Come To Me (Dare With Me Series Book 3)

by J. H. Croix

  I laughed and took a bite.

  “So, what did you think of the plane ride?” he asked a few moments later after he set his spoon down and pushed his empty bowl away.

  “It was awesome. I’ve never been in a small plane like that. I kind of can’t believe that’s your job.”

  He grinned. “Sometimes I can’t believe it either. I’ve been flying for years. That’s why I went into the Air Force. I wanted to fly planes. I didn’t know I’d luck into a job like this after I got out of the military.”

  “I bet you guys love it.”

  “We do. I have a job I love, and I get to work with people who are family to me. Can’t really beat it. I’m a happy man.”

  A fierce sense of longing pierced me. That feeling, what he described, was what I wanted—feeling like I had my place in the world and I had my own little tribe. That was something I felt like I’d been searching for forever.

  Restless, I stood to put our bowls in the sink. I felt him stand and cross over into the kitchen behind me. His presence was potent, all raw, primal, and easy masculinity. It wasn’t overpowering, but so complete.

  Turning, I found him leaning against the counter, one hand curled on the edge and the other hooked in a pocket. There was nothing left to do just now, and anxiety spun inside me.

  “Come’ere,” he murmured, his voice gruff.

  Since apparently I did whatever Diego asked, I crossed the kitchen to stop in front of him. He reached a hand out, catching one of mine and reeling me closer to him. The heat emanating from him buffeted my body, and desire flickered to life, sending flames licking through me.

  “I’m going to kiss you again,” he said slowly and with purpose, each word like a drop of liquid fire spinning into the need building inside me.

  I licked my lips, and tried to take a breath. “Okay,” I whispered.

  Then, his hand was sliding around my waist and pulling me flush against him. I felt his breath like a soft breeze on my skin as he dipped his head and dusted a kiss on my neck right behind my ear, sending a hot shiver through me. He made his way to my mouth at a leisurely pace, pressing hot, open kisses on the underside of my jaw. He dropped kisses at each corner of my mouth before he finally, finally, fit his mouth over mine.

  That couldn’t have taken more than a few seconds, and yet the moment was so fraught with tension and need that by the time his tongue swept into my mouth, I was near frantic. I moaned shamelessly into our kiss, my tongue greedy against his. He growled in response, his hand sliding down to cup my bottom. I felt the hard, hot press of his arousal at the apex of my thighs. I wanted all of him. Now.

  He devoured my mouth with masterful strokes, easing back only to nip at my lips and dive back in. I was greedy, one hand mapping his chest and the other stealing under his shirt. My God, he was all muscle. His skin was warm to the touch and felt alive as I stroked my palm across it.

  He muttered something, tearing his lips free and taking in a ragged breath. I gulped lungfuls of air as my heartbeat thundered and blood rushed through my ears.

  His eyes swept over my face. We were quiet, just staring at each other. The moment felt sharply intimate. I’d never felt such the center of anyone’s focus. This moment was all there was.

  His palm slid away from where he’d been caressing the curve of my bottom. I instantly missed his touch, but then, he lifted his hand, his fingers trailing over my skin along the edge of my blouse. His light touch was a blaze of fire. He paused when his fingertip landed at the center, above the top button.

  “Please,” I heard myself say, barely even recognizing the throaty, almost pleading quality to my voice. I wasn’t a girl who lost herself to passion. This was almost like witnessing a stranger inhabiting a part of myself I’d never known.

  Because, apparently, Diego could read my mind, he flicked that top button open and worked his way down—one tantalizing button at a time.

  Chapter Ten

  Diego

  Gemma’s blouse had these maddening tiny buttons. I’d never thought a button would have anything to do with the state of my body, but the tension created by them as I undid them one at a time felt like a coil tightening inside me. Matters were made decidedly worse by her breathy whimpers and the feel of her palm mapping across my chest.

