Dare Me Once

by Shelly Alexander

  She just hoped her conscience held out long enough for her to accomplish the things she’d set in motion to ensure the Remington’s success.

  Chapter Fifteen

  LILY’S LIFE LESSON #15

  Work hard, but play harder.

  Once the bustle of the Sunday guest exodus was over, Lily downloaded a measuring app that her dad had often used when visiting a new construction site. She brought her iPad along as she strolled to the game room to investigate her next renovation project. Remodeling the game room would be a huge hook for the younger family demographic they were trying to reach. Lily might not be around long enough to see all the fruits of her labor, but she was going to try like hell to make sure the Remington’s makeover put the resort in the best possible position to keep its rooms filled.

  She took the covered walkway that connected the game room to the main lodge and stepped up to the glass-paned door. When she peeked in, Trace was alone on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, brooding.

  His head leaning back against the sofa, he rolled it to one side when she stepped in.

  “Hi.” She closed the door.

  He didn’t say anything. Just gave her a half-hearted smile.

  His resigned mood had her worried, and she hurried over to sit next to him. “Did something bad happen?” Her stomach did a flip-flop. Maybe there were more threats from Ben’s mom. “I mean, it’s none of my business, but do you want to talk?”

  He blew out a dull laugh. “It’s everything. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  She laid her iPad on the cushion and waited. If he didn’t want to go into it with her, she wasn’t going to push him.

  “This mess with Meg . . . with Ben’s mom made me realize he’s growing up, and he is going to leave some day. How is he going to function on his own?”

  Lily covered Trace’s hand with hers. “That’s the protective father in you talking.” She caressed a thumb over the back of his hand. “It’s an ugly world out there, and you don’t want to see him hurt by it. He’s much more capable than you think, and that’s because of you.”

  When Trace gave their hands a blank stare, she pulled hers free.

  “Sorry.” Just last night, he’d told her they had zero future together, and she’d agreed. So she picked up her iPad and shifted into business mode. “I’m glad I found you here.” Lily crossed her legs, one foot bobbing. “We’re trying to attract families to the resort, right? Parents want both outdoor and indoor activities to keep their kids busy.” Her foot bobbing sped. “I think renovations to this room are necessary.”

  “We don’t have the budget for new equipment.” Trace went back to staring at the ceiling like the conversation was over.

  Not even close.

  “I’ve got everything worked out so that it won’t cost anything.” She gave him a dazzling smile. “I’ve struck a bargain with an electronics store in Portland. They’re willing to barter the equipment we need in exchange for free weekend packages at the resort. We also have to give the electronics store credit on our website along with their links.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. Ben’s extremely attached to this room.”

  Lily plowed on. “I also have a billiards store lined up to re-cover the pool table. Same bartering arrangement. We just have to get it to the mainland.”

  “Well, that’s a definite no.” His mood wasn’t lightened one bit by her kick-ass business negotiations. “Ben can’t go a day without pool. It’s how he unwinds.”

  Lily let a self-assured smile form on her lips. “I arranged for them to give us a loaner while they’re working on ours.”

  “You have a solution for every problem, don’t you?” His tone grew flatter.

  His foul mood had to go. “That’s what you pay me for.” She rubbed her nails against her shirt and blew on them.

  Funny thing was, she wasn’t playing the I-care-about-your-son card just to get Trace to agree to her plan. She truly did think the renovations would make Ben happy, and if the resort benefited from it, then even better.

  She hopped off the arm of the sofa and went to the dartboard. “Okay, Mr. Grinch. It won’t be Christmas for several more months. Why don’t we settle it with a game of darts?” She plucked the darts off the board one by one. “If I win, we remodel the game room, and Ben can help pick out the new equipment if he wants.” She held out a fistful of darts to Trace. “If you win, you make the call, and I won’t mention it again.” She shrugged playfully. “Even if you make the wrong decision.”

