Concealed Desire Read online

  “Keeping the Library safe is my job. Keeping you safe that’s just something I’m determined to do. I’ve made up my mind about this Nora—it’s out of your hands,” he said calmly.

  Nora huffed an annoyed breath. She couldn’t believe the macho bullshit nerves on him. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself, and having some hotter than the devil man following her around was a good way to get people focused on her. That wasn’t going to happen.

  “I don’t want…” she began. Dax cut her off by simply taking her lips against his.

  Nora was sure she had something more to say but whatever thought she had was eviscerated in his kiss. Her body hummed in satisfaction, and she eagerly leaned up as he swept his arms under her, lifting her so their lips brushed against each other. He slipped his tongue between her lips and she tasted the coffee on his breath. Her tongue brushed against his, exploring, frenzied with the need to taste him just as desperately as he wanted to taste her. His hands slid low, cupping her ass. She whimpered in his mouth at the touch. How easy it would have been just to wrap her legs around him and have him slide into her. Her pussy clenched at the thought. She moaned into his mouth as he growled, and Dax knew he had to stop before he

  fucked her right there on the sidewalk. He wanted to swallow her whole; the small sounds she made were hotter than any aphrodisiac. Dax groaned and pulled away from her, watching her gaze grow cloudy with lust. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything, but he needed to take things slow.

  “I want you. And it’s going to be a fuck of a lot harder to do the things I want to do to you if you’re scared and running from something. So just so we’re clear Nora, I’m going to keep you safe whether you want me to or not. I’m going to give you some time to get used to the idea. I’ll be in touch. Now come let me take you home,” Dax ordered.

  Nora didn’t know if it was her frazzled hormones or if she was just out of sorts, but the fact that she didn’t argue shocked her. Instead, she walked to his car and got in.

  Chapter Four

  “At this rate, we’re going to be kept in business solely by your friend buying you pastries.” Wendy, the owner of the café Nora worked at, nudged Nora and winked suggestively. Nora sighed and ignored her burning cheeks. Dax was crazy, but he’d kept his promise. He hadn’t been in every day—he had to work for a living after all, but he’d shown up to take her home at the end of each day and he’d eaten lunch in the café most days. The last of the planning for the book reading was well underway but any time they had a meeting, he’d shown up at her house and driven her there. Nora didn’t know what to make of it. He was slowly sliding into her thoughts and she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She’d stopped lying to herself a long time ago that what she felt for him was just an attraction that could simply be ignored. It wasn’t. She wanted him, and the thought of just how badly made her blush. She ducked her head and thanked her stars that it had been a slow day. After what she’d been up to the night before, thinking of him non-stop, she was exhausted from the lack of sleep.

  That night, Dax drove her home. He was silent, lost in thought, but it didn’t stop him from getting her her favorite deep dish pizza, the type of pizza she’d fallen in love with when she had stayed in Chicago. He’d found a place that made the best ones. How he’d known was beyond her. He’d driven her home and waited until she keyed in the password to the new alarm system that he’d installed before he left. After that first kiss, he hadn’t touched her. Nora had expected him to at first, she’d even braced for it, but each drive, each heated glance he’d thrown her way had just been that. He left her always at her doorstep until the next day. Nora finally caved. Her pussy craved his touch but since he wasn’t giving it to her, she touched herself. She took off her clothes and moved to the shower still thinking of his kiss, of the heat of his body beside her in the car. Her hands moved unconsciously over her skin. She turned on the shower and got in, drenching herself from head to toe.

  Maybe it was the heat of the water matching the heat in her pussy. Nora didn’t care. She needed relief. The soap suds slid across her body, gathering on her nipples before sliding down the drain. She slicked her hands down her body, sliding her fingers against her heated skin. Slowly, almost seductively, like he was in the shower watching her touch herself. She moaned and touched her breasts, massaging the plump flesh in round, soft motions. She moaned his name as she increased the pressure against her tits.

  Dax knew he was going to kill himself. He had never thought himself a masochist but each day he dropped off Nora, it was physically painful to leave her at her door without touching her. He didn’t want to scare her off but if his cock got any harder, it might explode. He strode to the shower and left the water temperature high. He imagined her there with him, soapy, wet and needy, whimpering his name. She was touching her tits, playing with her nipples while her pussy left its juices leaking down her curvy thighs. He groaned as he grabbed his hard cock with his fist, slowly tugging to the visual of her teasing herself. He groaned again and fucked his fist slowly, using the water and precum from his cock as lube.

  Nora moaned as she tweaked her nipples, tugging them harder, faster until she was breathless with desire. Her hands snaked to her thighs, in between them, and she pushed her thumb against her clit.

  “Oh god…Dax!” she groaned and pushed her thumb harder against her nub as the other hand tugged hard at her nipple. She swiveled her hips, lifting her leg to the raised edge of the shower so that the warm water poured directly on her exposed clit. Yes. He was going down on her, covering her clit in warm wet kisses, sucking it into his mouth and leaving her a quivering mess. She pushed two fingers inside her, flicking her thumb against her clit as she imagined him tongue fucking her. Her legs quivered. She panted, eyes closed, skin flushed in need as she craved more of his touch, and his cock.

