Dangerous Intentions Read online

  She didn’t give a flying fig about Dex’s trust fund. In college, she’d dated two trust fund guys, and God, they’d been horrible. Immature, spoiled, obnoxious. Dex was none of those things. Well, he could be extremely obnoxious at times, but she couldn’t blame him for it. Not with what he’d survived and endured daily.

  She rolled over and hugged her pillow. Dex would walk again. She had no doubt about that. But he’d never walk normally, without a cane at least. She’d felt his hard-on last night in bed, so she agreed with Kevin there. His parts definitely worked. If he was attracted to her, why had he told her no? Especially after she’d offered to satisfy him? Was he so altruistic he was trying to save her from herself? She’d told him a few times that what she was doing was wrong because of her job, because of who he was. Maybe he didn’t want to add to her guilt.

  She frowned into the darkness. Each moment she knew him, she learned something else about him that made him even better. Would she still think so if she gave up her job in order to be with him?

  * * * * *

  Something woke Shelly up. She turned her arm so she could read her watch in the faint light coming through the window from the streetlights outside. It was just after three in the morning.

  Her mouth felt like cotton, and she definitely needed that glass of water now. Throwing back the covers, she sat up. She couldn’t figure out what awakened her, but she was sure she’d heard a noise. Maybe the guys were still talking downstairs. They hadn’t seen each other in years, so it was possible.

  She went to the door and opened it but didn’t see any light coming from the direction of the stairs, and she didn’t hear anything either. Padding down the empty hallway, she reached the top of the steps and looked down. A low light glowed, but she remembered that from last night, too. There was a little, blue LED nightlight in the hallway at the bottom of the steps. She’d thought it cute since the housing on the light was a teddy bear.

  With a sigh, she went down the stairs and into the kitchen, where the light over the stove glowed, nearly blinding her. Squinting, she went to the cupboards near the sink and started going through them in search of a glass.

  A soft shout made her jump, and she nearly dropped the glass she’d found. Her heart hammered, and her skin prickled. There was no way her stalker could get into this house. No way. There was a security system, and she was sure Dex had set it before he went to bed. He had the night before.

  “No!” It was Dex, but his voice was muffled.

  Of course, it was muffled. She was in the kitchen behind a closed door. She set the glass on the counter and moved toward the door to the living room. At the last second, she grabbed the longest knife out of the butcher block on the counter and then pushed the door to the living room open.

  There was a lot of noise coming from Dex’s room. Soft cries, shouts, sounds like wounded animals. Holding the knife up, she headed in that direction. No one was going to hurt him!

  Standing in his doorway was a big figure, damn tall and wearing nothing but tighty-whities. She was about to take a swing with the knife when he turned, and the blue nightlight caught his features. She almost tripped over her own feet trying to stop herself from falling against Kevin.

  He caught her by the arms and held her away from him. “What are you doing?” he whispered harshly.

  “What’s wrong with Dex?”

  He looked over his shoulder, the shouts and cries louder now that Shelly was so close to his open bedroom door.

  “I think he’s having a nightmare. His shout woke me up.”

  She nodded. That must have been what awakened her. “Here. Let me go to him.” She handed him the knife.

  He grabbed her arm, stilling her. “He’s been in the war.”

  She frowned up at him in confusion.

  “Honey, he’s a trained killer. That’s why I was standing here. If he’s reliving something…” He shook his head. “I know what I’ve done when I was asleep, and he’s seen worse than I could ever imagine.”

  She ripped her arm from his light grasp. “I’m not going to let him suffer alone.” She rushed to the side of the bed. The first thing she did was put her knee on the edge so she could lean over him and turn on the light over the bed.

  Dex didn’t move much, but it looked as if every muscle in his body was strained to the breaking point. His face was red, his head back into the pillow, the tendons in his neck standing out. His hands were fisted at his sides, his biceps bulging.

  “Dex,” she said softly. “Dex, wake up.”

  He moaned, and the horrible sound cut through her as surely as if it were a knife.

  “Pete,” she said a little firmer. “Pete Dexler. You need to wake up.”

  “No!” He shouted and sat bolt upright at the same time swinging out with his right arm, hand still fisted.

  She ducked and fell off the side of the bed, but scrambled to her feet when Dex gasped and his eyes finally opened.

  “Dex.”

  His upper body was covered in perspiration, and he shook. He stared down at his clenched hands in his lap, gasping for breath.

  “Pete.”

  He turned his head toward her, his eyes wide, filled with terror.

  “Oh, Pete,” she whispered as she sat down next to him and held out her arms.

  He grabbed her hard and pulled her against his chest, nearly crushing her as he buried his face in her hair. His breaths sawed in and out, his whole body shaking.

  “It’s okay, Pete. I’m here. You’re safe. You’re safe now.”

  He clung to her, nearly squeezing the breath from her lungs, but she didn’t care. She’d give him her life if it would take away the memories that made him like this in the middle of the night.

  “Everything’s okay now,” she whispered. “You’re safe.”

  His breathing eventually slowed, and he lay back on his pillows, pulling her with him.

  “Your back,” she protested.

  “Hurts like a fucking bitch.”

