Truth or Dare

Nikki Winter ABC Thrillers “P” is for Pool Play

www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

Truth or Dare Nikki Winter Copyright © 2011 by Nikki Winter All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including but not limited to: printing, photocopying, faxing, recording, electronic transmission, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the authors or holders of the copyright. This book is a work of fiction. References may be made to locations and historical events; however, names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author‟s imagination and/or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, events or locales is either used fictitiously or coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. Published by Beautiful Trouble Publishing, LLC PO Box 61 Colfax, NC 27235 www.beautifultroublepublishing.com Cover Art: Shara Azod Editor: Cindy Davis, http://www.fiction-doctor.com/ Proofreader: Novellette Whyte http://authorgurunovellette.blogspot.com/ Formatter: Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/ E-book Conversion: Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/ ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-61788-144-2; (print) 978-1-61788-145-9

This one is for all my bold and off the wall people who will accept almost any challenge. —Nikki

Note about eBooks eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving away eBooks is a copyright infringement. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author or Beautiful Trouble Publishing.

This work of erotica contains adult language and sexually explicit scenes, which are smoking hot. This book is intended only for adults, as it is defined by the laws of the country in which the purchase is made. Keep this book out of the hands of under-aged readers.

Pass the Hat Folks…

“It wasn‟t my fault!” Avery Johnson rolled her eyes at the proclamation that fell from three different pairs of lips as the cop unlocked the cell. “Whatever,” was all she said as she turned on her heel and made her way back through the Hampton Roads jail, knowing the three would follow. “See, Sienna started it,” Angel began. “What? No, it was all Angel‟s idea.” Sienna jumped in. “I say it was the both of ya‟ll,” Lyric chimed. Two outraged gasps cut through the night. “Was not!” Angel and Sienna yelled. “Really? Okay so who got all funky when that manager shushed her?” Lyric asked. Avery didn‟t have to turn around to know Lyric and Sienna were staring at Angel, chica cabeza caliente. Said “hot head chick” spoke up. “But whose idea was it to get in their mustang, follow him home after his shift, and do doughnuts on his front lawn, el psycho?” Yep, that had to be Sienna, and Avery was guessing Lyric was just in for the ride since, being the 7

mechanic of the group, she knew how to whip that mustang like no one else. Stopping she just had to ask, “Exactly how‟d you guys get caught?” “Well…” Angel said. Sienna spoke up next. “See what happened was…” “Dude managed to write down the plates, and before we could wash the car to get rid of any incriminating evidence…” Lyric‟s voice trailed off as her mouth twisted. Lips quirking, Avery said, “Cops rolled up and threw the book at your asses.” All three nodded. She sighed. “I passed around a hat at the group home, and all of you owe the kids a pizza party.” Three more sighs resounded before, “Fine,” was said. Avery watched with amusement as they trudged to her car since Sienna‟s had been impounded and would remain that way until Monday. Rubbing the slight twitch above her eye, she followed them, wondering how three grown women managed to be more trouble than the kids she worked with. The four had known each other all their lives, were adoptive sisters, taken in by the same woman at young ages. Mama Bella‟s house had been a saving grace. The horror stories told about foster homes 8

Nikki Winter never even touched them where they were because they had someone who genuinely loved them. Unable to have children Bella Johnson had looked into fostering and apparently fell in love with the four girls because she never let them go. Avery, being the oldest by a few years, had been deemed the unofficial eldest sister and the one who kept everybody else in line. The older they got though the more outrageous the situations became. Each one had their own special quirk that made them seem just a little out of the realm of the normal. Sienna was the chemistry dork with a penchant for scents. Crossing her was like crossing yourself out of smelling normal for at least a month. Sienna‟s ninth grade boyfriend, Wade, found out when he decided that tonguing down a cheerleader was a good idea. Poor dude couldn‟t even get within six feet of a girl after that. Angel was, of course, the hot head with a bad temper, and an even worse right hook she enjoyed using. Then there was Lyric. The chick was just scary. And she enjoyed pickpocketing married men with the issue of keeping it in their pants. If it was a form of transportation and had an engine then she knew about it. Avery was the only person who could rein in any of them. Being that she was the only one in the group with a Master‟s in psychology and a Bachelor‟s in child 9

