Once You're Mine

by Barbara Freethy

  She stood up to face him, feeling a little sad when he wiped the ice cream off his mouth. But she also felt angry that Dylan thought he was in charge.

  "Why not?" she challenged, knowing she was playing a dangerous game, but she didn't care.

  "You and your damn questions," he muttered. "Why can't you just take no for an answer?"

  She didn't know how they'd gone so fast from easy and playful to angry and tense, but the air was crackling between them.

  There were so many things in her life right now that were nebulous and unclear, but what she felt for Dylan was not in doubt. She'd never been in a position to do something about it before, but now…

  "Maybe I can't take no for an answer, because I can see the conflict in your eyes," she said. "You're attracted to me."

  "Doesn't matter. I am not going to mess around with my best friend's sister."

  "This isn't about Scott. It's about you and me. You need to stop using him as an excuse."

  "He's not an excuse. He's a friend. And he would not want this to happen."

  "I don't know if that's true, but even if it is, I don't care. Like I said, this is about us. You and Scott can have your friendship. This won't affect that."

  "It sure as hell would," he retorted, planting his hands on his hips. "It's a rule. You don't sleep with your friend's sister."

  "Since when do you follow the rules? What's the real reason you're fighting so hard to stay away from me? And don't say Scott again."

  He stared back at her, anger sparking out of his light-blue eyes. "Fine, you want another reason?"

  "I really do."

  "I don't want a relationship—especially not with you."

  "What does that mean?" she snapped, his words stabbing her in the heart. "Especially not with me?"

  "You had a crush on me years ago."

  "I did not," she denied, although that might have been partially true.

  "Yes, you did. And it's still there. You see me as some kind of hero, and I've been down that road, and it doesn't end well."

  "Now you're talking about Jenny."

  His lips tightened. "I couldn't sustain Jenny's adoration. She put me on a pedestal and then found out I wasn't perfect."

  "Well, that won't happen with me, because I already know you're not perfect. You're judgmental, and you have too many opinions about other people's lives. Plus, you like to run, and I hate people who run, because they usually want me to run with them."

  "Well, I don't want you to run with me," he countered.

  "Good."

  "Great," he snapped back. "But it wasn't just Jenny who looked at me like I was bigger than life. I've had that same experience on the job, too. A few months ago, I broke my long-standing rule and dated someone I rescued from a car accident."

  "So you admit to breaking the rules."

  "That's not the point, Tori. I thought we could get past the fact that I had saved her life, but we couldn't. I was her knight in shining armor until she realized I worked a lot and didn't want to spend every second with her. She wanted the man of her dreams, just like Jenny did. I can't be your personal hero, Tori. I can't be the guy you dreamed about when you were fourteen."

  She finally realized that there was more in play besides his loyalty to Scott. For all his fearlessness, Dylan was afraid of love, of expectations, of commitment. But she wasn't like those other women.

  "I've known you a long time, Dylan, longer than you've been running into burning buildings. You say you don't want to be a hero, but look at what you've been doing the last few days. You've been watching over me, making sure I'm safe, spending your spare time looking through a dusty old attic at photo albums of people you don't even know."

  "I'm doing that for Scott."

  It might have started out that way, but she didn't believe that was his only reason anymore. She knew when a man was interested in her, even if he didn't want to be.

  "Once I know you're safe and we solve the puzzle, then I'll be on my way," he added. "And I don't intend to leave anyone with regrets."

  She knew she should just accept what he was saying, but she was tired of being told no by someone who clearly wanted to say yes. "You want me, Dylan," she said, hoping she really wasn't misreading the situation. "Can't you be honest?"

  "It's not about that."

  "It's all about that. I don't need a hero. I don't need you to save me. I don't need you to promise you'll be here tomorrow."

  "Yes, you do."

  "No, I don't. But I'm really attracted to you, and I want to do something about it. My God, Dylan, the air is sizzling between us right now. I know you can feel it, too. You're an expert on fire, after all."

  "I put fires out. I don't start them," he said shortly.

  "Well, I think we should put this one out together, and we should do it really slow," she said, dropping her voice down a notch as she inched closer to him.

  He tensed, but he didn't move away. "Is this some sort of a game, Tori? You want to prove something?"

  "It's not a game. I'm being completely honest right now. I'm putting myself on the line by telling you what I want, and that's you. Sex won't change anything between us if we don't let it."

  "You're going to regret this," he warned.

  Maybe she would, but she was willing to take the risk.

  "You only regret the things you don't do," she said.

  "That's not true. I've regretted a lot of things I've done."

  She let out a sigh. "If you don't want me, Dylan, then go. I'm safe. You don't have to worry about me. We can talk tomorrow. We can pretend this never happened. We can go back to being friends or whatever you want to call it."

  He didn't reply, and she could see the turmoil in his expression. He was fighting as hard as he could.

  "But if you stay," she continued. "Then we see where this goes. No second thoughts. No bailing out after one kiss. It's your choice, but those are the terms." She held her breath as he took his time answering.

  "I really don't want to hurt you, Tori. You say you won't care, but I know you. You're a girl who always cares."

