BigBadDare (6 page)

He took a long, hot sip from the white cup.

“I don't understand. What is it you want from me?”

He snorted, slamming the cup onto the table. I jerked my hand back in time just as a stray jet steamed out.

“You have to know things about him. I understand he's had his eye on you for some time. Come on, girl. I know how these things work. When a man finds a sub he likes, she starts to know all his secrets.

Did he say anything to you about the deal with the tattoo shop?”

I tightened my eyebrows, thinking hard. Even if I knew something, there's no way in hell I would've ratted on the man I called Garrett, Sir, Lover.

“No fucking clue what you're talking about. Now, I don't see a badge on any of you guys, so I think I'll be on my way.”

Before I could even reach for my purse and push away from the table, one of the goons had his hand on my shoulder. I opened my mouth to scream. Their boss had one strong finger laid across my lips in an instant.

“Don't scream. You might get away with it here, but it's what we'll do to you
later
that will make you regret every shrill octave. The same way you'll regret ignoring my offer if you don't give me something I can use. Garrett's going to pay up, and pay big time, for what he did.”

“What? Sleeping with your woman, Michael?” I remembered his name. Every muscle in my body was winding up to run, or else claw at their eyes if I had to.

His face showed surprise, and then a bitter crimson rage. “You stupid bitch. You don't know what he's capable of. It's just a matter of time until you're on the receiving end of his sloppy, disloyal antics.

You know that, don't you?”

I held my ground, staring straight into his predatory eyes.

“All I know is Garrett was right to confront you. You're a fucking creep. Not even man enough to keep your own sub in line.”

I watched his shoulders twitch. For a second, it looked like he was winding up to hit me. Just what I wanted him to do so this whole horrible thing would end with my uninvited guest in handcuffs.

“He's trained you well,” Michael said, settling his fists on the table.

A moment later, he rose, kicking the chair toward the nearby window. The small security detail looked at him like curious Dobermans.

“Let's go,” he whispered to them, before turning to me. “Just remember, Jessica – you chose this.

You don't realize even the best trained subs can be broken, but you'll find out. So can Doms who think they're hot shit, immune to the world's cruelty. Watch your back.”

Several people were staring. Mostly at me as I stared after the men long after they'd gone.

I really wished I hadn't had that latte. My heart smacked my ribs like a startled hummingbird.

I shook my hair, trying to brush off the shock, then reached into my purse. I found my phone and dialed the only man who could make sense of this.

“What does he know? What did you tell him?” Anger, love, and instinct swirled in Garrett's eyes the moment he turned them on me.

I clicked my seat belt shut and he sped off, checking the car's mirrors. Probably to verify no one was following us.

“Like I told you on the phone – nothing!” I sighed. “Isn't it time you filled me in on what the hell's going on?”

“Michael and I have always been at odds. I was the favorite son.” He glanced at the surprise on my face. “No, we're not brothers. Not by blood. Truth is, the Red Widow was started by a defunct biker club my dad founded. By the end of it, there were three men with the money to get it up and running, and then three sons to pass their pieces of the pie to. Jeffrey, the third wheel, sold his share to us several years ago, leaving just Michael and I.”

“Touching.” I was only saying that half-sarcastically. The other part of me feared and admired Garrett's past, a danger strewn existence that must've been that way from the very beginning.

“Look, I've done some things I'm not proud of. Recent things, even. Yes, I fucked his sub a couple weeks ago. She was just another conquest for me, and Michael wasn't doing his job to her liking. More than that...she was a way to tell him 'I quit.' I've wanted to get away from the other end of our business for awhile now, and she gave me the clearest signal I could send him.”

I smiled at that. If anyone deserved to get the middle finger in a big, dramatic way, it was Michael.

“What's changed?” I asked. “Besides old rivalries, I mean? Why give it to him now?”

He looked at me like he didn't understand the question. Garrett turned the wheel, and we peeled into the parking lot of a tall condo building right outside the city center.

