by Aliyah Burke
“Stay.” Her word was soft and inviting.
Gods, he wanted to. Wanted to take her up on the offer, but he knew it wasn’t what she had in mind. She hated him. And he couldn’t afford to get involved with her. He had been hired to do a job, and that was it.
“I’ll be back,” he whispered. His thumbs brushed her breasts as he tried again to move her off him.
This time, her moan was different. It wasn’t a frustrated one, but one drenched in desire. Need rocked him. Hell, he’d barely touched her nipples, and she had that type of reaction. How responsive would she be during sex? His cock, fully erect, pulsed, and he tried counting backward. Nothing worked, and he knew it would be that way until he got her out of his system.
Pretty sure I just tried convincing myself I couldn’t get involved with her.
Her hips bucked against him as she muttered under her breath.
“Sakharre,” he said.
“Dorian,” she replied. “Don’t deny you want me. I feel your cock. I’m not looking for happily ever after. I still don’t like you, but I want your cock. I want you to fuck me.”
That’s all the permission he needed. Rolling her over, he didn’t waste time with tenderness, just gripped the base of his dick, moved it up along her pussy, coating the head from her slickness and slid it into her. One stroke and he was balls deep in her heat.
“Yes,” she moaned.
Her muscles stretched to accommodate him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He opened his mouth, and she slid her tongue in to tangle with his.
Dorian thrust and withdrew. She met and matched his pace. He closed his eyes and just enjoyed the woman beneath him. Hours and several orgasms later, they both succumbed to sleep, limbs entwined. A contentment settled around him that far surpassed the euphoria of mind-blowing sex.
The shift of her curvaceous body along his woke him. Rain still fell with similar ferocity as the previous night. He watched from below lowered lids as she slipped free of the large heart-shaped bed they’d made good use of together.
He enjoyed the view of her naked body until she drew on the robe, shielding her sienna skin from him. She vanished into the bathroom and came out later, completely dressed. He lay there as she flicked her attention between him and the door.
“I’ve no wish to chase you down, Sakharre. Do not go out that door.”
She shouldered her bag. “Goodbye.” Then, she was gone.
“Hell, no.” He bolted up and out of the cabin. She’d almost made it to the car when he scooped her up over his shoulder. “I told you not to make me chase you.”
She struggled. “I didn’t make you chase me. You could have let me go.”
“Hold still.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You came after me like that? You’re naked.”
“Yep.” Although, it was not the smartest thing he’d done.
“And it’s raining out.”
“Sure is.” He grimaced as he stepped into a mud puddle, the cold squishiness surging up through his toes.
“You’re insane.”
He was inclined to believe her. Here he was in the Rocky Mountains, somewhere in Idaho, standing in freezing cold rain, naked with a woman over his shoulder. Insane may be to tame of a word.
“Oh, my.”
He glanced to his left where a couple stood. The man was a burly and brawny man. The woman at his side looked like a porn star. Or a trophy wife to some rich man. Given the location, he was going for the former.
She stared at Dorian, tongue darting out to lick plump lips.
“Come on, LeeAnn,” the man said, tugging on her.
“Need help, I’m in cabin six,” she called out as her man hauled her off. “Hell, even if you don’t, call me. I would love to road test what you’re driving.”
Can my day get any worse?
Wow. Look at what my life has evolved into. In the rain, over the shoulder of a naked man—who totally rocked my world last night—as he’s propositioned by another woman. No one is going to believe this.
She stared at Dorian’s ass as he carried her back inside. Before they vanished inside, she lifted her head and groaned as the brunette flashed her tits at her with a large smile. She closed her eyes in mortification.
He tossed her on the bed without regard to the soaked condition of her clothing. Nor any thought to his state of nakedness. Lord help her, it was hard to look away from his cock. Firmly and determinedly, she pushed up on her elbows.
“You and I are going to be hooked together from here on out. That means we shower together and everything.” He walked to the edge of the bed on the side closest to her. “This running away is going to stop.”
She rolled from him. “I told you I wouldn’t run last night. I never said anything about this morning.”
Damn him for being so hot and affecting her in ways she hadn’t time to think about currently.
He followed her on the bed and, soon, lay over her, pressing her into the mattress, wet attire and all covered by his flesh, which was heating slowly as they lay together. The water from his hair dripped onto her face as he pushed closer to her.
“Every second of every day. Connected. You and me. Until I get you back to Miami.”
Her nipples tightened, and her core throbbed. This was going to be hell.
“Fuck you.”
His grin did terrible things to her insides.
“Well, we just finished a lot of rounds of sex, so I can confidently say I’ve already done that.”
“Ain’t happening again,” she spat, trying unsuccessfully to get out from under him. “Would you put some clothes on?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
She frowned. “Let’s?”
“Together.” He captured her wrist and tugged her from the bed before leading her to the bathroom. “Strip.”
“No.”
“Suit yourself. You’re going in one way or the other. Just figured you’d want to give your clothing a bit of time to dry out.”
