I tell him how she used to work for Apex.
“She’s a singer-songwriter,” he says. “She never once told me the company name of her day job. She just said her boss was a dick.”
“Bill,” I say in answer to his raised eyebrows.
He nods. “We all love Bella. She’s Ayden’s girl.”
“She’s single.”
He chuckles. “She may be technically single, but trust me, she belongs to Ayden. And vice-versa. No matter how much those two try to deny it.”
Huh. Bella mentioned her best friend from home, who happened to be a guy, and I knew he’d visited her in L.A., but I never met him.
“I can’t believe she never said she knew you and Colton. Not that she’s a bragger, but...”
“Bella knows how much Colt and I value our privacy,” Dylan says. “Unless it came up directly, she wouldn’t have brought us up in conversation like that.”
Our eyes catch and hold.
“You okay?” he asks me. “You weren’t acting like yourself earlier.”
“I know.” I reach for his hand impulsively. “I wanted to apologize for acting weird before.”
“Maybe this has nothing to do with us. Maybe this is about stuff that happened long before we met.”
I remember the kids from today, and I bite down hard on my lip.
Dylan tips his forehead into mine. “Jasalie, what’s going on? I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“I’m flying back to L.A. tomorrow morning,” I say to him. “Our work here is over. And you know what that means.”
“No strings. No commitment.” A shadow crosses over his face.
“Right. Tonight is our last night together.”
The air thickens around us as we stand in silence and stare at each other.
“I want more than one night with you, Jasalie,” he murmurs as he strokes my hand with his thumb.
That little motion has me so turned on I nearly moan. “More than one night,” I whisper. “That would be…”
He increases the pressure with his thumb, and my entire body ignites with heat.
“That would be nice,” I get out.
His gaze locks on mine. “So as I’ve proven already, I’m no better at navigating this thing between us than you are,” he says in a hoarse tone. “But how about we extend our affair?”
I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
“Will you stay in Arizona an extra night?” he asks, his eyes filled with vulnerability. “With me?”
My heart comes into my throat as I realize what he’s asking me. “So I stay here tonight as planned, and then I stay tomorrow night as well?”
“If you’re comfortable. If not, I’ll pay for you to stay in your own room one extra night, and we’ll hang out. We wouldn’t be breaking our no-strings promise—remember, what goes on in the desert, stays in the desert. We never actually said when we’d leave the desert.”
I have images of moving into the hotel in Tucson, just to be able to be with Dylan but not worry about a future with him.
Dylan’s eyes are open and honest when he says, “I hope you feel this, too. Or even close to it. Because if you do, I can’t imagine you leaving without giving it a try.”
“I feel it, Dylan.” I touch his hand. “Our connection has been pretty much impossible to ignore.”
“So, what do you say? Will you stay?”
“Yes.” I put aside the warnings of my mind. For once, I’m going to give it a go with my heart. “I’ll stay.”
And before I can change my mind, I text Rosita to make sure she can take care of Bessie and Balaster.
Lilla and I stand together and wait while Dylan says good-bye to every single teammate.
“Isn’t he seeing them all soon enough?” I say.
She shrugs. “These team things are like cults. Gang mentalities.”
“Lilla!” I laugh. “Come on.”
“Seriously. Why do you think Dante threatened you? A threat to one is a threat to all.”
“Weird.” I have no concept of what it’s like to be in a group, or a family.
“Yeah. But that’s the way it is.”
I guess each way of life has its pros and cons. If you’re in a group, you get the love but the responsibility. If you’re out, you get neither.
“Okay, guys. Sorry.” Dylan comes up and puts his arm around me. “Let’s go.”
“I think you should give it a little time, Lil,” Dylan says to Lilla from the front seat of the cab.
She and I are in the back together, and Lilla hasn’t shut up the entire ride home about Marcus and how much he wants it both ways. If I hear her say “have his cake and eat it, too” one more time, I’m going to scream.
