Double Dare Part 2

"Believe me, I know all about dares."

"Then you know how humiliating it is to back down from one, don't you?" As she spoke, Audra s.h.i.+fted so she stood between his legs. He wanted to pull her against him, to feel her body give way to the straining flesh pressing against his now too-tight jeans. She traced a finger over his mouth. Jesse's lip tingled, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling that finger into his mouth and sucking on it. He was a pa.s.sionate man-it was in his blood-but he'd never experienced this level of deep, dark excitement.

"Oh, yeah, a dare refused is a guarantee of humiliation," he agreed.

"Sometimes a dare accepted holds the same guarantee."

Was she talking about her deal with Davey? Larson could be involved in anything from credit card fraud to ident.i.ty theft. What had he pa.s.sed to Audra? Jesse was going to have to find out.

"It sounds like you're an expert on dares," he said.

Something dimmed the sparkle in her huge brown eyes. To Jesse, it looked like a combination of indecision and reluctance. Her gaze slid past him, a frown quirked her brow, and then she puffed out a little sigh.

"How about we blow this joint? Find a little privacy and get to know each other better?"

His mouth went so dry, Jesse couldn't reply. Instead, he nodded.

Desire ripping through him like a jagged knife, he followed Audra out of the nightclub, his gaze glued on the tantalizing sway of her leather-clad hips.

Jesse told himself he was just playing along for the case. He had to follow her to find out what she knew. That was all. He didn't intend to let it get out of hand.

But for the first time in his six-year career as a cop, he wondered if he could keep his pants on long enough to arrest a woman before having desperate, mind-blowing s.e.x with her.

AUDRA WELCOMED the warm evening air after the stifling, sticky heat of the club. Her ears still ringing from the loud music, she took in a few deep breaths and wished for a breeze. the warm evening air after the stifling, sticky heat of the club. Her ears still ringing from the loud music, she took in a few deep breaths and wished for a breeze.

"Did you want to go somewhere? Get something to eat or some coffee?" Jesse offered. His hand warmed her hip as he s.h.i.+fted to protect her from being jostled by the partyers shoving past them to leave the club.

Did she want to go anywhere? Audra eyed the hunk at her side and puffed out a breath. He was hot, no question about it. But more, he had a layer of sweetness that had her alternating between wanting to hug him close and lick him all over. The latter boded well for her current predicament, the former was better avoided.

After all, thanks to that crazy man who'd freaked out over her offer to get friendly, Jesse had become her new dare. Not that she was proud to have the first failed dare chalked up under her name. But at least that failure came with a sweet reward. She eyed Jesse in delight. He'd make this dare a pleasure.

All she had to do was focus on the rush of s.e.xual energy arcing between them like a rainbow, a bone-melting o.r.g.a.s.m the promised reward. And ignore the spark of emotion, the weird desire to get to know him better. After a year of watching her brother and his bride grow closer, she'd probably just picked up on their couple vibe. Like a virus, that kind of thing could only be dangerous to her health, though. So she'd ignore it.

"How about we find someplace quiet," she suggested with a wink, "and see what comes up?"

From the widening of those delicious coffee-brown eyes, he got her message. The heat there told her he was all for it, but then his gaze s.h.i.+fted, became more reserved.

"There's a little coffee shop nearby," he countered. "We can order something to drink, maybe a piece of pie, and talk?"

He was kidding, right? Audra stopped and looked closer. There was a hint of color on his cheeks, but that could just be the neon lights. He was gorgeous, no question about that. And s.e.xy as h.e.l.l, but he didn't seem used to the club scene. Was he playing hard to get? Or was he one of those? A fabled good boy?

She squinted, taking in his shadowed jawline, his crooked nose, and the slight frown between his heavy brows. She couldn't tell for sure. After all, she'd never known a good boy.

"Wouldn't you rather go somewhere a little more private?" she asked.

He closed his eyes for a second, as if in prayer, then opened them and gave her a tight smile. "Let's talk a little first, huh?"

From the stiff set of his shoulders, he didn't mean dirty talk. Intrigued by the novelty, Audra smiled and nodded. "Okay, then. Your car or mine?"

"It's close. We can walk."

Audra laughed aloud. "Walk?" She lifted one foot to show off the four-inch heels of her spiked black pumps and pointed her toe. "These feet have been known to do many things," she paused suggestively, "but they don't walk any farther than necessary."

"Aren't you concerned about getting into a car with a strange man? A beautiful woman like yourself needs to be cautious."

From someone else, that might have sounded patronizing. Jesse, though, seemed genuinely concerned. His gaze locked on hers, warmth and sincerity clear in the brown depths. She noted the protective hand on her hip, not groping or sliding down her b.u.t.t, but simply keeping her from being jostled.

