Will was surprised. “You can’t be serious. I thought people with money like that loved clothes.”
She dumped her bag on a coffee table in front of a long sectional couch. Except for a giant flat-screen hanging on the wall it was the only thing in this part of the loft. He could see a filmy curtain in the back that separated her bedroom from the rest of the area. A fridge and a microwave were the only appliances in the kitchen.
How does she cook a meal without an oven or a stovetop?
Will didn’t have a home, except for his parents’ house. Financially, it made no sense to have a place of his own—he was in the U.S. Marine Corps and he lived wherever they sent him. He never accumulated much in the way of belongings because of his travels. But Hannah hadn’t seemed one to like a sparse lifestyle. The clothing at her show was colorful and fun. He wasn’t sure what he expected but it wasn’t this.
“Most of them do love clothing. My family is from old money. My mother has a stylist who buys everything she wears. I’m not sure she’s ever stepped foot in a department store or even a boutique. The clothes and the jewels all come to her. And my dad, well, he lives to work. My mother has all of his clothes made by the same tailors who seamed my grandfather’s clothing.”
Slipping off her heels, she tossed them on the floor near the bar in her kitchen.
He stifled the urge to pick them up and put them where they were supposed to go. Will had a thing about order. Rafe called him OCD, but his friend wasn’t much better. Most of the marines he knew liked to keep their belongings tidy. It was a part of the lifestyle. They never knew when they’d be called into action.
“Wow! Talking about my parents just sucked the life right out of the room.” She motioned to the couch. “Go have a seat. I’ll be back in a minute.”
While it was only ten-thirty, Will had dated enough to know a minute to a woman was often a half hour in man time. He flipped on the television and turned the volume down low. He watched the end of the news and then switched to see a documentary on the National Geographic channel.
“Oh, I love that movie, except for that poor wildebeest who doesn’t see the lion coming.”
Will turned to see her in drawstring pajama bottoms and a long-sleeve T-shirt. Her hair had been pulled up into a fluffy ponytail. He liked that she was comfortable enough around him that she probably would have dressed the same as if he weren’t here. Though, if she was trying to seduce him she was doing a great job. Her natural beauty was like lightning striking his body with pure heat.
If she were trying to seduce you, she would have worn something sexier.
She handed him something soft.
“It’s a scarf. I made it for my brother, Tyler, for Christmas. But I noticed you didn’t have one and it’s supposed to get really cold the next few days.”
Will unraveled the scarf. It was tightly woven, but incredibly soft. “What about your brother?”
She sat down on the L of her couch next to him. “I have several months to make him a new one.”
“Thank you. It’s beautiful and that you made it makes it even more special.”
Her smile lit up her face and he could feel that light sear through his heart.
“I wanted you to have it. I like the idea of you having a part of me wrapped around you.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “I can’t believe that came out the way it did. I meant since you were so incredible today… I give up.” She covered her face and shook her head.
Will’s heart felt as though it beat double-time as he reached up and pulled her hands away from her face.
“You never have to be embarrassed with me.” He touched her cheek gently with the back of his fingers. Her skin was so smooth. It took all of his resolve to keep from hauling her into his lap. “I should get going.” Those words were tough to say but he was doing his best to be a gentleman.
Her lips formed a straight line. “I forgot you have a job to go to tomorrow morning.” She touched his hand. “I’ve kept you out late and—”
“Hannah, stop. It’s only eleven and I do want to stay. Trust me I do. But you’ve had a really long and eventful day. I saw you hiding the yawns during dinner.”
“Oh, no, and here I thought I was being so clever with my napkin. I haven’t slept for a couple of days. So much was riding on this show. But, and I know how this makes me sound, I don’t want to be alone. Can you stay, just for a little while? We can watch the documentary and I have popcorn and beer or wine. And maybe some cheese and bottled water. I eat out a lot.”
“I figured as much when I saw your kitchen. I’m happy to stay if you aren’t too tired.”
“Stay right there.”
She ran off to the kitchen and returned with some beer and a giant bowl of popcorn. She scooted in next to him and he slipped his arm across her petite shoulders.
Less than ten minutes later Will had to save her couch by grabbing the bottle of beer out of her hand. She’d fallen asleep.
When he shifted to put the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table, she fell into his lap. He grabbed a pillow to put between her and his thighs, praying that she didn’t feel the sudden bulge when she’d touched him there.
Will pushed the tiny tendrils that escaped her ponytail away from her face. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Now what the hell am I going to do?
3
HANNAH OPENED HER EYES to find the television was on. She yawned and noticed she was lying on her sofa pillow, which was on top of two strong thighs.
Will.
Great. I fell asleep.
Turning her head, she glanced up to find an amused look on his face.
“Hey.” That whiskey voice got to her every time.
She sat up and tugged the pillow from his lap. “Okay, I’m mortified. I can’t believe I did that.”
“You had a good excuse.” He stood and stretched. His shirt lifted enough she caught a glimpse of his hardened abs. The lower region of her body reacted instantly. “You were right about the documentary. It was great.”
