Dare To Love Series: Don't Dare Me (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

He pressed his long, thick finger over her lips. “I’m trying to tell you my time is limited, but I want to make time to be around you. Dates might have to be lunch at work. An occasional night out on the weekends after I put my daughter to bed, and it’s possible I could have to cancel because of family obligations, but I do like you and you’re fun to be around.”

  She curled her fingers around his wrist, pulling his hand away from her lips with the intention of telling him he was sweet, but she didn’t think it a prudent idea for them to date. Only, he didn’t give her the chance as he cupped the back of her head, fingers massaging her scalp, his lips brushed against hers like the wing of a feather in flight.

  A wave of dizziness rolled through her body when he pushed against the counter, his other hand caressed her back, fingers kneading her burning muscles. He deepened the kiss, swirling his tongue around hers.

  The voice in the back of her head told her to push him away. That it would be too complicated and she’d end up getting hurt.

  Again.

  But the way he kissed, it was like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cool evening watching the stars dance over the ocean. His tongue touched every part of her mouth like an electrical current. She shivered as she rested her hands on his shoulders, letting him guide the rhythm of their bodies.

  He jerked his head back, his palm on her cheek. “Why don’t we have our first date right now? I talked to my daughter and since I wouldn’t make it home before she went to bed, she and I have our own little date planned in the morning, so I have some time now.”

  “I don’t know,” she whispered, staring to his Caribbean Sea like eyes. Her breath raspy as she sucked air into her lugs, letting it out in a swoosh. He had a strong effect on her mind and body and it took her a moment to bring herself out of the realms of desire. “You keep catching me off guard and these kisses…It’s too complicated.”

  “Come on.” He took the wine battle and the glasses. “Have you eaten dinner?”

  “No,” she said staring at him moving about her kitchen, pouring their drinks into solo cups. “I never said I’d go out with you.”

  He laughed. “I think that kiss did.”

  “You didn’t give me a chance to answer.” She touched her lips, still feeling the warm caress of his tongue. Her brain trying to process his proposition and why he’d been able to render her speechless with a single kiss.

  “You kissed me back.” His smile grew wide as he held the bottle up in the air. “Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To the terrace. It’s private. Other than any neighbors from the building, all that is around is the beautiful view of the water and some palm trees.”

  “How do you know about that?” The private terrace was for tenants only

  “Same way I know the restaurant down the street will deliver.”

  He waved his hand in front and she led the way to the elevator and down to the back of the building. The humidity smacked her face like a hot washcloth the moment she opened the door. The sun had lowered in the sky, but there was still a good hour left of sunshine. She inhaled sharply through her nose, enjoying the fresh scent of blooming flowers.

  “What do you want to eat?”

  “Bacon cheeseburger, loaded cooked, medium, and fries.”

  “Girl after my own heart.”

  During the summer months, the terrace didn’t get used very often because of the heat, and tonight not a single person sat at a table or the chairs in front of the river leading to the intercoastal.

  Nolan chose the love seat closest to the water.

  Sitting so close to him, smelling his manly sent of pine and spice, sent her body craving for another kiss.

  She shivered. Her body wanted so much more, and if she were being completely honest with herself, dating him sounded like a splendid idea. Every man she’d ever dated had been relatively serious from the beginning.

  “Dinner is all ordered.” He shifted, stuffing his phone in his pocket and raised his glass. “Cheers to new adventures.”

  She smiled, clinking plastic cups, before taking a sip, letting the full-body wine slowly drizzle down her throat. “This isn’t a date. This is co-workers getting together after work.”

  “Have it your way.”

  She planned on it. “So, what’s the big date with Heather?” Jessica didn’t mind long silences. She enjoyed people who knew there was a time to sit and enjoy the world around you. However, she wanted to know about his relationship with his daughter. It was a side of him she had never expected.

  “Breakfast in bed,” he said, smiling. “On the nights I don’t get to tuck her in, I wake her up early so we can spend some extra time together. I know it doesn’t make up for time lost, but I think it helps.”

  “It’s got to be hard being a single father. How do you manage?”

  “Are you always in interview mode?” He looped his arm over the back of the seat, fingers resting on her shoulder. “I have a lot of help from my family. My sister doesn’t work, so she watches Heather when I’m at work and will also take her when I have to travel.”

  “Do you ever think of taking her on the road?” She cringed. “I’ sorry. Inquiring minds and all.”

  “It’s okay. I reserve the right not to answer.” He laughed. “Not this year and I’ll probably miss a game or two because of her surgery.” His eyes light up when he talked of his little girl, except when he mentioned the surgery.

  “But in the future, you’d take her? I bet she’d like that.”

  He lowered his chin. “Are we playing twenty questions? Because if we are, I’ve got one for you.”

  “Have at it.” She smiled. Even as a little girl, she’d asked a million questions to everyone and it drove her parents nuts.

  “Did Lillianna really dare you to kiss the next man who walked through the door?”

  No point in lying. “That would be a true statement.” Butterflies floated across her belly, rising to her throat. “When I was little, I did almost anything my friends dared me to and now it’s a running joke.”

  “Does that mean you still often take a dare?” He waggled a brow.

