Dare to Hold (4 page)

She swallowed hard. “I think there are some left in my drawer.” She looked away.

He pressed a hard kiss to her lips, retrieved protection, ripped the foil open, and slid it on. “I need to feel you wet and hot around my cock.” He rocked his thick member lower, nudging at her entrance, gliding in, pulling out with short thrusts and rough groans. Back and forth with obvious care.

She had the distinct feeling he was going slowly in deference to her, and that was the last thing she wanted. “I’m not going to break,” she told him.

He studied her as if searching for answers, his need obvious in his taut expression. He was holding back.

“The doctor didn’t give me any restrictions.” She arched her hips and clasped him more tightly inside her, drawing her knees up and pulling him in deeper.

With a groan, he broke and thrust hard, filling her up completely. He was so big, and she reveled in the fullness. She wrapped her arms around him, and he didn’t stop her from touching him this time, so she took the time to memorize the moment. The way his hard body molded to hers, the thickness of him inside her, and his heady, arousing scent. She didn’t want to forget a second of this moment and knew she never would.

“Can’t not move,” he muttered and began a steady pounding inside her, giving her everything, holding nothing back.

His body felt glorious inside hers, and to her shock, pleasure began to tease her again, another climax building quickly. He took her hard, his thrusts culminating with a grind of his hips, the angle of his penetration hitting a spot she’d never known existed but was sheer bliss. Sweat broke out on his body, and his rough groans sounded in her ear.

“Fuck, you feel good,” he said as his lips came down on hers, his deliberate thrusts never ceasing. “Meg!” He groaned and slammed into her over and over, his release obvious and so hot it triggered her own. Soaring again, she came, her entire being narrowing to the epic sensations pouring over her and the man atop her who’d rocked her world.

She was still breathing hard when Scott pulled out and headed for the bathroom. He returned seconds later, wasting no time in gathering her into his arms and throwing one big leg over hers.

Was he planning on
staying
? she wondered, panicked. That wasn’t what they’d agreed on. She’d enjoyed him too much and would come to want so much more if he didn’t get up and leave now. So she lay stiff in his arms, unsure of what to say or do next.

Scott apparently had no such qualms. He kissed her neck, soft, sexy slides of his mouth that had her squirming because she liked them so much.

“Relax, baby,” he said drowsily. “The world won’t end if I fall asleep here.” And from the lazy drawl of his words, he intended to do just that.

*     *     *

Scott awoke in a strange bed, loud sounds coming from the other room. He was in Meg’s bedroom. He grinned and stretched, feeling too damned pleased considering that, without a doubt, she wanted him gone. He understood the sentiment. They’d agreed on hot sex and nothing more. Of course he’d had a hunch he wouldn’t be satisfied with just one night, and in the bright light of day, he’d been right. He didn’t understand why he wanted to get entangled with a woman whose life was damned complicated. Given his history, it made little sense. But right now he was in. He’d figure out his own issues later.

He headed for the bathroom, discovering it steamy. Meg had obviously already showered and dressed, no doubt steeling herself for the confrontation ahead. He shrugged. He’d just have to keep her off-balance if he wanted to break through her walls.

He took a quick shower of his own, lathering in her soap, using her shampoo. Both smells made him hard, but he was well aware he wasn’t getting any this morning. He just needed to assess the lay of the land for the future before heading out.

Dressed in his clothes from yesterday, he found her in the kitchen, her back to the door. She wore a pair of sweats and a pale green tee shirt, her damp hair hanging long in the back, curling as it dried.

“Good morning.”

She jumped and turned toward him. “You startled me.”

“Is that breakfast?” He pointed to a pink smoothie she drank from a straw.

She nodded. “Protein. It’s good for me.”

“And the baby. I didn’t forget.” One of her many complications. He pushed the reality away.

A light blush stained her cheeks. “Right. So you understand why we shouldn’t draw out this awkward morning-after thing any longer.”

He raised an eyebrow. So she really was eager to get rid of him, and it rankled. “No breakfast?” he asked, teasing her.

“Sorry. Nothing but healthy shakes, and I really need to get my day going so…” She gestured toward the front of her apartment.

