by Elle James
Her eyes flared, and her lids drooped. “I might need help getting out of it…”
“I’m here for you, sweetheart. All you have to do is ask.”
With a grin, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “The troops are waiting. I’d better get up there and give them what they came for.”
“Music,” Dash clarified. “Just give them music.”
“I’ll save the rest for later.” She winked and turned toward the stairs.
Lloyd stood at the top, a microphone in his hand. He wore a suit and tie, and his hair was slicked back. Not only was he the tour coordinator, he was also the master of ceremonies, there to introduce the acts. “Are you ready?”
Sunny nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Lloyd stepped out on the stage and keyed the microphone.
The audience grew silent as Lloyd made the introductions.
Dash moved around to the corner of the stage to get a better angle to watch Sunny and the audience at the same time.
“And now, please welcome Miss Sunny Daye,” Lloyd said like a ringmaster at a circus.
The crowd of soldiers roared their approval, clapping, whistling and yelling out Sunny’s name.
Sunny stepped out on the stage. The lights trained on her made her dress sparkle, but it was the light in her eyes and her beauty that shined even brighter.
The soldiers roared even louder.
When the band started playing, everyone grew silent, waiting for the magic of Sunny’s voice.
And she didn’t disappoint. From the first note to the last, she left the listeners mesmerized, including Dash.
He struggled to focus on the crowd and everything around the woman singing on the stage, when all he wanted to do was immerse himself in the beauty of her voice.
The bodyguards had positioned themselves on the fringes of the crowd, ready to step in should anyone get too close to Sunny.
Dash would leap across people, stage equipment and anything else in his way should Sunny’s safety become compromised.
Despite the beauty of Sunny’s music, Dash couldn’t relax until the concert was over. The tension increased with each minute, until he was so tightly strung, he was ready for a fight to blow off some steam. Just not any fight that harmed Sunny.
For her encore song, she turned toward where he was standing and whispered into the microphone, “This one’s for you.”
He knew she was speaking to him. But the crowd had to feel like she was singing directly to them. She had that way of including every fan in the enchantment she created.
The lights dimmed as she took one last bow.
Dash climbed the stairs to the stage, hooked an around her waist and led her away. Lloyd met them at the stairs with a broad grin. “Wow, Miss Daye. Every time I hear you I think you’re even better than the last. This time was no different.” He reached for her hands and squeezed them gently. “Some of the men who helped erect the stage would like a chance to meet you in person.”
“Miss Daye must be exhausted after such a stunning performance,” Dash directed his words toward Lloyd then turned to Sunny. “Are you up for it?”
She gave a weak smile. “I am. It’s part of what I do. And I really appreciate my fans. They’re who got me where I am.”
Lloyd clapped his hands. “Good. Then come with me. They’re waiting behind the stage.”
His arm still wrapped around Sunny’s waist, Dash stuck to her like glue. Her three bodyguards flanked them as they stepped down from the stage and rounded it to the back where a dozen people stood ready to dismantle the equipment and load it up for their move to the next location in the morning.
One by one, Sunny greeted the men and women who’d helped in the erection of the stage and setting up equipment, thanking them by name.
“And this is Desmond Housman, the contractor who jumped in and helped us tremendously in meeting our deadline,” Lloyd said. “Without him and his people, we might not have started the show on time.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Housman,” Sunny said, holding out her hand to the man.
The contractor was a tall, imposing figure with gray hair and gray eyes. His lips barely moved into a smile as he took her hand. “The pleasure is mine. We’re just glad we could help.”
“They only arrived at the base a few hours earlier than you,” Lloyd said. “I feel it was fate that brought them here today.”
“Thank you for helping our crew.”
“It was for a good cause,” Housman said. “Your music is loved worldwide. Even the Afghans have heard of you.”
“That’s good to know,” Sunny said. “Again, thank you for helping out.” When she tried to pull her hand away, the contractor held on.
“I heard you had trouble on the way out here. I hope you weren’t hurt.” His gaze swept over her.
Dash’s eyes narrowed. “She wasn’t. Now, if you’ll excuse us, Miss Daye has had a trying last twenty-four hours. She needs to rest before they leave in the morning.”
“Of course.” Still he held onto her hand a moment longer.
Dash was tense enough. He didn’t need to deal with an overzealous fan. But if the contractor didn’t release Sunny’s hand in the next three seconds, he was going to put his fist into the man’s face.
Three…Two…
Desmond Housman let go of Sunny’s hand. “Thank you for your music, Miss Daye. I hope to see you again, soon.”
She nodded.
With a hand at her back, Dash led her away from the crew that was already digging into the task of dismantling the stage and packing the sound equipment and instruments.
Several people stopped them on their way back to the motorhome, congratulating Sunny on another great concert. She smiled and thanked every one of them.
By the time they reached the motorhome, Dash could feel Sunny slowing down. “Are you all right?” he asked as he unlocked and opened the door for her.
