Dare to Take (Dare to Love #6) Read online

  He reached up with one hand, grabbing a handful of pillows and tossing them to the floor, letting her head fall back against the mattress. “There.” Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he levered himself over her, the only part of his body touching hers, his thick cock.

  “Tyler,” she moaned as his length drifted lazily back and forth over her clit, arousing her but not hard enough to take her where she wanted to go, which was up and over the edge she was riding.

  “I fucking love hearing my name coming from that sexy mouth of yours,” he said, closing his lips over hers and devouring her with a passion he’d been holding back.

  He thrust his tongue inside her willing mouth and mimicked the sexual act she desperately desired while grinding his hips against hers, circling his groin over her clit, and finally allowing her to build toward a peak.

  She arched her hips, meeting his moves and creating some of her own, every electrified glide of his erection spreading her juices over them both. She was breathing hard and could feel how quickly she was escalating toward climax. Waves started to pound at her, bring her close, so close, and suddenly he grabbed her hands, sliding them up and over her head.

  He broke the kiss, stopped moving, and stared down at her intently.

  “No,” she cried out as the rush receded, leaving her empty and hanging. “Why did you stop?”

  “Because when you have that orgasm, I’m going to be buried in that wet pussy of yours. So quick conversation.”

  Reality flooded back along with the embarrassing memories of the past.

  “Tell me you’re on fucking birth control,” Tyler said, his handsome face contorted with anger, and she scrambled to get away, fighting his body’s hold on her and the fact that he wouldn’t let her go.

  * * *

  “Fuck,” Tyler muttered, the sudden panic on Ella’s face cluing him in that he’d crossed some line.

  She squirmed beneath him, obviously desperate for escape, something he couldn’t, wouldn’t let happen. “Stop!” he said, trying his most commanding tone while bracing his legs over hers in an attempt to keep her beneath him.

  She stilled, staring up at him, eyes not filled with desire as they’d been seconds earlier but a distinct wariness he’d put there.

  “Talk to me,” he said, capturing a tear as it dripped down her face by licking it with his tongue.

  She smiled a little, something he counted as a win, but she immediately shut down again, her expression closed and tight. “You were about to ask about birth control, right?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  She met his gaze head on. “I know it’s not like before, but last time you were so furious with me when you did. I guess I flashed back and needed to get away.”

  In that instant, viewing the damage he’d done to her young psyche up close and personal, Tyler hated himself. But he couldn’t change the past; he could only fix the future. “I screwed that up badly,” he admitted. “But I need you to focus on the present, not the past. Can you do that?” Did she even still want to?

  She blew out a shaky breath. “I can. And I’m still on birth control.”

  He knew what that truth cost her to say out loud. “Good.” He brushed her damp face with his thumb. “I don’t screw around all that often, and when I do, I use protection. That and I make sure to have a physical, so yeah. I’m clean. But the choice about a condom is up to you.”

  She studied his face as if searching for something. What, he didn’t know, and in the wake of the silence, he heard himself continuing. “I never fuck without one, but I have to admit I want to feel your slick pussy coating my dick without protection. I want you to replace all those bad memories with new, fresh ones so you’ll never doubt yourself again.”

  “Tyler.” She said his name on a breathy moan, blinking up at him, those damp eyes suddenly glazing over again with desire. “I want that too,” she admitted. “More than anything.”

  And that made him feel like a fucking king. He’d conquered their painful past and her fears. He didn’t kid himself that her trust would last, her issues went too deep for a quick fix, but he’d keep her here in bed, and that’s all he wanted for right now.

  “And I promise I’m safe too.”

  He never had any doubt. Now he had to bring her back to a state of such extreme need she wouldn’t think anymore, only feel. He leaned down and pulled one nipple into his mouth, swirling the tip around, grazing with his teeth, until she was writhing beneath him. Her hips moved in endless circles, her slick moisture coating his cock.

  Her hips jerked, and she grabbed his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin, marking him. Branding him. He wanted nothing more than to thrust up and inside her, and from her frantic moans and the way she thrashed beneath him—from nipple play alone—he had her back where he wanted her.

  He leaned back and took his cock in his hand, pumping from base to tip. Pre-come coated his dick and fire raced through his body. Holding on, he rubbed his erection over her clit, tapping hard, his gaze alternating from her pussy to her face, contorted in ecstasy, and she was only partially there. He intended to take her the rest of the way.

  “You ready, sweet girl?”

  She bent her knees, a low moan escaping her throat.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “Keep your eyes on me. I want you to see my face as I take you.”

  Pretty hazel eyes locked on his, glazed and eager. That was the look he’d memorize and keep with him when they were apart.

  “This is me, wanting you,” he said, easing his cock into her tight sex. “Needing you.” He pushed in farther, careful with her body and even more protective of her heart. “Not regretting a thing,” he said, taking her completely.

  Her slick walls clamped around him tightly, cushioning him in heat, pulsing with desire. For him. He forced his gaze to focus and caught the light in her eyes as he slid out and back in, harder and deeper with each thrust.

