The Decision (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Allyson Young

  She sat quietly through out the meal, contributing to the conversation when required to do so, but primarily listening and watching Dace’s interaction with his sister and brother-in-law. It was enlightening, the way they communicated with obvious caring and gentle teasing. His parents were still touring Europe, and Stephanie hoped for more time before she had to face them. And beneath it all, beneath the conversation at the table and the muted sounds of the other diners in the restaurant, the sounds of crockery, utensils, and glassware, her arousal simmered. The plug in her backside wasn’t exactly uncomfortable, but it created an awareness and distracted her from the present to a certain extent. She found herself looking ahead to going home with Dace and what would then transpire. She wanted him to take her there despite the slight trepidation. It would be the last thing she had to give him, he would then have it all, and with their earlier conversation, Stephanie cautiously peeked into a future. It was a future that could include marriage, and children, a lifetime spent with Dace. She smiled at the thought.

  “Pleasant thoughts, sweetheart?” Dace was looking at her, looking right into her head. He knew what she was thinking, or at least knew she was aroused. She smiled wider.

  “I’m enjoying all of the evening,” she said sweetly. “I’m a bit tired though, and am glad I don’t have to get up for work tomorrow, so I don’t have to worry about getting to bed at my usual time.”

  His eyes flared at her hint, and she looked at him innocently, poking the bear. Amanda and Clay faded into the background, and her connection with Dace shimmered between them.

  Clay laughed, and they both pulled their gazes apart to stare at him. He threw his napkin on the table. “I think we’re standing in the path of true love, Mandy. It’s time we hit the road anyhow, if we want to get home in time for the sitter to have any kind of social life.”

  He sounded complacent and not at all dismayed to cut their evening short, and after a significant pause, Amanda nodded and forced a smile.

  “I need the ladies before we go. Stephanie?” She rose from her chair and arched a brow inquiringly.

  Stephanie sighed inwardly again. She supposed she had to hear from Amanda at some time. She nodded and carefully stood, adjusting to the intruder in her bottom. Amanda led the way and didn’t speak until they entered the well-appointed restroom. She glanced around as if to ensure privacy and put it out there. “I saw what your sister did to Dace. It wasn’t pretty, and you look just like her.”

  “I’m nothing like her in truth, Amanda.” Stephanie kept her tone calm and conciliatory. “Dace knows it, and in time I hope you will, too. I care about your brother, and not about his money.”

  Amanda stared and her and then smiled a little, almost naturally. “I’ll take your word for it, Stephanie. For now. We’re a close family, and Mom and Dad aren’t happy with Dace choosing you. Dace convinced them not to come home early, but still…and Chad…he’s Dace’s biggest fan. So he’ll be all over you.”

  Stephanie pushed down her anger. She wanted to be glad for Dace that his family members were so protective, but it was getting old. She turned to the sinks and washed her hands, noting how the color had risen in her cheeks. She ignored Amanda, having said everything she planned to. After another silent moment, the other woman turned on her heel and left the room. Stephanie leaned against the vanity and waited until she was calm. When she finally emerged, Dace’s family had gone and he was waiting for her at their table, his face set, eyes glittering with frost. She crossed to him and picked up her bag.

  “Ready to go?” she asked brightly.

  He stood and leaned to speak quietly into her ear. “What did Amanda say?”

  “Nothing much.” She wasn’t going to put Dace in a position where he might have to choose between her and his sister.

  “Don’t lie to me, Stephanie. Ever.” His tone offended her, and she again struggled with her temper.

  “I’m not talking to you about it here, Dace. I’d like to go.”

  He snatched up her wrap and draped it around her shoulders, his hands becoming gentle as he settled the folds around her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Amanda is a loyal sister.” Unlike Sophie. He didn’t have to say it. It hung there between them, and Stephanie wanted to cry, her nose stinging with emotion. She pulled herself together.

  “You knew Sophie was going to cause grief, come between us, Dace. I tried to warn you.”

