Dare To Love Series: Daring to Chance It (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  At the elevator, he slipped his arm around her, pulling her easily to his side. Talk about heat! She wondered if his thermostat had an Off setting to it.

  Two other couples and some singles got onto the elevator with them. Beau nudged her toward the back of the car and put his arm around her again, tugging her close to him. He slid his hand beneath her arm so his fingers were touching the side of her breast. Fire licked at her. She wondered if the pulse pounding in her pussy was so loud the other people could hear it because it certainly reverberated through her entire body.

  She fidgeted as the elevator made frequent stops on its upward rise. Sarah’s nerves were strung so tight she thought perhaps they might snap like rubber bands. She was really doing this. She could hardly believe it. But Beau Perini had somehow bewitched her and sent all her hormones into freefall. At last, after what felt like an hour, they reached her floor. Beau guided her out of the elevator car and down the hallway.

  At the door to her room, he smiled and held out his hand.

  “Key?”

  She fumbled in her jeans pocket where she’d stashed the key card, drawing it out and handing it to him. She didn’t even think to argue. By this time, her thermostat was approaching redline, and she wanted nothing more than to get into the room and get naked with him.

  I am totally losing my mind.

  But she couldn’t make herself care. Couldn’t even make herself think.

  As soon as they were in the room, Beau threw the locks then reached for her, turned her, and backed her against the door. His hands cupped her cheeks, turning her face up to him as his mouth came down on hers. His lips were firm as he molded them to hers. He kissed each corner of her mouth, traced the edges with his tongue then drew a line across the seam. Despite the fact the touch was so barely there, moisture flooded her panties again, and her nipples swelled to become impossibly hard. Beau’s touch was enough to ignite her.

  He brushed her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, the erotic contact setting off a cascade of sparks throughout her body. And when he urged her lips apart so he could thrust his tongue inside her mouth, she had to cling to him to keep herself upright.

  His grip on her head tightened as he scoured every inner inch of her mouth, his tongue a flame setting fire to every place it touched. She tangled her own tongue with his, relishing the taste, sucking hard on him.

  Beau pressed his body against hers, the thick, hard ridge of his erection imprinting itself on her mound through the thin layers of their clothing. The walls of her pussy pulsated, hungry to be filled with his cock.

  Mouth still sealed to hers, he slid his hands down to her breasts, cupping them and kneading them. As he thrust his tongue more deeply into her mouth, he pinched both of her nipples. Suddenly, her bra felt too tight beneath the soft silk of her shirt, her nipples swelling and hardening even more as he tweaked and rolled them.

  Beau slid his mouth from hers and trailed his lips slowly down her neck, gently sucking and nipping as he left a damp trail on her heated skin. He moved to the hollow of her throat, closing his lips over the fragile skin there, sucking on the pulse beating beneath the surface. Then he drew along the line of her jaw before reaching and nibbling the soft flesh of her earlobe.

  Sarah panted with need, her body quivering and every erogenous zone silently begging for satisfaction and fulfillment.

  Beau released her nipples to reach for the buttons on her blouse, slowly pushing each one free. When he came to the last one, he pulled the tails loose from her waistband and slid the fabric down her arms. When he stared hard at her breasts, she momentarily gave thanks that, for whatever reason, tonight she’d chosen sexy satin and lace lingerie.

  With his tongue, he traced the upper swell of her breasts, dipping lightly into the valley between them before laving them over and over. When he drew a nipple into his mouth, fabric and all, and sucked hard, electricity shot straight from the pebbled bud to the center of her pussy. A lit match couldn’t have ignited her more. His touch was both erotic and reverent, the flames burning in all her sensitive places, yet, at the same time, he made her feel cherished.

  Bracing herself between his body and the door, she slid her hands around to his back and yanked the tails of his shirt from his slacks. Skimming her hands over his hot flesh, she traced every ridge of muscle, every sculpted cut of his body.

  “Ohhh!” she moaned when he gently bit her nipple.

