“Watch me.” He smiled up at her as he slipped one hand between her legs.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she gasped. His index finger explored, teasing and testing her. “I already gave you my underwear.”
He laughed and slid his finger inside her as his thumb brushed her clit.
“Jack!” she cried, hating the note of desperation in her voice. But she needed him to do something. Her knees threatened to buckle. “It’s been so long. And it feels so good. I can’t… I’m going to fall.”
“I’ve got you.” He abandoned his intimate touch and wrapped his hands around her waist. Then he lowered his head and ran his tongue over her clit. Once. Twice.
And then he pulled away.
“What are you doing?” she demanded. “You can’t stop.”
“Do you think I can make you come like this? Do you dare me to try?” He bent his head and licked her again, offering just enough pressure to drive her wild—and then…nothing.
“Jack,” she said through clenched teeth. “I won’t beg.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’ve dreamed about doing this for too damn long to wait,” he murmured. One more lick, and oh, the sensations rushing forward, pushing her closer. Then he drew back.
She stared down at the Navy SEAL on his knees, waiting for her answer. “Yes,” she said. “I dare you.”
His smile faded and his jaw tightened. The look in his blue eyes—it was pure heat. “Watch me, Natalie. And when you come, scream my name.”
Keeping his hands wrapped around her hips, he buried his face between her legs and licked his way to her clit. His tongue stroked and teased, then swept lower and slipped inside.
He let out a deep moan and withdrew his tongue, leaving her feeling empty. She wished he would use his hands, fill her with his fingers. But he wouldn’t lose the dare.
As if reading her thoughts, his grip tightened around her hips. He licked and sucked. The movements shifted from controlled and measured to wild and erratic. He gave her more and more and more.
She closed her eyes. She couldn’t watch the too charming SEAL worship her body with his mouth. But as soon as she shut out the sight of this man, on his knees, his large frame bending at impossible angles, her feelings threatened to overtake the pure bliss.
She’d ridden an emotional roller coaster for years, racing through grief, hostility, and rejection. The ride never stopped. But she’d never reached this peak. The SEAL kneeling at her feet thrust her into unfamiliar territory. She’d dated. She’d slept with men—maybe not recently—but she was always careful to keep them at arm’s length. Still, she’d never felt worshipped. She’d never met a man who threatened to push her vibrator into second place when it came to his ability to make…her…
“Jack!” Her hands fell from behind her head. She needed to touch him, feel him. And make damn sure he didn’t stop. Her fingers gripped his shoulders, nails clawing at his shirt. “Jack, oh God, Jack!”
His tongue pressed against her clit and she detonated. The pleasure spiraled upward, claiming control of her body, and pushing into her mind. She let go, riding the high until—
It stopped. Natalie opened her eyes and glanced down at the large warrior panting at her feet. His biceps bulged, his muscles working overtime to keep her upright.
“I win,” he murmured.
“What?” She fought to collect her thoughts. Her body hummed with the aftershocks of an orgasm that put her vibrator to shame, and he thought he’d won?
“The dare,” he reminded her.
She stumbled back, out of his reach, and focused on staying upright. She refused to melt into a puddle in front of him. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to leave him feeling like he’d come out on top.
He thought he’d won? No. The battle had only just begun.
She placed her hands on her hips. “Time to hand over your boxers, Jack.”
Chapter Twelve
Jack could go from zero to sixty when he received an order. Part of it was training. But right now, desire drove him to pull his T-shirt over his head and toss it aside. He kicked his shoes away as he stripped off his cargo shorts. When it came to getting naked, he generally issued the commands. But he’d heard the tremor in Natalie’s voice, and he knew that she needed him to obey.
She’d raised her defenses again. Her walls were up. And if he failed to follow orders—if he failed to show her she was still in control—she might fall apart. Or worse—bolt for the hall. He had a hunch she’d literally slam the door in his face rather than leave her weakness, the one point that made her vulnerable, visible for everyone to see.
She liked him.