Free Dillon's Claim by Callie Croix Page B

around and out of desperation followed the faint tire
tracks in the ground that led her here.
    Nerves danced in her stomach
as she stood next to her car under the hot sun and eyed the cabin. She knew
what to expect from Dillon today. He’d made his intentions clear enough last
night, and she wanted to experience it all with him. She was as ready for that
as she’d ever be. But afterward...she didn’t have a clue what would happen. He
cared, but he’d never indicated he wanted anything serious from her. Their
lives—their worlds—were so different that a real relationship probably wasn’t
going to work anyway. Still, she couldn’t quite squash the hope that rose
inside her as she started for the front step of the rancher-style cabin. All
she knew was she needed more of him before she could let him go.
    Gathering her courage, she
rapped sharply on the door and stood on the stoop to wait. Red geraniums
bloomed in the window boxes along the front of the house and in pots placed
along the front path. It pleased her that Dillon cared about such things, but
she had trouble imagining him fussing with flowers.
    The greeting she’d prepared
died on her tongue when Dillon pulled the heavy door open, releasing a breath
of cool air from the air conditioned interior. Wearing an unbuttoned black
shirt over his bare, magnificent chest, he stared down at her with hard blue
eyes. “Forget something?”
    His icy tone and expression
shocked her speechless for a moment, but then she glared right back at him. Why
the hell was he in such a bad mood? She licked her lips and raised her chin.
She’d be damned if she let him think he intimidated her.
    He arched a dark eyebrow. “Well?”
    “Hello to you, too.”
    He didn’t respond, but his
expression turned from cold to wary.
    Well, damn. This wasn’t at all
how she’d envisioned this going. Maybe she’d made a mistake by coming out here
to find him.
    He folded his thick arms
across his chest, the sheer physical power of him making him even more
imposing. “Why are you here, Charissa?”
    Did he really not know?
Frowning, she tilted her head. “Uh, I wanted to see you?”
    “Why? Ashley said you checked
out and left hours ago.”
    Realization slowly dawned, and
with it came a pang of empathy. He thought she’d taken off again. She shook her
head. “I checked out, but only because I didn’t want to miss check out time.
When I didn’t hear from you this morning, I went into town with Bridgette to do
some shopping. After I got back, I asked Dusty where you were and he sent me
out here.” She barely resisted the urge to fidget. “Is...that okay?”
    His entire demeanor changed.
Softened. The ice in his eyes thawed. “Yeah. Yeah, of course, it’s okay.” He
seemed relieved.
    Glad that awkward moment was
over with, she smiled then took his face in her hands and leaned up to kiss
him.
    He stiffened for an instant,
as though she’d taken him completely off guard, but he recovered fast. Before
she could slide her arms around his neck, Dillon caught her around the waist
and dragged her inside with a hungry growl. Her heart did a somersault in her
chest.
    One big hand fisted in her
hair as he plundered her mouth with his tongue. She sighed and rubbed against
him. Every nerve ending in her body pulsed at the evidence of his need for her.
He shoved the door shut and pinned her against it, grinding into her with his
hard, aroused body. His tongue swirled around hers, stroking and teasing. She
gasped into his mouth, already melting for him. Desperate for more.
    He pulled back just enough to see
her eyes. His burned with the kind of dark desires she’d only dreamed about. “You
sure about this?”
    “Yes,” she managed shakily.
    His gaze held her as forcefully
as his body did. “You know what I want from you. What I’ll do to you.”
    Swallowing, she nodded. He’d
take total control of her this time. Make her completely helpless. God help
her, she wanted it as much as he did. The