Out of Range (Ranger Ops Book 6)

by Em Petrova

  God, she actually had asked him to lick her pussy, hadn’t she?

  Heat climbed her throat.

  “Baby.” His whisper accompanied soft kisses he was raining down over her face. “Come back to me. Are you all right?”

  She found herself lying on her back, with Cav hovering over her.

  She focused on the burning intensity of his eyes. “What the hell was that?”

  A rough laugh shook him. “That was an anal orgasm, and one I’m willing to give you again and again, if you enjoyed it. Which I’m pretty sure you did.”

  “Oh. My. God.” She threw her arms out to the sides, feeling like she’d just finished a triathlon.

  “Damn, Ms. Jackman, you really know how to make a man feel good about his skills. Now lie here and rest.”

  “But dinner.” She made no move to get up.

  “I might not be Gordon Ramsey, but let me show you what I can do in the kitchen. I’ll bring you dinner in bed.”

  He climbed off the mattress, and she picked up her head long enough to watch his carved ass heading into the bathroom. She shut her eyes and smiled to herself. A minute later, she heard the tenderloins frying in the pan again.

  Chapter Six

  Arielle lay on her side, facing the door, listening to the small bumps and clanks coming from the kitchen, where Cav was cooking their meal.

  Thinking of the big man out there wearing nothing but perhaps her tiny apron had her toes curling against the sheets.

  She threw back the covers and padded to the bathroom. After cleaning up and running a brush through her unruly hair, she dressed in loungewear and followed her nose to the kitchen. When she entered the space, she saw he actually had thrown on his briefs again.

  Cav’s back was to her, broad and bearing all those scars she had run her fingers over in the throes of passion. Coming face to face with them was a little harder to swallow.

  “Yeah, got it. Colonel Downs, eight sharp. I’ll be there, and no, not hungover.” His gruff tone jerked her gaze up. When he twisted to the side, she saw the cell pressed to his ear. He dropped the phone and tossed it with a clank to the counter. Then not missing a beat, he picked up the tongs and flipped the tenderloins.

  The scents wafted up, peppery and mouth-watering, but her stomach was too knotted at what she’d witnessed.

  Battle scars were one thing. Calls involving colonels were another.

  She either made some noise or he caught her hand fluttering to her throat, because Cav turned to face her.

  God, could she really do this again? Wasn’t one time enough for any woman’s lifetime? Giving herself to Cav had roped and bound her freakin’ heart more tightly, and he’d squeezed a promise from her not to run.

  Dammit.

  He slashed a look at his cell, lying there on the counter. “You heard that.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve got all night, baby. And I want to spend it with you.”

  Smoke was rolling off the meat, and she surged forward and brushed him out of the way to rescue it. He stood back, watching her remove the food from the skillet and place the cuts onto a plate.

  Quickly, she added more olive oil and dumped the chopped vegetables in. The method wasn’t exactly the roasting her recipe had called for, but it would do. Improvising was the spice of life, right?

  Or was it? She didn’t know how to improvise her way through this… whatever it was… with Cav.

  “Want me to tell you about the call?” His voice broke into her thoughts.

  “You don’t need to. I can guess you’re getting called in to see a colonel.”

  “Yeah. That was my captain, Nash Sullivan.”

  “Also giving you hell for being hungover before?” She didn’t remove her gaze from the cooking vegetables, a rainbow of color in the bottom of the pan.

  He grunted. “I might have taken things a step too far yesterday when you told me you were done with me and drank too much.”

  She spun from the range to meet his gaze. “Cav…”

  “I know this is going to be a sharp pain for you each time I get a call or you don’t hear from me for a while. But you’re going to have to trust me. I’ve got the best of the best on my six. I will always come back. Always.”

  The vehemence and conviction in his tone threatened to sweet-talk her. But she knew damn well he couldn’t make a promise like that.

  Accidents happened, especially to men in very dangerous positions. And not only was he a special operative but he’d played with explosives at least twice in the few days since they’d reconnected. That in itself should be enough to make her back out and bolt.