  “Tyler, God. Again.” She bent her knees and locked her legs around his back, pulling him so deep he saw stars. Like a teenager, he wasn’t going to last, and he didn’t give a shit as long as he took her over with him.

  She cried out as he pounded into her, and he accepted her cries, swallowing them with his mouth. Breathing her in. Owning her. Changing him forever.

  Because sex was easy. Sex, at least until now, didn’t involve a lot of thinking about the other person’s feelings. It was physical and led to mutual pleasure and needed release. This wasn’t sex. With Ella, it was more. He felt it in his gut and in his core.

  He slammed home, grinding himself against her sex, over and over, her soft cries growing louder, causing his body to tighten and grow ever harder. His balls drew up, his brain shorted out, but somehow he held off as she clawed at his shoulders and her body convulsed around him. He pulled muscles in his arms and shoulders, waiting not only for her to finish but so he could change positions, shift his hips, and bring her to climax a second time.

  Only then did he let go, allowing his orgasm to consume him, burning him from the inside out. He spilled himself inside her, losing himself to her soft body and warm heart.

  * * *

  Ella could barely catch her breath. She’d never had such fabulous, explosive sex before in her life. She’d never felt as though she were the center of someone’s world before either. If his goal had really been to replace those bad memories, he’d done a damn good job.

  She shivered and was grateful when Tyler rolled off her with a satisfied groan, afraid she’d get too used to his big body cushioning hers in all that heat and comfort.

  He propped himself up on one arm and met her gaze. “So, didn’t suck, did it?” he asked, a sexy, self-satisfied grin on his face.

  And despite all the fears running through her brain, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He’d done the impossible, breaking through the tension she’d no doubt have put between them.

  “No, it definitely didn’t suck,” she agreed.
/>   He reached out and twisted a strand of hair around his finger, tugging lightly on her scalp. Tingling awareness woke up her body all over again. Oh, he was addicting, she thought.

  “I’m going to want to do that again. Soon.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Any objections?” he asked, his voice a deep rumble.

  She shook her head at his easy acceptance of something she was still struggling with. No matter how much she told herself this was sex for the sake of sex, with Tyler, it was always something more. But he’d told her going in, this was about replacing memories. It wasn’t about a relationship … and she was okay with that. Because she needed the boost being with him gave her. And maybe when they parted ways this time, she would be more sexually secure and ready to move on.

  He pulled at her hair, stinging her scalp. “You’re thinking again.”

  “I am.”

  “Well, don’t. Just be.” He yanked her in closer and closed his lips over hers, sliding his tongue into her mouth the way he’d slid his thick erection into her sex. Giving up the fight, she moaned and plastered her body against his, kissing him back for all she was worth.

  He cupped the back of her head in his hand and tilted her head, giving himself deeper access to her mouth. She loved how he kissed, possessing her, owning her, staking a claim, leaving her with no doubts of how much he desired her, uninhibited in his passion.

  She hooked a leg over his and pulled herself against him, rubbing her pussy against his cock, which had begun to harden all over again. She appreciated his stamina, as she rocked her hips in circles, bringing herself to a higher and higher peak.

  He eased back and drew in a shallow breath, diving back in with long licks of his tongue along her jaw and neck. All the while, she arched herself against him as he met her need with rough, shaky thrusts of his hips, grinding himself against her. His erection rubbing against her clit, the friction so hot and good.

  “I’m so close,” she said on a groan, sensation coming at her from all sides.

  “That’s it, let go, sweet girl. Come all over me.”

  And she did, her body reacting to his words, to the exquisite feelings they created together. She cried out his name, unable to hold back, her orgasm a mind-blowing, earth-shattering experience, only marred by the fact that her body was still aching for him to fill her.

  As if reading her mind, he caught the tail end of her climax, shifting their positions and thrusting up inside her. He hit her G-spot immediately, and she screamed, digging her nails into his shoulders as he continued to take her higher, slamming into her harder and harder.

  Her orgasm seemed to go on, meeting his as he climaxed, his warmth bursting inside her. She didn’t remember her orgasm ending, merely gasping for breath as Tyler slowly pulled out, leaving her empty.

  But he didn’t leave.

  He merely pulled her into his arms, hooked a leg around her, and fell fast asleep.

  A little while later, the distinctive buzz of a cell phone pulled her from the best slumber she’d had in a while. Hot. She was so hot. She came awake, realizing she was covered by Tyler’s big, warm body, and as uncomfortable as she was, sticky and sweaty, a big grin worked its way onto her lips. Because she’d had sex with Tyler twice now.

  And it really hadn’t sucked.

  She nudged him with her hand.

  “Hmm?” he asked, still not awake if she had to guess.

  “Your phone was going off,” she said, poking him again.

  “Sleeping,” he muttered.

  So he was a big grumpy teddy bear when he didn’t want to wake up. Good to know, she thought, just as his phone went off again.

  “Must be important,” she said, continuing her campaign of finger-jabbing him until he was awake.

  He rolled onto his back with a loud groan. “Whoever it is, it’d better be a fucking emergency,” he muttered and dragged himself out of bed.