development, well…she could usually predict when things were about to go south—especially if it involved the other three. Apart from their careers as a chemistry professor, self-defense instructor, and car restorer, they helped Avery run her center for abused and abandoned kids. Mama Bella had given her the idea to be a child advocate when she‟d been in school looking for a major that fit her. Her adoptive mother‟s words had been, “You were nosey as a child and you‟re nosey now. Put that to good use and change some lives. That way I can at least get an idea of what it‟s like to have grandbabies, since you four aren‟t settling down anytime soon.” She‟d been right of course, and as soon as Avery graduated she‟d gotten a job as a caseworker for social services. Quickly she found herself frustrated with her lack of options when it came to helping kids in need, and started saving money. With a few connections, thanks to Mama Bella, she‟d snagged a deal on an abandoned boarding house and set-up shop. That was three years ago. So far she had a total of thirty kids to tend to. Every day was another fight but she loved each and every life she was responsible for, and refused to give up on any of them. That was probably why she wasn‟t putting her foot in anybody‟s ass right about now. Her sisters 10

Nikki Winter drove her crazy but she loved them and couldn‟t help but be just a little amused at their antics.

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Chicken is as Chicken does…

“I am not!” Avery couldn‟t believe she was having this argument with them. She could, however, believe she was two seconds off of really putting her foot in somebody‟s ass if the teasing didn‟t stop. “Yes, you are, Ave. At some point that stick in your ass is gonna start hurting.” Lyric spun around in her leather office chair. “Perhaps having someone on your ass, literally, is what you need to help you get off ours,” Sienna said. Angel burst out laughing from her lounging position on the sectional. Avery flipped them all the bird then threw a pillow at Sienna. “Exactly!” Lyric shouted. Angel just looked at her and softly said, “Cosign.” In the same quiet tone Avery retorted, “You‟re all assholes.” “All we‟re suggesting is that you find a hot male with a big cock who‟s more than willing to share said cock—and ride him until said cock almost falls off.” This came from Sienna. Rubbing her hands down her face, Avery answered, “I have serious moral issues with that.” 12

Nikki Winter “Och! You‟ve got moral issues with everything!” Angel flopped back on the couch. “Yes I do—she who started a bar fight at a wedding, in a church, where there wasn‟t a bar to begin with…” Avery said. “Are you still harping on that?” Angel asked, waving her hands about. “You got a man of cloth knocked unconscious, Ang.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, that particular man of the cloth was taking off said cloth and gettin‟ nasty with the bride in a back room. Was it my fault I discreetly told the groom?” Avery snorted. “Discreet? You yelled out—right when he asked if there were any objections—„I happen to object to you becoming biblically familiar with that man‟s fiancée! But I must say she looked happy!‟” By the time she was finished retelling what happened they were all balled up and laughing so hard they had tears streaming down their faces. “Hey, I figured if we were gonna crash a wedding—which was your suggestion—why not have a little fun in the process?” “Yeah, it‟s all fun and games until a priest ends up on a gurney.” Chuckling, Lyric looked at her. “Forget that little occurrence. All we‟re saying is that there‟s a distinct 13

possibility you could get some, and get it good, if you gave yourself a break from the brat pack and looking after us. Hell, Mama Bella even gave us a box of condoms to give to you.” “Oh good lord,” Avery groaned. “Yes, even our seventy-year-old mother thinks you need some pipe laid, therefore you should get that done,” Angel added. “Yay for pipe laying!” Sienna cheered, and Avery could do nothing but shake her head as the other two idiots joined in with the cheer. They stopped at the sight of headlights shining through the front window and all three rushed to that window. “Omigosh, its Mr. „I‟m so sexy I should have a blow-up doll fashioned after me.‟” Sienna sighed. “Damn, he‟s fine,” Angel said. “Do you see his truck?” Lyric asked. Avery chuckled when the other two looked at Lyric like she was crazy. “We‟re talking about how fine this man is and you‟re creaming over his truck?” Sienna asked. Lyric shrugged. “Has to be a four cylinder with four-wheel drive, and I‟m guessing he has nothing less than two hundred horses under that hood.” “I‟m guessing Mama Bella dropped you on your head as a baby,” Angel muttered.

