HazardsDare Read online

  She couldn’t help herself. She had to know. “Anyone ever mention you look a little like a vampire?”

  Jaxon froze for a second, his rare violet eyes homing in on her face. Avery wasn’t sure what she’d said to set him off, but she regretted upsetting him.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  He shook his head and grinned. “You didn’t. I get that a lot, the vampire thing, I mean. I’m human, and except for a tattoo on my arm made from invisible ink, I don’t glow or anything.”

  “Some friends of mine are tattooists. But I’ve never seen them do an invisible tattoo. How does it become visible?”

  “Black lights,” Jaxon answered, rolling up his white long-sleeved shirt to reveal a blood-red mouth with iridescent teeth and fangs.

  “I’ll get your drink,” he said as he lowered his sleeve and turned away to grab a new margarita glass.

  While she reflected on the tattoo he’d revealed, Avery realized the music in the club had changed from live to a DJ spinning a mix of music in booth somewhere.

  A man’s hand came out of nowhere, startling her when he placed it on the bar and wedged himself between her barrel and the person next to her.

  “What do you say, gorgeous? Are you ready to give up waiting for a stranger and take a chance on Mr. Nice Guy?”

  John had just gone from weirdo to asshole in Avery’s book. “I say that I’m not interested,” Avery told him, shifting around to look him in the eye.

  “Come on, how about a dance? Let me at least buy you a drink.”

  “That’s not necessary,” she said, right as a giant shadow came up behind her.

  John was about six foot even. Judging from the way he looked up, she’d say her rescuer was about six-five or six-six, big, broad and a total badass.

  She knew exactly who was behind her.

  Her body had known seconds ago. Her pussy had unfurled like a spring flower beneath a ray of sunshine. Her breasts felt heavier, her nipples tightened. The powerful draw of need deep in her belly was completely sexual.

  “Someone giving you a hard time, baby?” Trevor Hazard Osbourne asked. Nestling in nice and close to her back, he drew her up off the barrel and parked his ass in her spot.

  Before she could blink, she was sitting in Hazard’s lap and John Mr. Not So Nice Guy disappeared from sight.

  “Hazard,” Avery whispered, shocked that he’d gone to such lengths to protect her and instantly aware of his steel-hard muscle and size.

  Hazard was enormous, with not an ounce of fat.

  “Good to see you again, Avery Grant,” Hazard answered, his baritone whispering right into her ear. “Would you mind telling me why you’re wearing a smoking-hot dress and killer shoes that make every man in this room wonder how your fantastic legs would feel wrapped around him?”

  “Wearing a nice dress and new shoes isn’t a crime, Mr. Osbourne.”

  “When it comes to you, it is.”

  “How do you figure? You’re not my boss. In fact, it’s quite a shock that you even remembered my name. We met once.”

  “I’m not likely to forget that you’re my agent’s prettier twin.”

  “Wow, at first I felt honored to know Hazard Osbourne saved me from trouble. But saying I look like my brother when we’re not even twins won’t get you laid as payment for your help, bonehead!”

  Offended, she tried to scramble off his lap, but to do so would only cause damage to her daring dress. Hazard’s unbreakable grip around her waist made her feel trim and slim and female.

  Her C-cup breasts felt bigger, her nipples tighter and in a constant state of arousal. She was almost five-eight, regarded herself as reasonably attractive and average. Hazard made her feel as if she was so much more than average.

  “Whoa there, don’t get pissed at me and wiggle that fine ass of yours like that unless you’re prepared for trouble. I didn’t save you in order to get laid and you don’t look like a man. You look amazing, Avery.”

  “Thank you, I think.”

  “You’re welcome. For the record, I know Alex is older. While the family resemblance between the two of you is uncanny, you are much prettier. Now answer the question. What kind of trouble were you hoping to find in Dare?”

  “You want the truth?”

  “We are in the Truth or Dare Club, baby, might as well go for broke.”

