“Save it. I was there remember?” She grabbed a chair at the table and sat down. With a wave of her hand, she offered him a seat across from her. “Why don’t you tell me what happened after I left? Then you can go.”
“Liv, we’re going to go, okay?”
Her friends stood in the kitchen doorway. Candy looked ready to tear Dare apart, limb from limb. Thankfully, Holly gripped her arm tightly as she passed her a sweater and her purse. “Call me later, okay?”
“Thank you both. Love you.”
Despite Holly’s hold, Candy stopped and glared at Dare. “Tread carefully.” Her gaze shifted to Olivia. “I’ll be calling in an hour. If you don’t answer, I’ll be back. Love you.”
Olivia would have laughed if her heart hadn’t felt so heavy. She was always grateful for her friends. Candy was hard to handle sometimes but her intentions were always in the right place.
After another sip of coffee, she gathered her courage and raised her eyes to Dare. They needed to clear things up. Hopefully it would give her the closure she needed. Her dreams had been filled of him, their lovemaking, and silly thoughts about the future.
She’d asked him to spend the night with her on a dare from her friends. They’d gotten carried away and one night had become more. She needed to come back down to reality and move on. He wasn’t responsible for her feelings; she owned them and wouldn’t blame him.
But she remained hurt that he thought her capable of deception. Though she was still angry and that they might not have a future together, she didn’t want him to think that way about her.
Their gazes locked. His deep, chocolate brown pupils were wary and betrayed his nervousness. He reached across the table to take her hands, but she dropped them in her lap and sat back.
He clenched his fists and took a deep breath. “Livvy—”
“Don’t call me that,” she whispered.
His lips thinned and he closed his eyes. When he opened them, she saw sorrow and regret. “I’m sorry about yesterday. God, you have no idea. Everything was coming at me a mile a minute and I couldn’t focus.”
“But you believed I could do something as amoral and unethical as betray my employer and tarnish an active investigation? That I’d betray you? That’s even worse!” She gripped the mug tight to keep her hands busy.
“No. No, I don’t believe it. From the start, I never did. As I said, a lot was just coming at me from every direction. As you would have felt, I know. I—”
“You could have given me the benefit of the doubt.” She pointed at him, furious. Her palms hit the table. “Hell, the both of you could. You just believed the evidence. You should know yourself it is sometimes wrong. In few cases the facts lead to the perp but there are circumstances that aren’t as easy as that!” She clenched her fists.
He grabbed her hands and held them to keep from getting hit as she talked. “I should never have let you leave. I should have followed you, or kept you there. Hell, I don’t know. I was wrong. I know that. I know.”
The way he emphasized the last bit made her pause. She gazed deep into his eyes, searching for answers. The caring she saw within the depths touched her deeply.
“What do you mean you know?”
“We know who leaked the video to the DA. We all know it wasn’t you. I knew it, deep down instantly and should never have wavered, but…I’m sorry. Livvy, I’m just so damn sorry.”
Relief filled her. Presley and Malone knew it wasn’t her. Finally. She’d have to talk to Malone Senior, discuss what had happened and what the future held. She wasn’t sure she could continue to work there after being accused. She deserved better.
“Who was it?”
“You won’t believe it. Hell, I can’t believe it. Malone Junior. He was having an affair with Chelsea and laid the groundwork for her alibi. She really did kill her mother-in-law. You were right about that. And Joshua used your phone while you were away from your desk.” Dare shook his head. “The guy should have covered his tracks better. A life of crime isn’t for him, but that’s what he chose. There’s so much more that I could tell you about her crimes, and Joshua’s, but that’s not really what is important right now.”
Olivia gaped at him. The seriousness of his gaze said it was the truth.
Joshua Malone Junior. Dear God, he had everything. His father doted on him, gave him a prestigious position in the firm even though he still had to prove himself. Senior had given his son riches beyond what many people dreamed of. Still, none of it was enough.
That he would throw everything away over a woman made her pity him even though she was angry he had tried to destroy her in the process. But she felt sorry for him for the most part. That he devalued himself that much to throw his life away…well, it was just sad.
Glad to know the truth, she felt the weight on her shoulders lift a little. She stared at Dare, her heart squeezed. While she might repair her relationship with her bosses eventually, the fact remained she could never be with a man who didn’t respect her, believe in her, or stand behind her.
She lifted her cup and drank the last of her coffee. After setting her mug down, she pushed her chair away from the table. It was best to wrap this up with Dare and figure out how to move on. She’d give Presley and Malone a few days before calling them. She hoped to hear from them first, but wanted some time to herself.
As she stood, Dare did too and moved around the table. Hands on her shoulders, he applied pressure for her to take a seat again. He kneeled in front of her, hands clasped around both of hers.
“Liv, just a few more minutes, okay? I know you’ve been hurt and you’re pissed off at me, but I never meant for any of this to happen. I should have been there for you and I wasn’t. But I promise I will be in the future.”
She nodded, and remained silent, uncertain what to say.
His fingers tightened around hers. “If you can forgive me, please, understand that I’ll never let you down again.”
