Dark Desire Read online

  Narrowing his eyes, he looked pointedly at her hand on his arm. “This isn’t that kind of a date, and you know it. You and I are going to have a little talk. You’re going to tell me what I want to know, and I’m going to explain to you once and for all why it would never work between us.”

  Resigned, she pulled her hand back and folded her arms across her chest. “Tell me now.”

  “No.”

  Taken aback at his sharp answer, she frowned. “Why not?”

  “Because I want to see your face when we talk, and I want my questions answered first.”

  Hope had trouble looking away from him as he drove. He showed the same confidence and easy control with driving as he did with everything else. She could only imagine what kind of lover he’d be. A confident, controlled lover who had a penchant for dominating his lovers…it aroused her every time she thought about it.

  Hating the lengthening silence, she curled her hands together to keep from tapping her thigh and attempted conversation. “I heard your siren today. Did something happen, or did you catch a speeder?”

  Ace’s expression hardened. “The last person I caught speeding was you. Today some idiot turfed the field behind the men’s club. When some of the men ran out to stop him, he took off, but not before doing a hell of a lot of damage.”

  “I didn’t hear anything about it. Did you catch him?”

  A muscle worked in Ace’s jaw. “No. He was gone before I got there, and nobody could get a good look at his license plate.”

  Still frowning, Hope turned to him. “I don’t know why I didn’t hear about it.”

  “You were probably soaking in a tub full of vanilla bubbles when it happened, which is just how it should be.” Ace pulled into the parking lot of a steakhouse in a nearby town. Coming around for her, he lifted her down from the seat, dropping his hands as soon as her feet touched the ground. “It’s better to talk in a place like this. If we’re seen eating together in Desire, everyone’s going to get the wrong impression, and I don’t want our discussion to be interrupted or overheard.”

  Money exchanged hands to make sure they were seated far enough from the other diners to afford them privacy. Ace seated her in the booth and took the seat across from her, his back to the wall as he faced the room. He waved the menu away and ordered steak dinners and iced tea for both of them, leaning forward as the waitress walked away.

  “What did you mean this afternoon when you said you’ve been with dominant men before? Don’t turn away from me. No one can hear us. I want an answer. You’d better not have done something stupid.”

  A shiver went through her at his cool command, and she immediately turned back to face him, trying not to show how much that low, steely tone of his turned her on. She took a sip of her water and quickly set it back down so he couldn’t see how badly her hand shook. Wrinkling her nose at him, she leaned back.

  “I’m a big girl, in case you haven’t noticed, and I told you not to treat me like a child.”

  “And I told you I want an answer. If you can’t handle a conversation with me, what makes you think you could handle being in my bed?”

  God, she couldn’t wait. Just hearing him say it sent a shiver through her and had her rubbing her thighs together as her juices coated them. Not about to back down and risk losing him, she leaned forward, too. Her happiness depended on doing this right.

  “I’ll be happy to tell you what you want to know, but you could ask nicely. I’m not a suspect you’re grilling.”

  To her surprise, Ace reached out to take her hands in his, running his thumbs over the tops of her fingers, sending alarming sizzles of hot pleasure racing up her arms and straight to her breasts. His brown eyes darkened and sharpened, an intensity glittering in them that called to every feminine instinct in her. He held firm when she tried to back away, the gentle strength in his grip straight out of her fantasies.

  “Hope, I’m not nice. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. You need a nice man who will give you all the softness you need. Now, tell me what I want to know. Right now. Or we go.”

  Hope leaned toward him, keeping her voice at a whisper. “What would I get out of telling you? If I don’t tell you anything, you’ll walk away from me. Once I tell you what you want to know, you’ll want to leave. I’d have to have an incentive to tell you. How about a chance to show you? To prove that I’m right about us.”

  Ace’s eyes glittered like chips of ice, his hands tightening on hers. He didn’t speak for so long, she wondered if she’d pushed too far. Finally, to her immense relief, he nodded once, his jaw clenched.