“I am. I get this way after every concert. While on stage for a couple of hours, with my game face on, I’m upbeat, outgoing and totally engaged with the audience.” She laughed softly. “I think it sucks all the life out of me for the next twenty hours.”
“I’ll make you a cup of tea while you shower. Then you can crash and sleep until it’s time to do it all again. I’ll even move you to the front of the motorhome before they roll off the base tomorrow morning.”
She cupped his cheek with her hand. “You’re my security, not my maid. I can make a cup of tea for myself.”
“You’re tired. I’m wound up. Making tea will help me to relax. Now, go. Get your shower and get out of that itchy dress which, by the way, looked amazing on you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. Then his lips found hers in a gentle kiss. He wanted more, but he didn’t want to draw on more of her energy reserves. And he certainly wasn’t going to bring up her teasing promise of more later. Not when she was so tired she could barely stand on her own two feet.
Sunny entered the motorcoach and headed down the hall to the bathroom.
Dash closed and locked the door, throwing the bolt to keep any of the crew who might have a spare key from entering without permission. He didn’t want anyone to disturb Sunny’s rest.
Unless she wanted to be disturbed. In which case, he would gladly volunteer to be the disturber.
Wishful thinking on his part, entirely.
Chapter 9
Tired to the bone, Sunny stood in the bathroom, staring at her face in the mirror. The makeup hid the dark circles beneath her eyes, but it didn’t hide the fact she was exhausted by more than just a stressful last twenty-four hours.
She was ready to take a break from touring. Since she was thirteen, she’d been working non-stop until the death of her partner. At the ripe old age of twenty-seven, most of her peers were on their first marriage with maybe two children.
Sunny had always wanted children and had hoped she and Ray would one day marry and have a couple of them. Now that Ray was out of her life, she could look back with a clear
er understanding of her feelings for the man. He’d been with her since she was eighteen. She’d been more in love with the idea of getting married and having children than she’d been in love with the man himself.
At that moment, she couldn’t even bring up an image of Ray in her mind. The only image that came to her readily was that of the rugged Delta Force soldier in the other room.
The exhaustion of moments ago faded away to be replaced by an adrenaline rush that made her blood hum and her body sing in anticipation. She’d teased him earlier about wanting more when the concert was over.
Well, the concert was over.
Sunny grabbed makeup remover sheets and scrubbed the junk off her face. Then she switched on the water and climbed beneath the spray, washing away the rest of the makeup and the hairspray that had kept her hair bouncy throughout the performance.
When she turned off the water, all that was left was Sunny. And she was on fire with a need so strong she shook with the force of it.
She stepped out of the shower, dried her body from head to toe and rubbed as much moisture out of her hair as she could. Then she brushed the tangles out, French-braided the damp tresses and slipped into a frothy, white nightgown that barely covered the white lace thong panties she put on next. If this didn’t say she was ready to take their relationship to the next level, she didn’t know what would.
Glancing into the mirror, she wondered if she should apply just a little makeup to brighten her cheeks and lips. She shook her head and reached for the doorknob. What she liked about Dash was that he saw her. Not just the celebrity in the sequins and heavy makeup.
Taking a deep breath and praying she hadn’t read the Delta wrong, she stepped out of the bathroom and almost ran into the man she’d been thinking about.
He held up two cups of steaming brew. “Whoa, babe. This stuff is hot.”
Then his brow dipped, and he let out a long low whistle. “But clearly not as hot as you.”
Her cheeks heated as she lifted her chin, knowing the tips of her nipples were hardening, making dark points jut out behind the sheer fabric of her nightgown.
“Is that for me?” she asked, nodding toward one of the cups.
He swallowed hard. “Yes. Yes of course.” Still, he stood without moving.
“The tea?” she prompted, fighting the urge to laugh delightedly. Her gown had the desired impact. Now all she had to do was capitalize on that impact. She wanted this man. Wanted to make love to him and feel his hard, naked body against hers.
She took the mug of tea from his hand, took a tentative sip, and then set it on the counter behind her in the bathroom. “Are you going to drink that?” Sunny nodded toward the second cup of tea.
Dash looked toward the cup as if it took great effort to drag his gaze from her. “Drink? Oh yeah. No. I think I’m done with tea.” He reached around her and set the cup on the counter with hers. Then he bent to scoop her up into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. “Tell me this isn’t what you had in mind, and I’ll leave you alone and go take a very cold shower.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You told me not to wear anything so sexy unless I meant it.” She stared up at him, her smile fading and her voice dropping to a husky whisper. “I mean it.”
“I thought you were tired,” he said, laying her on the mattress, her legs draped over the side. He leaned over her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You need your rest.”
She reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. “I need you.”
He dragged his finger along the curve of her cheek. “I don’t want to be the reason you pass out on the stage.”
“Then don’t stall a moment longer,” she coaxed. A frown settled on her pretty brow. “Unless I’ve read you wrong, and you’re not that into me.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m into you in a big way,” he said. “But I don’t want you to fall asleep the first time I make love to you.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Are you that mediocre that I’d fall asleep?”
