she was to believe his impassioned statement. Dominant. He liked submissive women

he said honestly. “I never im

Joss, you’ve made the first move. Now it’s my turn to make all the others. You’ve laid out what

o quickly? Then she shook her head in automatic denial even though a part of her, the part that had gone

shift from them being friends to becoming lovers? More than lovers. Much more. She couldn’t even fathom just how much more this kind of relationsh

ght. His eyes still glittered with unshakable resolve. God, was he serious? How could

g enough to know that his every movement, whether in business or in his personal life, was carefull

sh. We

ust him and her to consider. There were their friends. Kylie. His family. It was all making her head ache with the speed at which

ly. As if he hadn’t just upended

e needed to get her life back? To reclaim herself? Was Dash what she needed or would any man do? Even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t so. She wo

t are we talking here? How long have you waited? You act as though you want me—have w

oss,” Dash warned. “You may no

this before? She mentally went back over all the times Dash had been with her over the last years. But all she saw was un

d, but he’d never taken her anger or rage personally. It was a wonder he hadn’

to do? What she wanted was being pl

ledge that he was untouchable, a friend. Her husband’s best friend. Someone

saw took he

dark eyes. She shivered as she took in the way he looked at her. Had he always looked at her as he was looking now? Had sh

et of his shoulders, his muscled chest, even the thickness of his m

ooked away, embarrassed to be caught ch

ered. Indeed, he l

t. “Finally. See me. Who I am. What I am.

haps she wouldn’t want the answer to her question. But now she h

but she could see the shadows that suddenly entered his eyes. The . . . p

“You mean before . . . When

whoosh, leaving her sagging on the couch. He made a sudden

ow,” she mur

t could you have done? You were in love with another man. Married to another man. My best friend. You

aunted, she was sure, because

she whispered.

gave a quick shake of his head, almost as if he were deciding that she should have it all.

” Dash sa

e knew? And you were friends? Dash

head against his shoulder and kissed the top of her hair as one hand glided downward, separatin

hen. Her entire body was on high alert. Her pulse raced and thudded in her veins. Her br**sts tingled and her ni**les beaded and tig

knew you would never betray him. He knew that I would never act on my attraction. But yes, he knew. And I think it gave him a measure of comfor

ook him in the eye. “But Dash

he’d suppressed his need and want for so long and no

I got to spend time with you. When I simply got to look at you or see you smile.

he choked out. “I

his hand up to stroke her cheek, r

for you. For Carson. I loved you both and I would have never done anything to destroy yo

n at the sincerity emb

ed ever so lightly across her lips. She was tempt

d to dominate. I would have never demanded anything of you that you weren’t prepared to offer freely. But now that I know what you want? Brace yourself, Joss, because now that I know, I’m not going to hold back any longer. I ca

Slowly unfurling like the petals of a flower at the first brush of spring. Warming

e said honestly. “Tonight . . . I

what could have happened had I not been there. It’s fate, Jo

e asked quietly, her g

and reverence. His lips hovered precariously close to h

was like an electric shock, something so unexpected and yet wonderful. Desire, long dor

and dancing across her skin until sh

rted them breathlessly and he swept in, colliding with her tongue. He moaned softly ag

, so very cold, for so very long, and now she was warm. Bathed in fire. His heat consumed her. His smell, his taste, the very essence of him. How could she

eyes were hooded and fl

all you said is true, if what you want and need is my dominance, then be assured

ve. She’d always been so. It was one of the things he’d enjoyed most about her. O

ou

e did right at this moment. Triumph surged, even as he tempered his reaction. T

a shaky voice. “This was so unexpected, Dash. I don’t wa

her thing he’d alway

ed to rush. He didn’t want her to think about it. Didn’t want her talking herself out of it. B

know how

her silky skin. Such slender, delicate fingers. Like the rest of her. He couldn’t get enough of touching her. He’d certainly touched her in the past, but always in

But I want you to prom

e lifted his free hand and cupped her