by Peyton Banks
Men like him didn’t make idle threats.
Dallas had seen it one time too many.
Candi was in danger.
“I said you can’t stay here. I don’t trust Moody, and if he’s like any of the other thugs, he’ll come after you.” He brushed past her and walked farther into the small apartment.
From his position, he was in the living room but could see into the kitchen and the small dining room. His gaze took in the hallway that he was sure led to the bedroom and bathroom.
He stalked down the hallway, flipping a switch on, providing light. If someone had been in the apartment, he certainly didn’t want to be surprised in the dark.
With the open threats made to her, he wanted to make sure the apartment was secure.
“What are you doing?” Candi’s exasperated voice followed him.
“Making sure you’re not walking into a trap or anything,” he murmured, pushing open the door to the bathroom. He scanned the feminine decor, not finding any surprises.
“You think someone would be here waiting on me?” she asked.
“There’s always that chance.” He spun around to face her.
She took a step back and gazed up at him with concern in her eyes.
“Where am I to go?” she asked.
Dallas caught the slight tremble in her hands as she reached up and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.
Dallas moved before he realized it. He extended his hand and ran a finger along her soft cheek. Her eyes were trusting, and his heart slammed against his chest.
Sweat broke out on his temples.
The last time I was trusted, people were killed.
“With me,” he whispered, unthinking. There was no way he would leave her on her own with Moody making threats.
This time, no one would get hurt.
“You don’t have to do this, Dallas. Maybe I can go stay with a friend—”
“No.” He cleared his throat. It wasn’t his job to protect her, but he was the most qualified to keep her safe.
Plus, there was this attraction between them.
They had to explore it.
Candi was a woman he wanted in his life.
He drew back, shocked at the thought.
He looked down in her warm eyes and knew it was true. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Okay,” she whispered.
Dallas bent down and covered her lips with his. They were soft, inviting, and opened immediately for him.
He gripped Candi by her neck and anchored her to him while he deepened the kiss.
There was nothing stopping them this time.
No sneaking around the bar.
No chance of someone barging in on them.
No curious stares or nosy bouncers.
It was just the two of them.
A moan slipped from Candi, fueling his desire for her. He stepped forward, backing her up to the wall. Candi’s soft body pressed against his.
The kiss turned frantic. Her small hands yanked his shirt over his head, breaking the kiss.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his words ending on a growl. He had never felt this stark need for any woman before.
Candi gazed up at him, and the heat in her eyes almost brought him to his knees.
“Please, Dallas,” she whispered. Her hands slid down to his jeans and unbuttoned them.
He braced a hand along the wall, allowing her to do as she pleased.
“I want you.”
“Fuck,” he muttered, loving how she in her own way was showing him just how much she did.
Candi pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down, leaving him with his hard cock standing erect. He kicked the offending clothing off along with his shoes. A growl ripped from his chest at the sensation of her hand circling his cock.
He peeled her clothing off her, frantic to see her naked body. Neither of them could keep their hands from the other. He tossed her clothes to the floor in the growing pile. He glanced down at her high, full breasts and released another curse.
Cupping both of her breasts, he was pleased that they filled his large palms.
“You’re so beautiful. Do you know how crazy I am over you?” he asked, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. He gently massaged her mounds, eliciting a moan from her.
He had to slow this down. Her hands were unhurriedly stroking the length of him, sending a shiver down his spine.
“As crazy as I am about you?” she asked.
He rested his forehead on hers, basking in the feel of her running a hand along his length. He bit back a moan when she let go and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his chin.
“I haven’t been with anyone in a while.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” he promised.
He didn’t know why, but for some odd reason, he meant it. No harm would come to her.
She was his.
He easily lifted her off her feet and pressed her against the wall. There was no way they would make it the few feet into her room. He had to be inside her now. Her legs wrapped around his waist, allowing his cock to brush along her slick folds.
“Please, Dallas,” she moaned. “I need you.”
He reached down, lining up the blunt tip of his cock with her slick opening, and surged forward.
They both released a shout of ecstasy. Dallas gripped her thighs tight, relishing the feeling of her snug sheath surrounding him.
Her channel was warm slick and welcoming. A shudder racked his body. They fit together perfectly.
It was as if he were home.
He pulled back and thrust forward again. His gaze was locked on her face. Her eyes were closed, and the noises coming from her had his cock growing even harder.
Her lips parted, and a gasp released from her with every thrust.
“Candi,” her name was ripped from him.
Her core pulsed around him, bringing him farther inside her. Her nails dug into his shoulders.
He welcomed the slight sting of pain. It was a sign that this was not a dream and he was finally deep inside the woman he’d desired for so long.
She was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen with her head thrown back and her eyes closed. Her smooth brown skin, her dark hair, and those plump lips were all he needed.
