Page 54

Then he collapsed beside her, flat on his back. He pulled Dakota close, tucking her into his side.

He felt good. There was no clawing need, no demands, no memories.

He felt her shivering, little spasms running through her body. Damn, he’d taken her roughly on the floor. He scooped her up and strode into the bathroom.

It took him a second to get the shower set on at the scalding temperature he liked. Then he pushed her under the mist.

“Holy stars, that’s hot.” She adjusted the controls, pushing her wet hair out of her face.

Dare moved in behind her. With the two of them in there, the stall wasn’t so spacious. The water was barely lukewarm, and he flicked the controls back to a warmer setting. She stuck her tongue out at him. He filled his hand with liquid soap and started soaping up her body.

She made a humming sound and leaned back against him, clearly enjoying his ministrations.

“Losing control wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same question.”

He slipped his hand between her legs, massaging her swollen folds, watching as she sank her teeth into her bottom lip.

“I thought you’d be bossier,” she said on a gasp.

He raised a brow. “Disappointed?”

She spun and pressed her hands against his chest. “No. I think they heard my screams back at Galaxy’s Edge.”

But her words ignited something in Dare. He slid a hand into her hair, tugging her head back roughly, knowing she’d feel the bite of it on her scalp. “You want me to be bossier? To take charge?”

He saw something spark in her eyes.

He slid his other hand down, massaging the curves of her ass. “It’s not about being the boss. It’s about you giving me what I want. What’s mine.”

He pulled his palm back, then slapped her buttock.

She gasped, her body jerking. Heat flooded her cheeks.

“I’ll only do what you want,” he said, caressing where he’d hit. “Give you what you need.”

She licked her lips. “Show me.”

He pushed her down onto her knees, the shower mist collecting in small rivulets, running over them. “My cock in your mouth. Now.”

She looked up at him, and he’d never seen a prettier sight. “Remember what I said on Sulla?”

He remembered. When she sucked his cock into her mouth, her hand circling the base, he knew exactly who was holding the control right now.

Dakota woke up to fingers making lazy swirls on her belly. She cracked open an eye and saw Dare leaning on his side beside her. He was staring intently at her skin, like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

Her heart clenched.

Oh, no. She couldn’t risk making a fool of herself over this man. Amazing sex and the fact he was helping her aside, she knew better.

“Hello,” she said.

Silver eyes gleamed. “Hello.”

Stars, the man was so damned beautiful. Not in a pretty-boy way, but in a dark, dangerous male way that appealed to every part of her.

She wanted to touch him, run her palms over his strong back, inhale the scent of him off his skin. Her throat tightened. Hell, she was getting in too deep, she should back off a bit⁠—