  “Where are your pills?”

  “I don’t want any. Just stay with me.”

  “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” When she looked toward the door, it was closed and Kevin was gone. “I’m right here.” She reached up and shut off the light over their heads.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered into the darkness.

  “Shh. It’s okay.”

  His body slowly relaxed as she lay snuggled against his chest, her body half over his, her arms around him. She worried about his back, since he told her it hurt to lie on it.

  When his grip on her loosened, she moved off of him and murmured for him to roll toward her. He did so, and she rolled over so he could put his arms around her. It amazed her that he could fall asleep so fast after what he’d just gone through. She was still thirsty, even more so now, but she stayed put. He needed her, and she wouldn’t leave him. Wasn’t that what he’d done for her last night?

  She laced her fingers through his against her belly and snuggled back against him a little more comfortably.

  Chapter Nine

  It was still mostly dark when Shelly awoke again, and the clock beside the bed said it was just before eight. It was Sunday morning, and she had nowhere to be. She’d told Babs she wouldn’t be in until afternoon to check on her. But she had to pee, and she was really thirsty now, so she eased out of Dex’s arms and went into the bathroom attached to his bedroom. She used the toilet, washed her hands, then cupped water in her palm so she could drink. While she was there, she figured she might as well go all out, and used Dex’s toothpaste and finger brushed her teeth before rinsing.

  Ahh, that felt better. She drank a bit more water, then used the hand towel hanging over the counter on the wall to wipe her face and hands. The bathroom had obviously been modified a bit for Dex’s convenience. It was a big bathroom with a shower stall and separate whirlpool tub, but in the shower was a plastic bench, and handrails had been installed. There was a set of removable handrails wrapped around the commode,
too.

  Shutting off the light, she went back into the bedroom and crawled into bed next to Dex. She snuggled up against his chest and sighed. He was so warm and solid. She liked the way his soft chest hair tickled her nose.

  “Please tell me you didn’t use my toothbrush.”

  She giggled.

  “I’m serious. I’ll share anything with you, but not that.”

  “No, I did not. I promise.”

  He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against his chest. Then he ran his hand over her hair, pushing it away from her face. “I didn’t hurt you last night, did I?”

  She tilted her head back to look at him. “No. You didn’t.”

  “I’m embarrassed by my actions. I’ve never broken down like that before. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You saw me at my worst the other night. I owed you one.” She tried to laugh it off but could feel how upset he was about the whole situation. In her estimation, he hadn’t really broken down. Not like she had with him. “I’m glad I was here for you.”

  He rubbed his big hand up and down her back. “Me too.”

  Inching upward a little, she pressed her lips against his. His hand stilled against her back, and she was fairly certain he held his breath, too. She eased her hand up his side, over his chest, and then touched the side of his face, his morning whiskers tickling the pads of her fingers.

  “Don’t,” he whispered against her mouth.

  “Why?”

  “You don’t want to do this.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He moved his mouth, capturing her bottom lip in a sensual caress. “You’ll regret it if you do.”

  “I’m a big girl. I know what I want.” She reversed the path she’d taken with her hand and moved down over the soft hair on his chest and rippled stomach to the top of his briefs, dipping her fingertips behind the elastic band.

  Dex sucked in his breath. “Shelly…”

  “Dex.”

  “Call me Pete like you did last night,” he murmured against her lips.

  “I want you, Pete,” she said. Of that, at least, she was sure. She’d never wanted anyone more than she wanted him. And she’d wanted him for a very long time, long before this week of getting to know each other. She’d been a little in love with him from the day they’d met.

  “You’ll hate yourself, and me, when it’s over,” he said, but pulled her closer, tighter against him.

  “I’ll never hate you. I swear it.” She slid her hand into his underwear and wrapped her fingers around his rock-hard, velvety soft cock.

  Dex groaned. “I should kick you out of my bed for your own good.”

  She squeezed him and ran her tongue over his bottom lip. “Don’t be so noble. You want it as badly as I do. Even if it’s just right here, right now. You’re the one who said what happens here stays here.”

  “It does,” he said on a groan when she nipped his lip.

  “Then let’s pretend here and now is all there is.”

  His hand dove down her back, into her shorts, and he cupped her ass cheek in his big, warm palm, making her moan and grow wet. He kissed her hard, his tongue skimming hers, dueling with hers.

  Even if this was all they ever had, a mutual need for release and comfort, that would be fine. She needed it, too—needed to feel him inside of her. He’d been through hell last night, and she wondered how often he relived his nightmares. She wanted to make him forget it all, even though she logically knew that wasn’t possible.

  “I can’t do much to help,” he said. “Missionary won’t work for me.”

  She gently nudged him onto his back and kicked the blankets off of them. “You just lay right there and let me take care of everything,” she said as she pulled his underwear down and off his legs to toss it onto the floor. Wrapping her hand around his cock once again, she leaned down and took the tip into her mouth.

  “Ohh… God…” He speared his fingers through her hair and gripped hard but didn’t force her down.

  Shelly closed her eyes and opened her mouth wide so she could take him deep. He was thick, hard, and long. Perfect. His musky scent and slightly tangy flavor made her mouth water for more.

