Chapter Seventeen Ava
F or the second night in a row, I woke up next to Dare Kavanaugh. But this time I wasn’t going anywhere, and that had nothing to do with the fact he currently had his arms wrapped around me in my bed.
Glancing over my shoulder, Dare shot me a sleepy, yet sexy smirk. “Good morning,” he rumbled in an impossibly deep voice.
With a grunt, I smoothed my bed hair down. “There’s nothing good about mornings.”
“Come on. Waking up beside me makes any morning epically good.”
I laughed. “You never stop, do you?”
“Nope.”
“Did you sleep well?”
He chuckled. “Do you mean once we finally kept our hands off of each other?”
I grinned. “Yes. I suppose so.”
After our initial sex session at the restaurant, we’d come to my place. After a shower, we’d gone a round in bed before once again retreating to the shower. It was amazing what a shot of Ouzo would do for a sore pussy. It had serious healing properties.
Along with getting clean, we’d also gone for another round. It was long after the water had run cold that we finally exited the shower. Dare certainly had a shower kink considering how much he liked to get busy in them.
“I slept like a fucking log, which usually doesn’t happen when I have someone in my bed.”
“Because you only fuck women–you don’t sleep with them.”
“I slept with you. Twice.”
“The first time was because you were drunk, and last night was a geographical fluke since you weren’t in Boston.”
“I could’ve called one of my men to come get me.”
“I’m not sure I like the idea of you having all these men at your beck and call,” I teased.
“Sorry, babe. That’s what happens when you wheel and deal like I do.”
When I shifted in bed, my vagina once again ached in protest, causing me to wince. Since it was entirely too early for Ouzo, I would have to grab some Advil.
“Fuck, was I too much again?” Dare asked, his expression filled with concern.
“It’s not as bad today as it was yesterday.”
“Good.”
“At the same time, I think it needs a little rest.”
Dare groaned. “Does that mean no quickie for the road?”
“Not until I get a little Motrin in my system.”
Wagging his brows, he replied, “Is that a ploy to get me to stay longer?”
“Am I that transparent?”
“You and that sassy mouth,” Dare mused before grabbing me by the waist. I squealed as he rolled on top of me, Just as Dare flicked his tongue in my mouth, his phone dinged on the nightstand.
Pulling away, he stared into my eyes. “Normally, I would ignore it, but I’m pretty sure it’s probably one of my brothers about this family thing we have today.”
“It’s okay. I need to pee anyway.”
As I climbed over him, Dare reached for his phone. After I peed, washed my hands, and brushed my teeth, I came out to find Dare getting dressed. When he met my gaze, he grimaced.
“I have to go.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I mused, “Ah, I get it now. Last night was a revenge fuck for me leaving you. And now you’re going to stick it to me by abandoning me in the light of day.”
A sexy grin curved on Dare’s face as he came to stand before me. “I would love to stick it to you many, many times today.”
“Is that right?”
Pulling me against him, he then rolled his hips against mine. “After the three times last night, how are you possibly hard again?” I gasped as desire flamed between my thighs.
“Because, my Grecian Goddess, you make me insatiable, especially standing before me in all your naked glory.”
A very unattractive snort erupted from my nose. “That is such a manwhore thing to say.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.”
“Prove it.”
His brows popped up. “You want me to prove I’m not a player?”
Maybe his cockiness was rubbing off on me. I normally never challenged men. Especially one’s I barely knew. Okay, so maybe I knew Dare very well in the biblical sense, but for the most part, he was still a mystery to me.”
“All right, Ms. Carras, I’m going to call your bluff.”
“I’d love to see it.”
“Come back to Boston with me today.”
“What did you have in mind to do with me?” I asked coyly.
“My nephew’s birthday party.”
My smile vanished. “Excuse me?”
“I’m having to fuck and run this morning because it’s my nephew’s first birthday party.” Appearing thoughtful, Dare said, “He’s sort of my nephew as well as my godson. I mean, he’s not blood. It’s more by marriage since he’s my sister-in-law, Isla's nephew.” Waving his hand dismissively, Dare said, “Regardless of what he is, I have to attend his party.”
“You do?”
Puffing out his chest, he added proudly, “I’m his godfather.”
“You’re joking.”
“I am not.” When I continued staring at him, he replied, “Okay, I’m not the official godfather. That role went to my brother, Quinn. But my other brother and I were honorary godfathers.”
“You’re really serious.”
“I am. I stood at the altar and everything.”
Blinking at him, I replied, “No offense, but after what transpired with us last night, you’re hardly godfather material.”
“I resent that.”
“I think you mean you resemble that remark,” I joked.
Dare laughed. “Just because I’m building a casino and I own a nightclub, it has no bearing on my ability to guide Henry’s spiritual journey.”
“I think we’re going to have to disagree on that one.”
“Fine.” Cocking his head at me, he asked, “So will you come with me?”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. I was totally sold on going back to Boston with him when I imagined a date night with dinner and a movie or dinner and dancing. It was quite another to attend a family affair with him. “Call me crazy, but do you usually take casual acquaintances around your family?”
“I think we blew past casual when I stalked you down.”
“I’m serious, Dare.”
“I met your family last night.”
“That was a fluke, and I certainly wouldn’t have asked you to meet them so soon.”
Dare took my hands in his. “Look, we both know you’re gun shy about men and relationships. But I like you. Sure, you’re a fantastic lay–”
“Seriously?”
He scowled at me. “Let me finish.”
“Fine.”
“You’re a fantastic lay, but you’re also a lot more. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had as much fun with a woman as I’ve had with you.”
“Really?”
“Fuck yeah.”
I squeezed his hands. “I had a lot of fun with you the past two nights.”
“Then let’s just have more fun. We don’t have to label anything.”
“But family means something,” I protested.
Appearing thoughtful, Dare said, “So, my brothers are my best friends. Would hanging with friends, rather than family, make it less serious?”
“I don’t know.”
His brows furrowed. “Do you not want to come because you think I’m love bombing you?”
A laugh burst from my lips. “Excuse me?”
“You know, like I’m coming on too strong so I can control you later on.”
“Um, no. That’s not it.”
“That’s what one of my brothers thought.”
My stomach clenched. “You talked about me to your brothers?”
“You talked about me to your nephew and nieces.”
“That doesn’t count. You’d already met them.”
“Yeah, well, I met your family the first night we met.”
I groaned in frustration. “You know. Fine. I’ll go with you to Boston.” As Dare’s blue eyes lit up, I held up a finger. “But not to the birthday party.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because it’s too soon for me to be hanging out with your family. Until then, I’m happy to hang out with you.”
“Can I show you the casino?”
“I’d love that.”
“And you won’t mind hanging out at my place for the afternoon while I’m at the party?”
“Nope. I could also meet you there.”
Dare shook his head. “Oh no. I don’t want you driving by yourself.”
“Please don’t think you’re assigning me a bodyguard.”
“What would be wrong with that?”
“That’s a big love bombing.”
“Okay, okay,” he grumbled.
“Since you have somewhere to be, you can have the shower first if you want,” I suggested.
Dare’s hands came to encircle my waist. “I think we can make use of it at the same time.”
“But I need to find something to wear.”
“And I need to get rid of my morning wood.”
“Considering I have a sore pussy, that sounds like a you problem,” I teased.
“If I make you come, will you at least give me a hand job?”
“You drive a hard bargain but okay.”