Dare to Submit (NY Dares 2)

Amanda didn’t know why, but as soon as she hit the shower and saw the first bit of blood run from her arms to the floor, she fell apart, and Decklan was there.

He pulled her into his arms. “Let it go,” he urged.

And she did. She wrapped herself around him, his solid body her safe haven as she fell apart completely.

She came back to herself in slow bits of awareness. Decklan’s big hands caressing her back, his deep voice whispering in her ear, warm water cascading over her as she curled into him.

She pulled back. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He gazed at her, intense dark eyes looking right into her soul. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I am now.”

She soaped herself up, more capable now that the hysteria had passed. She felt much better once all the evidence of today had swirled down the drain. She quickly handle

d her hair, using shampoo and conditioner she’d left here and he hadn’t gotten rid of.

Interesting.

So was his showing up at the hospital.

She tipped her face up to the water, and hopefully she rid herself of the worst of the makeup mess she was sure to have had covering her.

He looked at her. Smiled. Then reached out, wiping beneath her eyes with his thumbs.

His touch was so sweet. Familiar. Needed.

“Decklan, what are we doing?” There was no mistaking what she meant.

They were both naked in the shower, two people who hadn’t spoken in too long, and the last time had been hurtful and ugly. But she didn’t feel any of those emotions now. She just felt taken care of and … loved. She swallowed hard, the lump rising in her throat because she wanted that last one to be true.

He braced his hands on either side of her face. “We’re doing what we should have been doing all along. Being together. Believing in each other. Being there no matter what.”

“But I lied—”

“And I screwed up how I handled it after I found out. I have no good excuse except—”

She placed her finger over his lips. “I don’t care about why. I just care that you came around. I shouldn’t have kept something so important from you.”

“And I have issues stemming from losing my parents in such a traumatic way. We were getting so close…”

“You pushed me away first?” She rose to her tiptoes and briefly pressed her lips against his. “Can we agree to forgive and forget?”

“We can.” He grinned. “Now can we get the hell out of this shower? I’m turning into a prune.”

She laughed and nodded. No sooner had she stepped out and dried herself off than Decklan picked her up and carried her to bed.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” he said in that deep, commanding voice she loved.

“No?”

He came over her, his naked body covering hers, and she moaned, soaking up his strength and body heat. “No.”

She raised her arms, intending to grip the headboard, hoping he would take her body to miraculous heights, when he surprised her.

He slid his hands into hers. “Touch me.”

She felt the smile pull at her lips. She’d been waiting for this moment since the night they’d first been together. “Really?”