by Susan Hayes
“Oops.”
“I’ll sew it back on later. I think it’s fucking sexy that you want me naked that badly.”
“And I think it’s sexy that you know how to sew a button back on.” She ran her hands over his bare chest for the first time and hummed in admiration. Big and well-muscled, he had the body of a man who spent time running, or playing sports. Crisp, blond hairs tickled her palms as she stroked from chest to shoulders and back down again, following the treasure trail down to where it vanished beneath his trousers.
His abs tensed beneath her fingers and his breath caught for a moment as she let her fingers drift down to the button of his pants. Instead of undoing it, she moved in close and whispered in his ear. “For this next bit, I think you should probably be standing.”
“As my lady wishes.”
He rose to his feet with an easy grace Dani envied. He toed off his shoes, then stood directly in front of her, hands at his sides and a lazy grin on his face. She realized he wasn’t going to do anything more on his own and returned to the task of undressing him. Her fingers were trembling as she reached for his belt buckle, and it took her longer than it should have to undo it and the button beneath. It wasn’t until she was tugging his pants over his hips that she discovered it wasn’t only her who was shaking. His hands were fisted at his sides, but she could still see the telltale trembling that told her he was affected by this as much as she was.
That knowledge empowered her.
His pants were still around his knees when she leaned in and nuzzled the outline of his cock, running her lips along the full length.
“Dani!” He groaned her name as a shudder coursed through him.
She hummed in response, deliberately holding her mouth over the crown of his dick as she did so. His cock twitched in response and she reached up to pull away the last barrier between them. His thick shaft sprang free and she captured it with her mouth. He groaned, his hands coming up to cradle her head. His touch was gentle, encouraging her without forcing compliance.
She followed her instincts, licking and sucking until she learned what pleased him, then using that knowledge to take him to the edge of his control. She used her fingertips to stroke the delicate skin behind his balls, teasing and tormenting him until he was thrusting into her mouth and groaning her name in a broken chant.
His balls tightened, his shaft thickening as his orgasm started and he tried to pull away, but she didn’t let him. Instead, she took him deeper still and rolled his balls between her fingers as he uttered a guttural cry and came. Glancing up, Dani watched as this strong, virile man came undone at her touch. Head thrown back, eyes closed, every muscle in his body stood out as he spent himself with a few last thrusts.
When she finally released him, she found him staring at her with a raw hunger that made her pulse race. “Now, it’s my turn,” he said in a voice gone deep and rough with need.
He finished stripping off his pants before coming at her, scooping her into his arms and tossing her into the center of the bed. He was on top of her within seconds, his mouth plundering hers, one leg thrown over her thigh to pin her in place. Gone was the teasing, laughing man who had carried her in here. In his place was a predator, fierce and primal as he laid claim to her body with every fiery touch.
Hands cupped her breasts, teasing at her already sensitive nipples. The satin amplified his caresses, adding another layer of pleasure as he rolled her hardened nubs between his fingers. His half-hard cock was pressed between her thighs, the thick head rubbing against her mons. She was so wet with need that it soaked through the fabric, betraying her arousal.
“Too many clothes,” he muttered against her lips as he released her breasts to start tugging the negligee higher. When it passed her hips, he began kissing his way down her body, suckling each breast in turn before working his way down to her pussy. He settled between her legs, parting her thighs so that she was laid bare before him.
She caught herself tugging the negligee lower, trying to hide the stretch marks and the unflattering swell of her tummy, but he caught her hand in his and held her still.
“Don’t cover yourself up, sunshine. You’re gorgeous. Every fucking inch of you.”
“Not all of me,” she protested, lifting her head to look at him. “I’m scarred and broken. You’ve seen the reports and my scars. You know it’s true. And after Casey, my body changed…”
He cut her off with a shake of his head. “I don’t care about your scars, or these changes you’re talking about. I only see the woman lying on this bed with me right now, and she’s fucking stunning.”
He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he parted her labia with his fingers and leaned in to swipe his tongue across her swollen clit. The sensation was electric and she arched her back off the bed. He did it again and she let her head fall as a startled cry of pleasure rose from her lips. She’d done this before, but it had always been more awkward than pleasurable.
This time she could tell it was going to be different.
He didn’t taste her the next time—he devoured. He sucked at her swollen clit, flicking it with his tongue until she could barely breathe for the pleasure of it. Then he slid a finger into her slick channel and began to fuck her in time to the lashing of his tongue.
Dani’s fingers twisted into the quilt beneath her as a firestorm of need blazed through her body. There was no more time to feel self-conscious. There was only passion and pleasure, lifting her up to the heavens and carrying her away to a place where every second felt like an eternity of ecstasy.
He worked her body like a maestro, driving her to the brink of release, then holding her there until she was writhing beneath him and trembling with the need to come. He seemed to sense the exact moment it all became too much for her. His fingers curled and his tongue flicked hard and fast over her clit as he finally brought her to orgasm.