  He looped an arm around her shoulders and ushered to the door. “I expected better of Amanda, I suppose. I explained things to her. You look so much like Sophie I guess it clouds her judgement. Although Clay seems to accept you.”

  She decided not to enlighten him about Clay’s little advances right under Amanda’s nose while Dace stopped to speak to some people at another table. It was over with Clay, but she clearly had to deal with the rest of his family. Damn Sophie.

  Frank was waiting and hustled to open the door to the limo. His friendly, open visage helped to distract her from the sobering uphill battle ahead with Dace’s family. Dace climbed in beside her and eased her onto his lap. His proximity and caring helped her move past Amanda’s attitude, and when he began to drift little kisses over the side of her neck and inched her skirt up her thighs, all worries subsided.

  “Dace!”

  “Shh. I raised the privacy screen.”

  “No. Frank isn’t going to be an unwilling voyeur.”

  Dace chuckled against her skin, but quit advancing her skirt upward. He sought her lips and kissed her breathless, giving her a hint of what lay ahead. She deliberately worked her hip against his hardness and revelled in the way he tensed and how the heat of their kiss elevated. He tore his lips away and bent a heated gaze on her.

  “Be careful, minx. You already have an experience ahead of you, and a pink bottom will just make it better for me.”

  She languidly stretched and curled into him. “Promises.”

  “It’s on, sweetheart.”

  The rest of the drive took place in dark, seething expectation.

  * * * *

  The apartment door shut with a definite slam, and Dace threw the lock. “Out of those clothes, minx.”

  Stephanie pretended to consider his request. When he took a step toward her, she lifted a hand to the side zipper on her dress and gently pulled it down, taking as long as she dared, testing him. She shrugged, and the silky fabric slipped from first one shoulder, then the other, and down the length of her body, hesitating at her breasts, dragging over the beaded tips of her nipples, swirling around her hips to pool at her feet. She slipped a fingertip beneath the front closure of her nearly transparent bra and popped it open, the cups falling back obligingly to frame her now heavy mounds. Another shrug and the straps slithered down either arm to drop free to the floor.

  Dace’s features were strained, his eyes hot pools of cerulean. He gestured at her panties. “The rest.”

  It was a simple matter to insert her fingers behind the waistband, then shimmy the lace over her hips.

  “Stop.” She froze at his command. “Turn around.”

  Stephanie turned, her hands at her hips, still behind the fabric. She awaited his next order.

  “Take them off.”

  She complied, bending at the waist to push them lower, to her knees and down her calves, hearing his sharp intake of breath as the plug came into view. Ah, the visual. She stepped out and straightened, clenching her buttocks in an attempt to hide the plug.

  “Go to the bed, strip the covers back, then get on it. Hands and knees. Face the headboard. Spread your legs, Stephanie, and don’t hide from me. You won’t like it if you do.”

  Her pussy swelled and her cream gushed, just like that. She wondered what Dace would do if she disobeyed even as her feet carried her to the bed to do his bidding. She was viscerally aware of him behind her, watching, making her wait. Her entire being prickled in erotic anticipation. She was a total sex-greedy wench and marvelled at how wonderful it made her feel.

  Dace took the same po
sition behind her as he had done earlier, the naked heat of him encompassing her frame, and her body memory caused her to drop her shoulders to the mattress to his rumble of pleasure. “Good girl. Now relax.”

  Dace eased the plug out, and she hitched after it, feeling suddenly bereft, empty. It clunked on the nightstand, muffled by fabric. A towel, she decided, alert to every sound. “Sweetheart, you’re stretched and open. Now breathe with me.”

  Stephanie closed her eyes behind the spill of her hair and concentrated on matching her breaths to his until the only sound in the room was the synchronized echo. She drifted, trusting and relaxed, as he squeezed lube into her anus in quantity, the cooling sensation in such contrast to how hot she felt everywhere else. What could only be his cock was then set right there, and he gripped her hips.

  “Steady, sweetheart. Breathe. Relax and take me.”