  “Shelly… Shelly, stop, please. It’s been too long. I can’t…” Now he tugged on her hair, pulling her mouth away from his cock. “Sweetheart, I haven’t been with a woman in way too long to last if you do that.” He released his grip on her hair and brushed it away from her face when she stopped tormenting him.

  As much as she wanted to make him come, she wanted him inside of her more. So she hurriedly shoved her shorts off and straddled his waist.

  “Shit,” he whispered as she rubbed her moist pussy against his shaft. “Are you sure? Really sure?”

  “Oh yeah, I’m sure,” she said as she leaned over and kissed his lips. “I want you, Pete. I want you inside of me.” She moved back and forth, rubbing over his cock with her slick pussy, and he groaned and gripped her thighs.

  “Protection,” he muttered. “I don’t have any.”

  “I’m on the pill, I get tested every year, and I haven’t had sex in three years.” She kept moving back and forth, the friction of his cock against her hardened clit sending sparks of pleasure through her. She could probably come just from this.

  “I’m… Ahh… Clean. Tests. Lots of tests.”

  She grinned. He was literally losing his mind because of her.

  She went up on her knees, reached between her legs, grabbed his cock, and came down onto him in one hard motion.

  He cried out, but it was a strangled sound that didn’t seem filled with pleasure, and his fingers gripped painfully tight on her thighs.

  She froze, and her heart hit her stomach. “Pete. Oh, God, no. I’m sorry.”

  “Just…don’t…move…”

  She knew that tone of voice. She’d heard it from him numerous times during therapy. He was in agony. And she’d caused it. She’d hurt his back when she landed on him so hard.

  In a moment, he let out a long, slow breath, and his grip eased. She started to move so she could get off of him, but he pressed down with his palms on her thighs.

  “I’m okay,” he said softly.

  “No, you’re not. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She leaned forward and ran her hands over his chest. “Let me up. I’ll help you another way.”

  “No.”

  “No?” He was still hard. Pulsing inside of her in fact. Which surprised her because if she’d been the one in pain, all thoughts of sexual pleasure would be long gone. Especially the amount of pain he was in.

  “You’re there now. I need you to finish.” His voice was still tight and strained, but it sounded like need now, rather than agony.

  “But I’ll hurt you again.”

  A soft chuckle came out of him that made her stomach tighten. God, it was a sweet sound. The quiet laughter ended on a hiss.

  “Do that again.”

  “Do what again?” she asked, confused.

  “Tighten your muscles around my dick, sweetheart.”

  She clenched her pussy muscles as hard as she could.

  “Ahhh…”

  Grinning, she did it again and could feel him grow even harder inside of her. She started a slow rhythm while she leaned over to kiss him.

  He ate at her mouth, slid his hands up under her nightshirt, and cupped her breasts. The tender massage and slight abrasion he caused over her nipples made her even wetter. She pulsed her cunt around his stiff cock, growing faster and faster with her squeezes. Though she loved his mouth on hers, relished the way he explored her with his tongue, she pulled away to sit up. Carefully, she pressed her pelvis hard against his, reached behind her, and cupped his balls.

  His breaths grew shallow.

  She rolled his testicles in her palm, lightly tugging on them, all the while fucking him without moving anything but her inner muscles. The power and control she experienced made her feel like the sexiest damn woman on Earth. To have this big, strong M
arine under her control without the benefit of anything but a gentle touch and some muscle contractions.

  He flicked her nipples, and she jerked a bit, losing her rhythm for a moment, but she got it back quickly. It was when he lowered one hand from her breast to her clit that she grabbed his wrist and pulled it away. She couldn’t concentrate on the motionless fuck if he distracted her with too much pleasure.

  “Let me—”

  “No,” she said and laced her fingers through his to occupy his hand so he couldn’t touch her. “I want to feel you come inside of me.”

  He groaned and gripped her hand tight.

  “Come on.” She sped her muscle flutter and squeezed as tight as humanly possible each time. “Come for me, Pete. Let me feel all that hot sweetness inside of me.”

  He groaned, and his thigh muscles tightened. She slid her hand down farther between his legs. While cupping his balls, she pressed against that sweet spot under his testicles with her fingertips.

  That grip he had on her hand grew painful, and he moaned. “Shellll…”

  “Let me feel your cum, Pete. I want it all.”

  With a shout, he jerked once, thrusting up inside of her, and pulsed his release while she clenched her inner muscles so tight it was almost painful for her to hold.

  He gasped then seemed to sink into the bed before he gripped her arm in his free hand, pulled her down over him, and buried his face in her hair. Closing her eyes, she listened to his heart thud against his chest and his deep breaths. Pulling her hand from his, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. In that moment, she never wanted to move, never wanted to let him go.

  “Who would have thought you knew how to talk dirty?”

  She chuckled and turned her head to nuzzle her mouth and nose against his neck. “I’ve called you enough names it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.”

  He laughed and held her tight. His cock slowly softened within her. “Why didn’t you let me touch you? You didn’t climax.”

  How was she to explain that she didn’t care about that? All she’d wanted was to give him relief. “It’s okay. I owed you one from the other night.”