In the time it took her to catch her breath, David had somehow coaxed her out of her new lingerie and tossed it onto the floor beside his clothes. He nuzzled her neck and kissed his way up to her mouth before murmuring, “My condoms are still in my jacket pocket. Tell me I don’t need to leave this bed to go find them. Now that I’ve got you naked and in my arms I don’t want to let go.”
“In the side table drawer,” she said, making a vague gesture in the right direction. He kissed her again, then reached for the drawer with one hand, keeping most of his focus on her as he groped blindly. She realized her mistake the moment his eyebrows shot up and he started to chuckle.
“That’s not all that’s in here,” he said before pulling out her Lelo vibrator. “Purple, huh?”
“I happen to like that color,” she replied, ignoring the instinct to go hide under the covers until her mortification faded.
“I had no idea they came in different colors…or shapes.” His eyes shifted back to a brilliant green as he looked over the vibrator one last time before setting it back in the drawer. “I hope the batteries are fresh. I plan on using that on you later.”
The thought of Dave using her toy on her made her pussy clench and her stomach fill with a new batch of butterflies. Vivid images danced through her mind and she found herself nodding in agreement.
“You really want to do that?” she asked as he pulled out a condom and tore the packet open with his teeth.
He sheathed his cock in the latex before looking up at her with eyes full of heat. “I want to do so many things to you. Believe me. We’re not going to get much sleep tonight.”
“If you stay for breakfast, I’ll make sure to brew the coffee extra strong.”
“You don’t have to make me breakfast to get me to stay the night. I want to be here, Dani.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before he sealed her lips with a scorching kiss. He drew her along with him as he moved to the head of the bed, guiding her into his lap as he settled himself with his back against the wall and his legs stretched out in front of him.
She straddled his thighs as their tongues due
led and his hands moved to grip her hips, pulling her in tight to his body. His shaft pressed against her clit and she moaned into his mouth, instinctively rocking her hips to increase the friction between them.
He pinched her nipples lightly and she felt the jolt all the way down to her clit. Without slowing her hips, she reached between them, guiding his cock to her entrance, and with the next roll of her hips he was inside her.
“Perfect,” he whispered, his eyes locked on hers as she took him deeper. The wide head of his cock caressed her inner walls as he filled her inch by inch, sending delicious shivers of pleasure flowing through her. She waited for him to take the lead, but he didn’t move even though she could feel his cock pulsing in her channel. He kissed her once, then started toying with her breasts again, adding to her enjoyment of their joining.
“Fuck me, Dani. I want to watch you ride my cock until you come.” Dave’s voice was barely more than a hoarse growl.
She braced her hands on his shoulders and gave in to the need to move. Within seconds she’d found her rhythm, leaning in tight to his body and riding him as if he were a galloping stallion. His mouth claimed hers in a torrid kiss that threw her back into the rising storm of her passions.
Harder and faster she moved until both of them were breathless and groaning, chasing each other up the scales of pleasure until they were both at the pinnacle. Dave slipped a hand between them and fingered her clit, bringing her to orgasm. She was still lost in her release as he wrapped her in his arms and rolled them both over so that he was above her, her legs around his hips and his cock still buried deep inside her.
“Mine,” he growled as he began moving over her, fucking her with a fierce intensity that left her giddy and reeling. It wasn’t long before he threw back his head and came with her name on his lips.
As he slumped over her, panting and spent, she turned her head to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth and whisper a single word. A word she knew could change her life. “Yes.”
Chapter Nine
Dave’s carefully ordered life was going to hell, and it didn’t bother him a bit. For the first time since his divorce, he was living for something other than the job. He would always love being a cop, but he finally saw that there was room in his life for more than one passion. Not that he would ever admit it to anyone, especially not his mother. Every time he saw her she looked as pleased as a cat with a bowl of cream.
By the time Friday rolled around, Dave was itching to be done with work for the week. No late nights at the office, no taking work home, no sitting in his empty house eating take-out alone. This weekend was all about spending time with two amazing ladies that were quickly laying claim to his heart. He’d planned out everything, from a picnic in the park to an evening carriage ride, with plenty of time left over for a Sunday brunch and a visit to one of the city’s biggest toy stores. It had taken a bit of persuading to convince Dani on that last idea, but he knew that Casey had been forced to leave nearly all of her toys behind when they fled Seattle. He was on a mission to replace at least some of what she’d lost.
He grabbed his suitcase off the bed and did one last walk-through, ensuring all the windows and doors were secured. He didn’t plan on being back for a few days. Tag and Jo wouldn’t be returning until the middle of next week, so he’d be staying at their place for a while. There hadn’t been any further sign of Bobby in Chicago, but Dave’s sources in Seattle had given him some disturbing news. Dani’s parents had reported seeing Bobby around their home and work a few times since he’d appeared at Casey’s school. There’d been a dumpster fire set behind the family’s restaurant, and another night a window had been broken. A few days later they’d reported someone had slashed the tires on all their vehicles one night when they were at home.