  When her shirt fell open, and I glimpsed her dark blue lace bra, heat sizzled up my spine, and I let out a rough groan. She was pressed against me, so I spun us around quickly, lifting her and sliding her hips on the counter. She let out a surprised gasp, and I felt a grin kicking up the corners of my mouth when I looked at her.

  “Sorry to startle you there, sugar,” I murmured before stringing a trail of kisses along her collarbone.

  I tortured myself a little, sliding my palm over the soft curve of her belly before coasting up to cup one of her breasts. It fit perfectly in my palm, a lush weight. I stroked my thumb over the lace, feeling her nipple pebble under my touch. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, and her breath came in sharp, rapid pants.

  I needed her mouth again and closed the short distance between us to capture her plump, damp lips. She kissed like a dream, her mouth opening immediately, hot and sweet. Her tongue was sassy with mine, and she tasted a bit like chocolate, a special kind of heaven I hadn’t imagined. Chocolate and kisses went incredibly well together.

  I took sip after languid sip of her mouth, all the while getting to know the feel of her body under my hands. I slid one hand around her waist over the silky skin, my fingers sliding just under the waist of her jeans to cup her bottom. I was relieved they weren’t too tight because I was all about easy access at the moment.

  Everything about Gemma was soft and warm and sensual. Meanwhile, my cock was hard as a steel rod and aching for her. I wanted her, badly, but this was just for her tonight. Although I never was one to shy away from a hot encounter where everyone got what they wanted, I was somehow holding back with Gemma. Like I knew it would be all the better for me if I waited.

  I finally broke free from her delectable mouth, murmuring, “You taste so fucking good.”

  She replied with something between a moan and a whimper as I squeezed a nipple between my thumb and forefinger just before I undid the clasp between her breasts. Straightening, I let my eyes dip down. Her breasts tumbled loose, plump and round, with her nipples deep pink, both taut peaks practically begging for my mouth.

  Whether they were begging or not, I needed to taste them and dipped my head, catching one nipple with my lips. I gave it a slow swirl with my tongue and a light suck before drawing back. I was in danger of coming in my jeans like an untried boy without her even touching me when she let out a ragged cry and gasped my name. I couldn’t resist and had to give the same attention to her other breast. I didn’t want any part of her body to feel left out.

  Gemma reached between us, her palm boldly stroking over my cock. Fuck me. This girl was going to push me to the limits of my discipline. Lifting my head, I thumbed her nipple, savoring the way she arched into my touch.

  When she stroked over me again, I murmured, “Easy there.”

  Her lashes lifted, and her dark, hazy gaze struck me like a whip, spurring my need harder and faster.

  “I need—” she began just as I slid my hand over her belly to cup her mound.

  Even through the denim, I could feel her heat. “Tell me what you need, sugar.”

  “Something,” she gasped, her tone almost annoyed.

  I quickly unbuttoned her jeans and slid her zipper down, that subtle sound spinning into all the other sensations roaming through my body. There was just enough room for me to get my hand in her jeans and discover her panties were wet with her arousal.

  I wasn’t all about finesse, not tonight. I felt as if I were a rock tumbling down the hill in an avalanche, bouncing wildly as I sought the only thing I wanted. Well, not the only thing, but the sole thing I was going to let myself have tonight—her pleasure.

  Her hips bucked restlessly into my touch. Although the space was tight,
I pushed her panties to the side, delving my fingers in her folds. They were slick with her need. Leaning forward, I caught her lips in mine again, right as she let out a little whimper that I caught in our kiss as I sank one finger and then another, knuckle deep, into her snug core.

  Fuck me. The feel of her channel, hot and slick around my touch as I teased her higher and higher, was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I could feel her breasts brush against my chest with her tattered breathing. Even though my T-shirt separated us, the sensation was intoxicating. I clung to my control, delving my tongue inside her mouth and mimicking the motion of my fingers in her channel as she rocked against me.

