Protect Her Read online

  CHAPTER TEN

  Dallas woke up two days after the events at the junk yard. He was in a hospital, and Cleo was by his side.

  In fact, she hadn’t left his side once. It didn't take long for Mark to figure out the reason for it either. When he told her she should go home to bed the first night, she ignored him. The second night she nearly bit his head off. After that he began to see that she was more than just a friend, praying for the recovery of another. She was a lover, praying for the recovery of her partner.

  When he realized why she wouldn’t leave Dallas’ side, Cleo thought that he actually took it pretty well. “So, it’s like that now, huh?” Mark asked.

  “Yeah, I guess it is,” she responded. “He’s….special. And he did save my life – twice.” It was hard for Mark to deny that.

  She also asked Mark to help her friend who needed the money for her visa. It was something that she should have done before, and she couldn’t even remember why she had resisted asking him. Her reasons sounded so paltry now. Mark was only too happy to help her, although of course he had to lecture her on her stupidity once she explained the whole story to him. But he ended the lecture by saying there wasn’t anything she couldn’t ask him for, and that he would always be there for her. Of course, that just made her cry – Mark left shortly after, muttering about sisters and hormones.

  Cleo was resting her head on his chest when Dallas finally woke up, her eyes half-closed as she worked to keep herself awake.

  "Hey..." Dallas said quietly.

  Cleo nearly fell from her seat she was so surprised. "Dallas!" she beamed, throwing herself across his chest.

  "Ugh," Dallas moaned.

  "Sorry," she grimaced; realizing that probably wasn't the best thing to do to a man who had been shot. "How are you... how are you feeling?"

  "Really?" Dallas frowned. "Small talk? Is that where we are?"

  "Shut up," Cleo said, punching him on the arm. "You almost died. I didn’t want to... I didn't know if..." she hesitated, suddenly overcome with tears.

  "Shh, baby. It’s okay. Where's Mark?" Dallas asked.

  "At work. He's been here to see you though. A few times."

  “So everyone’s okay then.”

  “Yeah, everyone is okay,” she affirmed with a tremulous smile.

  "And your brother, he didn't care about you being here?" As he asked the question he reached across and took Cleo by the hand. He was weak, but he squeezed her hand anyway, and she squeezed it back.

  "I don’t care if he does or not, but to answer your question, no I think he understands that we….I mean that we’re….” she trailed off, not knowing how to describe what they “were”.

  Dallas observed her closely. Cleo held his gaze. She was defiant in the way she looked at him, as if gearing up for an argument. Over the past few days she had wondered what was going to happen when he woke. Would he say they should forget about what had happened? That they should just be friends?

  She had considered that too, before he got shot, but the moment he showed up at that warehouse, she knew there was no going back. She wanted him, she wanted them. Together. And although Dallas may have reservations, she was going to convince him otherwise.

  And so, as if to prove a point and stamp her authority on the subject, she leaned down and kissed Dallas on the lips. He didn’t pull back, rather he lifted his lips, and with a slight smile, kissed her back.

  EPILOGUE

  Cleo entered Dallas’ apartment, her mouth watering. She could smell the succulent scents wafting into the hallway. She was absolutely starving, and Dallas had offered to cook her dinner. It was the first “date” they had had since he got out of the hospital.

  “Hi!” she called as she walked into his kitchen. “Whatever you’re cooking smells fabulous. I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!”

  “Really? It’s interesting that you should say that.” Dallas responded.

  Cleo looked at him suspiciously. “Why?” she asked slowly. “What’s for dinner?”

  Dallas starting removing lids from piping hot dishes, giving a narrative as he went. “Well, here we have filet mignon glazed with a garlic and rosemary au jus, and over here there’s bison shank slowly roasted and served with a currant and red wine demi, and finally we have chicken Florentine with baby spinach and a dill cream sauce.”

  He looked up at her expectantly.

  “Wow. I mean, really, wow. That all sounds so amazing that I don’t even know where to start. Can I try all of it?” Cleo asked with enthusiasm.

