Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume VII: The Steadfast Hot SoldierWild Thing

by Rhonda Nelson; Tawny Weber

  Percy looked at Andrea. She’d either used her fingers or a brush she carried in the dog’s bag, because her hair flowed like a silken curtain over her bare shoulders. The tempting curves of her body were softly highlighted by the cut of her dress, her shapely golden legs bare beneath the purple fabric. How bare? he wondered, eyeing the tiny straps holding up the bodice. Obviously unaware of his thoughts, her eyes gleamed with humor as she took in the sight of him and the dog. But it was the sweetness of her smile that grabbed him. Hooked him.

  “So,” he said after a few more seconds of silence, his voice low and husky.

  “So?” she asked when he didn’t continue.

  “So why didn’t you return my calls?” he asked casually. So off-the-cuff that it took a few seconds for her shoulders to stiffen as the import of his words sank in.

  He wanted to ask why she’d left in the first place, but a man had his pride. Very little, apparently, but his ego was desperate to cling to something.

  Andrea’s eyes went wide, and she nibbled at her bottom lip in a way that made him want to beg.

  Then she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I need to feed Medusa now. Not rehash something that just…well, yeah. Doesn’t matter.”

  He wanted to demand that she answer.

  He wanted to say it mattered to him.

  He wanted to beg her to give them a real chance instead of always running away.

  But all that would smack of desperation. And no matter how desperate he felt, he’d be damned if he’d look it, too.

  So he just shrugged. “So feed her.”

  Andrea arched her brow at his surly tone. But she didn’t say anything. Instead, she tried to kill him by leaning over so the bodice of her dress gaped, showing him that yes, indeed, she was perky enough to go braless. Percy’s mouth went dry. His body stirred. Then she reached for his crotch. He almost groaned.

  Before she could touch him—oh, please, yes, touch him—there was a low, rumbling growl. His lap vibrated. He glanced down to see the dog, teeth bared, glaring at Andrea.

  “Medusa, stop that,” she ordered firmly. The dog growled again, curling tighter into Percy’s lap with her tiny claws. Tiny claws that were, despite the heavy denim of his jeans, too close to anything he wanted pierced.

  “Hey, now,” he said, scooping the dog up in one hand and holding it out at arm’s length. “None of that.”

  “Sorry,” Andrea said, reaching out to take Medusa, who growled again and tried to scramble her way up Percy’s arm. “I’ve never seen her like this. She’s temperamental, of course. But she’s usually pretty sweet with me.”

  Sweet or not, she wasn’t going to Andrea. Since he didn’t want her scrambling over his head, Percy set her on the floor with a small thud.

  “Go eat,” he ordered.

  The dog stopped growling. She looked at Andrea. Then she looked at him. She fluttered her eyelashes again and with a swish of her long, sweeping tail and a toss of her dreadlocks, she turned and pranced toward the kitchen and her waiting gourmet dinner.

  “Well, then,” Andrea said with a baffled laugh. She stared at the open doorway to watch the dog sniff at the plain bowl. Medusa stepped back and glanced toward Percy, then gave a growl before digging in. “And she’s even eating out of stoneware instead of Meissen. I’m impressed.”

  Gratified at her appreciation—finally something she admired about him—Percy preened a little, giving her his most charming smile before patting the leather cushion next to him in invitation.

  Her gaze shifted from amused to intrigued, heat flaring in those gorgeous eyes. She wet her lips, glancing from him to the couch and back. Weighing the possibilities—which were obviously sexual. And the consequences—which only she had a clue to.

  “You’re surprisingly good with her,” she said, buying time.

  “The ladies, they all love me,” he admitted.

  It was like watching a switch flip. Her eyes went from flirty, sweet and considering to chilly and distant. Her shoulders stiffened, chin lifted and even though she didn’t take a step backward, she might as well have.

  What the hell?

  “It must be so rough, being God’s gift to women.”

