Stolen Kisses

  The buzzer on the wall went off. Dax nodded toward the door. “I ordered sushi.”

  Kenzi didn’t look like she wanted to leave his side, but she did. “I’ll buzz him in.”

  As soon as she stepped away, Dale said, “If you hurt Kenzi, I’ll kill you.”

  Dax arched one eyebrow. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Do you think I’m joking?”

  “No, sir, I don’t.”

  “What are you doing with my daughter?”

  Dax didn’t answer that one. He didn’t see how the truth would help.

  Dale continued, “Are you in love with her?”

  “With all due respect, Dale, love isn’t a word in my vocabulary.” Dale’s eyes narrowed, but Dax continued, “The rest, as Kenzi said, is our business.”

  Kenzi cleared her throat behind them. She was close enough to have heard Dax’s answer to her father’s question. The tight smile on her face said she had. Part of him wanted to deny what he’d said, tell her . . . anything that would bring the smile back to her eyes. Instead he gave her a long unapologetic look and took the bag of food from her.

  Kenzi stood there blinking as she sorted out her reaction. Finally she looked at her father and asked, “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

  Dale had a carefully neutral expression on his face. “No, your mother is expecting me.”

  “Tell her I’ll come by the house tomorrow morning.”

  Dale didn’t look happy about leaving, but he didn’t have much choice. He hugged Kenzi then gave Dax one last meaningful glare. It would have been funny if Kenzi hadn’t looked as conflicted as she did. She wanted her father to be happy and to respect her decision. From what Dax had seen it was one or the other with her family. He didn’t like that. “I’ll go with you tomorrow, Kenzi.”

  Kenzi’s eyes rounded with surprise. “You want to meet my mother?”

  “If you want me to.”

  A cautious smile split Kenzi’s face. “She’ll be curious about you, so that would actually be really nice.”

  Dale inhaled audibly but didn’t say whatever he was thinking. He gave Kenzi a kiss on the cheek. “See you both tomorrow, then.”

  The look he gave Dax just before he left was as if he was trying to figure him out. Dax could have told him it was a waste of time.

  None of this makes sense to me, either.

  Sir.

  Chapter Eleven

  As soon as her father was gone, Kenzi turned to Dax. “Sorry about that.”

  Dax placed the bag of food on the coffee table in the living room. He walked to where Kenzi was standing and took her in his arms. “Don’t worry about me.”

  She melted against him, loving his strength. “I will if I want to.”

  He chuckled and kissed her temple. “I’m getting that sense about you.”

  Kenzi arched her neck back so she could look at Dax. She remembered what he’d said to her father about love not being in his vocabulary. He’d meant it. Dax equated love with his father’s string of marriages. He hadn’t said he loved her, and maybe that was a good thing. Whatever this was, it was more real than anything she’d experienced before.

  Love is just a four-letter word people say too easily and rarely mean.

  Dax and I are friends.

  We care about each other . . .

  That’s what matters.

  Dax lowered his mouth to the exposed curve of her neck and kissed his way up to her ear. Desire shot through Kenzi as her body readied itself for him. Oh, yes, and there’s that.

  His breath was a hot tickle on her ear as he asked, “Are you curious about your other gift?”

  Kenzi was already unbuttoning the front of his shirt. “I will be later.”

  Dax removed his suit jacket and shirt, and Kenzi bit her bottom lip at the beauty of him. He stepped out of his shoes and socks and stood there smiling at her as if he could read her thoughts. Her naughty, “God, I hope he screws me all night” thoughts. Kenzi ran her hands up his strong arms and down his muscled chest. I don’t care how we label this, it’s too good to ruin by overthinking it.

  Dax made record time removing her clothing before stepping out of the rest of his. Right there in her living room, they kissed and explored each other’s bodies with a slow wonderment, as if it were their first time. The taste of him filled her senses. The strength of him made her eager to feel him above her, thrusting down into her. Like him, she took her time, because it was too good to rush. Every kiss, every caress, was so intense it moved Kenzi almost to tears. She’d never been with a man who felt so right.