  Dallas got a mischievous grin on his face. “Well now, that depends.”

  “On what?” Cleo asked, thinking he was flirting with her, maybe using the amazing choice of dishes to get his own “favors” from her later. At least, that’s what she was hoping he would want.

  “Well, I guess it depends on whether or not you’re actually a vegan.” Dallas deadpanned, looking her straight in the eye.

  Cleo froze. Shit! She had forgotten all about her lie from a couple weeks ago.

  “Well…..you see, it’s just that….” She stumbled over her words, not able to think of something quickly enough.

  “Yes?” Dallas prompted as he slowly walked around the counter towards her. When he reached her, his hands landed lightly on her hips and then slid up smoothly under the hem of her shirt. He slowly traced circles on the sides of her ribs, inching up towards her breasts. “It’s like what, Cleo?”

  She could feel his breath on her face and knew he was looking down at her. She wouldn’t meet his gaze, still struggling to come up with a good enough excuse to cover her little white lie, but it was getting harder to think straight with his hands teasing her, getting so close to the cups of her bra, but never actually making contact.

  “Well, you see….that day….I considered…..um….myself….” She struggled to collect herself and speak with conviction, instead of the breathy little words that were escaping her.

  “Do you know what I think, Cleo?” Dallas whispered in her ear, licking the rim of her earlobe, driving her crazy. “I think you lied to me.” His voice suddenly got sterner with that statement.

  “What? No…I mean….well, maybe…. But I needed you to…..you know….leave…and...”

  “You mean you needed me to leave so that you could sneak out.” Dallas’ voice was now a little forbidding. Not angry, but serious. “Do you know what’s going to happen now, Cleo?”

  “What?” she asked hesitantly. She finally met his gaze and saw that although his face looked severe, there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

  “You need to be punished.”

  Cleo’s breath hitched as a shot of desire went straight through her and landed in her clit. She didn’t know why that statement was so erotic, but it was. She noticed that Dallas was watching her closely and he saw the flare of desire that went through her. His look turned to one of satisfaction and with a gleam in his eyes he said, “I think you need a spanking.”

  He grabbed her hand and turned toward the couch. She followed, not sure what to expect. He took a seat in the middle of the sofa, leaving her standing in front of him. He gazed up at her with a steely look and said one work. “Strip.”

  “Wha…..what do you mean?”

  “Strip, Cleo. Remove all your clothes and then stand in front of me.” Cleo was unsure. Were they playing or not? She couldn’t deduce from him what kind of mood he was in. Then he rubbed her thigh slowly, “Come on, baby. Show me your pretty body, I need to see it. I know your pussy is clenching for me, isn’t it?”

  Cleo knew her pussy was weeping for him. She started to strip, suddenly anxious to get to the next part. When she was naked and standing before him he just gazed at her, the lust running through his body like flames. Fuck she was gorgeous.

  “Come here,” he growled. “Bend over my knees.” If Cleo hadn’t seen how horny this was making him, she wouldn’t have had the nerve to expose herself that way. As it was, she felt scandalous posing herself like that for him. “Th
at’s right; now spread your thighs a bit.”

  She complied, feeling the cool air whispering over her hot pussy. The anticipation was turning her on even more, the anxious excitement making her body hum. She could almost feel his hand running over her buttocks already and he hadn’t even touched her yet. Just then he rubbed the cheek of her ass, lifting it and plumping it, squeezing it lightly.

  “Yes, I’ve been waiting for this Cleo, dreaming about it. Couldn’t get the picture of you spread out over my thighs, baring your ass to me, out of my head.” His voice had gotten deep, smoky almost. His hand rubbed over both cheeks, almost dipping between her thighs to where she wanted him to be, but never quite touching.

  “Ready now, honey, this is going to sting.” That was all the warning he gave her. He tapped both sides of her ass sharply. She gasped. The sting was there, of course, but almost immediately there was an erotic heat that traveled straight to her core, causing her inner muscles to clench.