“Not by a long shot, but you, on the other hand, have had a helluva night and day. You have to be ready to drop.”
“I was, until I stepped into the shower…naked. All the water swishing over my naked body revived me.” She looked at him from beneath her eyelashes. “What part of naked is not doing it for you?”
He laughed and kissed her hard on the mouth, his tongue pushing past her teeth to sweep along hers in a long, slow caress.
When he came up for air. He slipped his hands beneath the hem of her nightgown and followed the curve of her hip, dipped in at her waist and brought them to rest on the swells of her breasts.
She inhaled deeply, pressing into his palms. “I thought you’d never get there. And yet, here you are.”
He leaned down and blew a stream of warm air over her turgid peaks. She could feel it through the delicate silk. “They were too tempting.”
“Good,” she said. “I was beginning to think I needed to get a refund on the gown, or up my game of seduction.”
“Oh, babe,” he growled, “your game is on, and you’re winning.”
“If I’m winning, why aren’t you in the bed with me?” she asked, her eyebrows raised. She patted the mattress beside her. “And you’re overdressed.”
“Demanding much?” he quipped and straightened.
“Damn right. I’m only in this country for a few more days. I want to spend all of them with you.”
“You’ve got me for the duration. Only thing is that I don’t pack protection when I go to the field.”
A grin spread across her face. “Not to worry. This motorhome is equipped with everything from twenty-four rolls of toilet paper to all the protection you could possibly need for a year in country.” She rolled to her side, reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out a box containing two dozen condoms. “Will this be enough?”
He laughed and took the box from her, extracting one of the packets. “More than enough for the short time we’ll be together.” His brow furrowed again. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
She nodded. “Very much so. I’ve been around you now for a full twenty-four hours. It feels like it’s been weeks. It’s like I’ve known you so much longer. But if you’re uncomfortable doing this, you’re not obligated. I can’t get you fired.”
He smiled. “I’ve wanted this from the moment I found you.”
“In the body bag?” She shook her head. “How long have you been in this country? Obviously too long, if you’re wanting to make love with a corpse.”
While she’d been in the shower, he’d stripped out of the bulletproof vest and his uniform jacket. “That’s just it, I didn’t find a corpse in that bag. I found a beautiful, lively woman who captured me with her smile.” He tugged his T-shirt out of the waistband of his trousers, pulled it over his head and tossed it to the side.
Sunny feasted her gaze on his broad shoulders and rock-solid chest. The man was beautiful, and she couldn’t wait any longer to touch him, taste him and feel him moving inside her.
She sat up and loosened the belt around his waist. Then she unbuttoned his trousers, exposing the boxer briefs beneath. “Not commando?”
He shook his head. “No way. You never know when you’re going to sustain an injury. Having a gorgeous nurse patch you up is one thing. Most often it’s a male medic.” He shook his head. “Nope. Not going there.”
“Good reasoning. My grandmother always told me to wear clean underwear when I went out in case I got into a car wreck.”
“Same thing,” Dash said and kicked off his boots.
Sunny grabbed both sides of his trousers and tugged downward.
He took over and pushed the pants to the floor, stepping free.
Already Sunny could see the affect she had on him. His erection pushed against the fabric of his black briefs.
Her eyes widened. He was big.
“You can change your mind at any time,” he assured her. �
�I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m not changing my mind.” She reached out a hand. “I want you. Now.”
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You’re not ready.”
“I’ve been ready since you first kissed me,” she argued.
“I want to make you come before I do.” He gripped the hem of her gown, tugged it up over her head then dropped it on the nightstand.
Sunny shivered as the cool night air brushed across her nipples.
For a long moment, he drank her in, making her feel more beautiful than she’d ever felt in her life.
Dash hooked his thumbs in the elastic waistband of her lacy panties and dragged them slowly over her hips and down her legs until they dropped to the floor.
Naked and aching with longing, Sunny reached out to remove the boxer briefs Dash wore.
He brushed her hands aside and stepped free of them quickly.
Standing in front of her, his cock straight and hard, he was magnificent.
“Please,” she begged. “Make love to me.”
“As you wish.” He leaned over her, claimed her mouth in a long, hard kiss, then blazed a trail down her neck, across her collarbone and over the swell of her right breast to capture a nipple between his teeth.
Flicking and rolling it, he brought her close to the edge.
Sunny ran her fingers over his hair and clutched the back of his neck, urging him to take more.
Dash moved to the left breast and gave it the same core-tightening treatment.
Far from sleepy, Sunny was so tense, she felt she was perched at the edge of a precipice, ready to fly over it. But he wasn’t quite done, yet.
Abandoning her breasts, Dash moved south, tasting every rib with his tongue. When he reached the juncture of her thighs, he parted her knees with his and dropped to a kneeling position on the floor.
Her breath coming in short, ragged gasps, Sunny waited for his next move, afraid it would send her flying over the edge too quickly. More afraid he would stop and leave her hanging. “Please,” she whispered.
