by J. H. Croix
Come To Me
A Dare With Me Novel
J.H. Croix
Contents
Dedication
1. Gemma
2. Diego
3. Gemma
4. Diego
5. Gemma
6. Diego
7. Gemma
8. Diego
9. Gemma
10. Diego
11. Gemma
12. Diego
13. Gemma
14. Diego
15. Gemma
16. Diego
17. Gemma
18. Gemma
19. Diego
20. Diego
21. Gemma
22. Gemma
23. Diego
24. Gemma
25. Diego
26. Gemma
27. Diego
28. Diego
29. Gemma
30. Diego
31. Gemma
32. Diego
33. Gemma
34. Diego
35. Gemma
Epilogue
Find My Books
Acknowledgments
About the Author
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 J.H. Croix
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Najla Qamber Designs
Cover Photography: Eric Battershell
Cover models: Ani & Anna Saliasi
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
Dedication
“What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle.” ~Rumi
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Chapter One
Gemma
My breath came in ragged bursts as I jogged across the gravel parking lot. “Charlie!” I hollered.
My horse twitched his tail and picked up his pace from a trot to a canter. “You little shit,” I muttered. It’s not like I could easily catch up to him, but I needed to catch him and hoped he tired of his antics soon. I kept going, cursing when I stubbed my toe on a giant rock and hoping Charlie didn’t keep going and end up near the highway in Diamond Creek.
Diamond Creek, Alaska wasn’t all that busy. With the exception of the summer months when the traffic on the highway was bumper to bumper with RVs. I heard the rumble of a motorcycle behind me and hoped the driver was paying close attention. I saw Charlie’s tail rise in the air as he turned and looked back, his mane lifting and rippling with a gust of wind.
The motorcycle passed me carefully and then slowed. I presumed when they saw my escaped horse. The stirrups were flopping as Charlie finally came to a stop and looked back toward me.
“Charlie!” I called.
Although I was in decent shape, I was running out of breath, figuring I’d run at least two miles now and definitely faster than I preferred. I stopped, resting my hands on my knees. Just then, I heard the rumble of a motorcycle approaching from the opposite direction this time.
“Oh, no,” I muttered to myself.
Lifting my head, I was relieved to see the motorcyclist slowing as they passed by Charlie. I began walking again, immediately breaking into a jog. The motorcycle slowed beside me. The guy driving it called over, “Is that your horse?”
I nodded and kept on jogging. I didn’t really know why this guy was asking. I couldn’t see if it was anyone I knew. I didn’t know that many people yet in Diamond Creek, with the exception of the students who had begun coming to my yoga classes and the staff at my favorite new coffee shop.
The man on the motorcycle came to a stop and carefully turned his bike around again. Glancing over my shoulder a few seconds later, I saw him rolling to a stop beside me. Then, the man opened the visor on his motorcycle helmet, and I recognized Diego Jackson.
The moment my eyes landed on him, my belly spun in several rapid somersaults. Of all the men to stop, it just had to be Diego.
My hormones let out a little cheer. I’d met Diego a few times. He’d come to some of my yoga classes with his friend, Flynn, who dragged him and some other guys along whenever Flynn’s girlfriend wanted Flynn to come with her. Those men were dripping with testosterone and enough hotness to melt panties. Of course, only one man sent my body into overdrive—Diego.
“Hey, Gemma. Hop on,” Diego said, patting the seat behind him. “I promise I won’t go too fast, and you’re wearing a helmet.” He pointed to my riding helmet.
I hesitated, but then glanced ahead to see Charlie’s tail flick in the air as he took off at a fast trot. There was no way I was going to catch him on foot.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I hedged, wondering if I could even handle climbing on a motorcycle behind Diego and being pressed up against all of that muscled hardness.
I didn’t know Diego drove a motorcycle, but then I didn’t know much about him at all. Other than that he had a body worthy of sculpture, and he flew planes.
“I’m positive. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think you can catch that horse on foot. He’s not in town yet, but he’s getting close, and then we’ll be dealing with traffic.”
I was a reasonable woman, and I knew he had a point. I didn’t hesitate any further, and climbed on behind Diego. I ignored the flutters in my belly and the heat pinwheeling like hot sparks through me.
“Put your arms around me,” he ordered.
I wrapped my arms around his waist. Diego wore a leather jacket, which didn’t do much to mask the fact that his body was all muscle. My pulse drummed out an excited beat.
“I won’t go too fast,” he called over his shoulder as he put his bike in gear.
The engine rumbled under my thighs. I’d never actually ridden on a motorcycle. I felt the vibration through my entire body while he eased the speed up slowly.