  Again, a series of sharp taps, this time with more feeling, one after the other. Dallas slowly rubbed her burning ass cheeks, causing them to glow with warmth. Cleo couldn’t hold back the moan that escaped her lips. She felt the moisture seeping between her lower lips.

  “How does that feel, Cleo?”

  “I don’t know,” she wailed. “Hot. Really, really hot. And…..scandalous.”

  This time, Dallas dipped his finger into the cream her body was spilling, pushing it deep inside her. “Yesss,” she hissed. “Please Dallas. I need more.”

  He removed his fingers, cutting off her pleasure, and then his hand was striking her bottom again. Hard. It shocked her a little; the sharp, focused burst of sensation, but it was fading now, sending prickles of sensation through her. She wanted to beg him for more, but she felt scandalized by how much her body was obviously enjoying this. She was soaked between her legs, her breasts were swollen, and her mind was lost. She needed to come so badly.

  Suddenly Dallas stood with one motion, turning her over as he did and sitting her on the couch as he knelt between her legs. He raised her knees up, spreading her thighs wide. He inhaled deeply, loving the scent of her. He couldn’t hold back any longer, he had to taste her. He had never been as turned on in his life as he was a few minutes ago when Cleo had bent over his knees, spreading her legs and presenting her ass to him. Now, he was going to enjoy himself.

  He leaned forward, opening her outer lips with his tongue. Cleo jerked sharply, already beyond being able to ask for what she wanted, her sex so sensitized that just breathing on it would probably put her over the edge.

  Encouraged by the luscious honey waiting for him, Dallas dipped his tongue deeper into her sex. Her pussy convulsed, clenching on his tongue. Dallas continued to drive her crazy, holding her hips steady, forcing her to take the pleasure he was giving her.

  Triumph soared through him when he felt the convulsions of her climax. He curled his tongue and plunged it into her again and again. He lapped at her core, sucking on her clit, and drawing out her orgasm until her body was shuddering over and over, one climax leading straight into another.

  Fuck! Dallas couldn’t wait another second to be inside her. His cock felt like it could pound nails it was so hard. His balls were already tight, readying to jet his semen deep inside her. He unbuttoned his jeans and pulled out his shaft in one motion. Then he grabbed her hips, hauling her forward on the seat of the couch so her pelvis tilted to the perfect angle so he could thrust inside her, deeply, all in one motion. His cock was squeezed by the last few clenches of her channel, the aftershocks of her orgasm. It was almost enough to put him over the edge too.

  He gritted his teeth, determined to make this last longer. This was heaven, and he’d never felt anything like it.

  She cried out at the invasion, his cock stretching her, not giving her time to adjust, and sending her straight back up to the oblivion of lust that only Dallas seemed to be able to create in her.

  Without pausing, Dallas started to piston into her depths, going deeper with every thrust. He wrapped his arms around her lower back and pulled her directly onto his shaft. She linked her legs behind his back, letting Dallas control the depth and speed of his thrusts. She squirmed on his cock, but he was firm in his hold. Her ecstatic cries echoed in his ears, sending him even higher.

  “Fuck, Cleo,” he growled, “Your pussy, it’s the best thing I’ve ever felt. So tight, so fucking hot.”He encouraged her to arch her back and rest her head back onto the couch, thrusting her breasts up and outward. He lowered his mouth and sucked one strawberry red nipple into his mouth, laving the tip while increasing the pressure of his mouth.

  Cleo groaned, her pussy spasming in time with the hard sucks on her nipples. This in turn caused Dallas to clench his teeth, his cock getting squeezed even harder, pulling him into her channel even deeper. Her clit felt engorged, was begging for some friction, she was caught in a netherworld, lost in a haze of lust.

