Lori Foster - Dash of Peril

He knew the second she caught up, when her own need escalated. Her knees came around him, high on his waist, her ankles locking at the small of his back. He felt her nails on his shoulders. She turned her face and, trying to muffle her cries, bit his chest.

God, yes. “Now, baby.” He needed her with him. Holding back became nearly impossible, even painful. “Now.”

Her inner muscles squeezed him, milking him as her second orgasm overtook her, and Dash lost it. Going to his elbows, his gaze glued to her face, he joined her in a near violent release.

How did it keep getting better and better? As the wild thundering of his heart slowed and his clenched muscles eased again, he sank back against her.

With every breath he inhaled the combined scents of their bodies, the scent of sex and sweat and satisfaction. Slowly, he rolled so that she was on top, his hands cupping her ass, keeping her right where he wanted her—as close as she could be.

As if that suited her just fine, she sprawled over him, her hand on his heart. Around a yawn, she asked, “How do you feel about a nap?”

It took all of Dash’s concentration not to crush her with a tight hug. It was even harder not to say aloud how he felt. Repeatedly he stroked her, kissed her shoulder, the top of her head.

He turned, putting her to her back again. Seeing her like this was such a gift. He kissed her. “Go ahead. I’ll get rid of the condom and be right back.”

She stretched, smiled and closed her eyes. “Don’t take too long.”

When Dash returned only a minute later, she was sleeping. But as he gathered her close, she snuggled in...right where she belonged.

THEY SPENT THE DAYS having sex, talking, walking along the shore and enjoying the tranquillity of nature.

Margo couldn’t remember ever being so relaxed. She got updates from Logan, Reese, even Rowdy and Cannon, but work didn’t dominate her thoughts. The concern remained; nothing would make her not care. But she didn’t suffer the near-frantic need to single-handedly resolve the problems.

With Dash as a buffer to her workplace persona, she was better able to compartmentalize the various duties of her life.

Her only regret was that the time passed too quickly.

It seemed in the blink of an eye, Sunday morning rolled around. Dash woke her with soft touches that turned into hot demands. Every time with him just seemed to get better.

They had lingered in bed until late morning and now a quiet lassitude left her pleasantly at peace. Yoga-style, she sat on the dock next to Dash. The bright sunshine glittered off the surface of the lake, but the temperatures remained in the mid-sixties and with the breeze off the lake, she couldn’t help but shiver. Because she hadn’t packed warm clothes, Dash had loaned her one his sweatshirts, then tucked a blanket around her.

She watched bubbles rise from a hungry fish, but Dash watched her. With the back of his knuckles, he touched her cheek. “In the summer, we can swim. It’s deep right off the end of the dock.”

Summer seemed a long way off. Would they still be together? She turned her head to look at him. “You really enjoy the water, don’t you?”

“I grew up around it. My parents often took us vacationing at the beach. I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have a boat or two.” He traced a fingertip along her jaw to her mouth. “Water has a way of draining away tension.”

When he reached her mouth, he teased that one finger along her bottom lip. She opened, licked the tip, drew him in.

Expression arrested, Dash caught his breath. In the next second she found herself in his lap while he kissed her like a starving man.

Always, though, he used care with her, never forgetting about her injured elbow. She cupped his face. “Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “Shoot.”

She was so curious about him, she wanted to know everything. “Is your home as big as the lake house?”

“Bigger. Maybe twice as big. Why?”

What could she say? That he fascinated her? “Do you really need that much room?”

He shrugged. “Mostly I choose it for the land. It’s private, and secure.” Looking abashed, he admitted, “It has an indoor pool.”

And he loved water.

“When we get home, I’ll show it to you. In fact...” He drew in a deep breath. “I was hoping to convince you to stay with me.”

For how long? But she couldn’t ask him that. She’d fought a lifelong battle for independence; giving it up in any way wouldn’t be easy.

Dash went on as if he sensed her uncertainty. “I know your place has already been cleaned up, but I don’t want you to be alone.”

She smiled at him. “I can take care of myself.” If that was his only reason for wanting her to come to his house, there’d be no need.

