Dare to Take (Dare to Love #6)

by Carly Phillips

  “C’mere.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the sofa, feeling her resistance the entire way. He wasn’t deterred. At least now he knew how he’d fucked up.

  “I was in Colorado doing work for a client. Between the time change and the way he insisted on overseeing the project, I didn’t have any time to myself. That said, I was an ass. I should have made the time to call. It’s not like I wasn’t thinking about you, because I was. And it’s sure as hell not like I didn’t want to see you when I came home, but I have a monthly dinner with Serena and her daughter, and I didn’t want to disappoint the kid.”

  “And I wouldn’t want you to.”

  “Texting works for a guy.”

  She shot him a death glare. “It doesn’t for women.”

  “Noted. Now when were you going to tell me you were being followed?”

  * * *

  Ella knew it was too good to be true that she could pretend this whole nightmare wasn’t happening. Why would anyone be after her? She couldn’t come up with one single reason.

  “I really thought it was residual anxiety from the mugging,” she said, still surprised that Tyler was here and trying not to read too much into it.

  After all, he’d said he’d gotten a call from his alarm company. He’d also said he’d wanted to talk to her, to see her…

  “Okay, well, I think we can safely assume it wasn’t anxiety or imagination. Now pack your things. You’re coming with me,” he said, stepping ever closer as he spoke.

  Whoa. Hello. “You can’t show up here, giving me orders.”

  He raised an eyebrow in that cocky way of his, the one that gave him extra sex appeal. “Want to bet?”

  “Oh no. No lifting me up and carrying me anywhere,” she said, figuring out what he meant because he’d done it before.

  “Then pack up your things.” He hesitated before adding, “Please.”

  She blew out a long breath. “To go where? And why?”

  He took her hand, surprising her by running his thumb back and forth over her skin. “To a hotel for the weekend.”

  He rendered her speechless and took advantage by continuing before she could gather her wits and argue.

  “We’ve been going at this all backward, upside down, and crazy. Sex, then silence… I want to spend time together. To talk and just get to know each other apart from family and the insanity of someone obviously out to get you. And while we’re gone, I’ll get my men to investigate your life and see who could be after you and why.”

  He might as well have picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, her head hanging down, because she was dizzy from his proclamation. She tried to process it all, from him wanting to take her away for the weekend to spend time together to his point about investigating her life, to the seductive brush of his fingers over her skin.

  “So what do you say?” he asked, his tone all low and sexy.

  “I have a choice?” she asked.

  “Goddammit,” he muttered. “Are you for real?”

  A grin played around the edges of her mouth because, whether he knew it or not, he had her.

  His hot gaze settled on her lips. “You’re joking,” he said, his shoulders dropping in obvious relief.

  “I am.”

  But just because she agreed didn’t mean her stomach wasn’t twisting with nerves over spending a weekend alone with Tyler. Then again, if she mentally took herself back to the mindset of an affair and ignored her annoying emotions, which had driven her crazy over the last few days, she ought to be fine.

  “I’ll come with you. Because this time you asked me nicely and also because I’m not stupid, and getting out of here is the smart thing to do,” she said.

  He nodded. “I’m going to want a list of everyone in your life, from your boss’s full name to others who work with you, to friends. Nobody is off-limits until I figure out what’s going on. But let’s focus on work first, since this started while you were away on business.”

  She sobered at the thought. “My boss? Angie’s eccentric and demanding, but she’d never hurt me.” She looked down, saddened by the very thought.

  He rested his knuckles beneath her chin, tipping her head up to meet his gaze. “I’m not going to take any chances. There have been too many incidents.”

  She nodded, knowing he was right. So without argument, she headed into her bedroom, pulled out a bag, and packed up her suitcase. Not knowing what he had in mind, she chose a variety of outfits, bathing suits, cover-ups, and restaurant-type wear. She kept a packed cosmetic bag with toiletries since she traveled for work, and added a few more items she used daily.

  She tried not to think about what this weekend meant. She’d go with him, she’d be safe, and that was that. She hoped.

  A few minutes later, she met Tyler back in the living room, rolling her suitcase behind her.

  He stood at the window, his hands in his pants pockets, pulling the material tight over his spectacular behind. She bit her bottom lip in an attempt not to comment on the fact that she wanted to squeeze him tight with both hands and never let go.

  She cleared her throat instead. “All set.”

  He turned to face her, glancing at his wristwatch. “I’m impressed.”

  “I thought you might be.”

  “Ready?”

  As I’ll ever be, she thought, and nodded. “Where are we going?”

  “While you were packing, I called a friend who owns a boutique hotel on Ocean Drive near the Art Deco district. Only eighteen rooms. Totally peaceful and secluded. He always keeps a room available for a friend in need.”

  “Nice,” she murmured. “What’s the name?”

  “La Belle. It’s named after his wife,” he said, taking the suitcase out of her hand.

  “That’s incredibly romantic.” She turned to set the alarm, not wanting him to see what was probably a wistful look on her face at the story of a man naming a hotel after the woman he loved. “Don’t you need to pick up things to wear?” she asked him, forcing her mind to more practical matters.