“Dare, stop it. You don’t need to beg my forgiveness. Let’s just forget about it.” She willed herself not to cry. “We got carried away. One night was all we were supposed to have, remember?” She tried to extract her hands from his but he held on tight.
She wished he’d let go. His touch made her arms tingle and her breasts ache. Someday she hoped to run into him and not be affected. She wasn’t sure it would ever be possible.
“I’m not above begging, Livvy. You mean more to me…” He paused and her heart beat like a drum. “Shit, I just have to be honest, don’t I?”
She nodded, unsure if she really wanted to hear what his truth was.
“Yes, we agreed to one crazy night but dammit, it isn’t all I want. I want…” Dare took a deep breath. “I want everything. More nights with you, more days to see you in an office that I don’t work in but know you’ll be there if I happen to stop by. I want your arms and legs, scent and touch all around me.”
Her breath hitched and her stomach flipped. Damn him for making this harder on her. But he was professing everything she could ever want from him. Could she resist?
“We have a long way to go, Liv, I know we do. But I want the chance to explore everything with you.”
“How can I trust you not to doubt me again?” Olivia asked softly. No one had ever accused her of anything so vile and deceptive in her life. She knew she’d never survive it again if Dare doubted her. She didn’t need a man in her life who didn’t trust her implicitly.
His gaze held hers, his hands squeezing hers. “I will never doubt you like that again, Livvy. I should never have let you leave the office without following right behind you. You deserved better and I let you down. I’m sorry.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Dare understood what she’d felt. That he did spoke volumes. He was genuinely sorry.
“You’ve become everything to me. I believe in you. And us.”
She smiled, feeling shy for the first time since her teens. He made her want to grab on tight and never let go. He was all she would ever wa
nt. Deep down, she knew he was her forever.
If he didn’t come to the same conclusion in time, could she live with losing him?
“For a strong man, you’re definitely in touch with your feelings,” she said flippantly.
“Hey, men have strong feelings, needs and desires too. And with you, I know I can say anything. Especially about how much you mean to me.”
He moved in closer, his palms on her thighs. Wetness pooled between her legs. The urge to stretch them out and wrap them around his waist was overwhelming. “Dare…”
“Shh, just listen a minute. I think we’re off to a great start. We have a connection, chemistry that gives off sparks whenever you’re near me. No one has ever made me feel that way.” He cupped her cheek in his warm palm. The sparks he mentioned fired between them.
“Don’t deny us both what we want, babe. We have to at least try, right?”
His eyes bore into hers, desire and need evident within the irises. She believed everything he said, but her heart was scared. Could she trust that if they ever hit another snag that he’d be there for her? Or would she stand alone to face it?
“I promise you, Livvy, I’ll always show you how much I care and how much I believe in you every single day.”
That he read her thoughts so well eased the band of tension around her heart. Honesty and dare she believe—even love—shone bright in his gaze.
Hands on his shoulders, her head lowered until her forehead rested against his. She inhaled his scent. Axe cologne, maybe some Dove soap…his scent filled her.
Their gazes clashed. Up close and searching deep, her body needed his. She had to jump in with both feet and capture everything he offered and all she’d ever want and need. There were no guarantees in life. Only the moments inhaled and lived. The moments that took breaths away.
Dare stole hers whenever he was near.
Arms clasped tight around his shoulders, she dragged him to her and laid her lips on his. They both moaned.
Tongues battled, the need to taste him and keep him close drove her.
She grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt and hauled it up. Olivia drew her mouth away long enough to tug the shirt over his head. Their lips quickly found one another again.
Dare made fast work of getting her white dress shirt open. Buttons flew. He swiftly undid the front clasp of her bra. His hands on her breasts, fingers pinched the nipples caused her head to fall back and a gasp exhale from her.
He didn’t waste time and clasped her right nipple into his mouth, sucking and biting. Her hips bucked, the need to feel him inside her created agonizing pressure deep in her pussy.
She held his mouth to her as his tongue flicked. His hands held her as she laid back, her legs wrapped around his middle and drew him close.
His stomach in-line with her pussy, dampness gathering on her black dress slacks, she rolled her hips and sighed at the pressure against her. Grinding her center against his stomach, the need greater than anything she’d ever known, pushed her hard.
She sat up, and captured his mouth. She sucked his tongue into her mouth as she applied pressure to his shoulders and pushed him toward the floor. She crawled over him as he eased on top of their pile of clothes on the floor and captured his nipple in her mouth.
“Christ, Livvy…”
His back and hips came up off the floor. Her tongue laved his nipple while her pussy ground on the erection pushing against his jeans. Bent over him, his hands tight in her hair, she felt wanton and desired. She never wanted this to end. He was all hers. He professed he would be hers however long she wanted him.
She planned to hold him to it.
His hands palmed her ass, holding her waist still as he rolled his hips and pushed up into her even more. His length and girth was intoxicating. That she could push him to such hardness fueled her. She slipped her fingers into the waistband of his jeans, undid the button through the hole and eased the zipper down.
Tongue and teeth roamed from one nipple to the other until he groaned with pleasure. She kissed her way up his neck and bit down on the soft flesh. His quick thrust nearly sent her catapulting over him, but she held fast to his jeans’ waistband.