  But maybe this time things could be different, wouldn’t end in tragedy and heartbreak.

  She met his gaze, seeing he meant every word he said to her about returning to her. Could that be enough?

  Her heart relented. For now, it was.

  She stepped up and put her arms around his neck. He seemed to deflate against her, like a pin had been pushed into a balloon and the air let out. With his face buried against her neck, he brought his arms around her waist.

  For a long minute, they stood like that, unmoving. Then he lifted his head. “You’re burning the vegetables.”

  “Shit!”

  “Now, now, Ms. Jackman. Can’t use that sort of language.” Chuckling, he released her and removed the pan from the heat. They continued to smoke, and he shifted a pepper with the tongs to peer at the bottom. “A bit charred, but that’s good flavor, right?”

  She laughed. “I’d say this meal isn’t exactly a success. Maybe I’ll do better with the cream sauce.” She went about preparing it, and when she dumped the peppercorn sauce over the steaks and added the vegetables to the side of the platter, Cav came to look over her shoulder.

  “Looks great, no thanks to me,” he said.

  “You did fine.”

  “Good—I’m starved. Let’s eat.” He reached for the dishes and silverware. She set the platter on the island that earlier had seen far more action than cooking and eating.

  She bit her lip as a fresh wave of lust hit her. “On second thought, let’s eat at the table.”

  A crooked smile tipped his lips, blazing a path of heat through her body, leaving her aware of how easily things could start between them. The smallest flame set to kindling and she’d be ablaze with want again.

  Squeezing her thighs together under the small table off to the side of the kitchen, she realized they didn’t have drinks.

  “I’ll get them,” Cav said before she could speak, and he got up. She twisted around to watch him walk to the refrigerator and peer in. God, those abs of his made the words washboard or six-pack seem wimpy.

  He held up a pitcher of tea, and she nodded. “Glasses are in the—”

  “I know.” He did too, going to the correct cupboard and taking down two glasses. He carried everything to the table and poured them each a drink.

  Bringing the glass to her lips, she watched him immediately go for the beef. He took a healthy bite and chewed.

  “Damn, that’s good. You’re good at this.”

  She took up her fork and knife as well. “Let me see for myself.”

  “You don’t trust me to know good food?”

  “I know we didn’t follow directions exactly. Besides, the food sat on the stove for a little while…” She trailed off in memories of riding Cav. Heat climbed her breasts.

  “Mmm. You’re blushing again. Whatcha thinkin’ about?” He chewed and swallowed.

  “Just thinking about the food,” she said, only giving half a lie. “It turned out pretty decent.”

  He nodded, smile chiseled into his features and making him that much more handsome. She barely managed her way through the beef, swiping the bite through the delicious sauce, because she wanted him.

  Bad.

  She wiggled in her seat, and he laid down his knife and fork.

  “You’re a little shifty in that chair. You’re not sore, are you?”

  Nobo
dy—not even her late husband—had been so point-blank in referring to sex. Cav’s direct question coupled with the heavy way he stared had her shifting more.

  “I’m not sore,” she said softly.

  A spark lit in his eyes. “I see.”

  “What do you see?”

  “That it’s time for dessert.” He stood abruptly and before she could react, he plucked her out of her chair and was striding to bed again.

  When he pressed her down on the sheets that smelled like them combined, she stopped denying how much she wanted him… and not only his drool-worthy, hot body.

  Then he tore off her clothes and she drew his long cock from his briefs. With his thickness in her palm, she flashed a look up at him.

  “Do you want to slow down, baby?” Clearly, he was gritting his teeth against the feel of her fingers wrapped around him.

  She wet her lips. “No. I want to try the dessert first.”

  * * * * *

  Fucking hell, she was giving him a heart attack, a stroke and an aneurysm all at once. Her sweet little mouth enveloping his mushroomed head turned into a battle to keep from coming too fast.