  "I'm a woman," she corrected. "And whether or not I care isn't your problem."

  "You say that now—"

  "I promise I won't hold you to anything. It's just a night, Dylan. But I'm done trying to convince you. If you want to go, go." She turned away, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to face him.

  After a long, tense look, he said, "I'm staying."

  Her heart thudded against her chest. "Then I'm glad." She licked her lips, not sure what to do next. She hadn’t thought much beyond the fight to get him to admit he wanted her, too. "Aren't you going to kiss me?"

  A smile played around the curve of his lips. "You're running things, Tori. Show me what you want."

  "Really?"

  "No second thoughts, remember?"

  "I'm not having second thoughts, just thinking about where I want to start." She stepped forward and planted her hands on either side of his face, his beautiful, masculine face that had filled her dreams so many nights. She could hardly believe this was actually happening. Every nerve ending tingled with anticipation.

  But as she licked her lips, doubts ran through her. Were they going to ruin things between them? Was she going to break up a longtime friendship between her brother and Dylan? Was she being selfish? Was she being naïve to think they could make love and not have it mean anything?

  This wasn't just any guy; this was Dylan.

  "You're not asking any questions," he said quietly, "but I can see them spinning through your eyes."

  "I often overthink things," she admitted. "But I'm not going to do that with you. I have no more questions."

  She had no answers, either, but she was putting all that on the backburner. She ran her thumbs over the shadowy beard on his face, loving the masculine feel of his skin, then she pressed onto her toes and kissed him.

  He let her take the lead, and while there was a part of her that wanted to go fast,
another part of her wanted to go slow, to savor the taste of his mouth, the slide of her tongue against his teeth, the lingering hint of fudge on his lips.

  She angled her head one way, then the other. He groaned deep in his throat and slid his hands down her waist to her hips, pulling her up against his chest.

  Feeling that hard body against hers drove all thoughts of going slow right out of her head. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest as desire shot through her.

  Another long, deep kiss sent her head spinning, and as his hands crept under her shirt, his fingers running over the bare skin of her back, her legs went weak.

  She wanted more—so much more. She pushed him back, but only so she could pull off her top, revealing a barely there lacy bra.

  "Nice," he said. "Keep going."

  "Your turn," she countered.

  He obliged by pulling off his T-shirt, and she swallowed hard at the sight of his body. She'd known he had muscles, but he was ripped, and she loved the way the dark hair on his chest ran down into a vee, disappearing under his jeans—jeans that were showing a distinct bulge.

  Her mouth watered. She wanted to touch him, taste him, explore every inch of him. "Keep going," she said, repeating his words.

  "You first," he replied.

  "We're really going to see each other naked?" She couldn't quite believe it.

  "Unless you've already changed—"

  "I haven't," she said quickly. She drew in a breath, feeling a little shy in front of Dylan, but need overcame her reluctance. She unhooked her bra and let it fall off her shoulders. Heat ran through her as his gaze dropped to her full breasts. And then his hands were on her, his thumbs teasing her nipples into hard points of desire as his mouth covered hers.

  As desire built within her, she reached for the button on his jeans. He backed her up against the wall, trapping her in a haven of heat. As he ran his mouth down her neck, her heart started beating so fast she could barely breathe. She'd never felt so overwhelmed by need, so desperate to rip off the rest of her clothes and Dylan's, too. She cupped his ass, pulling him against her.

  He muttered something and lifted his head, his eyes glittering with passion. "We should slow down."

  "I was thinking just the opposite," she said breathlessly. "Like we should get rid of your pants."

  "I like your idea better."

  She undid the button on his jeans and slid down the zipper. As she pushed down his jeans and briefs, she gave in to the temptation to touch his delicious male hardness. She was so caught up in him, that she barely realized Dylan was getting her out of her jeans, too.

  Finally, there was nothing more between them. She gasped with pleasure as Dylan's fingers teased the slick heat between her legs.

  He suddenly swore and pulled away.

  "What?" she asked in confusion.

  "I don't have anything with me. Protection."

  "Oh. I do. In the bedroom."

  His eyes lit up at that piece of news. "Then take me to bed, Tori," he told her, letting her know she was still calling the shots, only it really didn't feel that way. She was so mindless with desire she could barely think.

  Somehow they stumbled their way into the bedroom, pausing here and there to tease each other with promising kisses and caresses. She opened the drawer next to her bed and pulled out a condom, but Dylan wasn't interested in putting it on just yet.

  He pulled her down onto the mattress and explored her body with torturous delight until she couldn't stand it anymore. She wanted to repay all the favors, but now Dylan was putting on the condom, and soon he was filling the aching heat within her. They moved together in perfect sync, each sliding movement bringing greater pleasure and then they were in a free fall, clinging to each other as they came slowly back to earth.

  As she gasped for breath, she looked into Dylan's light-blue eyes, not just seeing him, but feeling him—all the way down to her soul.

  She was in big trouble. Her earlier words came back to haunt her.

  Sex wouldn't change anything, she'd told him.