  “One chance. Talk.”

  Not wanting to make a scene or appear immature by struggling, she forced herself to relax in his hold. Elated, she looked into his eyes, trying not to show her excitement at her small victory, even as flutters went through her pussy and clit, and her breasts ached badly for his touch. Fighting to keep her voice from trembling, she took a deep breath and blew it out slowly before speaking.

  “I grew up in Desire, remember? I know all about different kinds of relationships. I used to fantasize about submitting to a man in bed, but the women in Desire are watched too closely and generally considered off-limits. After what you did to Todd Riggs, no one would come near me so there was no one I could experiment with, especially when the one I wanted was you, and you wouldn’t even look at me. Blade, Royce, and King wouldn’t let me come anywhere near the club. I had several run-ins with their butler, Sebastian.” Smiling, she leaned closer. “When I went away to college, I decided to satisfy my curiosity.”

  Keeping her hands in his, he idly ran his fingers over her knuckles, sending more of those sizzles of heat up her arm and making her nipples even more sensitive against the material of her dress.

  Although he kept his touch gentle, his jaw clenched. “So you found someone to experiment with. What did you learn?”

  Her pulse leapt at the flare of heat in his eyes. “I learned that I like it. I like erotic pain. I love submitting. I wanted to be sure I would before…” Shrugging, she looked away, cursing the fact that her face burned. How could he make her feel so shy and insecure with him when she was anything but with other men, even the ones who’d dominated her?

  “Before you came back and decided that you wanted that with me?”

  Needing honesty between them, Hope looked directly into his eyes. “I knew I wanted you before I left. I knew then what you’d need from a woman, from me, and the more I imagined it, the more I started to need it, too. The men I met could never have me completely because I thought of you the entire time. I’m what you need, Ace, and you’re the man I need. No one else could ever wipe you from my mind.”

  The waitress came with their food, preventing him from answering. Judging by the look on his face, it was probably a good thing. Releasing her hands, he sat back, eyeing her thoughtfully, his jaw clenched until the waitress left again. He sighed, his expression softening. “You don’t know what you’re asking, Hope. Desire’s a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. I don’t have relationships. I fuck. I’m not what you’re looking for.”

  “Then fuck me.” Ignoring his startled look, she leaned closer. “I want you, Ace, and if it doesn’t work out with us, I won’t hold it against you.” The flare in his eyes had her squirming on the seat. His way of looking right through her made her jittery and tongue-tied, something she never experienced with anyone else. She struggled continuously not to show it, but the knowledge of his effect on her glittered in his eyes.

  A muscle worked in his jaw. “I’m the sheriff, Hope. I enforce Desire’s laws and rules. I believe in them, but I can’t see myself letting a woman get away with the things the other men let their women get away with. It’s put several of them in danger already.”

  “But what about sex? Don’t tell me you never have sex because I wouldn’t believe you.”

  Tearing a roll in half, he looked up as he buttered it. “I take my pleasure elsewhere.”


  Hope reached for her iced tea, hiding a smile when Ace put the buttered half on her bread plate. “I know that, and it pisses me off that you won’t even consider having sex with me. We would be great together. Don’t you think you’re capable of a lasting relationship?”

  Ace’s eyes held a hint of sadness before he looked away to reach for another roll. “You’re too young to handle what I’d demand from a woman. You need to accept that.”

  She knew that if she backed down even the smallest amount, he’d end this now. Pressing her advantage, she shook her head. “No. I won’t accept it. You have no idea what it would be like for us if you’re not even willing to give it a chance.”

  Ace sat back and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Hope, I’d hurt you, and you’d end up hating me.”

  Hope touched his hand, lifting her eyes. “I hurt now.”

  He sighed in resignation, but his eyes darkened and narrowed. “You won’t be happy. I won’t change.”