  Trace stared at her outstretched hand before slowly rising from the sofa. “You’re on.” He walked over, took the darts, then parked one butt cheek on the edge of the pool table. “Too bad for you, I’m pretty good at darts.”

  She took a dart in her left hand. She might work hard, but she played harder. “Best round wins?”

  With an air of confidence that said he knew he’d win, he said, “Be my guest.”

  Lily closed one eye to aim and let the dart fly. It hit the outer ring of the board. She made a point to frown as hard as she could at her poor performance. When the next shot wasn’t much better, she harrumphed. Loudly.

  Trace just tapped the darts against his muscled thigh and smiled like he’d already won.

  Her third dart hit a wire and bounced off. She gave Trace a pouty look. “Your turn.”

  He stepped up, aimed, and thwack, thwack, thwack, his three darts landed pretty close to the bull’s-eye.

  He gathered his darts and slid onto the edge of the pool table, bracing one hand against his thigh.

  “Wow,” Lily said, oh-so innocently. “You’re good.”

  He smirked.

  So she sashayed over, took aim, then frowned as she stared at the dart in her hand. Her left hand. She slid a sly smile in his direction. “Did I mention the game room my father added on to our house when I was a kid? It was a birthday present.” A pretty extravagant gift, but it had been her haven as an only child. Kind of like Ben.

  His smirk faded. “No, I don’t recall your mentioning it.”

  “Oh, and I also forgot to mention . . .” She switched the dart from her left hand to her right. “I’m not left-handed. My bad.”

  Trace’s eyes rounded.

  Thwack, thwack, thwack. All three of her darts hit the red circle in the center of the board.

  “You little”—as if he couldn’t stop himself, he tossed his darts on the pool table and was on her before she could protest—“cheater.” He pulled her flush against his rock-hard body.

  She whispered out something inaudible, and good Lord, she hoped she hadn’t just begged him to kiss her, because that’s what both her mind and her body wanted. “I didn’t cheat.” Her voice was a throaty whisper. “I just didn’t tell the whole truth.”

  And that statement made her gasp because half truths seemed to be her new modus operandi.

  Before she could pull out of his embrace, his nose brushed hers. He anchored her against him with one hand at the small of her back, while his other fingers molded to her neck and his thumb caressed her cheek. “Is there anything else I need to know about you, Lily? Because I can’t resist the pull you have on me. God help me, I’ve tried, but whatever this thing is between us”—he grazed his lips across hers, and they both drew in a lusty breath—“it’s stronger than my willpower.”

  There were so many things she wanted him to know . . . but not yet. Not until she was done transforming the Remington so it could function without her should they cut her loose.

  She tilted her face up to look him in the eye. What she saw there stole her breath. The unchecked emotion. The raw attraction. The pure honesty.

  It split her heart in two, and she nodded. “There’s lots you need to kn—”

  He swallowed her words with a blazing-hot kiss.

  It was crazy. Or stupid. Or both.

  He wanted her. Wanted her so badly it hurt.

  “Trace,” Lily whispered, gliding her palms up his chest. “I work for you.”
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  Her touch turned his insides to fire. Made him crazy with need.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” she finished.

  “I know.” He backed her to the door and fumbled with the shade and lock. Then dipped a hand to her beautifully rounded ass and pulled her into his erection, which had his pants feeling two sizes too small. “But this says otherwise.”

  A gasp slipped from her lush lips as his hips pressed into her. Her fingernails curled into his shoulders. “God, I’ve wanted you to do that since we were at the Fallen Angel.”

  His fingers found the hem of her shirt, and he slipped one palm up her bare back. “Tell me to stop, and I will. But first I want you to trust me when I say I’m not your old boss. He was an idiot for letting you go and an ass for taking advantage of his position of power over you.” When Trace outlined each of her ribs with a fingertip, her skin pebbled, and she shivered against him. With his other hand, he traced her jawline with a thumb. “Do you want me to stop, Lily? Just one word from you, and I’ll walk away.”

