Page 27 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

The long nights of sleeping in a room near his, wondering if he slid naked beneath the sheets, of running into him in the family room in his boxer briefs, his state of arousal upon looking at her clear, finally caught up with her. She braced her hands on his cheeks and kissed him for all she was worth, dropping her walls and her guard for this one moment in time. When he finally released her kiss-swollen lips, she was dazed.

“Good,” he said in a desire-laden voice. “You’re relaxed now.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Is that why you kissed me? Because I was worked up and frightened?”

His eyes darkened. “I kissed you because I’ve been wanting to do that for days. But the end result? Yeah, that’s what I was aiming for. Ready to go home?” He slid his fingers into hers and she curled her fingers around his bigger hand.

“Ready.”

“Then let’s go.”

She glanced away from his potent stare, her gaze coming to rest on the bulge in his pants. The erection he couldn’t hide.

She slid her tongue over her lips, well aware of the pulsing deep inside her core.

“Don’t look at me like that or I’ll take you right here in my office. With my partners next door,” he said in a gruff voice that wreaked havoc on her senses.

And she knew she was so aroused, she just might let him. So she grabbed her purse and rushed out the door.

* * *

After arriving back at the apartment, they ordered in Italian food, ate, discussed his issues at the club, and never mentioned the kiss. It didn’t matter that Jason’s lips on hers was at the forefront of Faith’s mind, or that she wanted to take things further; he was back to being the perfect gentleman. It was as if he’d used the kiss to jerk her back to reality and ground her in sensations other than fear, but he wasn’t going to act on the arousal he’d inspired now.

Unsure of what to do, she was taken off guard when he said he’d clean up and instructed her to turn in and get a good night’s sleep. Since he seemed to need the time alone, she nodded and strode out, struggling with her conflicting desires. The need to keep a distance from Jason so it was easy to walk away when this was over and the yearning she felt for Jason Dare.

She washed up and undressed, changing into a pair of her soft shorts and camisole. She crawled into bed, hating to admit that Jason had been right and she was exhausted…

Faith awoke to hands around her neck, her brother’s face in front of hers, his breath fetid. “You know what I want, Faith.”

She coughed but the sound strangled in her throat. How did he expect her to answer him if he was choking her to death? “Colton.”

“The money. It’s half mine and I want it.”

She shook her head. Mom left it to me, she thought, knowing better than to waste her breath. Precious air she wasn’t getting. “Can’t breathe.” Spots danced in front of her eyes, fear spiraling inside her.

He loosened his grip enough for her to draw in a painful breath. “Get me my money. I’ll be back, and next time I expect you to give me what’s mine.”

Faith woke up choking, unable to breathe until she realized it had just been a dream. A real dream, but a nightmare that wasn’t happening now. She was safe. She blew out a breath and lifted her hair off her neck. It wasn’t the first time she had this nightmare and it wouldn’t be the last. Most nights she went into the living area and worked on her business plans, knowing sleep would be impossible after the nightmare, but tonight there was another option on her mind.

She needed comfort and she wanted a pair of strong arms around her to reassure her everything would be okay. Jason’s arms. More than solace, though, she desired him more than any man she’d ever met. And he’d admitted to wanting her.

She understood he had demons and past hurt and pain he hadn’t yet come to terms with. He didn’t want a relationship, didn’t want the happily ever after she dreamed of having one day when she was free of Colton. She didn’t want to be alone forever, even if she didn’t allow herself to think of having friends and people in her life again now.

So she knew the score. She wouldn’t be going into whatever this was with Jason with stars in her eyes, thinking she could change him. They were two consenting adults who desired each other. When her brother was behind bars, they’d go their separate ways. End of story.

But they had now.

Drawing a deep breath for courage, she made her decision and walked out of her room and turned to go into his. She opened the door, glad when it didn’t squeak, shut it behind her, and tiptoed quietly up to the bed. Then she had a silent debate with herself once more. Clothes on? Or clothes off?

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