His next words would be about him needing to leave. He’d be polite and obliging but she wasn’t ready for that yet. The man was so handsome that part of her wondered if he was a hallucination. If he were a dream, she would make the most of it.
“Will? I don’t ask men I just met to stay overnight.”
“I was heading out.” He was so earnest.
Hannah made a bold move without even thinking about it. She quickly stood before him and placed her hand on his chest.
“Um, you misunderstood. What would you think of me if I told you I want you to stay? That I want to do naughty, dirty things to your body. That I—”
Before she could say another word his lips captured hers, his tongue begging for entrance as it teased her lips. With the lightest touch his knuckle outlined her jaw.
Her hands lifted his shirt so she could run her palms up and down the muscles beneath.
Will moaned when she touched him and he twined her hands up around his neck so that her body was flush against his, her breasts rubbing against his hard chest. There was a strange sense of coming home, almost as if she could feel her body binding to his.
His hand moved behind her head and he loosened her ponytail. “Your hair is like wavy sunshine.”
Her hair was her arch enemy but now wasn’t the time to talk about that.
When she glanced up, the need in his eyes stole her breath. He wanted her as much as she did him.
“Hannah, are you trying to seduce me?”
“If you think I’m just trying, then I’m obviously not doing it very well. I’ll race you to the bedroom,” she said as she took off in a dead run, sliding across the floor in her socks.
“Hey, you cheated.”
“It’s only cheating if there are rules and there are no rules tonight, Will.” She slipped off her clothes and he did the same. A few seconds later, they watched each other from opposite sides of the bed. Naked. His cock was at attention and Hann
ah wondered at the length and width of him.
A slight panic engulfed her. He was so big.
Before she could think too much about it, she climbed on the bed and sat on her knees in the middle of it. Will mirrored her. Even in the dark, she could see two circular scars below his right shoulder. There were also burn marks on his left shoulder. The pink tissue was tight and angry-looking. With one finger she touched him lightly.
“What happened?”
“Bomb and sniper in Baghdad.” The pain in those words struck her. Though somehow she knew he didn’t want her sympathy.
She couldn’t imagine everything he’d been through. The horrors he had seen and the pain he must have experienced with his injuries. Her every instinct wanted to protect him from harm, to soothe his pain.
“Hannah?” Will was watching her carefully.
She would have to work harder to hide her emotions from him.
“You know I’m just using you for your body, right?”
He chuckled. “You don’t see me complaining.”
She had a feeling he didn’t do much smiling and if she could bring a little lightness to his world, well…
His hand slid down her arm.
She took his hand and put it on her breast over her heart and wondered if he could feel the speed of the beating there. His thumb grazed the nipple, causing it to harden. When he replaced his thumb with his tongue, Hannah sucked in a breath.
Still sitting on her knees she arched back and cried out when his teeth gently nipped her. Continuing to tease her, his hands went to work on the rest of her body, eventually inching down to her heat.
Her breath coming in tiny pants, Hannah separated her knees to give him access. She needed him to touch her there, to relieve the tension building in her body.
He didn’t disappoint. He turned her so that her back was too him and her butt on his thighs. The length of him was underneath her cheeks. He rubbed her sensitive nub with extraordinary speed and pressure.
“Yes,” she cried as he brought her to orgasm.
“Will,” she screamed. He didn’t let go. Three more times he brought her to the peak until her body was hot liquid.
Once again he shifted her so that she faced him. Hannah lifted herself and slipped his cock inside her. His deep moan caused a flurry of excitement. She bounced up and down, riding him hard. He met her thrust for thrust. Hannah threw her head back as Will sucked in a nipple. Every time his tongue rasped against her, there was the feeling she was becoming unglued. Her body shuddered with another orgasm and her heat tightened around him.
“Hannah,” he moaned as he pounded her even faster and then released his seed.
His arms tightened around her and they kissed, both of their bodies shuddering with tremors.
This man was everything.
“That was—”
He kissed her again. “Yeah. It was,” he said as he nuzzled her neck.
Hannah was spent and happier than she’d been in a really long time.
There were lovers in her past. She’d even had great sex. Well, she’d thought it was great until tonight. Will had taken her to a whole new level. A cool February draft from the windows sent goose bumps down her arms and legs.
“You’re cold. Let’s get you under the covers.”
“I’m fine,” she protested, not wanting to move just yet.
His hands cradled her face. “You’re cold. I can feel you shivering.” He lifted her off him and then pulled the sheets and comforter back on his side of the bed. They slid into the pocket he made and she had to admit this was better.
As he warmed her against his chest, she smiled.
“This part is always kind of awkward.” She laughed.
“Why do you say that?”
She lifted her head so she could see his face. “I don’t know. You’ve just made crazy, carnal jungle love, losing all inhibitions, and then, it’s over. Everything is quiet and you’re searching for something to talk about.”
Hannah wished she hadn’t said it, but her mouth was always jumping ahead of her brain.
Will tugged her hair gently. “Well, if you give me about five minutes we can get straight back to that—what did you call it? Carnal jungle love?”
