Free Bedding The Bad Boy (Dalton Brothers Novels) by Virna DePaul

a man but not being able to totally let herself go sexually. Reliving the heartache of those men walking away from her because of it.
    Only she wasn’t seeing things clearly. With the amount of pressure she was putting on herself, of course it had been impossible to let go. And that’s what this was about, he was sure of it. She hadn’t been fully able to let herself go with those men. He was going to find out why and help her past those barriers.
    “It happened again and again, just like that,” she said. “Good men. Men I was attracted to. Men I let tie me down or blindfold me. Men with hard abs and big biceps and some with big—”
    She abruptly stopped talking and he found himself no longer able to hide his amusement. Laughing, he hugged her tighter. “White teeth. Good hair. Hot bods and big dicks. I got it. Message received, Grace.” She shook her head and started to pull away, but he held her tighter. “You were with quality men. They were with a quality woman. You don’t have to worry that I don’t know what I’m getting into. You’ve warned me this isn’t going to be easy. What I need now is for you to get that shit out of your head.” He pulled back and held her gaze. “This isn’t just about me doing you a favor. I want you. I’ve wanted you for a long time.”
    When she started to look away, he cupped her chin and refused to let her. “I think you’re beautiful. You turn me on more than any woman has in a long, long time. I need this, Dixie, just as much as you need it. Something’s been missing from my life. I don’t know what it is, but what I do know is the idea of being with you, and yes, the idea of proving to you there’s not one damn thing wrong with you, has me jazzed up in a big way. Has me excited. Very excited,” he whispered. “You with me?”
    “Max—”
    “Are you with me, Grace?”
    She hesitated, her anxiety and doubt apparent. Then, tentatively, she nodded.
    “Good,” he said, feeling like he’d crossed over some kind of finish line when in reality the race had barely begun. “Now, I’m assuming Lucy knows you’re with me and is heading back to your hotel on her own?”
    She nodded again, seeming to have gone mute. He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Have you ever parked?” he asked.
    “Parked?” she asked with a crinkle between her brows. She looked over at his car, a sleek black Audi.
    “Yeah, as in, made out in a car. Until the windows got all steamy. Until you were ready to rip off your clothes and do it regardless of who might come along and find you.”
    She swallowed hard, and Max couldn’t help himself. He reached out and lightly caressed her throat with the pads of his fingers. She shivered.
    He clenched his teeth to contain his own moan.
    She was as responsive as hell. He couldn’t wait to see what else made her shiver. And shake. And scream.
    “In college,” she whispered, her eyes getting drowsy with memory.
    “Then let’s get in the car, Grace. Because I want to hear more about what you were like in college. Including what you liked then, what you like now, and what you think you might like but have been too embarrassed to admit.”
     
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Max’s Magic Rule #6:
    Always leave them wanting more.
     
    Good Lord, Grace thought. I’m in a parked car with Max Dalton. And he told me he needs me. He wants me to give up control so he can give me a big O. So why am I sitting here pressed against the passenger door? And why isn’t he reaching over the center console and touching me?
    Max, who’d just pulled his car into a lookout point with a stunning view of the Las Vegas Strip, turned toward her. “Locals call this place Love with a View. I’ve never actually been up here but I’ve meaning to check it out.”
    She gazed at the twinkling lights and far-off desert scape.
    “It’s pretty,” she said. She tried to relax and started with unfolding her hands from her lap. Her palms were sweaty but she resisted wiping them on