“I know you say that, Dylan, but you don’t know what it feels like to be tossed aside like a bowl of soup,” she says.
“Bowl of soup?” I say to her.
Dylan catches my eye in the side mirror and chuckles.
“That’s fine, you two lovebirds,” Lilla says. “Just laugh at the single girl.”
“In all seriousness, though,” I say. “Please believe me when I say you deserve better than Marcus. He’s not treating you right, Lilla. You should be treated like the wonderful person that you are.”
Lilla sniffs. “I don’t know.”
“I do,” I say firmly. “Don’t settle for a guy who can’t decide if he wants to go out with you or his girlfriend. You know you’re better than that.”
When we reach the hotel, we say good-bye to Lilla in the lobby, and I confirm my check-out tomorrow with Leo, the attendant at the front desk.
“Yep. You’re all set,” he says after I flash my keycard at him.
“That’s it?” I stall. “Nothing for me to sign or anything?”
“Nope. Quick and easy,” he says.
My hand is shaking as I take the keycard back and turn around to look for Dylan. He’s sitting on a couch waiting for me while he signs an autograph for someone. And I know he’s not pressuring me, but it feels like everything is suddenly happening way too fast.
I head over to him. “All set.” I keep walking toward the elevators before he’s even gotten up off the couch.
“So,” Dylan says as he catches me, “where to?”
I don’t look at him as I press the up button for the elevator. “What do you think?”
He grabs my hand as the elevator doors open and we get in. “I think,” he says, bending down so he can look me directly in the face, “you seem a little anxious.”
“Let’s go to my room. It’s closer.”
“Jasalie.” His warm brown eyes meet mine. “Are you sure?”
The heat between my legs makes my answer easy. “Yes.”
His breath is tight and quick. “Me too.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
As soon as we step inside my room, Dylan’s lips touch mine, and I lose the tight rein I’ve held on my hormones.
“I want you, Jasalie Gordon.” His dark eyes burn into mine, and a noise escapes my throat. “You have no idea how badly I want you.”
We’re up against the door, and I still have my purse on my shoulder, but nothing matters except for the man in front of me. I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him closer, and one of his thighs presses between my legs.
A desperate cry comes out of my mouth. I need him inside me so badly.
But Dylan’s lips are slow and lazy on mine. He kisses me like we have all the time in the world, like memorizing every inch of my mouth is the most important thing he’ll ever do in his life. His hands sneak underneath my sweater and reach my feverish skin, and he gently lets his fingers move from my waist up to my breasts.
One flick of his wrist and my bra’s undone.
And then his thumb is on my hard, swollen nipple.
“Oh, God.” I throw my head back and slam it against the door.
Dylan drops his hand. “You okay?”
My gaze is unfocused as I look at him. “Don’t stop, D
ylan. Please don’t stop.”
He groans, and his hands go to my ass. He picks me up and carries me to the bed. As we fall onto it together, I abandon all sense of rational thinking. I no longer care if this is right, wrong, or crazy. I just know that I want him. And I won’t deny myself this.
I tear at his shirt frantically.
“Easy.” Dylan takes my hands in his. “We don’t have to rush.”
But his breathing’s as labored as mine is. And I’m like a wild animal right now—clawing at his clothes, biting his lower lip and letting his tongue slide inside my mouth so he can give me the kiss of my life. Dylan lifts my sweater over my head and my bra drops off my shoulders.
“Christ, Jasalie. You’re so beautiful.”
He kneels over me, his huge body a towering, overwhelming presence. His size could be intimidating, even scary, but he’s so gentle, and I know he’d never use his power against me.
Dylan’s tongue flicks one of my breasts, and then he takes my nipple completely into his mouth.
I grab at the comforter with both fists. “God, Dylan.”
He doesn’t stop. He sucks and licks and nips at me until my head is thrashing from side to side. Then he pulls off my pants.
