“Try harder.”
Leo pulled the front of her dress off her chest and arms and let it pool to her waist. Daisy was still talking, but he couldn’t understand her. She was breathtaking. Then he remembered.
“How’s your hip?”
She didn’t immediately answer, so he pulled the dress all the way off her and threw it to the floor. He hissed out a breath when he saw the purple-and-green bruise as big as his hand that covered her left hip. “God, Baby, that has to hurt.”
“Not as much as a gunshot wound,” she scoffed. “What hurts more is that you’re not naked yet.”
“I don’t think making love is such a good idea right now.”
Did I just say that?
“I can’t believe you just said that. Damn right we’re going to make love. You’re in the military. Do your duty. I flew in from Washington D.C. for you. I order you to make love to me.”
Leo laughed. “You’re a nut.”
“A very needy nut. Seriously, get out of your clothes and come closer. I need you.”
He took another look at her hip. They were going to have to go about this very carefully. There was no way in hell he was going to cause her any pain.
“Leo?” her voice was soft. “Please?”
Aw, shit.
He sat down on the bed and traced a finger along her jaw, and then his thumb brushed her bottom lip.
“We do this my way, okay? It would kill me if I hurt you tonight.”
“You won’t. I trust you.”
“My way. Do you promise?”
She nodded.
25
Being made love to by Leo Perez was like being caught up in a summer rainstorm. You were going to come away wet and with rainbows in your eyes.
Now that he was naked, he had her caught up in his arms, careful to not touch her bruise. Instead, he concentrated on every other part of her body. His hands were decadent. They weren’t soft, they were work-roughened, and felt so good as they glided over her skin. Every place he touched, sparks fired.
Whenever she tried to move or adjust her position, he would remind her that this was ‘his way’. Who was she to disagree?
When he kissed the back of her knee and then licked it, she thought she would shoot through the ceiling. Who knew there were so many nerve endings there? Then when she tried to reach up, he told her no.
“That hurts your shoulder. Put your hand here, and keep it there.”
Bossy much?
She kept her hand by her waist, and it did feel better on her shoulder, but she could still touch him with her other hand, and she was going to enjoy herself. Daisy was addicted to running her fingers through Leo’s chest hair. When she felt his fingers delve between her legs, she raked one fingernail against his nipple and he groaned.
“You’re going to be the death of me.”
How can he talk? I’m going to explode.
She was lost in a world of sensation. She was floating. That was when she realized he was moving her. She was at the edge of the bed, her legs dangling on either side of Leo, who was kneeling on the floor.
She looked over her tummy at him and he had a rakish grin on his face.
“My way.”
“Paybacks are a bitch, remember that, Mr. Perez.” When did her voice get that breathy?
The feel of his laughter wafted over her sex, just as his tongue started a sensual seduction. Daisy couldn’t do anything but feel as first one finger, then another entered her already-swollen tissues. A bubble of feeling started to swell in her chest. It was as if he wasn’t just capturing her passion, he was taking control of her heart, her emotions…
“Stop!”
Leo lifted his head immediately.
“Make love to me. You make me feel so much, Leo. With everything that’s going on inside me, I just need us to be together. Now.”
He stood up and looked deeply into her eyes. His smile was so loving. Another thing that made her heart swell.
He stood at the end of the bed, his erection rising thick and straight and it was all for her. She reached for him.
“Keep your hand down, Daisy,” he reminded her.
His hands smoothed down both of her thighs, then he lifted up her legs and positioned them around his waist.
Oh, this will work. This will absolutely work.
In one slow thrust, he possessed her, and just like that, she felt her body start to edge toward freefall. Daisy started trembling at the feel of him as he pushed high and up, causing even more tingling pulses to drive her hotter and higher.
She watched him closely, making sure that he was with her. Was he feeling what she was? Was his heart swelling? Was Leo feeling more than physical passion?
“Daisy.” His smile caused her to gasp.
Again he plunged upwards, taking her to unknown heights, but always, his eyes were locked on hers, watching, waiting.
She clasped her legs around his waist even tighter, never wanting to let go, always wanting to be connected to this man. She needed him like rainbows needed sun and rain. He was hers.
“Don’t leave me, Leo.”
“I’m not. I promise. I’m not.”
She clutched him tighter. Her legs, her sheath, her hands gripped his forearms. She needed to know he was real, that he was hers.
“You’re killing me, Daisy,” he gasped. “Come for me.”
“Not without you,” she cried out. She couldn’t explain it, but they had to be together in this always.
Always.
Together.
Tears dripped down her temples.
He moved his hand and his thumb brushed her clit, circling it. She shattered, shouting his name. Begging him to come with her.
“I’m here, Daisy. Always.”
Something was tickling her neck.
Daisy brushed at it with her fingers, trying to make it go away, but it stayed. Again, she felt something around her neck. It seemed familiar, but not really. She looked over her shoulder and found Leo lying on his side, one arm curled around her, sound asleep. But as soon as she lifted up to leave the bed, his eyes popped open.
“Where are you going?”
