll remove it then.”

  Grunting, he eyed her. “You were at work.”

  “Yes.” She assumed he would approve of that at least.

  “Dan said he put you on leave.”

  Yes, of course the two of them had conspired. Unwavering, Margo stared him in the eyes. “I haven’t spoken to Dan.”

  Gaze narrowed and nasty, her father took a step closer. “You’re calling him a liar?”

  Used to this idiotic game, Margo lifted a brow and asked mildly, “Are you calling me a liar?” Rather than give her father a chance to admit he was, she tipped her head. “I’ve been gone since early morning. Perhaps he called and left a message.”

  “Personally,” West said, “I think he’d be better served letting you work as long as you’re up to it.” And then, in a deliberate jab, he added, “Even if you weren’t the most qualified—which you are—after routing out so many dirty cops, it’s not like you have an overflow of available bodies to fill in for you.”

  Her father rounded on West. “That�
��s bullshit and you know it!”

  Dash stepped closer to her.

  “It’s a fact.” West, unmoved by the riled expression on their father’s face, grinned at Dash. “Margo swept the place clean. All the trash has been kicked to the curb, and if you know my sister at all, she’s meticulous when it comes to replenishing the ranks.”

  That statement infuriated her father. “She threw out good men!”

  Confused by the sudden contretemps, Dash slid his arm around her. The gesture wasn’t missed by her already fuming father.

  To sidetrack him from making Dash his target, Margo said, “Good men don’t accept bribes, Dad. They don’t steal evidence, don’t coerce witnesses and don’t cover for so-called friends who do. Good cops,” she added, “put an end to that behavior.”

  West literally applauded her.

  Going florid, her dad started forward—and suddenly Dash was in front of her.

  Oh, no, Margo thought, her heart shooting into her throat. Her dad could be unpredictable at the best of times. She tried to face her father but Dash held her back.

  “Martin.” Dash’s voice, calm and undaunted, rose above the sound of the blood rushing in her ears. “Obviously there’s something personal going on here.”

  “Damn right,” her father said. “It’s personal—so none of your goddamned business.”

  “Margo is my business,” Dash corrected him, still in that mild, unaffected tone. “I’m sure you would never hurt your daughter—”

  West made a rude sound, earning a glare from her father. Dash never wavered at all.

  “—but I think it would be better if you finished this conversation later, when everyone is a little cooler.”

  Oh, God, Margo thought. She did not need this happening right now.

  An uneasy breeze stirred the turbulence in the air. The seconds ticked by in a blanket of smothering silence.

  Finally, his voice edged with disgust, West said, “Thanks, Dash. Of course you’re right.” Tone hardening, he added, “And, Dad, we had to go anyway.”

  When Margo managed to peek around Dash, she saw West had moved close to their father while Martin continued to stare laser beams through Dash.