Simon Says (22 page)

Through gritted teeth, Bonnie said, “Everyone here knows tha' I'm
drunk
.”

“But you weren't when you agreed to my offer.” Barber eyed her head to toe. “It was your impatience in waiting for the monumental moment that drove ya to imbibe, my sweet.”

Bonnie gasped.

Lounging back in his seat, Barber stretched out his long legs and laced his fingers over his abdomen. “Not that I blame you, me being such a treat and all.”

Bonnie snatched up Simon's water glass. She would have thrown it if Simon hadn't caught her in time.

Dakota snickered.

And Bonnie swung around on her so quickly that she lost her balance and Simon had to catch her. She ended up in Simon's lap—and made herself at home very quickly.

With her arms tight around Simon's neck, Bonnie said, “You bitch, how dare you?”

Name calling? And still in Simon's lap? Slowly, while staring at Bonnie, Dakota smiled—and stood.

Simon stood, too, setting Bonnie on her feet at his other side, safely away from Dakota. “That's enough.” Then to Barber, “It's time for you two to go.”

“I'll call a cab.”

“Not until you've gotten Bonnie home.”

Barber looked up at the ceiling. “Will the trials of this day never end?”

“Forgit it,” Bonnie insisted. “I'm sober 'nuff to drive myself.”

Neither man agreed.

While Simon and Barber convinced Bonnie, Dakota went back to the bedroom to wash up and finish dressing properly. She needed to go see Barnaby. She needed to settle things with him before someone got hurt.

She needed to protect her friends, and herself, from Marvin.

By the time Simon got rid of his guests, Dakota was ready to go. He closed the front door, turned, and almost ran into her.

One look at her and he asked, “Where do you think you're going?”

“It's almost morning.” She didn't feel like smiling, but did so anyway. “With everything we know now, I have a lot of decisions to make.”

To her surprise, he bent and kissed her.

Dakota yanked back. “And I'm not tired anymore.”

He kissed her again, his mouth open, hot.

Her knees went weak. “Simon? What are you doing?”

“Convincing you to stay.” He caught the shoulders of her coat and eased it off her.

She started to tell him what he could do with that idea, but he kissed her again, and her thoughts scattered.

It took her a little longer to remember she was mad about Bonnie, and that she needed to talk to Barnaby, and…

When her coat hit the floor, Dakota recalled herself and pushed Simon back, not hard, but not really easy either. “I don't see why I should—”

“Come with me.” He caught a fistful of her sweatshirt and tugged her toward the bathroom.

“Wait a damn minute!”

“Why?” In the bathroom, Simon released her and picked up his toothbrush. “I need to freshen up so I can kiss you properly.”

Dakota stared at him.

He brushed with enthusiasm, and glanced at her askance. “What?” he asked around a mouthful of toothpaste.

“I don't understand you.”

“Which part, honey?”

She shook her head.

“The kissing part?” He spit in the sink and rinsed his mouth.

Dakota had never watched a man brush his teeth. Not even Marvin or her father, definitely not Barnaby. It felt oddly intimate.

Simon grabbed up the hand towel, dried his mouth, and grinned at her. “By properly, I mean really deep and wet and…”

Turning in a rush, Dakota grabbed for the doorknob. The door had barely opened when Simon's hand landed flat against it and slammed it shut.

Her heart shot into her throat and her brain scrambled to find the right words. Simon crowded in close to her back.

When he said near her ear, “You okay?” she could smell the toothpaste on his breath.

Still grappling with the meaning behind his actions, she asked, “What do you mean?”

Gentle, light, and in no way threatening, his free hand slipped around and opened over her belly. “I'm not scaring you?”

He had a little at first, but his concern took care of that. To brazen through the moment, she said, “No,” and sent her elbow back hard, gouging his abdomen.

It felt like she'd run her arm into a wall. Simon barely grunted.

“Good. I don't ever want you to be afraid. Not of me, not of anyone.”

His voice was so warm and compelling that Dakota had to force herself to remember that she was annoyed with him. “Let me out of here, Simon.”

“Soon as I apologize.” His palm pressed more firmly against her. “And then maybe you'll let me kiss you the way I want to.”

Her attention wavered between the warmth of his touch and the promise in his words. “Apologize? For what?”

“For making you jealous.”

“I wasn't!” She tried to turn, but Simon held her in place.

He nuzzled the sensitive skin behind her ear. “If you can't admit it—”

“Can't?”
Again, she struggled against him.

“Can't, won't.” He nibbled on her earlobe. “You see, if you don't go first, then how am I supposed to admit how much it bugged me to see you and Barber acting so damned cozy?”

