Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)

“Really? That would be amazing.” His work life could return to some semblance of normalcy, and Quinn wouldn’t have to juggle Jenny and her normal daily business.

“If she wants to do it. The choice has to be hers,” Quinn said, her tone adamant.

“Because nobody gave you the choice?” he guessed.

She raised her eyebrows, obviously surprised. “You remember I said that?”

He nodded. “Of course I do. And it didn’t escape my notice that I pretty much did the same thing to you when I called and all but demanded your help.”

Her lips lifted in a smile. “At least you recognize it. That puts you way beyond my family.”

He raised a hand, ran a finger down her cheek, enjoying the silky-smooth feel of her skin. “I try to be self-aware. You should know, the fact that I asked you to help me with Jenny? It’s because I trust you.”

She shivered at his touch, and her nipples hardened even more beneath the thin bathing suit. His mouth watered with the desire to pull down the stretch material, view her breasts for the first time, and pull one rigid nipple into his mouth.

“I also want you,” he said in a thick voice.

Her frown took him off guard. “Do you? Or do you want the built-in nanny I provide? One you trust,” she said, throwing his words back at him.

“That’s not fair.” She’d twisted his words to mean something different than he’d intended. He dropped his hand from her face, letting it rest on the strap of her bathing suit, his fingers running beneath the stretch material.

“No? Don’t you realize what getting involved with me looks like? It looks like we’re together, and God knows you’re not the relationship type.”

He narrowed his gaze at her words. He couldn’t deny they were true. Well, they had been true at one time. “Maybe I wasn’t the relationship type. Doesn’t mean I can’t change for the right woman.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Come on, Austin. I already told you I don’t want kids, so you can’t possibly think I’m that right woman for you. Besides, I’ve seen your type. And she’s not the executive assistant with a brain. She’s the woman who runs at the first sign of trouble. Or an infant, as the case may be.”

He winced. “Touché. But that doesn’t mean I don’t desire you. And I’m not asking for a future you don’t want. I’m asking for tonight.”

She swallowed hard and he knew he was getting to her.

“Can you deny the attraction between us?” He continued to rub his finger along her shoulder, sliding up to her collarbone, and watched her tremble beneath his touch. “I want you, Quinn. You. Not what you can do for me.” And if this was all he could have with her, he’d take it.

Her mouth parted slightly as she obviously considered his words.

He slid his hand around her neck and pulled her toward him. “Let me show you how good we can be together.”

Without waiting, he sealed his lips over hers and made his point the only way he knew how. By devouring her in the most intimate way.

Chapter Six

Quinn didn’t want to push Austin away. She wanted him as much as he desired her, and she’d be foolish not to give in.

After all, he understood what she did and didn’t want out of her future. He respected her. One night was just what she needed to get Austin Prescott out of her system.

With that thought, she parted her lips and let his tongue tangle with hers. What started as a teasing kiss quickly turned hot. He nipped at her bottom lip, readjusted their mouths, and thrust his tongue deeper into her waiting mouth.

She lifted her hands, threaded her fingers in the longer strands of his hair. He did the same. He tilted her head so he could kiss her harder, and she leaned into him, deliberately brushing her breasts against his chest.

He groaned and pulled back. “Inside now. I can’t do what I want to you with concrete surrounding us.”

She blinked, dazed by the kiss, her sex wet and not just from the pool. Desire pulsed inside her, and somehow she managed a nod. He rose and held out a hand, helping her to her feet. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself, drying off, just as he snagged the monitor and they headed inside.

They entered his bedroom and he put the monitor on the table. Then he turned to her and yanked the towel off her and tossed it onto the floor.

“Undress,” he said in a gruff voice. “I’d do it but I have a feeling that bathing suit is just too tight for me to work off of you myself.”

She nodded. “It is.” And while she tugged the straps off first one shoulder, then the other, he pulled his own bathing suit down and kicked it aside.