Protecting Dallas

by Krista Wolf

  As for Kane… he and I somehow shared an even deeper, more intimate connection. He talked a lot less than the others, so when he did speak his words carried a lot more weight to them. Whenever we were alone, whatever we were doing, we seemed to communicate on some silent, personal level. There were layers of similarity between us — especially amongst our childhoods — that bonded Kane and I. Sharing the affliction of insomnia as well, it was something we talked about in the wee hours of the morning, on more than a few sleepless nights.

  In time the guys went from treating me as a little sister (Connor’s little sister at least) to seeing me as more of a roommate and an equal. The wide personal berth they gave me at first was shrinking fast, too. We’d pass each other in the halls wearing less and less clothing, the guys mumbling an apology here and there for being shirtless, or wearing boxer shorts, or even a towel.

  And eventually the apologies dropped off too, as even I started doing it.

  For me it was no big deal; we all shared the same bathroom, so a little skin was practically unavoidable. And physically, there was absolutely nothing wrong with my roommates either. On the contrary, all three men were gorgeously built, with lean, powerful bodies perfected by years of the toughest physical training on the planet. They’d converted part of the den into a home gym — the one spot in the whole house I wasn’t allowed to re-arrange or remodel. And each of them went through a daily exercise and weight-lifting regimen that made me tired just watching them.

  And damn, did I love watching them…

  It was yet another inevitability; my own attraction to them, rearing its ugly head. I was trapped alone in a house with three beautiful men, all ripped and shredded, all built in the most Adonis-like fashion. So if I couldn’t help drooling over Maddox’s washboard abs? Over Kane’s magnificent chest and shoulders, or Austin’s strong arms and delicious olive skin?

  Well, a girl really couldn’t really be blamed.

  Ten

  DALLAS

  I dreamed, and in my dream I was back at home. I was young again. Maybe eight or nine. My house was warm and inviting, and somehow filled with all sorts of people I didn’t know.

  Everyone was talking and laughing, only not with me. And no matter how much I searched, no matter which rooms I wormed my way into, I couldn’t find my mother, nor father, nor Connor as well.

  I went deeper, further into the heart of my childhood home, and things began to change. Person by person the faces disappeared, the strangers fading away with every step until only their voices remained.

  And then their voices went too… and I was utterly and completely alone.

  A light caught my eye, and I found myself staring through a window that shouldn’t be there. It was less of a window and more a shimmering pool of liquid darkness, filled edge to edge with a billion, twinkling stars.

  I saw bright stars. Endless stars, stretching in every direction. But then the stars disappeared too. One by one they all blinked away, whole fields at once, until in the end I was staring at nothing.

  In my dream I turned, and my home was gone also. Everything had become a void. A cold, limitless void of pure dark nothing… and when I opened my mouth to scream, the blackness poured into my soul.

  DALLAS!

  Something hissed my name, so cold and sinister it rippled every square inch of my skin with instant goosebumps. I woke up frozen and shivering, my skin cool to the touch.

  It’s only a dream, that’s all.

  I lay there for several long moments, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself. Then, teeth practically chattering, I gathered the blanket around myself and sat up.

  A dream, or maybe the wind.

  Sleep was no longer an option. Not tonight. Maybe not all week, if I was doomed to have nightmares like this…

  I jerked my head toward a sound — the wind, rattling my window. I could hear it shrieking loudly outside. Swirling and screaming, against the glass.

  A few steps later I was out in the hall, which seemed somehow even colder than the bedroom. I was dragging my blanket. Making my way toward the staircase, my body and mind now fully awake.

  Maybe the fire’s not out.

  It was only one o’clock in the morning. If there were still embers, maybe I could resurrect it. I could curl up on the couch. Try to get comfortable enough to—

  My body froze mid-step. Deep in my chest, my heart stopped and then started again.

  Someone was standing at the window.

  “K—Kane?”