  When he lifted his head, she cried out at the absence of his touch then sighed when he lifted her and carried her to the bed. He set her at the edge and brushed a kiss on her mouth.

  “Don’t move,” he ordered.

  As if she could.

  Swiftly and with an economy of movement, he stripped off his clothes, tossing them onto the bench at the foot of the bed. Sarah’s eyes widened—and she was sure she was drooling—as her gaze took in his body in all its glory. His body was definitely that of a toned athlete, all hard planes and muscles, flat abdomen and solid chest. His flat male nipples, a dark-bronze color, peeped through curls two shades darker than the hair on his head.

  The carved-muscle look continued down his long legs, but what drew her attention was a most impressive cock. Thick and long, swollen with obvious need, it rose from the nest of dark-blond curls at his groin and pointed upward, as if searching for her heat. The head was a dark-plum color, and on its slit sat a tiny bead of fluid. Staring at it, Sarah couldn’t help licking her lips.

  “Like what you see?” Beau’s voice was husky with lust.

  She could only nod and curl her fingers into the palms of her hands. Her clothes felt way too tight on her. She wanted to be as naked as he was.

  As if she’d said the words aloud, he knelt at her feet and eased her sandals off, setting them aside. Next came the jeans, his knuckles caressing her skin as he pushed them down her legs. He paused for a moment when she was down to her bra and panties, his gaze skimming over every inch of her. She felt as if he’d brushed the flame of a candle over her skin.

  Raising his hands, he reached behind her to unhook her bra, cupping her now bare breasts in his palms, a look almost of awe in his face.

  “Gorgeous,” he breathed. “Just…gorgeous.”

  He flicked his fingernails over her nipples, setting off a series of tingles in the taut, pebbled buds before giving them each a light pinch. Then he eased her back on the bed so he could slip her panties slowly down her thighs. When he nudged her thighs apart so he could take in the full view of her sex, the look he gave her sent electricity crackling through her again. Oh, god, this man had the ability to set her on fire with nothing more than a look.

  Gripping her thighs, he pushed her legs farther apart, bent his head, and drew his tongue very slowly along the slit between the lips of her sex. Then he did it again, and again. Each time he touched her, she shivered, and the walls of her sex fluttered with need. When he lifted her legs and pushed them back, leaving her wide open to him, she nearly came from the image in her mind.

  Then he went to work on her, thumbs peeling back her swollen lips, tongue licking and lapping, thrusting into her hot channel then retreating to flick back and forth across her overly sensitized clit. He pulled the swollen bud into his mouth, sliding two fingers inside her and curling them to reach that sweet, hot spot that triggered her response. He did it once, then twice, and without warning, her release exploded.

  Ohmigod!

  It usually took her so much longer than this, but Beau Perini’d had her champing at the bit almost from the moment he sat down with her. By the time they’d reached her room, her body had been more than ready for him. For anything. He rode her through the climax, driving his fingers in and out in a slow, steady movement, sucking and nibbling on her clit until he set off another climax, shorter but no less intense.

  She gave a cry of protest when he stood up and moved away from her. He looked down at her and grinned.

  “Just taking care of business.” He reached for his wallet, extracting a string o
f three condoms.

  Sarah ran her tongue over her lower lip. “So, you had big plans for tonight?”

  “Not until you came along.” He lifted her long enough to yank the covers down then arranged her the way he wanted her and came down beside her. “I always like to be prepared.”

  She’d thought he would get right to business again, but Beau continued to surprise her. He took her mouth in a kiss as sweet as it was hot. He brushed his lips over hers in a teasing back-and-forth movement that started the sparks all over again. When he eased his tongue inside her, the same heat as before rushed through her system like a wildfire.

  She threw herself into the kiss, every stroke of his tongue against hers ramping up the sensations swamping her. She only broke the contact when he’d once again kissed her breathless. Sliding a hand between them, she tried to reach for his cock, her fingertips barely brushing the velvet head. She managed to grip the tip of it before Beau locked his fingers around her wrist and slipped her hand free.