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Nikki Winter “Would you three freaks get outta my window please, before he sees you?” Sienna pouted at her. “But he‟s just so pretty, Av. I wanna touch him and then keep touching him until he moans my name.” Avery shot her a droll stare. “I‟m gonna need some water to rinse out the taste of stomach acid from my mouth since I just threw up a little.” Angel sighed. “You can‟t expect ole stick-in-theass to appreciate the sight of a fine specimen like Dare O‟Connell.” “You got one more time to call me stick-in-theass, Ang. Then I‟m putting my foot all up and through yours,” Avery growled. Angel batted her lashes. “Can Dare be my shirtless caretaker when I get home from ER?” Avery rolled her eyes and sat back on her loveseat, then turned her head when she realized Lyric was staring at her. “What?” The youngest member of their ragtag sisterhood cocked her head to the side and regarded her for a moment. “How come you haven‟t done Dare?” Avery froze. There wasn‟t a day that went by where she didn‟t think about riding Dare O‟Connell like an old school Harley but she‟d never act on it. Dare paid her little to no mind, and their conversations were few and far between. All Avery 15

knew was that he worked at a Newport News naval base, was thirty-four, single, had three younger brothers, and he was absolutely gorgeous. From his intense gunmetal grey eyes to the curly locks of auburn hair, to his six foot seven height—proportioned perfectly with an amazing body down to those huge hands and feet—he was simply gorgeous. Sadly, Avery felt pretty much non-existent while he was around. Something she‟d grown to accept. “Mr. O‟Connell is in no way interested in me,” Avery finally answered. “But you‟re beautiful and smart, and funny…so why?” Poor Lyric actually looked confused. “Maybe I‟m not his type, dude.” “Dude, you‟re everybody‟s type,” Sienna said. She smiled at that. Her sisters could be so complex. They cut her down just to build her up. Avery shrugged. “That‟s your opinion. All I‟m saying is that he never looks my way.” Everyone froze when Lyric said, “Hmmm.” “Oh shit.” She breathed. Lyric saying “Hmmm.” usually meant somebody was going to jail, getting evicted, or banned from someplace. “Let‟s play a game!” Lyric cheered and Avery put a pillow over her face. This was so not a good idea. ***

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Nikki Winter Dare stopped a second to glance at Avery Johnson‟s house then forced himself to keep on walking. He shook his head as he climbed the porch steps to his house and unlocked his door. Grimacing, he looked down. Just the thought of that woman‟s name had his cock springing up like a jack in the box. “Shit.” Dare trudged to his kitchen, grabbed a beer and uncapped it before guzzling half the bottle. He took a deep breath and sat at the kitchen‟s island and tried to get his mind off of her. Since he‟d moved in all he ever thought about was her. Last time he saw her, she had on some tiny little shorts and a tank getting her mail, and he‟d practically ran back home for fear that she‟d discover his cock‟s sudden need to say hello. It drove him crazy. Dare couldn‟t be in her presence for five minutes without smelling that brown sugar and vanilla mix on her flawless skin, or notice how pretty and lush her lips were every time she spoke. Some nights the ache was so bad he had to have “private time” imagining the way those lips would feel wrapped around him. Dare shuddered then took another swig of beer. Dammit to hell, Avery haunted the shit out of him! Sadly, he didn‟t think he stood a chance with her. Avery was by no means the average beauty. No, she had that “hot girl next door” thing going on. At five foot nine in her bare feet, with a body 17

that wouldn‟t quit, and a face that make a man wanna put a halo over her head, Dare couldn‟t even imagine that she‟d date him. She sure as hell wouldn‟t let him fuck her against every surface in his home like he‟d been fantasizing for months. Funny enough, her body didn‟t just turn him on—it was her mind too. Avery had to be one of the most intelligent women he‟d ever had a conversation with. Along with that came her eighteen-carat goldwrapped heart. Her center for youth in Virginia Beach had to be one of the biggest helps to kids that he‟d ever seen. When Dare had found himself a bit obsessed with her he‟d begun doing research and found out that Avery dealt with almost thirty different children daily and never broke a sweat. As a big brother of three younger brothers that he‟d practically raised, Dare found himself more than impressed with her. Sighing, he grabbed his forgotten duffel bag and headed for his bathroom. A cold shower was in order, and if that didn‟t work, well, he had other…options. Maybe then he‟d be able to sleep peacefully for one night. *** “I double-dog-dare you to skinny-dip in Dare‟s pool!” Angel pointed at Avery.