  He was at the far end of the hall, staring out into the pale blue darkness. He wore loose-fitting sweatpants. And nothing else.

  I held one hand against my thumping chest. “You scared the shit out of me.”

  He turned as I approached, moving to stand next to him. Then he went back to staring, as the wind howled outside.

  “Big storm, huh?”

  The massive SEAL nodded, scratching at his chin. Almost on cue a gust of wind whipped up. It rattled the window at its seams, throwing a wave of sand against the glass.

  “This reminds me of the dust storms we used to have,” he said plainly. “Fierce ones, back in Afghanistan.” He was silent for a few seconds. “Somalia too.”

  I slid next to him, clutching my blanket around my chin. Moving mechanically I offered him one end, and he took it.

  “Thanks,” he said, sliding one big arm around me. Between the cold, and my lingering nightmare, his touch felt immeasurably good. A moment later I was in the crook of his arm. His bare chest was wonderfully warm.

  “Cold night,” I said. “This house is drafty.”

  “It is.”

  The sand swirled outside, forming tiny dust-devils that danced themselves into existence and fell just as quickly apart. Against the moonlit landscape, the whole thing looked oddly beautiful.

  “Can’t sleep?” I asked numbly.

  “No,” he admitted. Then, after a very long pause: “Bad dreams.”

  I nodded gravely. With Maddox or Austin, I would’ve needed more. I would’ve asked all about the details of the dream, and maybe even told them about mine.

  Not with Kane, though. Between he and I, neither of us needed to say a word. Instead we just stood there in silence.

  Outside, the sand was blowing so much it was difficult to see the horizon, even in the moonlight. The house we lived in was turn-of-last century, at the end of a long, nearly abandoned block. It was a neighborhood that had seen its glory days come and go already, and was now deep in decline. Most of the properties nearby had already been torn down.

  “Sleep with me.”

  The words were simple. They dropped from my lips without thought.

  Kane shifted from one foot to the other, then stared down into my eyes. An entire sea of information passed between us, silently, wordlessly…

  “Come on,” I said, slipping my hand into his. I pulled him gently in the direction of his bedroom, and he followed.

  “Let’s keep each other warm.”

  Eleven

  DALLAS

  The world beneath Kane’s blankets was soft and warm, the presence of his body overwhelmingly reassuring. We were wrapped up in each other’s arms. Face to face in the night-blue shadows, basking in our combined body heat.

  “This is nice,” I breathed, snuggling into him.

  He grunted his agreement, sliding one big leg between mine. It was a little crazy, how there seemed to be no barriers between us. How easily we’d become totally intimate, in both physical and emotional ways.

  “So…” I whispered. “Am I everything you thought I’d be?”

  From his pillow Kane raised an eyebrow.

  “In the flesh,” I said, poking him. “After watching me for a whole year on all those cameras… I was wondering if maybe you—”

  Kane’s lips closed over mine, and suddenly we were kissing. Him kissing me. Me kissing back. Our bodies writhing together, skin against skin. Our mouths churning, rolling passionately against one another…
r />   Dallas!

  His body shifted, and suddenly he was kissing me hard and deep. The instant passion and chemistry was incredible. I could feel the warmth of his chest, pressing against mine. His lips moving insistently, parting my own to make room for his tongue…

  Should you really be doing this?

  I accepted it into my mouth willingly, even hungrily, sliding my own tongue against his. I moaned softly into his mouth as his hand slid downward, piercing the waistband of my own comfy sleep pants. His palm was big and rough. The contrast was amazing as it slid over one warm globe of my ass…

  Mmmmmm…

  Kane’s other hand moved up to caress my face, sweeping my hair gently away so he could continue kissing me properly. The hand on my ass was now five individual fingers, clenching and kneading my soft, supple flesh. His touch was commanding and insistent. Deliciously possessive. In response I squirmed even harder into his chest, relishing in the size and power of his massive pectorals.

  This is crazy.