  Wanting him to feel as good as she was feeling, Kenzi sank to her knees in front of him and took his manhood in her hands with the intention of taking him into her mouth. He gripped the sides of her head, stopping her almost before she started. “Do you know what I want even more than to come in your mouth?”

  Kenzi froze and shook her head. She was sexually experienced, but there were things on her list she’d never done, wasn’t sure she’d ever do. She didn’t know if he was about to ask her to do one of those things.

  He dipped his thumb into her mouth then ran it across her open lips. “I want you so out of your mind that you can’t take me deep enough, that you’ll come while I do. Or so damn close it doesn’t matter. Then I want to watch you come again because you can’t help yourself.”

  Kenzi flicked his thumb with the tip of her tongue. “Yes.”

  “Then get my present.”

  Present? What present? Then she remembered the bag near the door. He helped her to her feet, and she went to retrieve it. Inside the bag she found a small rectangular box. She walked back to him and opened it. It wasn’t the first silver bullet she’d ever seen, but it was the first one a man had ever given her. She’d talked to a boyfriend about toys once, and he’d gotten defensive, as if they would be competition. She’d never mentioned them after that. Dax was different. He was confident and wanted to ensure her pleasure while she pleasured him. The one he’d chosen was simple and non-threatening. She held it up and asked cheekily, “No bunny?”

  He pulled her against him again, cupping her ass with his hands while his hard cock jutted against her stomach as he growled into her ear, “Do you want to try it? I want you to right now.”

  All joking fell to the wayside. She loved when he spoke to her that way. He knew what he wanted, and because she trusted him completely she found his demands sexy. “Let’s do it.”

  Dax took it from her and walked them both over to one of her couches. He sat down, pulled her in front of him, and lifted one of her legs so her foot rested on the couch beside him. She steadied herself with a hand on his shoulder and gloried in being spread wide for him. He turned the bullet vibrator on and ran it first along the inside of her thighs, then across the mound of her sex. Kenzi bent to kiss him hungrily. His tongue fucked her mouth thoroughly while he eased the tip of it between her wet lips.

  He settled the toy on her clit and slid two fingers inside her. He moved them deeper and deeper. Kenzi sighed with pleasure into his kiss. He eased his fingers out and back in slowly, then with more speed. Kenzi thought she’d come right then, but before she could he broke off their kiss. He moved one of her hands over the vibrator and said, “Show me what you like, but don’t come. Save that for me, Kenzi.”

  As he watched, Kenzi moved the bullet back and forth over herself, adjusting it so it rested perfectly against the spot she knew would send her over the top. As she approached orgasm again, Dax said, “Get on your knees, but don’t stop. You come when I come, Kenzi. Only when I come. Do that for me.”

  Near to speechlessly aroused, Kenzi would have promised him anything. She was far beyond thinking. She sank to her knees. He adjusted her position so he could resume using the bullet while she gave him what she hoped was an equally amazing blow job. She’d performed oral sex before and would have said that she didn’t dislike it. It was something men loved. This time was different. Her body was wildly excited, a
nd she wasn’t thinking about technique, daydreaming, waiting for it to be over. She was on fire for Dax and sucked him with all the feral need burning through her. She raised and lowered her mouth onto him while he thrust a finger inside her. She couldn’t get enough of him as she again approached climax.

  He gripped the hair on the back of her head and said, “Now, Kenzi. I’m going to come. Come with me.”

  She heard him and joined him as if it were the most natural thing to obey a command to orgasm. She swallowed his juices while hers flowed down his hand, and even with him in her mouth, she made wild noises as she climaxed.

  She raised her head and met his eyes. “Oh, my God, that was amazing.”

  “We’re not done,” he ordered softly. He held a hand out to her. “Come up here.”

  She held her toy against herself then straddled his spread knees. His hand went between her legs and took over again. “Come for me again, Kenzi.”