  Hopeful, the butterflies in her stomach took flight. “I’m not immature, and I’m not stupid.” Pulling her hand back, she cut into her steak, glancing up at him. “And you, my darling sheriff, are full of shit. You and I are perfect for each other. I don’t want to change you, Ace, not at all.” Going for broke, she reached for his hand, covering it with hers. “I notice you’re not saying you don’t want to see me because you don’t care about me.”

  He cut a piece of his own steak, purposely dislodging her hand. “That doesn’t mean we could make it work. I’m very demanding and possessive. It would drive you crazy. You’d rebel. I’d overcome it. You’d resent that I could. I can’t change the way I am, even for you, especially for you. I’d paddle your ass for speeding or just because I wanted to, and it wouldn’t always be an erotic spanking. You’d get pissed off and leave. I’ve seen it over and over. I won’t put up with that shit.”

  Setting her fork aside, she leaned forward, all appetite for food gone. Her appetite for him, however, continued to grow stronger. “I’ve known you for a long time, Sheriff, and I know inside that you’re loving and tender. You might spank me, but it would be because you love me. I won’t play games, well, sometimes I will, but I think that’s something about me that you’ll get addicted to. I won’t play games, though, with my feelings or yours. I won’t get mad and leave. I’d fight it out with you.” Frustrated at his chuckle, she glared at him. “Damn it, Ace. I thought you were taking this seriously.”

  Sitting back, he sighed. “Hope, you say that now, but when that temper flares, it would be another story. Trust me on this.”

  “All men of Desire drive their women batty. Why should I be any different? Don’t they all fight?”

  Raising a brow again, he smiled a cold smile that sent a chill down her spine. “Let’s talk about what we came here for. How many of these dominant men have you been with and how long ago?”

  She took a sip of water before answering. She vowed to tell him the truth and she would. She wanted no secrets between them. “Two. I met them at a club that I knew was safe. It’s been almost two years since I had sex.”

  “How did you know it was safe?”

  Hope sighed, hoping he wouldn’t ask, but of course the inquisitive sheriff would latch on to every detail. “I went to school with Brett Madison. You know the Madisons. They work with Boone and Chase.”

  “I know the Madisons. Keep going.”

  “Brett’s a few years older than me, and we met in a business class. We became friends, so of course we talked about family. When I told him about my family and that I have three fathers, he was surprised and then told me that he and his brothers had shared women in the past, but only for sex, and wished there was a way they could all live with one woman.” Taking another sip of tea, she smiled. “His brothers wanted to meet me, to ask me questions about my family. I told them all about Desire, and they were stunned to learn that there was a place where people actually lived the way they wanted to.”

  A muscle worked in Ace’s jaw. “Did they want you to be that woman?”

  Smiling at the jealousy he hadn’t been able to hide, Hope shook her head. “No. We’re just friends. They felt like freaks because of what they wanted and couldn’t stop asking me questions about Desire. They also started watching out for Charity and me. They used to spend a lot of time at a club, one like Club Desire. When I told them what I was looking for, they helped me find the right men. They went along with me and stayed downstairs in case I found myself in over my head.” She smiled up at him, determined to get him to understand. “They took care of me, Ace, like a sister. They looked out for me. Even though Brett finished school, they didn’t move here until Charity and I did because they wanted to watch out for us.” Laughing, she sat back and picked up her fork again. “I told them that they would fit right in here. They’re happy here and getting adjusted to the town.”

  Ace studied her for several long seconds, making her squirm in her seat. “Why haven’t you had sex in two years?”

  Meeting his eyes again, she licked her dry lips. “Because I also learned that I couldn’t let go the way I need to because neither one of the men I let dominate me was you.” Remembering their frustration, she smiled. “Besides, they weren’t very happy with their restrictions, and Sloane and Cole Madison were very clear about what would be allowed and what wouldn’t.”

  Ace raised a brow at that and took a sip of his own iced tea. “What kind of restrictions?”

