Dare to Touch (14 page)

His hips rocked against her ass, and he was right. She felt him everywhere. She swallowed a sob, not understanding the emotions overtaking her. She didn’t know she was so sensitive, so—“Close. Oh God, I’m close.”

She felt her juices sliding between them, coating him, and suddenly his hand dropped lower, the pad of one finger pressing against her sex. “Come on, sunshine. Come for me just like this.”

He ground his cock deep, and she cried out, the orgasm that hit her more explosive than any before, because he wasn’t fucking her, he was loving her, and she’d be a fool to deny the obvious. Not when there was so much emotion washing over her.

She might still have been mid-orgasm when he pulled out, tossed the pillow, and rolled her onto her back. She raised her arms over her head and out of the way just as he thrust back into her with a tortured groan.

“Livvy, fuck.” He jerked inside her once, twice, and she buried her face in his neck and inhaled him while she came, and he followed her over.

Chapter Eight

D
ylan awoke to an empty bed. Olivia had showered and was packing her suitcase when he dragged his ass out of bed. She shot him a smile, one he returned, but neither of them spoke.

He didn’t know what to say. Last night had been intense. Serious emotional shit had passed between them, and he needed time to process. If her silence during the rest of the morning and trip to the airport was any indication, she felt the same way.

He’d told himself he was all in with her, ready for anything. But apparently, it was one thing to be so head over heels for a woman he couldn’t think straight and another to deal with the emotions the kind of sex they’d shared brought up.

She slept most of the flight back home, her head on a pillow against the window. Not on his shoulder. He swiped a hand over his eyes and leaned back against the uncomfortable seat.

He’d never, ever felt so much, and it scared the shit out of him. Not because he wasn’t sure of his feelings but because he was.

He’d fallen in love with a woman who hadn’t dealt with her past. If there was one thing he knew, old ghosts always showed themselves eventually. And he didn’t want to be a casualty when Olivia’s returned.

*     *     *

The week after Arizona flew by. As usual, while she’d been away, work had piled up. Olivia didn’t mind. She thrived on doing her job. Dylan had to travel out of town mid-week for an unexpected meeting with the hotel chain the team did business with. With him on the West Coast, where the main offices were located, and Olivia on the East Coast, they managed a few short phone calls in between his meetings.

Their last time together had been … intense, scary for a woman who rarely let herself get involved so deeply. She’d pulled back a bit, just needing time, and then he’d left on his trip. After twenty-four seven time with Dylan, this break gave her more time than she’d wanted or needed away from him. She missed him like crazy and couldn’t wait until he came home. He wasn’t sure of his timing yet.

Friday night, she was so exhausted that she crawled into bed and fell asleep soon after her head hit the pillow. Too soon afterwards, crazy knocking sounded from outside the bedroom door.

Olivia pulled the pillow over her head and groaned, but the noise didn’t let up. “Go away!”

“No.”

A peek revealed Avery—who else?—walking into the room. She jumped into the bed beside Olivia, the way she’d always done on the weekends when they were kids.

Olivia managed a tired smile for her sister.

“Why are you still in bed? You never sleep in.”

“Let’s see, there was a time difference in Arizona, and I’ve worked nonstop this whole week to catch up. I’m tired.” Beyond tired. Even now, she couldn’t stifle a yawn.

“Well, now you’re up! And it’s a good thing too, because the day doesn’t wait for anyone.” Avery jumped up and opened the blinds, letting the sun stream into the previously darkened room.

Olivia blinked into the glare, her eyes watering. “Are you crazy?”

“Nope. You need to get up. Dylan called me earlier. He couldn’t reach you. He took a red-eye home. Anyway, he’s going to be here any minute, and you need to get ready.”

“He’s home?” She couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice, and her sister grinned.

Avery headed to the closet and began sorting through Olivia’s dresses. “He said to tell you his sister is having a family barbeque for his niece’s birthday and he wants to bring you with him.” Avery pulled out a halter dress with small pink flowers. “I think this dress will look pretty for an outdoor party, don’t you?”

Olivia could pick out her own clothes, as they both knew, but Avery was a fashionista of the first order, and Olivia indulged her.

Still, she couldn’t resist teasing her. “You do know I hate you this early in the morning, right? You’re too perky, and I haven’t had my coffee yet.”

“You love me
and
my perkiness. So how do you feel about meeting his family?” Avery turned worried eyes her way.

Olivia’s stomach did a little flip. She didn’t know what would come of her relationship with Dylan, but he’d mentioned that his older sister was his family and that they were close. She really wanted to make a good impression. And wasn’t that telling when it came to her feelings for the man?

She swallowed hard. “It’s a first for me,” she murmured.

“And that’s why I’m here to help.”

Olivia slid out of bed, glanced in the mirror, and cringed. “I need to shower.”

“Then get moving! I told him you’d be up and ready.”

“Neither one of you thought I might have other plans?” she asked.

Her sister grinned. “Not really. And even if you did, I knew you’d cancel them for this.”

“Why does this feel like a setup?” Olivia muttered.

“Because I want you to be happy. And Dylan seems to do that for you. So when he called, I said you’d go with him. He’ll be here soon, so move it.”

“How can I be annoyed with you when you say nice things like that?”

“You can’t.”

With a sigh, Olivia pulled out sexy underwear from her drawer, in case she and Dylan ended up alone later, then picked up the dress Avery liked. A little while later, Olivia had managed to wake up, courtesy of Avery’s coffee, a warm shower, and thoughts of seeing Dylan.

She was dressed and ready to see him. It was the first time they’d be alone since their time in Phoenix, and meeting his family, no less. She placed a hand over her nervous stomach. She didn’t want to question too hard what it all meant—him bringing her with him and her serious nerves about meeting the people he loved.