In less than a minute, we caught up to my naughty horse. I’d only had Charlie for a few months. He was a beauty, with a dappled gray coat and an elegant build. I planned to pull his mane soon, but I loved the way it flowed in the wind, as it did now.
His bridle jingled from the reins flapping, and the stirrups slapped against his sides. He glanced sideways and let out a little snort. I felt Diego’s chuckle reverberate through his body.
“He thinks this is funny,” I offered over Diego’s shoulder.
Charlie dodged and picked up his pace when I reached for the reins. Further demonstrating just how funny he thought he was, he glanced back at Diego’s motorcycle, letting out another little snort when Diego caught up to his side again.
This time, Diego was lightning fast and grabbed the reins, slowing his bike smoothly while keeping a firm hold of Charlie. He eased to the side of the road, and Charlie had enough sense to follow. We stopped on the shoulder, and I carefully climbed off the motorcycle. I took the reins from Diego.
“Thank you, I don’t think I would’ve gotten him soon without your help.”
Diego lifted his visor aga
in, removing his helmet and running a hand through his dark curls. His hair was ruffled, and his green eyes scanned from Charlie to me while my pulse took off like a rocket. My hormones did a little happy dance.
The gods and goddesses of beauty had been generous with Diego. His eyes were like a forest filled with secrets, mossy green and intense. They stood out in a face that was already too much with a jaw that could cut glass, a sensual mouth, and cheekbones that could make a sculptor weep. Also, he was strong, like ridiculously muscular.
I was usually in a pretty good mental space when I taught yoga, but whenever he showed up, my hormones went wild in my body. He wore these fitted T-shirts and gym shorts that did nothing to disguise his great ass, his honed shoulders, arms, thighs and calves. His everything. I was pretty sure even his toes could rev my hormones.
Diego’s gaze bounced back to Charlie. “He’s a beauty.”
I nodded, glancing back to my horse. “A beauty and a handful.” Charlie nuzzled his head into my shoulder, and I scrubbed behind his ears.
“How far do you need to go to get him home?”
I gestured over my shoulder. “A few miles back that way. I don’t live on this road, but on a side road. Thank you again. He was getting too close to town for my comfort.”
“Did he throw you off?”
I sighed. “Yes. He’s a little rambunctious. I don’t think I can ride him outside of the pasture again. Not yet.”
Diego chuckled, and butterflies twirled in my belly. Sweet hell. This man just did it for me, and it was all rather unsettling.
“So, you’re a yoga teacher and a horse rider. What else don’t I know about you?” he asked, his mouth kicking up at the corners in a smile that sent liquid fire spinning through my veins.
I felt a little breathless. “That’s pretty much it.”
“Why don’t I follow you home, in case he’s feeling rambunctious again?”
I was about to say no when I realized that wasn’t the best choice. By the time Charlie had unseated me, he had shied twice. The last thing I wanted was to dismiss Diego’s offer and find myself chasing my horse again.
“You don’t mind?”
“If I minded, I wouldn’t have offered.
“All right, then.”
I mounted Charlie. After checking to see Diego had already pulled his visor down and was waiting, I gave Charlie a light squeeze with my calves, and he shifted into a trot. Conveniently, Charlie didn’t seem bothered by the sound of a motorcycle rumbling behind us, but then Diego kept the engine low and rode at a comfortable distance.
Not much later, I slowed to a walk and brought Charlie into the small barn. I waved over my shoulder, calling, “Thank you,” to Diego.
I quickly took off Charlie’s saddle and bridle, slipping on his halter. After brushing him, I put him in his stall with some fresh hay and water. All in all, that took maybe five minutes.
I didn’t expect to find Diego waiting, but his motorcycle was still there when I walked back out. He had removed his helmet and appeared to be on the phone.
With my pulse thrumming along and those butterflies spinning madly in my belly again, I approached him because it seemed rude to ignore him. Without his help, Charlie very well may have ended up facing traffic, which could’ve been a disaster.
“Got it,” Diego said into his phone. “I’ll be back soon.”
Lowering the phone, he glanced over at me. His helmet was resting on his lap. Dear God, he was just all man, sitting on that motorcycle in faded jeans and that leather jacket.
“Is Charlie all safe and sound now?” he asked.
I nodded because it was all I could manage. My brain cells had imploded just looking at him and words required too much effort. I watched as his eyes scanned the barn and the adjoining pasture before circling around to the small house across the grass on the other side of the gravel area.
