by Dawson, Zoe
“I can’t help it. I am a brat.” She couldn’t keep her hands off him. She leaned down and kissed him just as there was a knock at the door.
He said, “Damn, get that sexy ass in the bathroom and change.”
“Aye aye, sir,” she said with a salute as he stood and set her down on her feet. She grabbed up the bags and disappeared behind the door. Damn, if national security wasn’t on the line, she’d have that man flat on his back with sin on her mind, her hands all over him.
* * *
Hollywood watched that sweet tail disappear into the bathroom. She was so damned cute he wanted to eat her up with a spoon. He headed for the door and opened it. Dozer, Emma, Kat and Ruckus were standing out there along with Will and Dragon. His partners in crime.
He opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Come on in.”
Kat was carrying a laptop, and she went to the TV in the room and connected it to the back. Then she pulled up a folder.
“Willow will be out in a minute,” Hollywood said. “She’s changing.”
Kat nodded and slid a look toward Ruckus, who eyed Hollywood as if he had no idea who he was. Finally, the door opened, and Willow stood there in the clothes he’d picked out for her—white shorts, a hot pink top with big circles that went well with her soft pink skin, white sandals and a panama hat he knew she would love. The hat accentuated her delicate features, wide gray eyes, heart-shaped face and mouth that begged to be kissed.
Hollywood introduced Willow to Kat, and Willow smiled. When she saw Emma, Willow hugged her then her dad.
“Why don’t you ladies have a seat?” Kat suggested as she pulled up a file on her laptop and it opened on the screen. “This is the man who kidnapped you, correct?”
Willow and Emma nodded. Then Willow got up and walked to the screen. “Could you pull up this image?” she asked, peering at it closely. When it enlarged on the screen, Willow turned to Emma. “That’s them, right?”
“Definitely,” Emma said nodding her head.
“Them who?” Kat asked.
“We saw those men at the compound. They were talking with Eze. He didn’t realize we could hear them.”
“What did they say?”
“Well, for one, he gave them something we couldn’t see out of that metal case he carried. Now we know it was a nuclear trigger.”
“What else did he say?”
Willow smiled. “They were supposed to meet him here in Cartagena.”
“When?”
“What day is it?”
When Kat named the date, Emma rose and looked at her watch. “Today.”
“Do you know where?” Kat asked, her voice urgent.
“Yes, I remember the address, but be careful who you tell. He has someone on his payroll who works at the State Department.”
“Well, aren’t you a font of information. Your kidnapping might have just saved hundreds of lives,” Kat said.
Kat and the rest of them left, but Ruckus remained. “You need me on this?”
“It wouldn’t be a full team without you,” Hollywood said.
“Everyone’s here?”
“Yeah, we wanted the satisfaction of nailing these bastards.”
“Hoo-yah. Give me a second.”
“That’s all you got.” He turned to Willow. “Thank you for your information and your bravery.”
She nodded.
They left, and she turned to Hollywood. “They wanted to buy me and Emma. I don’t like them, and it’s good you’re going to finally get them.”
“Thanks to you. I won’t be long.”
Willow wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I hope not. I have something I want to whisper to Lefty.”
“Aw babe,” he growled. “Now I’m going into battle with a hard on.”
She giggled as he went out the door.
Thirty minutes later, in full SEAL assault gear and right at the time of the meeting between Bill, Ted and Eze, they pulled up to the outskirts of the city behind a flat building with aluminum siding. There were several cars parked outside. They filed out of the truck, working with Colombian police.
“I heard you were almost a one-man wrecking ball.” Kid was next to Hollywood, his eyes on the building as they concealed themselves behind a large dumpster.
“I left behind some wreckage,” Hollywood said.
“Yeah, but you saved the babe and your sister. Showed Eze who was boss.”
Scarecrow was on the other side of Hollywood. “You’re making us reassess your princess status,” he said. “If you’re not careful, we’re going to think you’re a bad-ass warrior or something.”
“Yeah, your pretty pink crown is slipping.”
“Fuck you both.”
They chuckled as the order to move in came through his headset. They fast walked across the concrete.
“Wicked,” Ruckus said as he moved forward and blew the door then pried it off its hinges with brute force.
The SEALs filed inside, moving quickly as gunfire sounded. They went down a corridor, and a lanky, dark-haired guy squirted out the back door.
“We have a runner, Tank,” Hollywood said, following the guy out the door.
He sprinted away at top speed, his long legs carrying him to a six-foot fence. He climbed fast, flipping over the other side. When he hit the ground, he started running full out again. But from his right-hand side, a brown-and-black bullet zoomed past, a blur as she crossed the parking lot and hit the fence going at least thirty miles per hour. With the quickness and agility of a monkey, she scaled the fence and dropped down the other side. Before she got to the target, she launched herself in the air.
“Bronte, the canine missile,” Hollywood said, and Tank, who had materialized behind him, chuckled.
She hit Ted so hard he listed off balance, and even though he tried to maintain, he couldn’t, as Bronte sunk her teeth into his arm and clamped down.
Tank and Hollywood started walking as his cries echoed across the lot. They climbed the fence, and Tank said, firmly, “Release.”