When his hand slides inside the elastic of my panties, he looks up at me, his eyes dilated and dark.
“Hell, Jasalie. You’re—” He swallows.
Yes. I’m soaked. For him. And I want him so badly my thighs won’t stop shaking.
Dylan slowly drags my underwear down my legs and over my ankles. When I’m completely naked before him, he just looks at me for a long moment.
I squirm under his gaze, and he lays his hand on my hip, holding me still. “I’ve pictured you.”
I narrow my eyes. “And how do I measure up to your fantasy?”
He shakes his head. “You don’t measure up. Because the real you is so incredible, and so alive, and so here. You’re gorgeous.”
“I need to see you, too.” I reach up and finally get his shirt off of him.
And I inhale. I may or may not make delirious sounds of ecstasy.
Because dear God and everything that’s holy, is Dylan Wild built. Muscles ripple underneath his tanned skin, and the light sprinkling of chest hairs lead down to a happy trail I drag my fingers over.
His stomach trembles when I touch it, and I jerk my hand away. But he immediately grabs my wrist and puts my palm back on his torso.
“I’m sensitive here,” he says softly. “Had a few injuries, and I don’t usually like being touched there.”
The unspoken question is on my face.
“But I want your hands on me.” He closes his eyes. “I want your hands all over me, Jasalie.”
I take my time running my fingers gently down his toned stomach, letting them linger at his waistband. Dylan’s breathing gets more and more ragged the longer I touch him, and he grits his teeth.
“God, Jasalie.” He drops his head and groans. “Shit.”
I want to watch him lose control. I dream of what Dylan Wild looks like when he really lets himself be free.
He stands up to remove the rest of his clothes, and when his thick hardness stands at attention, bare and ready, I take in another noisy breath.
Then I start laughing.
“Not the best reaction for a guy’s ego,” Dylan says with a raised eyebrow.
“No, it’s not you. Well, it is you. But I’m laughing because I tossed a box of condoms into my travel bag right before I flew here last week. I thought I was nuts for doing it, but I guess you’re my miracle man.”
He smiles. “I left my protection at home on purpose. I had absolutely zero intentions of meeting someone on this trip. But after we started hanging out, I bought some condoms. In case you ever changed your mind and decided you’d have me.”
I point to my bag on the floor. “Let’s use one of mine. I want to christen the box.”
Dylan leans down and reaches into my bag.
Once he’s ready, he kneels between my thighs. “We can go slowly,” he says. “And I swear I’m not trying to sound like an ass, but I want to make sure you’re definitely ready so I don’t hurt you.”
“Because your dick is so big?” I tease him.
His cheeks go red. “Like I said, I don’t mean to sound like a prick. I just…”
I reach up and put my finger to his lips. “Shh. I get it. You’re huge everywhere. Well, in all the good parts. Thank you for worrying about me.”
He puts his hand between my legs and slips one finger inside me.
“Oh, God.” I raise my hips. “I’m definitely ready.”
Dylan removes his finger, and I feel his huge erection just outside my entrance. But when he tries to push inside, I close my legs, along with the most important part of me.
I let out a shaky breath. “Sorry.”
He leans closer so he can graze my lips with his. “Don’t be. Do you want to stop?”
I put my hand over my heart and close my eyes.
When I reopen them, I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him tighter against me. “No. I want to try again.”
Dylan takes my hand in his and wraps it around his thick length. With his hand firmly over mine, he says in a husky voice, “We’ll do this together. Tell me when you’re ready.”
I bite my lip and guide him close, not stopping until he’s brushing against me.
This time, I open up and let him in with no warning to either of us. Dylan groans in surprise as he abruptly slides all the way in. He goes in deep, filling me completely.
No one’s ever filled me this fully before, and the sensation is so indescribably intense that I can’t hold back.
One thrust is all it takes. I come so hard I clench around him, and he cries out as he suddenly follows me into his own release.
