Dare To Stay

by Phillips, Carly

  Willow smiled. “It’ll be fun.” She was looking forward to the short time away.

  “You’ve been distracted all week. Care to tell me what’s going on?” Steffy asked, sitting down on the couch. “You’ve also been pretty quiet since Thanksgiving.”

  Joining her, Willow settled into a corner and pulled a throw pillow onto her lap. Since she’d spent the week letting her mind spin on what Braden wanted from her now that she’d decided it was time to give in, at least to their sexual desire, she turned to her friend.

  Drawing a deep breath, she said, “I kissed Braden and I don’t mean a quick peck on the cheek. I mean if we hadn’t been interrupted, who knows where things would have gone between us.”

  Steffy’s eyes opened wide. “Wow. Well, that’s a big deal. So I get why you’re distracted … but you don’t seem happy.”

  Willow bit down on her lower lip. “I’m confused. I know I haven’t told you much, but Braden and I dated for about a year, exclusively. Then one day out of the blue, he comes to me and tells me he’s going to Doctors Without Borders for two years.”

  She remembered that day so vividly, sitting across from him in a café and him just blurting out the news as if it wouldn’t have far-reaching repercussions for her. As if their connection to each other wasn’t that important. “One day I’m thinking I have a guy in my life with the possibility of a future, and the next he says he’s leaving. Just like that.” She waved her hands through the air.

  “Oh, wow. I had no idea. So what did you do?”

  “I told him to have a good life and I walked out.” Which, she admitted now, might not have been the most mature way to handle it. “Anyway, now he’s back and he said he wanted us to try again.”

  Steffy leaned forward in her seat. “I need popcorn for this. It’s like a good movie.”

  Willow could only laugh because her friend was right.

  “And then what did you say?” Steffy asked.

  Willow closed her eyes and sighed. “I told him I could only give him friendship. And then I contradicted myself by kissing him.”

  Letting out a whoop of glee, Steffy grinned.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying this. I’m not, because he’s been nothing but professional and friendly ever since his brother interrupted our kiss. I don’t know what he wants from me and it’s making me crazy.” She rose to her feet and began pacing around the room.

  “I wish we had time for wine, but we have to leave within the hour to catch the bus. So let’s cut to the chase. What do you want?”

  Willow rubbed her hands together. “I can’t bring myself to trust him not to leave me again, but I can’t deny our attraction, either.” The man was everything she wanted but couldn’t let herself have, at least not long term.

  “So indulge! I can’t remember the last time I saw you do something for the fun of it. Or should I say do someone?” Steffy pushed herself up from her seat and walked over to Willow. “Nobody says you have to promise him anything. If he wants you and you want him, let it be that simple.”

  Nothing about Braden Prescott was simple. “He hasn’t acted like he’s still interested this past week.”

  “Probably because you’ve been at work, and he knows you’d never want your integrity compromised. But when we’re at the hotel, who’s to say you can’t pay him a midnight visit?” She raised her eyebrows and wiggled them for effect. “Reach out for what you want, on your terms.”

  She let her friend’s words sink in and decided Steffy was right. It was time to put her hurt behind her and indulge in the present. And since she’d put Braden through the paces since his return, it was up to her to make the next move.

  * * *

  Travel days sucked, Braden thought as he returned to his hotel room after dinner, washed up, undressed, and finally lay down on the king-size bed. He braced his hands behind his head, grateful for his own room on these trips. Up early, long flight to Dallas, and he’d had little sleep this week, his work and free time completely booked.

  Every time he’d intended to find Willow, not wanting to let too much time pass and have her talk herself out of taking a step forward with him, something had interrupted. A player in need of a consult. Another doctor who wanted his opinion. A sibling who insisted on a quick lunch or dinner because it had been too long since he’d seriously caught up with anyone, keeping up with his own fitness routine, and then, of course, the health care center, where he’d worked long hours.

  The best he could say about the clinic was that the place was in need of more. More supplies, more and better equipment, more nurses … more of everything, and he was preoccupied with finding ways to fund the operation and get the people who frequented it better medical care. He had some ideas that needed fleshing out in his mind before he brought them to light with Hudson, but he was working on it. Just like he wanted to work on things with Willow.

  He couldn’t talk to her on the plane because she sat next to her friend and fellow therapist, and he wouldn’t talk about their private affairs surrounded by the entire team, anyway. And when the keys had been handed out, he’d discovered she had a roommate this trip, which made paying her a late-night visit impossible.

  Resigned to having to wait, he reached up to turn off the light and get some sleep when a knock sounded on his door. He rose from the bed and realized he’d left his clothes in a pile on the bathroom floor and had no pants to slip into.

  He’d just check the peephole first, and if he had to let someone in, he’d get dressed.

  A glance and his heart nearly stopped. In the hall, dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, hair pulled up with sexy strands falling around her face, and no makeup, just the way he liked her, stood Willow.

  He glanced down at his boxer briefs and made a decision. If she was here now, she wasn’t just here to talk, so he opened the door to let her in.