  He was so much bigger than the plug, and he had to press hard to pop past the initial resistance of the ring of muscles around her back entrance. Stephanie struggled to breathe and tensed. Dace immediately stilled and waited patiently for her to adjust, leaning over her to feather his lips over her shoulders. “Okay?”

  Managing to answer in the affirmative, feeling some kind of dark, deviant pleasure furling up from deep within. Dace pushed in deeper to meet that curl of pleasure, and she felt the drag and pull of him over every nerve ending, sensations she couldn’t begin to describe. She sucked in more air and involuntarily clenched. Dace groaned loudly above her, and his balls slapped against her pussy as he thrust in to the root. She whimpered at the full feeling, much fuller than the plug, and swore she could feel him in her chest. She needed him to do something.

  “Ask, Stephanie. Beg me.”

  It was so hot, so sexy. She was at his tender mercy, and begging seemed such a fine idea. “Please, Dace. Please do something.”

  “Tell me.” His voice was hoarse with strain, and she tightened her pelvic muscles. A slap to her right buttock reminded her who was boss.

  “Move, please! Fuck my ass!”

  Her crude request unleashed the beast, for Dace pulled back and thrust forward, pulling further out with every stroke, then shoving in harder, harder. It bordered on splintering pain but for that dark curl that unfurled and beat against her insides. Dace powered in and out with controlled strokes, and the pleasure built. Stephanie could only take, pinned by his weight and his grip on her hips, so she took him. His cock dragged and tormented, and she whimpered and pleaded for something beyond her ken.

  “Touch yourself, sweetheart. Bring yourself off. Now.” She barely recognized Dace’s voice, hoarse with effort and lust. She managed to push her hand under her mound, a finger finding her engorged clit with minimal effort, her pussy slick with her juices. She rubbed and pressed, and her release blew up over her, her toes curling, pussy clenching on emptiness, flooding hot moisture, as she clamped hard enough on Dace’s hard, unyielding cock to make her teeth grind and her eyes water. He bellowed, and a hot surge of fluid bathed her colon, his balls jerking against her. She sagged under his weight, and he immediately rose off of her. She moaned when his cock pulled out, and her back entrance quivered. Dace collapsed beside her and pulled her to spoon against his chest, their sweaty bodies sealing their connection. She felt the press of his lips against her hair and dropped into oblivion.

  * * * *

  Dace stared into the darkness, holding his woman close. He had slipped from their bed to clean up and returned with warm cloths to take care of Stephanie. She hadn’t stirred during the process other than to murmur a vague protest in her sleep. He claimed her in the most intimate way a man could take a woman, and she took him like she was made for him. She met every one of his needs, although he had lots of other fantasies that included pleasuring her to madness. She was nothing like her sister in any way, shape, or form, not personally or sexually, and he’d ceased to see even a hint of Sophie when he looked at Stephanie. And she’d finally told him she loved him. He knew it, but it was absolutely great to hear her say it, and he had no problem in reciprocating because it was true.

  But his family was obviously going to be another story, and if Amanda wasn’t willing to give Stephanie more benefit of the doubt, life was going to be sticky. Dace wasn’t going to allow anyone further opportunity to cause Stephanie grief, and his agile mind sorted through a variety of ways to communicate that fact to his parents, his sister, and his brother. Chad would be the worst of them because Sophie had blatantly propositioned him, the first indication she wasn’t who Dace thought she was. It had bothered Chad to tell his big brother about her behavior, and Dace regretted how he’d rejected Chad’s confidence, telling his brother he was just jealous. How could he have been so thick? He blessed his restraint with Stephanie. He’d met her heart and soul before the sex entered into the equation.

  Having worked the issue of his family out to his satisfaction, Dace settled in to sleep. They had plans for the next day, and his included a sexual wake-up call.

  Chapter Nine

  Stephanie stretched luxuriously beneath the fine sheets and then winced. Her nether regions were a trifle sore. She woke earlier that morning to a warm, wet tongue lapping at her pussy. Dace used his broad shoulders to hold her thighs wide, a heavy hand on her abdomen limiting her movements. She got wet for him immediately, and he suckled her folds, feasting on her cream, his scruff of morning beard abrading her tender thighs. The little prickle of pain enhanced the sensation of Dace pulling her clit between his teeth to pinch it. She climaxed, and he pushed her into another one, whirling his tongue over her aching clit, shoving two fingers up her sheath to curl over her G-spot.

