Free HazardsDare by Frances Stockton

Eve,” he admitted. “Samantha was a
bridesmaid in Dallas McKay’s wedding.”
    “That’s right. You also went up to Massachusetts to be in
the telethon to raise money for victims of domestic abuse. Eve and I became
friends soon after I moved to Danvers. She’s part of Morgan’s ghost-hunting
world and a history professor at a community college near Salem.”
    “How’s that going for Morgan?”
    “How’s what going?”
    “The ghost hunting.”
    “Extremely well. Morgan’s store burned down right before
Halloween. Now that it’s rebuilt, a lot of what’s sold involves selling
ghost-hunting equipment and tours around Salem. She still does readings, but
less often because she’s taking college courses for an advanced degree.”
    “Kyran told me about the fire. We tried to fly up there to
help her out if she needed it, but we were traveling with the team. Morgan
mentioned the last time we talked that she was involved with some kind of
reality TV show. I’m happy for her. She finally got the man she loved.”
    Avery paused in mid-text. “How well do you know Morgan?”
    “We were paired up for Dallas and Grace’s wedding. She’s a
sweetheart. That’s it. Why? Not getting jealous, are you?”
    “No,” she insisted a little too sharply, her gaze focused on
the smartphone. “I know the rules, Hazard. Don’t worry.”
    “Not worried. Is your safety net satisfied yet?”
    “Yes. I told Eve that I got tired after spending all day at
the spa and turned in early.”
    “How about turning off that phone now?” Reaching across the
bed, he waited to see if she’d let go of the cellphone.
    “I’d like to. But I’ve two texts from Alex and one from
Ryan. I should call them.”
    Fuck! He didn’t need that complication. Not when they had
about fifteen minutes before room service arrived. Thinking about Alex’s
reaction if he found out that Hazard hadn’t kept his pants zipped, his balls
clenched in fear.
    Alex was married to a surgeon. Who knew what kind of torture
Ryan could inflict? Castration maybe, hell, he probably deserved it. God
forgive him, he was not ready to give up Avery.
    Not when he kept seeing that box of condoms in his mind’s
eye.
    “Do it, Avery. Make it a text, though, and make it fast.
I’ve got plans for you.”
    Avery closed her fingers around the phone, not giving it up
yet. She glanced up at Hazard, the look in her blue eyes suddenly turning
naughty, much as it’d been at the club when she dared him to be her fuck buddy.
    He really fucking hated that phrase. But he really loved
fucking her. One time was not going to be enough to get her out of his system.
That’s what he needed. Lots and lots of fucking, until they were sore and
unable to move. A week should do it.
    “Maybe I’ve got plans for you too,” she said, tapping her
fingers over the touch screen of her phone. “Just know that I’ll stick to the
rules.”
    “Some rules are meant to be broken,” he heard himself say as
he got caught up in studying her pretty face. She really was a pretty thing,
beautiful, actually.
    “Sometimes,” she agreed, finishing up her text. “There,
texted Ryan. He’ll handle Alexander. Frankly, I’m not going to worry about my
brother for the remainder of the week.”
    “Why’s that, baby?”
    Avery’s blue eyes rose, homing in on his face. “I’ve got
Hazard Osbourne in my bed. You are my fantasy come true. Alexander represents
reality.”
    Hazard liked being Avery’s fantasy. “Hand over the phone.
Let’s tell reality to fuck off. What do you say we break a few rules together?
Better yet, that we have no rules between us?”
    Her phone landed in his hand. He turned the thing off and
gently tossed it to the table on his side of the bed.
    “Should we order a bottle of tequila and toast to no rules?”
    “Not necessary,” he said, turning to his side so he could
appreciate her freely. “You do need to get rid of that towel.”
    “If I don’t?”
    “Then I’ll remove