Page 66 of The Dare

“Oh! He’s a lying little bastard. I didn’t believe a word of it. He got his, and I was just wanting to make sure that you and your daughter were alright. I mean… boys will be boys, but they took itwaytoo far this time, by the sound of it.”

I feel myself tense and then relax, sensing Natasha step closer to me, I hook my arm around her and pull her into me.

“This is Natasha,” I say to Brett, introducing her. “Notmy daughter,” I add. Almost growling the words.

Giving her a good squeeze by the waist in case he didn’t catch my meaning.

His jaw drops a little, then his brow lifts. He’s finally run out of air.

Lost the will to congratulate me all of a sudden, but I thank him for coming over before closing the door in his face.

Walking Natasha back to the kitchen, I make sure he’s left and the gate’s locked again before I relax.

“Now. Where were we?” I ask her, using both hands to grab ahold of her, kissing her tenderly before she can say another word.

I’ve proved my point. I’m not ashamed of Natasha and I’ll leave it up to her to tell her family about us. I decide that in the morning, she can at least call her mother and let her know where she’s staying.

It’s still early, for bed and sleep. But after discovering just how large and comfortable the upstairs bedroom is, it’s easy to while away the hours before dark with Natasha.

Doing what I’ve craved for what seems like forever instead of just a few hours.

Making love to her on a proper bed, in a real bedroom.

Filling her again and again with what I know is meant to be, bringing her to one climax after another.

I finally roll onto my back, breathless. Our hands linked as we both enjoy the afterglow from what I know now isthebest sex in the whole world.

“Montana?” I ask between panting breaths. “It’s not too far north?”

I feel her hand tugging at mine, bringing it over and resting it gently on her naked belly.

“Who are you asking?” she asks cryptically.

I leave my hand where it is, figuring now’s as good a time as any to ask.

“I’m looking at a place is all. It’s about as far north as you could get though…”

“A place?” she asks, thinking I’m talking about a place for a client. But I mean a place for us.

All three of us.

“Can’t we just be still for five minutes?” she asks, yawning. “It feels like we’re always rushing to do this or that. Like you can’t wait to get away from where we already are.”

Turning my head I can see she’s smiling.

Completely naked, at peace with my hand resting on her body.

“I just want everything to be perfect,” I explain. “Just want a place...”

“…Of our own. I get it,” she finishes for me, propping her head up on her elbow, keeping a hold of my hand where it is though.

“Anywhere you go, I go,” she says with conviction. “But it still makes me feel like I don’t have anything to contribute.”

Not sounding down on herself, but like someone who’s planning for their future. Looking at what they can bring to the table, so to speak.

Shaking my head and leaning over to kiss her, I remind her with a squeeze of my hand.

“Natasha, my darling. You’ve contributed everything that matters so far,” I tell her honestly. “Everything else is just details. Places, things.”