  Her breaths grew heavy, and she shook her head. The need and want he saw in her eyes was his undoing.

  Relief threaded through him when she didn’t ask him to stop, because he couldn’t go another minute without tasting her. Touching her. His face a breath from hers, their eyes hooked into each other’s as he picked her up and carried her to the sofa with her legs firmly surrounding his waist.

  She broke the kiss just long enough to ask, “What if someone tries to come in?” She devoured his mouth with another kiss, then leaned back to look at him with wide eyes. “What if Ben shows up?”

  “He’s in town with my brothers.” Trace dipped his head to suckle the soft skin of her neck. “We’ve got the place to ourselves.” He ran his tongue along her collarbone, dipping into the crevice just above it.

  Her petite, lush body shuddered from top to bottom.

  “You may be onto something with remodeling the game room.” He suckled the soft skin behind her ear. “We’re definitely gonna need a new sofa after we’re done here today.” He smiled against the curve of her neck.

  “That’s. Really. Naughty,” she panted out.

  “Not nearly as naughty as we’re about to get.” He set her on her feet, slid his hand around her neck, and threaded all five fingers into her hair to wind it around his hand. Gently, he pulled back just enough so her creamy neck was fully exposed, calling him, taunting him. Her soft black shirt, which showed off her toned shoulders, had driven him wild since the second he saw her in the kitchen that morning.

  He devoured her long, slender neck with his mouth and tongue, blazing a fiery trail down her bare shoulder, which had been calling his name, begging him to peel the rest of her clothes off one stitch at a time. He sucked and licked and laved until she transformed into a whimpering puddle of need.

  When she was limp in his arms, he took an earlobe between his teeth and nipped. Then he took her mouth in a scorching kiss that had her soft, luscious body squirming against his.

  Her hands were curious to explore him. She fumbled with the bottom of his shirt until her palms connected with his skin. His abs tightened against her frantic touch, which left a heated trail as she traversed every dip, every contour, every muscle that grew more taut with each pass of her fingers.

  “Take it off.” Lily pulled at his shirt, her voice frustrated with desire. “I want to see you.”

  He reached behind his head and one-handed the collar of his polo. It sailed across the room.

  Her eyes darkened with desire as they coasted over his torso, and Trace couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride well up at her look of hunger.

  “Your turn,” he said.

  She didn’t hesitate and grabbed at the hem of her shirt.

  He pushed her hands aside. “Let me.” He should take it slow. Savor the moment he’d fantasized about for weeks. But hell no. He wanted her right then, and her needy hands and wandering eyes said she wanted the same. He pulled her shirt up, revealing delicious, creamy skin. Then he tugged it over her head and sent it flying in the same direction as his.

  He took two steps back to look at her. “Fuck me, but you’re gorgeous,” he said with a groan. His gaze cruised over her flat belly, the rise and fall of her panting chest, and snagged on her lacy strapless bra.

  When he looked up, he caught her mischievous grin.

  “You play dirty.” His voice was hoarse with desire.

  She shrugged. “Maybe, but something tells me you won’t mind.” Her fingers went to the button of the black capris that were molded to her slender thighs and perfect hips. With a flick of two fingers, the button came undone.

  His mouth turned to gravel when she kicked off her sandals, hooked both thumbs in her waistband, and lowered them to the ground with a swoosh. She stepped out of the pants.

  Lucky bastard that he was, the triangle of lace covering her front was the size of a Doritos chip—his new favorite snack.

  With one long stride, he had her back in his arms, sliding both hands around to cup her bottom. And holy shit, his palms filled with soft bare flesh because the panties were a thong. A jolt of need shot through him, and he took her mouth in a ravenous kiss, gently lowering her onto the sofa until she was fully stretched along its length.

  She folded her hands behind her head and smiled, like she wanted to enjoy the show. “I never thought I’d see you naked.”

  His prick strained against his jeans at the way her wandering gaze took him in. No shame. No reservations. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and went after it, and he loved that about her. It showed in the way she tackled every project at the resort.

