Free MoreThanWords by Karla Doyle

to…do something?” Because if he ordered her to
her knees, she’d be on them in a second.
    His head shook slightly as a sly smile stretched across his
face. “Not yet. But I am looking forward to seeing you dance.”
    “Oh no. I don’t dance. Not in front of people.” The thought
of dancing in front of another human being filled her stomach with a thousand
flitting butterflies.
    “Then you’d better not lose too many rounds. You dancing for
me is staying on my dare list, Calli. I’m just not sure if I want you dressed
or naked when you do it.”
    Oh dear god. Daring her to suck his cock or bend over the
couch—those things she might be able to handle. Wanted to handle. If he made
her dance, or sing, she might keel over. This date would end with Travis
watching her hyperventilate, not gyrate. “I can’t dance, Travis. I really
can’t.”
    The devil disappeared from his expression. He moved from his
end of the couch to crouch on the floor at her hip. His hands slid over her—one
on her bare leg, the other on the small of her back. Even through the cotton,
her skin electrified under his palm.
    “Like I said in my message earlier—I’ll only do things that
you want. That includes the dares. If you take them, it won’t be because you
have to—it’ll be because you want to.”
    “I tell you I can’t dance and you think I’ll want to
dance for you before the end of one Scrabble game?”
    The hand on her back traced up her spine and sifted through
her hair. Sparks exploded everywhere he touched. This kind of contact was
probably normal for him and meant nothing. Not for her. Not at all. It’d been
so long since fingers other than her own had caressed her skin, she’d forgotten
how intoxicating it could be.
    He pushed off his haunches, positioning himself very close
to her face. Close enough to feel his breath mingle with hers. Close enough to
kiss her—only he didn’t.
    “I’m looking forward to finding out. As for this round, the
price for keeping your skirt is your panties.”
    “I accept your terms.” She stood—though he didn’t give her
much space to do so—and snaked her fingers up, under her skirt. Actually,
removing her underwear in this manner proved more difficult than she expected.
A thong would’ve been relatively simple. Reach, hook, yank. The boy-cut shorts
covered a lot more ground, and they clung to her body like skin. And the damn
skirt was ultra-close fitting. To get at the undies, she’d practically have to
shove the skirt up over her hips. Maintaining an element of mystery—or
modesty—would be next to impossible.
    Travis was clearly enjoying the entire process. Hands
stuffed into his jeans’ pockets and sporting an exceptional grin, he continued
to crowd her, never taking his eyes off her. She ought to be furious or
humiliated. Instead her breasts were tingly, her clit was on high alert and the
heat between her legs ensured that the panties giving her so much trouble were
beyond damp. She’d never get them off this way.
    “Troubles?”
    “It’s this skirt.”
    “The houndstooth one. It’s different. I like it.”
    “It’s also too tight for me to take off my panties without
showing you my stuff.”
    “Good thing I don’t mind if you do.”
    “Travis, come on.”
    The amusement slipped away, replaced by a much hungrier
smile. “Be more specific, sweetheart, especially when you’re teasing me by
saying my name in that sexy voice.”
    She’d been so upset when the doctors told her the damage to
her throat was irreparable. But Travis liked her low, gravelly tone. Huh. At
least one good thing had come from the attack.
    “Come on and what?” he asked while getting closer, though
that hardly seemed possible.
    “Turn around.” She swallowed, trying to banish the wobble
from her voice. “You dared me to give you my panties…you never said I had to
take them off in front of you.”
    “You’re right.” He gave her his back, but no extra space.
“Next time