Dare to Stay (Dare Nation 4)

She reached over and squeezed his hand, sad he’d had to grow up with a man who didn’t appreciate his intelligence or kind nature. They hadn’t had this kind of deep conversation before, and that was on her. It had been her way of keeping him at a distance, and she was beginning to understand how that made it easier for him to leave her.

She rolled to her side and faced him. “I wish you’d had it easier growing up.”

“I feel the same way about you. The difference is I had my mom and my brothers and Bri. I had Uncle Paul and Ron. If you’d had that kind of support…”

He trailed off and she managed a wry smile. “I’d be more open? Giving?”

“More open? Yes. More giving? Not a chance.” His kind eyes met hers, their faces close as they lay on their sides on the chairs. “You’re one of the most compassionate people I know. You took in Aurora when you barely knew her. You cared enough to come see the health center, and you said you wished you could help. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

“Yet you do. Even when I’ve been pretty damned hard on you since you came back?”

“I’m a big boy. I can handle it. Besides, I’m not blameless.”

“Let’s move on, okay?” She didn’t want to get into their past when the present was so good.

Reaching over, he tucked her hair behind her ear. “Sounds good.” He stretched his arms up, and his abdominal muscles flexed and she groaned.

“Can we test out the cabana now?”

“Hell yes. If we were completely alone, I’d take you right here, right now.” He pushed himself up from his seat and strode over to the far side of her chaise, holding out a hand.

She linked her fingers into his and they disappeared into the cabana. To her surprise, he flipped on overhead lights and released the curtains held back on either side.

“Somehow I think these were meant for cooling off from the sun, not for secret sex,” she said, looking at a double-size chaise with a similar plush cushion covered with towels waiting for them.

He let out a low chuckle. “Alex Dare likes to say he sealed the deal with his wife, Madison, in one of these cabanas,” he said of Ian’s half brother and former professional football player.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me that.”

He grinned and walked to her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “As much as I love that bathing suit, I’d rather see you out of it.”

She took his words as a challenge and reached back, unhooking her bikini top, letting it fall to the floor. After kicking off her sandals, her bottoms came next until she stood naked in front of him.

He let out a low growl, removed his trunks, his prominent erection letting her know exactly how much he desired her. She felt the same way, and it was her turn to take control.

She grabbed a towel from a small dresser, dropped it on the floor, and settled to her knees in front of him.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What do you think?” Reaching out, she gripped him in her hand, the smooth, velvety feel of him almost as heady as what she planned to do next. Desire pulsed through her, but her focus was on him. She leaned forward and licked the head of his cock, and the salty male taste of him was potent.

He placed a hand on top of her head at the same time she began to pull him deep. Though she wasn’t an expert at this by any means, his rough groans told her that her technique was working. He began to rock his hips, thrusting in and out of her mouth, stopping short of hitting the back of her throat. She swallowed around him and his entire body began to shudder.

She grasped his thigh with one hand and slid her other upward until she cupped his balls, massaging them in her palm. He came with a loud shout that she hoped didn’t bring others running to see what was going on, and suddenly she was working to swallow as fast and quickly as she could.

She collapsed, catching her breath while he sat down on the lounge with a satisfied groan, leaving her pretty darned pleased with herself, not to mention extremely aroused.

* * *

After catching his breath, Braden rose and extended a hand, pulling Willow to her feet. “Way to blow my mind.” His body still shook with the aftereffects of her talented mouth.

“Among other things,” she said with a grin.

He shook his head and laughed. Lying back against the chaise, he crooked a finger her way. No doubt it was her turn, but as much as he wanted to be inside her, he needed recovery time. Which didn’t mean he lacked for other ideas to satisfy her.