“Bathroom.”
“S’okay. Come back soon. Like having you in my arms.”
She hurried to the connecting bathroom, shut the door, and turned on the light. She had to blink a couple of times to adjust her eyes, then she went over to the mirror to see what was around her neck.
It was a St. Christopher’s necklace. But it wasn’t hers. It had a different gold chain and a different medal. But that’s what it was. She held onto the medal, letting her hand warm it. She breathed deep, wet gulps of air. Leo had done this. He had gotten her a new necklace.
Who else would think to do this?
She looked at herself in the mirror.
“I’m so scared, but it doesn’t matter, because I love him so much,” she whispered to her image. “I’m happier to be in love and to tell him I love him, than scared if he rejects me.”
She grabbed for some toilet paper to wipe away a couple of tears and blow her nose. Look at me, being all emotionally mature. She continued to smile in the mirror, wiping up tears and staring at her new necklace.
She only jumped a little at the soft knock on the door.
“You okay in there?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Honey, you’ve been in there over twenty minutes mumbling to yourself.”
Daisy laughed and opened up the door. There stood her man in all of his confused naked glory.
“I talk to myself sometimes.”
He nodded solemnly. “I’m catching on.”
“You gave me this necklace. You had it waiting here for me.” She clasped it in her hand like she was afraid it would disappear.
“Actually, I told my mom exactly what I needed and she FaceTimed me so I could choose it. It was here waiting for me when I got home.”
“You…you…I can’t believe you did this for me. It’s so damned perfect. You�
��re so damned perfect.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her head against his chest.
“I’m just glad you like it, now come back to bed.”
She shook her head. “Need to tell you something first.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been afraid that you would go away.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’ve noticed. But I’m not. I’m here for the long haul, if you’ll allow it.”
Her head shot up. If she were taller, it would have bonked his chin. “You’re thinking long-term?”
He cupped her cheeks. “Daisy, I love you. I want to be in your life forever.”
Her eyes heated as tears threatened. It took her a moment for her to find her voice. “I love you too, Leo. I really, truly do. I don’t ever want you to leave my life.”
His lips hovered over hers. “That’ll do.”
“I’m not sure about this,” Daisy said for the umpteenth time.
“It’s fine.”
“Your lieutenant is mad at me.” Another thing she had repeated for the fortieth time. He glanced over and saw her fiddling with her new necklace as she watched the beautiful scenery. The drive to Kane’s lake house was gorgeous, just like his house was. Leo wanted to invite Daisy to his mom’s for Sunday dinner with the family but figured she’d have a heart attack. He’d been lamenting about that at work and Kane came up with the idea of her meeting the team first as her first baby step to meeting the family. Hence, a party at Kane’s house.
“No, Max is not mad at you. He was mad at me, but I finished all of his paperwork and even got some of his spreadsheets done. He is purring like a lion cub. So I’m now off the hook.”
“You do spreadsheets? I didn’t know that was in SEAL training.”
“You learn what you can to help out.”
He turned down an almost-hidden driveway, and then Kane’s house came into view. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is one of your teammates’ houses? How cool is that? It’s gorgeous.”
He looked again at the contemporary wood architecture that seemed to blend with the outdoors and had to agree with her. There were only four vehicles in the driveway, so they were second to arrive.
Great.
He’d wanted to ease her into things.
“I thought you said there were going to be ten to twenty people, where is everyone?”
“We got here a bit early. I wanted you to get a chance to meet A.J. before everyone else arrived.”
“That’s nice of you. Thanks for stopping off at the store before we left so I could get some things to take to the party.”
Leo snorted. “You didn’t get ‘some’ things. You bought up half of the grocery store.”
“I did not, that would have been rude.”
He parked his truck, then laughed at her when it took the both of them to bring all the stuff up to the house.
Kane opened the door. “What’d you do, buy up half the grocery store?”
“We went a little overboard,” Leo said. “Now take the stuff from Daisy.”
“This is perfect,” A.J. said when they got to the kitchen. “Put the veggie tray over here, and I’ve got a bowl for the Greek salad.”
“And for being an ass, you don’t get any of the brownies,” Leo said as he put the treats down on the dessert table.
“Daisy, this is Kane McNamara and this is his much better half, A.J. Lancaster.”
“Hi, I’m so excited to meet all of you. A.J., you’re going to have to tell me what it’s like to produce all of those fun shows. Something tells me it’s a lot like herding cats.”
“Sometimes even herding large cats,” A.J. laughed as she unwrapped the cellophane from the veggie platter.
Leo followed Kane to the grill where Raiden was getting the coals just right. “How’s the leg doing?” Raiden asked. “Ready to have your ass kicked on the obstacle course on Monday?”
“I’m in an excellent mood, thank you very much.” Leo knew his grin could be seen from the moon, but he didn’t care. Daisy had said she’d loved him last night. His life was damn near perfect. Now he’d have to get a ring on her finger.
“Did you see that?” Raiden asked Kane.
“Yep, I did. Don’t let him man the grill, he’ll burn down my house.”
