Free Nyght's Eve by Laurie Roma Page B

go get help by herself. When they didn’t
come home last night, we got called out. It didn’t take us long to find them
once we found their trail. I took Lancelot with me today and Hunter took
Percival. That’s why the others have so much energy. They always get jealous
when we go play without them.”
    “So, you only take one dog with you?”
    “One dog per searcher. It is easier for them
to focus that way and lock in the scent cones.”
    “I think it’s great you do that. It can’t be
easy searching for lost people. I’m guessing it doesn’t always turn out as good
as today did.”
    “No, it doesn’t,” she said softly. She moved
her head from side to side, trying to ease the tension in her neck and
shoulders, but it didn’t help much. “I heard you were at the center again
today. We appreciate you helping out.”
    “It’s the least I can do after yesterday.”
    She glanced up at him through veiled lashes.
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
    Stalling, Dare bent down and picked up a
stick. Pulling back his arm, he let it fly and watched as all four dogs gave
chase. “First, I want to say I’m usually not such an idiot around women. I
think it’s just you.”
    “Lucky me.”
    He shot a look at her. “Why don’t we write it
off as my stupid moment of the day and forget about it?”
    Evie paused, considering. “Do you have many
of those?”
    “What, stupid moments? I’m male, so that
would be yes. I think we have a quota each day or we just don’t feel right.”
    “Hmm.”
    He heaved out a sigh. “You...disturb me.”
    That had her stopping in her tracks. Offended
to her core, she glared at him with her hands on her hips. “Excuse me?”
    “See, even the way you glare at me. That
shouldn’t turn me on.”
    “It...I...” She lost her ability to speak.
Did he really just—
    “Damn it, Evie,” he said as he took a step
closer. “I shouldn’t have missed seeing your face today.”
    Her mouth opened, then closed as she
struggled to form a response. She took a step back, then another. “No. You
said—”
    “I know what I said.”
    “Then we should probably just avoid each
other from now on while you’re here.”
    Dare took another step forward, closing the
distance between them again as he slowly shook his head. “I’ve tried that. It
doesn’t seem to be working.”
    “Well, try harder,” she snapped. She started
to take another step back, but stopped when she realized he had her retreating.
    He burst out laughing. “Damn, woman. You sure
do know how to stomp on a man’s ego.”
    “That’s not all I’m gonna stomp on.”
    Still chuckling, he wrapped an arm around her
waist and jerked her to him, making her gasp. “Why don’t we try this instead?”
    Dare’s mouth came down on hers, hot and hard.
A low moan tore from Evie’s throat at the pleasure of feeling him against her.
She knew she should protest, push him away or something, but her hands simply
grabbed onto his shirt, needing something to anchor her as he took her under,
into a sea of sensation.
    Evie gasped again when he pulled her closer
so she felt the steel hard spike of his erection again her stomach. It seemed
to burn her through their clothes, and made her ache for more. He took
advantage when her lips parted and pushed his tongue deep, stroking and
tasting. Not to be outdone, she gave up fighting and met his desire with her
own. She took the kiss deeper, tilting her head to the side, fitting them
together like two pieces of a puzzle.
    She lost herself in the kiss, taking and
giving in equal measure. His other hand delved into her hair, tugging her head
back and the small sting made her shiver. Time seemed to stop while they were
locked together. Her hands slid under his shirt of their own volition. Feeling
the hard contours of the muscles on his back made her knees go weak and another
moan of pleasure broke free. She wanted to touch all of him, to stroke her
hands over his hard body until he was as mad for