Dare To Stay Read online

  On the surface, everything was normal, a typical call, two friends catching up, but Willow couldn’t stop her stomach from churning with nerves. The call reminded her of the times the phone would ring in her foster homes, and from the way her foster mom or dad had looked at Willow, she knew bad news was coming.

  Telling herself it was all in her head, she took deep breaths and waited patiently.

  Finally the other man wrapped up his end of the call. “Well, it was great talking to you.”

  “Same here. Say hi to the team,” Braden said.

  “We all miss you, buddy,” Adam said before clicking off.

  Braden disconnected the call and immediately turned to her. “Sorry about that. I haven’t spoken to him since I left.”

  “It’s fine.” She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find her center. “So what’s next on our agenda for the day?” she asked with a forced smile. She was determined to enjoy their time together.

  No matter what her unwarranted panic attack told her.

  * * *

  After their trip to the health care center, Braden drove them back to her place so she could put on her bathing suit, and since he’d had his trunks in the car, he’d changed at her place, too.

  She walked out of her bedroom in time to see Braden in his swim trunks, pulling a tee shirt over his head. His tanned, lean stomach and the six-pack that showed he worked out had her drooling.

  Meeting her gaze, he grinned. “See something you like?”

  “Put your ego away,” she said, laughing.

  He stepped closer, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her against him. His rock-hard erection told her that if she wanted to skip the beach, he’d probably be all too willing. But he’d promised her a special day, and she intended to see what he had planned.

  “I’d like to see what’s beneath that cover-up. The lace is just a tease,” he said in a gruff voice.

  “And that’s all you’re going to get until we’re at the beach.” She spun out of his arms and picked up the tote bag she’d packed, giving him a wink over her shoulder.

  She liked this side of her, the light, easy side he brought out. It had been too long since she’d let go, if ever.

  As they drove downtown to South Beach, he slid his fingers into hers and rested their coupled hands on his muscular thigh, and she relished the small intimacy. She glanced out the window and saw the sun shone brilliantly overhead. Palm trees and expensive cars lined the street, and people walked on the sidewalks, browsing in store windows. She closed her eyes, enjoying the ride and the way they could be together in peaceful silence without it feeling awkward in any way.

  He signaled to pull the car into a garage, and she opened her eyes at the sound. “Where are we?”

  “It’s a garage to the apartment building Ian lived in before he and Riley had kids and moved. He kept the place and it’s on the beach. He lets family use it when they want a day to themselves.” Braden parked the car and met her on her side, helping her out.

  As they made their way to the pool area and the beach beyond, she took in the private cabanas and the people sunbathing on beach chairs, some under umbrellas, others soaking in the rays. Something she wanted to do herself.

  “Are we sitting on the beach or out here by the pool?” she asked.

  “Lady’s choice.”

  She lifted her sunglasses and looked around. “Would we have one of those cabanas?” she asked.

  He nodded. “We would.”

  “Hmm. I love the sand but this pool looks like heaven,” she said of the infinity-edge pool.

  “But the cabanas have curtains that can give us complete privacy inside.” He met her gaze and, like her, raised his sunglasses, giving her a view of his seductive indigo eyes. “I mean, think of the things we could do in there,” he said in a husky voice.

  “Decision made. Poolside it is.”

  He strode over to the hut that supplied towels and where guests checked in, returning along with a young man who set them up at two poolside chairs far away from other people, clearly at Braden’s request. Behind them was their private cabana.

  She kicked off her sandals and pulled off her cover-up, revealing the suit she’d chosen to put on while Braden changed in her bathroom. She’d wanted to surprise him, and from the expression on his face now, she had. The strappy red bathing suit with discreet cutouts both covered her appropriately and revealed hints of bare skin. A glance down showed her that his cock was thickening behind his bathing suit trunks, and an answering rush of desire filled her in return, making the prospect of them using that cabana highly likely.

  After towels were placed on the chairs and tucked in, and the attendant tipped and gone, they settled on their chaise lounges, the plush cushions beneath them and an umbrella cutting the glare of the sun. Willow’s legs weren’t in the shade and would hopefully get tanned. Which reminded her, she needed sunscreen.

  She reached into her bag and took out a bottle.

  Braden’s chair was on her left, and he quickly plucked the sunscreen from her hand. “Let me,” he said in a gruff voice.

  She swung her legs off the edge of the chair, lifted her hair off her back, putting it up in a messy bun with the hair tie on her wrist, giving him a canvas on which to work.

  “Tip your head forward,” he said.

  She did as he asked, and soon his big hands were rubbing the cool lotion into her skin. “Mmm. That feels so good.”

  “And you smell delicious,” he said as his thumbs pressed into her neck.

  He continued to massage her back and shoulders, gliding down her arms, coating all the exposed areas he could reach. She relished the feel of his strength and heat as he covered her flesh, rubbing in the cream. “Turn around.”

  She pivoted, swinging her legs around so they were facing each other. He continued to pour sunscreen onto his hands and work it into her skin, massaging onto her chest, his fingers deliberately dipping beneath her bathing suit, teasing her breasts, coming precariously close to her nipples.