  “I have a change of clothes in the car that I keep for when I go to the gym, and I can buy anything else I need,” he said, as if it was that simple. And she supposed it was.

  A few minutes later, they set off in his Range Rover, headed to South Beach, where the hotel was located. He called Luke Williams, one of his security men. Tyler explained Ella’s situation and what he needed from the man, who then peppered Ella with questions about her life so he could begin looking into why someone was targeting her. Tyler directed the conversation, the main focus being on her job, her boss, and anyone she’d worked with regarding the photo shoot before and during their time on St. Lucia, since that was where the first incident had occurred. Luke promised to put eyes on her apartment in case someone came back and said he’d get to work immediately.

  “Are you okay?” Tyler asked after disconnecting the call.

  “I guess so. It’s unnerving though.”

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m not going to let anyone get to you.” And when he reassured her in that deep, self-assured voice that set her nerves tingling, she believed him.

  They drove in silence, his hand remaining possessively on hers. On the way, they passed the Meridian Hotel, owned by Tyler’s father, Robert Dare. She wasn’t surprised Tyler hadn’t booked them a room there, given how he felt about his father. How all the Dare siblings felt. Although the girls tried hard to have a relationship with their father despite his failings, he’d hurt each one over and over again, until now, none of them bothered. And Ella didn’t blame them.

  She, of all people, understood not having anything to do with a parent you’d once loved. There wasn’t a day she didn’t live with the knowledge and pain in her heart. But she was a better, healthier person for cutting ties and not wishing for something she could never have. And she was certain the same was true for Tyler and the rest of his family.

  They arrived at the hotel, a white, unobtrusive stucco building on
a corner that backed up to the beach. Tyler handed his car off to the valet, and her suitcase was whisked away by a bellman. They checked in, the lobby completely unconventional as far as Miami hotspots went. As soon as she stepped inside, Ella felt as though she were in a comfortable home. The taupe and white tones immediately put her at ease; there were books on the shelves and easy chairs for guests to sit in. The overall atmosphere was warm and inviting.

  Next they were escorted to their room, and while Tyler tipped the bellman, Ella walked inside to explore. The king-size bed filled the room, surrounded by serene tones of white and sand furniture and accessories, made up of soft textures and pillows, a retreat that overlooked the ocean. It was a contrast of homey luxury.

  Ella gravitated toward the sliding glass doors. She stepped out onto the balcony, and a warm breeze slid over her skin. She leaned on the railing and sighed with pleasure, listening to the rushing sounds of the ocean that both thrilled and relaxed her. With all the upheaval going on in her life, she was grateful for this chance to get away from the insanity she didn’t understand. Who would be after her, and why? She didn’t know. But she had Tyler to thank for bringing her here.

  As if thinking his name conjured him, he joined her outside, stepping up behind her and winding his arms around her waist, pressing himself against her back.

  “Like it?” he asked, nuzzling his mouth against her neck, causing her to shiver despite the warm air.

  “It’s beautiful here.”

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, sliding his lips along her skin.

  She warmed at the easily spoken compliment. He seemed more at ease than he had before, and since she’d already decided to go with the flow as far as he was concerned, she gave herself over to the moment and turned in his arms. She tilted her head back in an open invitation, and he accepted, his mouth meeting hers.

  The kiss was slow and easy, his tongue gliding against hers, lazily moving in and out, and ending with him nibbling on her lower lip. He nipped, and she moaned, arching her back, her body pressing not-so-subtly against his, meeting up with his hard, firm erection.

  She inhaled his musky masculine scent, letting it work its way through her body and arouse her even more than his kiss already had. She leaned forward and kissed his jaw, sliding a hand up through his hair.

  He caught her wrist, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I know I keep screwing things up, but I need you to know I’m going to try harder to get it right.”

  She didn’t want promises he might not be able to keep. She knew where she stood with him, and she was okay with that. She had to be if she didn’t want to get hurt.

  “No talking,” she said, freeing her hand. Bringing her fingers to the buttons on his shirt, she unfastened them one by one until she opened his shirt and pushed it off his broad shoulders.

  She splayed her hands across his sculpted chest, feeling the play of hair-roughened skin and muscles beneath her fingertips. She lingered, his heart beating fast and furious beneath her touch, before leaning in and licking her way across his chest to his firm nipple. She pulled it into her mouth, teasing him with her tongue and teeth, until he groaned and his fingers bit into her skin.

  He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he backed them up, through the door, into the room, and tossed her onto the bed. Every time he took control this way, her heart raced harder and she fell more and more under his spell.

  “I’m so fucking glad you prefer skirts,” he said as he yanked said skirt down, taking her panties with it.

  Moisture immediately pooled between her legs, her sex full and pulsing with need. Before she could react, he splayed his hands on her thighs, pulled her legs apart, and leaned over her, his face inches from her wet heat. He stared down at her, a greedy look on his handsome face, and he parted her and slid his tongue over her weeping flesh.

