Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella) (6 page)

“Carolina!”

She stepped back again. “What you’re feeling—that pain and humiliation—that’s exactly what it felt like when Sam left. He took my dreams and stomped on them. I gave up everything I wanted for him and then he just left.” Connor struggled to free himself. The belt gave a little, but not enough. If someone walked onto the deck…

“The humiliation didn’t stop after one night, either. I felt like that for months. For more than a year. I don’t ever want to feel that way again!”

Her anguish cut through his anger and Connor stopped struggling long enough for her words to sink in. She was right—he did feel humiliated. If this was how Sam’s betrayal hurt her, no wonder she was too afraid to trust again. The thing was, he still refused to give up.

“Carolina, look at me.” He waited until she stopped moving and did so. “I get that Sam made you feel awful, but you know how I felt a minute ago when you were down on your knees in front of me? My hands were tied, and you had all the control. And it felt like heaven.”

“I was—”

“Listen.” His terse command stopped her mid-sentence. “That’s how I always feel around you. I don’t need to control you. I don’t need to mold you to some idea of how I want you to be. I sure as hell am never going to leave you. I’m not Sam, but if you can’t see that, then you’re right; you should leave. This is me. I can rip this damn belt off my hands any time I want to, but instead I’m going to stay right here because I want you to feel as safe as you need to be with me. I love you, Carolina. I want to marry you. I want to father your child. But you’ve got to want me, and you’ve got to trust me a little bit, at least.”

“That’s the problem,” she cried. “I want you a lot. Too much.”

“Ain’t no such thing.”

“You’ll let me down.”

“Never.” He could tell she was wavering. “Carolina, please.”

“I can’t. I want to, but I can’t, Connor.”

“Yes, you can. Trust me, Carolina.”

After an interminable moment, she moved closer. “You have to promise—”

“Anything.” He held his breath and waited to see what she’d do next. When she took another step toward him, his heart swelled.

“Promise that you’ll never—” She braced her hands on his shoulders and lifted up on tip-toe to press a kiss to his mouth.

“I’ll never leave you.” He kissed her back, putting everything he felt into it. Hands tied, hands free, it made no difference to him. Carolina was the only woman he’d ever wanted like this. As she slid her hands down his chest, he hardened again, anticipating the sensations to come. Her lips burned a trail down to the hollow of his neck and as she sunk to her knees again, trailed further down until he—

“I’ll get right on that, sir.”

Carolina pulled back and whirled around at the sound of approaching voices. “Shit!” She leaped to her feet and yanked at the belt holding his wrists until it came free. It dropped to the deck with a clang, but Connor was too busy righting his clothing to care. He pulled up his boxers and pants, stuffed his shirt into the waistband and zipped his fly as footsteps approached. Carolina positioned herself in front of him to block his last fumbling motions. Realizing his belt still lay at his feet, he kicked it backwards among the potted plants.

“Hey, you two! What are you doing out here?” A security guard shone a light in their eyes. He slid his phone into his pocket and advanced on them.

“Just looking for a little privacy. To talk,” Connor said. He stepped in front of Carolina, shielding her from the glare.

“Yeah, I’ll bet. Come on, you’re out of bounds. The party’s inside.” The security guard pulled open the door and gestured them in. His phone blipped and he lifted it to his mouth. “I’m on the east deck with a couple of guests. Be there in a minute to escort them out.”

“We’re here at Robert Dare’s invitation.” Connor didn’t like the sound of being escorted out. There could be reporters hanging around out front. If they ended up on the cover of a tabloid tomorrow, Carolina would split so fast he wouldn’t know what hit him.

“Robert Dare’s guests respect his limits. Let’s go.”

Before Connor could argue, Ian Dare walked out of the ballroom. His expression was grim and Connor could tell his friend’s evening hadn’t gone well, either. “What’s going on here?”

“Just caught two of your guests getting it on out there on the deck. I’m escorting them out.”

Ian relaxed a little, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Getting it on? I’m sorry I missed the show.”

“There was no show.” Connor locked gazes with his friend and tried to communicate this wasn’t the time for jokes.

“With a whole city facing this way? There was an audience at least.”

“There was nothing for them to see.”

“Ever hear the expression ‘get a room’?”