Bronte stood over him as he clutched his torn and bloody arm.
“Guess your time traveling days are over,” Hollywood said. Ted glared at them, confusion on his face. “Where’s the other half of your duo? We kinda wanted the pair.”
Ted refused to talk.
“I think Kat was right. That kidnapping was a very bad idea for Eze.” Hollywood crouched down and said, “Oh, by the way, he’s dead. So whatever we find in that lab or at your place of residence will label you a terrorist. Do you want to go down for this all on your own?”
He stared up at them, sullen, but Hollywood could see his words had impact.
It wouldn’t be long before they had what they needed to put them both away.
* * *
Willow thumbed through the magazine she’d picked up in the gift shop downstairs, loving the fashion on the pages, the color and design. At a noise outside the door, she immediately stood up, fear coursing through her.
But when Hollywood came through, she relaxed. She was safe. He had saved her.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he came into the room. “Did I scare you?”
“I’m still a bit jumpy,” she admitted.
“How about a soothing bath?”
Something about his question froze her tongue to the roof of her mouth. She had the feeling, as she looked up into that calm, stunningly handsome face that he was running possible scenarios through his head. Hot, dark, erotic.
The air around them seemed charged with his powerful sexuality. It enveloped her, penetrate her shorts and blouse and stroked over the silk beneath. A delicate shiver of arousal rippled through her, followed closely by her knees going weak.
“Unless you want to eat,” he said quietly, his gaze lingering on her mouth, as if he imagined watching her lips close over a red, ripe strawberry. He stroked the fingertips of one hand along her jaw, smoothing over her skin. His voice softened to the texture of velvet. “I’m happy to do
all the work.”
He pulled off his T-shirt, and her mouth went dry. God, how could she forget how this man looked naked?
“That seems a highly improper suggestion, Mr. Lock,” Willow said coolly.
His eyes flared. “It was meant to be, Ms. Blackmoon. I find that I love it when you’re thoroughly wet.”
God, she’d been so wrong. Back when he was rescuing her from the ocean? That had only scratched the surface of his “SEAL mode.” The man who had fought Eze, who had taken on a rescue mission with four men against dozens—that savage, fierce kickass, warrior was his true SEAL mode, and she was awestruck by his skill and abilities, his courage and badassery. And if she wasn’t already in love with him, she would have fallen for him right then and there.
This had started out as a one-night stand but didn’t feel like that now—and she wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
He walked up to her and slipped his arm around her waist. “Remember, I said we would have time. Let’s take this slow and easy. Our ride won’t be leaving until tomorrow.”
Willow’s heart nearly climbed right out of her chest. She didn’t think she could stand it. She really didn’t. He’d only started, and it was too much already.
She got ambushed by his scent and the warmth that radiated off him. The heady spice of him did her in. She got such a rush of heat it made her insides turn over.
Hollywood cupped the back of her neck, murmuring something. He pulled off her top and ran his hand down her back. Her heart struggled to keep on beating, Willow turned into his arms, certain she would fly apart. Dressed in only his jeans, the feel of his warm skin nearly took her down.
“Come on, babe,” he said, sliding his hand down to hers. He pulled her to the bathroom and closed the door then wrapped her up in an all-consuming hold. His fingers tangling in her hair, he clasped her head against him as he brushed her forehead with a soft kiss. There was a trace of humor in his voice. “If you don’t take my jeans off, Lefty and the boys are going to get testy.”
Willow dropped her forehead to his chest, her shoulders shaking. “You are incorrigible. Completely incorrigible.”
He lifted his hand pinching his thumb and index finger together. “Aren’t I just a little bit redeemable?”
She shook her head.
“Not even a smidge?”
“Um…maybe a smidge.”
“I’ll take that,” he said. “At this point, I’m helpless. I have a legendary boner.”
“A what? Should I alert the presses? Does this boner require some kind of award?”
“Like a Pulitzer? Maybe. You be the judge. I do have commentary.”
“Of course you do. Go on with your TED talk.”
He kept a straight face, his eyes dancing. “Not all boners are created equal. Sometimes, I just wind up getting a boner that has that certain je ne sais quoi that really elevates it above the other boners I normally get. It somehow feels extra manly, like a Viking boner.”
“I’ve got to see this.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Don’t go all girly on me now.”
Hollywood unbuckled his belt, dropped his jeans and briefs, and she took in the magnificence of his six pack abs and powerful hips down to his erection, the plum-shaped head slick.
“How about I just go down on you?” she asked.
He closed his eyes as she kissed the heavy muscles of his chest and ran her tongue over his stiff nipples, sucking him hard. He leaned his backside against the sink, her hands gliding over his hot, velvet skin, scraping her nails just above his groin.
“Willow.” He groaned and shifted, his need reaching out and swamping her.
She licked him, the taste of his skin salty and delicious. She loved the way he moved with elegance, such fluid grace. Damn. He was beautiful. Watching him, tasting him, wanting him, a wave of heat built inside her, lovely and erotic, compelling. She folded down to her knees and took him in her mouth.