“What if you’re caught without your gun? What if two men come after you?” He lowered her to her back on the dock, half covering her with his chest. “You’re still healing from the last attack.”

She touched his jaw. He hadn’t shaved today, but she liked him with the rough whiskers on his face. “What if a man bigger than you attacked you? What if two men jumped you from behind?” She loved the feel of his weight, his heat and his incredible scent mixed with sunshine and fresh air.

“I’m a man.”

Somehow his sexism felt more caring than insulting. “We’re all vulnerable under the right circumstances, but I’m not helpless.” She gave him a quick kiss. “When you were off vacationing at the beach, I was taking self-defense classes. True, I’ve got the bone structure and muscle mass of a woman. But it’s not always about brute strength.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Margo...”

She lifted up to kiss him, then pushed at his chest. “Come on. Let me show you.”

Determination changed his expression. “Show me from here.”

Oh, a challenge. “You want me to get away from you?”

“Yeah.” He looked at her mouth. “If you can.”

Fun. One thing about Dash, he never, ever bored her. Slowly she put her arms around his neck. Her elbow wasn’t entirely comfortable yet, but she managed without a single flinch. “Maybe I don’t want to.” She kissed him again, this time making it more than a fast smooch. With her tongue she traced his bottom lip. Making her voice husky, she admitted, “I like being under you.”

So much heat showed in his dark eyes, she almost felt guilty. But not that much.

When she invited his mouth to hers, he didn’t disappoint. And honest to God, the way he kissed, she almost forgot her purpose.

Encouraging him with small sounds, wicked touches, she waited until he really got into it—in a sudden, fluid move she rolled out from under him and shot to her feet.

Confused, Dash was left grasping the air.

Margo stayed out of his reach. “Were you a real adversary, I would have stomped your balls, maybe kicked you in the chin.”

Still stretched out at her feet, Dash stared at her. His smile came slow and easy. “A surprise attack?” He seemed mildly impressed. “Hate to break it to you, honey, but I was trying not to hurt you. Someone else might not be so considerate.”

Margo gestured him up. “Playing the victim is a great way to get free.” When he didn’t stand, she cocked out a hip. “Up. I want to show you what I mean.”

“I’m already up.” He nodded at his lap.

Mmm, perfect. She could combine her two favorite things—defense and Dash. “We’ll deal with that next. But you asked how I’d handle an attack, so let me show you.”

In an impressive show of muscle and dexterity, Dash rolled to his feet without using his hands. “All right, I’m game.”

Standing in front of her, he blocked the sunshine and she shivered.

He took her hand. “But not here on the dock. That damn water is still frigid and I don’t want either of us to take an accidental dip.” He scooped up the blanket and led her to the flatter, grassy area that sloped down to the shoreline. He tossed the blanket aside and pulled off the flannel shirt he wore over a long-sleeved T-shirt.

Margo gave a short laugh. “Stripping?”

All too serious, he said, “I’m warm.”

And here she was chilled. Yes, major differences between a man of his size and a petite woman. In Dash’s case, they were wonderful, tantalizing differences.

He pushed his sleeves up past his elbows, showcasing those awesome forearms. He had muscles...everywhere. Not bulky like a bodybuilder, but long and firm.

Hands on his hips, he faced her.

That he looked so serious gave her a little tingle of excitement. “We’re just going to act this out. I won’t hurt you, and I assume you won’t hurt me.”

“I’d rather lose a limb than hurt you.”

The way he looked at her, his gaze so fixed, staring into her soul, sent a thrilling alarm up her spine. “Okay.” She cleared her throat. “Just grab me and I’ll—”

He reacted so quickly, she actually screeched in surprise. One second she was telling him what to do, and the next he had her spun around, her back to his chest, those long arms locked around her. Near her ear, he whispered, “Like this?”

Against her backside, she felt the solid rise of his erection. That, along with the way he’d snatched her up, had her heartbeat racing. Okay, so maybe he wanted a very real demonstration.

She rested back against him, saying softly, with a touch of fear, “Dash?”

He flattened one hand on her ribs, pressed down to the junction of her thighs. “What are you going to do, baby?”