Carolina stiffened. Connor blurted, “We had a disagreement and we needed to sort it out. Now I need to take the lady home.”

Ian sobered. “Got it. Sorry to delay you.” He turned to the guard. “It’s okay, Mike. I know these two. I’ll take it from here.”

“You sure, boss?” Mike was clearly disappointed.

Ian waved him off and the security guard went back inside. “You’re all clear now. I hope the rest of your evening goes more smoothly.”

“You, too.”

It was Ian’s turn to look uncomfortable. “See you soon, Connor.” He waved as he walked away.

When they were alone again, Connor turned to Carolina. “Now what?”

“Let’s get out of here.”

Be a team player.

Even the biggest star has to hand off the ball sometimes…

“T
HAT WAS CLOSE.” Carolina leaned against Connor as he shut the front door to his house a half-hour later and put his arms around her.

“Tell me about it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. If you hadn’t tied me up we wouldn’t have learned to understand each other.”

She chuckled. “You’re amazing. Most men would be furious right now.”

“I keep telling you I’m not most men.” He kissed the top of her head.

“I guess not.” Connor was definitely something special.

“I am like most men in one way, though.” He scooped her up into his arms and headed down the hall.

“What way is that?” She snuggled against his neck, content to let him carry her anywhere.

“I’m horny as hell. Let’s finish what we started back there.”

“You want me to tie you up again?”

“Is that what you want?” He turned sideways to maneuver through the door into his bedroom. Carolina took in the masculine décor with interest. Understated, but luxuriant. She liked that.

“Not really,” she admitted and shrieked when he tossed her onto his king-sized bed.

“Why not?” He sat down next to her.

“Because I want you to touch me back.”

“Like this?” He put a hand on her waist and slid it up to cup one breast as she struggled to sit up. “This dress has been driving me wild all night.”

“Good.” She leaned into his caress, wanting more.

Connor must have read it in her eyes. He moved closer and lifted her to straddle his lap.

“You should wear this more often.”

“When I come to the Thunder Dome locker room for interviews?”

“No,” he growled into her hair. He pulled back. “About that.” He hesitated. “I’ve got something I have to tell you.”

“Let me guess; you don’t want me in the locker room anymore.” She was teasing, but at the same time she wasn’t, and she hoped Connor understood that.

A knowing smile curved his lips. “Don’t worry, Richmond. I won’t get all possessive now that you’re my girl.”

“Your
girl
?”

He chuckled. “My amazing, sexy, wonderful woman,” he amended. “But there is something I need to tell you. I won’t be in the Thunder locker room much longer. I plan to retire.”

Carolina pushed away from him. “Are you serious?”

“It’s time for a change. I plan to head out west next—to Colorado. I’m already shopping for land.” When she didn’t answer he pressed on. “I grew up on a ranch, honey, and it’s time to return to my roots. I want to raise my family the way I was raised—out under a huge blue sky with honest work to do and a small-town atmosphere. Miami is no place to raise kids.” He waited for her to say something. “Well, what do you think?”

“I think you’re just like every other man.” She climbed off of him. “Take me home, Connor. We’re done here.”

“THE HELL WE are.” Connor hadn’t expected that response and he wanted answers. “In what way am I like every other man?”

“As soon as you hook up with me you’re ready to quit your job!” She stood up and paced the room, her dress swishing around her like a scarlet trail of fire. “Not only that, you also want to dictate where I’ll live. Next you’ll tell me how many kids we’ll have, and what I get to do in my free time!”

“What are you talking about? Is this about Sam again?” Damn the man.

“This is about me saying no!” Hands on her hips she glared at him. Beautiful and angry—a lethal combination.

“Do you honestly believe I’d ask you to marry me and then declare my intention to mooch off you an hour later?”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore!”

“Hell.” Connor strode to his desk and tapped on his laptop until its screen lit up.

“What are you doing?”

Connor knew Carolina was close to blowing her lid, but he also knew he had to show her she was wrong. Wasn’t a picture supposed to beat a thousand words? He typed quickly, found what he was looking for, picked up the laptop and tugged Carolina over to the bed. “Sit down.”

“But—”

“Sit!” He pulled her down with him and plunked the laptop on her lap. “Look at that.”