A wave of pleasure so intense washed over him, and he almost came. Sweet God, he looked down, riveted by the sight of what she was doing to him, of her wrapped around him. She ran her tongue over the top of him again then closed her mouth and sucked, and his hips thrust forward. Reaching down, he tunneled his fingers through her hair, holding her, and he moved with her, gave himself to her like he’d never given himself to a woman. It was more about her than it was about his dick. He widened his stance for her, and she slid her hand farther down to massage his balls. His breathing ragged, he groaned at the pleasure.
This was the third time they had made love, and he was sure that his days of even thinking thoughts of another woman were absolutely blown to smithereens by Willow. He couldn’t get enough of her. He was three weeks into her, and he wasn’t interested in giving her up. That left his heart vulnerable, and he knew it.
She moved her mouth, and he groaned, his thoughts scattering as he strained into her mouth, pushing deeper.
“Fuck me, babe.” In answer, she lifted her head and the look on her face just about did him completely in. Her gaze was languorous, her hair damp, her mouth wet, and it wasn’t about what she wanted. It was about what he needed—her, giving him everything.
He tried to get her to come up to him, but he wasn’t the one calling the shots. Everything was focused on her next move and the one after that.
His body was tight, his cock rock hard, and he needed her. Hollywood pulled her mouth free from his dick and dragged her up into his arms. Holding her close, he slid his hand around the back of her neck and buried his face in her hair. And he held her, feeling the softness of her breasts against his chest, her breath blowing warm against his neck, and he crossed a line he’d drawn in the sand a long time ago.
Sex was sex, he told himself. It always felt great. He’d never read anything more into it, no matter how good a woman was or smelled.
Yeah, sex was sex and love was love, and the last time those two had slammed together in his life, he’d gotten his heart cut out. Ever since then, he’d been so freaking careful never to see a woman more than once so he wouldn’t go down that yellow brick road. He had never been tempted, not even once.
But there was no turning away from Willow, and he was taking the biggest risk of his life. But she got him, understood the SEAL way, knew what the life entailed. They were compatible in so many ways, and when he’d thought he might have lost her, he was devastated.
He was going to buy a ring, and he was going to ask her to marry him. It was commitment with a capital C, but he knew it right down to the bottom of his soul—he couldn’t live without her.
She rubbed against him, and he deftly removed her bra, capturing her nipple in his mouth as he divested her of her shorts. She ran her hands over his shoulders, up into his hair, careful of his bandage. Her hands were gentle and strong, her palms like velvet against his skin.
Willow looked up at him, and her eyes went sultry in response to his gaze. She inhaled softly, her breathing uneven.
His was downright ragged.
She covered her breasts with her arms. For some insane reason that modest move made him even harder. He turned her around until she was the one against the sink with her back to him.
The pink lace panties he’d picked out for her stretched across her taut butt, hugging her slim hips, coming to a bow just below the small of her back.
“Jude,” she said, breathlessly.
His gaze went over her. He captured the end of the bow with his thumb and forefinger and pulled. The garment loosened, and he curled his hands around her hips, sliding one over her mound until his fingers delved into the moist recesses of her. She gasped and arched her back, groaning softly. His mouth went unerringly to the soft skin kissing down the line of her spine.
His dick was so hard, throbbing from the memory of her clever mouth and tongue, it was almost painful. He released her and spun her around, sliding his hands beneath the lace covering each hip, and pushed the fabric down her body. He nudged her legs open, lifting one and placi
ng it on the commode for balance, sliding both hands back up each inner thigh while she braced her sweet butt against the sink.
He knelt down, and her head fell back when he found her little bundle of nerve endings with his tongue, sucking on her as she thrust herself against his mouth, and still she kept her arms over her breasts.
“Feels so amazing,” she moaned. “Make it a little rough, Jude.”
Hollywood groaned at her words. He was feeling too damned reckless as it was, but those words slammed into his gut. She did feel amazing against him, and he wanted to hear her cry out his name.
The exquisite sensation of him was the most erotic thing Willow ever felt in her life. Him on his knees in front of her felt shameless and reckless.
“Hollywood,” she whispered on another soft groan.
His mouth softened on her and the aching liquid feel of him melted her bones. The pleasure built in her with each sweep of his tongue, with each suctioning swirl of his mouth. A flash of heat washed over her, her hips bucking as the heavy ache increased until it detonated, and waves of bliss undulated through her. He rose in one swift movement.
He groaned, his breathing ragged, but when she went to run her hands over him, he gently pushed her arms back. He wanted her to keep her breasts covered. It hit her hard—she was turning him on.
That thought sent power through her, and she wondered how far she could push him.
Hollywood kissed her, his mouth frantic, biting her lips. Then he pressed her back against the sink, his warm, hard chest against her arms, flattening her breasts.
His harsh breathing increased as he roughly grasped her arms, but she resisted. He made a guttural noise in the back of his throat and broke her hold, forcing her arms over her head, sliding his hands there to manacle her wrists, bracing them against the mirror. Her back curved over the sink, elevating her breasts. His eyes were filled with a wildness that made her moan.
“Yes,” she whispered as he watched her face when he thrust against her core with the length of his hard, hot cock.
“Say you want me. Say it.”
“I want you.” She exhaled the words on a moan.