“You,” he said finally. “I'm not joking, Jessie. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I wanted you as a sub – an
exclusive
sub – the kind I won't just fuck and throw away when we're both ready to move onto something else. You're new to this world, unlike most of the girls I meet.”

“Come on,
Sir,
” I purred, hiding the worry in my voice. “Tell me this isn't just about that world. I loved what we did at the club...but I don't want that to be everything we're about.”

His big hands gripped the steering wheel. Tight enough to show white around his knuckles.

“That's what I'm saying. I knew it would come to this.” His tone made me swallow and hold my breath. “That's the difference between you and all the others. I'm willing to give this a real shot. You're that special, Princess.”

His eyes shot toward me, holding me in place. Was he kidding around? Lying to me? Telling me what I wanted to hear?

“How do I know I'm the first to hear you say that?”

Garrett shook his head, rudely dismissing my skepticism. Maybe it deserved that kind of

dishonorable discharge too.

The car pulled into a space and he killed the ignition. Then he reached over, clamping one set of those strong, talented fingers around my wrist.

“I keep my word. You knew how important that was the second I made that dare with you. And when I think about Michael getting under your skin, using you to get to me, I get so fucking mad...these fists are ready to beat a man I've known since birth to a pulp.”

He clenched his jaw, exposing his perfect teeth cinched together. I suppressed a smile at the wild affection.

“You're the first sub I've really wanted to
own
, Jessie. And not just because I didn't get to sample you when we were interrupted the other day. Body, heart, mind...I want it all.”

Fuck.
If that smokey tone in his voice was an act, then he deserved a hail of trophies.

It wasn't. It couldn't be. He was being deadly direct, exposing an honesty that was impossible to doubt.

I pressed my legs together, a miserable attempt to repress the wet heat rising in my core.

Garrett wasn't giving me any rest. No mercy. He moved in, swinging his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close.

My lips were drawn to his, a natural magnetism based on adrenaline and raw desire. Hard, hot, sticky kisses came.

I let my desperation burble out. My tongue flicked across his lips, admiring the hardness in all of him, the masculine edge beneath his savory flesh.

He pushed back, stroking and circling. My baser instincts kicked on and left me a moaning, quivering mess in less than a minute. I creamed my panties as he sucked me into his seductive, inescapable dance.

“Let's go upstairs,” he said, pausing for breath and resting his huge forehead on mine.

I shuddered. It was really about to happen. I hadn't even returned his deep, dark confession with my own.

Hand in hand, it was a tense walk through his building, up to the elevator with the crystal door. I barely gathered my wits to admire the gaudy elegance all around me.

His grip tightened on my hand. I melted a little more beneath his power, following him into his lair, a high class home undoubtedly built on his family's blood and brutality.

All the dirty stuff in the distant past is hidden beneath these gold walls and chandeliers. But he's the
opposite. There's something wonderful beneath this rough exterior.

“This way.” The elevator door opened and he led me out.

We'd both grown quiet on the way up. I could practically hear steam hissing through his veins, an identical lust to the sharp current growling through my flesh.

I'd never wanted a man so bad before. Until Garrett, surrender wasn't even a remote possibility. No one deserved it but him, this Prince I'd been waiting for, this ruthless invader who'd charmed his way into my secret kingdom.

Well, not quite. But soon.

He unlatched his door and pushed it open. Inside, the place was clean and just as gorgeous as the lobby, except for a mess of big sketchpads and pens strewn across the table.

I pointed. He smiled.

“My mess. The work doesn't stop when I leave the shop. It's all I do here when I'm not indulging myself or dealing with Red Widow business.”

“I'd like to see more sometime.”

“Sometime,” he repeated. “Baby, I think you know we're not here to cozy up on the couch and flip through my art books.”

The glint in his eye sparkled sharper, hotter. Stars cut from pure diamond, all drawn to me.

“Yeah? I forgot...what are we here for?”

“To keep you safe. Safe and happy.”

He put a big exclamation point on that by throwing off his jacket and diving to my knees. I laughed as he came back up, sweeping me into his arms, head across his shoulder. I playfully kicked at his strong chest as he carried me on, a modern day caveman primed to ravage me to the core.

