Page 23 of Dare
“I’ma hacker.”
Again,I have no idea if he’s serious. “So, I should worry about my bank account andchange all my passwords?”
Hechuckles, and I picture his smile. It’s really not fair for a man who looks likehim to also have the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. “Your accounts are safe. Iwork in cyber security.”
“Youwork from home?” I ask, surprised we may have that in common.
“Sometimes.Depends on what I’m working on.” He’s vague, and his tone shows me he reallydoesn’t want to elaborate even before he changes the subject. “So, what did youdo today?”
“Afriend of mine asked me to come in and teach a dance routine to one of herstudents, then I hung out with a friend.”
“Youdance? What style?”
“Iused to dance ballet, but the dance we’re working on is contemporary. Herstudent has a competition coming and needed some help.”
“Adancer,” he groans. “That explains your tight little body. How am I supposed tosleep now? All I can picture is you in only a tutu.”
Hearinghim describe my body is bittersweet. I do have a well-toned dancer’s figure,but it’s sure not what he’s picturing. “I don’t wear a tutu.”
“Inmy spank bank you do.”
“Ohmy god. You didn’t just say that.”
“Nakedin a tutu moaning for me when you come, just like last night.”
I’mso torn. Part of me wants to go over there, strip naked and ride him like a twohumped camel out of Egypt, but I just can’t. I don’t want to see the revulsionon his face when his fantasy dancer turns out to have a body like FreddyKrueger. “I’m going to sleep now.”
“Don’tbe embarrassed. It was hot as hell. Next time I want to hear you scream myname.”
“Therewon’t be a next time.”
“Likehell there won’t.”
“Goodnight, Dare.”
“Goodnight, Ayda.”
ChapterSix
Dare
“Areyou sure about this guy?” Landon asks. All the members of ISH are gathered atour new headquarters, and I’ve spent the last few minutes vouching for Tucker.Justus and Jeremy are on board, but Landon is a bit skeptical.
“Assure as anyone can be. He’s killed to protect a woman. He’s not going to turnus in for protecting children. Also, he was a soldier, so he knows how tohandle himself.”
Landon’sgirlfriend, Zoe, cuddles up to his side. She’s the only one outside of ourgroup who knows what we do. We intervened when her brother’s boyfriend wasbeing abused. I never thought Landon would settle down with a woman, butwatching him with Zoe makes me think of Ayda.
There’sso much she doesn’t know about me, and though I want to get to know her—andfuck her brains out—I’m afraid to let her get too close or learn too much aboutme. She’s sweet and kind. I doubt a criminal ex-con would be her type.
Ifinally get a reluctant nod from Landon and he asks, “Do you want me to go withyou when you take Tucker out to the farm?”
Hisgaze travels to Zoe and back to me, and I know he’s hoping I’ll pass on thatoffer. I swear he tries to spend every minute with that girl. Don’t get mewrong, Zoe is great. She has no problem hanging out and she can throw ourbullshit back at us without hesitation. I’m happy for Landon, even though itmeans we don’t get to hit the bars like we used to.
“Nooffense, but I’d rather take him in the daylight.”
“Poorraisin,” Justus teases, faking a mournful tone. He’s joking around like usual,but I know Jed is still on his mind.
“Fuckoff, stripper,” Landon replies, slinging his arm around Zoe. Landon and I havebeen friends since we were kids. He has a genetic disease that prevents himfrom going outside in the daytime. The smallest amount of sunlight leaves himwith severe burns and a high risk for skin cancers.