  I could feel her tightening as she rippled around me. I lifted my head because I needed to see this. Her skin was flushed and her lips were pink and swollen. “I want to see your eyes,” I said, my voice strained, like the need strung tight inside my body.

  Her lashes lifted, her gaze locking to mine instantly. I watched when she flew apart, her eyes closing again as her entire body trembled and she arched, the muscles in her neck tightening with her keening cry.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gemma

  I barely registered when Diego slowly withdrew his hand and put my panties back in place before zipping my jeans and even buttoning them with one hand. All the while, he held me close. My head fell against his shoulder as I tried to catch my breath after the one and only orgasm I’d ever had with anyone other than myself.

  I’d had plenty of sex, just none of it all that great. My experiences with sex were kind of, well, boring. I had actually given up thinking it might ever be much more. Now Diego had gone and completely blown my mind and left me all but a melted puddle in his arms. I felt boneless with sensations flowing through my body like the tide eddying after a crashing wave.

  I could feel the hard press of his arousal, just on the inside of my thigh where my legs dangled off the edge of the counter.

  I didn’t know why, but I sensed he had no intention of taking things further tonight. A small corner of my mind worried about that. My past experience had led me to believe it was a girl’s job to make sure no man was left wanting. I wanted to give Diego even a spoonful of the pleasure he’d just given me. Preferably much more. None of this felt dutiful, which was strangely fraught for me. If only because of the contrast to past experience. I felt comfortable in my skin with him in a way I’d never felt with a man.

  I finally found enough strength to lift my head and open my eyes. I discovered I had one palm curled around his waist, pressing against the corded muscles of his spine. I’d orgasmed so hard I hadn’t even noticed part of my body was still clenching his.

  His eyes opened, his gaze searching mine. He dipped his head, giving me a lingering kiss, just enough to rev the engine of my body all over again, sending pinwheels of sensation through me and those eddies stirring into another rush of pleasure.

  When he drew away, my question slipped out. “What about you?”

  “Not tonight, sugar,” he said in that low, gravelly voice.

  All he had to do was speak and another shiver chased over the surface of my skin. It felt as if my libido was coming awake after hibernation, energized and starved for sustenance.

  I surprised myself with another question. “How come?”

  Diego was quiet, and for a second my vulnerability rose to the surface swiftly. I thought I saw a flicker of the same in his eyes. It disappeared quickly like the wing of a bird out of the corner of my eye.

  “Because I don’t want to rush. Not with you.” He punctuated that with another lingering kiss.

  Every touch felt like drops of honey rolling over my skin, warm and sweet.

  “That okay?” he asked, searching my eyes when he lifted his head again.

  I was nodding before I thought about it. Because it was okay. Maybe, just maybe, sex didn’t have to feel like a transaction. That was a novel thought for me.

  He stepped away, helping me off the counter. I pulled my bra closed, and he buttoned my blouse. His knuckles kept brushing against my skin, sparks flying in the wake of every touch.

  I felt liquid inside, with little pings of pleasure echoing through my system here and there.

  “Today was really awesome,” I said as I looked up at him.

  His lips curled in a slow smile, and my heart gave a sweet twist in my chest, yet another surprise.

  “It was really awesome. You owe me dinner, you better not forget.”

  “I won’t. When would you like to go?”

  I silently cursed myself for speaking so quickly. I didn’t really know the rules of dating. Well, I sort of did. I was terrible at them. Either I wasn’t interested, or I didn’t do casual well, or I didn’t feel a thing, or apparently, I was too eager like this. I think this was against all of the rules. I was supposed to wait before I pushed to see him again, maybe even a prescribed amount of time. I was quite certain I could search online after he left and find any thousands of articles or online discussions about how long to wait and why it was best to wait and why it was important not to seem too eager, and so on and so forth.

  As my mind spun its wheels, Diego pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped on the screen. “I’m scheduled for flights for the next seven days straight.” He cast me a regretful look.

