Dare to Submit (NY Dares 2)

She almost wished… Nope, she wouldn’t go there. She had the weekend to herself, and she intended to make the most of it by enjoying and not dwelling on things she couldn’t have. At least not without hurting people she cared about in the process.

Decklan rolled over to his back on a big groan. A glance told her he was still out cold. His profile was as strong in sleep as awake, but there was something more vulnerable about him. That vulnerability called to her, tugged at her emotions and, again, made her want to dig deeper … which wasn’t fair.

So she cut that thought off and focused on a more fun one. He’d kicked off his side of the covers and lay sprawled naked for her hungry gaze. His skin was tanned to a golden glow, a slight dusting of dark hair covered his chest, and his muscles were impressive. Her gaze traveled downward. Another light sprinkling of hair took a path south, leading to his impressive hardening erection. It was as if he was aware of her gaze, even in sleep.

She was tempted to lie down on top of him and bring him awake slowly, then inch downward and take him into her mouth. She moaned at the thought. But she respected his need for lack of touch, and so she changed her mind and aligned her body against his side instead.

She briefly rested her cheek against his forearm, closing her eyes and soaking in how right she felt here, with him. A small kiss on his roughened skin and then she tucked her head into his shoulder.

He shifted, but before she could ask if he was awake, the doorbell rang, jarring them both.

She rolled over and looked at him. “Morning.”

His eyes darkened as they locked on her.

Then the doorbell did its thing again.

“God, who’d show up here so early? I’m off this weekend, and I really don’t want any interruptions.”

Another ring told them the person wasn’t going away.

“I’m up,” he said without moving.

His erection twitched against his stomach.

“Yes, you are,” she said, laughing.

He rose, grumbling, and pulled on a pair of sweats hanging over a chair in the corner. She followed the long line of his muscular back and sighed.

“Stay here. I’ll get rid of them and be right back.”

Decklan strode down the hall, pissed at the interruption. He didn’t have many full weekends off, and he definitely didn’t spend the ones he did with the only woman he wanted in his bed.

He reached his front door and swung it open. “Go away,” he said, not caring who was there.

“What a way to greet family,” his brother, Gabe, said, grinning, his arm around his wife.

“Hi. And bye?” Isabelle waved a hand, blushing.

“Nope. We’re here, we’re staying.” Gabe pushed past him, pulling Isabelle along with him. “We have news.”

“And you couldn’t have called?” Decklan asked, folding his arms across his bare chest.

“It wouldn’t have been as much fun. What’s got you in such a mood?”

“We woke him,” his pretty wife said.

“She’s smart. Not that smart since she’s with you, but she did catch on quickly.”

“I’m thinking you have company.” Gabe smirked, enjoying being the pain in the ass that he was.

Isabelle tugged on Gabe’s arm. “We should go. We’ll call you later and fill you in.”

Decklan sighed and stepped back into the apartment. “No, come on in. You drove all the way out here. What’s up?” he asked grudgingly.

“You’re going to be an uncle,” Gabe said, placing his hand over Isabelle’s flat stomach. “Forgive me for thinking you’d want to hear the news in person.”

His brother’s happiness was both a blessing and a punch in the gut to Decklan, who’d never let himself think of having a wife or kids of his own. Lucy and Gabe were his family. He’d welcomed Isabelle because she made his brother happy, but it left him odd man out. He hadn’t let himself feel it too much—Decklan preferred not to feel at all—but now, a baby? His brother would be having his own family—one that didn’t include him.