We rounded the corner to his bedroom. He kicked the door open and hurled me against the wall, sucking and licking at my neck.

Those playful kicks? They turned into a jumpy mess as he set off a million frayed nerves at once.

I couldn't hide it anymore. I liked it rough, or maybe I just liked it with him more, and now I wanted him to tear off my clothes.

Too bad the confession gnawed at me.

“Wait, wait, wait,” I sputtered.

He peeled back, frustration written on his face. Hard muscles in his shoulders tensed beneath my nails.

“There's something I need to tell you.” I forced myself to look at him, no matter the risk of being overwhelmed by seduction. “You're my first. I'm a virgin, Garrett. Sir.”

My turn to watch his face stretch with surprise. Garrett rested my feet on the floor, settling his powerful hands just above my ass, moving in until his breath kissed my lips, a few inches away.

“You didn't tell me this before?” He growled.

“There wasn't any need to. I was afraid you might not want me if you knew...”

“Perfect. Untouched. Beautiful.” He started to laugh.

I forced down my own goofy smile and kicked at his shin. This wasn't the response I was expecting.

“You're a funny girl, Jessie.”

“Funny?” I sharpened my tone, pressing my nails like short daggers into his neck.

Careful, lovely.

“Yeah.” He thrust forward, flatting me to the wall with his bulk. He made sure I felt the bulge between his legs, rubbing through his jeans, friction snaking below my skirt.

I moaned. He nailed his target, grinding his length into me, rock hard and oh-so-close to forcing its way inside me.

“Silly. Innocent. Sweet too. You, my little Princess, have a lot to learn about men.”

“I think I know a thing or two.” I realized how dumb the words were as soon as they were out of my mouth.

Garrett paused, sinking his mouth to my neck, stamping me with red hot kisses again and again.

Muscles inside and out contracted. They lapped, unfurled, and readied themselves for him, preparing to convulse beneath his deep thrusts.

“Do you, now? Well, you're wrong if you think a man doesn't enjoy a virgin, and a virgin
submissive
at that. I'll give you a chance to prove me wrong.”

“Oh!” I pinched my eyes shut as he pushed his hands up my back, rolling up my blouse.

He went straight for my bra and popped the clasp. Next, he was tearing at my jacket, furiously working off the buttons, dead set on freeing the soft body he'd only sampled before.

Garrett saw the door wide open to fully savor me. Just the thought of surrendering myself completely to him made me harden all over.

My shirt opened, pushed across my shoulders, and fell to the floor. The cups went too. His marauding hands found my breasts, plump and ready.

He squeezed hard, flicking both thumbs against my hard nipples. I hissed through my teeth, struggling to steady myself as the energy in my depths tore outward, upward, filling my body with forbidden starlight.

“You're so responsive to a man's touch,” he mused. “
My
touch, Jessie. I can't wait to be balls deep inside you. Get on the bed, little girl. I'm gonna prove to you just how much you've got to learn about men, doms, submission.”

Teach me. You're right, I want to learn everything about those grand mysteries.

He picked me up and carried me to the mattress, where we crashed near the edge of his huge bed.

Garrett's hands hugged my hips, dipping for the waistband to my skirt, yanking it to my ankles.

So quick! He really, really wants this,
I thought.

The need in him made me want it even more too – something I didn't think was possible. Just how many times was he going to prove me wrong?

I tried to shake my legs when the skirt was off. They wouldn't move, and then I realized my thighs were locked tight beneath his hands, willing prisoners for what was about to come next.

Garrett lay between my legs, his legs thrown over the bed, yanking me toward his face. He kissed and licked at my thighs. Harsh masculine kisses that flowed deep, through my skin, warming my bones.

I cooed softly. He was licking up, coming dangerously close to that sopping wet place between my legs.

The idea of his mouth going
there
made tingle. Self-conscious worry nudged its way through the pleasure overtaking me.

“Wait, wait...you don't need to do this,” I murmured.

Garrett looked up, his eyes narrow with need. “Oh, yes, I do, Princess. You trust me, don't you?”