He strode toward her, leaning one hip against the kitchen counter. “About last night.” He slid one hand behind her neck in a possessive hold.

“What about it?” she asked, voice shaking. She didn’t know what to expect from him, but he affected her. Her body and voice couldn’t lie about that.

“It was great,” he told her honestly. “
You
were great.” He touched his nose to hers in a soft gesture, one he knew was at odds with the man he was in the bedroom. But she brought this side out in him too. Something else to ponder, as nobody ever had before. “So thank you.”

“Oh. You’re welcome.” She blushed harder. “I mean … never mind.” She waved a shaking hand through the air.

There it was. Cute again. He shook his head, remembering his cool, icy, sophisticated ex-wife. So. Not. Cute.

He grinned at a flustered Meg. “I know what you meant.”

“Oh,” Meg said softly, and she slid her tongue across her lip in that nervous gesture he found so endearing.

This morning it reminded him of the things they hadn’t done together. His mouth on her pussy. Her lips on his cock. Yeah, there was a lot left undone. And he wasn’t just talking about sex, though that had been a good start. It would make it that much more difficult for her to keep him at arm’s length now that she knew what he did. Together they were explosive.

How they came together? That would be the next step. One that would determine just what they could mean to each other outside of the bedroom.

He pulled back and rose to his full height. “Take care of yourself.” Knowing she’d say no and get defensive, he didn’t ask her for anything. Offer her dinner. Ask her questions. Nothing.

Keep her frustrated and guessing. Missing him, if he was lucky. That was his game plan, and he was looking forward to the challenge. Because he fully expected Meg to make him work for her. And after last night, he was okay with that.

*     *     *

Meg wasn’t sure how she made it through the rest of the weekend. She was jumpy and nervous. She kept checking her phone, hoping, expecting to hear from Scott. She didn’t. Apparently he was a man of his word. One night meant just that.

Wasn’t that what she’d wanted? Why was she so … hurt, then, over his silence?

Monday at school dragged. The kids were extra cranky, little Billy Miller spilled paint on Lilah Devlin’s shoes, one kid had a fever, and by the time the day ended, Meg was so grateful she wanted to cry. Tomorrow she had an appointment with the principal to tell him she was pregnant. She was due in early September, when school would just have restarted for the new year, and he’d need to plan ahead. She didn’t think being unmarried and pregnant would be an issue, but she was nervous anyway because she worked in a private school, and that meant she was subject to the school board’s decisions, and she had no doubt the principal would share her new status with them.

On Wednesday, she was having dinner with Olivia. Dylan was out of town on business, and the other woman wanted to compare pregnancy notes. Since Olivia was due two months later than Meg, they had that in common. She hoped it wasn’t awkward that Olivia was Scott’s sister.

Because there was no way she could hide her reaction if somehow his name came up. Just thinking about him set her on fire. She hadn’t washed her sheets because she liked the musky smell of him, and
them
, that lingered. She’d like to say it was the sex she couldn’t get out of her head, but it was more than that. The little things. How he’d jumped out to open the car door. How he’d leaned in and brushed his nose against hers when he was saying good-bye. And how he’d thanked her, as if her sleeping with him was something special and meant something to him.

When was the last time she’d been treated well? When the person she’d been with had put her first? She shook her head hard, the answer too painful to contemplate. True, Scott had been nice, but he wasn’t anything to her but a one-night stand. His silence merely reinforced that. Meanwhile, she had a busy week, a full life, and she had to remember that she did not need a man to make her complete.

*     *     *

At the end of a long week, Scott met his brother Tyler at the gym of the Thunder football stadium. The whole family gravitated here, to the everlasting irritation of their father, who had given them all free gym passes at his luxury hotel downtown. Scott, like the others, didn’t want much to do with the old man. In fact, his becoming a cop had been a big F.U. to his dad and his offer to work in his hotel business. Scott couldn’t be in business with a man he didn’t respect, and from the minute he’d realized the truth about his father’s cheating and other family, any respect he’d hung on to for a man who was rarely around when he was growing up had disappeared.