She drew a deep breath and walked out of her bedroom, surprised to find Dylan drinking coffee with her sister. “Well, hi,” she said. “I didn’t hear the doorbell.”

“He knocked,” Avery said from where she sat at the table, feet propped on a chair.

Dylan rose to his feet. “Good morning.” His voice slid over her like warm honey. Sweet and oh so good.

“Morning.” She held out her empty coffee cup. “Is there any more for me?”

“You can get more on the road. We need to make a stop to buy toys on the way to my sister’s.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Toy shopping? Is that your new idea of a date?” she asked, teasing.

“Depends on what kind of toys we’re looking for.” His eyes darkened with a sensual look she recognized.

A look that had her pulse pounding and her body responding, ready for anything he desired.

“Just eew!” Avery said, jumping up from her seat. “Good thing I know this is just a Toys“R”Us trip. Go. Both of you.” With a shake of her head, she headed for her room, closing the door behind her.

Olivia laughed and Dylan merely grinned.

A few minutes later, she’d grabbed her purse, and they walked out the door.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Olivia said as they waited for the elevator.

Dylan eyed her with those sexy bedroom eyes. “I missed you, sunshine. So I wrapped things up as soon as I could and hopped the first flight back.”

She warmed at his sentiment. “I missed you too.” The words came out more easily than she would have thought.

The elevator door opened. No sooner had they stepped inside than Olivia found herself against the wall, held in place by Dylan’s strong thighs and his hands on either side of her head.

Instead of kissing her, he dipped his head and settled his lips on her neck, on the sensitive skin behind her ear. His breath was warm, and he grazed her flesh lightly with his teeth.

“Mmm.” Her knees buckled under the delicious assault.

He threaded his hands through her hair and tugged, tipping her head and sealing his lips over hers. He kissed her like he’d missed her, kissed her like he couldn’t get enough, his big body pressing into hers, his erection a promise of good things to come later.

And she kissed him back the same way until the elevator door opened. He grasped her hand and pulled her out, ignoring the disapproving looks from the older couple waiting to step inside.

Dylan already had a gift in his trunk for his niece but had guessed correctly that Olivia would want to buy a present herself. She found it incredibly thoughtful of him. So after a short trip to the toy store and another to a bakery, this time at Olivia’s request, Dylan drove them out to Weston, where his sister lived.

She glanced out the window, watching the trees as they passed. “So give me details before I meet your family,” Olivia said, curious about everyone.

“Just what I already told you. Callie is two years older than me. She used to work in retail before she decided to stay home with Ava. She’s four now, as you know by the age section of the toy store.” He grinned at the mention of his niece. “She’s a real cutie. You’re going to love her.”

Olivia swallowed hard. And smiled. “I adore Ian and Riley’s little girl,” she murmured, thinking of her sweet niece. But every time she held the baby, now a toddler, the powdery, soft smell reminded her of what she’d lost … and might never have again.

She cleared her throat. “And Callie’s husband? What’s he like?”

“Matthew? He’s good to my sister, which is all that matters to me. He works in finance and he’s a great dad.”

“They sound like the perfect family.”

He shrugged. “If there is such a thing, I suppose they are.”

“Do you think there is?” she asked. “I wondered that a lot. Or at least I did after my father’s second family was exposed. But I watch Ian and Alex with their wives and I think … maybe it can happen after all.” Too bad she was so afraid of believing.

*     *     *

Dylan pulled onto his sister’s street. She was the last house on a cul-de-sac in a typical suburban development. He and Callie had grown up in a one-bedroom apartment on a shitty side of Miami. To know his sister had this life meant everything to him.

“You haven’t answered my question,” Olivia said.

“Not yet, I haven’t.” He glanced over in time to see her narrow her gaze.

He chuckled with amusement and turned his attention back to the road, where he knew kids played. But he always had some focus on Olivia. Whether she was thinking or nervously chattering or sleeping, he loved watching her.

When she’d walked out of her bedroom wearing a white halter dress with small pink flowers, her dark hair falling over her shoulders and looking like sunshine … it’d been all he could do not to pick her up and walk directly back into her room, lock the door, and drive into her until she couldn’t remember her name and was screaming his. The fact that her sister had been there helped temper his desire. Even that kiss in the elevator had barely quenched his thirst. She was so fresh and pretty, she checked every box in a want list he hadn’t known he had.

Convincing her she could put her past behind her, and whatever else haunted her beyond her father’s betrayal, wouldn’t be easy. It couldn’t be accomplished in bed alone, although he wouldn’t mind tying her up and keeping her in his. Integrating her into his family would be a solid start. He never brought women to meet his sister and niece, and he had no doubt that was something Callie would latch onto and treat Olivia accordingly.

He pulled up in front of the house, a peach-colored ranch with a Spanish-styled roof, and parked before turning toward Olivia. He wanted to see her face when he answered her question. “Do I think there’s such a thing as a perfect family?” He held her soft gaze as he answered. “I guess I have to believe.”

“And why is that?” she asked, eyes wide, and if he had to put a name to the expression on her face, he’d say …
hopeful
.

He intended to do everything he could to keep that hope alive. He reached over and tugged on a long strand of her hair. “Because if I didn’t believe, there would be no point in being with you.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he placed his hand beneath her chin and closed it.

“I believe we have a barbeque to go to,” he said, not wanting her to over-think.

“Ready?” He shut the car off and unhooked his seat belt.

She was out of the car before he could open the door for her, and she met him by the trunk. He pulled out the large box from him, and she picked up her gift, which the store had wrapped for her.