  “Sure.” Knowing he was dancing on quicksand but clueless which way to turn to keep from sinking, Percy hauled out his best weapon. Rolling to his feet, he gave her a long, intense look as he stepped closer. Close enough to feel her swift inhalation. Close enough to see her pupils dilate and her lips tremble. Close enough to smell the warm sunshine of her hair.

  “Babe, they don’t chase me because I disappoint them,” he teased, reaching out to lift one long, silken curl between his fingers, then lift it to his lips. “And for you, I’d be the gift that keeps on giving. And giving. And giving.”

  Amused, Percy shared a teasing smile. Andrea didn’t smile back. “So what’s it like, having all those women chasing after you?”

  Oooh. Irritated at himself for being so slow, Percy shook his head. She was jealous. She was so cute. He grinned, finally feeling hopeful.

  “The chase is part of the fun,” he assured her. “But if you want to catch me, I promise not to run.”

  If looks could kill, Percy was pretty sure he’d be dropping to the floor. He’d never felt as empty as he did when she stepped away from him. He hated to keep repeating himself, but what the hell?

  Starting to get angry, Percy shoved his fists into his pockets. Arguing was no way into a woman’s bed, he knew. Or, in this case, into her heart, since he wanted a whole lot more from Andrea than another bout of wild sex. Although he was having serious doubts about why at this very moment.

  “Please,” she said, crossing the room to glare out at the ocean. “You have no clue. You’ve never chased a woman in your life.”

  “That’s bullshit,” he snapped. “I chased you, didn’t I?”

  She spun from the window to shoot him a shocked stare, her eyes as round as her mouth. What?

  “You did not.”

  “Sure I did. I asked you out, not the other way around. I called you. Even when you never called me back, I still called.”

  Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She waved her hands in the air as if trying to find them, then finally shook her head.

  “Twice. You called twice. Wow. What a chase. You must have worn yourself out. And that’s after canceling half of our dates because you had to work. Was it hard to make the call between the other women, or did you have your pretty blonde secretary dial for you?”

  “Hey, it’s more than I’ve ever done before,” Percy muttered.

  Hunching his shoulders, he frowned. He’d only had Jolene place a call once. And, what? He was supposed to stop dating? She’d left him. If she’d stuck around, he’d have stopped, sure. But…

  Damn.

  She was right. He thought of the lengths that some women went to in chasing him and winced. He’d gone on with his life, only calling her because he couldn’t get her out of his mind. But he hadn’t gone to see her. He hadn’t sent flowers. He hadn’t said a word about his burgeoning feelings.

  Because, what? He’d been worried about his feelings getting dented? So instead he’d stomped all over hers and left her believing he was blowing her off to see other women. Was that why she’d left? Because he’d made her feel as if she wasn’t important?

  Crossing the room, he was pleased that she didn’t run. Sure, she stiffened, clamping her arms over her chest like a shield. But the brow she arched was in question, not in disdain.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, leaning in slowly, his eyes locked on hers. Her lashes fluttered. Her breath hitched, warming his lips. And she still didn’t pull away. “I should have chased you. I should have let you know how much I wanted to see you again. To spend time with you.”

  It was like watching a statue come back to life. The stiffness in her face faded, the chill melted from her eyes. Her lips trembled as they curved just a little. He could see the vulnerability now. Wh
y hadn’t he seen it before?

  Needing to reassure her and only knowing one way, he brushed his lips over hers. Soft. Sweet.

  “Give me another chance.”

  He could read the doubt in her eyes. See the remnants of the hurt he’d caused. A part of him, and not just the desperately hard part between his legs, wanted to push her. To entice her with kisses and distract her with the physical heat between them. If he did that, though, she’d run again. It had to be her choice.

  He just wished she’d hurry up and make it.

  She studied his face as if her life depended on it. Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, she finally heaved a deep sigh. His heart sank. Still, she didn’t say a word.

  Instead, she reached out and twined her fingers through his. Her eyes still locked on him, she led the way across the room, back to the couch. But she didn’t sit. She lifted her arms, putting them around his neck so her fingers teased the hair at his nape. Then, on tiptoe, she pressed kisses, first to his throat, then his jaw, and finally—thank God—to his mouth.