“Five minutes? Really? Wow. What are we going to do until then?”
“Oh, I can think of a few things.” His hand slid down to her heat again.
“Will,” she gasped. And then she was lost in the pleasure.
WILL WATCHED HER SLEEP. It was becoming a habit.
He wouldn’t have given up this night for anything, but it had to end. It was only a few hours until his 7:00 a.m. meeting and he had to prepare. This was the first time his entire attaché team would be assembled. Sitting on the side of the bed he contemplated what he should do. It didn’t feel right leaving her without some way of contacting him.
But did he want her to contact him? Hannah’s life was chaotic and crazy, from what he’d experienced of it. She ran at full throttle all of the time and he had a feeling she didn’t think much of schedules. She was exactly the kind of woman he worked hard to stay away from and more than ever he needed someone who calmed him. Maybe even a woman who was a little boring.
The very last thing Hannah was was boring. And honestly, there wasn’t anything wrong with that. But Will wanted someone to share his life with so they could grow old together. Not that it would happen anytime soon, as he had at least one more tour to go.
Still, the past few years had taught him that each day was a gift to be used and appreciated to the full.
Hannah. There was an ethereal quality to her. As if she were a fairy flitting with a magical wand healing his soul. Her magic was strong and he had most definitely fallen under her spell.
And it scared the hell out of him.
4
“SON, I SHOULD HAVE YOU court-martialed.” The general slammed down the newspaper with the huge photo of Will’s half-naked chest from the runway. “This conduct will not be tolerated. I should have the MPs down here to drag your ass to the brig. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t,” he growled.
Will had seen the old man get angry before, but usually it was a quiet steam kind of heat. He never blustered, which meant Will was in big trouble. He’d screwed up royally and he deserved whatever came his way. In his father’s mind, a marine as a fashion model was a major infraction. He stared straight ahead and waited for his sentence, knowing the general’s previous question was rhetorical.
“Sir,” Rafe’s voice croaked. Poor guy. It was Will’s fault his friend was being raked over the coals.
“I’m not speaking to you, Lieutenant.” The general jabbed a finger toward Rafe.
“Yes, sir. But I have information integral to the investigation, sir. Captain Hughes won’t admit it, but he didn’t have a choice.”
The general folded his arms and leaned back on his heels. “Now this I’ve got to hear.” His steely-gray eyes bore into Rafe. Will wanted to kick his friend’s butt for interfering. Nothing Rafe could say would help the situation. In fact, it would only make it worse. Of that, Will was certain.
“She cried, sir.” Rafe cleared his throat.
“What?” the general asked, exasperated.
“The girl on the street who asked for our help. She said it was a life-and-death situation for her. That she would lose everything if we didn’t help her. And she was crying. I mean like sobbing, in the middle of the sidewalk.”
The older man seemed to contemplate Rafe’s words.
“Is that true, Marine?” The question was aimed at Will.
“Yes, sir.”
The general’s expression softened slightly. “A damsel in distress, that’s what this fiasco is about? If I ask this young woman would she corroborate your story?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Will and Rafe said at the same time.
There was another long silence as the general sat behind his desk.
“I’ll need to speak with her.”
Will su
cked in a breath and his heart sped up like a freight train barreling down a hill with no brakes. Hannah wouldn’t last two minutes under the scrutiny of this man. She might have to deal with the women like the Hags, as she called them, but she was no match for the General. No, he couldn’t let it happen.
“I’d like to leave the woman out of it.” Will’s voice came across much stronger than he intended. In the face of danger he’d often been able to keep his nerves dampened down. Marines didn’t know fear. But subjecting Hannah to the old man would be nothing less than torture for her. The general was all about rules and regulations. Hannah was creative and followed her whims. He had to protect her. “I’m happy to take my punishment. I deserve it, sir.”
“William Washington Hughes, you will have that woman in my office no later than five today. Do I make myself understood? Or you’ll face charges for conduct unbecoming an officer.” He pointed a finger at Rafe. “It’s your duty to make sure he does what I ask. If Sir Galahad here has any notions of protecting his damsel from me, you’d better think twice before going against my order. As for you—” this time he pointed at Will “—if that woman isn’t in my office by the deadline your lieutenant is going to the brig. Dismissed.”
They both saluted. As Will reached the door the general called out to him. “Marine…”
Will turned. “Yes, sir.”
“I meant what I said about your friend and the brig.”
Will saluted his father again. Sometimes he really hated the man.
HANNAH WOKE SLOWLY. It was eight-thirty in the morning but she’d slept only four hours. Sitting up on the side of the bed, she stretched. Muscles she didn’t even know she owned were sore.
Last night was the kind that spawned legends. Will was a machine. A tender, lovemaking machine. The mere thought of him twisted her insides. She hadn’t been surprised that he was gone before she woke up. She’d expected it.
This was his first day on a new assignment and she knew their night had been a singular event. He’d made no promises, nor had she.
You’ll probably never see him again. She tried to act as if it didn’t matter. They ran in different worlds. It was absurd to think he’d ever return after what she’d put him through the day before.
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