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Nikki Winter The four girls froze before Lyric and Sienna pumped their fists and, like the big ass children they were, cheered, “Yeah!” “You guys can kiss my whole ass if you think I‟m doing that,” Avery said. “No, we can‟t, but you can kiss your crotchrocket good-bye if you don‟t give in to our demands.” Sienna smirked. Avery‟s eyes went wide. “You wouldn‟t.” “Oh but we would and we did,” Angel cackled. “What‟d you do with him?” “He‟s in a safe place for now, oh dear big sister, and that‟s all you need to know.” Lyric clapped her hands. “Now, I‟d advise that you grab a towel and get to it.” Avery shook her head. “Ya‟ll are some cruel, cruel bitches.” “Yes, we know. Now, go get a towel because you have something to do.” Avery made her slow way to a linen closet and followed them out the back door. If her Suzuki hadn‟t cost damn near a fortune and didn‟t satisfy all her motorcycle needs, plus more, she‟d lock the betraying heifers out and go back inside, but this was crotch rocket, the most beloved of all her toys and, dammit, he was special!

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They reached her fence and the bitches that were her younger sisters stood there giggling like idiots. Angel stopped laughing long enough to say, “Okay we‟ll all climb over and then watch you spend six naked minutes in Dare‟s pool. After that, you‟re free and clear, and we‟ll give ya back ya little bike.” “Um…I object. I don‟t wanna see Ave‟s tits or anything else on her. I‟m allergic to naked women being anywhere near me,” Sienna said. Lyric cuffed her in the back of the head. “Shut. Up.” The next thing Avery knew, she was praying Dare was asleep already and chanting under her breath, “For my crotch rocket.”

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The Best View is Front row…

Did it make him a pervert that he was watching her? Really, she had everything out, free and clear— dropping her towel, running for the crystal blue water like she was streaking—and his eyes couldn‟t help but follow with appreciation. Was that a tattoo of a tiger lily on Avery‟s lower back? He took in a shuddering breath and sat back in his deck chair, hidden by the screen enclosure. “Damn.” When she finally broke the surface again everyone was staring at her. “Okay, that was six naked minutes, now where‟s my towel?” Her youngest sister grinned and held up the towel. “Right here.” Then she backed away. “Lyric Marie! You better not!” And that‟s when Lyric took off running. He tried to stop himself from watching but the sight of a naked and wet Avery chasing down one of her younger sisters to get hold of a towel was not to be ignored. What had him smiling was the way her sisters passed the towel from one to the other, until they had his poor Avery running in circles. What made that first chuckle slip out was the fact that one sister had said towel once again and was running back toward their 21

house while everyone else held Avery off. Then as one, the two sisters lifted and carried her, kicking, back to the water and threw her in once again before they took off running. By this time, Dare was holding his side and laughing hard enough that he couldn‟t breathe. *** She was going to kill them! Lyric had taken her clothes and towel, which meant she was ass out— literally! Without shoes, how in the hell was she supposed to climb a six-foot fence? “I don‟t know but it‟d be fun to watch you try,” a deep rumble drawled a few feet behind her. Four things happened when she heard that voice. Avery realized she‟d spoken aloud. She got wet, she got pissed off even more, and she froze like a statue. Turning very slowly, she faced the human Mack truck that was Dare O‟Connell as he stood staring at her in nothing but a pair of cotton shorts and a towel in his hand. Unlike the rest of her body, Avery‟s mouth went dry. “Are you going to take it or do you want my arm to fall off?” he asked, raising one auburn brow. Face burning she took the towel and wrapped it around herself. “I know you‟re wondering what the hell I was doing in your pool.”