“What are you two talking about?”
“You just went into outer space, obviously thinking about Daisy. I was asking you a question and you didn’t even hear me, man.” Raiden chuckled.
Leo looked over at Kane for confirmation, but Kane was too busy laughing to nod his head. “You’ve got it bad, Perez. Has she met the family?”
“She has to go home tomorrow afternoon. No time for a Perez family dinner. But we are going to drop by and meet Mom. Otherwise, I’d get my ass handed to me by my mother.”
Zed walked out onto the patio. It had been over a year since Leo remembered seeing his teammate looking so healthy.
“Where’s Lulu?” Kane wanted to know.
“Inside with Marcia. I don’t think the ladies are going to let her out of their sight any time soon. Met your woman, Leo. Lulu went to her like she was a kid magnet. Says a lot about her. What’s the scoop on her?”
“First, tell me about you,” Leo asked. “Has the doc cleared you to come back to the team?”
“My doctor has. I have an appointment with the team doctor on Monday. Gentlemen,” Zed’s grin was huge, “I believe I will be back.”
Kane slapped the big man on the back.
Raiden shook his hand.
Leo bumped fists with him.
Considering the fact that they had almost lost Zed, this was really good news.
“So tell me the scoop on Daisy. I like her,” Zed said.
“He is all dreamy about her. He’ll be in the middle of a conversation with us and lose track because he’s thinking about her.”
“Ah, God, he’s thinking about marriage,” Zed said knowingly.
It was hell when your friends knew you so well.
“So what if I am? Seems to me it’s worked out all right for you.”
“If you find the right woman, I highly recommend it.” Zed paused. “Have you?”
“One hundred percent.”
26
“I had a great time last night,” Daisy said as she pulled her clothes out of his dryer.
“So did I.” Leo’s hands snuck around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “Are you sure you can’t extend your stay one more day? We could spend it in bed…”
“Don’t make me drop my clean clothes,” she admonished.
He bit her earlobe. When her hands released the clothes, he caught them.
“You’re hell on my concentration, Leo.”
“Right back at you.”
He carried the clothes into his bedroom and she following him. He set them down next to her suitcase and they both started folding them in silence.
She didn’t want to leave, either. This had been the best week of her entire life.
“Daisy, maybe I could come and visit you next weekend?”
She dropped whatever it was she was folding.
“I would love that. Can you?”
“We’re less than four hours away from one another. I don’t see why I can’t come up on Friday night and leave on Sunday.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I told you, always and forever. That includes a four-hour drive,” he grinned.
She launched herself at him and he hugged her close. She tipped up her chin, her eyes glowing with another idea. “I could fly down here and maybe telecommute a couple of days and then have the evenings free and then the weekend.”
“That would work. Why don’t you leave all of your clothes here?”
She loved that. She loved that a lot. “Can’t. These aren’t clothes I would choose to leave long-term. That would be a whole different set of clothes. Those would be the long-term, man-of-my-life clothes,” she teased.
He pulled her into his arms, his lips a mere breath away from hers.
“I love you, Daisy Squires.” Her heart melted. She believed him.
“I love you too, Leo. With everything in me. You are the best man I have ever known. I just hope I can be good enough for you.”
He squeezed her tighter and kissed her. It was electric; he touched every part of her body, bringing her to life. She wound her arms around his neck, trying to get closer. He groaned. The world shimmered and swirled with unimaginably bright colors. He finally released her. “Dammit, we don’t have time for more.”
She rested her head on his chest. They didn’t. Daisy so wanted to meet the woman who raised this impressive man. The woman who had helped him give her this beautiful St. Christopher medal.
“Go get me a glass of water, I’ll finish packing.”
“You’re thirsty? Juice, maybe?”
“I just need you away from me for sixty seconds so I can finish this in peace, otherwise I’m going to pin you to this bed.” Her body was achy and greedy.
“I’m going, I’m going,” he laughed.
She folded her clothes and packed them into her suitcase at record speed. She was zipping up her suitcase when he came back with some tomato juice. “You need your strength.”
“To meet your mother?” she raised her eyebrow.
“To replenish all the vitamins and nutrients you lost last night.”
She giggled and drank down her juice.
Gloria Perez was even smaller than Daisy was. Imagine that. And she gave birth to seven children, one as big as Leo? Amazing. They were sitting in her kitchen as she was doling out the blackberry cobbler that she had made.
“This is for tonight’s dessert, but since you can’t make it for tonight’s dinner, you get it now.” Gloria smiled.
“Where’s mine, Mama?” Leo griped.
“There’s a pudding cup in the fridge that you can have.” She waved to the fridge, not even looking at her youngest son. “You’ll have cobbler after dinner like the rest of the family. Daisy gets hers now.”
Daisy took a bite and moaned. “This is delicious.”
“It is my mother’s recipe. She used lime juice.”
“I don’t know what she did, but you could sell it to restaurants.” She took another big scoop.
Her Sensual Protector: A Navy SEAL Romance (Night Storm Book 5) Page 18