  “I can’t last any longer, Cleo – I’m coming, hard.” Dallas groaned. He bit her breast just to the left of her nipple, causing a shudder to move through Cleo. He laved it quickly with his tongue, then bit again at the same time he thrust even deeper into her, hitting her womb and sending flashes of pleasure spiraling through her clit. Her sex clenched hard, her orgasm overtaking her, milking Dallas’ cock until he erupted deep inside her. Cleo screamed as the bursts of pleasure broke behind her eyelids, blocking out the world, and everything else except for the feel of Dallas’ shaft emptying deep inside her, burning her channel, the heat causing her climax to go on and on.

  She collapsed against his broad chest, trying to catch her breath. He held her tight, his heart pounding against her ear. They stayed like that for several minutes, each coming back to earth, trying to right their world. Was it always going to be this good, this passionate with him, Cleo wondered?

  Cleo raised her head and looked him deep in the eye. “I think…..well…..I think I’ll need to think of some more fibs to tell you.”

  Want to see more by this author?

  The second book in the “Protect” series by Chloe Fischer is coming soon!

  Turn the page for a sneak peak….

  CHAPTER ONE

  Mark had his eyes firmly on the road as he navigated his car through the dense city traffic. He had left early in the morning, hoping that might help in avoiding the mass of vehicles that he knew would be swarming the road. But since it was Friday, and it was the road leading to the National Mall of Washington D.C, he should have known it would still be slow going.

  And this would have been fine. Dense traffic he could handle easily enough. What he couldn't handle was having to steer through the traffic while also arguing with his sister, Cleo, over the car phone.

  "Now really isn't a good time, Cleo." Mark sighed as he tried his best to keep his temper.

  "It's never a good time for you," Cleo pointed out.

  "Well today is a particularly bad time. I'm driving and -- "

  "Seriously Mark! I know the two of you will hit it off. She's smart, funny and sweet. And you're a great guy. I showed her a few photos of you too, and let me just say she was more than a little..."

  Mark let off a long groan as his sister continued to ramble on the other end of the line. He knew his sister and he knew it was best to just let her finish making her point. Only then could he shut it down.

  "… and then she told me she was free on Saturday night. And I know you never do anything on Saturday nights. So, being the diligent sister that I am. I set up a date."

  "I really don't --"

  "Okay, Mark, seriously. This is your sister speaking and she is telling you it's time you moved on and start dating again. I feel like I spend half my life setting you up on dates with gorgeous women only for you to cancel. I'm like Cher from Clueless, but with a zero percent hit rate."

  Cleo was right about most of it, Mark knew that. But that didn't change the fact that Mark just wasn't ready to date again. And really, he wasn't sure if he ev
er would be. And it wasn't because Mark loved being single or anything like that. The problem was his wife.

  Five years ago, Mark's wife, the love of his life, had died in a horrific car accident. Not only was this traumatizing in every way imaginable, but it was made even worse by the fact that Mark saw it as his fault. He was supposed to have been there to drive her, but he had had to work late. His wife had decided to take the wheel instead...

  Mark had loved his wife more than anything. She had been his other half, the water to his fire. It had been five, long years and although most men would have moved on by now, Mark wasn't most men. When he fell in love, it was real and he just didn't see the point in dating random women, hoping to find that spark again. In fact, he wasn't even sure that he ever wanted to fall in love again - despite his sister's attempts.

  "What's her name?" Mark asked, letting out a sigh. He doubted that he would see the woman, but he wanted to appease his sister. She was the only woman in his life that he could truly say he loved.

  Cleo let off an excited squeal. "Tara, her name is Tara. She has blonde hair, long legs and is gorgeous to look at. Like seriously, I forget my own name when I'm with her --"

  "That doesn't matter to me," Mark cut in. "What's she like?"

  "Oh. Right. I forgot that you were a self-professed romantic. Hmmm let me see... well how about this? Meet her on Saturday and you can tell me what she's like?"

  The traffic light turned red and Mark pulled his car to a halt behind a large van. As he did he heard a screech from behind – a large SUV, coming in hot, barely hit the brakes in time. It skidded to a halt within inches of his pick-up truck.