  Hazard’s big hands tightened around her waist. Shifting her on his lap, he expelled a deep breath, as did Avery. For a heartbeat, she’d thought for sure the hardness she felt pressed up against her ass had been the biggest cock she’d ever known.

  Not that she’d known many. Okay, that was an understatement. But her lack of lovers notwithstanding, she’d certainly seen her share of erotic images. None of the men had a penis that rivaled Hazard’s.

  Telling herself she was feeling his hard as hell thigh that just so happened to get thicker, Avery sat very still.

  “I’m not sure you can handle the truth,” she warned.

  A big hand came up to her chin, turning her so that she could look at him without causing damage to her neck muscles or putting a strain on her back. “I can handle anything. The truth, Avery, what were you looking for when you came here?”

  Caught up in his unusual amber eyes that reminded her of a lion’s and imagining Michelangelo had a hand in sculpting his cheekbones, strong chin and chiseled features, she couldn’t look away or take back her answer.

  “I came to find a fuck buddy. Not forever, mind you, just a friend to have fun with whenever I’m able to go on vacation.”

  “Say that again,” Hazard demanded, tightening his fingers on her chin ever so slightly.

  “You heard me, a fuck buddy. That’s what I want.”

  “Like hell you are,” he grumbled as he clutched her tighter in order to stand up.

  “Let go!”

  Over her shoulder, he said, “Jaxon, my table. Biggest fucking glass of sweet tea you’ve got and whatever Avery’s drinking, bring it there.”

  “Got it,” Jaxon answered without missing a beat in his mixology.

  With little ado, Hazard let her grab her purse from the bar and carefully propelled her across the room. Those who hadn’t found a seat or table stepped aside, because the linebacker was the size of a freakin’ mountain.

  Claiming a table that had a fresh deck of cards and a couple of guitar picks sprawled across the well-worn surface that had nicks, dings and names of musicians inscribed in the oak, he finally guided her into a chair.

  Despite their conversation and the fact when he stepped backward, he revealed an enormous erection tenting his faded button-fly jeans, Hazard claimed the seat opposite her.

  Unsure what to say or do, Avery waited until Jaxon delivered their drinks and vacated the coziest spot in a very crowded room. She didn’t think it wise to speak until Hazard gave her an opening.

  He didn’t. He grabbed up the tallest glass of iced tea she’d ever seen and took a long drink. At the rate he was taking that tea down, it’d be gone in three seconds.

  “Slow down, Hazard. You’ll make yourself ill.”

  Hazard glared at her and kept drinking until he was satisfied. Slamming the ice-frosted glass back down on the table, he broke the silence. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going to let Alexander Grant’s sister come to town to find a fuck buddy.”

  “FYI, I’m more than his sister. I’m a woman, dammit! Maybe I’m tired of being the sensible Grant all the time. Maybe I’m ready for no-holds-barred sex. I’m on vacation. Why shouldn’t I have fun?”

  Hazard growled deep in his throat. Briefly, she thought for sure he’d roar as loud as any self-respecting lion warning rival males away from his pride. “Sonofabitch, this isn’t happening. No, I won’t allow it.”

  “You don’t even know me beyond my name. Why do you presume to think you can tell me what I can or can’t do?”

  He took another long drink, this time his amber eyes staying on her face as he crushed some ice wi
th his teeth. In his college days, he must have been killer at beer pong and quarters.

  Fearing her night would end before it began, she swallowed hard. “You know what? It was obviously a mistake to come here.”

  “A huge mistake,” Hazard said, placing his glass back down. “Not because you don’t have the right to fuck whoever you want. Because courting that kind of trouble isn’t you, baby. You go through with this asinine scheme, you’re going to get hurt!”

  “Now I’m asinine. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “No. Don’t you get it? As beautiful as you look tonight, I might accept your red dress challenge. And the horrible truth is, I don’t want the kind of relationship you represent, permanence.”

  “What challenge?”

  “To be your fuck buddy,” he said, again keeping his eyes on her face. The look in his eyes warned her not to look away.

