Liza felt as if her brain had short-circuited. For a woman who'd always been in control of her life, her emotions, and her destiny, the last week had shredded any notions she had about being in charge. So when Dare offered to drive her home, she agreed without question. When he parked in her driveway and instructed her to sit tight, she listened too. He came around to the passenger's side of the car and opened her door, helped her out, and walked beside her to the house. He held out his hand and she gave him the keys.

Oh, she knew by tomorrow she'd pull herself together, but for tonight if he wanted to order her around and take complete control, she decided she'd allow it. Her brain had already shut down and it felt good to not fight the person who wanted to pamper her.

He locked the front door and checked the garage exit and windows, and for once she was grateful Dare Barron was a cop. She put all thoughts of Brian, people he owed money to, and men who wanted to hurt her out of her mind. Or tried to. The lingering fear and anxiety hovered just below the surface.

Dare must have sensed her fragile emotions because he was steady and calm. He asked her no questions, demanded no answers. He was just there.

He guided her to the bathroom and turned on the shower. "Long day at the pool means we need to clean up."

She merely nodded.

While waiting for the water to get hot, Dare stepped closer. He lifted the sheer top she'd put over her bathing suit and drew it over her head. The cool air-conditioning blew over her skin and she shivered, her nipples hardening instantly beneath the bathing suit top.

He noticed but said nothing, merely reached around and unhooked the bikini top and let the material fall to the floor. Her breasts grew heavy under his insistent stare.

"Beautiful," he said almost reverently, and brushed the pad of his thumb over one distended peak.

She moaned and realized the sound came from her throat. Realized too that at his touch, her body came alive and so did her mind. Her senses, which had been dead since the incident on the driveway at Ethan's, fired up at his intimate caress.

He switched to the other breast, swiping his finger over her other nipple. "Just trying to give them equal treatment," he said with a sexy grin.

She laughed for what felt like the first time in hours. She couldn't resist him one bit. And for right now, she didn't want to. She needed this, needed him too badly. The worry and the issues she knew were between them could wait.

She eased one finger inside his bathing suit trunks and his stomach muscles jumped, stiffening beneath her touch. She could imagine other muscles stiffening as well and wanted to find out firsthand.

"Uh-uh." Dare grabbed her wrist. "Tonight is about you."

At his words, moisture pooled between her thighs. "But touching you makes me happy," she murmured.

His eyes glazed over. "I'll make you even happier," he promised. "Now keep your hands to yourself like a good girl." He placed her hands back at her sides before hooking his fingers into the sides of her suit bottom and easing them down her legs.

He lowered himself along with them, slowly revealing her to his hungry gaze. She stepped out of first one side, then the other, and he tossed the bottoms across the floor.

He stood and with one swift yank removed his trunks. Next thing she knew, he'd lifted her up and placed her inside the shower, joining her in the enclosed steamy area. The space wasn't tiny and they both fit just fine with room to move and turn.

Dare settled her, back to the wall. He lathered up his hands with her favorite coconut-scented soap and began to wash her body from her toes on up, massaging with his fingertips, easing his strong hands over her calves, up her knees, her thighs, and slowly inching his way to her feminine folds. All the while, his erection pulsed strong and hard, rigid and upright against his belly.

Her sex clenched with need and she tried to touch him, wanted to slide her hand along the hard, rigid shaft, but he shook his head once more.

"No." He placed her palms against the wall behind her and while he was positioning her, he spread her thighs open wide. "This is about you, remember?"

She nodded, feeling vulnerable because the position exposed her to him in all ways.

"You trust me, right, baby?" he asked.

She melted like butter. "Of course I do." Her legs trembled at the admission, her body contracting and craving him like never before.

"Then let me make you feel good. You need this," he said gruffly.

She did. She needed him. She relaxed, let her palms feel the cooler shower tile and allowed sensation to take over.

Dare felt the minute she stopped fighting and gave herself over to him. Her muscles slackened and she leaned against the wall, trusting him to take care of her.

From this woman, the submission was humbling. He slid his slick hands from her thighs, higher, bypassing her dampness. She let out a cry of disappointment.

He laughed and pressed a kiss to her belly. "Soon," he promised. "Soon."

He continued his deliberately sensual assault, lathering the rest of her, taking his time with her breasts, palming the firm flesh in his hands, arousing her by rolling her nipples between his fingers. With every squeeze, she thrust her hips forward in a silent plea.