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Nikki Winter He smiled a bit. “I was too busy thanking God to care what you‟re doing in my pool.” Avery tilted her head back to stare up at him. The pool lights allowed her to see the twinkling of his grey eyes as he looked back down at her. “You‟re not pissed that you just caught some random naked chick doing the back stroke on your property?” Dare chuckled then stepped a little closer. “Do I look pissed to you?” Then he gestured below his waist. Gulping she took in the huge bulge that looked as if it were physically fighting to get free from its enclosure. She shook her head as her clit swelled and a rush of moisture hit her right between the thighs. Damn he smelled good and looked even better. All, she guessed, two-hundred thirty pounds of granite carved muscle covered in a perfect tan made her just wanna lick him. “No, you don‟t look pissed off,” Avery whispered as the large mushroom head of his cock peaked out from his shorts. “But your dick looks mighty angry.” His laugh was raspy. “He‟s harmless.” She backed up as he stalked her around the pool. “Really? Because he looks like he could do plenty of damage.”

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“Well there‟s damage and then there‟s damage,” Dare retorted in a low sensual rumble finally catching up with her. “I‟m not being very comforted by this whole conversation, Dare.” His grin was wolfish at best. “Oh I want you comfortable, sweetheart—but I also want you wet.” “I‟m already wet. I‟ve been in the pool.” If anything, he just smiled wider before shaking his head. “No, Avery, I mean that I need for you to want me as much as I want you.” How exactly did he manage to get her pressed up against the fence? “Uh…you want me? You barely even speak to me.” Dare leaned in, his breath fanning her cheek and neck as he moved his lower body closer. And closer. Avery‟s breath shuddered when his cock pressed against her. Was this a test of her will? If so, she was going to fail long and hard tonight. One of his super-sized hands gripped hers and he trailed it down his chest before settling it on his cock. Avery whimpered. Steel under velvet, it was. “Looking at you, speaking to you, and or just being around you always does this to me, Avery. Some days I get hard looking at your front door. Do you have any idea what I‟d finished doing before I found you—my living wet dream—out here?” 24

Nikki Winter Her eyes closed when his other hand slid beneath her towel and up her thigh before he hooked one of her legs around his waist and bent his knees to grind that huge erection right into her core. She shook her head, her breaths coming out in puffs of air now. He nipped her neck then pulled her head back by her hair to do the same to her lips before whispering, “I had my hand around my cock, fantasizing about how many different ways I could make you scream my name.” And that‟s when Avery came hard and fast without Dare ever getting her on her back. *** His mouth was pressed to hers in a flash, his tongue stroking hers as he swallowed all those needy moans she emitted. Picking her up, he headed for his back door. He finally had her exactly where he wanted her. Taking the stairs at a fast pace, Dare found himself in his room with Avery on her back in his bed. But he stopped. He had her now, had wanted her since the first day she introduced herself as his neighbor, but what if this was a heat of the moment thing? What if tomorrow morning she woke up disgusted with herself?

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Wide brown eyes slid open to stare at him through a fringe of curly lashes. “Why‟d you stop?” Breath caught in his throat, and he stared down at her for a moment. “You‟ve gotta tell me to stop if you aren‟t sure.” Avery frowned. “What?” “If you want me to stop then you have to say so now, because once I start, it‟s not gonna be a one-night thing I just let go of tomorrow morning.” She frowned harder and Dare‟s stomach dropped as she rolled out of his bed. Damn his big ass mouth. She walked to his door. Dare‟s heart beat a mile a minute thinking she was leaving him. Before he could get up and go after her she closed it and locked it. His raised brows asked the question for him. Avery shrugged. “You don‟t know my sisters, dude. They will bust this door down if given the chance just to make sure I‟m taking their advice. Then I‟d have to kill ‟em.” He started to laugh but the look on her face put him on his ass. There was nothing but undiluted desire in those brown irises. Heaven knew he‟d been contemplating for months how to make her look at him like that. Now he had her, wet and ready, sauntering toward him in a slow glide that had his dick extending two more inches. “I want you on your back, Dare.” 26