Since Dani hadn’t mentioned it, Dave was betting her parents hadn’t told her about the fire or the vandalism to avoid upsetting her. He hadn’t told her, either. Not because he wanted to protect her, but because the information wasn’t his to pass on. What he’d been told had been off the record and outside official channels. He was already bending the rules by getting involved at all. He wouldn’t add to the problem by talking out of turn. At least not unless it was something Dani needed to know.
Bobby was the most likely suspect for both the fire and the tire slashing, but after about a week the drive-bys and vandalism had stopped and the bastard had vanished again. Seattle’s finest were looking for him, but so far no one had found him. Dani’s ex was out there somewhere, and there was no way in hell Dave was going to drop his guard until the man was back behind bars where he belonged.
It wasn’t until he was heading out the door that it struck him that while he’d lived here for a couple of years, this house didn’t feel like a home. It was too tidy, the furnishings too stark. Dani had been in Tag’s lower suite for a matter of weeks, and she already had it feeling warmer and more welcoming than his place had ever been.
He pondered what he could do to make his house into more of a home the whole drive into town. He had a few ideas cooking by the time he got to Leo’s to meet his girls. He would never pressure Dani to stay in Chicago, but he wasn’t above making it as tempting as possible for her to stay here, with him.
His good humor lasted until he pulled into the parking lot. Habit had him looking for Dani’s car, and when he spotted it his blood went cold. Someone had trashed it. He didn’t bother finding a parking spot. He just killed the engine and got out. Instinct had him double check his weapon, his hand touching the grip before releasing it again as a scan of the area confirmed that he was alone.
The lot was empty.
He jogged over to the car, hoping against hope that it was a random act of vandalism and nothing more. One look at the damage and he knew it wasn’t random. Whore was keyed into the paint of the driver’s side door. The tires had been slashed, and half the windows were shattered.
Dani hadn’t been paranoid that night at the gym. Her bastard of an ex had somehow managed to find them again.
“Dani! Jared! Dad!” he bellowed the second he stepped foot inside.
“What the hell?” Jared demanded as he appeared in his office door.
“Where’s Dani?” Dave barked, ignoring his brother’s irritation at being disturbed.
“At the bar, waiting for you.”
“I need you to bring up the footage for the back lot for the last hour. Dani’s car’s been trashed and I’ll give you three fucking guesses who did it. I need to get them out of here and somewhere safe. Can you make sure no one comes through the back door and then call it in?”
“Fuck! I was out there half an hour ago and everything was fine. Go, get them. Tell Dad. He’ll make sure you get out of here all right. I’ll lock the damned door, grab the footage and make the report. One nice thing about running a cop bar, there’s always an officer around when you need one. I’ll deal with this side of it. You keep them safe.”
“That’s the plan.” Dave slapped his brother on the arm as he rushed past him, heading for the front of the bar. “Thanks, bro.”
It wasn’t until he saw Dani and Casey sitting at the bar, laughing and talking to his dad, that he finally let himself relax a little. There were familiar faces and fellow officers everywhere he looked and no sign of Bobby. They were safe…for now.
His dad saw him first, and all it took was one look at Dave’s face to know something was up. “Trouble?” he asked, the question enough to make Dani spin around on her barstool.
Dave nodded and looked straight at Dani. “Daisies. We need to go. Now.”
He felt a stirring of pride as he took in her reaction. There was no fear or hesitation. Instead, Dani squared her shoulders. Then she looked to Casey before lowering her voice. “Daisies? Where?”
“The parking lot. Your car took a beating, so you’ll be riding with me.” Dave pulled his keys out of his pocket and handed them to his dad. “I need you to drive my car around to the front and make sure no one’s watching. We’ll pile
in when we see you by the front door.”
Within seconds, his dad had vanished into the crowd, leaving Dave alone with Dani and Casey. Dani didn’t say a word. She simply placed her hand in his and nodded. There was a determined set to her jaw, and her eyes glittered with anger, not fear.
He reached for Casey, who scampered up onto her barstool and launched herself into his arms, wrapping her chubby little arms around his neck and clinging tight. “You said the code word, Uncle Dave. You’re going to keep him away from us, aren’t you?”
Dave wrapped his free arm around the angel in his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead, nearly overwhelmed by the emotions surging through him. This wasn’t about duty, or protecting the innocent. This was about defending the people he loved from harm at any cost. “I’ll keep you safe, munchkin. I promise.”
“What now?” Dani asked, getting to her feet and moving close to his side.
“Now we head to the front door and wait for my dad to drive my car around. It looks like the two of you will be staying with me for a few days. Later tonight we can ask Ben to drop by your place and make sure it’s all secure. Chase can earn himself a double cheeseburger by clearing it room by room. No one can hide from that dog’s nose.”
“How did he find us? I still don’t understand how he managed to track us all this way. We changed our names. The car is borrowed, and I use cash for everything. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“We’ll talk about that once we’re at my house. I could ask some of the guys to stand watch for us when we head to the car, but I don’t want to embarrass you. How do you feel about getting some backup?”