She stared at him, still completely naked and holding a pair of handcuffs. Lord help her, this could be something so wonderful. She narrowed her eyes and began stripping. Her clothes may be already soaked, but they didn’t need another washing.
“Fine.”
He snapped the cuff around her left wrist, raking his gaze over her body with hunger as his cock began to rise.
“Let’s go get cleaned up.”
He drew her into the large shower and put her in the water. She moaned and relished the drumming of the heated water pellets on her skin. She’d forgotten how cold she’d actually been out in the rain.
Eventually, the warmth sank into her. He moved her to the side and got himself under the spray before reaching for the soap. She squeezed her eyes shut as he began washing himself. This wasn’t fair for her to see. Hell, all she longed to do was touch him, explore, and see whatever came up after.
Her eyes dropped to his groin. Up. That was exactly what his cock was doing. Pointing up.
Lord give me strength.
Someone needed to.
After ten of the longest minutes ever, they both stood in the main room, towels around them as their clothes dried. She kept her back to him as much as she could, determined to ignore the handsome and definitely sexy man beside her.
“Why won’t you let your brother help you out?”
“He’s my half-brother. And I don’t have any clue why he won’t trust that I can do this myself.”
“From what I am told, he’s very concerned. Enough so that he’s been benched for lack of concentration. His coach talked to him, and that conversation went a bit higher up. Then, I was brought in.”
“Higher up. As in who, the Dares? I hardly think my brother or I rate their radar.”
He sat her on the bed. “Look, I don’t know the Dares who own the Miami Thunder. I do know Tyler, who’s related to Ian—brothers. And, while I don’t know them, Tyler I trust with my life. He’s the one who called me. He’s
the one who asked for my help.”
She readjusted the towel, which had begun to slip. “So, you don’t know these guys but since their brother asks, you drop everything and come out here? And trust that they aren’t the ones who are with the guy who is after me?”
“Tyler owns a protection company. He’s not a man who will be working for scum. I trust him, and if he comes to me, I’ll go.”
She lifted her head and tucked some hair behind her ear. “You two served together? Is that why you speak of him how you do?”
Shadows crossed over Dorian’s face. “He saved my life. I’m indebted to him. He asked, and I came.”
She glanced at the silver on her wrist. Maybe it was time to grow up and stop running. “If I promise to go back with you, can you take these off me?”
He turned his head, gray-blue eyes suspicious. “All of a sudden you’re willing to behave and come nicely?”
“Look, I’ve been running for near two years. I think you’re right; I should be able to face my issues. Or rather, his, issues. I’ve acted like a child. I can admit that. Always claiming the need to be on my own because my mother left me with my father to go be with Louis’ father.” She shook her head. “He’s only trying to help. As are you. Besides, who’s to say Clay is still after me?”
“Your voice said so just now. That’s the reason you keep moving around and haven’t had a place to live that doesn’t come with its own live-in bugs.”
“Don’t get snooty. I may have not lived in the lap of luxury, but I got to learn a lot about many different things. Cars. Guns. Medical. Animals. Drinks.”
“You are a unique woman. Tell me about Clay.” Dorian drew her closer to him as they lay back on the bed.
She ground her teeth and focused herself to relax. Dorian linked their fingers together on the hands they were cuffed to one another. This was odd for her. Simply touching another. Stretched out as they were, clad only by towels, and with the passion between them, one would think they would be burning up the sheets, yet she was content lying there. Holding his hand.
“He was at a practice when Louis had first signed with the Thunder. During a break, Louis came over to talk to me, and that’s when Clay first began talking to me. I was stupid and assumed it was because he actually liked me, not to get closer to my brother. However, it didn’t take me long to figure it all out, and I tried to break it off with him.”
“Tried?”
“Some guys don’t like the word no.” She shifted closer to Dorian’s heat as the windows shook from the force of the pounding rain. “He continued to show up at work and in my classes. Restraining orders were ignored, as were my accounts to the cops. I realized after a while that Clay had some friends on the force.”
“So, he’s a cop?”
“No, he didn’t amount to anything,”—condemnation lined her tone—“but some of his frat boys are. And it never failed on where I went; he always seemed to locate me. So, Sakharre died, and Carla came to life. I don’t use credit cards, and I never do anything to put myself on the radar.”
“So, what made you change your mind?”
His thumb rubbed along the back of her hand, and the simple action calmed her.
“Like I said. Time to grow up.” Her insides were a wreck, but she couldn’t very well continue to do things while her brother might be at risk of losing his job because he worried about her. Despite her attempts to keep him at bay, he’d done all he could to keep them close. “Let me call Louis and tell him I’m on the way.” She sat up and tugged on the cuff. “If you’ll let me go.”
Together, they went to where Dorian had left the key, and he separated them. “Let’s go, then.”
“Unlike you, I’m not about to go outside in my birthday suit. I want clothes, even if they are soaking wet.” She walked away to the bathroom and shrugged into her wet attire. Dorian had dressed by the time she left the room.