Something warmed in Audra. n.o.body had ever shown concern for her before. It felt...odd. A good kind of odd, though. Could he really be that sweet?

She gave him a warm smile and said, "I'm used to taking care of myself, promise. I'm a good judge of character and I fight nasty." The can of Mace in her purse didn't hurt, either. "n.o.body tries anything with me I don't want without regretting it."

He gave a contemplative nod, but didn't try to pull any macho c.r.a.p by arguing or trying to prove he was tough. Audra's respect rose a few notches. How wild. She was really liking this guy. She just might want to see if this dare could lead to something more.

Depending on his performance on her "O" scale, of course.

"Let's take my car," she suggested. "I prefer the driver's seat."

She slid her hand in his and s.h.i.+vered a little at the hard strength of his palm and long, narrow fingers.

"So," he said as they made their way to the parking lot, "that guy didn't look like your type."

Audra looked at the milling partiers in confusion. "Which guy?"

"The one in the club back there. You know, the dorky guy you had the 'sort of' date with."

"Oh, him. No, he's definitely not my type." Audra suppressed a shudder. What a geek.

"Do you have to deal with that a lot? I'd think a woman as gorgeous as you are wouldn't need blind dates."

"You know how that goes. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you nail a prince."

Thanks to the geek-or Dave, as he'd introduced himself-being a nervous wreck, she'd lucked out and wouldn't be locking lips with any toads tonight.

Would she be nailing this prince, though? Audra gave Jesse the once-over out of the corner of her eye. He sure looked like a prince. Hot, s.e.xy and ready to be crowned.

They reached her car and she dropped Jesse's hand to fish through her purse for her keys.

"I'll bet you're going to have a few things to say to whatever supposed supposed friend set you up, huh?" friend set you up, huh?"

"Why?"

"What kind of friend sets you up with a loser?"

"The kind who think they know best and are afraid I might break away from the gang."

"Gang?"

Audra frowned at the edge of cynicism in his tone. "Gang, club. You know, a group you hang with regularly? I take it you're not into clubs," she asked with a tilt of her head.

"I'm not into anything that pushes me to do things I'm uncomfortable doing."

She pursed her lips and gave him a long look. She'd bet she could push him to do quite a few things he hadn't been comfortable with before. And have him thanking her afterward. But she wasn't the kind to give away secrets, so she just smiled and gave a dismissive, one-shouldered shrug.

"Your date with that dork wasn't your idea, I take it?"

Audra grimaced. "Not hardly. More like I gave in to pressure and my need to keep my standing with my friends. And almost ended up with a very regrettable evening. Although-" she clicked the lock b.u.t.ton on her key fob "-I have to say I came out the winner here. If not for them, I wouldn't be here with you, would I?"

Audra turned and in a smooth, easy move, pinned Jesse between her body and the car. She almost purred aloud. Even in heels, he still towered over her, the hard length of his body inviting her to lean into his warmth. Very nice. This dare was turning into pure pleasure, no longer a means to prove her Wicked Chick status to her friends. She wanted to get closer to Jesse. Just for herself.

With her slowest, most seductive smile, she watched him from under her fringe of lashes. His eyes had that slightly glazed look that a.s.sured her he liked the feel of her body against his. She s.h.i.+mmied a little, just to be sure she had his attention.

As she slid her free hand up his biceps, this time she did purr aloud. "Yum. You're in fabulous shape. What do you do for a workout?"

"A little weights, some martial arts," he replied, his attention more on her caresses than her question. Both hands settled lightly on her hips, clenched, then gripped her curves fully. "So what made you pick this club tonight?"

"Hmm? Wild Thing? It's a fun place, one of the best in Sacramento. I'd planned a little celebration, although it didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped. But I think you're the perfect celebratory present to myself."

Audra wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned further into his welcoming body. She brushed her lips over his, more a teasing temptation than a real kiss. Heated excitement swirled through her, making sensation spiral from her lips to the damp center between her legs. G.o.d, if he got her this turned on with barely a kiss, how would she feel when he put his hands on her? When he put his mouth on her body?

Desire was edged with impatience. She wanted to know. She had to know. She was sure Jesse would be a delicious lover. The kind that rated at least an eight on her "O" scale. She'd yet to find a perfect ten, but a solid eight could definitely be coached.

Backing off a little, she leaned her head back to see what he'd do. How he'd react.

"That's not much of a present," he commented.

Then he took her mouth. Took it in a way she'd only dreamt of before. His hands, gentle yet firm, cupped her head and held her where he wanted. Just for his pleasure. He nibbled at the corners of her mouth softly. Then, as she was smiling at the sweetness of it, he plunged his tongue between her lips in a swift, powerful move.