  She hadn’t counted on the intensity of Ace’s stare when practicing this conversation in the mirror at home. She had trouble looking away from his hands, imagining how they would feel on her body. Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she could feel her face burn even hotter. “They were never allowed to touch my…bottom.” She turned to make sure no one could overhear. “I mean, they spanked me, but they couldn’t—I wouldn’t let them…” She wasn’t a prude by any means, but talking this way with Ace proved to be a hell of a lot harder than she thought it would be.

  “You wouldn’t let them breach your anus?”

  Relieved that he understood, she nodded and looked away. She should have known he’d have no trouble saying it and couldn’t believe she did. “Right.”

  “With anything at all?”

  Hope shook her head. “No.”

  Ace sat back, his eyes hooded. “I wouldn’t allow any restrictions. If there was something a woman I was with sincerely didn’t like, that would be taken into consideration, but to have something off limits without even exploring the possibilities wouldn’t be permitted.”

  Hope played with her silverware, forcing herself to meet his eyes even though her face burned hotter than ever. “I know that about you. I can accept that.” If only he knew.

  * * * *

  Ace fought the urge to adjust his pants where his cock pressed against his zipper. “I don’t think you realize what you’re getting into. A Dom-sub relationship is a lot more intense than I think you realize. In a long term relationship, the bonds are stronger than a lot of marriages. That’s why I only have one-night stands.” He didn’t think she needed to know that even those had become practically non-existent because it had become so unsatisfying that it no longer seemed worth the effort.

  Hope nodded, the eagerness in her eyes impossible for him to resist. “Don’t you think I see what’s around me? All the men I know in Desire are too arrogant for their own good, but the love they have for their women is stronger than anything I’ve ever seen. The women get frustrated as hell with their men, but they’re totally devoted to them. Cheating is rare, divorce even rarer. The relationships in Desire are strong because everyone involved gives it their all and lives their lives the way that gives them the most pleasure.”

  Ace nodded. “True. But everyone goes into it knowing what they want. You’re too young to know what you want. We’d both end up getting hurt.”

  “Damn it, just because you’re thirteen years older than I am doesn’t mean we’re not perfect for each other.” Hope reached over to
touch him, and automatically he turned his hand to cradle hers. “I can’t go on the rest of my life regretting that I hadn’t tried. Can you?”

  No, he couldn’t. God help him. She was his Achilles heel, and he knew he wouldn’t be strong enough to watch another man come along and sweep her off her feet.

  Besides, he’d already agreed to try, and he hated like hell going back on his word.

  Signaling for the check, he leaned back, the hopeful excitement in her eyes deciding his fate. Staring at her for several long minutes, he wondered what the hell it was about her that got to him so much. If he had a taste of her, maybe he could rid himself of this unrelenting need, and prove to her that he would always be far too demanding and possessive for her. In everything. Nodding, he grimaced at her excited grin and quickly added, “I set the pace. Not you. Red.”

  “Red?”

  “It’s your safeword. As soon as you use it, this is over.”

  “I don’t want a safeword.”

  “Too bad. My rules, remember?”

  “I won’t use it.”

  “We’ll see. Let’s get out of here.”

  “Are we going to have sex?”

  “No. I’m taking you home.”

  “Damn it, Ace.”

  “I’m in charge, remember. Your first lesson is in patience.”

  Chapter Three

  He was trying to kill her.

  No, he was trying to make her insane.

  Either way, he teased her with his dark looks, filling her thoughts with erotic images of what he would do to her, and she couldn’t stand to wait much longer.

  Hope paced her office at the club, wishing she had something to do to take her mind off the town sheriff, but she’d caught up with her phone calls and had even gone through a cleaning frenzy but still couldn’t get rid of this restless energy. Thank God Charity took care of most of the paperwork because Hope couldn’t concentrate worth a damn. She hadn’t slept much at all, spending most of the night tossing and turning and dreaming of Ace.