She went still.

Simon smiled as he explained, “Bonnie kept looking at me as if I were her last meal, and you didn't even care. You were too busy sharing coffee and food with Barber.”

Dakota could feel Simon all along her back. Hot. Powerful.

Wonderful.

All this teasing mixed with seduction put her way out of her element. “It sounds to me like you were the jealous one.”

“Yeah.” His fingers contracted on her belly, gently caressing. He pressed a damp kiss to her nape. “Barber's okay. I like how he defends you, and I'm glad he was there for you when you needed him. But it pisses me off that he wants you.”

How asinine. “He doesn't.”

“Yeah.” Simon turned her to face him, and he looked very serious. “He does.”

“No—”

He took her mouth again, deeper this time, just as he'd said he would. But he didn't lean into her, didn't smother her with his closeness.

He scooped his hand down to cuddle her bottom. It was the oddest feeling to Dakota, to have a man kneading her derrière and groaning softly about it. It was Simon's reaction to touching her more than the touch itself that excited her.

“Damn, Dakota.” He put his forehead to hers. “Mallet wants you, too, you know.”

She started to roll her eyes—and his hand came around to wedge between her thighs. Her breath hitched, her heart skipped a beat, and a wave of heat rushed through her.

Simon looked at her, gauging her reaction, and Dakota tried to be blank, to show no emotion so that he wouldn't stop.

He searched her face, then smiled, and Dakota knew that he was schooled enough to see the difference between fear and arousal.

She was flushed, breathing hard and fast. But she couldn't help it.

“You are so damned sexy,” he murmured.

Vanity niggled at her comfort zone. “I'm all banged up.”

“I know.” Simon kissed her bruised forehead, the bridge of her nose, the deep scratch on her cheek. “Whoever did this to you, Marvin or someone else, I'd like to find him and stomp his sorry ass into the ground.”

The meaning of the words, and the gentle way Simon said them, left Dakota floundering. He sounded seductive, caring, and furious, all at the same time.

Her eyes were about to close when Simon said, “Let's get in the hot tub to…ease your sore muscles.”

With his hand still between her thighs, just pressed against her, not really moving, Dakota assumed he had a lot more in mind than merely easing her muscles.

She swallowed, nodded. “Yeah. Sure. Okay.”

Grinning, happy and teasing her, Simon kissed her again. “Bonnie means nothing to me.”

Dakota did not want to talk about Bonnie. “If you say so.”

“I do. And you can always trust me.” He moved his fingers, and it was like a jolt of sensation that ebbed out to every inch of her body. He stilled again. “Dakota? I want to do more than soak in the hot tub.”

God, he made her crazy. “Yeah, Simon, I figured as much.”

His cheek brushed hers as he kissed the side of her throat, her shoulder, under her chin. “You're okay?”

Dakota couldn't help it; she laughed. “I would be a lot better if you'd shut up and get on with it.”

He leaned back to see her, and Dakota said, “I'm not a shy woman, Simon. I won't suffer in silence. If you do anything I don't like, trust me, you'll hear about it.”

“And if I do things you like?”

She sighed. “I imagine you'll hear about those, too.”

“Perfect.” He took her hand. “Let's go.”

A
high wooden privacy fence with the gate locked kept the hot tub hidden from the yard. The house gave the only access, and the doors were all secured. They were alone, and Simon had hours before he had to pack for his trip to Vegas.

There were so many things he wanted to do with Dakota, but the number-one thing on his list was to give her pleasure. He wanted her to know that sex with him would never be anything but good. Men were easy—just seeing a desirable woman could put most near the edge. He was there now, aware of Dakota standing beside him, her arms around herself to ward off the early morning chill as he uncovered the hot tub and turned it on. From the second she'd agreed, he had a boner.

But Simon wasn't a boy. He was thirty-one years old, and he knew women, knew how complicated and elusive an orgasm could be for a woman.

For someone who'd been sexually abused, it'd be an especially tricky business because there was much to overcome, and old expectations didn't die easily.

For someone like Dakota, with her strong personality and strength of will, the past would play an even bigger role. More than anyone else ever could, she condemned herself for past mistakes. It'd take finesse, experience, and a little faith to ease her past her false impressions and apprehension.

When Simon first realized that she'd kept her last name as a sort of punishment, a constant reminder that she had erred in judgment, he knew he'd have his work cut out for him. Dakota caught a lot of flack on the name. And granted, Dakota Dream did ring of a suggestive stage handle.

But she could change it easily enough, if she only would.

He'd work on that, along with giving her pleasure.