He buried his face into the crook of her neck. He trailed open-mouth kisses along her skin. He nipped, licked, and sucked on every inch he could reach.
“Harder,” she gasped, bringing him closer to her. Her firm breasts were crushed between them.
He made his way to her face and captured her lips with his. She dove her fingers into his hair and held him in place. His hips pushed forward, slamming into her.
She broke away from him with a cry.
Dallas wanted to hear her scream his name.
He had wanted to explore her body, but right now would not be the time. He’d made a solemn promise that tonight, he would memorize every inch of her body.
This first time was going to be hard and fast.
His orgasm was racing for him. His hips were on autopilot, thrusting rapid and deep.
She chanted his name over and over in his ear.
“Candi, I need you to come with me,” he groaned.
“Dallas…” Her voice grew louder and more desperate.
He knew she was right there with him, teetering on the edge of her release.
He pulled away from the wall, taking the full weight of her. He took control of her hips and slammed her down harder on his cock. Her breasts bounced against him, sliding along his sweat-coated chest.
Her cries echoed through the air.
Dallas increased the pace and was unforgiving in making her take his full length.
She didn’t complain one bit.
“Open your eyes and look at me,” he demanded. His voice was hoarse. He was so close and he wanted to ensure they came together.
She did as he requested, her lust-filled gaze meeting his as she rode h
im hard. Gasps and grunts were the only sounds in the tiny apartment. Dallas was captivated by her. He was pleased that it was him about to bring her to completion.
Candi’s body trembled and shook. She threw her head back and released a strangled cry, her walls clamping down on his length as her orgasm hit her.
Dallas released a shout, tumbling over the edge into his release. He gripped her tight, pausing all movements while he filled her womb with his seed.
Candi opened her eyes and blinked a few times before they came into focus. She glanced around the familiar settings and took in the dark sky through the windows. Soon the sun would be rising, and she couldn’t think of a better person to share the beautiful sunrise with.
A smile lingered on her lips at the thought of who lay next to her in her bed.
Dallas.
Memories of the past few hours came to mind.
Turning over, she found him to still be asleep. His light snore filled the air. She took in his profile and bit her lips. His strong nose, his talented lips, the shadow of his beard that had brushed the inside of her thighs brought on a shiver. Her pussy pulsed with the memories of Dallas tasting her.
Their night had been spent discovering each other’s bodies. She couldn’t keep the silly grin off her face at the thought he’d made her climax three times. Twice on his cock and once on his tongue.
Never before had she ever had a lover who had taken the time to ensure she reached completion.
Lamont certainly—
She paused.
He would not ruin her night with Dallas. Pushing all thoughts of her ex-husband from her mind, she focused back on Dallas.
He was certainly a man who knew how to treat a woman and make love to one also.
If Candi wasn’t careful, she could see herself falling in love with Dallas.
But she didn’t know what this was between them. If he learned the entire story of her and Lamont, he may move on to be with someone who didn’t carry as much baggage as she did.
Dallas shifted in the bed, and she didn’t want to wake him. She would be just content to watch him sleep.
He shook his head, and his brows were furrowed. His body made hard jerks, kicking the covers off. His breathing increased and turned into pants.
“Sam,” he murmured. “We can make it.”
Candi sat up, unsure if she should wake him. He was apparently having some sort of nightmare.
He thrashed around the bed. She moved to the edge away from him, not wanting to get caught by one of his arms.
“Return fire!” he shouted, and she jumped. He released a curse and growls. “Let’s go. After them!”
Her heart raced.
Should she wake him?
She made up her mind that she would. His body was tense, and his face was lethal, even in his sleep. She didn’t know what he was dreaming about, but he was reliving something.
“We have our orders,” he growled.
“Dallas,” she whispered, her heart racing.
He didn’t hear her. His pants were growing louder, and his legs were moving.
“Dallas,” she said again. This time she leaned over and shook his shoulder.
His eyes flashed open with his growl, and before she knew it, he had flipped over on top of her, pressing his forearm against her throat. His unfocused eyes stared at her, and he bared his teeth.
She tried to release a scream, but her airway was cut off. Tears filled her eyes, and her body went into fight mode. She tried pushing him off, but Dallas outweighed her by at least a hundred pounds.
Flashbacks of the times Lamont had attacked her filled her chest along with stark fear.
“Dallas,” she croaked. She dug her fingers into his arm, trying to break free.
He blinked a few times before horror spread across his face. He immediately rolled off her with curses spilling from his lips.
She gasped, breathing in air for her starving lungs. She sat up and saw Dallas sitting on the side of the bed, cradling his head in his hands.
Silence filled the room.
Her body finally calmed down, and her breathing returned to normal. She wiped the wetness away from her cheeks, unsure of what to say.
“I’m so sorry, Candi,” he said. His voice was hollow, and his shoulders slumped forward.
“I shouldn’t have tried to wake you,” she admitted.