Nikki Winter Smirking, he answered, “And I want you on yours.” Before she could reply he had her under him. “Guess who wins the fight, baby?” She pouted but stopped looking so put out when he took his towel off of her and filled his hands with the perfect globes that were her breasts. He didn‟t rush, just took his time exploring her soft skin. “Dare?” Avery said, softly. “Yes, baby?” “I get that the slow and romantic thing seems like a good idea right now, but if you don‟t fuck me like, right this second, I can say in all honesty that I might kill you.” Her tone and expression never changed. He sighed. “I think you need to know the number one rule here, baby.” “And that is?” “When sex comes about, I‟m in charge. I‟ll not relinquish my position at any time and…and…” So apparently Avery disagreed. If the way her lips made a slow trail from his ear to his neck to his mouth as her nails raked down his back was any indication. “Dare?” she whispered before she nipped under his chin. “Huh?” He was severely distracted by the way one soft hand made its way below his waist and gripped his cock, slowly stroking up and down. 27

“Shut up and do what I want before I decide to find someone else to handle the job.” *** She hoped that would get him moving—and it most definitely did. He had his shorts off, and condom on before she could blink. At some point he‟d gotten her on her knees with her ass in the air. Dare growled, “Mine.” Then he slammed so hard into her that the wail she let loose had to have been heard around the neighborhood. He felt so good and fucked her so right that all she could do was grip the comforter and throw her hips back. “Mine,” Dare growled again, sitting her upright and pulling her head back for his kiss. “Yes…” Avery‟s eyes slid closed when his hands went from her hips to her nipples, tugging in tandem with his erratic thrusts. “That‟s not good enough, Avery. I want to hear you say the words.” When he reached down to pinch her clit she almost had a blackout and bent over again. “Fuck…” “I‟ll be more than glad to do that for the rest of the night but I need to hear what I asked for.” Just when she was close to coming hard enough that she‟d bite her tongue, his hips slowed to an easy pace. Avery couldn‟t take it anymore. “Yours! I‟m 28

Nikki Winter yours! I‟m yours! Now please…” Her request choked on a pleasure-filled sob as he picked up the frantic pace and rolled her clit between two fingers. “Ohhhh…” She came so hard she went momentarily dizzy and partially limp. Dare‟s grunt of satisfaction rent the air. He dropped and rolled to her side. The room was filled with nothing but their deep breathing before he said, “So, how did you end up naked in my pool?” Avery cracked open her eyes. “A game of truth or dare.” She ignored his laughing even when it lasted a good ten minutes.

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When you mess with the Avery, you get the BB Gun

She looked at them all, sleeping so peacefully; sprawled from the futon to the couch and love seat, so cute…so vulnerable. Cocking the gun, Avery made sure there were enough small yellow pellets to spread around to all three. Angel heard the cock first because her eyes opened and she stared right at her. Ever so slowly she reached over to tap Sienna, who tapped Lyric and with wide eyes they all focused back on the gun Avery held. Of course Sienna was the first to speak. “All right, Av. Let‟s not get crazy here. We get that you may be a bit pissed but shooting us won‟t solve anything.” “Yeah, we were wrong to leave you ass out like that but the results were good.” That came from Angel. “You‟re glowing and you look all satisfied. C‟mon dude, why don‟t we all just chill and have ourselves a nice girls‟ day where we can talk about you and Dare?” Lyric suggested. Avery made it a point to look like she was at least considering the idea before she raised the gun and pulled the trigger, ignoring the way her sisters ducked for cover and ran like cockroaches when the lights 30

Nikki Winter come on. She also took supreme delight in the way they each let out a “shit, shit, shit” when they got hit. When the chamber was empty and the three other women were laid out on the floor rubbing bruises, Avery sighed. “Now I feel better.” Then she made her way up the stairs and to her room. *** His woman was missing and he didn‟t much care for that. Waking up without her wasn‟t good at all but since she had revenge on the brain, he knew where she‟d be. When one of her sisters answered her front door holding ice to her torso while the others had packs on legs and arms he knew Avery had been home. “She‟s upstairs,” the sister who answered the door muttered before trudging back to the couch and plopping on the cushion. “BB gun, I presume?” he asked, trying not to smile. “You laugh and I‟m ripping off your face,” one of them said. “We‟ll probably do that anyway if you decide to be a dickhead and hurt Avery,” another added. “Then we‟ll rip the rest of you apart.” This came from the third sister—the one who‟d taken Avery‟s towel the night before. 31