He set his jaw and ended his cleaning, leaning in for a long kiss, devouring her lips and thrusting his tongue into her eager mouth. To her credit, her hands remained in place and she let him do the work, taking possession of her mouth. He slid his tongue in and out, mimicking the act her lower body desperately sought until his cock was so hard he thought it would break.

Dare leaned his head back and drew a deep breath. He caught sight of the shower handle and unhooked it from the holder. He rinsed her off, watching as the soap slid over her skin, the white foam easing over the slope of her breast, the curve of her hips, and down between the V of her legs.

Once he'd finished his task, he was about to drop the handle and shut off the shower when another idea hit him and he lifted the pulsing water jets. Up, up, over her thighs the water pelted against her skin.

He met her gaze for a brief moment, watched her eyes first widen in surprise and then glaze over in understanding and desire. Knowing he had her permission, he refocused on his task, aiming the water at her center. The streams struck at her sex, gliding over and onto her inner and outer lips, hitting her directly on the small bud he desperately wanted to take into his mouth.

But not yet.

Instead of easing up, he brought the shower head closer, so the power and pressure of the stream did its job. Her legs began to shake and he slipped one hand behind her back to hold her up, all the while never letting the water pressure ease.

She leaned against him, panting in his arms. Head thrown back, hips thrust out, taking the pleasure he delivered, she was the most gorgeous thing he'd ever seen. And suddenly she cried out, her orgasm overtaking her.

Dare dropped to his knees and replaced the water jets with his mouth, suckling her clitoris into his mouth, pulling her deeper into sensation, letting her ride her climax and him to completion.

When she'd finished and nearly collapsed, he slammed the shower off and wrapped her in a towel, then pulled out one for himself. A few minutes later, he'd dried them as best he could and led her to the bed. She was still too malleable, too willing to let him call the shots.

That was okay. He knew it wasn't a permanent state. It just meant she still needed him. Once on the mattress, he pried the towel off her body, baring her to him once more. She shivered and so did he, but he knew they wouldn't be cold for long.

He lay alongside her, letting his body heat fuel hers. Then, reaching out, he slipped his finger between her legs, finding her wet and ready for him.

"Tell me you want this," he said, needing to hear her voice. Her certainty.

"I want you." As if to prove it, she bent her knees and reached for him.

He raised himself up and over her, coming down so his erection poised at her entrance. They'd had the protection talk and he wasn't stopping now.

He leaned over and nipped at her lips at the same time he thrust deep, and if he didn't know better, he'd think he'd found home.

Shit.

Have you ever been in love, little brother?

His brother's words reverberated inside his head to the rhythm of Liza's body contracting around him.

He braced his hands on either side of her and pulled out slowly, feeling her soft, willing flesh grip him as he withdrew, then plunged back in to the hilt and started all over again. The only sounds in the room were their harsh breathing, his groans, and her breathy sighs, urging him on.

Words like harder, faster, echoed in his ears as Liza gripped his shoulders and dug her nails into his skin. All thoughts of gentleness and care fled, but she didn't seem to mind. She wanted what he did, everything and anything they each had to give. Over and over, her hips rose to meet his, picking up his rhythm, accepting him as he plunged into her again and again, lost to the needs of their bodies and, Dare feared, his heart.

Liza woke up feeling much more like herself. She just wasn't ready to face the world yet. Why would she want to when Dare's warm body was curled around hers and her limbs were deliciously leaden from last night? Speaking of last night, he'd given to her, but today she wanted to return the favor, and since he seemed in no rush to jump out of bed, she assumed she had time.

She deliberately squirmed to let him know she was awake, and he rolled onto his back, exactly where she wanted him. She turned to face him, well aware of the fact that they were both completely naked. Was it any wonder she'd slept so well despite the uncertainty and problems in her life?

She pushed those thoughts aside for now. A little more time wasn't too much to ask, was it? She braced her hand over his hair-roughened chest and a groan rumbled through him.

"You're up."

"In more ways than one," he said gruffly.

She laughed. "There is definitely something I can do about that," she said, reaching over and cupping his erection in her hand.

He sucked in a deep breath. "You don't-"

"Shh. I want to." Liza needed to taste him, to give back, to do to him what he'd done to her last night.

She didn't know how long they had together before her life ultimately imploded their relationship. And she didn't kid herself any longer. This was a relationship. Probably the first real, genuine one she'd ever had and she planned to savor it, even if it was short-lived.

She snaked her way down his body, taking in his musky, masculine scent until she was inches from his rigid erection. She licked the head, teasing him, taking in his salty taste before pulling him into her mouth completely.