He sat on the edge of a dresser, ankles hooked as he crossed his arms, stretching the blue material of his shirt. Her heart skipped a few beats as she took him in. Even when she’d hung out with her brother at practice, she hadn’t seen men like this. Sure, a great many of the Miami Thunder players were handsome, but Dorian had this wild animal magnetism about him she couldn’t seem to resist.
Call it like a moth to a flame or whatever cliché came quickest to mind, but that was his effect on her. She rubbed her hands on her thighs before crossing the room to his side. “I need to get a burner to call Louis, so he can stop worrying and get back to doing what he’s getting an obscene amount of money for.”
“You don’t approve of what he’s doing.”
Dorian didn’t pose it as a question but made it a statement.
“I actually have no opinion on it one way or the other. I’m his sister, not his mother.”
He drew her between his thighs and slipped his hands around her waist. “First, you called him your half-brother, and now, you imply he’s a full sibling.”
She shrugged, tensing. “What difference does it make? We’re related.” Her response was nearly defensive.
“Just making an observation.”
“Well, stop. Unless I can do the same and ask you about what memory makes you so angry when you think about the time you had in the military. Or how you’re desperately trying to ignore the call of alcohol. Or limit what you take in.” He scowled. “Yeah, that’s right, big guy. I can make observations, as well. I watched you in the bar.”
His stare would have sent her cowering to a corner had she not seen it before on some of the vets she’d met working many of her odd jobs. Even so, it wasn’t anything to disregard. This man was more capable than she’d given him credit for, and it would behoove her to remember that bit of information.
“Ready?”
“Not like I had much,” she said. “Are we driving a hotwired car all the way back to—”
She clamped her lips together as, right before her eyes, he changed. Every fiber in his being went rigid, and he had his gun in hand. Hell, she’d not even known he had one on him. Much less saw him draw it.
He pointed to the floor, and she flattened herself on it immediately.
“Stay away from the windows and door.” His tone low and businesslike.
She slithered to the bed and wedged herself beneath it best she could while keeping her eyes on him. He had a weapon in each hand, and she shook her head. This was beginning to be too much like the movies where the hero got blown to hell defending the woman.
A strangled laugh slid free. She was far from the woman to be protected, and it’s not like he cared about her. I’m a job to him.
She heard footsteps. They echoed on the steps, and she tensed. Glass shattered, and something thudded on the wood floor.
“Close your eyes,” Dorian cried.
She didn’t hesitate, just ducked her head and squeezed her eyes shut. A loud bang filled the air, followed by sharp, static bursts. Gunfire. Fear crept up her spine, anchoring her to the floor.
With objects splintering apart around her, she tried to slow her breathing. Tried being the operative word. It wasn’t working.
Her stint at the gun range had been extremely educational. She’d not only learned to identify different gunshot sounds but had witnessed the destruction such calibers could and did deliver to their targets. This explains why I’m cowering on the floor, praying for my life.
“Move!”
Dorian damn near lifted her with one hand on the back of her sodden shirt as he propelled them toward the broken window and half-tossed her through. She scrambled the rest of the way, ignoring the glass stabbing her in the palms.
“Car. Start it,” he shouted over his return fire.
She glanced around to grab her bearings then hauled ass for the orange and white Monza, launching her bag in the passenger seat as she immediately began to hotwire the vehicle. The engine roared to life, and she sat up, shoving the car into gear and whipping a bunch of mud and dirt out behind her as she spun off in a d
ifferent direction.
Dorian ran from the side of the cabin and slid across the hood in a move Bo Duke would have been envious of and climbed in the passenger seat. “Go. Go. Go!”
She went, the car shooting like a rocket between the larger, heavier SUVs and trucks. The backend fishtailed as she struggled to keep control as they reached the road. Once there, she accelerated and jetted away from the scene.
“You okay?” he asked.
Both hands on the wheel held it tight enough her knuckles were white. “Peachy.” The tires squealed as she took them around another corner. Checking the rearview, she held her breath against the fact she’d yet to see anyone following them. “Just fucking peachy.”
Chapter Four
Dorian stared at the woman reclining in the seat beside him. They’d switched vehicles—the orange Monza too much of a stand out—and, now, were in an older model Crown Vic. One she’s also hotwired.
“You keep looking over at me,” she muttered. “Am I snoring?”
“No,” he said. “Just trying to figure you out. What were you studying at the university?”
“Interactive Media. I was going for my Master of Fine Arts.”
“And that would mean?”
“I work with technology.” She shrugged, shifting slightly in the seat while she turned to face him more. “Mostly I work with new technology and work with data. Or rather, I used to. When Clay began bothering me, I lost my concentration on most everything. I was scared and ran.”
“Since then, you’ve done all kinds of work.”
She yawned. “Yep.”
Dorian wasn’t sure he quite believed she wouldn’t make another escape attempt, but apparently, those men at the cabin had scared her more than he’d thought, considering hours before that he’d rescued her from kidnappers. She’d not made a single attempt to escape him and worked with him. If he could just eliminate the fear she desperately tried to conceal from him in her big brown gaze.
“And the ones who took you from the bus station, it wasn’t him?”