Dare To Love Series: Icy Dare (Kindle Worlds Novella) (7 page)

“Let’s get moving,” the man said.

Dorian climbed in, keeping her on his lap, and shut the door. The truck leapt forward, tires spinning on the snow-covered road. She began to tremble as it all sank in—she was safe. It was over.

He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs swiping the corners of her mouth, and pressed his head to hers.

“Tell me you’re okay,” he murmured.

“I’m okay.” The words were hard passing her lips, for they were a lie. She wasn’t okay, not even close.

He kissed her. The tenderness of it such that tears sprang to her eyes. Dorian wrapped his arms around her tight and kept her anchored to him. She didn’t mind. The heat pouring from the vents helped soothe the ache in her feet. She sank into herself and shut her eyes.

When the truck stopped, she opened them. An airport. “What are we doing here?”

“Going home.” Dorian opened the door and carried her from the interior toward a plane waiting on the tarmac.

“It’s snowing.”

“That’s why we’re taking the plane.”

His attempt at humor created a slight smile on her face. She saw the driver hurry by them and open up the plane. “We’ll be leaving soon. Get settled in.”

Dorian didn’t release her until he set her on a leather seat. Crouched before her, he touched the bruise at the side of her face. Torment flashed then faded. “I’ll be right back.” He covered her with a blanket and disappeared.

Not too much later, they were taxing down the runway and taking to the sky. They’d leveled off when Dorian returned. He sat beside her and curved an arm around her shoulders. “I never should have left you.”

“How could you have known this would happen? Clay was arrested. Mr. Dare and his group did their job.”

“I didn’t.”

She snuggled closer, warm and finally comfortable. Not to mention safe. He continued speaking, but she couldn’t make sense of the words as her exhaustion swarmed all over her, pushing toward the land of slumber.

When she woke, she found herself wrapped in Dorian’s familiar embrace. He lay pressed against her back, arms around her.
Am I dreaming?

Ever so slowly, in case Dorian was nothing more than a cruel trick her imagination played on her, she cracked open her eyes. Cream and brown sheer curtains hung around the windows. The brown drawn back, and the morning light filtering in through the cream. Snow sat gathered on the lower pane, and tall pines stood proud beyond.

Could still be a dream. There were snow and trees before.
She glanced down and found a man’s arm laying over her. Thick with corded muscles. Dorian.

She angled her head to peer over her shoulder. His eyes were closed. Curved black lashes lay against his chiseled features. She inched around until they were face to face. The bump in his nose drew her fingers with a call to touch. A few scars—well faded—were on the side of his face, slightly lighter than his tanned skin. He had the markings of a warrior.

Moving her gaze lower, she memorized the bow shaped lips, jaw line darkened by his day’s growth that added to his aura of danger. Even in slumber, there was no mistaking the edge he portrayed.

The coverings over them were a rich chocolate brown. He had no shirt on, and she wore one of his. If this
were
a dream, she had no wish to wake from it.

Still, the question remained—
where was she?

“My place.”

She snapped her gaze to his and discovered he watched her. Apparently, she voiced her question aloud and not in her mind as believed. “In Maine.”

He blinked. “Exactly.”

He shifted closer to her, fingers flexing along the small of her back. She divided her attention between his eyes and lips. Intensity versus inviting.

“Is that a problem?”

She couldn’t think of a reason why it would be. “I need to let Louis know I’m okay. We are safe, yes?” Even she was unable to hide her fear with that question.

“Yes. And your brother has been updated. I called Tyler on the way back, and he sent someone to speak with Louis.”

“So, what happens, now?”

He sank his hand into the hair along her nape. “I suggest we get more sleep.”

She ducked her head to rest beneath his chin, wedged her hands between them and allowed sleep to wash over her.

Alone when she woke, she scooted off the bed. Her toes sank into a plush blue carpet. The room was large and spotless. No piles of clothing on the floor or the chair. Nothing, it appeared, was out of its designated spot. Dorian’s wallet sat on the top of the oak dresser.

She faced the window and walked to it. Peaceful. Serene. The glass was cool to the touch, and she sighed before heading away toward the door. At the entrance, she paused and looked at what she wore. His shirt and nothing more.
At least it hangs on me down to mid-thigh.
Unsure what she would find when she walked down the small hallway, she wrung her fingers then progressed.

Chapter Seven

Dorian felt her presence behind him before he even spied her. She had that way about her, and he loved how she awakened something deep in him. Hand around his coffee mug, he turned to give her a smile. Her tousled hair fell around her shoulders, and his old Army shirt hung off one shoulder, swallowing her, the green material hiding her curves from him.

“Afternoon,” he said. “Want some coffee?”

She tucked some hair behind her ear. “Please.”

He reached for a cup and fixed her a mug. “Sugar or cream?”

“Three sugars, please.”

As he stirred it in the drink, he looked back to her. She didn’t seem to be comfortable. Drink in each hand; he jerked his head toward his living room. “Come on.”

When she’d taken a seat on the couch, he handed her the coffee before sitting beside her. “Talk to me, Sakharre.”

