by Dani Jace
Unlocked.
He’d checked every door before he left.
He slid out and sprinted around the pool just as a pair of shoes disappeared over the privacy fence. He launched across after them.
Fuck!
Pain shot through his injured leg at the bone-jarring landing. He charged after the figure racing though the neighbor’s yard for the street.
Adrenaline shot through his veins like hundred-proof whiskey. His vision narrowed on his assailant. He pumped his arms for more speed. The streetlight painted his target as the man reached the pavement in a dead run.
Jax cut through the front yard and closed in. Lunging with outstretched arms, he latched on. A perfect tackle, face planting him onto the asphalt.
Air rushed from the guy’s lungs.
He wrenched the assailant’s arm behind his back and wedged his throat in the crux of his elbow. “Start talking, asshole.”
The man gasped. “Commander Halstead, Peri Halstead’s husband.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Jax slackened his hold. “Isn’t that ex-husband, Commander? And can you show me some ID?”
The man grunted as he reached in his pocket and produced his wallet. The tri-fold flipped open and, sure as the devil lives in hell, a naval ID and driver’s license proved his identity.
Jax helped the man to his feet and saluted his superior. “Commander.”
Halstead straightened his civilian clothes.
Jax rolled his lips to keep from grinning. Both knees of the man’s slacks gapped, ripped by the asphalt. He’d never imagined the local naval brig until now.
“What are you doing in my ex-wife’s house?” He rubbed his soon-to-be-sore throat.
Ex or not, he didn’t live here. Fuck, this could be a mess if Peri had lied. She wouldn’t be the first woman to put his ass in a bad way with a husband, current or former. “I’m staying in the room over the garage for a couple of days. What are you doing sneaking through her house?”
Halstead frowned.
He had to be at least ten years older than Peri. She must have married as a teen unless she was older than he thought. None of it mattered at this point. “I’m waiting, sir.”
“I have a key.” He propped his hand on his hip.
Jax checked his watch. “I think you need to explain this to Peri. She should be home shortly.”
* * * *
Peri stepped into the house and dropped her keys on the kitchen counter. Of course Haley had to stop by and find Jax wrapped in only a towel, according to the text she sent after he dropped her off at her friend’s house. Her teen actually encouraged her to bang the guy while she was out of zone in Florida.
Jax had earned brownie points for not allowing her to walk the neighborhood late at night. At least the SEAL got Parenting 101. Her dad played friend instead of father. And that concerned her. How much freedom would he give her at Disney World? This summer in Europe?
A draft from the den forced her into the room where the sliding glass door gaped. She peered out, checking the pool for Jax. Maybe he’d gone for a late-night swim.
The sound of the kitchen door caused her to spin. Her heart shot to triple time. Had someone broken in while he was with TJ?
“Peri?” Jax’s low-timbered voice eased her escalating fear.
She sprinted into the kitchen.
Her ex stood by the sink wiping his forehead with a wet paper towel. In torn trousers, he looked like he’d been ground into the pavement by a loaded dump truck.
Jax’s glint indicated the truck had a Trident hood ornament.
She stopped and covered her mouth to hide a smile that had waited for five years. Someone finally rolled over Commander Halstead. Literally. “Sean?”
“I stopped by the house and your handyman attacked me,” Sean growled.
“Not quite true, Commander. I thought you were an intruder. Had you been here since I left?”
“Why were you in the house, Sean? How do you have a key?” She advanced on him.
“Haley kept misplacing her key. I had an extra one made.” Her ex’s neck reddened as he lowered his gaze. He proceeded to work bits of gravel from his palms with the towel.
How dare he. Cheating son of a bitch had no right. “So you could spy on me?” She grabbed the paper towel from him and tossed it in the sink.
Jax moved to her side.
“Not much of a chance.” He glared at Jax.
She reveled at his wounded ego. Having the upper hand for a change gave her confidence where she’d faltered in the past. “I can have you up before the admiral, Sean. Is that what you want?”