  His balls drew up tight to his body, and damn if the woman didn’t cup them and begin to slowly stroke his sac in a way that had his hips threatening to come off the bed.

  She licked around the underside of his head, and he growled. She hollowed her cheeks and took him nice and slow, all the way to the base, and he hollered.

  She sucked on him, and he roared.

  Tangling his fingers in her hair, he guided her, but she knew just what to do. Actually, she was giving him the best goddamn blow job of his life. Pre-cum leaked from the tip of his cock, and he saw her eyes flicker with surprise a second before she pulled away—and licked him clean.

  “Jesus, baby.” He was iron-hard, throbbing and ready to blow.

  Grasping her under the arms, he dragged her up his body, so he could feel every inch of her pressed against him. Was it insane that all he wanted was to burrow deep in her all night and wrap her in his arms to watch her sleep?

  He stripped off her clothes and got her beneath him, legs splayed and her wet pussy just begging for the fucking he intended to give.

  With her dark eyes on his face, he had a sensation of falling headlong into a place that had no bottom.

  Grasping her thighs, he yanked her across the bed and lifted her hips, angling her to take his cock. He sank deep in one smooth stroke, and she squeezed her eyes closed even as sensation rocked him.

  He leaned in and claimed her mouth, plunging his tongue in time to the thrusts of his hips. Balls deep, the ache growing, his cock swelling—how was that possible to get harder?—and an exquisite heat crawling up the base of his spine…

  As her whimper escaped, he swallowed the sound on his tongue, feeding her a groan in return. When she began bucking up to meet his thrusts, he lifted her upright in his arms and got to his knees in one swift move.

  She sank down his cock with a cry, arms and legs clamped around him as they moved like wild animals to reach the end that was just within reach for him. He felt her spasm around his cock, her pussy so wet, hot and tight with nothing between them, and damn if he didn’t lose it.

  His orgasm raced up, and he was helpless to stop now. He came hard, forcing her release from her too.

  Hands planted on her ass, he guided her up and down on his spurting cock, and she sank her teeth onto his lower lip. Their kiss stole the last of his reserves and melted him into a brainless lump. Somehow, he managed to gently lay her down and cover her with his body.

  * * * * *

  “Ms. Jackman, your cell phone’s ringing.” The student at the front of her classroom directed his gaze to her desk, and he was right. Inside the bottom drawer, in the depths of her handbag, her cell was ringing.

  Usually, she silenced the device before entering the school, but she’d been scatter-brained this morning and forgotten. After the previous night with Cav, she was surprised she could even walk through the doors without bowed legs—or that she could think straight enough to teach.

  Her phone continued to ring, and she raised her voice to get through the interruption. A telemarketer could be on the line.

  Or Cav—something’s wrong with Cav.

  She couldn’t allow these thoughts to creep into her head or she’d drive herself crazy. She’d done it before, after Darren deployed to Iraq. Thinking back, that had been the beginning of her ‘stay busy’ craze, which had become a way of life.

  She let her nervous energy take over and put the enthusiasm into teaching. She told a story about Geoffrey Chaucer, who they were doing a unit on, and how he had been captured by the French and held prisoner, and that King Edward III paid his ransom because he was so fond of him.

  The kids enjoyed a good tale of kidnapping and ransom, and by the end of the class, they were talking back and forth about what they’d learned as they walked out of her classroom. Exactly what she wanted from her students on a daily basis.

  Meanwhile, she was a bundle of nerves as she dropped into her desk chair and dug out her cell phone.

  Staring at the screen, her heart gave a hard, painful jerk.

  She’d missed a call from Cav. Since he knew she was in class and indisposed, he wouldn’t just be calling for any old reason.

  She was terrified to bring the phone to her ear and listen to the voicemail, and new students began to file in and take their seats as she hit play.

  “It’s me. Damn, I forgot you’re in class. Give me a call when you get a break.”

  “Ms. Jackman, you’re not supposed to be on your phone in school,” one of her students teased her of breaking the rule.

  She smiled and stuffed her phone away again, this time silencing it.