Unable to help himself, Dare said with all sincerity, “Thank you so very much for getting your sister naked and leaving her at my house. For that I‟ll forever be in your debt.” While they laughed, he turned on his heel and headed up the stairs to find his woman and give her a firm hand for leaving him in bed alone. *** “You left me.” At the sound of the low accusing voice, Avery didn‟t stop flipping through the book, but she did respond. “I had stuff to do.” The door closing got her attention. Dare glared at her, his hair falling into his eyes. He was going for the scary look and it was just so damned cute. “Besides,” she sighed. “I only came home, which is right next door.” “Not the point. I woke up without you. That irritates me, and an irritated Dare is a bad Dare. That usually turns into a national disaster.” “I‟m so not scared of you.” “I‟m not asking you to be scared of me—just a bit wary.” Avery snorted at that. “Dude, I‟m sure you got introduced to the triple terrors that are my sisters, therefore there is nothing you can throw out that would make me wary of you.” 32

Nikki Winter He shook his head and muttered something that sounded like, “Time for that firm hand.” He closed and locked the bedroom door before he stripped his T-shirt over his head. Sitting up now, Avery‟s gaze never left him as he stalked toward the bed. “Uh…Dare?” “I got distracted last night with laying down the rules. Today I have a way better resolve, sweetheart.” For some reason she had no response for that. *** Lyric sat up at hearing the first noise…well, she couldn‟t exactly explain what it sounded like. Maybe it was a moan. She looked over at Sienna and Angel, who were staring at the stairs with wide eyes. They all jerked back when the noise sounded again. “Was that what I think it was?” Angel cocked her head. “Should we be worried?” Sienna retorted. “Uh…” Lyric‟s word trailed off at the very distinct sound of Dare‟s name being called—but not in a bad way. It was more of a cross between a scream and a groan. “Dude…eeuw.” Angel‟s face screwed up. Sienna put a pillow over her head. “The walls are way too thin around here.”

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The sound came again. Lyric jumped up and headed out the front door. “We‟re so going to Dare‟s house.” Her sisters wasted no time following, all of them groaning in disgust, but when they swung open Dare‟s front door a very unexpected sight greeted them all. “Who the fuck are you?” asked a Dare look-alike. “The person who‟ll slit your throat if you cuss at me again,” Lyric answered. A younger looking version—who had to be Dare‟s brother—spoke up, “Please don‟t. Stone‟s ornery by nature, but we might miss him if you kill him.” “Tell him to learn some manners then.” The third Dare look-alike stared in Angel‟s direction with pure awe before he stood. “I‟ve got manners…and plenty of them.” The one named Stone rolled his light blue eyes. “Shut up, Rider.” “Kiss my ass, Stone.” “Both of you, cut it out please.” The youngest one stepped up with a smile. “I‟m Storm. And you are?” “Dead and in O‟Connell heaven.” Sienna sighed. *** The way Avery‟s back dipped and swayed as she arched off the bed after his palm made contact with 34

Nikki Winter one ass cheek then the other had Dare‟s full attention. “My baby has a kinky little secret,” he whispered. She shook her head in denial but moaned again when he popped her on the ass. “Admit you like it or I‟ll stop.” His fingers teased the wet folds of her labia. Avery groaned and shook her head again. “I don‟t.” He inched two fingers inside her and smiled when she rocked back into his hand. “This says completely different, baby.” “Dare, please…” “Say it.” He sent a light smack to her clit and watched her fist the sheets as she came. “I can keep doing this all night. You‟ll come and come but you‟ll never get what you truly crave, which is my cock.” “You‟re being an asshole,” Avery growled. His silence and the way he stared at her ass must have spoken volumes because she sat up and pointed in his face. “Don‟t even fucking think it.” Dare threw up his hands in a placating gesture, although he wouldn‟t be letting that little fantasy go anytime soon. “There‟s no thoughts here, baby.” Rolling her under him, he shuddered at the way she pushed his sweats down his hips and ran her small tongue across one of his nipples. “Either I‟m on top this time, or there will be no fun,” Avery threatened.

