Page 67 of Through Uncharted Space

She crossed her arms and shrugged. “It’s not like they’re taking care of it. They lost it. I won’t take it all, and we’ll let them know where it is.”

“You’re still upset with me about me wanting to pay you for the orb.”

“I’m not upset.” Her voice was emotionless.

He moved closer and she took a step backward. He pinned her up against his desk. “You are. It’s okay to tell me.”

“Screw you, Dare. Remember, this is just a temporary thing, you and I. We fucked, it was good, now we’re done. Once we find the treasure and I take my cut, I’m out of here.”

He gripped her arms. “We are not done.”

“We never really got started. You wanted me to spill all my dirty little secrets, but you keep yourself locked up so tight.” Her chest was heaving, then she shook her head. “Just forget it.”

“My father left when we were kids. My mother couldn’t handle three rambunctious boys alone. She met a man.”

Dakota had gone still, her gaze on his face.

“Our stepfather was cruel and possessive. He hated sharing my mother with us, so he locked us in the basement most of the time. Kept us in the dark.”

Dakota hissed in a breath. “Dare…”

“I know what it is to be afraid, Dakota. To be hungry. To have nothing.” He fought the urge to kick something. He hated reliving his childhood. “Well, not nothing. I had my brothers. But he liked to beat us…and I had to protect them.”

Her eyes closed. “You took the brunt of the beatings.”

She hadn’t made it a question. “Until I got big enough to fight back.” The ugly darkness rose in him, choking him. “I’m not afraid of the past, and I do not let it rule me. But it made me what I am today. I can never escape that, and I will always do everything I have to do to protect my brothers.” He touched the delicate shell of her ear. “I am sorry I hurt you in the process.”

When she looked at him now, he saw his Dakota was back. Emotion and life shimmering in her eyes.

“Don’t you damn well feel sorry for me,” he growled.

“You can’t order me what to feel and not feel, Dare. I can feel sorry for the boy you were if I want to.”

“Feel something else instead.” He slammed his mouth down on hers.

She struggled against him for a second, then her hands slid into his hair, yanking hard, and she kissed him back.

Desire was like a solar flare—fast and hot. He needed her. He needed her now.

He spun her around, bending her over his desk.

As he yanked at her pants, she pushed her ass back toward him. He pushed the synth-leather down, leaving her pants tangled around her ankles.

He flicked open his own pants, freed his cock, and without any warning, thrust inside her.

She arched back, crying his name.

“We aren’t done,” he growled. “We won’t be done. Now take me.”

He gripped both her wrists with one of his, pinning them to his desk. He dragged his cock out, then rammed home. Again and again. Faster and faster. Harder and harder.

He felt his release building—sharp and bright and jagged. Not before her. “Come for me, Dakota.”

She did. Her cries were music in his ears as her body clenched tight and then spiraled apart.

Dare moved faster, driven by a desperate urge. As the pleasure knocked into him, he lost his rhythm, then froze, coming deep inside her.

He covered her body, trying to get his breath back. She turned her head, her cheek pressed to the cool surface of his desk.