  She sucked in a breath, causing him to grin. “Patience,” he said. “We’re going to enjoy the sunshine first.” But as he spoke, he spanned her stomach with his hands, and once again those fingers slid under the fabric, his calloused fingertips rubbing against the top of her pubic bone and pressing inward.

  Her eyelids fluttered closed and she moaned, only to have him remove his hands and begin to coat himself with lotion, a sexy grin on his handsome face.

  “You’re a tease, Braden Prescott.” She raised her legs onto the chaise and stretched herself out on the lounge. “I suppose that comes from growing up with a house full of siblings?”

  He laughed. “They were all different but yeah. You had to stay on your toes.”

  She leaned back and closed her eyes but continued the conversation. “I wondered and I hope you don’t mind my asking–”

  “You can ask me anything,” he said.

  “How did you feel when you found out Paul Dare and not Jesse Prescott was your biological father?”

  Over a year ago, Paul Dare had needed a kidney transplant, making it the right time for him and Braden’s mom to tell the Prescott kids the truth. By that time, Willow and Braden had broken up and he’d been gone. She’d heard via Damon that he’d come home when Austin, the match, had donated his kidney. But she hadn’t seen or heard from Braden then. Still, she’d wondered how the news had impacted him.

  He let out a groan. “Better than you’d think. It’s quite a story.”

  She turned her head and met his gaze. “I want to hear it.”

  “It’s sad actually. My mother and Paul grew up near each other and were best friends. Mom was in love with him and Paul…”

  “Is gay. Your poor mom. To love someone she couldn’t have.”

  He nodded. “She took what she could get from him, which was friendship, and he was the best pseudo uncle we could have had. And as for Mom, when they couldn’t have kids and it turned out it was because of
Jesse, she asked Paul to donate.” He shrugged. “I know we should all be mad, but to be honest, it was kind of a relief to know a man I hated and who treated me horribly wasn’t my real father. And the guy who was always there? Well, he was my dad.”

  She smiled. “I’m so glad it wasn’t something that broke apart your family.”

  “If anything, it brought us closer. And it really gave us more insight into Jesse’s behavior. He wanted his sons to have the career he couldn’t because he was injured and couldn’t play, which made him resentful, bitter, and angry. Add to that, he couldn’t have children of his own? Yeah, he was a mean son of a bitch.”

  She reached over and squeezed his hand, sad he’d had to grow up with a man who didn’t appreciate his intelligence or kind nature. They hadn’t had this kind of deep conversation before, and that was on her. It had been her way of keeping him at a distance, and she was beginning to understand how that made it easier for him to leave her.

  She rolled to her side and faced him. “I wish you’d had it easier growing up.”

  “I feel the same way about you. The difference is I had my mom and my brothers and Bri. I had Uncle Paul and Ron. If you’d had that kind of support…”

  He trailed off and she managed a wry smile. “I’d be more open? Giving?”

  “More open? Yes. More giving? Not a chance.” His kind eyes met hers, their faces close as they lay on their sides on the chairs. “You’re one of the most compassionate people I know. You took in Aurora when you barely knew her. You cared enough to come see the health center, and you said you wished you could help. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  “Yet you do. Even when I’ve been pretty damned hard on you since you came back?”

  “I’m a big boy. I can handle it. Besides, I’m not blameless.”

  “Let’s move on, okay?” She didn’t want to get into their past when the present was so good.

  Reaching over, he tucked her hair behind her ear. “Sounds good.” He stretched his arms up, and his abdominal muscles flexed and she groaned.

  “Can we test out the cabana now?”

  “Hell yes. If we were completely alone, I’d take you right here, right now.” He pushed himself up from his seat and strode over to the far side of her chaise, holding out a hand.

  She linked her fingers into his and they disappeared into the cabana. To her surprise, he flipped on overhead lights and released the curtains held back on either side.

  “Somehow I think these were meant for cooling off from the sun, not for secret sex,” she said, looking at a double-size chaise with a similar plush cushion covered with towels waiting for them.

  He let out a low chuckle. “Alex Dare likes to say he sealed the deal with his wife, Madison, in one of these cabanas,” he said of Ian’s half brother and former professional football player.

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me that.”

  He grinned and walked to her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “As much as I love that bathing suit, I’d rather see you out of it.”

  She took his words as a challenge and reached back, unhooking her bikini top, letting it fall to the floor. After kicking off her sandals, her bottoms came next until she stood naked in front of him.

  He let out a low growl, removed his trunks, his prominent erection letting her know exactly how much he desired her. She felt the same way, and it was her turn to take control.

  She grabbed a towel from a small dresser, dropped it on the floor, and settled to her knees in front of him.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “What do you think?” Reaching out, she gripped him in her hand, the smooth, velvety feel of him almost as heady as what she planned to do next. Desire pulsed through her, but her focus was on him. She leaned forward and licked the head of his cock, and the salty male taste of him was potent.

  He placed a hand on top of her head at the same time she began to pull him deep. Though she wasn’t an expert at this by any means, his rough groans told her that her technique was working. He began to rock his hips, thrusting in and out of her mouth, stopping short of hitting the back of her throat. She swallowed around him and his entire body began to shudder.