“Jasalie,” Dylan mutters into my mouth. “Holy hell.”
My orgasm is immense, and I’m still coming even as Dylan eventually slows down. His arms are shaking as he braces above me, making sure he doesn’t crush me with his weight.
He stares into my eyes the entire time, just like he did when he touched me yesterday, and I let him see me. I don’t try to school my expression like I normally would. I couldn’t, anyway. Dylan Wild just blew my damn mind, and I’ll never be able to pretend otherwise.
I shift so he can move off of me and leave for the bathroom. But he’s back within seconds and pulling back the covers so we can get underneath them together.
I lie naked next to him, unable to articulate a complete sentence.
“You okay?” He reaches over to stroke my arm.
“Uh-huh.” I’m more than okay. I’ve never been so exhilarated in my life.
“That was incredible,” he says.
I turn to look into his eyes. “I know. I can’t believe it.”
“You mean I surprised you with my prowess?”
I know he’s joking; the whole thing may go down as the shortest lovemaking in history.
“Don’t diminish it,” I say. “That’s the best it’s ever been for me. I know that may sound crazy, but…”
“It doesn’t sound crazy at all.” Dylan pulls me on top of him. “For me, too. Nothing even close.”
Dylan
I love you.
What the fuck is happening to me? I’m lying here next to Jasalie, and I have to actually bite back saying “I love you” to her. Yes, sex with Jasalie isn’t just good—it’s downright mind bending. But I’ve never had the inclination to say those words to any woman I’m with, and good sex doesn’t sway me into saying sentiments I don’t really mean and then regret afterward.
But what terrifies me is that I do mean it with Jasalie. My heart is fully involved in this temporary affair we’re engaged in, and I can’t shut down my feelings. I’ve been fighting myself ever since we met, but I can’t keep waging war with my emotions. I’m falling in love with Jasalie. Although I know better than to tell her right now. We’re supposed to end things in a day, and me sayi
ng those words would definitely challenge the rules. Besides, love doesn’t fit into my world. It can’t.
So I keep my mouth shut and concentrate on round two.
As soon as she’s seated on top of me, I reach over for another condom and hand it to her.
“You want to?”
Her hair spills over her breasts, just covering those incredible pink round nipples. “Of course.”
She rolls the condom onto me, and I make sure it’s secure. My hand shifts past her navel, down her stomach and to the spot just below her patch of blond hair where I use my fingers to touch her until she’s moaning.
“Dylan, you’re like really good at that.”
I bring my hand to her hip and urge her forward. “Take me inside you, Jasalie. I need to be inside you again.”
She lifts her hips and centers herself over me. When she sinks down hard and fast, I’m not prepared.
“Jesus Christ.” I buck as a feeling of absolute fucking bliss hits me—pretty much everywhere. “Baby, you just took all of me at once.”
I’m so deep inside her, and she brought me there so effortlessly that I’m honest to God afraid if I start to move, I’ll come. Every millimeter of me is on fire, and I’m harder than I’ve ever been in my life.
But then she starts moving. Up and down with reckless abandon. All I can do is hang on for the ride. She throws her head back, and her fucking perfect blond hair flies out behind her. Thank God because now I get an unobstructed view of her bouncing breasts as she moves. I reach up and lightly pinch her nipples, and she cries out my name as she digs her nails into my thighs.
“Dylan, you’re gonna make me come. Oh, God, Dylan!”
I can feel her clench around me as she climaxes, and I revel in watching her turn over into bliss. Nothing’s more beautiful than seeing Jasalie Gordon let her guard down completely. As she’s nearing the end of her orgasm, she reaches her hand behind her until it’s between my legs and—
“Shit—”
Her hand caresses me and that’s it. I’m done for.
I come hard and long, thrusting up into her as my hands grip her hips for support. She brings the upper half of her body into a prone position until her breasts are resting on top of my chest, and then she puts her lips on mine.
Dylan (Wild Men) Page 15