His grandparents had left each kid a trust fund, and money hadn’t been an issue. He was luckier than most in that he could do what he wanted in life. So he’d gravitated toward law enforcement because there were rules, laws, and things were black and white. He knew what to expect. He’d never envisioned feeling constrained by those same rules, because after the personal upheaval his father had caused, his career choice had made sense to him at the time. Unfortunately, those restrictions chafed, and he was miserable.

He and Tyler worked out in silence for over an hour, then showered and were finishing up in the locker room. As it was March, the team wasn’t around, and they pretty much had the place to themselves.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Tyler said. “Couldn’t do it the other night. Mel’s is too crowded. And you were too busy looking at that brunette. What did you say her name was?”

“Meg.” Scott’s brain immediately filled with memories of the night with her, causing his cock to swell. Shit. Good thing he’d put his jeans on.

“Right. Meg Thompson. You get her home okay?” Tyler asked.

Scott nodded, unwilling to get into more about his relationship … or lack thereof, with Meg. Knowing how completely freaked out she’d been the morning after, he’d given her space this week … but he couldn’t let the silence go on much longer. He didn’t want her thinking he wasn’t interested any more than he wanted to crowd her and send her running. Not to mention, he couldn’t stop thinking about her and that hot night.

He and Tyler headed out to the hallway, pausing by a set of oversized couches in a lounge area.

“What’s on your mind?” Scott asked his brother.

“I got a call from someone in the music business looking to hire us for the whole nine yards. Updated alarm systems, personal protection, you name it. Apparently a big band is considering breaking up, and someone leaked the information to the press, and they’re getting angry fan threats.”

Tyler ran a security company named Double Down, specializing in various areas of protection, including investigations, electronics, and personal protection. He had a group of ex-military men working for him, and he’d done well for himself.

Scott glanced at his brother. “Well, they came to the right place,” he said, as always, proud of what Tyler had accomplished.

“Who is the client?”

Tyler eyed him warily. “Lola Corbin called. She’s the lead singer of Tangled Royal,” he said of the huge band currently rocking the music scene.

“Son of a bitch. Grey Kingston’s band mate is looking to hire you?” he asked of the band’s lead guitarist.

Tyler clenched his jaw and nodded.

Now Scott understood the problem. Avery, their youngest sister, and Grey Kingston had been hot and heavy back in high school … until Grey had left town to make it big, leaving Avery heartbroken. To this day, Scott wasn’t sure she’d ever gotten over it. His hands curled into fists at the thought of dealing with the man.

“At least it’s not Kingston who wants your services, but that’s pretty close for comfort.”

Tyler ran a hand through his dark hair and nodded. “Agreed. I don’t want to upset Avery but I can’t turn down the biggest rock star on the planet. Not to mention, Lola Corbin is engaged to Rep Grissom, Jr., one of the Thunder’s hottest stars.”

“Shit,” Scott muttered.

“You got that right.”

“Hey, guys,” Olivia said, joining her brothers. Her office was nearby. “I couldn’t help but overhear. You should know, Avery’s seen Grey recently. He sent her tickets to the last concert.”

Tyler glanced at his sister. “Seriously? What the hell? Why didn’t I know about this?”

Scott wanted to know the same thing.

“Because of your reactions right now. She knew you’d go all big-brother caveman on his ass.” Olivia patted Tyler’s cheek. “She asked me to go with her to the concert. We went; Dylan and I got the call about Meg being in the hospital. I offered to stay, but Avery swore she was fine to go backstage alone.”

“What happened between them?” Scott asked.

“She won’t talk about it,” Olivia said, her tone indicating how unhappy that made her.

Scott didn’t like it either. Avery and Olivia were close. If she wasn’t confiding in her sister, something big was going on.

“Do you think the bastard is pushing Lola towards my business to get back into Avery’s life somehow?” Tyler asked, shaking his head in disgust.

Olivia narrowed her eyes, remaining silent while she considered. Then she shook her head. “You’re the best there is. I honestly doubt it. She probably really does need your services.”

Tyler blew out a frustrated breath. “That’s what I wanted to talk about. I need you,” he said to Scott. “I need a second-in-command. Someone who can oversee everything that goes on. Actually, I need a partner. I need you,” he said, turning to Scott.