Though Simon wore only boxers, he barely noticed the weather. Dakota was still fully dressed and shivering as the hot tub churned and steam rose into the air.

Heart thumping and muscles tight, Simon turned to her. “You need to skin out of some of those clothes.”

“Yeah, I know.” But she stood there, watching him.

Pretending that it meant nothing, Simon stepped up to her and caught the waistband of her jeans. While he unsnapped and unzipped, he talked to distract her.

“At the gym, I've seen you taking notes.”

Dakota blinked at him, trying to hide her nervousness. “Notes?”

“Yeah. When you're watching me.” He eased his hands into the pants and, fingers spread, cupped her hips. God almighty, she was soft and well rounded. Simon swallowed down the surge of lust. “What the hell do you write?”

She looked at him, then at the hot tub and down at herself. “Uh…”

“Training tips on things you think I'm doing wrong?” As he said it, he shoved the jeans down to her knees.

“No,” she said on a high note. And then: “Don't be stupid.”

“Sorry.” He grinned at her reaction to having her pants down. “So what is it, then?”

She licked her lips as if trying to gather her thoughts. “I write down stuff I see that I think maybe I can learn. Stuff that'd be good to know.”

Simon absorbed that, and nodded. Going to one knee, he held the jeans and said, “Step out.”

Dakota braced a hand on his shoulder and did as he asked.

She wore thick white socks, and again, he noted her legs, lightly muscled, shapely and smooth.

A T-shirt, panties, and crew socks. Not exactly an outfit meant to seduce, except that this was Dakota, and he was on fire for her.

He lifted her left foot. “I could spar with you, you know.”

“Forget it.” Her fingers tightened on his shoulder and her voice rose an octave. “You're in training. You need to train.”

“All right, then.” It choked him to say it, but he offered, “Dean, then.”

“Ha! Hell, no.”

What did she have against Dean? Or was it just that he was male, and therefore getting physical with him didn't appeal to her?

Given that he didn't really want her to be physical with any man except him, Simon couldn't fault her for that.

Lifting her other foot to remove that sock, too, Simon said, “I want you to be confident in your skills, honey.”

“I am. That is, I'm learning.”

“You're smart, Dakota.” He stood, and now she wore only a T-shirt and panties. It made him nuts. “You know more about the sport than any other woman I've met.”

“I love it.”

She no longer looked so cold. Her shivering had subsided and she had a warm flush to her skin just barely visible in the shadows of the privacy fence.

But her nipples were hard, and Simon couldn't seem to get his gaze off her chest.

“I've learned a lot just by watching.”

Unable to help himself, Simon brushed the backs of his fingers over her left breast, teasing that taut nipple. “And you know the best way to learn is to do. Real confidence comes with experience.” His gaze locked with hers. “And that means not just practice, but out-and-out, full-blown contact.”

Her breathing accelerated. “I've done that with Barber.”

Simon clenched his jaw. “Fine.”
Son of a bitch
. He did
not
want to say it, but her safety was a priority. “Have Barber come to the gym to work with you.” And he'd watch over them both.

Dakota drew in a shuddering breath. “Why are you so worried about me improving my skills?”

“You know why.” Her beautiful legs and trim waist weren't a surprise for Simon, not after seeing her in that dress. But a woman's breasts could easily be enhanced with the right bra.

He didn't think Dakota bothered with enhancements.

And when he opened his hand over her breast and held her, he discovered that she was heavy and firm, more than perfect. He could feel her puckered nipple against his palm.

“Damn,” he said, surprised at how hoarse he sounded. “You really are stacked, but somehow you've managed to hide it.”

“I see no reason to show it.”

No, why would she when she didn't want male attention? Except for his, Simon reminded himself.

Before he got any further off track, Simon took her hand and led her to the hot tub. He stepped in first, then helped her in.

“There's a ledge for sitting.”

She started to move to it but, still holding her hand, Simon sat down and pulled her to him until she straddled his lap.

It was wonderful.

And torturous.

And the pleasure of having her lush behind cuddling his cock damn near took his voice.

Dakota stationed both hands on his shoulders and just looked at him. Her eyes were dark and heavy, her lips parted to accommodate her fast breaths.

The water level reached just to her nipples, and the shirt quickly became transparent. With her panties and his boxers soaked, they barely existed. Her belly rested against his abdomen. His hands naturally went to her backside.

“Comfortable?”

She nodded—and stared at his mouth.

Ruthlessly controlling himself, Simon asked, “No bad feelings?”

She shook her head, and leaned forward to kiss him. He let her do that without taking over; he just accepted her kiss, opening his mouth when she nudged at his lips, touching his tongue to hers as it licked into his mouth.