  Her heart should be lighter with the knowledge Cav was okay. But instead, she felt agitation wash over her.

  The last thing she ever needed again was a military man. Was she a magnet for them? Maybe she was, having an Army father and late husband. She was like one of the women who navigated toward abusive men, a cycle. But for her, it was loving someone who might leave her far too soon and wouldn’t be there for her at all.

  Her next class wasn’t as enthusiastic to hear her lecture, and she chalked their lassitude up to some of the energy having left her. When the bell for lunch period rang, she was angry with herself for letting her personal life seep into her professional one.

  She didn’t quite feel like joining everyone in the faculty lounge but if she didn’t, Sarah would be standing in her doorway with arms crossed, demanding to know what was eating at her.

  With a sigh, she grabbed her packed lunch and her cell. Before eating, she’d return Cav’s call and hopefully give herself some peace of mind that he only wanted to tell her how fantastic their night together had been and how eager he was to see her later, as planned.

  She stepped into the private teacher’s bathroom and locked herself in before making the call. He picked up on the first ring.

  In the background, she heard a clank of metal on metal that almost gave her heart failure, thinking he was getting shot at. But that was ridiculous—he wouldn’t be on his cell if that was the case.

  God, why was she putting herself through this torture?

  “I’m sorry I called earlier. I wasn’t thinking. Were you in class?” he asked.

  “Yes. Cav, where are you?” She had to know.

  “Baby, I wanted to apologize for missing out on our plans tonight and probably tomorrow too. But I want to do something nice to make it up to you.”

  She pinched the bridge of her nose and realized her hand was shaking. She definitely didn’t need to feel the surge of fear and emotions this sort of call caused, or the worry she’d know for days till he was home safe again.

  She swallowed a lump in her throat, unable to speak.

  “Arielle, I’m sorry. Fuck. I really am. I know what this must be doing to you… I can’t talk now. I gotta go. But I booked us a cabin, in the st
ate park a couple hours south. We can check in Friday night. Are you willing to drive and meet me?”

  This was her chance to say no, to end things before she got in too deep.

  Except her stupid heart didn’t know when to quit, and she heard her voice projecting before she could pull back the words. “Yes, I’ll meet you.”

  There was a smile in his voice. “Good. I’ll see you then, baby. Can’t wait.”

  He ended the call, caught up in… whatever he was doing. Deactivating explosives or getting shot at so he could add yet another scar to the dozen or so already marring his beautiful body.

  Feeling weak, she stood there in the bathroom cubicle, lunch bag slung over her shoulder, not one bit hungry anymore.

  She washed her hands and checked her appearance. Her eyes reflected a bit of the worry she felt churning her insides, but she walked out to the lunch table and joined Sarah in her usual spot.

  A group of math teachers at one end smiled and greeted her, and she returned the sentiments, putting on a smile she didn’t feel.

  As soon as she sank next to Sarah, her friend’s brows creased. “Uh-oh. What is it? Rough morning in the classroom?”

  She shook her head. Sarah was a true friend, somebody she could confide in who knew her past and wouldn’t judge her for her present feelings.

  “You’d better tell me.” Sarah put aside her sandwich.

  Twisting in her chair to keep the conversation as private as possible when surrounded by teachers who were sometimes as nosy as the kids they taught, she relayed that she’d gotten caught up with Cav, things were progressing fast, and she was feeling the urge to break things off and run.

  Sarah gave a sympathetic shake of her head and rested a hand on Arielle’s arm. “If you run, you’ll hate yourself, always wondering what if. You feel a strong connection to this guy, right?”

  She nodded.

  “I know you’ve experienced things I can’t even fathom, but sometimes loving means facing hard times. If you think of him being away as a hard time, when he comes home to you, you’ll feel that much sweeter about it. Taking the hills so you can see the view from the top type of thing.”

  She bit into her lower lip. “That makes sense, I guess. He does want me to meet him at a cabin this weekend. That is, if he shows up.”