  It was crazy. It was even worse than crazy, because I knew with absolutely certainty I was about to make a colossal mistake.

  There are three of them, Dallas. Three.

  Kane’s fingers probed upward, slipping along my lower back and over my hip. Then then slid their way downward… and over my taut, trembling stomach…

  Three of them in the same house.

  At best, I was about to cause huge amounts of resentment and jealousy. At worst, I’d be driving a wedge between three men who were forever connected as brothers. A wedge that might even hurt their bond. A wedge that could—

  “Ohhhh…”

  I gasped as Kane’s hand slipped between my legs. One of his fingers pulled my thong to the side. The others…

  The others found my warm, wet slit.

  Oh God that’s good…

  It was too late. Too late to go back. I’d been without a boyfriend for way too long, sexually frustrated to the point of bursting. I’d lost everything in the fire, including my toys. And for the better part of the last month, I’d been surrounded by three of the most handsome, gorgeous, well-muscled—

  “I’ve wanted you,” Kane grunted into my ear, “since the first time I saw you…”

  Two thick fingers slid beautifully into me. Or was it one? Jesus, his hands were so big I couldn’t even tell.

  “Oh yeah?” I squirmed.

  He nodded, chewing on my shoulder. Pumping me with his hand. Filling me over and over with those thick, wonderful digits. Curling them gently, to brush my G-spot.

  “H—Holy shit…”

  My hands clawed the sheets on either side of my body. I was absolutely drenched.

  “Holy… holy…”

  It was unbelievable, how quickly I’d reached the point of no return. How fast I’d gone from kissing to grinding to totally losing it.

  Oh my GOD!

  My orgasm usually started in my belly, fluttering its way upward and expanding through my body as I got more and more turned on. Only not now. Not this time.

  “FUUUUUCK….”

  This time my climax surged up like a rogue wave, crashing over me in a split second of pure, white-hot euphoria.

  “OH FUCKKKK!”

  Kane rolled into me, clamping one giant hand over my mouth to keep me silent. It only made me hotter. I bit down against his palm, hard enough to hurt but not break the skin. His eyes flared. They found mine, and we locked gazes, both of us on exactly the same page as to what needed to happen.

  “Be quiet,” he growled into my face. “Unless you want the others in here.”

  I nodded numbly, my pussy still contracting around his thrusting, probing fingers. I was at the tail end of a colossal orgasm. Still rolling my hips, grinding down hard into his hand.

  Fuck fuck fuck fuck…

  His knuckles brushed against my clit with every movement. Over and over they sent delicious aftershocks, rocketing upward and into the pleasure centers of my brain.

  Jesus Christ, Dallas…

  I reached for him, and my hand closed over something big and warm and hard. Somehow he was already naked. Either he’d kicked off his sweats and wasn’t wearing any underwear, or—

  Oh… oh wow…

  Kane yanked off my bottoms as I stroked him. Tip to base, his cock was long and thick and absolutely incredible.

  He’s going to hurt you.

  Part of me actually wanted him to. The other part somehow knew he’d be gentle.

  This… this is—

  Kane rolled onto me, pushing my thighs apart easily with one massive knee. He was between my legs now. Ready to take me. I was rubbing the bulbous head of his massive cock up and down my molten furrow, staring down at it in wonder.

  It was so big. And I was so fucking wet…

  The hand over my mouth slid to my cheek. Kane leaned down, pushing his forehead against mine. His eyes were impossibly dark, with long, sweeping lashes.

  “Is this what you want?”

  His irises were locked onto mine. He was looking into me. Looking through me, as if seeing my soul.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  Our lips brushed and he shifted forward, pushing slowly inside me. I could feel the head of his manhood, engorged and throbbing. His heart beating through it, as he parted my flower.

  “YES…” I said again, this time with a nod.

  Another inch. Another moan. I was in a frenzy now, desperate to have him inside of me. Bucking my hips downward I tried screwing him into me… only it was Kane who had complete and total control.

