“What are we doing here, Dane? You deserve so much better than me. You’re so together and my life is a train wreck.” The forlorn tone cut at me like a knife.
“Don’t think like that. It’s not true.”
“But it is,” she protested weakly. “My family has been a disaster since my parents died, then I married a guy who was for all intents and purposes a brother, then I had a child with challenges and if that all wasn’t enough, said scumbag enjoyed beating me at any opportunity. Why the hell aren’t you running?”
I chuckled. “Takes more than that to get rid of me I guess.”
“Glutton for punishment, maybe? White knight complex?”
“Nope, none of those, baby. Just an ordinary guy.”
Ari gave me a very feminine snort, if that was even possible. “You are so far from ordinary Dane Roberts and that’s why I’m wondering why the devil you’re here.”
She paused for a moment before her voice tightened and my body waited for the next challenge. Although we were making progress, there was still some hurdles to negotiate. I was a long way off extraordinary—it was kind of nice she thought that though.
“Where did you go anyway?”
Was this where I passed in my man card? “Umm, I’m kind of embarrassed to say.”
She turned in my arms and looked at me. “Why? What did you do?”
“I just kind of got in the truck and drove. Before I knew it, I was at mum and dad’s. Worse thing was they didn’t seem surprised to see me.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised but—Oh my God. You’re embarrassed! I can’t even imagine what Cathy must think of me.”
“Stop worrying. She thinks you’re great. It’s me they think’s a bone head.” A look of surprise settled on her perfect face.
“Why?” Her cute little nose scrunched up in confusion.
“Do we really need to go through it? Let me just say I’m sorry I didn’t cotton on to why you were upset before. I mean, I knew you’ve been through hell. I need to not be so touchy about stuff. Plus, I shouldn’t have taken off. That was immature and stupid.”
This time she spun around totally in my arms and knelt between my legs. Her hands closed over each side of my face. “Dane. It’s me who should be apologising. You’ve been so good to me and you were just doing more of it. I just reacted to what you said, reverting to my old patterns. Once you left and I sat here feeling sorry for myself, I realised pretty damned quick I’d done exactly as you’d said. I did judge you based on Marcel, and for that I feel terrible.” Then she dropped those beautiful big eyes for a moment and I lost her gaze.
She was composing herself for something.
Finally, she looked up. “I also figured out what you were trying to tell me. At least, I think I have.” She didn’t look so sure. “You were trying to tell me you care for me…right?”
There was no hiding from her and I didn’t want to. If anything I wanted to lose myself in those eyes of hers. I couldn’t deny it. She’d been brave enough to say it. It was time to man up.
If I was going to be the man I wanted to be, then I needed to own this. Now was not the time to chicken out. “You’re right. I do care for you. In fact, I think…no I’m sure, I’m falling in love with you.”
Her eyes grew large and I felt a moment of panic, deep in my gut. Was this where I got rejected on my arse?
“Oh Dane, you don’t know how that makes me feel to hear you say that.”
A nervous chuckle bubbled up and out of me. “I’m really hoping it makes you feel good.”
She giggled, the genuine one and my panic subsided a little bit. “Definitely good. I did a lot of thinking while you were gone and I decided that if you, for some reason gave me another chance, then I was going to tell you the same thing.”
“I wasn’t looking for a relationship, Dane Roberts. Certainly not with a man like yourself. I figured the best I could hope for was some boring data analyst or something like that. I never expected someone like you to be interested in someone like me, but if you gave me a chance I was going to tell you that you caring for me is about the best gift anyone has ever given me, because I know you do it with no strings attached.”
I opened my mouth to say something, to protest but she pressed her thumb across my lips.
“I know you give your support and love freely, Dane. I’ll try not to ever doubt you again. Nobody’s ever done that for me before, expect my parents a long, long time ago. It means the world to me and I want you to know, I care about you too. In fact, it’s more. I love you Dane.”
“Oh, Ari…” She was so special and I’d never fathom how these people could have mistreated and manipulated her so badly, but she was mine now and I wasn’t about to let her go anytime soon. Nor was I about to let her past experiences tarnish our future.
Her lips closed the distance to mine and suddenly the words were no longer important. It was all about the actions and by the way she was kissing me, sucking at my lips and tongue, Arianne Le Flegg was mine.
Now I was about to really enjoy some make up sex.
Chapter 18
Arianne
My stomach was doing somersaults and not in a good way. Quite frankly I was freaking out. Isaac’s newest school bill was sitting in front of me, on the table. I needed to come up with just over five thousand this week.
In the scheme of things it was nothing and I could easily do it at the tables, I just had to be careful. For the last few weeks I’d been hosing Leo off whenever I could. I didn’t want to be there, I sensed they were on to me. If I got busted…I was screwed. Everything I’d ever wanted to do would get snatched away from me.
I’d put Isaac to bed an hour or so ago. He was exhausted after a big day at school and his other activities. Dane wasn’t home yet. Apparently he had a late class. It was weird. He’d just kind of moved in, even though the Marcel threat seemed to have diminished a little. We hadn’t discussed it. It was just one of those things that sort of happened.
