By Honor Bound

by Denise A Agnew, Kate Hill, Arianna Hart

  Instead of objecting, he smiled. “Let’s go to a store off-post, then. They’ve got better vegetables.”

  Her temporary pass on her car and the fact she wasn’t in the military or a military dependent meant she couldn’t enter the commissary on the fort anyway.

  She did wonder, as they drove out of the parking lot, if she’d lost her mind. After all, she’d just invited Major Blayne Forbes, sex god in the flesh, to have lunch with her in his apartment. Reality sank in as they rolled into a grocery store parking lot near his apartment complex. She, Jemma Elaine Teagan, never ingratiated herself with men like Blayne, even if her brother couldn’t say enough good things about him. Over the two years, she’d seen Blayne in action and had some decent conversations with him at picnics and other social functions and parties. But every time she wanted to talk with him, they never had any privacy.

  What would it be like to be alone with him this one time? A wild excitement centered deep in her heart and loins. Hmm.

  As Jemma and Blayne wheeled the cart around the store, and he quickly picked out what he needed, she offered to make something quick, like omelets.

  His paleness and the tired lines around his eyes concerned her. Blayne looked about as relaxed as a man on tranquilizers. She was so used to his urbane wit that his relative silence disturbed her a little. They made it through the crowded store, loaded the groceries, then took off.

  They reached Rock Ridge Apartments less than ten minutes later. Situated near a highway leading directly to the fort, the five large blue and gray buildings looked clean and upscale. As a major, Blayne could afford something a little nicer, and these were made more like condos than the typical apartment. After parking the car, she followed him up a stairway to the second floor. As he opened the private entrance and they walked inside, a whirl of confusion centered in her mind. She wanted to know him better, yet caution warned her away. Before she could become caught up in her uncertainty, he closed the door behind them and led the way from the foyer to the kitchen. They dumped the paper grocery bags on the counter.

  “I’ll get the rest,” he said and went outside to grab the remaining two bags.

  As she gazed around, she came to a startling realization. Blayne lived with little in the way of knickknacks or furniture, and the place looked immaculate. In the back of her mind she had this idea Special Forces soldiers lived a junky existence. Nothing like assuming. Of course, if he didn’t spend much time here he wouldn’t have an opportunity to mess it up.

  Blayne stepped into the high-ceilinged living room with the groceries and kicked the door shut behind him. After putting the bags down on the kitchen counter, he slipped off his leather jacket.

  “Take off your coat and relax,” he said.

  She didn’t feel relaxed. In fact, she was suddenly nervous as hell. She did as he suggested, slipping off the wool coat and handing it to him.

  He grinned. “You going to wear that hat?”

  Blushing, she pulled off the hat and gave it to him. Real suave, girl.Real suave.

  Still smiling, Blayne placed her hat and coat in the hall closet. When he returned she said, “How about you crash on the couch and nap, and I’ll fix lunch.”

  He slanted a glance at her. “I might not sleep. I’ve been having difficulty with that lately.”

  She frowned. “Well, why don’t you just chill and I’ll fix lunch anyway?”

  “I’ll help. There’s no way I’m lounging around while you slave away.”

  She grinned. “You’re worried I’ll destroy your kitchen.”

  A warm grin touched his mouth again. “Not much in there to annihilate. Besides, I’m not dead yet. I can help with lunch.”

  As they moved around in the kitchen, she caught his masculine, spicy-warm scent and it made tendrils of heat flare inside her. Wonderful. The man smells so delectable and is distracting as hell. If he gets any closer I just might melt into a puddle.

  As they diced tomatoes, ham, cheese, and mushrooms for omelets, she said, “I’m sorry about earlier. I was being a mother hen, wasn’t I?”

  He cracked a grin. “Yeah. Graham told me you’re overprotective.”

  She shrugged. “I see cute little animals and I want to take care of them.”

  One of his eyebrows lifted, and he gazed at her with an intensity that burned straight into her soul. His regard targeted her like a laser, the question in his eyes making her face heat. She saw undeniable physical interest barely held in check and it excited her as much as it scared her. She swallowed hard and poured eggs into the hot pan. She couldn’t remember being around any man as rugged, tough, or as damned sexy as Blayne. Dealing with how she felt around him seemed to be taking up all her oxygen and concentration.

  Maybe I’m in over my head here.

  “So I’m a cute little animal,” he said.

  “Well, maybe an animal.”

  “Damn straight.” He laughed. “I was starting to worry. If you thought I was cute, then I’m in trouble.”

  How did she take that statement? “No chance of you being cute and adorable, Major.”

  The glance he threw her, as a matter of fact, sparked with his trademark sensuality. Power exuded from his posture and gaze, the sure sign of a primal male always ready for action.

  No, the man didn’t have a cuddly bone in his body.

  The Major defined rugged masculinity. Authority radiated from him though she knew he didn’t feel his best. He grinned, the heart-stopping smile sending a tingle straight down her body where it pooled warm and liquid in her stomach.

  No denying the feeling. Pure sexual attraction tugged at her, demanding acquiescence. But she couldn’t do anything about it. Not with Blayne, a powerhouse with secrets she could never know. Besides, he probably knew plenty of women to take care of his sexual needs.