  Right then, Hazard was all alpha male. With his long caramel-brown hair running in thick waves to his shoulders that gave him the appearance of a lion and those compelling amber eyes, she was captivated and didn’t dare look away.

  “I didn’t challenge you to be my anything, much less ask,” Avery said when she found her voice.

  “Didn’t you? You melted when I held you on my lap. I’m willing to bet my playoff bonus that you were soaking wet from the knowledge that my cock was hard and ready to sink deep into you from behind. Now your body’s craving sex with me, Avery. And dammit, I feel like a bastard for wanting you too!”

  “Very well, I will free you of the burden of being a bastard.”

  Taking a huge gulp of her margarita and nearly choking on a mouthful of salt, she slapped it back on the table and stood to leave. She made it an inch before his big hand engulfed hers, pinning her right where he wanted, but not once putting pressure on her more slender fingers or wrist.

  “Sit down,” Hazard commanded. “Stay and talk to me. Please.”

  It was the please that stopped her. Hastily added though it was, she sensed he was being sincere. Folding down to the padded seat, she reached out for her margarita with her free hand.

  Even as she sipped at her drink, it dawned on her that Hazard hadn’t let go of her left hand. Wrapping his fingers with hers, he picked up his glass with his free hand and sipped the remaining amount of tea.

  When the glass was empty except for some ice, he flagged the bartender. Avery didn’t know how they could be seen from the bar, but Jaxon returned. “What can I get you two?”

  “Tequila, straight up, limes and salt,” Avery said.

  “Are you drinking tonight, Trev?” Jaxon asked.

  Hazard’s eyes never left Avery’s face, his fingers squeezing hers. “Just this once. And, Jax…none of that cheap crap that does nothing but create hangovers touches this table.”

  “Patrón it is.” Jaxon left to prepare their shots.

  Avery didn’t move. She couldn’t.

  Hazard was so compelling and charismatic in person that she knew that this was the reason for her secret crush.

  On the football field, he was larger than life, twice the size of most men, and his eyes were constantly studying the offense. In the flesh, he was magnetic, irresistible, uncannily intuitive and so much more significant than even the best HDTVs could showcase during a big game.

  When she’d learned that her brother was taking him on as a client just before Kyran Black’s career was sidelined by a demented ex-girlfriend, Avery had been over the moon with excitement. She’d always loved football, had dreamed of dating football players in high school.

  Her daddy nipped that dream in the bud. He’d believed that his daughter was better than a jock, going so far as to fix her up on dates with the class politicians and members of the debate team.

  Now here she was with one of the best linebackers in professional football. And beyond her better judgment, her heart was telling her that Hazard was the man she’d been looking for when she walked through the door.

  She hadn’t known he was here specifically. But maybe a little destiny was at work tonight. Maybe it was time to live and laugh with someone who didn’t give a damn who her father, brother and little sister were and would see her for herself.

  Hazard had a problem.

  Actually, he had several, starting with the red-dressed vixen sitting across from him, her hand still tucked within his, and an erection that could pound nails.

  Worse? It didn’t help alleviate his hard-on, even after knowing he’d been alerted to Avery’s possible arrival by Alex Grant shortly before he’d started his set.

  Alex’s text had been simple.

  Morgan Maddox called. Said my sister’s been planning to go to the Truth or Dare Club all day, but felt certain danger was following Avery. Keep an eye on her for me, and for god’s sake, keep your zipper zipped around my sister.

  Having scrambled off a response that promised he’d keep an eye on Alex’s sister, Hazard went out on stage, guitar in hand, phone in his pocket.

  Promising to keep an eye on Alex’s sister had been easy. Keeping the promise was going to be hell.

  He and Avery had met for the first time during a stressful time in the Grant family’s lives when Charles Grant fell ill and Alex donated his kidney to save his father’s life.

  When Hazard and Avery spoke, he’d worried that her honey-blonde hair was wound so tightly at her nape, it might cause a headache. She’d been all business, curt and distracted, with a yes-man kowtowing to anyone with the last name of Grant.