“What is it?”

“A ranch I’ve had my eye on. Look at the price.” Her eyes widened as she took it in. “I plan to pay cash,” Connor said, satisfied with her reaction. “I’ll have plenty left over to support my wife and children. The ranch will earn its own keep and more. Would you like to see my bank accounts next? I can show you a spreadsheet of my investments, too.”

Carolina’s shoulders began to shake and Connor’s heart sunk. He hadn’t meant to make her cry. “Hey,” he said softly. “Carolina.”

Her laughter pealed out and he pulled back the arm he was about to wrap around her shoulders. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Oh, God—look at us. We’re supposed to be having wild sex. Instead we’re looking at ranches and spreadsheets.”

“Doesn’t real estate get you hot?” He took the laptop from her and set it on the floor. “It gets me all kinds of hot.” He scooped her further onto the bed and kissed her.

“I guess it is kind of sexy.” She kissed him back.

“You know what’s sexier?”

“What?”

“Peeling this dress off of you.” He slid his hands around to fumble with the buttons at her back. Carolina let him undo them without taking over. He appreciated that. He wanted to draw this moment out, the moment in which they were about to make love. He wanted to savor every minute of taking Carolina.

“I agree.” She loosened his tie and slipped it out of his collar, then got to work on the buttons of his shirt. He liked the feeling of her fingers against his skin and he liked it even more when she pressed a kiss to the hollow of his neck. When he’d opened her dress to her waist, he was pleased to see she wore very little underneath. Pooled around her waist, the scarlet fabric made a beautiful backdrop to her bare breasts.

Connor bent to take one of her nipples into his mouth and Carolina leaned back and closed her eyes. He teased and played with her as she tangled her fingers into his hair. He knew she had to feel his hardness pressing against her. It wasn’t just her body that turned him on, though; it was everything about her. Even her angry outburst had added fuel to the fire. Carolina was strong, fiery, passionate and obstinate and he loved every bit of her. She’d be just as protective of their children as she’d been of her own boundaries. She’d be as passionate an advocate for their marriage and family as she was for the causes she championed.

He straightened. “You don’t mind moving to Colorado?”

“You mean I get a choice?” she teased.

“Yeah, you get a choice.” He bent again, unable to resist her breasts when they were so close at hand.

“I don’t mind. There are girls in Colorado who need to play sports, too.”

“That there are. And there’s an airport to get you anywhere else you need to go.” He tightened his arms around her. “As long as you aren’t gone too long.”

“How could I stay away from this?” She arched her back and Connor took the hint. He stopped asking questions, and gave his attention fully to her luscious body.

He lay her down on the bed, slipped her dress off, stripped himself and knelt between her legs. Carolina wrapped an arm around his neck and place a hand on his hip, digging her finger into his skin and urging him inside of her. Connor was all too happy to oblige, but first they had to take care of business.

“Hurry up,” she said when he hesitated too long.

“I need an answer first.”

“An answer to what?”

“Will you marry me, Carolina Richmond?”

She was beautiful with her hair a halo around her head, her body bare to view and so obviously craving his touch.

“I don’t—”

“Answer the question.”

“Yes.” She sighed, then smiled. “Yes. I will marry you.”

He pushed inside of her and she gasped, then moaned with such obvious satisfaction he nearly lost control. He wasn’t ready to come yet, though; not by a long shot. Instead he meant to enjoy this first time within his wife-to-be. He pulled out and stroked in again, savoring every sensation. Grasping her wrists, he pinned them to the bed. Watching her watching him, he saw the desire that filled her eyes and he moved within her with measured, strong strokes. Now that he knew how much it meant for Carolina to let a man this close to her, he was doubly honored to be here with her. She’d given him a gift when she trusted him and he meant to give her something back that showed how much he valued that.

When Carolina wrapped her legs around his waist she granted him an access so deep within her, he didn’t know how much longer he could wait. He knew Carolina was close, too. He sped up his movements and was rewarded when she came with a cry. He continued to thrust into her until his release overpowered him. Bucking against her, grunting along with her sighs, he came with a strength that surprised him. When it was over, he turned and pulled her on top of him, not wanting to crush her with his weight.