“You willing to corroborate her story, sailor?”
Jax stood like a stone, aiming a hardened stare at Sean. “I’m not stationed here, sir.”
Sean crossed his arms. “I could tell the judge you have a man staying in the house with our underage daughter.”
The authoritative officer tone was another thing about him she’d grown to hate. “You forget I know who you fuck under Haley’s nose every Friday and Saturday night.”
Sean pointed a finger. “Leave her out of this.”
Jax stepped forward.
Peri sidestepped around him. “Really, you were the one that brought her into our lives. And now you’re more concerned with her than your own daughter. You were going to let her walk alone to Erin’s house tonight if Jax hadn’t intervened. One day your neglectful parenting is going to bite you in the ass, Sean.”
He slumped.
It’d taken years to gain the strength to stand up to him.
Jax opened the kitchen door. “Time to go, Commander. Wherever you left your vehicle, you can walk.”
* * * *
Jax shook off the scene that reminded him of arguments he’d witnessed between his parents. He clasped Peri’s cold hand, then drew her to face him. “You okay?”
Her face brightened. “Handyman, babysitter, and professional bodyguard. Geez, is there anything you can’t do?”
“Those are only a few in my job description, ma’am.” He rubbed her knuckles.
“And modest, too.” Her tongue slid across a plump bottom lip.
The entire time at the club, he’d been imagining her instead of the dancers and her luscious lick brought the images back. “Let’s have a drink.”
She plied a single-barrel whiskey she’d been saving for a special occasion from the cabinet and directed him to the glasses.
“Ice?” He opened the freezer door.
“Please.”
He placed the glasses on the counter.
She free-poured liberally over the cubes, then downed one of the whiskeys.
The woman could shotgun with the best. He’d have to remember that.
She studied him. “What’s your rank? You held your own with my ex.”
“Chief Petty Officer.” He finished his drink in one swallow.
She fluffed her loose, wavy hair. He loved the way she appeared aloof but, in reality, didn’t miss a thing.
“Been in ten years. Made the teams in my second year.”
“Been divorced for nearly five.” She headed for the den. “Bring the juice.”
“Confession time?” He snagged the bottle and followed, appreciating the sassy sway of her toned rear in non-mom jeans.
After closing the sliding door, she faced him. “My fifteen-year-old said to use you up while I have the chance.”
He checked his jaw drop, chuckled, and dropped onto the sofa. Then he sat the liquor on the large suede hassock. “For a sullen teen, she gives sound advice.”
She sank next to him. “So, no wife, fiancé, or relationship in California? I know how sailors are.”
“Nothing exclusive.” Amber liquid swirled into her glass as he poured her another. “Sean cheated on you?”
She pointed the remote and flipped on the TV. “Ding, ding. Next question.”
“His loss, Angel.”
/> Peri’s eyes dilated and welled with tears. “No one has ever called me angel.”
He set her glass beside his, then gathered her in his arms.
She melted against his chest.
He stroked her back in small circles, loving the feel of her against him. He yearned to win her trust, but what did he have to offer?
She latched around his neck, and leisurely threaded her fingers though his hair.
After months without any loving touch, the intimate sensation set him afire. He scooped her onto his lap, nuzzled the soft skin of her neck. Her clean, tropical scent reminded him of the beach as he curled his fingers in her waves of hair. Long-held tension began to fade. He ached to search her lips and mouth and take in her feminine essence.
He’d just glimpsed a slice of lingering naïveté about her former marriage. Was her hardline sarcasm and owning a bar, frequented by mostly men, a self-induced therapy so as not to be hurt again?
She drew away, narrowed her eyes, and licked her lips. Slowly, she swept in and brushed her supple mouth over his, granting his wish.
A hint of whiskey mixing with her natural sweetness suffused his taste buds. But his greatest delight came when her tongue begged entry. With her straddling his hips, a heat spread from his groin up into his lower belly.