  “Depends, but sometimes, yes.”

  “Hmmmmm, so if I dared you to kiss me right now, you’d do it?”

  “Is that a dare?” Her lips tugged into a big smile and her insides turned to mush. Her brain, however, reminded her that taking a dare, generally speaking, could get her into to trouble.

  He nodded, grinning like a school-boy.

  She took a sip of wine, but didn’t swallow before leaning in and pressing her mouth hard against his, forcing his lips to part.

  He gave a deep, throaty grown as she passed the wine from her to him. He swallowed, tangling his hand in her hair as he thrust his tongue deep in her mouth, swirling wildly. He tugged, forcing her head back as he kissed from her lips, to her cheek, the side of her neck, and finally landing on her earlobe.

  Her body shivered as goosebumps covered her skin.

  “That, sweetheart was a dangerous move, but a tasty one.”

  She tilted her head, enjoying his hot breath in her ear. The man made her want to toss caution to the wind and jump in with both feet. “Don’t dare me to do things then.”

  “I didn’t dare you to share your wine.” He chuckled. “But I do dare you to flash me.”

  She set her wine glass on the ground and sat up tall, looking around. Not a single soul in view. What the hell. You only live once. Besides, her bathing suit top covered less than the current bra keeping her breasts in their proper place. Snagging the hem of the shirt between her fingers, she raised her shirt over her face, then pulled it down less than a second later.

  He blinked, mouth open.

  “Do that again, only when your raise your shirt, and count to ten.”

  She patted his leg before getting her wine. “Not going to happen.”

  “Not even if I dare you?”

  She shook her head, heat rising to her checks. If they
had been in the privacy of her apartment, she might have considered it.

  He groaned, pulling his phone out. “Our food is here.”

  She handed him her keys to the main lobby. “You go get it, I’ll grab a table.”

  “Because it’s so crowded.” He kissed her cheek.

  She watched him head toward the building in that sexy groove where his hips swayed back and forth and you could see his back muscles flex against his shirt. His body could only be described as a solid mass of muscle.

  But that wasn’t the only thing she appreciated about Nolan.

  Did I really just flash him? She folded her arms, looking around. No boats on the water and the thick trees lining the other side of the intercoastal, blocking the view into the townhouses protected her from being seen in that direction. No way anyone saw her…but Nolan. Oy.

  An older couple followed him out of the building. He helped them carry their own little picnic basket and set it on a table for them, smiling and chatting for a few minutes before sitting down across from her at the table, opening two large containers of food.

  The smell of grilled beef and crisp bacon filled her nostrils. Her stomach growled. “Thanks. I’m starving.” She didn’t wait another second, digging into the thick French fries which were soft on the inside, but crunchy on the outside. Food was also a nice distraction from they hot man sitting across the table. Her toes itched to fondle his calf muscles.

  “So, where do you live?” she asked.

  “Here we go with all the questions again.” He winked.

  She cocked her head. “You know where I live...” she squinted her eyes. “How did you know that?”

  “I looked at your registration card in the glovebox.”

  “That’s creepy.” She winked, enjoying the banter a little too much.

  “You didn’t leave me much choice when you disappeared.”

  “I’ll give you that, but I feel like you’re avoiding the question.”

  He laughed. “Right now, Heather and I are staying at my folks in South Beach, but I have a townhouse about two miles from here, a little closer to the ocean. I actually looked into buying in this building but decided I wanted a private backyard for Heather to play in. Do you rent here or own?”

  “Can’t afford to buy anything just yet. The rent isn’t too bad, but I won’t stay in this building when this lease is up.”

  He arched a brow. “Going to move north? Home?”

  “No.” She smiled. “I love my job and have no desire to do anything else right now. Besides, I like living in Miami.”

  “I hated growing up here, but moving back has been a good thing for me.” He wiped his hands with a napkin, tossing it back in the container and closing it. “Even better for Heather. A fresh start for the both of us.”

  A few more residents came outside to enjoy the sunset. She hadn’t gotten to know many of the neighbors, but a few she recognized and waved. She picked at her food before closing the lid. The evening would come to an end soon. He needed to get home to his little girl. Being overcome by lust wouldn’t serve either one of them very well. She didn’t know if she wanted him so badly because it had been a while and he showed interest? Or the fact she just unequivocally wanted him in the most primal way.

  “That was delicious,” she said. The sky turned a dark blue, with orange and red swirls at the horizon. Soon the stars and the moon would glow like fireflies. She reached for the bottle of wine, but sadly it was empty. “Don’t know about you, but I’d like one more glass.”

  “If I get to take it from your mouth again, sure.” He reached across the table, taking her hand. His thumb rubbing the top of her hand in a circular motion.

  “Maybe we should try it the other way around.” Ugh. She really needed to think before she spoke.

  “I’m game.” He stood, collecting all the trash. “Let’s go.”

  “I was kidding.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  His enthusiasm gave her a tingle up her spine. His hand on the small of her back sent signals to the rest of her body.

  Signals she needed to shut down, but her brain didn’t work as fast as her body.

