Cannon Colter was Rowdy’s newest hire, as well as an MMA fighter. He was in his early twenties, unassuming, with a shredded body, a gorgeous face and quiet competence. Margo had seen him a few times, and if he weren’t so young, she might’ve been interested in him.

Then again, he worked at Rowdy’s bar, and that close association made him off-limits regardless of his age.

Suddenly, under the table, Dash’s hand slid over her thigh. She blinked at him, and his eyes narrowed.

Had he read her thoughts?

“Can I make a suggestion?” Dash asked of everyone at the table. “Maybe it’d make more sense for Rowdy to coordinate with Cannon and then share with Margo their collective info.”

“I can do that,” Rowdy said. “No problem. As long as the lieutenant agrees to my help.”

“Can I stop you?”

He grinned. “No.”

She waved her hand. “Fine. Then have at it. But understand me, Rowdy. You will not overstep. You will not break any laws on my behalf. And you will not, under any circumstances, get yourself into risky situations.”

After saluting her, he stood and picked up Avery in his arms. Still holding his new wife, he eyed Margo from her hairline to her injured arm. “You’ll be okay?”

“What? My elbow?” She detested being the source of concern. “Yes, it’ll be fine.”

His dark gaze moved over her. “And your head and the rest of those bruises?”

Backbone stiffening, she assured him, “I’ll be back to full speed in no time.”

“Don’t push things, okay?” He set Avery back on her feet but kept an arm around her. “And try letting Dash help out.”

Oh, the way Dash had helped...

“If you need anything,” Avery told her, “please let us know.”

It was another couple of minutes before she and Dash said their last goodbyes and they were finally alone again.

Dash closed the door, set Oliver down to the floor and gripped her shoulders. “Was I quiet enough?” His thumbs massaged her shoulder joints, easing her tension. “Did I stay properly in the background?”

“Is that what you were doing?” She wondered why he’d been so quiet.

“As much as I know you don’t need it, as impressed as I am by your capability and resilience, not pampering you was tough. Mostly because I enjoy it so much.” He bent to press the gentlest of kisses on her forehead. “I see these bruises on you and I’d like to hold you the same way Rowdy held Avery.”

The same way...with love? Or just being a protective male? “You were very restrained...except for that initial kiss.” Which had felt so incredibly intimate.

“Except for that,” he concurred. He traced a fingertip down her injured arm to the splint. “It’s so hard to see you like this and not be able to do anything.”

“You did something.” She’d slept like the dead after he’d left her so utterly replete.

His smile was slow and knowing. “Anytime I can be of service, let me know. But I’d also like to help you out with everything else if that won’t hurt your pride too much.”

So he understood it was her pride?

“This steel backbone of yours is admirable, honey.” His hand went down her back to her behind, then up again. “Leaning on me a little won’t change that.”

He could be so charming—and seductive. She knew she shouldn’t, but Margo rested against his strong chest, her forehead on his sternum. “Want to tell me why you did it?”

“That kiss?” When she nodded, he said, “Just making sure you didn’t forget me.”

As if she could after the incredible way he’d made her feel. “Well, other than that, thank you for behaving.”

He hugged her a little closer. “I would never do anything to embarrass you.”

“It’s not that you embarrass me exactly....”

“You want to keep your private life private. I get it.”

More like she wanted to keep her sexual preferences private, but she wouldn’t nitpick.

“As long as you don’t shut me out, I’m good with that.” His big hand moved over her head to her nape. “So what’s first on the agenda today?” And just to make it more difficult, he put his lips near her ear and whispered, “Want me to help you relax before we get started on everything else?”

Yes. Definitely yes. Right now, she could use another dose of his special brand of painkiller. But preferences aside, she had to take care of business. Still... “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Ah, no. I’d rather surprise you.” His tongue touched her ear, his breath was warm, soft. “Just know that you won’t be disappointed. In fact, I’m thinking I’ll make you come until you’re too exhausted to do anything but rest—as the doctor ordered.”

She believed him. And she was so tempted; already her body felt sensitive in key places, tingling with awareness, with eagerness.

But it was because she believed him, because she already knew exactly how easily he could get to her, that she had to decline. “Sorry. We should put that off for later. I have too many arrangements to make, and I can’t make them if I’m numb.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

SHE HADN’T REFUSED him, and already Dash could feel her quivering, the breathiness in her voice. Amazing, but it seemed they both stay primed around each other. He’d never experienced anything like it before.