She giggled, and nipped his ear. Excitement coursed through her as he pushed harder against her. She gasped and put all her weight over him.
“You kill me, baby.”
She slid back and forth, smiled down at him, loving the feel of him against her. He was magnificent. Pleasure in his gaze made joyful tears swim in her eyes.
“I love to see you astride me like this. Almost naked and more beautiful than mere words could ever begin to express. Fuck, I want to be inside you.”
“I want that too.” She shivered and moved faster. “God, I need you.” She gasped and her head fell back, hips cantering.
“Jesus,” he moaned. His fingers clawed at the waistband of her slacks. With a hard twist, the button popped and the zipper slid open with no resistance.
That he wanted her so much empowered her. “Rip them apart.”
He looked up at her, his smile wide as he gripped both sides of her pants even tighter and yanked. Her slacks split down the middle, the thong she wore broke apart and her pussy was nearly bare against his jean-clad length.
Draped over him, her lips met his as she lifted a bit, and pushed the sides of his jeans and underwear down enough for his cock to spring free. She took him in hand, eliciting a guttural moan from him, as she stroked his soft skin. He was warm and hard, long and wide, and she needed him inside her.
“Protection?” she asked quietly. Deep down, her decision would be to forego a condom but she wouldn’t risk getting pregnant. She wanted him all to herself for as long as possible before they ever discussed that far into the future.
He pulled a packet from the pocket of his jeans and ripped the foil open.
She smiled down at him, took it from him, and tightened her hand around his cock.
Pre-cum from the tip of his cock wet her fingers. She sat back, lifted her fingers to her mouth and licked them. Her gaze met his electrifying one. The taste of him urged her on and she could wait no longer.
She pushed the condom down over his shaft, placed one foot flat on the floor beside his hips, took his hardness in hand and eased over it. Inch by inch he filled her, her pussy clenched tight around him until he could go no further. She paused, absorbed the feel of him within her and met his gaze.
He captured her breasts and played with her nipples. Her back arched, knees and thighs working hard, as she rode him. Up and down, slow then fast, her pussy tightened on him time and time again.
“Livvy.” Dare moaned, his fingers pinching her nipples, pooling her juices around his cock even more. He slid in easier with each time and pushed her faster toward the edge. “Baby, I love you.”
She lifted her head at his admission and their gazes held. The truth, laid bare, was clear. This man, her man, was everything.
“I love you, too.”
She lowered her lips to his. Their mouths meshed and moved together. Her waist in his hands, he held her as his cock plunged into her over and over. She reveled in the feel of him inside her. His deep thrusts and the wonderful notion that he was sliding home each time she felt him go as deep as possible, elated her.
Tongues tangled, she met his up movement with the down stroke and their moans filled the kitchen. Her hands fisted his hair as they moved faster with shorter strokes. Her mouth left his and she buried her nose in his neck.
“Yes, fuck me,” she whispered.
“No other place I’d rather be, baby.”
Centers slamming together, her pussy clenched around him, as his hard cock seemed to increase in girth. She loved it. Loved him pounding into her, both of them free and desperate for one another.
There was no power greater than knowing the man she loved wanted her as much as she did him. The air seemed to crackle around them as their bodies met.
Sweat glistened on their skin and the need for release increas
ed. Deeper and harder he pushed inside her and she welcomed him with everything she had. There was no spot she couldn’t feel him. He surrounded, filled and completed her.
“Shit, yes. Fuck.” Dare’s back lifted off the floor as she took control and rode him relentlessly. Her nipples tingled and pulsed as her body approached release.
“I love you inside me. Yes, more.” She moaned, lost in the sensations pushing her. His hands clasped her hips, held her still as his own quickened and his cock hit her g-spot.
White spots filled her vision as her body exploded around him. She couldn’t stop moving even as the orgasm claimed her. She was desperate to feel his warmth inside her. Lowering her mouth to his, her tongue slid against his as he thrust into her.
The need to feel him explode inside her was overwhelming. She was surprised to feel the tingles of release fast approaching a second time. Driving her movements downward quickly and in time with his, they moved faster and more against one another. Quick, rapid thrusts swept them both away. With a couple swift plunges, her body bowed and she shouted, “Dare!”
His body clenched tight as his hands imprisoned her waist. His guttural moan washed over her as he found his own release.
She dropped her head on his shoulder. Their deep breathing filled the air around them. Dare slid his hands up and down her back, soothing her.
Her body chilled as her heart rate slowed and she relaxed. She could live right here, over him and in his arms. Life didn’t get much better than this.
She lifted her head, held herself up with her forearm against his chest. She smiled, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
His palms ran over her body as he returned her smile. “Thank you, baby.”
She frowned. “For what?”
“Letting me back in.” He chuckled as she lifted a brow. “Not just making love to you but allowing me back in your heart. I won’t ever let you down.”
She gently kissed him. “Let’s begin again, from here, build on what we know we have. The slate is clean and no more need for apologies.”
Olivia sat up, his softened flesh still within her. Her thighs were sticky and clung to his. Lifting her leg over his hips carefully, her tattered slacks barely staying on, she stood and stared down on him.
Dare Page 7