She stared at the mug she held. “About what?”

“Anything.” Christ, he just needed to hear her voice, continue to reassure himself that she was okay and really with him.

“That man who flew the plane, who is he?”

“That’s Joey, my older brother. He’s a pilot and runs an airstrip not far from here. He flew us out and back.” He rested his arm along the back of the sofa, allowing his fingers to touch her hair. “I’m sure he’ll be back by today to meet you.”

“Why?” She lifted her head and stared at him.

“Because you’re important to me.”

“Oh.” Again, she focused on the steaming coffee.

Christ, how hard should I push her? I don’t know what they did to her there, but I want to know where we stand.

“Joey and I don’t talk much,” he said, sipping his drink. “At least, we didn’t. When I learned of where you were, he was the first one I went to for help.”

“Luckily for me, you have a brother who’s a pilot.”

“Lucky for both of us.”

She made a small grunt and took a drink. “You were talking about your brother.”

Okay, so she didn’t want to talk on what happened to her.
“We never saw eye to eye. He always wanted to be a pilot and wanted me to go with him in that line. When I joined the Army, he got pissed, not speaking to me. Made it hard coming home since we both live in town, but we’ve managed not to run into each other much.”

“Yet, he dropped everything to help you when you went to him?”

“He is still my brother.”

She put her mug down and leaned into him. “I can see that. Even after all our years of being mainly adversaries, Louis has always been there for me.” She shifted slightly. “I’ll pay you back for this. If I can just get to a bank, I’ll be on my way back to Miami.”

He stiffened. “You want to go back to Miami?”

“Yes. I have to get home. Time to finish my Masters and get on with my life.”

“I see.” Those were final words. His heart shattered then hardened. “If that’s what you want, I’ll make the arrangements.” He rose and walked to the phone.

As he dialed, he stole a glance to her. She looked so small sitting there on his sofa. Everything around her looked big. Even the shirt she wore was oversized on her. Sure, he was bigger than her, but, in this moment, she was so tiny. And seemed so lost.

He wanted to keep her here with him. Keep her safe. Hell, keep her in his life.

“Hello?”

“Joey, it’s Dorian. How soon can you arrange a flight to Miami?”

“Miami?”

“She wants to go home.”

“We’ve got a storm blowing in, so it won’t be for a few days. I have two runs already on the books I have to finish. First chance of clear weather, I’ll give you a call.”

He looked at her and said, “He can fly us out after the storm passes.”

“Okay,” she said, barely glancing at him.

“That’s fine,” he told his brother. “Thank you.”

“Can I offer you some advice?”

“What’s that, Joey?”

“Use the time wisely. Make your point to her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We both know what I’m talking about. You’ve got a few days. Make each one count.” His brother hung up the phone.

“Sure,” he muttered, ending the call and setting the phone on the counter.
Make them count. Like what, haul her up in my arms and take her to bed?
Okay, so the idea had merit, he wouldn’t deny that, but he wasn’t a monster. He recognized she’d been through hell.

He looked at her and shook his head. She’d fallen back asleep. Moving to her side, he crouched and slid his arms under her then lifted her. He carried her back to his bed and laid her back on the mattress. He climbed in with her and drew the covers up over them. Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose in her thick hair.

Even as she slept deeply, he merely dozed. So, when she woke and stirred, he was already alert. He grabbed on the back of her shirt as she began to climb out of the bed. She turned and looked at him over her shoulder, one eyebrow raised.

Her brown eyes still held remnants of sleep, but that mingled with desire as she leaned into him. “I never thanked you properly for coming to get me.”

She knelt over him, placing her core directly over his rigid dick.

“You don’t have to.”

“I know, but I want to.” She tugged his shirt off her body and leaned forward, breasts hanging.

He had no more to say in attempt to dissuade her. Dorian reached up and guided her close by the nape of her neck.

αβ

“So, with that, you’ll be able to basically work wherever you’d like in the world.”

Dorian stood in the doorway to his kitchen listening as Joey and Sakharre talked over beer.

“Yes,” she said. “I was in the process of finding a list I’d made up previously of places I would like to be at. Now, I’m having second thoughts, though. Trying to figure out if that’s what I truly want to do or not.”

“Well, can you get a job with the Miami Thunder?”

“I could apply, but there’s no promise I would be hired on. Mr. Dare has an incredible staff around his company currently.”

“Surely, you’d be an asset to them.”

She shrugged. “I’d like to think so, but I’m not sure I want to stay in Miami.”

Dorian stepped in the room and made his way to sit beside her. “Where are you thinking of going?”

“Not a clue. I liked southern California when I was out there, had some fun. Then, the Midwest wasn’t all bad, either.”

Joey raised his bottle. “To new beginnings.”

Her smile was a bit sad when she clinked her bottle to his. “To new beginnings.”

When her brother called, he remained in the kitchen with his.

“I like her for you, Dorian.”

“Wasn’t seeking your approval.”

“Christ, man, let it go. I’m not trying to run your life. Sure, I was hard on you after Mom and Dad died, but it was for your own good. I’m not trying to be a parent, now. Just wanting to be your older brother.”