The near violent way he wanted her, to f**k her, to talk with her, just to be with her, was fast becoming familiar.

His hand went down her body to her flat belly. “I could give you just a prelude if you want.” Fingers spread, he spanned her from hip bone to hip bone. Visualizing it even as he said it, he rasped, “I wouldn’t mind going on my knees for you.”

“Dash...” She gave a sharp inhalation. “That would be—”

“Incredibly hot.”

“—so unfair to you.”

“Not true.” He looked into her beautiful blue eyes. Voice rough and filled with lust, he whispered, “I would enjoy eating you.”

Involuntarily, her hand fisted in his shirt. She drew two deep breaths, and shook her head. “If you did that I would want more. A lot more.”

“Like me inside you? Sliding deep. Riding you hard.” Jesus, he was turning himself on. “Tell me you want it.” Tell me you want me.

“Yes.” Her fist loosened, smoothed his shirt, over his pec muscle. “I’m dying to feel that.”

“Soon,” he promised her.

“But I need to focus on my life first.”

Putting his forehead to hers, Dash concentrated on breathing. “Got it.” He wouldn’t pressure her. More than anything he just wanted to alleviate some of her burden. The next few days—probably the next few weeks—would not be easy on her.

“If you offer again later...”

“I’ll insist.” He couldn’t wait to kiss her everywhere, to taste her all over. Stop, he told his overactive imagination. He couldn’t very well take her on her errands with a perpetual boner. “For now, do you want a pain pill?”

“Better not.” She stepped back to look at his body, her expression concentrated. “God, you are sexy. I always thought so, but now...”

“You always thought so?” She’d sure hidden it well.

“Don’t be coy. You know you’re hot.”

He smiled, and the smile turned into a laugh. “I don’t think anyone would accuse me of being coy. And thank you. I’m glad you think so.”

“The thing is, it isn’t always about looks.”

Ah. “I see.” And he did. “It’s more about me understanding you, recognizing what you like, what your body likes and what you need. Because I understand you, you know I can get you off, and you know that you love it.”

“Do you understand me?”

In bed...and out. But she might not be ready to hear that yet.

He tucked a short curl behind her ear. “I can make you scream in a dozen different ways. Later, I’ll show you just a few.”

Eyes heavy, she looked up at him. “When I’m one hundred percent again, I want payback.”

His heart skipped a beat and his gut tightened. “Meaning?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Coasting a hand over his chest, she asked, “Have you ever been tied up?”

“No.” His level of trust didn’t quite stretch enough to put himself at anyone’s mercy. But maybe this was a test. Maybe she needed to know he’d play along before she could completely let loose. Tightening at that possibility, he asked, “You?” Because if that’s what she wanted, he was in, 100 percent.

She chose not to answer him. “Would you let me tie you up?”

Hell, no. “Guess that depends.” This conversation would not help him keep a boner at bay. “For what purpose, exactly?”

“Right now I can’t get my fill of you, not with only one hand, and not while this damn splint is in the way. But after I’m cleared by the doc, or before that if I can manage it, I’d like to have all the time in the world to look at you, touch you and taste you everywhere.”

An image of her riding him, her body holding him snug, her face taut with pleasure, nearly stole his breath. “You don’t have to restrain me for that. Just say the word and I’ll play along.”

“You say that now, but—”

He bent and took her mouth in a hot, wet, tongue-twining kiss. “Let’s see how it goes.” And hopefully he’d turn that idea around on her. He had a feeling Margo would love being totally at his mercy.

“How what goes?”

“You can try me first, and if it doesn’t work out the way you want, then maybe—maybe—I’ll let you tie me up.”

The idea stirred her, he could tell.

What he’d do to her, with her, would stir her more. “But until then, until you’re able to take full advantage, you’re still mine to play with. And I enjoy playing a lot.”

Closing her eyes and with a slight groan, she put her hand over his mouth. “Enough. I need to be totally clearheaded for a while and if you keep on teasing, I’ll be a muddled mess.”

Dash caught her wrist, kissed her palm and then lowered her hand. “I’ll be all business, I promise.” He, too, needed to get the fog of lust off his brain.

“You’re very considerate. Thank you.” She pushed back from him, her smile warm, teasing—and damn it, that turned him on more than the sex talk.

She rarely looked at him like that, and he relished it, seeing it as a sign that he made progress. “I understand skipping the pain pill.” For a woman like Margo, being totally clearheaded would be very important. “How about some aspirin instead?”