  Yeah, right…

  * * *

  "You okay?" Dylan asked, stroking Tori's back as she snuggled up against him, her head on his shoulder, her arm resting on his abdomen, her naked body tangled up with his.

  He was trying not to think about the shocked look in her eyes a few minutes ago. It seemed as if she'd just come to some surprising revelation, and he didn't think that was a good thing. He probably shouldn't have asked a question he didn't really want an answer to, but he needed to know where things stood.

  "Better than okay," she reassured him. "You?"

  "Better than better than okay."

  She lifted her head and smiled. "Always so competitive. You have to be first."

  "So do you," he said with a grin.

  "True. In that case, I'm better than better than better than okay."

  "Okay, we need to stop. This could go on forever."

  "Or at least until we do what we just did again." She licked her lips. "I mean, if you want to do it again." A flicker of uncertainty danced through her eyes, which surprised him.

  "You know I do. Give me five minutes."

  "Really?"

  "Maybe ten."

  "What do you have in mind for round two?"

  "All kinds of things," he replied, letting his finger run down the side of her beautiful face. Her cheeks were pink, and her hair fell in soft, dark, silky clouds around her bare shoulders.

  "I thought I was the one with the big imagination," she said.

  "You're rubbing off on me."

  "In a good way?"

  He nodded, liking how easy it was to be with Tori. Whether they were talking or fighting or making love, there was a connection between them that was stronger than anything he'd ever felt before.

  She could definitely get under his skin, make him a little crazy with her impulsive curiosity, reckless stubbornness, and her endless questions, but she could also make him crazy with the way she kissed, the way she explored his body with the enthusiasm and passion she brought to every aspect of her life. When Tori committed to something, she went all the way in. She gave a hundred and fifty percent. And she went after what she wanted, with no thought of backing down or quitting.

  The word committed stuck in his throat, and the thought of her going after him made him swallow hard. He'd been fighting his attraction to her since he'd seen her at the fire. But obviously, he hadn't fought hard enough, and look where they'd ended up.

  But this was supposed to be one night of fun, nothing more. She'd made a strong case for that, and he'd chosen to believe her, because his need for her had overwhelmed his usually logical brain. But knowing Tori, he didn't see it really going down that way.

  "Your eyes darken when you get serious," she told him. "And your lips draw into a hard line," she added, sliding her thumb across his bottom lip.

  He caught her hand and kissed her thumb, thinking that she could read him more than he liked.

  "What are you thinking about?" she asked.

  "Whether I should be on the top or the bottom next time," he lied.

  "Are those our only choices?" she said with a smile.

  He grinned back at her, warmed by her open, candid, joyful smile. Tori lived life. She didn't hold back. She put herself on the line. That made her vulnerable, and he didn't want her to get hurt.

  "Tori—"

  "Uh-oh, I don't like the sound of that."

  "I just said your name."

  "It was the way you said it, like you were about to deliver bad news. Is it not going to be ten minutes? Do you need a half hour? You are over thirty."

  "Hey," he said, knowing she was trying to avoid a serious conversation and appreciating her for that, because if this got too serious, he was going to ruin the rest of the night. Since they'd come this far, they might as well go until morning. He couldn't take back what had already happened. They'd have to deal with that reality when the sun came up. But u
ntil then…

  He moved quickly, tossing her onto her back. She squealed with delight, and as her hand cupped him, she said, "Oh, my, looks like you don't need those minutes after all."

  "Not with you around, I don't," he said before kissing her smart, sexy mouth and losing himself in her arms.

  They might be headed for a fall, but it was going to be a hell of a ride.

  Fifteen

  Tori woke up at six on Monday morning, exhausted and achy, but deliciously satisfied. Glancing over at Dylan's bare chest, tousled hair, and perfectly chiseled male face made her suddenly hungry for him again. She still couldn't quite believe she'd slept with Dylan Callaway. She smiled at how silly that sounded, even in her own head. But her teenaged self had never imagined this could actually happen.

  Being with Dylan had been better than her most amazing fantasy. But what next?

  She knew Dylan had been asking himself the same question a few hours ago, but she'd managed to derail that train of thought by making love to him. She hadn't wanted to give up the night for the reality that had now arrived. There was sun coming through the windows. She had to go to work today and so did Dylan.

  After she used the bathroom, she put on a robe and went out to make some coffee, deciding to let Dylan sleep for a few more minutes. He'd said he had to be to work at nine, so he had some time. After pouring herself a mug and making some toast, she grabbed a pile of files out of the suitcase and sat down at the table. She'd dropped the ball on the investigation last night. But she would get back to it today.

  The first few files didn't appear to be too important. One was labeled random book ideas, and as she skimmed through it, she saw that her father had put down some ideas for a nonfiction book. She hadn't realized he'd thought about writing a book. It made sense, though. It would have given him more space to devote to a big story on any subject that interested him.

  The next few files were more work-related articles. Reading through his notes, she realized that he'd often made a game plan, labeling players he needed to talk to, defining possible motivations, and sometimes making a counter-argument against himself. He really did leave no stone unturned, and he certainly didn't shy away from talking to important people.