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Dammit! She knew exactly what to do to get what she wanted. With a resigned sigh, Dare rolled over to his back and almost whimpered when that wet heat rubbed against his cock. At some point they‟d have to have an actual conversation, but for now all he wanted was to be inside her as much and as deep as possible. She held out one small palm. “Condom?” “Sweat pants pocket,” he answered through clenched jaws. With a giggle she found it, sheathed him then slid down his member in a slow glide that made him hiss. “Avery…” “Hmm?” She rolled her hips nice and slow. Dare held on by a thread. “You‟re going too slowly.” “Yep, and it‟s fun because when I move this way.” She eased forward and then back, letting out a low moan. “You hit my spot just right.” And that was all he could take. Dare grabbed her hips and lifted her up just to slam her back down again. When she took hold of his shoulders and matched his pace, he gritted his teeth. “Oh. God.” Avery‟s hips sped up, twisting and turning one way and then the other.

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Nikki Winter Dare moved into a sitting position, keeping her in his lap. He latched on to a nipple. Her keening cry bounced off the wall as he sped up his thrusts then reached down to rub his thumb in slow circles around her clit. “Oh…don‟t stop…please, don‟t stop.” He couldn‟t stop if he tried. She felt so good, gripped him just right. The bite of her nails signaled that she was close. He switched from one breast to the other, his thumb still teasing that small mass of nerves nestled between her thighs. He lightly bit down then tugged. Breath coming out in jags, Avery gripped him tighter, chanting in his ear as she came, “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” It had to be the sexiest thing he‟d ever heard, and it was enough to push him right over the edge. *** Trying to draw in a normal breath, Avery rested against Dare‟s side then snorted, “This is insane. You do realize that, right?” He ran his fingers through her hair. “Yes, but I wouldn‟t trade this for the world. I‟ve been trying to get up the courage to talk to you for months.” She groaned. “And my first impression was getting naked in your backyard?”

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His chest rumbled when he laughed. “No, your first impression was a while ago. I think the getting naked thing just made everything come full circle.” Avery laughed at that then sat up. “Oh shit.” “What?” “My sisters are downstairs.” “So?” “So they heard me…” She smacked his arm when he chuckled. “This is not funny.” “Why are you so worried? For all you know they went next door to my house.” Since that sounded like something they would do, she relaxed until Dare sat up with an, “Oh shit.” “What?” “I forgot my brothers were coming over today.” “So?” “So the mix of your sisters and my brothers is an international incident waiting to happen.”

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Happy Endings with some Bad Beginnings…

Three years later… “I‟m going to put my foot in your brother‟s ass,” Avery growled, handing over D.J. to his father. “There are kids all around, baby. That‟s not setting the best example.” Dare kept her in his lap as Stone and Lyric argued out on the dance floor. They were having a party for the kids at the center since it was the end of the school year and most of the older kids were about to ship off to college in the fall. Dare‟s brothers had become active members at the center. They enjoyed giving back since they knew what it was like to grow up without parents. Rider and Storm were occupied with Sienna and Angel somewhere. And Lyric and Stone were too busy fighting to do much of anything. “He‟s being an asshole.” “You want D.J. to learn that word?” her husband asked. Pouting, she answered, “He should, and I‟d approve every time he said it to Stone.” She stared 39

down into D.J.‟s wide grey eyes, and grinned a little. The kid was quiet, too quiet—and that usually meant he was up to something. Only two years old and he was already like his aunts. “Avery…” “Okay, okay. All I‟m saying is that your brother deserves whatever beat-down Lyric is about to hand out.” “I think Lyric‟s about to find herself outmatched.” “I hope not,” Avery muttered, keeping her eyes on the pair as Lyric kicked Stone in the shin. He sidestepped the move just to pull her hard against his chest. He got hit in the throat for his efforts. Avery winced. “I really hope not.” **

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Nikki Winter

Nikki wrote her first story in the tenth grade, she knew without a doubt she was destined for greatness. Now if she could just convince everyone else… Buckling down, she‟s taken the time to polish what she refers to as her “writing superiority.” She hopes that the tales she has created grab the readers‟ attention, and make them devoted slaves to her will fans. If you want to let her know just how absolutely, positively awesome she is, you can always e-mail her at [email protected], friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/NikkiWinter/100002445230428, or follow her on Twitter as @NikkiWinter19.