  Dax groaned as he fucked his fist harder. The hot wetness of his shower and his precum made his fist slick. He imagined it was her mouth, so full and tight on his cock. He imagined the broad sweep of her tongue against his sensitive cockhead. Dax clenched his teeth and slid his fist hard, up, down, and up again as he imagined taking her hair in his fists and surging deep into her throat.

  “Fuck yes! Take all of my cock. Take it all!” He groaned as he gritted his teeth at the onslaught of pleasure. Just the thought of all the dirty ways he could take her had him close to cumming.

  Nora knew she was close to orgasm. She wanted it so bad her body hummed with need. She imagined it was Dax’s cock sliding into her, harder, faster. He fucked her without mercy, just the way she wanted. She moaned and screamed his name as she saw stars come to life behind her eyelids.

  Dax groaned as his cock swelled in his fists. He was so close he could feel his balls burning with the need to cum.

  Nora screamed as her pussy walls clenched around her fingers in the biggest orgasm she’d ever had in her life. She screamed her pleasure, moaning his name as pleasure fizzed in her bloodstream.

  Dax grunted as ropes of cum splattered across the tiles. He closed his eyes, imagining smearing his cum all over her, inside her as she came all over his cock. He closed his eyes as his muscles unwound; he felt more relaxed than he’d felt for the last few weeks.

  Nora sighed and washed off. As her head hit the pillow, she fell into the most peaceful sleep she’d had for a long time.

  Chapter Five

  Nora had the day off the next day. She did what she always did with days off—she went to the library to read and see the girls. She had gotten quite attached to them and was worried that even though she’d set roots in the area, she wouldn’t be safe for long. Yet she knew she was falling in love with these women. They were honest and fun. She strolled in sometime around midday.

  “Hey. What’s up with the prep for the pastries? Need any help getting the things together?” Celine asked when she spotted Nora.

  “I’ve always got enough dry ingredients to feed a small army; I’ll get the wet ingre
dients a few days ahead of time, so sometime next month. Anyway, it’s my day off so I decided to come in. Where’s the rest of the girls?” Nora asked.

  “They’re about. Charlie has taken the new girl, Delia, off to the basement. Leslie is up and Asher has a meeting with some guy who makes Chris Hemsworth look like Scrooge. I had no idea there were so many hot men in New York—I went so long without seeing any remotely attractive man other than Everett, and now the Library is a freaking runway show.” Celine laughed.

  “I know what you mean.” Nora grinned as she walked away to spend the next few hours lost in the pages of books. It was her favorite thing in the world to do. Time ceased to exist as the pages flew by. Sci-fi fantasy was one of her favorite genres to read, and more than ever, she needed to take her mind off things. Specifically, the way she felt about Dax. The more she saw him, the more he burrowed his way into her thoughts. What was he doing? Where was he? She knew he ran his own security firm but not much else. She wanted to get to know him and that was dangerous, but could she really let the past dictate her future? She didn’t trust her happiness. If her past experiences had taught her anything, it was that happiness was a fleeting feeling. She moved back and forth from the pages to thoughts of Dax. A tap on her shoulder drew her back to reality. She frowned, looking up at the intruder.

  “Hey, we’re about to close. Dax is here. He says he’s here to pick you up?” Celine asked softly.

  Nora sighed. He always knew where to find her.

  “Sure. I’ll put this away,” Nora said. Celine nodded.

  “The girls and I are doing a girls’ night in on Friday. Nothing too fancy, just to get the new girl acquainted with us outside the office. You should come. We’re using Asher’s place. If you want to come, I can send over the address?” Celine offered as Nora slid the book back into the right shelf.

  “I dunno…” Nora trailed off.

  “I’ll send you the address anyway. The girls would really like for you to be there,” she insisted gently.

  “We’ll see,” Nora said. She didn’t want to make any promises she couldn’t keep, but she really wanted to hang out with the girls. She had pushed them away for so long. Would it be that terrible for one night to just let go completely? What harm could possibly come from that? Celine nodded, knowing that pushing her for an answer probably wouldn’t get her anywhere. She sighed in defeat. Hopefully, Nora would eventually open up to them.

  Nora made her way to the front of the library to find Dax in a t-shirt and dark jeans, waiting for her. He tipped his chin at Celine and pulled Nora along, taking her hand in his. He tucked her into his side and Nora pretended not to notice how good it felt to be by his side. He was nothing like any man she’d ever known before. Nora went with him out the library doors.

  “How’d you know I was here?” she asked with a small smile.

  “Educated guess. Today you’re off work. Makes sense.” He pulled her closer as they walked to where he was parked.

  “Right. I’m predictable. I forgot,” Nora sighed. She used to be such fun before her life went to hell and she had to put it back together again.

  “I like that. There so much uncertainty in my life—taking care of you is almost too easy.” Dax laughed.

  “I stay out of trouble with good reason. If trouble did find me, it wouldn’t be pretty. It’s just safer for me this way.” She sighed as she slid into the car. Dax was glad she didn’t catch the grim expression on his face. He had a vague idea what kind of trouble she was referring to, and he was more than well-equipped to handle it if she’d just let him.