  She grasped his thigh with one hand and slid her other upward until she cupped his balls, massaging them in her palm. He came with a loud shout that she hoped didn’t bring others running to see what was going on, and suddenly she was working to swallow as fast and quickly as she could.

  She collapsed, catching her breath while he sat down on the lounge with a satisfied groan, leaving her pretty darned pleased with herself, not to mention extremely aroused.

  * * *

  After catching his breath, Braden rose and extended a hand, pulling Willow to her feet. “Way to blow my mind.” His body still shook with the aftereffects of her talented mouth.

  “Among other things,” she said with a grin.

  He shook his head and laughed. Lying back against the chaise, he crooked a finger her way. No doubt it was her turn, but as much as he wanted to be inside her, he needed recovery time. Which didn’t mean he lacked for other ideas to satisfy her.

  She started toward him when his cell phone rang from inside the pocket of his swim shorts.

  “Ignore it,” he said, wanting to grab her, pull her over him, and taste her sweet pussy.

  The noise stopped and she began to crawl up to him again. He grabbed her around the waist, and she bent over, her lips coming down on his. He swirled his tongue inside her mouth, drinking her in. He never thought he’d have this chance again, and the fact that she was giving it to him was a fucking miracle.

  A moan escaped from her throat, and his dick started to get hard all over again. Looked like he didn’t need time after all. He never broke the kiss, moving his hands upward and cupping her breasts and pinching her stiff nipples between his fingers. She rolled her hips over his cock and suddenly sat up.

  “I need you inside me.” Lifting her body, she grasped his erection in her hands, settled her wet sex over the head of his dick, and slid down on a moan, her slick walls clasping him in tight heat.

  At the snug feel, his eyes shut tight and he thrust up to meet her. “Fuck, you feel good.”

  “I’m going to make you feel even better,” she said and began to slide up and down his now rock-hard shaft.

  He grasped her hips and helped her rise and fall, slamming down hard, hips rolling forward each time their bodies met. All he felt was her.

  All he cared about was making her come. For him. Beneath him. With him. Reaching out, he slid his finger over her clit, pressing down and moving in deliberate circles that she began to imitate with the motion of her hips.

  “Braden, Braden, Braden!” The sound of his name on her lips was everything.

  She tilted her head back, arching her body and seeking more pressure that he was only too happy to give.

  He gritted his teeth, holding back, refusing to give in to his orgasm until she’d had hers. Instead he took her in, hair falling down her back, her gorgeous curves riding him, when suddenly her sex clamped tight around him as she fell over the edge. Her climax hit and it was the most gorgeous sight.

  He waited until she’d ridden out her pleasure, only then letting himself go. He thrust up again and again, but it didn’t take long for him to find release, losing himself inside her completely.

  She collapsed on top of him, and he slipped out of her, totally spent. She snuggled against him, and he gathered her in his arms, her head on his shoulder, and they lay in silence, both catching their breath, until the sound of laughter reminded him of where they were.

  “We should get dressed in case someone comes by,” she said, stepping around the chaise and bending to pick up the pieces of her bikini.

  They’d gotten carried away in here, but he didn’t regret it for a second. Nodding, he rose to his feet, cleaned up with a towel while she did the same, and they put on their clothes.

  A few minutes later, he grasped her hand and th
ey walked out of the cabana to find a couple had settled on chairs nearby.

  “Jesus, buddy, next time take it to your room.”

  Willow pulled him faster toward their chairs while Braden merely gave the guy a thumbs-up. What else could he do? he thought wryly.

  As he reached his chair and sat down, he felt his phone in his pocket, remembered it had rung earlier, and reached for his cell, saw Austin had called, and narrowed his gaze.

  Willow settled in beside him and glanced over. “Anything important?”

  He clicked over to the messages and read the transcription. “It’s Austin. Evie verified the Kingstons. They are Aurora’s family.”

  Eyes wide, Willow blew out a long breath. “Okay then. We tell her and she can meet the one who’s in town. Lincoln? Was that his name?”

  Braden nodded.

  Willow bent her knees and leaned her head back on the cushion. “I’m worried,” she admitted. “Or maybe I’m scared. I don’t know these people, but the best thing for her is if they accept her with open arms.”

  “And she ends up leaving with them.” He finished her thought for her.

  She nodded, her entire demeanor withdrawn.

  Not from him, necessarily, but from life, which she anticipated throwing her another hit. He would have liked to extend their afternoon, but with one glance at Willow’s concerned face, their fun day came to an abrupt end.

  “Do you want to go back to your place and talk to Aurora? Or would you rather head over to Dare Nation and pull her from work to break the news?” he asked.

  Willow sighed. “We’re not dressed to walk into an office, so why don’t you take me home, and you can go back to your place. We can shower, change, and you can come by tonight and we’ll break the news to Aurora once she’s had time to unwind after work?”

  He nodded. “Sure thing.” Knowing this was difficult for Willow to deal with, he wanted to handle things on her terms.

  As they gathered their things together, he couldn’t help the disappointment he felt at having their day cut short. Still, he’d had her in his arms and he’d been inside her body. He couldn’t exactly complain.