  * * *

  Willow didn’t give herself a chance to change her mind about going to Braden’s room. Right after dinner, she washed up and changed as if she were heading to a vending machine in the hotel in case she ran into someone on the way. Of course, that meant she couldn’t dress up or put on a fresh face of makeup, she just had to go as is. It was the only way not to draw attention to herself and her destination. She’d lingered when they were passing out keys, making sure to get a look at the number written on the paper holding his key card. Nothing left to chance. She couldn’t afford to show up at the wrong man’s door.

  Steffy didn’t say a word, watching and nodding in approval as Willow prepared to go after what she wanted. More like what she needed. She and Braden had unfinished business, and she had every intention of putting a period on the end of their relationship. She wouldn’t lie to him or lead him on. She had every intention of being up-front and honest with him. Since he was a guy, she couldn’t see him turning her down.

  Having made her decision, she refused to second-guess herself or allow for butterflies in her stomach as she grabbed her phone and made her way to the floor above her, stopping at his room.

  She knocked and waited, catching herself in a lie. There were plenty of nerves and flutters in her belly.

  The door opened and he stood in front of her, quickly pulling her in and closing them inside. One look at him and she knew why.

  In his boxer briefs and nothing else, sweet Lord, the man was hot. He was even more muscular and ripped than he’d been before he left, and she couldn’t tear her gaze from the six-pack that was his abdomen. His skin was tanned, and as her gaze fell to the happy trail leading straight into his waistband, the outline of his cock thick, hard, and evident, her mouth ran dry while her panties grew soaked.

  “You can keep staring or we can talk about why you’re here,” he said in a gruff voice that sent tingles throughout her body.

  “How can you answer the door practically naked?” She had a hard time lifting her stare and meeting his gaze. Not when the view was so damned good.

  He treated her to a satisfied grin. “B
ecause I saw it was you and I wanted to save us time. Unless you really did come to talk, in which case I’ll get dressed. So which will it be?” He cocked an eyebrow and waited for an answer.

  Chapter Seven

  Braden knew from the flush in her cheeks he’d nailed her reason for being here, but she had to admit the truth. After chasing her for so long, a big part of him was relieved she’d come to him.

  “No. Don’t get dressed,” she said, placing her phone on the nearest counter.

  Her cheeks flushed in the way he liked to see when she was needy and aroused, and he withheld the urge to pump his fist. His cock was doing enough celebrating. He didn’t need to piss her off, send her running, and lose this minor win. And he had no doubt she hadn’t come to this decision lightly, nor did it mean all he’d want it to.

  “But I do want some ground rules in place first.”

  He’d expected nothing less. “Name them.”

  She kept her gaze on his now and not on the bulge demanding attention. Hopefully he’d get some soon.

  “For one thing, I don’t want our relationship public at work. I have the guys’ respect and I don’t want to blow that.”

  He was tempted to remind her that Ian, her boss, had met his wife at work and nobody had had an issue, but he kept his mouth shut.

  He respected what she was saying and had no problem with the request. “Agreed. No PDA at work.”

  “Good. And it can’t be like last time. It’s not a relationship. We’re … getting each other out of our systems.”

  On this he had a problem. A few, actually. “Permit me to modify your rule. First, we’re exclusive or no deal,” he said.

  “Agreed,” she answered immediately. “It’s not like I want you bed-hopping while you’re with me.” She wrinkled her adorable nose in disgust.

  “And you know better than to think I would.” He was not, nor had he ever been, a cheater, and she knew it.

  She blew out a breath. “Good. Now that that’s settled–”

  He shook his head. “I’m not finished.” She wasn’t going to like his next demand. And along with the no cheating rule, it was nonnegotiable.

  Eyes narrowed, she folded her arms across her chest and waited.

  “I want you to promise to keep an open mind about us. I want you back, and I’m going to do my damnedest to prove it to you.”

  She started to argue, and he placed a fingertip over her soft lips before continuing. “I need to know you’ll be open to my overtures. Let those walls down a little and see how good we can be together.”

  “That sounds like you’re demolishing my second rule!” she said, ignoring his lingering finger, which he quickly removed.

  He shrugged. “Because I am. Take it or leave it, sweetheart.” Maybe it was arrogant, but he believed she’d accept his terms.

  “You’re turning down the offer of easy sex?” she asked in disbelief.

  After she had her fit, he thought, suppressing a grin that would get him in trouble. “You bet I am, because I want more.” He wanted it all, but that wasn’t something she was ready to hear. “Well?” He reached a hand out toward her, wanting her to accept the gesture.

  She bit down on her lip, and he could almost hear the debate in her mind before she placed her hand in his. “I’ll try.”

  “That’s all I can ask. Now come here and kiss me.”

  Next thing he knew, she was in his arms, her mouth on his. Bracing his hand on her face, he consumed her, finally tasting her and knowing it was just the beginning. He thrust his tongue into her eager and waiting mouth, the flavor of mint exploding inside.

  She’d brushed her teeth in preparation. She’d come here knowing she wanted to be with him. The thought did something for him in a deep and primal way.

  He slid his hands to her ass and hauled her against him, and she moaned, the sound going right to his dick, but before he got her into his bed, he wanted to make this moment last. To remind her that there was so much more to them than just sex, and devouring her mouth in the hottest, wettest kiss showed her there was no rush to the end result. His cock disagreed, and the way she writhed against him, so did she.