  Kenzi balanced herself by holding onto his shoulders while he slid the bullet lengthwise between her lower lips. He slid it inside her, then out, and back and forth lengthwise again.

  Kenzi arched in excitement, and he took one of her breasts into his mouth, sucking then circling her nipple with his tongue. He played her body with expertise until she was once again shaking with need.

  Just as she approached another climax, he removed the bullet and eased her back onto her feet. He stood, put on a condom, then turned her toward the couch and eased her forward until she was bent before him.

  Kenzi closed her eyes and cried out at how good he felt when he drove himself into her from behind. No toy could compare to how well he filled her, how powerfully he claimed her. He cupped her breasts and swore softly into her ear as he lost control finally and pounded into her sex.

  He pulled out, turned her, and pushed her back so her back rested on the arm and back of the couch while her feet were on the floor. He lifted her feet, spread her legs wide and thrust into her deeply.

  Kenzi came, screaming his name. He continued to pound into her a few more times before he came with a final thrust.

  Dax pulled out, cleaned off, then lifted her into his arms and carried her to bed. He laid her gently down, covered her with the bed sheet, and joined her beneath them. Kenzi snuggled against him, and he kissed her cheek and groaned.

  She hugged him tightly. “You have good taste in presents.”

  “And you have a fucking amazing mouth.”

  They lay tangled for a long time, coming back to earth together and simply enjoying holding each other. Although it wasn’t yet night, they dozed.

  Kenzi woke to her phone ringing. She ignored it at first but it rang again. She slid out from beneath a still-sleeping Dax and went to find it.

  When she looked at who was calling and checked her text messages, she wished she hadn’t. Her father must have said something to her brothers because they were not only trying to get in touch with her, but they were saying they’d be there the next morning when she brought Dax by.

  She looked up and saw the silver bullet he’d bought her still lying next to the couch. She cleaned it off, put it away, and gathered up the clothes she and Dax had shed all over her living room. No one was saying they’d drop by, but with her family anything was possible.

  Breakfast with her brothers? Dax hadn’t signed up for that. Would he back out?

  There wasn’t an ice cube’s chance in hell that a meeting between her brothers and Dax would go well. They’d hated everyone she’d ever dated.

  I can’t do that to Dax.

  Dax woke to Kenzi climbing back into bed beside him. He tucked her back against his side and stroked her hair in wonder. When he wasn’t with her he could almost convince himself he could walk away from her. But when she was with him she felt as vital to him as air.

  It was scary shit.

  And amazing.

  She wasn’t fragile anymore. Had she ever been? The past might have knocked her down, but in the short time he’d known her, she’d found her footing. He wouldn’t say she was changing, but she was standing straighter, smiling easier.

  She was also fucking incredible in bed; he didn’t know how he’d go back to being with other women. He couldn’t imagine ever wanting to. The idea was less scary every time he thought about it.

  It was more than the sex, though. It was the way she’d stood up to her father, winning the argument without feeling that she had to hurt anyone to do it. It was the way she’d chosen Taffy instead of a purebred puppy almost everyone else he knew would have preferred.

  Kenzi Barrington was a good person, a better one than he was. Better than almost everyone he knew.

  He remembered her face when she’d heard him say love wasn’t in his vocabulary. For the first time in his life he wished it were. Life didn’t work that way, though. He’d done many things a man with a conscience would regret. No, he’d never lied to anyone, but he’d also never shown mercy. In business, as well as in his personal life, he’d never taken into account how others felt. He’d always believed that, at the end of the day, even a friend like Clay would betray him.

  Clay never had, and being with Kenzi made Dax wish he’d appreciated that earlier. He’d considered Clay the closest thing to family he had, but even that hadn’t afforded him the loyalty it should have. Why should he when one day he’d disappoint him as well?

  And Dean Henderson.