  As the car started Nora knew that if she let him, he’d drop her off at her house and he wouldn’t come in. But maybe, even if it was just tonight, she wanted to see more of the man who’d picked her up from the library. She wanted to know more of him. Curiosity didn’t come easily to her because her asking questions always gave people permission to ask her questions in return. That was something she couldn’t allow, but for tonight she wanted to be reckless and who better with than the person who made her feel safe?

  Dax drove into her driveway, and Nora took a deep breath. She knew he’d been waiting for her but what if she was wrong? She wouldn’t know until she tried, would she?

  “You know? You could come in for a drink,” Nora suggested.

  “I could, yes, but do you want me to?” Dax asked with a grin that told her he was teasing.

  “Yes. I’d like you to, if you want to,” Nora replied with a small giggle.

  “I’d like that.” Dax smiled.

  Chapter Six

  Dax sat on her couch, exuding a ridiculously male quality as she puttered around her kitchen. If she’d thought this through, Nora would have shopped for a meal; but she hadn’t so she had to make do with what she had in the fridge. She huffed and frowned as she stared at the contents. What did someone cook to convince a man to fuck her brains out? Chicken didn’t seem hearty enough. She settled on the last cut of beef she’d set aside for soup and some potatoes. Thank god she was a bit obsessive with keeping a well-stocked kitchen. Herbs and veggies were on hand and she had some wild brown rice just begging to be cooked. Something good came out of her past other than her, she supposed.

  “You don’t have to cook for me you know? I could just order something.” Dax looked amused as he walked into the kitchen. His delicious lips turned up into a smirk that she wanted to bite off. She licked her lips and he followed the movement with his heated gaze.

  “Or fuck the food. I could just eat you,” he suggested. Nora chuckled.

  “No. I haven’t cooked for a man in ages. I want it to be you. Someone kind,” Nora said slowly. She hadn’t realized it until the words were out of her mouth, but they were true. He was kind.

  “I’m not all that sweet baby, just so we’re clear,” he growled. She felt the timbre of his voice vibrate in her pussy.

  “I said kind, not sweet,” Nora teased. Dax laughed and stood up from the couch, stalking toward her. She gasped when he took the meat tenderizer she was using out of her hands and backed her against the counter.

  “Take a deep breath baby,” he warned. She would have asked him why but the sudden surge of lust robbed the words from her mouth. It didn’t matter because in a few seconds she found out why when he pressed his lips against hers and just took ruthlessly. She whimpered against him, clutching his arms for balance as he lifted her. She wrapped her legs around him instinctively as she leaned in, hotly kissing him back. He ran his hands against her skin, learning the contours of her body. She pressed against him, feeling sheltered in his broad-shouldered embrace. Even now as he kissed her so viciously, she knew her pleasure was just as hot as his. She wanted him with a fire that had never been lit by anyone else. He groaned and pulled away. This time he took her wrists in one fist and pushed her head back with the other. He pressed hot kisses against her neck, biting the sensitive skin there, marking her as his own.

  “I’m going to fuck you, but first you’re going to tell me all your little secrets,” he whispered in her ear, making her shiver. She groaned in disappointment as he let her go. Her legs felt like jelly and her brain seemed scrambled. She shot him a look of pure fury.

  “You don’t get to do that. I want you and I want you now,” she ordered. She imagined a tiny devil riding her shoulders but she was too far gone to care. She craved his cock.

  “Then tell me your secrets,” he said simply, his tone authoritative as he watched the way her nipples pressed against her shirt and the way her cheeks flushed with desire. Even the devilish gleam in her gaze called to his cock.

  “I want you,” she begged.

  “Tell me,” he ordered.

  Nora whimpered and reached low to pull up her skirt. She saw the heat in his eyes and decided to tease him.

  “I want you. Please.” She moaned again, dragging her skirt higher, exposing the lace of her panties, the fabric so soaked that it was practically transparent. He growled at the sight, nostrils flaring, cock so hard it f
elt like a steel rod. He wanted so badly to bend her over the table and fuck her. But he liked this game better.

  “Fuck me please,” she whispered, pushing her panties to the side and sliding her fingers into her pussy that was so wet it was leaving puddles on the counter. He watched as she stroked herself, not coming any closer.

  “Please. Fuck me,” she begged him as his eyes set her pussy on fire.

  “Please what?” he demanded. She inhaled, understanding what he wanted from her. She had never said the words yet they came naturally to her.

  “Please fuck me, Sir,” she pleaded.

  Dax nodded and unzipped his cock. He moved back toward the counter and pulled her down, ass up with her breasts pressed against the cool countertop.

  “I’ll give you what you want, but you’ll take it with punishment for your disobedience,” he growled. He thrust his entire length into her and Nora screamed her pleasure. A sharp slap on her ass gave her pleasure a sharper edge of pain. It did not dull the pleasure—only heightened it. She moaned helplessly as he fucked her like an animal, thrusting into her with hard strokes that had her sobbing his name each time he spanked her. It was dirty, so fucking dirty and she loved it.