Savor the Danger by Lori Foster Page A

his. “Relax, honey. They’re fine.”
    Didn’t sound fine to her. She chewed her bottom lip. “I think they’re arguing.”
    Dare shrugged. “So? They’re both reasonable enough. They won’t come to blows.”
    If only she had his confidence. She knew that when it came to her, Trace could be more than unreasonable. “All right, but let’s make this quick.” She tried to give Dare her attention, when truthfully, she strained to hear what her brother and Jackson were saying.
    â€œYou know I think of you as a little sister.”
    â€œYes.” And she thought of him as another brother. Dare and Trace had known each other for a very long time.After the death of their parents, Dare had been there, helping them both to cope. He’d been there through all the most important steps in their lives.
    She flinched at a particularly loud curse from Jackson.
    Insistent on getting her attention, Dare brought her face around to his. “I’m sorry to do this, but Jackson is slammed, and Trace just isn’t himself, so it looks like it’s up to me.”
    Given the seriousness of his tone, Alani almost groaned. “Do I really want to hear this?”
    â€œI brought you out here because I didn’t want to embarrass you.”
    â€œToo late for that, isn’t it?” Already her faux pas—sleeping with a drugged man unaware of his own actions—had been aired to the people closest to her. “All things considered, I don’t know how I could be any more embarrassed.”
    Apologetic, Dare asked, “Did you guys use protection?”
    Shock took her back a step. Obviously she hadn’t even seen the start of embarrassment yet.
    Protection? She wanted to groan. “I…” Had they? That first time, yes. Her face heated as she remembered watching Jackson intently roll on a condom. But after that?
    Dropping his head forward, Dare muttered to himself. “Don’t tell me. It’s none of my damn business. But with Jackson drugged, he might not have been thinking right.” His probing gaze held hers. “That’s the point of a roofie, you know. Complete lack of inhibition.”
    â€œI see.” Putting a hand over her mouth, Alani racked her brain. Even after that first time, Jackson had remained insatiable, and they’d both been frenzied… She couldn’t specifically recall the use of condoms.
    â€œI don’t suppose you’re on the pill?”
    She shook her head. “No need.” And then she slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Dare had already absorbed that telling confession.
    â€œOkay then.” Dare rubbed her shoulder. “Without asking for details, I’m guessing—under the right circumstances—you might have been a little too inexperienced to pay attention.”
    â€œThe right circumstances?”
    He rubbed her shoulder some more. “Getting carried away and all that.”
    Her cheeks burned. How could he so easily discuss things so private? Much more of this and she’d be permanently singed. “Things did happen sort of…fast.”
    Dare’s mouth quirked. “Not something Jackson would want you to share, hon.”
    â€œI don’t mean…!” More heat flooded into her face, almost making her light-headed. “That is, the decision to…and then again…I sort of forgot….”
    â€œI do understand.” Dare fought off a grin. “But just in case, it’s something the two of you should discuss, don’t you think?”
    She covered her face with both hands. “This just keeps going from bad to worse.”
    â€œDon’t jump the gun, okay? Odds are, Jackson took care of it and even if he didn’t, it might not be an issue.”
    She hoped not, because after that first time, she’d simply accepted anything and everything he wanted to do, no questions asked.
    â€œBut for future