He had been in the middle of a nightmare, and she should have just let it play out. She scooted up in the bed and leaned back against the headboard.
“That’s no excuse for me,” he snapped. He turned around and glanced at her. “Did I…did I hurt you?” he asked.
Her heart lurched at the torture and pain in his voice.
He reached for the lamp on the side table and turned it on.
Guilt lined his face, and Candi knew deep inside he hadn’t meant it.
Dallas wasn’t the type of man to lay his hands on a woman.
We both truly have complicated backgrounds.
“No, just shocked and scared me more than anything.”
With a curse, he knelt on the bed and sat beside her. Tipping her chin up, he studied her neck, running his fingers along her skin.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmured. He sat back and met her gaze.
She nodded, seeing he was sincere.
Lamont had never apologized or taken responsibility for all the times he’d laid a hand on her. It was always her fault.
“It’s okay.” She reached out and took his hand. She cradled it between her two and brought it up to her lips and pressed a kiss to it.
This wasn’t the same as with Lamont. He’d thrived off of seeing her pain and her tears.
Dallas was nothing like him.
“It’s not. I could have really hurt you,” he said gruffly.
“You wouldn’t hurt me. Not on purpose.” She slid next to him and put his arm around her.
He leaned back against the headboard and allowed her to snuggle into his side.
He gripped her tight to him and blew out a deep sigh.
“I’m supposed to be protecting you, not scaring the crap out of you,” he muttered.
She ran a hand along his naked chest. Slid her fingers along the soft curls that lined his pectoral muscles.
They sat in silence.
Curiosity filled her. What had he been dreaming about? Was it from his time in the service?
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
Dallas didn’t respond, and Candi thought maybe he was ignoring her question until he blew out a deep breath.
“I spent basically half my life in the Marines. I signed up on my eighteenth birthday.”
9
Dallas found his life story spilling from his lips before he realized it. Candi didn’t say a word.
She just listened.
He spoke of being that youthful, innocent man who’d entered the service with the dreams of protecting and serving his country.
His parents, Grady and Leah McNeil, had been proud of him. He hadn’t known what he wanted to do with his life when he’d graduated. He hadn’t been the best student, and after a grueling day of working in a factory, he remembered a recruiter who had stopped at the high school and spoke with a bunch of students.
It hit him like an epiphany.
He’d enter the Marines.
That night, he’d gone home and spoken to his father about his decision.
It was the best one he’d ever made.
It had been life-altering.
He had journeyed the world over. He’d spent years based in Hawaii, Germany, and Afghanistan while traveling to countless other countries.
Dallas began to move up the ranks.
He’d come into a new family. A band of brothers who he would always cherish and remember.
“Your life sounds amazing,” Candi said, shifting up on her elbow. Her dark hair spilled onto her shoulders. Her lips curved up into a sexy smile.
“Well, it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine,”
he murmured. A darkness crept into his chest at the thought of the dream that had awoken him. He reached out a hand and brushed her hair away from her face to take a peek at her neck.
Dallas swallowed hard.
If he could kick his own ass, he would.
He’d never put his hands on a woman in any way but a sexual nature.
His stomach churned with the thought of what could have happened if he hadn’t snapped out of the dream.
“Do you want to talk about the dream?” she asked. She leaned across him with her dark eyes trained on him.
He swallowed hard and returned her gaze. It had been good to speak of his past. He hadn’t realized how therapeutic it would be to just have someone listen.
“I don’t want you having nightmares,” he said.
The Marines hadn’t been a perfect time. There were things that he would never be unable to unsee. Candi was an innocent. People like her were the reason that men and women entered the service every day.
To protect those who couldn’t fight and defend themselves.
“Try me. It will help. Believe me. I only know because of my therapist,” she admitted quietly.
Dallas couldn’t fathom what she must have gone through with her ex. He could imagine, but didn’t even want to ponder on it too long. He already wanted to do harm to the fucker. If they were to ever cross paths, it wouldn’t be pretty.
No man should lay his hands on a woman.
Ever.
A woman like Candi was meant to be cherished.
She needed a man to protect her, hold her hand when she was sad, be that shoulder to lean on when she cried, and be the one to give her the pleasure her body needed.
Dallas reached up and brought her face to his. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, realizing that he wanted to be that man for Candi.
She was his.
Candi drew back and lay on her pillow next to his.
“Stop trying to distract me, Officer McNeil. Talk.” She gave him a stern look and pulled the sheets over her naked form.
He turned on his side facing her and adjusted the pillow underneath his head.
“We were in a small town of Zahra. The mission had been to get food into the area to help the starving Afghans. It was a small town that had been set up for the misplaced civilians who had lost their homes. The Taliban had been keeping food that the UN was distributing, and these people were in danger of dying if we didn’t get the supplies to them.” He paused, closing his eyes.