“Simon?”

“What do you want, Dakota?”

Her nose bumped his. Her breath fanned his mouth. “I'm not sure.”

He should be sainted. “Will you trust me?”

“To do what?”

She didn't sound wary so much as keenly excited. “Turn around.”

That confused her.

She lifted her head and stared at him, and Simon explained. “I'm not about to come in my hot tub, babe. It's not cool.”

“Then…”

“I want to play with you a little. That'd make me a really happy man.”

“Play with me?” Her slim brows pinched over her nose. “That sounds sort of frustrating.”

“For me, yeah.” But he hoped not for her. “I'd like to get more familiar with your body, and let you get familiar with me touching you.”

She squirmed, and suggested, “We could just go back to your bed—”

“Shhh. No, not yet.”

“Why?”

How did he tell her that he didn't want to be a quick conquest? He didn't want to have sex with her once, just to prove to them both that he could. What he did want, Simon couldn't say. Not in the long run.

But for right now, here, this moment, he wanted to hear her groaning with a climax. He wanted to feel her shivering with release, wanted to hold her as she went soft and limp and spent.

So he lied. “I'm in training, remember?”

Suspicion firmed her mouth. “Yeah, so?”

“Sex is a no-no.”

She straight-armed away from him and glared. “You're a tease, aren't you? If you had no intention of—”

“Dakota.” He brought her to him for a quick, hard kiss. “I asked you to trust me. Do you think you can do that?” Playing dirty, knowing she hated to admit to any weakness, Simon added, “Or will your fear get in the way?”

Through her teeth, she asked, “Tell me what you want me to do.”

So much pride. Simon kept his grin contained and helped her to stand. “Just turn around, and then sit back down.”

Water splashed as Dakota gave him her back, then dropped onto his knees. Silly woman. She was so adorable to him. Hands at her waist, Simon said, “Ease back. Careful, because I've got a boner that I'd just as soon leave in one piece.”

That stiffened her spine, but she eased back against him until she felt his erection, then she stilled.

“Keep coming.” Simon helped her until her back rested against his chest. “Now try to relax.”

She made a small sound and remained stiff, put off, and antagonistic. Her hands were on his upper thighs, her fingers digging hard into his muscles. He rather liked that.

Deliberately, Simon rested one hand low on her belly. “If you open your legs, I can touch you.”

Not a sound.

Not a single movement.

“Maybe I'm rushing you—”

Her legs parted over his, not far, but enough that Simon could ease them wider himself. It was a favorite foreplay position of his, but this wasn't foreplay, and never before had the woman on his lap been so rigid and wary.

Rather than rest her head back on his shoulder, Dakota kept her neck stiff so she could lock her gaze on his hands and watch his every move.

It was awkward, but not enough to deter him.

“That's perfect,” Simon lied. Lightly, he trailed his fingers up and down her inner thighs, and added, “For now.”

Then he just kissed her, her nape, her shoulders, wherever he could reach. He knew Dakota expected a quick attack, but he'd disappoint her on that. He wanted to take his time with her, to build anticipation for them both.

One by one, he lifted her hands and nibbled on her knuckles, licked her wrists, and sucked on her fingertips. Dakota breathed so hard, he could hear her over the bubbling water.

“Are you warm enough?”

She nodded and said, “Oh, yeah,” in a rough, breathless rush.

“Would you mind if I brought your shirt up above your breasts?”

She finally dropped her head back and said on a near wail,
“No.”

“No, you don't mind, or no, you don't want me to?”

She yanked the T-shirt up herself, then held it there, trembling, panting, anxious.

Looking over her shoulder, Simon admired her breasts. “Beautiful.” Not only her breasts, but…“I can see through your panties now, too. Not clearly with the water and bubbles, but…”

Dakota turned her face into his throat and held herself very still. Her hands remained fisted in the wet T-shirt below her chin.

Simon hefted one breast in each hand, gently cuddled her, squeezed, and then caught each nipple. He tugged, and Dakota nearly arched off his lap.

Pausing, he whispered, “Settle back, honey. Try to relax and let me enjoy you.” He still had each nipple clamped firmly.

“This is crazy.”

“I know,” he said, soothing her. “Sit back now.”

She did, but she'd started to squirm again, and Simon realized just how sensitive her breasts were. He'd barely touched her, had mostly teased a little, and she couldn't sit still.

Loving Dakota would be a lot of fun.

For now, it'd be his torture.

He pulled gently at her nipples as he spoke to her. “You're twenty-three, Dakota. I assume you've had a climax before?”

“No. Yeah.” She shook her head in frustration and said low,
“I don't know.”