  Desire washed over Percy like a huge wave. Reveling in it, he took the kiss from sweet to intense with a thrust of his tongue. He was going to make this so damn good, she’d never be able to resist him again. And just to make sure, he didn’t plan to let her go this time.

  * * *

  AS THEY SANK ONTO THE COUCH, Andrea wondered when she’d gone crazy. First, in letting Percy know how hurt she’d been that he hadn’t put any effort into chasing her. What was wrong with her? Guys didn’t like clingy, needy women. The only way she could have come across any more clingy would be if she’d attached herself to him like a spider monkey.

  And then, because she clearly hadn’t made enough mistakes already, what with kissing him every time his lips stood still and jumping at the chance to sleep with him in exchange for hero services, here she was. Throwing herself at him yet again.

  Yep. She was crazy.

  But as Percy’s lips moved over hers, as his mouth swept her away on a wave of passion, she couldn’t care.

  Not didn’t care. She wanted to. She really did. Her pride, her secret-held dream of being so important to someone that he’d risk everything for her, those things demanded she care.

  His mouth trailed soft, sweet kisses over her cheek to her ear. His teeth nibbled, his breath warmed.

  She melted.

  Nope, she sighed, letting her head fall back against the smooth leather of the couch. She just couldn’t care about anything but Percy and this wild feeling between them.

  8

  SHE WAS DELICIOUS. EVEN BETTER than he remembered. And considering how hot the fantasies were that he’d been nurturing from their single night together, better was pretty damn amazing.

  His tongue trailed over the slender length of her throat, pausing for a second to bury his face in the sweet silk of her hair.

  A part of him, the cautious part that usually kept him from getting shot, warned that he was already in too deep. Once had damn near ruined his life because he hadn’t been able to stop obsessing over her. He’d spent three months fixated on her, fascinated with her glowing smile and clever wit. Sex, again, with Andrea might prove fatal to his heart.

  But as her lips whispered over his, soft and sweet, he didn’t give a damn. He’d pay the price, whatever it was. For however long. He just had to have her.

  Completely giving in, and determined to make it worthwhile, Percy shifted to pull her sideways onto his lap. He took her lips again, sweeping his tongue along the lush fullness of her lower lip. Her moan shot through him like liquid Viagra, making the pressure of her butt against his rock-hard erection even more erotic.

  His body strained, desperate. More desperate than he’d admit to anyone but himself, since he’d had a dismal lack of interest in other women since his night with Andrea.

  Needing more, he forced himself to shift her off his lap. Percy stood, wincing when his dick protested painfully as he straightened.

  “Why are you stopping?” she protested quietly, looking both innocent and beguiling as she stared up at him, her eyes filled with a need that made him feel about ten feet tall.

  “I don’t want your naked body sticking to the leather,” he said with a wink. His mind racing with possibilities, he looked around and quickly found the answer. The faux-fur rug. He grabbed a handful of the dozen pillows neatly arranged along the fireplace and tossed them into the middle of the rug.

  Hurrying back to Andrea, as if taking too long would give her time to change her mind, he scooped her up and carried her across the room.

  “My hero,” she teased, twining her fingers through his hair and giving him a warm smile. Then her gaze shifted to the wide windows where the sunset sky glimmered with streaks of purple and orange light. “Um, maybe we should shut the curtains…?”

  “Nobody’s out there,” he promised with a laugh, carefully dropping her into the center of the bed of pillows. “And I want to make love with you as day turns to night, to see your body glowing in the evening light.”

  “But…” She winced, then gave him a look so nervous Percy wanted to scoop her up and promise her anything. “I’m a little shy about you seeing me naked.”

  He started to laugh that away. He’d seen her unclothed already. He’d kissed every inch of her naked body. Then it hit him. It’d been dark in his apartment. He’d intended to turn on the lights, but they’d never gotten around to it. And she’d been gone before he awoke the next morning.

