What If I Never (Necklace Trilogy 1)

They talk another minute or so, and Dash climbs back inside. “Sorry about that.”

“No ticket?”

“No ticket,” he says. “Jack’s a good guy. He actually gave me a ticket when I first moved to Nashville and I took it on the chin. We ran into each other at a restaurant a few months later and we’ve been friends ever since.”

I like this about Dash, the way he seems to get along with everyone. Well, except Tyler, of course. “So, he never intended to give you a ticket tonight?” I ask.

“No. He knew I’d custom ordered the car and was dying to see it. He had no idea I had company tonight.”

Me. I’m the company, I think. Oh, how life changes in a blink of an eye. One minute he’s saving me in an elevator and the next I’m going home with him. “I thought I smelled the scent of fresh leather.”

“Two weeks old,” he says. “And I love this thing.”

“It’s a beautiful car.”

“Not as beautiful as you. And most certainly not as adorable.” He winks and sets us in motion again, while butterflies flutter about in my belly, both from his charm and my nerves.

Nerves that barely have time to take flight as in only a few short blocks we arrive at our destination, which turns out to be a fancy high-rise in The Gulch neighborhood—where food, entertainment, and living are walkable and upscale.

“If you’re hungry, there’s a great late-night restaurant in the building,” Dash says, pulling the M4 to the front door of the building and glancing over at me. “I’ll come around and get you.” He exits the BMW and the nerves that jolt through me deliver doubts. Suddenly, I wonder how many women the doorman has seen in a moment just like this one, headed up to Dash’s apartment, ordering takeout. What am I doing right now? What am I thinking?

It doesn’t matter, I remind myself. The past, the future, isn’t a part of the present, the right now. This is one night, just one night for me, with him. For once in my life, I want to give myself permission, to just live in the moment and do something for me.

I reach for my door and already Dash is there, opening it for me, and helping me to my feet, his hand settling on my hip, fingers flexing against my skin. He surprises me by walking me to him and leaning in close. “I have a rule, Allie.”

The night is cold, while his breath is warm on my cheek, his touch hot on my body, I inch back and look at him. “A rule?”

“I never bring women to my apartment. Ever. And yet, here you are.”

My breath hitches with this surprising confession, but I am suddenly emboldened on this night, eager for the freedom of not looking forward, but only living here and now. “Because you invited me.” I push to my toes, and now I’m the one leaning in close, my lips at his ear. “Last chance to change your mind.”

His hand presses to my lower back, molding me close. “I want you, Allie, on my tongue, naked and on top of me, beneath me, beside me, and any which way I can convince you to let me fuck you.”

I suck in a breath at his bold words, words no man has ever spoken to me, and apparently, this generally good girl likes just how naughty he is because my body reacts of its own accord. My sex clenches and my nipples pucker. Dash Black wants to fuck me in as many ways as I’ll let him fuck me. And I want him to fuck me every single way he can possibly fuck me.

He eases back and stares down at me. “What do you want, cupcake?”

As Adrianna might say, to lick him all over, but what I say is, “To go upstairs.”

His lips curve and his eyes darken. “I’ll demand you be more precise about that request upstairs,” he promises.

Feeling brave and bold, I decide maybe games aren’t so bad at all, and I respond with, “You can certainly try.”

Sexy laughter rumbles from deep in his perfect chest, and his arm slides around my shoulders. “Come with me, my little kitten. I promise not to hurt you. Well, maybe I will, but you’ll like it, I promise.”

He turns us toward the door, tossing his keys at a young, redheaded man by the door. “Drive her slow and easy, Bobby, or I’ll find you and claim your firstborn.”

Bobby laughs and heads toward the car, while Dash leads me inside his building, and I’m no longer thinking about my father’s stunt tonight. I’m thinking about being alone with Dash Black. And just how good he can hurt me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Dash leads me through the lobby toward the elevator, lifting a hand at a tall Black man in an official-looking jacket where he stands behind the security desk. “Howdy there, Brian,” Dash calls out, and I can’t help but laugh at the “howdy” that is so not Dash Black at all, but it’s over-the-top Nashville. I also can’t help but notice the surprised look Brian casts in my direction. Maybe Dash really doesn’t bring women to his place, a possibility that pleases me perhaps more than it should, but I set aside my overthinking. Tonight is about tonight. Just tonight. I’ll deal with tomorrow.