I’d lucked into this job and rental. The owners had moved away and needed someone to take care of the horses. There were four horses, two of which they owned. They rented out stalls for two other horses. I got paid to take care of the horses, and I got to ride one of them myself. The house rental came as part of the deal at a very reduced rate. All in all, this gig made it possible for me to make the leap in moving to Alaska and bought me time to get my yoga teaching business off the ground.
When I’d won an all-expenses-paid trip to Alaska and fallen in love with it, I wondered how I could make it work to live here. This situation gave me a soft landing.
“Beautiful place,” he commented.
Just beyond the house was an opening through the trees that offered a view of the mountains and the sparkling harbor in the distance. “Hard not to have a beautiful view here,” I replied.
His eyes crinkled at the corners with his grin. “Very true.” He glanced to the mountains before bringing his gaze back to me. “I should be going. I suppose I might see you in yoga class sometime.”
“Come as often as you like.”
His mouth kicked up at one corner. “Now, Gemma, are you scolding me for not being a more consistent student?”
The teasing hint in his tone sent a wash of heat through my body. I felt my cheeks getting hot and shrugged. “Of course not. I know you guys come because Daphne and Cammi talk you into it,” I said, referring to the respective girlfriends of two of his friends.
Diego threw his head back with a laugh. “Maybe so, but I always enjoy it when I’m there.”
Chapter Two
Diego
Gemma Marlon stood in front of me, her fingers rubbing the hem of her T-shirt with one hand while she held the strap of her riding helmet in the other, swinging it lightly. She seemed a little nervous. Considering how she set my nerves alight and the sizzle of chemistry between us, I wondered if that had her unsettled.
That chemistry created a fizzy sensation inside with raw desire sizzling through my body. I’d met her when Flynn had dragged a few of us with him to yoga class when Daphne wanted him to go.
Considering my friends here were like family, I gamely went along with him. I thought I’d have to suffer through it, but there was no suffering involved. The second I clapped eyes on Gemma, I didn’t want to leave. She was a quirky kind of beautiful with a sensual, throaty voice that nearly undid me. I didn’t think she meant for me to be so turned on in every class that it was an act of will to keep my body in check.
She let go of the hem of her T-shirt and lifted her hand to sift her fingers through her ruffled curls. She had rumpled honey-gold curls. They fell to her shoulders, making me want to brush them away and dust kisses on her neck.
I paused, taking the moment to absorb her. She had big brown eyes paired with her curls. Despite the cool Alaskan summer, her skin was sun-kissed, like honey. She was on the short side with a toned body that was somehow inviting and curvy at the same time. She’d fit nicely behind me on my motorcycle, her thighs curving around mine. I’d wanted to spin around and kiss her senseless.
We stared at each other for several long seconds, and I marveled that she was comfortable with the quiet.
After a moment, she added, “I bet you get to see the best of Alaska.”
I’d actually lost the thread of our conversation. “What do you mean?”
“Because you fly, so you get to see everything from above,” she explained, gesturing to the sky, which was blue today with fluffy clouds scudding across its surface as the wind had started to pick up.
“Have you flown since you’ve been here?”
She shook her head quickly, her curls bouncing. “I took a plane to get here, but that’s it.”
“Well, then, I’ll take you. Coming in on a commercial flight doesn’t give you the kind of view you can get in the smaller planes.”
“You will?” she squeaked.
“Of course.” I felt my phone vibrate in my chest pocket over my heart. “I actually need to go.” That vibration was the alarm I’d set to let me know when it was time to head out to the plane hangar
for a scheduled flight. “Not today, but give me your number,” I said, sliding my phone out. “I’ll text you when I’ve got a free day to take you.”
“Isn’t that kind of expensive?”
“You’re not paying.”
Gemma started to shake her head, and I shook mine harder in return. “Seriously. Give me your number,” I repeated.
After she recited it, I punched it in and sent her a quick text. “Just so you have mine. Now, I gotta roll.” I slipped on my helmet.
“Thank you again!” she called as I started my motorcycle.
With a wave, I drove off. The distance from her place out to the small airport in Diamond Creek was short. There was a commercial airport here, but I was aiming for the one where small planes, which were serious business in Alaska, were housed in a collection of hangars lining the runway. I flew planes for one of my best friends. Flynn Walker owned and ran an outdoor resort in the wilderness, twenty miles, give or take, from Diamond Creek proper. They served guests for a variety of outdoor activities, along with guided plane trips.
I’d met Flynn when we were in the Air Force together and would lay my life on the line for the man. So far, there were four of us who’d moved here after he let us know we could make good money. It was a dream job. I loved to fly planes, and Alaska was flat out beautiful, the kind of beauty that elicited a sense of awe.