  My insecure heart cheered at that. He was disappointed. Maybe I hadn’t completely blown it by behaving like an enthusiastic puppy.

  “How about you let me know then?” I suggested.

  “I will. My sister is coming to visit soon too. I don’t know exactly when. I promise we’ll have dinner soon, but you don’t want to have it with her, not right away.” He rolled his eyes at that. “She’s nosy and might scare you off. I love her though.”

  I bit my lip, almost laughing at the sweetness in the way he described his sister and the affectionate annoyance in his tone.

  “Let’s say the next Saturday after my last flight. We always get two days off after we do seven days in a row. I’m guaranteed not to be flying that day.”

  “What about your sister?”

  “If she’s here, she’ll deal,” he returned with a shrug.

  Chapter Twelve

  Diego

  A few days later

  I drained my coffee and leaned back in my chair at the table in the resort’s kitchen. “Damn, that is some good coffee.”

  Elias chuckled from where he sat across from me at the table. He’d shown up this morning to have a staff-only brunch with us with coffees for everyone from Cammi. She even packed them in an insulated container so they were still warm when he got here.

  “Yeah, dude, you can never break up with her,” Tucker commented from beside me.

  “Definitely not. Needs to be a group vote,” Gabriel added.

  “I’m not going to break up with her,” Elias said. “But that’s not because her coffee is amazing.”

  “We know you’re whipped, no need to remind us,” Gabriel replied, sounding the slightest bit irritated about this, likely because he didn’t get enough since he and Nora were still sneaking around.

  Speaking of, Nora came in through the door from the back hallway. She had her own cabin nearby and didn’t stay in the family rooms here at the lodge.

  “Morning,” Nora called as she crossed over to see what Daphne was working on at the stove.

  Daphne called to her, “There are omelets in the warming pan, veggie or meat.”

  Nora smiled as she served herself. Although the resort was busier since Daphne had started working here, she kept a schedule where we had at least one staff-only dinner a week, and one brunch. She insisted it was important for her to get a break from cooking for guests. She said it was also a way to make sure the guests were taking advantage of restaurants in town. Daphne was our chef, but she was also really the manager of the resort these days. Flynn had been so focused on getting the flight service going that everything else here had been a scramble for him.

  Daphne had now organized referral flow
s with practically every other tourist business in town. It was awesome. It gave us a chance to chill out and relax together when guests weren’t around.

  Nora joined us at the table, slipping into the empty chair beside Gabriel. “So, what’s up this morning?” she asked the table at large.

  Elias silently slid a coffee cup labeled with her name across the counter. “I think it’s still warm. From Cammi.”

  Nora’s eyes went wide. “Oh, man. She’s the best. You can’t break up with her.”

  “Jesus Christ.” Elias leaned back in his chair. ‘What’s with this? I have no intention of breaking up with Cammi.”

  Flynn chuckled at Nora’s puzzled look. “We just reminded him he couldn’t do that.”

  Nora grinned, her cheeks dimpling. “Well, we’re used to getting coffee at least once a week from her personally delivered by you. Plus, we don’t want it to be awkward at the two best coffee shops in town.”

  Conversation meandered along. Daphne, because she was all business even when we were trying to take a break, wanted to discuss the menu. Cat came in from a slumber party at a friend’s the night before. Just as we were breaking apart to go about our days, I remembered to let everybody know my sister was flying in tomorrow. She’d ended up coming sooner than she originally planned.

  “Tomorrow? That’s awesome. I love Harley. She’s funny,” Cat commented.

  “That she is,” I replied with a slow nod. “I told her if she wanted to go into town much, she might need to get a car rental.”

  “She can borrow one of the resort trucks,” Flynn replied. “We’ve got three. There’s always an extra one kicking around.”

  “She can’t drive a stick shift,” I replied.

  “Are you serious?” Grant countered, looking dismayed at this detail.

  I chuckled. “Yeah. Not everybody learns these days.”