He gently caught her tongue in his teeth and teased it with his own. God, she tasted exquisite. Sweet and clean like a waterfall.
“Wow.” She drew a deep breath. “Knew those handsome lips were skilled.”
He caressed her fine-boned cheek. “And that pouty one of yours has had me wanting a taste since I sat down at the bar.”
She straightened the collar of his polo. “So, did you and TJ have fun?”
“It was good to catch up. We’ve only seen each another during a couple of training exercises since BUD/S.”
“So, he didn’t get you laid or a lap dance?” She winked and rocked her hips.
He groaned inwardly as her heat threatened to push his cock into launch mode. “He knows I was rescued by a lovely lady and that’s where my interests lie.”
“Oh.” She sounded surprised, then recovered with a haughty flip of her hair. “Can you do simple, Jax?”
“I can do whatever you need, sweetheart. While I’m here.”
“Angel.” She pinned him with bedroom eyes.
He cupped her ass and brought them nose to nose. “Whatever you need, Angel.”
Chapter 6
Lost in his lusty gaze, Peri’s vision blurred.
Whatever she needed…
With his arousal obvious, what she needed evaded her. Her desire, however, was perfectly clear. Forget the world beneath his smoking-hot body. The way he handled her ex and Haley, both of whom seemed oblivious to her needs―at least Jax was in tune to her.
He swept up the curve of her rear, along her back and continued until he cradled her head. Pressed his lips against hers. Warm and firm, they filled the contours of hers. He tasted like aroused male.
Trained with every firearm known to man, SEALs tended to be experts at nearly everything through sheer will and determination. She bet Jax had satisfying a woman down to a science as well, but his touch felt far from mechanical. Having married for love and security, she’d missed out on the fun side of casual sex.
He roamed the curves and hollows of her body with a talented skill. Excitement rushed through her like a speeding train.
She ground against his erection, sending waves of heated desire to her pussy. Her swollen and needy clit ached for the solid cock currently restrained beneath his jeans.
Until tonight, she’d had some lingering guilt she might have failed Sean in some way, but no more. She deserved to have this awesome warrior rock her world.
“Hmm. How about I tuck you in before the sun comes up?” His lidded gaze hinted at more.
“I need a shower, first.” A tingling excitement raced along her spine. She moved her feet, disliking the idea of losing contact with him.
He stood. “I’m happy to help wash your back.” His fingers smoothed over her shoulders. “I’ve been told my second occupation should be a masseur.”
His mischievous smile challenged her. “Another of your job requirements?” She tugged on him to follow.
Playing into the devil’s hand. So be it. Being a good girl had grown old and boring.
In the master bath, Jax turned on the water in the shower. Hopefully before he left, she’d have a bubble bath with him in the large sunken tub. Her lips twitched as she fetched towels from the linen cabinet. Her stomach fluttered as if she hung at the top of a monster roller coaster.
After a couple of deep breaths, she turned to find the hunky SEAL stripped to his birthday suit.
Holy shit. If his body wasn’t impressive enough, what he packed under his zipper resembled a frickin' Desert Eagle, the most powerful gun in the world. She willed her lips still from a broadening smile.
Like the onset of night, his twilight-blue eyes hinted at mystery. He moved closer and sealed his lips to hers in a wanton kiss. Next, he worked under her T-shirt with his large, capable hands and pulled it over her head.
“You’re gorgeous, baby.” His breathy tone excited her as he cupped her breasts, taking note of her lacy bra. His thumbs found her straining peaks and began a sensual massage through the skimpy fabric.
The rasp of his beard stubble lightly abraded her throat as he feathered kisses along her neck. He nudged a bra strap off one shoulder while his searching lips sent sparks of heat to her breasts and lower. A pool of moisture gathered between her thighs as her gnawing ache spread.
