Dane

"Dane? Dane, are you there? Is everything okay?" James asked suddenly. For a split second, Dane was tempted to tell the truth. To tell James what was in front of him. What he was missing. But he swallowed the words.

​​

"I'm fine," he said hoarsely. "I'm just... it's been a long week so I'm starting a workout. Multi-tasking, you know," he croaked.

"Oh, right, right. Smart man." Then James tumbled into his explanation of the finer points of open intelligence networks again. Dane muttered a curse. The man was a genius—and completely oblivious. Dane couldn't afford to offend him because James didn't work for the money. He worked for the love of the chase. But Dane wanted to get off this fucking phone.

His hand had stopped halfway up her side. Lila tipped her head back, looked up and caught his eye and something flashed between them. A thrill. An understanding.

Holy shit, they weren't going to stop.

Dane's breath came deeper and faster. Lila's too. He was distracted for a moment by how her breasts rose and fell with her breath. Without thinking, he slid his palm under her shirt, between her breasts, and let his thumb slide over her lace-covered nipple.

She gasped and Dane had to swallow a noise in his throat.

He was about to do it again when she sat up and his face fell. She was going to stop him. But no, she just whipped her shirt off over her head, glanced at him with her sparkling eyes over her shoulder, then laid back down—bare from the waist up, except for that bra.

She closed her eyes and let one of her own hands trail lightly over her breast, like an invitation.

Dane's mouth went dry. When he didn't touch her immediately she tipped her head back to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked and Dane fell headlong in love with her for the wicked smile she gave him.

What had he ever done to deserve this?

She nestled herself down again, a motion that jiggled her delicious breasts in a way that made him moan, but he turned it into a cough and James didn't seem to notice.

Breath a rasp in his throat, Dane started at her temple and ran his fingers through her hair again, but this time his fingers trembled.

And this time her knees were slightly open.

Thank you, God.

Ignorant of what the man on the other end of the phone was saying, Dane trailed his hand down, this time letting multiple fingers stroke so, so lightly along the side of her breast, down her ribs, across her stomach. His fingers fluttered with his tension, but her eyes were closed and her mouth dropped open slightly. She didn't touch him. Didn't move.

His eyes glazed over as he touched her all over—hip, waist, stomach, breasts, throat, neck, hair, and back down to do it all over again. He lets his fingers trail designs on her skin, watched her nipples stand up under his attentions. He got gloriously hard and he didn't care.

She was panting.

He wasn't sure which of them unbuttoned her jeans, but it didn't matter. That tantalizing stretch of skin and lace lay there just below her stomach for a full minute before he gave in and stretched, just slightly, to let his fingers dip to disappear between her legs. They both blew out a heavy breath. He did it one more time and his breath shuddered, then he was back to her stomach, then both breasts.

Holy shit.

She writhed under his hand.

Shit shit shit.

His breath heaved, and he didn't bother trying to stifle it as James—assuming he was "working out" —just kept talking. Damn the man for talking so much. And bless him to the gates of heaven.

Dane held his breath as he dipped his fingers down, down, down again, and this time, didn't move away. Lila tensed, then let out a breath. Her head went back and her knees fell open. Within seconds she arched, gasping in time with the press and slide of his fingers, and lifted her arms to grip his thigh and hold on.

Oh, fuck.

He leaned over, just a little, to get a better angle and her mouth fell open. She arched her breasts straight up in his face and slid one hand back to touch him, exploring his chest and neck, her fingers gripping and releasing as she tensed and relaxed.

Then she began to whimper. "Dane..." Her fingers clawed into his hair and her hips began to move.

Yes, baby. Oh, fucking yes.

Dane's breath was raw in his throat. His mouth open. He ached to put it down, right on her nipple, but James was still talking and he was afraid if he moved, he'd lose that magic connection that was taking her closer and closer to the edge.

"Dane!" she whispered his name urgently, her voice high and tight.

He swore, and on the other end of the phone, James broke off. "Are you okay, Dane?"

"Yes, yes," he croaked. "Just…it's hard. Work. Hard work. Working out."

"Yes, you're very disciplined to ensure that even though you're working so many hours, you're exercising as well. You know I read a study…"

Dane breathed another curse and Lila bit her lip, her teeth pressing down on that plump pillow of her bottom lip until Dane wanted to put his own on it, tease it out. But she was beginning to shiver and gasp. Goosebumps pebbled her stomach and arm.

He dipped his fingers again and she fisted his shirt, her mouth falling open and her breath catching.

Determined, Dane gritted his teeth against the desire to throw the phone away and pull her up into his lap.

She couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. Her feet scrabbled on the couch as she frantically worked to keep herself in the perfect position for his hand.

"Dane…Dane!" she whimpered.

Oh, shit, she was going to come, and he was on a fucking phone call.

*****

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