  “One more squeeze from you and it’s all over but the celebrating, sugar. Later you’ll get your turn.”

  She stared up at him, stunned. “Later?”

  “Yeah. We’re just getting started here.”

  Sarah caught her breath. Just getting started?

  Then what was left of rational thought flew from her brain. Beau went to work on her body again, her neck, her earlobes, her nipples, her breasts, down to the heated place between her thighs where her pussy screamed in both protest and a demand for attention. He didn’t miss one inch of her body as he traveled his mouth over it, licking and sucking and nibbling. She was ready to scream by the time he reached for one of the condoms, rose up enough to sheath himself, and lifted her legs to his shoulders.

  He prodded at her opening with the head of his cock, slowly moving his hips forward as he eased himself inside her. Her inner walls stretched to accommodate his girth, a not unpleasant sensation. She dug her heels into his shoulders, pulling herself up to him, trying to help him as he slowly filled her.

  “Breathe,” he whispered. “Deep breaths. You can take me. I can feel your body getting used to me.”

  So could she. The more he slid inside her, the more she opened for him, and the easier it became. Then he was completely enclosed by her, his shaft filling every inch of her inner space. He began to move, so slowly she wanted to scream, sliding in and backing off until she was out of her mind, crazy with need.

  She lost track of everything except the thrust and retreat of his cock, the movement of his hips, and the hot, sexy words he kept murmuring to her.

  “Look at me,” he commanded in that deep, raspy voice.

  She locked her gaze with his, and the hunger and heat she saw there singed every nerve and fried her brain cells. No thinking, only feeling. And, soon, it was only her body and his and the smooth ride he was taking her on. The first orgasm hit before she even realized it, a shock since the one he’d brought her to with his mouth had been intense. She vibrated around him, moaning his name as she dug her heels into him again.

  He backed off, slowed his pace, and started the rhythm all over. He took her up and over three times before he finally threw his head back, his body stiffening, and he pulsed inside her with his orgasm.

  Spent, he eased her legs down, slipped from the grasp of her body, and padded off to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he came back to the bed, he lifted the covers and slid in beside her, turning her so she was cradled in his arms, her head tucked up against his shoulder.

  “So sweet,” he murmured against her hair. “So soft. So sexy.” He stroked her arm. “Sleep, Sarah. Rest. We’re far from finished here.”

  She came awake slowly in the morning, as if her body was waking up piece by piece. She ached pleasantly in a number of places, the sensations reminding her of the night before, and she smiled as memories came rushing back. She kept her eyes closed, remembering the thickness of Beau’s cock inside her, the way he felt when she wrapped her fingers around him or took him into her mouth She could not believe all that they had done, including using all three condoms. Beau Perini was a real animal. He had certainly helped her finish off her celebration in fine style.

  With her eyes still closed, she rolled over, stretched out a hand to touch him, and found…empty space. Cool sheets where the warmth of a body had long since faded. Raising herself up on one elbow, she looked around the room. No sign of him, and his clothes were gone. Was he in the bathroom? No, the door was wide open, and the room was empty.

  Throwing the covers back, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Little twinges accompanied her sudden movements, but she ruthlessly suppressed them. Where was he? Had he just left? She checked the nightstand and the dresser for a note but found nothing. Anger building, she prowled the room, looking for any place he might have left even a short good-bye message, but found nothing.

  Lifting the receiver on the room phone, she started to call the front desk and ask for Mr. Perini’s room then slammed it down. She didn’t even know if he’d been staying in the hotel. Besides, if he hadn’t seen fit to at least say good-bye, why did she even want to talk to him?

  Sarah plopped down on the bed again and ran her fingers through her disheveled hair. She could hardly believe it. The son of a bitch had left her. Walked out without even a thank you or any word at all. That asshole! Well, it served her right. Falling into bed like that with Beau Perini because she was left celebrating by herself? She’d have done better to go to bed with a bottle of wine.

  Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did she continue to make stupid decisions where men were concerned. Would she never, ever learn?

  She was probably another notch on the bedpost to him, another of those professional athletes who collected women like some people collected baseball cards. Well, fine. She didn’t need him, anyway. She had a life to get back to and a career to build. But if she ever saw the jackass again, he’d better look out because she’d never forget something like this.

  Not ever.

  Chapter Two

  Six years later….

  Beau Perini scrubbed his hands over his face and raked his fingers through his unruly hair. Every bone in his body ached from yesterday’s practice, and he would have sold his soul for two more hours of sleep. But, with a three-year-old in the house, even with a nanny in place, early rising was the norm. Beau was determined his son would always come first, no matter the circumstances.

  Coffee. That’s what he needed. In sweat pants and T-shirt, he made his way to the kitchen and the single-serving coffee maker.

  “Hi, Daddy!”

  Toby waved to him from his booster seat where he was entertaining his three-year-old self with a few pieces of dry cereal. Babs, the nanny, was at the sink—although, calling her a nanny barely covered what she did. She ran everything in the house, including him.

  “Hi, yourself.” He bent down and kissed the little boy’s smooth forehead.

  “Ceweal.” He held up one of the little circles. “Daddy have?”

  Beau tried not to grimace. Right now nothing, not even the cereal, appealed to him. “Not this morning, son.”

  Toby grinned. “Okay.” He popped the tidbit into his mouth.

  Oh, to be so at ease with life, Beau thought. He took a mug from the cupboard and filled it with fresh coffee. The first sip scalded his tongue, but he didn’t care. It gave his energy cells a real good jolt.

  “Toby needs some new clothes,” Babs told him. “I swear he grows one size a month. Anyway, I thought he and I could have a shopping party this afternoon.”

  “Bless you.” He walked up beside her and kissed her cheek. “Don’t ever leave me. I’d fall apart.”

  She laughed. “No, you wouldn’t. You’d get busy and find my replacement.”

  “Impossible.” He nudged her to turn around so she could look at his face. “I don’t think there’s another person I’d say this to, but you’re irreplaceable.” When she merely flipped a hand at him, he shook his
head. “I mean this. I have no idea what Toby and I would do without you. Especially—” He shook his head.

  “Especially with the phone calls starting again?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Especially with that.”

  Babs scooped the eggs she’d been scrambling into a bowl, added a spoon, and carried it to the table where his little boy sat in his booster seat. Toby clapped his pudgy little hands and reached into the bowl. Without missing a beat, Babs lifted his hand, closed his fingers around the spoon, and sat down to police the meal.

  “She’s been calling an awful lot lately,” Babs commented. “What does she want now?”

  Babs had been with Beau and Toby ever since he’d tossed Lacey Everhart out of the house, filed for divorce, and received sole custody. He’d given her a more than generous financial settlement for a woman who’d spent the nights he was gone screwing any available male. She’d bitched like crazy because it was paid to her monthly instead of a lump sum, but he knew otherwise she’d have blown it all. Exactly the way she was doing now.

  “I think she’s run out of guys to pay the freight,” Beau said, taking a healthy swallow of his coffee.

  “You know,” Babs pointed out, “you don’t have to take her calls. You can let them go to voice mail, or I can pick up.”

  “I want to make sure she doesn’t show up here and make a fuss in front of Toby.”

  “There is that.” She guided Toby’s hand with the spoon again. “It’s not my place to say, but I was never sure why you married her anyway. I wouldn’t have thought she was your type.”

  Neither did he. But with her rich auburn hair, long legs, brilliant green eyes, and creamy complexion, she’d reminded him so much of another woman he hadn’t been able to resist. Unfortunately, she had turned out to be all flash and no substance. Worse than that, a fortune hunter who wanted the publicity and recognition that came with being married to a star football player. He didn’t realize until it was too late that she had the morals of an alley cat and was less than a pale imitation of the woman he hadn’t been able to get out of his brain all these years.