  He opened the door to the building, the cool air covered her skin, like an ice cube melting over her body. The elevator opened and they made their way to her apartment where he found a bottle of wine that met his fancy.

  She handed him the corkscrew and watched his magnificent arm muscles twitch as he removed the cork, pouring a tiny bit into one glass.

  He smiled, leaning against the counter, swirling the red liquid and smelling it. He waggled his finger in the come-hither motion.

  Her breath hitched. He was actually going to feed her wine and in her mind, that could only lead to one thing.

  More kissing.

  Kissing never hurt anyone.

  He lifted the glass to his lips, emptying it, his other hand reaching for hers.

  The soft touch of his fingers against her skin felt like the finest lotion money could buy. She tilted her head, pressing her body against his hard chest, staring into his intense, green eyes. She told herself she’d be able to control her desire. Considering his situation, he wasn’t the kind of man who jumped into bed with a woman without getting to know her better.

  Interviewing him didn’t constitute getting to know him.

  He pried open her mouth with his tongue, shooting the warm liquid between her lips. She swallowed quickly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and thrusting her tongue into his mouth.

  She heard him set the wine glass down as he wrapped his arms around her waist, spreading his legs and cupping her ass, drawing her even closer.

  He kissed her so hard, she wondered if he’d bruised her lips. She almost hoped he did. The raw passion sizzling between their bodies controlled her mind, and she visualized taking him by the hand, leading him to her bedroom, ditching their clothes in a frenzy of desire, and have the kind of mad passionate sex one fantasized about. The kind where there were no inhibitions in the search to understand what pleased the other.

  His hands glided up under her shirt, fingers dancing across her bare skin. A tiny voice in the back of her whispered to stop, but her body screamed go for it. Wetness filled her panties then she felt her bra loosen as he magically unhooked the clasp, moving his hands under her arms, touching the sides of her breast.

  “I dare you to flash me now,” he whispered breaking off the kiss, his breath raspy.

  “Don’t dare me unless you’re willing to suffer the consequences and the way things are going right now, how I’m feeling, I’m not going to be able to stop myself.”

  “I might be able to stop, but I won’t promise.”

  She groaned as he ran his tongue over her earlobe. Her nipples tightening into hard little nubs. Taking a step back, she reached inside her shirt and pulled her bra through the sleeve. Her heart pounded against her chest. Doing this would either backfire, and he’d have second thoughts and she’d feel rejected. Or, they’d end up tangled in her sheets. If the latter happened, a different set of complications would arise.

  His gaze went from her eyes to her chest as he carefully poured himself some more wine, taking a large gulp.

  Her fingers trembled as she toyed with the bottom of her shirt. She’d done a few crazy dares, like dropping her bathing suit in the pool and running to the house naked. Of course, that was with all her girlfriends and not a single male to be found. Sucking in a breath, she closed her eyes and lifted her shirt, focusing on counting and not the idea that a sexy man stared at her tits.

  One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.”

  Letting out her breath in a slow exhale, she lowered her shirt, blinking open her eyes.

  Nolan stood in front of her with a wine glass in his hand, his lips parted, and his green eyes wide, still staring at her chest. “You’re…that was…oh fuck it.” He yanked her hard against him, between his legs. His erection pressing against her lower abdomen. He kissed her in one of th
ose wet, sloppy kisses that could only lead to one place and she wasn’t about to say no.

  But she should.

  His hands glided down her ass to the back of her thighs. He hoisted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  “Down the hall, last door on the left. Condoms in the night stand.”

  He jerked his head back, scrunching his face.

  “That is why you were taking me to the bedroom, right?” She didn’t blush often, but heat filled her cheeks.

  He nodded. “Interesting that you didn’t think I’d have any.”

  “Do you?” She smiled.

  “No, but why do you have them?” He arched a brow.

  “Leftovers. Sorry if that killed the mood.”

  “With the vision of your beautiful breasts engrained on my brain for life, not much could destroy this mood.” He lowered her body a little, his hard cock pressing against the very thing that made her a woman.

  “Then why are we still standing here?”

  He groaned, stumbling down the hallway, kicking back her door before tossing her on the bed.

  “Nolan?”

  “What, babe.” His breath ticked her eardrum.

  “Before we go any further, this doesn’t mean we’re dating.” Talk about killing the mood, but she needed to lay the ground rules.

  “It doesn’t mean we’re not.” He stood at the end of the bed, hands on his hips. “What do you want?”

  “I want you, but I want you with no strings attached. You have a lot going on and I don’t want to—”

  “Fine. No strings.” He lifted his shirt and tossed it to the floor. “We good? Can I continue?”

  She scooted back, propping herself up on a pillow. Not a single hair lined his tight chest. His pecs perfectly formed and all she could think about was kneeling in front of him so she could toy with his nipples. “Yeah. We’re good.”

  He undid his pants and rolling them over his hips, down his long lean muscles, showing off a pair of athletic underpants with the tip of his cock popping out of the top.

  She bit down on her lower lip as he eased himself closer.

  “Which nightstand?”

  Leaning across the bed, she opened the draw, fumbling inside until her fingers found what she’d been looking for, pulling out one and placing it on the top of the table.