I wasn’t complaining and I hadn’t raised it. Having Dane here was welcome relief—another adult and a bit of a buffer for me from Isaac. Plus, I just enjoyed his company a lot. And then there was the sex….
Oh My Fucking God! That was exactly what the man was in bed. A fucking God!
For the first few years of our marriage sex with Marcel had been good. I enjoyed it—a lot. The last few years I didn’t even want to think about…
It was much better to think about what Dane and I had been up to.
The last few days…I could still feel him deep inside me. He didn’t just have the equipment, he knew how to use it and I was taking total advantage of it. Not that he seemed to mind in the least.
A little shiver rippled up my spine.
The nasty invoice glared back at me and my very pleasant thoughts were interrupted. I pulled up my internet banking on my laptop. It didn’t matter which way I cut it, there just wasn’t enough money there.
I needed to go back to the casino.
It was the only way.
Leo was getting testy as well.
I was thinking about what outfit I could wear to change my appearance enough to hopefully throw off the cameras when Dane came through the front door.
He dropped his training duffle near the hallway and came over to me.
“Hey gorgeous! How was your day?” I pushed back from the table and went to wrap my arms around him. He held me at a distance. Exhaustion was written all over his face.
“I’m all sweaty, Miss. I couldn’t be naffed having a shower after the class. I just wanted to get home to you.” Home to you…how those words made my heart feel happy.
I pushed at his arms and wriggled my way close to his body. A sweaty Dane was not a problem for me. Besides, after looking at that invoice I needed a hug and most definitely a kiss.
Once I was pressed right up to him I tilted my head up and waited.
He looked down at me and his hazel eyes danced a little with playfulness, despite his exhausti
on. “Looking for something?”
“Well der! A kiss would be good, big guy!”
“That I can do.” His lips came down and met mine. Immediately I was putty in his hands. His tongue invaded my mouth and I was the most willing of victims. Once Dane had his hands on me, I didn’t stand a chance.
I pushed myself closer and there was no mistaking the hard erection prodding my belly. I swear the man could go from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye. His hands gripped my butt and he lifted me up. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist and I gripped onto him. Not that I was the least bit concerned about him dropping me. Dane was a big guy and he didn’t seem to have any trouble picking me up and moving me where he wanted me.
Our mouths were still joined, and now he was walking towards the bedrooms.
I pulled back. “What are you doing?”
“I’m heading to the shower. It’d be even better if you joined me. I’m just about out of gas Ari, but I think I’ve got just enough left to get us both there. How about it, my sweet, sexy, Miss?” His voice was that low commanding growl that made my spine shiver and my clit tingle. I thought of it as his let get it on voice.
I must have grinned because he stopped at the doorway to the bathroom but didn’t put me down. “What?”
“That voice you use when you’re in the mood. It does crazy things to my hormones.” He was nuzzling at my neck. That was something else he was extremely good at.
“Mmm, Miss you taste great. I want to eat you all up. Starting right here.” He swiped my neck with his tongue.
Eating, food, shit it was nearly ten. “Have you had something to eat?”
“Yeah Ari. I’m good. I ate one of my prepared meals at the dojo before my last class. I’ll grab a protein shake before I turn in. Right now the only thing I want to eat is something sweet.” His eyes and voice were stoking the fire deep inside me.
“Really? What did you have in mind? We just came from the kitchen.”
“Hmm…I’m not hungry for anything in the kitchen, Ari…” His hands gripped tighter to my butt and his mouth lowered to my neck again as he nipped lightly. “I want your pussy all over my face—on my tongue. Let me have it Ari.”
There was no way I could refuse that. “Yes…” It came out as a little breathy acceptance.
Dane moved into the bathroom and placed my backside on the counter beside the sink. He closed and locked the door.
“Strip Ari, I can’t wait.” It was a demand and hell if it wasn’t hot.
He already had his T-shirt off and was sliding his training shorts and briefs off. I tugged off my shirt and bra when he urged me up from the counter and started working on the fastening of my jeans.
Seconds later he had me stripped bare. I could feel the need and the hunger radiating from him. It was almost too overwhelming. If I didn’t trust him so much I knew I would be afraid. This was Dane and I loved him.
Once he had me naked, he lifted me back up onto the counter. He grabbed a folded towel from the cupboard and sank to his knees in front of me. God, it should have been embarrassing—instead it was so hot.
Me.
I had his sole laser like focus and that was heady—empowering.
A man like Dane, genuine, caring, supportive, strong. Me—I made him a little crazy and I loved it.
His hands locked around my wrists and guided my hands to my breast. “You look after these. I want to look up and see you playing with these pretty pink nipples.” He dropped his head and sucked first one nipple into his mouth. Then pulled back and covered it with my hand. He did the same with the other.
“I look up and your hands aren’t there, there’ll be trouble.”
I nodded my understanding, not able to form words—I was too hot and needy.