  No shame whatsoever, he strode naked to her side of the mattress, where he’d left his jeans on the floor, and pulled his cell out of his pocket. She ogled his tight, bare ass, figuring if he was going to display it, she was damn well going to look.

  “Oh crap. It’s Scott.” He fumbled with the phone and called his brother back, bringing the cell to his ear. “Hey, man, what’s up?”

  Ella continued to watch … and admire his lean torso, tanned skin, tousled hair, and handsome face. She couldn’t believe she was here, in her bed, with him.

  She bit down on her lip and before the first worrisome, negative, unworthy thought could pop into her head, she shut it down.

  Avery had been through a lot of therapy to control her anxiety, and she’d taught Ella some of her strategies, one of those being closing things up in a box and packing it away. Ella had used that often over the years, to avoid thinking of her father in prison, or the painful knowledge that he’d killed someone while driving drunk, or how she’d been ignored as a child. Yes, she had a lot of skill packing those things away.

  She realized now that maybe not dealing with her issues wasn’t the best thing in the world… Tyler had pointed that out earlier. She tended to get down on herself without realizing it. But for now, if she wanted to enjoy him, she had to push all other thoughts aside. Had to.

  “Meg’s in labor,” Tyler said, breaking into her thoughts. “I have to shower and get to the hospital.”

  Excitement leapt through her. “That’s amazing!”

  Scott and Meg had gotten together in an untraditional manner, Meg already pregnant with someone else’s baby. That someone else had turned out to be a dangerous psycho with deep-seated issues from birth. After some real danger, he was now out of Meg’s life for good, and the baby was Scott’s, in name and in truth. Nothing would change that.

  “Go!” she said when Tyler remained in place, staring at her until she blushed and pulled the covers up over her bare breasts.

  “Come with me.”

  She blinked in surprise. She was close with Avery and she liked Meg, a lot, but did she belong at the hospital? Wasn’t it a family moment? And she wasn’t really family…

  Without warning, Tyler hefted her into his arms and tossed her over his shoulder. Apparently he liked playing caveman. “Hey!”

  “I told you, no thinking!” He smacked her lightly on the ass. Again.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, half shrieking, half laughing, completely aroused from that one smack.

  “To shower and get to the hospital. My brother’s having a baby.”

  She could argue, probably should … but he’d ordered her not to think. She’d told herself the same thing earlier. So she’d shower with her hot man and not overthink.

  Chapter Six

  Tyler didn’t know how he survived the shower with Ella, standing inside the small enclosure, their bodies close, water streaming over her breasts and stomach in rivulets. She’d never looked hotter, especially after the night he’d spent in her bed. She was a mixture of innocent seductress, and when she let go, he knew he was accomplishing his goal, showing her sex between a man and a woman could be amazing. It was only in her more rational moments that she doubted herself.

  Which meant he still had more work to do. A good thing, since he wasn’t finished with that sexy body. He’d only had a taste, hadn’t nearly had his fill of all things Ella.

  In the meantime, he was about to become an uncle, and he couldn’t wait to see his brother, the one he was closest to, become a father. Tyler admired Ian, but he was more like the father figure he’d lost. Scott was his partner and closest friend. And Tyler knew for damned sure Scott would be a better dad than they’d ever had.

  They walked into the waiting room to find everyone was already gathered, except Avery, who’d left for L.A. with Grey and who, Tyler knew, was going to be upset she was missing the event. Even if she’d known it might happen.

  At the very least, he and Ella would avoid Avery and her endless questions about why they were together.

  On the big center
sofa sat Tyler’s mom, Emma, and her fiancé, Michael Brooks. Ian and Riley were standing in the back of the room, though they’d obviously left their three-year-old daughter, Rainey, at home. And a very pregnant Olivia and her husband, Dylan, sat in side-by-side chairs. Olivia was due in a month and a half, and she looked uncomfortably ready.

  “Anything yet?” he asked, as if everything were normal and he and Ella hadn’t strode in like a couple.

  “Scott said he’d come out when he had something to report,” Ian said from his stand by the window.

  Riley waved at them from across the room.

  His mother rose from her seat. Dressed immaculately as usual, in white slacks and a pale blue blouse, her hair pulled back with a clip and a hint of makeup on her face, she strode over.

  They’d all been caught by surprise this morning, and now they waited for the newest Dare to join the family.

  “Tyler.” His mother kissed his cheek and pulled him into a hug.

  “Hey, Mom.” He hugged her back.

  “Ella, so good to see you.” Emma’s bright eyes were sparkling with delight. “It’s so right that you’d be here for such an important family event.”

  And leave it to his mother to make her feel welcome, Tyler thought gratefully.

  “Hi, Emma. Thank you,” Ella murmured.

  “Well, come find a seat. It could be awhile.” She gestured to the room full of Dares.

  “I hope nobody else is having a baby because there’s no room for their families,” Tyler said.

  “We do take up a lot of space.” Emma laughed and walked back to her fiancé, easing herself down beside him.

  “Hey, you two, join us,” Dylan said.

  Olivia, rubbing her back and still pacing, nodded in agreement. “Come take my mind off my own discomfort and talk to me.”