  And it definitely showed in the way her eyes flickered with passion and need when he unzipped his jeans and slid them off. The way the tip of her pink tongue darted out to trace her bottom lip when he tugged off his boxer briefs. The way she opened for him when he lowered himself to her and covered her beautiful body with his.

  And that accidental erotic text he’d sent her when she first arrived on the island? He kissed his way down her flat stomach, moved her thong aside, and made good on his promise.

  Chapter Sixteen

  LILY’S LIFE LESSON #16

  Scratch lesson #5, because sexting definitely isn’t better than the real thing.

  Lily could no more stop herself from wrapping around Trace any more than she could stop the sun from setting in the west. Yes, he was her boss. Yes, she’d played with fire in the past and gotten burned.

  Yes, she was going to roll the dice again with Trace because he was a different kind of man, and she trusted him.

  His smoldering kisses left a burning trail over her rib cage, then her stomach. Everywhere his lips touched, her muscles involuntarily tensed into balls of fire that singed every nerve ending she possessed, and she moaned.

  “That’s what I want to hear.” He circled her belly button with the tip of his tongue.

  She fisted his hair in one hand. “You do things to my body I didn’t think possible.”

  He chuckled against her belly, his breath making her skin pebble. Then he slid both hands under her ass and flexed his fingers into her flesh.

  Need crashed through her, and she pulled at his shoulder. “Trace.” Her tone was practically begging him. “I want you. Now.”

  “Babe, this is one thing we’re doing my way.” His breathy whisper against the dark triangle where her thighs met caused a shudder to rush from the top of her head to the tips of her curling toes. “Promise I’ll get the job done to your satisfaction.” There was a smile in his words.

  He settled between her thighs and placed a hot openmouthed kiss on the inside of one leg, then the other. And he did the same at her center.

  She cried out as his heated breath and his wonderful tongue washed over the thin fabric of her panties, creating just enough friction to drive her insane. She writhed under him, her nails digging into his shoulders.

  True to his naughty text, he moved the small strip of lace aside
, and his mouth closed over her center.

  Nothing prepared her for the electrifying shock of pure bliss that scorched across every cell in her body. “Trace!” she screamed.

  He chuckled against her throbbing nub. “The walls aren’t soundproof, babe.”

  “I don’t care.” And at that moment she didn’t. The only thing she cared about was his mouth and his tongue and his fingers fulfilling the long-overdue promise of his erotic text. She hooked her legs around his shoulders. “Don’t stop.”

  He didn’t speak. Didn’t have to. Their bodies communicated in a way that didn’t require words. The suckling movement of his mouth and the stroking of his tongue were rhythmic and controlled, coaxing her closer to the edge. But the punishing way his hands gripped her thighs said his self-restraint was hanging on by a thread. He was obviously gritting it out to satisfy her with the loveliest swipes of his tongue and the warmth of his mouth.

  Lily clutched at the edge of the sofa cushion to hold on to her sanity as long as she could. She’d never been wanted like this. Never been worshipped like this. And it made her body come alive like never before.

  The incredible sensation became almost painful, and just when she thought she couldn’t stand it another minute, he eased two fingers inside, reaching the deepest, most intimate part of her.

  She bit down on her lip to stop another shout of pure unchecked pleasure.

  Until he curled those talented fingers and hit just the right spot.

  She cried out something completely indiscernible as the most powerful climax she’d ever experienced barreled through her. She thrashed under him at the wonderful torment, and his hold on her hips tightened to keep her in place. He gave his fingers another twitch-and-curl combo, wringing every ounce of orgasm from her throbbing core.

  He laid soft, sweet kisses across her abdomen as her breathing slowed. It was intimate and sexy and all for her. He rose to his knees and tugged off her panties. “Don’t move.” He wrapped a hand around her foot and pulled it to his mouth to place a tender kiss on the inside of her ankle.