  She slipped her fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs, cupped his ass in her palms, and held him tightly against her until she was rubbing her sex against his rock-hard erection.

  He wasn’t sure he could hold out, but he damned well intended to try. He lifted her shirt and broke the kiss to toss it over her head only to discover she was braless, and it was his turn to groan.

  Cupping her breasts in his hands, he tweaked her nipples between his thumb and forefinger, remembering how sensitive they were and how she could get close to climaxing from that sensation alone.

  She shuddered and leaned forward, pressing her face into the crook of his neck, kissing and licking his skin, all the while grinding her sweet pussy against the hard ridge of his cock, covered by too many clothes. Her soft hair tickled his cheek, the arousing scent of coconut invaded his nostrils, and his cock throbbed harder.

  He needed them completely naked. Now.

  “Strip,” he said.

  “You, too,” she ordered as she kicked off her slip-on sneakers and unhooked the button on her jeans, then met his gaze and waited.

  With a grin, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs and pulled them over his straining erection before sliding them down and off.

  She stared at his cock, desire filling her gaze. “I will admit I missed this.” Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around his shaft and slid her palm up and down, swiping her thumb over the sensitive head.

  “Jesus,” he said on a hiss.

  “Feel good?” she asked, not stopping her continual teasing with her hand.

  Even better than his memories, that was for damned sure. He grasped her wrist, stopping her before he unloaded too soon. “Take off your jeans.”

  She wriggled out of the tight denim, leaving herself in the skimpiest pair of lace panties he’d ever seen.

  “I suppose you want these off, too?” she asked, hooking her thumbs into the material on her hips and teasing him by not pulling them down, just wriggling her free fingers and all but daring him to come take them off himself.

  “Unless you want me to rip them off.”

  Laughing, she began to slowly lower them.

  This was what he’d wanted. A return to the light, teasing banter, the easy way they’d been with each other when things were good.

  She let them drop to the floor and faced him, naked, so gorgeous she took his breath away. Her breasts round and full, her nipples tight and aroused, and there was a slight swell to her belly, which he’d always loved. Her legs were long and tanned, and then there was her neatly trimmed sex.

  A low growl of desire escaped his throat. “Bed,” he said, desire flooding his veins.

  They didn’t have far to go. Clasping her hand in his, he led her to the king-size bed in the center of his room, picked her up, and easily tossed her onto the middle of the mattress before climbing on.

  He came over her and looked into her eyes. She immediately glanced away and grasped his cock, denying him the intimacy he sought, but he wasn’t worried. He’d get his way soon.

  As she slid her hand up and down his shaft, then moved to cup his balls in her hand, he groaned. He wanted to make this last, not come all over her like some teenager.

  Time to tease her for a bit, he thought, easing himself down and spreading her thighs until he lay between her open legs. A glance at her glistening pussy and he was done for. Dipping his head, he slid his tongue through her sweet wetness and began to tease and torture her by licking around, near, and everywhere but her clit, where she needed him the most.

  “Braden, please!” She gripped his hair in her hands and ground herself against his mouth.

  Hearing his name on her lips was the best feeling, so he rewarded her by pulling the small bud into his mouth and working it with licks of his tongue and light grazing with his teeth.
Her hips bucked and he placed a hand over her stomach, holding her down while he worked her over until she began to whimper, shake, and finally her climax hit. And though he wanted nothing more than to watch her come, he kept his focus on her pleasure and kept up the pressure until she was no longer writhing against him but overly sensitive. Only then did he lift himself up and glance at her face.

  Satisfaction etched her features as her heavy-lidded gaze met his. “Gotta say that beat my vibrator.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “You no longer need to use that.”

  Although self-pleasure was better than another man providing her with relief. Hell, he didn’t want to think about her with anyone else. Was he a hypocrite? Yes. And he didn’t care to remember what he’d done in the last two years, because they’d meant nothing. He’d close his eyes and see Willow, and right after, he’d be filled with regret.

  He rid his mind of those memories and focused on the woman before him. If he had his way, she would be the only woman in his future.

  He grasped his hard cock and rubbed it over her clit. Her eyes dilated and she let out a moan. “I’ll make you forget everything and everyone but me,” he said, poised to enter her.

  “Condom!” She lifted her head and met his gaze.

  Shit. “Let me see if I have any in my bag.” He’d known she was sharing a room and never thought she’d show up at his door.

  She drew a deep breath. “I’m still on birth control.”

  Without getting into his recent past, he said, “I was tested for everything when I got back.”

  Sudden uncertainty filled her gaze, and he waited for her to come to a decision.

  * * *

  Willow’s body still quivered with a combination of satisfaction and need as she and Braden discussed protection. And though she was the first to offer up the fact that she was on the pill, she quickly came to the realization of just what she was getting herself into. Being with Braden bare skin to skin was a step toward intimacy she wasn’t sure she was ready to take. On the other hand, she didn’t want to get into the discussion that would be even more serious if she admitted to her reservations. Reservations that were only about her heart. She trusted him to keep her safe this way.