at Molly, then back again. “Maybe it’d help if you told me what makes you so qualified for the job.”
Dare searched her face. “All you need to know is that I’m not going to let anyone hurt your sister.”
Confused, Natalie put her hands on her hips. “Why are you involved? Because you two are …” She waved a hand between them. “What? Dating?”
She made it sound like the most absurd idea ever. Trying to go for the easiest explanation, Molly said, “Dare’s protecting me because I’m paying him for his assistance.”
There was a heavy pause, and then Dare lifted her chin so that she had to look at him. With quiet authority, he stated, “No, honey, you’re not.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“BUT … what?” Flushing over this unexpected turn, Molly looked uneasily at her sister. “Of course I am. Dare, we agreed.”
“You were insistent, and I didn’t want to upset you.”
Natalie chimed in with agreement. “She does like to pay her own way.”
“Now, wait a minute.” Molly jerked free of Dare’s loose hold, and, in the process, she almost lost the blanket.
Saving her modesty, he caught it for her, but then used his hold on the blanket to haul her close. He kissed the end of her nose. “I won’t take money from you.”
She couldn’t believe this. “Since when?” But she knew, of course.
Dare let out his breath and addressed her sister. “Natalie, you’ll have to excuse us for a few minutes. Molly needs to get dressed before she flashes us both.”
“Ah … sure.”
Bemused by Dare’s blasé attitude over this, Molly held her ground … but not for long. He was right; she did need to get dressed.
To her sister, she said firmly, “I will be right back.”
Natalie dithered. “I, ah, could go with you.”
“Not this time.” Dare gave her a barely conciliatory smile as he started them both across the floor. “We weren’t expecting you, and right now Molly and I have a few things to work out. I won’t keep her long.”
He left no room for argument, so Natalie directed a stern look on him before saying to Molly, “I’ll be right here if you need me for anything.”
Molly blinked at her. Natalie still thought that Dare might hurt her? He never would, but if he did, Natalie sure wouldn’t be able to stop him.
Her sister meant well, and usually she was the most stubborn person Molly knew. But when it came to Dare, Natalie was well out of her league.
Over her shoulder, Molly said back to her sister, “Thanks, but I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Without regard to her sister’s worry, Dare propelled her along into the bedroom. It was very rude, and didn’t do much to put Natalie at ease. Stepping away from him, she went through the door on her own steam.
He shut it behind her, and Molly turned to demand an explanation.
Before she got a single word out, Dare’s mouth covered hers.
Oh … Well, okay, then. Molly subsided and just went with the kiss.
As the tip of Dare’s tongue prodded over the seam of her lips, her heart started thumping and her body hummed to life all over again. She opened for him to accept his deeper kiss.
Dare slanted his head for a better fit, and Molly wanted to melt on the spot.
It might only have been hours ago that he made love with her, but she felt fresh desire as an acute need.
Dare turned with her to brace her back against the door. He tilted in his hips, pressing the solid rise of his erection against her belly.
Every nerve ending buzzed to life until she clung to him, her sister temporarily forgotten.
She didn’t realize that the blanket was gone until Dare stepped back to look at her. He held each corner of the blanket in his hands at either side of her shoulders. His gaze moved from her mouth to her breasts, and then slowly down her body.
His jaw worked.
“This is awkward,” Molly said. She’d never been put on display like this before.
He shook his head. “Damn, but I need you again.” He put damp, openmouthed kisses on her throat, her shoulder, and then he stepped away.
Molly couldn’t believe he left her there, naked, while he still had his pants on. Breathing hard, feeling exposed, she considered making a grab for the blanket … but Dare stood on it.
His gaze went all over her like a hot stroke before stopping at the juncture of her legs. “You look good enough to eat.” His gaze met hers. “Again.”
“I … ah …” Molly shifted. Such outrageous sexual compliments were very new to her, and she had no idea how to respond. Feeling lame, she whispered, “Thank you.”
Dare ran his hands lightly from her shoulders over her breasts, letting his palms drag over her now-puckered nipples. He lingered there just a second before sliding them down to her hips. He gave a low growl. “Turn around.”
Voice going high and thin, Molly said, “What?”
Using his hold on her, Dare directed her around until she had her back to him.
Molly tried to control her breathing, but it wasn’t easy. This was both embarrassing and highly erotic.
“God, baby, I do love this ass.” With both hands, he cupped her cheeks, then stepped up close again to kiss the sensitive spot where her throat met her shoulder.
His attraction to her posterior thrilled her. “We can’t … My sister is out there….”
“I know.” He took her wrists and lifted her arms above her head, and then pressed her palms flat to the door. “Just let me touch you for a minute.”
Putting one foot between hers, he nudged her legs open. Molly widened her stance, all the while struggling with the conflict of need and her natural modesty.
Slipping his hands around to the front of her, then up to her breasts, he touched her. With her arms raised, her feet braced apart, everything he did seemed somehow more salacious.
Lifting each breast, Dare caressed her before teasing both nipples with his thumbs.
It was too much. “Dare …”
He closed his fingertips around her, lightly pinching, tugging insistently.
Molly dropped her head back as the sensation went straight from her breasts to her womb. She bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud, but the deep, throaty sound escaped anyway.
Dare