So, Dorian had been a bit of an ass over the years. “Okay, I can buy that. Brother.”

Joey smiled, his eyes sparkling in the light. “Good. Now, hurry up and make me an uncle. I can’t wait to see what your kids look like. Here’s hoping they have more of her in them than you though with your ugly mug.”

“I thought you said you were done being the parent,”

“I am.” He finished his beer. “I’m a big brother who wants some nieces and nephews to spoil.”

“What you are is a pain in my ass.”

His grin was wicked. “Perhaps that, as well. Either way, I still want nieces and nephews.” He sobered. “I filed the flight plan, so let me know when you would like to leave. Plane’s all ready and fueled up.”

Dorian turned in the seat and stared at the woman pacing before his living room window. “I don’t want her to go home.”

“Perhaps you should tell her that, you know, before she leaves.”

“Nope. She has school to finish. I’m not getting in the way of that.”

“So damn noble you’re going to end up alone.” Joey stood as she came back in. “I’ll be at the airport; come when you’re ready.” He kissed Sakharre on the cheek. “See you soon.”

“He okay?”

“Yes.” Dorian drew her down to sit on his lap. “Joey said you can head back to Miami whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready, now.”

More knives in his heart. “I see.”

She turned and captured his face in her palms. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that, Dorian. Truly, I didn’t. I’m just needing to jump back in my life or I know I’ll have no trouble running for the rest of my life.”

“Time to grow up?” he mumbled.

“I have to.”

“You already have.”

She pressed her forehead to his. “Come with me.”

“I’ll be on the flight.”

“No, I mean to Miami. Stay with me there.”

“I wish I could, but I can’t.”

Her expression closed off. “Right, the endless line of beer bottles waiting for you.”

“You sure do jump to conclusions easily. No, it’s time I help my brother run the company our parents had.”

“I should be getting back, so you can get to it, then.” She slipped from his lap and walked to the door.

So many words lingered on his lips, but he knew, if he opened his mouth, all the wrong ones would tumble out. “Sure thing.”

The wall was back between them, slathered with thick ice and thorns. While they’d waited out the storm, they’d talked. A lot. He’d shared a part of him he’d not shown anyone else. In between the talks, they made love, and he took the time to memorize everything he could about her. Her feel, scent, touch. All of it.

The silence between them thick and uncomfortable on the way to the airport, she didn’t speak as they got ready nor as they took off and headed back to Miami.

Who would have thought? This afternoon, we spent the day in bed making love.
He paused with his hand on the door to the cockpit.
And never once used a condom.
He’d never failed to do so with a woman before. Christ, Joey could be getting his wish.

Sakharre could be pregnant with his child.

αβ

Sakharre pulled on her Miami Thunder jersey, her brother’s number staring back at her in the mirror. She smiled and touched the black and gold shirt. Her watch beeped, and she swore.

“Shit, I have to get going or I’m going to be late.”

The Miami Thunder had home field for their divisional playoff game, and Louis had said he’d gotten her a ticket. With a final look at her face, painted with the Thunder logo, she smiled and hastened to the door.

At the ground floor, she found a limo waiting out front. A man tipped his hat to her and opened the door. “Your brother sent me to get you to the game on time.”

She hesitated slightly but continued forward. She couldn’t live the rest of her life in fear. Even with the mental pep talk, she was still a bit nervous when he shut the door behind her. Until they actually pulled into the Thunder Dome, her breathing had been shallow and rapid.

Now, excitement had taken the place of the lingering feelings of concern and fear. There were people everywhere, showing off their colors and team spirit. She smiled, leaning forward.

“Looks like it will be a great game,” the driver commented.

“I hope so.” She truly enjoyed football and was looking forward to seeing her brother smash some men on the field.

He pulled up to the doors and let her out. She waved and walked off to get in and claim her seat. Armed with her drink and pretzel, she found her spot and smiled at those around her as she sat. Right below her was the Thunder sideline, and she wriggled her toes in anticipation.

Sipping her drink, she gazed around; the stands were filling swiftly, people having turned out to support their team during this divisional playoff game.

“Hello, Sakharre.”

Her hand trembled at the voice that carried over the din with ease to reach her ears. The pretzel bite in her mouth nearly caught in her throat, and she had to gulp a few times while turning to face the speaker.

“Dorian.” Lord help her, she wanted to jump in his arms. “You’re looking good. What are you doing here?”

“I was invited to the game.” He stepped over the man’s legs and sat beside her. “By your brother.”

“Louis?”

“Have another brother I don’t know about?” Dorian leaned in close, surrounding her with his masculine scent of sandalwood and pine. “You’re stunning. As usual.” Their mouths were a hairsbreadth away from one another. “I’ve missed you.”

“You knew where I was. You chose to stay away.”

“I had something else to take care of.”

Jealousy speared her. “Another damsel in distress to save?”

He cocked a brow and turned his gaze from hers to land on her belly. “No, something more important.” He held her gaze. “Much more important.”

She nearly covered herself but held still beneath his perusal. “And that would be?”