Page 26 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

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Faith sat at Jason’s desk, waiting for him to return. She’d looked through her phone, checked her apps, which were minimal because she’d deleted all her personal social media accounts when she left Iowa, and now she had nothing else to do but look around at the man’s office space. The room was similar to the larger area where the other two men had been waiting for them. Sleek chrome borders accentuated glass desks along with black and chrome chairs. Modern area rugs lay over natural wood floors that had a deliberately stripped, gritty look.

Although she never intended to pry, her gaze fell to the pictures along the far edge of the desk. There was an obvious family shot of Jason in the middle of a group of men and women, many of whom had similar features and who had to be his siblings. There was a wedding photograph of an older couple she presumed were his parents and a picture of a much younger Jason, Tanner, and Landon and another man identical to Landon in front of a statue. His twin she’d seen on the website, to whose memory the club had been dedicated.

She felt for all three of the men. With her mother’s passing, she understood loss, and theirs had happened way too young. It didn’t escape her notice that Jason never discussed that part of his past with her. Never mentioned Levi or the fact that they’d named the club after him. She wished he’d unburden himself. He’d already done so much for her, and she just knew if he talked about the pain he kept so close to his heart and carefully walled off, it might help.

As she frowned, her gaze traveled to the last picture. A photograph of an attractive woman with blonde hair with a little boy in her arms. Faith had no idea who the female was, and an unexpected knot of jealousy formed in her stomach. It was silly. She trusted that Jason wasn’t married. He obviously lived alone, and he’d made his views on relationships crystal clear. There was no doubt he possessed an inherent protective streak from which she was currently benefitting despite him keeping most people at a distance. And yet there was this woman and child he’d never mentioned.

She rubbed her hands against her denim-clad thighs, growing antsy sitting here with nothing to do while Jason met with his partners, but she owed him at least this and much more. So she leaned back in the chair and relaxed herself, accepting she might be here awhile.

She began to doze off when the sound of the door opening startled her awake. She jumped in her seat, her heart doing a rapid pounding of fear inside her chest.

“It’s okay, it’s just me,” Jason said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

Her mouth tasted dry, like cotton. Although she was used to it, waking often in the middle of the night in such a state, she was surprised she’d fallen asleep and dreamed here.

“I guess I had a nightmare about Colton and then the creaking of the door and the noise downstairs scared me. You just took me by surprise,” she said, catching her breath, as she rose from her seat.

“I think that answers my question,” he said cryptically from the doorway.

He was a welcome sight, handsome and sexy, in his dark jeans and black shirt.

“What question?” she asked, confused.

“I was going to ask if you wanted to eat something here and hang out downstairs at the club for a while, but I don’t think the crowd and the noise is a good idea. We’ll order something in back at my apartment.” He strode up to her, joining her behind the desk.

“But your partners–” She shook her head. She didn’t want the men to resent her more than they already did. Or at least, more than Tanner seemed to.

“Shh.” Jason touched a finger to her mouth, then removed it, leaned in, and replaced it with his mouth, gliding his lips over hers.

She blinked in surprise, then leaned into the kiss, softening against him. He licked the seam of her lips and she parted, letting him in. At the touch of his tongue to hers, she forgot everything but the warmth and feel of him, the butterflies in her stomach, and the excitement suddenly racing through her veins. Desire replaced her earlier fear and she lost herself in his thorough, devouring kiss.

He raised a hand to her hair, tangling his palm in her ponytail, using the pull to tug her head to the side so he could deepen their connection. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a long, leisurely, arousing kiss that seemingly had no end. She let everything go but the pure enjoyment of being so close to this man she’d wanted for so long.

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