Then I saw the glint in his eye. He knew exactly what he was doing. Dane had figured out in super short time how to get me to the edge and have me begging for him. I wasn’t too proud to admit it. I’d beg. The things he could make me feel…
He locked a hand around each of my thighs and draped them over his shoulders. “Hands, Ari.” There was a stern reminder and I closed my fingers tips around my nipples. It felt so…
I didn’t get to finish that thought before I was assaulted by his mouth covering my pussy. My hips instinctively lurched up—his big hands held me still. Then he started to eat like a starving man. His tongue licked and scooped and his lips closed and sucked.
Occasionally, his teeth grazed and his nose even bumped once or twice.
This wasn’t about the tease.
It was about the race.
It was a plethora of sensations, all trying to out do each other.
I was powerless to do anything, other than accept the outcome.
He looked up at that moment and I knew my mistake. “Hands, Miss,” he growled. “Pinch those nipples…now.”
His head had dropped back to my pussy and I tried to focus on what he’d told me and his tongue. Oh God…I couldn’t make sense of it.
I was panting and gasping for breath.
“Oh Dane…please…please…”
His hand impatiently brushed mine from my nipple and his fingers took over. Rough, savage, demanding.
The feeling of his tongue back on my clit! How could he come at me like a bull in a china shop, but still have the accuracy of a surgeon with his tongue?
I couldn’t think about that anymore. The sensations overrode everything.
His shoulder nudged my thighs farther apart and he slid two fingers into me. He wasn’t careful, he wasn’t gentle—like always it was everything I needed. Everything I craved.
How did he know so well?
Blue, green, pink, orange and red stars burst behind my eyelids and I lost control of just about every muscle in my body. I was reduced to one big shivering, quaking mess and I loved every nanosecond of it.
“Dane…” I panted between breaths, as I tried not to scream out.
I pushed at his head haphazardly, but he ignored me, and kept up with now gentle licks. Enough to eke out the last of the pleasure from my orgasm.
Eventually, he rocked back on his heels and pressed a kiss to my lower belly. Then he stood and lowered his lips, which were covered in my essence, to mine.
He wanted me to taste myself on him.
I could read the look in his eyes, it turned him on and made his clean cut good looks a little wild and feral. His tongue smeared through my lips and I let him take my mouth just as he had my pussy.
It was so good. There was no way I’d deny him anything he wanted. I was fast realising I wanted it too, even if I hadn’t known it before.
With a grunt he pulled back and stood up. Then reached into the cupboard under the sink and pulled out his toiletry bag. He fished in and came back with a condom in his hand. He ripped it open with his teeth and rolled it down his length in record time.
“I don’t want to use these things much longer, Ari. If we’re together, we’re together. I want you bare. We need to figure it out.” His words were short and to the point.
There was no arguing or discussion. He was a man on a mission and I was along for the ride.
His hands closed on my hips and he slipped straight into my waiting pussy. Oh God every time…I’d never get enough of the feeling of him filling me to the brink, of hitting every nerve inside me.
I couldn’t help it. I dissolved into a puddle of spasms and jolts again. He gripped my hips harder to hold me to him, around him.
When that didn’t work the way he wanted, he gathered me in his arms and lifted. Two steps and he was pushing me back against the bathroom wall, his big hard body smothered mine. It felt incredible.
“That’s it Ari, keep coming for me. I’m almost there.”
My head cracked back against the tile. I was so gone, I didn’t even seem to notice. All I could feel was him thrusting up hard into me, demanding I keep coming around his cock.
His body stilled and I saw his face contract in what looked like agony
before he slammed up and hammered his hips into me.
Through it all, I watched him hold his breath, to stop the roar that wanted to burst from his throat. Somehow he held it in and finally let it out in long ragged bursts.
A red tinge was highlighting his features.
“Fuck that was good Miss,” he said, still rocking gently into me.
I felt the smile tickle my lips. “It was.”
“How about that shower? I’m done for.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Dane
“Dane.” The voice screaming my name woke me from an exhausted sleep.
I sat upright and tried to make sense of what was happening. Ari stirred beside me.
“Dane.” It cut through me again. Only this time I realised it was Isaac calling my name. I leapt from the bed and charged into his room, brushing the light switch on as I went.
He was struggling to sit up and tears were pouring down his face. Whatever had upset him, had surely done a number on him.
“What’s up buddy?” I asked sitting on the edge of his bed beside him and pulling him close to me.
“The…bad…man…” Isaac managed between sobs.
Ari had charged in hot on my heels and looked distressed. She went to move forward and take him from me, but Isaac clung to me harder.
“Did you dream it mate?” I asked him quietly.
“Yyyyeeess…he had me and he was going to hurt mum. You came…and made him go away.” Isaac broke down crying again and this time I pulled him tight into my lap.
“It’s okay, man…I won’t let him hurt you or your mum. I’m here. I won’t let it happen.” God I hoped I could come through on this promise. I’d check with Mark in the morning—make sure the arsehole was still in Melbourne where he was supposed to be. I would do anything I needed to do, to ease his fears.
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