  Another man might have been jealous of him, but Kenzi’s eyes didn’t light up when she mentioned him. He believed she genuinely felt guilty that Dean had kept his silence to protect her, and she’d never done anything to clear his name.

  Kenzi caressed Dax’s chest. “You don’t look happy.”

  “I’m thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “About your friend Dean.”

  “Oh.” Her expression turned cautious. “He and I were never anything but friends.”

  Friends.

  Dax suddenly didn’t like how he also shared that title.

  Kenzi touched his temple. “Now you’re frowning. You believe me, don’t you? I wouldn’t lie about something like that.”

  “I believe you.” I just don’t like it. “Do you ever see him?”

  Kenzi shook her head. “My parents really didn’t want me around him, so I stayed away. I feel like I should say something to him now, so he’d know how grateful I am, but I haven’t spoken to him since I moved away.”

  Dax’s hand tightened on Kenzi’s lower back. “I’ll talk to him.”

  Kenzi’s eyes flew to Dax’s. “You? What would you say?”

  Dax hadn’t thought that far ahead. His comment had been a knee-jerk reaction to not wanting her to go to Dean, looking for a way to make an old wrong up to him. “He’s going to lose his company if he doesn’t do something soon. The writing is on the wall.”

  Kenzi went up onto one elbow and looked down at him in shocked surprise. “You’d help him?”

  Fuck. Is that what I’m saying?

  “I could offer him some advice.” Dax closed his eyes briefly as he imagined how well that would be received by Dean.

  Kenzi’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t know how much that would mean to me. If I knew I was somehow able to repay Dean—” Her voice broke, and she shook her head. “Dax, you are the most wonderful man I’ve ever met.” She kissed him then, effectively wiping Dean and everything else out of Dax’s thoughts. Her breasts bounced against his chest as he pulled her on top of him.

  It didn’t take more than that for talking to be replaced by frenzied kissing. They rolled so she was beneath him, and Dax let everything else fall away. Tonight was about being with Kenzi, and he wasn’t about to waste a moment of it thinking about another man.

  In fact, he wasn’t going to think about anything besides how to get Kenzi begging for him to take her again. And again. And then tomorrow morning, once again if they could still move.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kenzi hadn’t found the right moment the night
before to tell Dax that her brothers would be at her parents’ house, waiting for them. She tried to tell him several times while they got dressed that morning. Dax had his driver bring him fresh clothes, and there was plenty of time to say something while they waited. Kenzi simply didn’t know what to say.

  She didn’t want to make it seem like he shouldn’t go, but then she didn’t want him to feel he had to. Ever since she’d come home as an adult, her brothers had driven away every man she’d introduced them to. She knew not to take anyone home to meet her parents, but that didn’t stop her brothers from showing up at a restaurant she was eating at or a social gathering. Lance would appear first and ask a hundred questions about her date’s personal life. Ian would attempt to smooth the situation over, but he could be just as bad when it came to making what would have been a conversation into an interrogation. If that didn’t scare the guy off, Asher would take him aside and threaten him with something. Kenzi didn’t know what since no one ever said, but the guy always came back looking shaken. If he stayed around by some miracle, Grant would lecture him on the importance of financial planning and stability. That was usually the last straw. Andrew wasn’t around much, but if he was he had no problem threatening her date’s life right in front of her. As a rule, men were best hidden from her family.

  Kenzi couldn’t imagine Dax answering many of Lance’s questions. Nor could she see him being intimidated by Asher. He seemed like the type who would debate financial strategies with Grant. She didn’t know what Dax thought about the Marines, but she had the feeling he’d respect them.

  So what am I afraid of? If Dax doesn’t want to meet them, he’ll say so. If he does, they won’t get the best of him. They couldn’t drive him away—could they?

  There it is. The reason I haven’t told him.

  I want him to want to meet them, but what if, like all the other men who’ve met my family, he walks? I couldn’t blame him.

  What if Dax isn’t as strong as I think he is? What if he’s just a wonderful man who, after he meets my family, decides I’m not worth the hassle?