  She moaned, the sound causing him to delve deeper, licking, sucking, grazing his teeth over her nether lips until she was writhing on the bed. He was an expert at reading her body, knowing when to go soft, his tongue sliding gently around and over her clit, arousing her unbearably but not taking her over. Then he hardened his tongue and worked it inside her, greedily thrusting inside her until she was pulling at his hair and begging for release.

  Thank goodness he wasn’t playing games. He added a finger to his repertoire, sliding it up inside her, her body clenching at him, needing harder and more fulfillment than he was giving.

  “More, Tyler. Please, more.”

  He added a second finger and she groaned, arching upward. His finger hit the right spot inside her, and she saw stars behind her eyelids, screamed in a way that would have embarrassed her had she been even minimally more aware.

  He thrust in and out, each time hitting that spot until she came hard, shuddering around him as he drew out her orgasm until she lay weak and exhausted for a short time. She came back to herself to find a gloriously naked Tyler leaning over her.

  He brushed her hair off her cheek and grinned. “Sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

  She felt a flush rise to her cheeks. “Well, you did good. Want a pat on the back?” she asked, grinning back.

  “No, I want something more.”

  “Me too,” she murmured, her exhaustion replaced by something else. Desire, heavy and thick, pulsed inside her once more. She glanced down at his thickening cock and reached out a hand, cupping him in her palm, feeling the smooth head, contrasting with all that hardness in her grip.

  “Hands on the headboard,” he ordered, and she had no problem obeying his command. Especially since it meant he was going to take her hard and satisfy the ache he’d had no trouble creating.

  He watched with glittering darkened eyes as she reached up and grabbed on to the slats behind her. Biting down on her lower lip, she drew a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what was to come seconds before he grasped her hips and thrust home. That was the point when Ella realized she was deluding herself if she really thought she could classify Tyler Dare as just an affair.

  Or as just anything. Because when he was inside of her like this, he was her everything.

  Chapter Eight

  Tyler woke up around ten the next morning. He let Ella sleep in and headed downstairs to walk around the local shops, buy a bathing suit and pair of pool shoes, along with a shirt since he planned to take her to a nicer dinner later tonight. He hadn’t planned on bringing her back to the hotel to have sex since he’d meant what he said about spending time together in other ways, but he wasn’t complaining about how easily they’d come together.

  The sky was overcast, and it began to drizzle as he walked back to the hotel with breakfast for them both. They shared a comfortable morning, eating the muffins and coffee he’d brought back for them and talking about her job and how much she enjoyed the designing aspect and scoping out new ideas and trends. He shared how easily he’d fallen into security, choosing it because it was a natural transition from the Army, and he’d given his friends a soft place to land as well.

  The only thing that marred a perfect morning was the trip to the police station for Ella to give and sign her statement for the cops. Once that was over, Tyler devoted himself to keeping her mind on more pleasurable things.

  Holding hands, they spent the better part of the rainy day in the game room playing Ping-Pong with another couple who was also waiting for the sun to come out, which it finally did, late in the afternoon. And when they left to go shopping, Tyler and Ella played against each other.

  It wasn’t easy watching Ella dance around in denim shorts that showcased her long, tanned legs and allowed him to daydream about them wrapped around him while his cock was hard and buried in her feminine heat. She kept him from concentrating and displayed a competitive streak he enjoyed. Especially when she’d ace him at the table, lift her arms in the air, and dance around so her breasts bounced around beneath her cropped top.

  They returned to the room and changed for dinner, Ella into a lon
g white dress that fell off one shoulder, her hair in a messy bun. Before making their way to the restaurant he’d chosen, they walked on the sidewalk that ran parallel to the beach, taking their time, enjoying the view and each other.

  “I didn’t know you had that kind of competitive gene. I was impressed with your killer Ping-Pong skills,” he said.

  “There was a community center near my house and I used to play. I won a game or two back in the day.” She rubbed her knuckles against her chest and let out a laugh that echoed around them.

  Damn but he liked hearing her relaxed and happy, and wished he could give her days like this more often. He’d called his team, and nobody had any answers so far about who could be behind the attempted break-in, so he didn’t bring it up, not wanting reality to intrude on their night.

  “I hope you like seafood. I made a reservation at a quiet place called The Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne. It’s about twenty minutes from here.”

  “Seafood works for me. I worked up quite an appetite beating you today.” She met his gaze and winked, the small action so at ease he couldn’t resist some more spontaneity.

  He grabbed her around the waist, dipping her low. She squealed, and as he pulled her back up, he met her halfway, kissing her where they stood. He slid his lips over hers and devoured her mouth, hungry for her since last night.

  They were interrupted by the sound of applause, and he held on to her, helping her keep her balance as she straightened. An older couple walking by had stopped and clapped before moving on.

  He met her gaze as an adorable blush covered her cheeks.

  “Come on. Let’s go eat.” He was looking forward to more time alone with her.

  He drove to the restaurant, and a little while later, a hostess was leading them to the private table he’d requested in a secluded corner of the dimly lit restaurant. Unfortunately it wasn’t dark enough to hide another couple sitting close together in a round booth. And just like when he was a kid, Tyler found himself facing his father, in an obviously compromising position. They held hands on top of the table, not even bothering with discretion.