Only last night, she’d found him passed out behind her bar. Was she trashy or cheap to have fallen for him within twenty-four hours? In that time, he’d fixed her pool, secured Haley, and literally bounced her ex on his ass.
In the last five years, only Phil had been there for her. Gave her a job and offered her partnership in his business. He’d shown she could trust a man again. Jax Taylor might be a stepping-stone to rebuilding her belief in romance. Although their time would be short, it might prove to be the most erotic adventure of her life.
He pressed her against the counter, and raised her to sit on the cool surface. He caressed the length of her thighs in a slow glide, then hooked his thumbs under the lacy band of her panties and peeled them off.
He palmed her knees apart.
Bare before him, her juices flowed under his scrutiny. Thankfully, she’d waxed a few days ago. Although, some men liked au naturel.
A corner of his mouth twitched. “Dessert without a spoon.”
He held her in place as he ran his tongue in a slow glide the length of her folds.
She almost moaned at the sheer pleasure as he traced a circle around her sensitive nub and rocked her hips toward his seeking mouth.
“So sweet,” he mumbled and inserted a finger into her slick channel.
Short pumps stirred her nerve endings to a fever pitch. Heat welled deep and she felt her body opening, accepting, pleading for euphoria. His passionate gaze fueled her desire as he ate her with abandon.
The visual in combination with his skilled mouth and fingers made her pussy clench. Peri willingly submitted to his dominance as he swept her away.
A sensual tsunami.
A long held moan spilled from her lips as she grappled with his short dark hair.
Her head fell back. Her eyes closed, lost as the surging orgasm swept through her body and left her quaking in his arms. Falling never felt so good. A man she hardly knew awakened a part of her she’d long forgotten.
* * * *
As her pussy contracted around his finger, Jax fought the urge to fill her sweetness with his begging cock. Patience. It was going to be so fucking good. After she stilled, he helped her to her feet.
She laced her fingers behind his neck. “Wow.”
“I’m going for speechless, next.” He pushed a curl behind her ear and drew her tigh
t. Her unfocused, sexy stare held him captive until she branded his mouth with a tongue-tying kiss.
He loved that she didn’t mind the taste of her own release. Tangy sweet. He already longed for more.
Entwining his hand in her thick blond strands, he imagined her as a lioness in his bed and drew her into the roomy marble shower.
The warm spray mingled with the gel he lathered in slow circles as he worked the foam over her pert breasts. Her peach-colored nipples hardened under the attention.
With a sigh, she rested the back of her head against the wall of his chest.
He almost heard the warring inside her head and turned her to face him. “Forget the world for now, Angel. It's only us.”
“Kinda hard.” Her voice sounded small.
“Kinda hard? Baby, I’m like the barrel of a cannon.” He chuckled, running his fingers along her back and settling on the firm cheeks of her ass. Tugged her against his dick to tease her belly.
She curled her fingers around the head, slick with pre-cum, feeling the weight of him. Then she peered up wearing the barest of smiles and began pumping him with firm strokes. “What’s my name, again?”
So long since he’d felt anything besides his own hand. He widened his stance as her other hand cupped his balls. His boys clenched at the soft caress. Fuck. In reflex, he thrust, mimicking the carnal act. He’d love to do her against the shower wall. A position he’d bet she’d never experienced, but he was too brazen to try after her ex stalked her home. The pressure of her slim fingers threatened to end things too soon.
When she started to kneel, he caught her. “Not yet, baby. I want to be inside you.”
She took her sweet time soaping him from head to toe while playing particular attention to his junk. The little imp even dared to tease between the cheeks of his ass. “Be careful, Angel. Two can play that game.”
“Promise.” She winked.
Lord help him, because he wanted to be that naughty.
After her tenacious efforts, he offered her the same attention. Under the hot spray and suds, her bare folds were slick with desire. His heart’s maddening gallop echoed in his throbbing shaft.