  He had no idea who the guy was until Kyran Black said the dick was Avery’s fiancé. He hadn’t seen a rock on her left hand, but then, she was under enormous stress.

  He’d also been aware that she’d worn sensible shoes, a sensible pinstriped skirt and a white button-down blouse and suit coat that could have been the feminine version of Alexander Grant’s favorite attire.

  Everything about Avery screamed future housewife and staid political partner. He’d figured that if she did marry her yes-man, she’d end up first lady of Kentucky someday.

  Making things more complicated? They’d not spoken more than five minutes when they met. Yet he’d thought of her after they parted ways. In his dreams, she hadn’t been wearing sensible clothing. No, she’d been naked under him, with her long as fuck legs parted wide as he sank into her pussy.

  He’d called himself all kinds of names for having thoughts like that about his agent’s sister. Alex was a friend, making Avery a friend by default.

  You didn’t screw over your friends or fuck their sisters, unless love was involved. Thinking about Avery Grant late into the night did not equate love. If anything, he’d call it a crush.

  That didn’t stop his erection the instant Avery stepped into the Truth or Dare Club wearing a skintight red mini-dress with a hem that barely stopped at her thighs. The sexy scarlet shoes on her feet added six inches to her height and made her long shapely legs go all the way to heaven.

  In that instant, he’d wanted to do bad things to the lady in red! Singing directly to her, he imagined the heaven he’d find when he slipped his hands under her velvet hem to discover her warm, lush pussy.

  It didn’t matter that she’d come to Dare for the kind of anonymity he enjoyed when football season ended or when he needed to simply get away from the limelight.

  If she was going to find a fuck buddy, this was the right place and no one but the two of them would know what went down. Damn, that was a temptation and a curse.

  A curse because he had to protect her from herself. It was a temptation because he wanted to be her fuck buddy.

  What kind of man was he anyway? He might well be a gridiron legend and well known for his frequent open, noncommittal relationships and sexual appetite, but he wasn’t heartless.

  Jaxon Wynter, co-owner of the Truth or Dare Club and one of the founding four business partners who’d bought up the wasteland Dare had once been, came over and set a row of tequila shots and a bottle of one hundred percent agave tequila on the tabl
e, along with a plate of lime slices and dish of salt.

  Normally, Hazard didn’t drink during the season. Given the fact that the Griffins had made the playoffs and earned a first-round bye, and he had a week off to rejuvenate away from the practice field before returning to work their asses off to prepare for game one, he thought tequila didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

  Hell, he was going to need a shot in order to find the strength to put an end to Avery’s plan and send her to her hotel room untouched and alone. He’d make sure she was safe. He might even take her out tomorrow night so she could have some fun and get to know the town of Dare.

  Fucking her was out of the question. Out of the question, he told himself when Jaxon walked away with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

  Hazard shook his head and handed a shot glass to the lady. “What are we drinking to tonight?”

  “Freedom from expectations,” she answered, licking and salting the skin between her thumb and index finger before accepting the glass.

  “Anything else?” he asked.

  “Yes. Seven days with no rules.” Like a seasoned pro, she licked the salt, downed the tequila and finished off with a slice of lime.

  Mirroring her, he was sucking on a lime by the time she finished glass two.

  “Easy, baby, what’s the rush?”

  “No rush. I just need to let everything go.”

  “Everything being…?” Prompting her into conversation, he drank his second shot, subtly moving the bottle and remaining glasses aside.

  Avery noticed her margarita was still half full and sipped at it. “Where do I start? A retired senator for a father who’d like nothing more than for me to forgive my cheating ex and plan the wedding of the century, how about that?”

  “I was wondering what happened to him when Alex told me you’d moved to his neck of the woods.”

  Hazard discovered something. Despite the fact that the lady was a knockout and he was in danger of having blue balls before the night was over, he could hold a conversation with Avery.

  He liked that. Simple as it was, it answered a lot of questions, namely that the yes-man dogging the Grant family was no longer on Avery’s radar.