  “Say it,” he growled, pinning my shoulders to the bed. “Say that you—”

  “I WANT IT!” I seethed into his face. “Kane, please! I need—”

  The rest of my sentence ended in a gurgle, as he shoved himself all the way in.

  It was like being speared to the core.

  “OHHHhhhHHHhhhHHHhhh…”

  My hands curled instinctively into claws, my fingernails digging into the meat of his massive back. Then he began pumping. Slowly at first, to get me used to his girth, then more rapidly in and out of my body as the entire length of his shaft was soaked with my wetness.

  “Oh my God…” I cried. Literal tears were forming at the corners of my eyes. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…”

  Kane’s hand returned, pressing against my lips. Daring me to bite him again as he crushed me deep into the bed, plowing me to tears as he screwed me without mercy.

  This… this is…

  I could feel him way up inside me, so incredibly deep it almost hurt. Almost, but not quite.

  This isn’t wrong, this isn’t a mistake…

  It couldn’t possibly be. This was wonderful. Like an insatiable itch being finally scratched. Like a long thirst being quenched, so fully and satisfyingly my tears were seeping into either side of his pillow.

  “Kane…”

  I placed his name in my mouth, tasting it on my tongue. It fit him perfectly. His personality, his demeanor… his whole magnificent body.

  “Oh fuck, Kane…”

  I was mumbling into his mouth because he was kissing me again, our tongues dueling hotly as we fucked. And I was kissing him like a lover now. The sort of kiss reserved only for someone who’s been deep inside you, filling you up, connecting you at the most intimate and irrevocable of all possible levels.

  This… is incredible…

  My pussy throbbed as he drilled me deep, rocking the bed beneath us. Every thrust drove the air from my lungs. Every kiss put it back. I was whimpering. Gasping. Crying…

  I should’ve been doing this for weeks.

  The voice of reason was totally gone now. Gone because I’d told it to fuck off. Gone because, by this point, there was no way either of us could go back.

  “Kane…” I gasped. “I—”

  He lifted me abruptly and fell back onto the bed, pulling me on top of him. I was straddling him now. Riding him as hard and deep as I wanted. My mind spun with all new pleasure as I reveled in the co
ntrol, running my hands over his amazing, rock-hard chest…

  I felt a flash of pain. A growing ache, someplace deep inside me, where I knew he’d reached places no one had before. The admission was stark, even humbling. It only made me grind down harder.

  “You feel… you feel…”

  His hands cupped my breasts, hefting their weight. He held them lovingly for a moment before smoothing his palms over my stiffening nipples. I was super-sensitive there, and the touch sent shivers down my body. I squeezed my thighs together in response, hugging his flanks as he pounded me from beneath.

  “so… so fucking…”

  I was totally incoherent. Lost in the moment, to the point of delirium. Rather than say anything else I just closed my eyes and let go, savoring in the feel of his hands on my body…

  And just as quickly I was turned over. Flipped, roughly, onto my hands and knees…

  In a flash Kane grabbed my hips and re-entered me from behind. It felt like the best thing in the whole fucking world.

  “Ohhhhhhhhhhh…”

  It was primal, the way he took me. Animalistic. He was using his arms every bit as he was using his hips and ass, pulling me back with those great biceps and triceps to meet every gut-churning thrust. It felt even deeper, if possible. The penetration even better. He fucked me like that for a long while, bouncing me off the end of his magnificent cock while I grunted and groaned and muttered a stream of unintelligible curses.

  Oh my God this is—

  I cried out as he wrapped both hands around my chin from behind. Kane pulled back, forcing my head up. Pinning me against him. Dominating me completely…

  Suddenly, abruptly, everything stopped.

  Kane’s ass stopped clenching. His body stopped moving. He held fast to my chin, his cock buried all the way inside me.

  Wha--

  My eyes flew open. I found myself staring straight ahead…

  … to the other end of the room, where two figures were staring back at me in grave disappointment.