She was so used to being the aggressor that for the first couple of seconds she remained pa.s.sive out of surprise. Then, pleasure shooting through her like an arrow, she met his tongue with hers in a dance of s.e.xual delight.

Audra clenched her thighs to intensify the sensation. More. She definitely wanted more from this man.

"Wait," he breathed, breaking away from her mouth. "We should get to know each other better. You know, talk or something."

"I vote for 'or something.'"

"Did you say you got stuck on an almost sort-of date with that dork because your friend threatened you?" he asked, his words coming in a gasp as she pressed the beaded tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s against his chest. "Doesn't sound like much of a club to me."

"They're just worried about me."

Maybe they had reason to worry, too. Audra hadn't realized she wasn't much interested in meaningless s.e.x and constant partying until tonight's fiasco. After all, at twenty-five, she was d.a.m.ned hot, exciting and interesting, even if she didn't get as wild as she used to. Maybe a part of her-deep inside-worried there wasn't any more to her than her bad girl persona. But as a rule, she tended to ignore that snarky worrying part. Even when snarky turned to screaming, as it had tonight.

"You know how it is when you get in tight with friends, people who've known you, like, most of your life? They want you to stay in their tidy box, keep with their perception of you. Sometimes you have to pacify them with proof you're still a part of the gang, you know?"

To distract them both, she pulled away a bit to run her hands up the delicious, hard expanse of his chest. "Why are we wasting time talking about this? Let's move on to more exciting subjects. Like, say, how you look naked?"

3.

JESSE SWORE his heart stopped. All blood rushed from his head to his...well, other head. d.a.m.n, he'd never been as turned on or as unable to do anything about it as he was right this minute. Audra, with her promise of hot, sticky-sweet pleasure, was technically off-limits. his heart stopped. All blood rushed from his head to his...well, other head. d.a.m.n, he'd never been as turned on or as unable to do anything about it as he was right this minute. Audra, with her promise of hot, sticky-sweet pleasure, was technically off-limits.

But her hands were doing incredible things to his body. Long, delicate fingers traced a path from his shoulders, over his nipples and down to his belt. Jesse wanted to say screw police procedure and guide those fingers lower. He breathed in the rich scent of her perfume and tried to remember she was still a suspect.

And after her comments, especially her confession of gang affiliation, Jesse knew she was Davey's crime ring connection. And it was his job to find out exactly how she fit into the organization and use it to break the case. He might prefer to do that job behind a computer, but there were definite benefits to this unfamiliar fieldwork. The temptation of Audra's body pressed against his was proving to be an almost irresistible benefit.

"So tonight was the first time you'd met that guy?" he asked. "He seemed a little overwhelmed when he saw you."

Not that Jesse was surprised there. Davey was a dork, sure. But Audra was the kind of woman that would overwhelm any guy, present company included.

"He was a bit freaked, I guess," Audra said distractedly. Her attention was focused on the soft, damp kisses she was scattering over his jaw and throat. Jesse's eyes fluttered shut as his body, already turned on by their kiss and the feel of her pressed against him, went into overdrive when she reached the open collar of his s.h.i.+rt and trailed her tongue across his collarbone.

"Why don't we take this inside," she suggested in that husky lisp.

"Back in the club?" Maybe that would be safer? She'd still be temptation in spiked heels, but at least he'd have a crowd to remind him why taking those heels off to nibble on her toes was a bad idea.

"In the car."

His eyes flew open. He looked at her. Huge doe eyes stared back at him. Her lips were damp, a sleek, succulent red and it was all he could do not to sink into their ripe promise. He tore his gaze from her mouth to glance at her compact silver car.

"That's a little cramped, don't you think?"

"Let's find out."

With that, she nudged him aside and tugged the pa.s.senger door of her toy-like convertible open.

"I think this probably isn't such a good idea."

Audra tilted her head to the side and arched one perfect brow. "No? I think it's a great idea. I think maybe you're just a little...reserved." She pressed against him again until he felt the edge of the door frame against his calves. "I think maybe you're not used to being seduced."

"Is that what you're doing? Seducing me?"

Had he ever been seduced? Jesse flipped through his mental database of his past encounters. He'd had his share of flings, a few deeper relations.h.i.+ps and one lady he'd been serious enough about to bring home to meet the family. He wouldn't call any of the women repressed, by any means. But, he realized, he'd always been the aggressor. The go-to-it guy.

He couldn't remember ever being in the pa.s.sive role of seducee. Most women he'd been with were happy to let him lead. h.e.l.l, he'd discovered getting a woman to even voice what turned her on was a major accomplishment. And Audra wanted to seduce him? Oh, yeah, baby.

"I'll bet I can seduce you with words alone," she suggested softly.

"Just words?"

"Just words. You, of course, are free to touch. I, though, won't use anything but my voice."