  Calling on a sensitivity he hadn’t realized he had, desperately hoping it’d be enough, Percy took both her hands in his. He pressed gentle kisses over each knuckle. She sighed. He could feel the tension leave her body, bit by bit.

  “I don’t have the words to tell you how beautiful I think you are. Not ones that would do you justice. I’m not good at talking about that kind of thing,” he admitted. “But you have to believe me when I say that I’m over-the-top crazy attracted to you, Andrea. To all of you. Your laughter and your wit. Your smile, your gorgeous face. And your body. I dream about your body.”

  Andrea met his gaze with a wide-eyed stare. He could see the same fear in those brown depths that he was feeling in his own heart.

  “I guess we’ll see how the dreams stack up to the reality,” she said softly. Then, as if to prove her point and blow his mind all at the same time, she reached down and, wriggling just a little to free the fabric from under her hips, she pulled the purple cotton dress over her head and tossed it away.

  The air left his lungs. His head buzzed as he took in the sight of her sitting on the mound of pillows, naked except for a tiny pair of pink lacy panties. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was as dry as the Sahara. And his body just as hot.

  “You’re incredible,” he whispered, finally finding his voice. “Absolute perfection.”

  And she was. Andrea was, undoubtedly, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And for right now—and just right now—she was all his.

  So he’d better make the most of her.

  With that in mind, he tossed his clothes off as fast as he could. Straightening after kicking his jeans aside, he froze at the look on her face.

  Awe. Her gaze ran over his body like a hot caress, leaving him flexing—everywhere—in response. Percy had never doubted his masculinity, nor his appeal to woman. But the look on Andrea’s face almost made him feel like a god.

  And he was about to take them both to heaven.

  “Protection?” she asked all of a sudden, halting his body’s swift descent. Damn. Percy straightened, looking around desperately to find his jeans. Grabbing them, he yanked out his wallet, digging inside to find a condom. Clichéd? Sure. But hey, clichés sometimes paid off.

  Then, finally, he joined her. Unable to resist, he pulled her warm, silky body into his arms and held her against his. For a second, he buried his face in the curve of her neck and breathed in the floral spice of hair, letting the perfection of that moment wash over them.

  Then he got do
wn to the business of showing her how amazing he thought her body was. How beautiful she was.

  His hands smoothed up her back, fingers tracing her spine as he brought her curves closer against the hard length of him. He pressed openmouthed kisses along her collarbone before slipping lower. With both hands, he cupped the gentle slope of her breasts, lifting them to his lips to taste.

  Delicious.

  His tongue laved her pebble-hard nipples. Her breath came faster now. Her fingers clenched his biceps, then slid down his waist. She scraped her nails gently down his hard, flat abs.

  Then her fingers wrapped around the throbbing length of his aching dick.

  Percy groaned.

  His body throbbing threateningly, he knew he wasn’t going to last. He reached down, tracing the elastic band of Andrea’s panties. His finger slipped inside to test her readiness.

  And found a hot, wet welcome. He slid one finger along the swollen bud, feeling her tremble as her breath shifted. Her thighs clenched, trapping his hand. He shifted, sliding one finger. Swirling, then sliding. She cried out, arching her body against him, her hand clenched in his hair.

  Still feasting at her breasts, first one then the other, Percy pushed her panties down. Andrea kicked them away, then wrapped her calf around his leg, pressing herself into his thigh.

  Not wanting to stop, but knowing he had to if he didn’t want to disappoint both of them, Percy’s mouth left her breast. As he swiftly sheathed himself, he took in the sight of her. Brown hair splayed around her like a soft blanket and eyes blurry with passion. Her breasts glistened while the thatch of curls between her thighs beckoned.

  He angled his body over hers and slowly, deliciously slowly, eased into her.

  For months, he’d been telling himself that sex with Andrea couldn’t possibly have been as incredible as he remembered. But as she arched her sleek, gorgeous body beneath his, her fingers digging into his shoulders and her breasts shivering with the power of her orgasm, he realized he’d been wrong.

  Andrea was much, much better than he’d imagined.