He groaned and jerked his hips upward, pushing himself harder against her throat. She forced herself to relax, to take him deeper than she thought possible. His entire body shook and she reveled in how out of control she made him, that he could react this way because of her. It only made her more aware of her feminine power. She wanted to take more of him into her mouth, to bring him higher and send him over that edge. And from the way he was thrusting into her mouth, he wasn't all that far away, and she found it extremely arousing. Moisture pooled between her legs along with a pulsing that beat in time to the thrusts of his hips.

She curled her hand around his balls, running her fingertips over the heavy sacs.

"Liza, baby, that feels good." The words sounded torn from him. "I'm close, sweetheart, come here."

She shook her head and continued to work him, gliding her tongue along the firm ridge and popping her lips over his wet head before going back in for more.

"Gonna come," he warned her.

As if that would make her stop? She picked up her pace and her own body throbbed in time to the rhythm they'd set. Unable to control herself, she reached down and began to rub herself with her fingertip, seeking the same relief she was giving him. Waves began to crest inside her immediately and she circled her tiny nub harder, faster, the pressure building as fast as his.

Dare's hand came up to tangle in her hair and he held on as she brought him to climax. He pumped his hips into her, and when he came with a shout she followed, her orgasm blinding in its intensity, and she worked at swallowing every last drop while at the same time, grinding her pelvis against her own hand.

She released him and collapsed on his thighs, his fingers still tangled in her hair as he held her close.

"Hell of a way to wake up," he said at last.

She managed a laugh. "I thought so."

"I'd offer to take care of you, but I realized you already handled that."

"I've never...not in front of anyone before." A warm flush rose to her cheeks. "Does it bother you?"

"I think it's hot."

She rolled her eyes. "You would." She shook her head. "Men," she muttered, and crawled back up to meet his gaze.

He pulled her into his arms and to her surprise, into a long kiss. "Feeling better this morning?" he asked.

"Much. Thanks to you."

He met her gaze, his hot stare lingering. "Can't say I minded."

She settled her hand on his chest and placed her head against his shoulder. He pulled her close and they lay together in silence. Liza enjoyed the sense of peace and rightness surrounding her and realized how foreign both sensations were to her.

"We need to talk," Dare said, breaking the peace.

"I know." She drew a deep breath and prepared to face reality. "Let me take a shower and pull my thoughts together, okay?"

He nodded. "I'll jump in after you. If I join you, we won't get any talking done."

She grinned, visions of him taking such good care of her last night before taking her.

And, oh, he'd taken her. Possessed her was more like it. She'd come apart, and when she resurfaced she'd wondered if she'd ever be the same.

Now in the light of day, she knew she wasn't the same woman she'd been before her life had become entangled with his, and she wondered how she'd cope when he was long gone.

Before Liza and Dare settled in to talk, Liza grabbed her cell phone and locked herself in the bathroom to call her brother. She needed to talk to him in person and to do that she had to make sure he'd be around. What she didn't need was an argument about Brian with Dare, so she chose the most private room in the house.

She dialed, but her brother's phone rang and rang and nobody answered. She didn't even get voicemail on the other end. Same for his cell phone. She'd check in with work later, but she had a hunch they hadn't heard from him either. If all else failed, she'd have to call her parents, but she dreaded that almost as much as she dreaded the thought that someone wanted to hurt her brother. Through her.

Her stomach cramped as the memory of the guy with the heavy chains and threats came back to her. What if he'd hurt Brian? Her knees went weak and she lowered herself to a small vanity chair, forcing herself to think. If the guy had given her a message for her brother yesterday, surely that meant Brian had time before whoever he owed money acted or hurt him.

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come on in," she called.

Dare stepped inside. "Are you okay?"

She clasped the phone in her hand. "Yeah. I'm fine."

He leaned against the door frame. "You look upset."

"No more than I should be considering what's going on." She drew a deep breath. "Are you ready to talk?"

"I am. Are you?"

She shook her head and laughed. "Ready? No. Willing? Yes."

He stepped forward and held out his hand. She took it, letting him pull her to her feet.

They sat down in her family room and Liza curled her legs beneath her. "What do you want to know?"

"For starters, why you snuck your cell phone into the bathroom." He stared at her with those perceptive eyes and the determined gaze she remembered from when they were merely acquaintances. A few short weeks, yet it seemed like forever.

"I was trying to reach my brother," she admitted.