  She was still assimilating the rush and catching her breath when he slid up her body to place his cock at her opening, his face lowering to take her mouth with his own. His tongue thrust between her lips just as his cock pushed past her swollen tissues. Stephanie kissed him back with as much fervor as she could muster, and he settled in for the ride. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him close, trying to climb inside his chest, closer to his heart. He rocked in and out, yet stayed so close. He shuddered as he stroked in deeply, and she held him through his release, kissing him softly. She hated it when he withdrew.

  Dace dealt with the condom. “How much longer until you’re protected?” Her thoughts exactly.

  “Two more days.”

  His smile made her nipples harden and ache. “I’ll have to come up with something to celebrate.”

  Stephanie had no doubt.

  “I have some calls to make. You sleep in awhile. Love you.” Dace got up and pulled on his boxers. She watched his fine ass all the way out the door.

  And now she couldn’t sleep anymore. She needed to take a bath and soak her sore muscles and other parts. She clambered out of bed and made her way to the bathroom, turning on the taps before she used the toilet. The water thundered into the tub, and she tipped in a capful of salts, swirling them through the water with one hand. Stepping in, she sank down to sit in bliss as the heat soothed her and the water crept up to cover her reclining body. She turned off the taps with her toes and basked for awhile, thinking hard about nothing. She then got up to wash her hair under the shower as the tub emptied. She took her time drying off and wrapped her hair in one of the thick towels Dace set out for her. Stephanie idly wondered why he hadn’t joined her in the shower as was his wont. After pulling on a robe, she went in search of him, needing her coffee, too.

  “I’m not backing down, Chad. Mom and Dad were more amenable than you, and even Amanda conceded. I’ve been on this goddamn phone for over an hour. So give it up or stay away. Your choice.” Stephanie stopped dead in her tracks just outside of Dace’s study. He was still on the phone, and she didn’t need anyone to tell her who he was talking about. Her heart sank to her toes.

  “You haven’t met her, so don’t rely on Amanda’s take. She reacted to the physical similarities. You couldn’t find two people less alike.”

  Stephanie debated
creeping away to the kitchen, but couldn’t let this brew between them. She cautiously entered the study, and Dace’s head came up. His eyes were blue ice, but he put out his hand and she pattered forward on her bare feet to take it. He drew her onto his lap, and she curled against him. She could hear the angry male voice emanating from the phone like the buzz of an infuriated wasp. She flinched, and Dace immediately reacted.

  “I’m done talking, Chad. You decide. But if you make Stephanie uncomfortable in any way, you’ll regret it.” He hung up the phone and took a deep breath.

  Tears welled, and she blinked hard to keep them at bay. Dace didn’t need to feel any worse than he already did. She listened to his heart beat and matched his breathing until they both calmed.

  “My family will come around, sweetheart. I just needed to give them a push. It pisses me off that they don’t trust my judgement.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest that they had good reason in the past, but she bit down on it before it escaped. She wished it was in her power to go back in time and meet Dace first.

  Finally, he shifted. “You know when to talk and when to be silent, Stephanie. I appreciate it. Now let’s get you fed and coffeed and go pick up that animal.”

  * * * *

  The other owners in the dog park were used to Jake by now and if not enthusiastic about his breed, were far more accepting. Jake really didn’t care. He ran and romped with the other dogs, lavishing the bulk of his attention on a gorgeous yellow lab bitch who ran him right off his feet. Stephanie really needed to get him altered, now that she could afford it. Lilly had refused, citing support for males everywhere, but Stephanie knew it was necessary before he met a girl dog in heat.

  “We need to talk about finding a place where Jake can live with us.”

  Dace’s quiet comment pulled her from her musings with the impact of a shout. She turned to look at him and found him smiling at her shock.