  Jemma tried to sound casual as she worked at the stove. “I can’t make omelets worth a damn.”

  “I can’t either,” he said. “In fact, I’m one of the worst cooks in the world.”

  “I was thinking of taking a cooking class.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “I’ll have to squeeze it into my schedule. I’m busy as it is.”

  “A full life can be good. As long as you enjoy things you want to do and not just things you have to do.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?”

  How many things did he want to do, and how many chores in his job did he find tedious and maybe distasteful? She could only imagine. They made decaf coffee and soon the kitchen filled with tantalizing aromas.

  When the eggs were finished they took their plates to the small chrome and glass dinette set off the side of the kitchen.

  Silence entered the room as they enjoyed lunch, and the unfathomable look in his eyes made her wonder what changed him in the last few months. Beyond the occasional hooded, mysteriously seductive look he threw her way, something dark and worrisome resided in his eyes that she didn’t remember seeing before.

  Jemma remembered the first time she met him, and her heart sped up. She’d stopped by her brother’s office and the Major arrived a few moments later in dress blues. Ready for a military ball, he’d cut a devastatingly handsome figure. Remembering his handshake made her fingers tingle with heat to this day. She recalled how he’d given her a bright smile, a potent mixture of white-hot sensuality and formality. His presence had captured her, defining the man as more than a guy who could handle weapons and kill with his bare hands. He’d given her a bright devastating smile. How any man packed that much warmth into one grin, she’d never understand.

  She’d responded to his touch with a full body arousal, as amazing and searing as anything she could imagine. Her response to him had stunned her. When he’d left she’d seen a beautiful blonde woman in the car with him.

  For days after their meeting, she wondered what made him so different from other soldiers she’d met.

  “Earth to Jemma.”Blayne’s deep voice cut her reverie.

  “Oh…um, sorry.”
She swallowed and licked her dry lips. “What were you saying?”

  “I said thanks for the compliment earlier. You took me by surprise.”

  “Women don’t compliment you?”

  “Not very often.”

  “I don’t know too many men who would enjoy being called cute.”

  “Well, cute is a bit…” He shrugged as if he couldn’t think of the right word.

  She took a bite of egg so she wouldn’t have to reply right away. After she chewed and swallowed she said, “Not macho enough?”

  He winked. “You said it.”

  Silence came again except for the clanking of their utensils.

  Blayne took a long swing of coffee and then leaned on the table. “Why did you insist on helping me today?”

  Her thoughts poured free and she almost said, Because I want to get you alone. I want you naked so I can touch every inch of your no doubt gorgeous body and explore to my heart’s content. Or, if she felt really frisky, Let me lick you from head to toe. How does that sound?

  In an effort to hide her flustered state, she pushed her plate back and stirred cream into her coffee. “I wasn’t going to let you maybe have an accident on the way home.”

  His gaze kept her pinned, as if he feared she’d get away. “Thanks.”

  All teasing left his gaze and heat eased his eyes into melting dark chocolate. Almost black, his eyes trapped and wouldn’t release her. As she inhaled deeply she caught his musk and sandalwood scent again and it teased her in a forbidden, exciting way.

  “You’re welcome.” She had to get her thoughts back on track instead of mooning over him like a teenager. “How are you feeling now?”

  “Great, thanks to you.” He leaned back, sliding down until his head was propped on the chair back. He sighed and closed his eyes. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

  She stood and took their plates to the kitchen. After rinsing them and putting them in the dishwasher, she came back to the table. “I’d better go. You need some rest.”

  His eyes popped open, and though he looked tired, his voice came strong and sure. “Please, don’t go. Stay awhile and talk.”

  Surprised, she stared at him for some time without answering.

  He grinned. “Come on. I promise I don’t bite.”

  She couldn’t help it; a soft snort of laughter parted her lips. “Right. Sure you don’t.”

  He gave her a mocking frown. “I’m harmless. If old ladies and little puppies can trust me, so can you.”

  “Okay, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable on the couch? You could stretch out.”

  “Damned if that doesn’t sound good.”

  She settled into a cozy dark blue chenille recliner almost across from the matching sofa. An oblong glass-topped coffee table sat between the chair and couch. Once he’d taken off his boots and stretched out on the couch, the man looked mouthwatering sprawled in careless abandon.

  His tall body, muscled to perfection, tantalized her imagination. When he stretched one arm over his head, his sweater inched up. A strip of naked flesh came into view. Muscled and flat, his stomach was covered by a sprinkle of dark hair. Her gaze coasted down to the generous bulge in his jeans.

  God, if his cock is that big without an erection—

  Her entire body tightened in sensual appreciation and wicked thoughts kicked in with a vengeance. Somehow she knew, with soul-deep certainty, that this man would be a ravenous, highly sensual, fantastic lover. She shivered and not from the cold. He would caress, soft and sure, bringing her to heights of ecstasy she’d never experienced. Would the first time he made love to her be fast and hard, or soul-stirringly slow? Jemma didn’t have to guess that no matter how fast or slowly he took her, Blayne would drive her to levels of arousal that would make it easy to accept his generous cock deep inside. She visualized how she would feel if he wedged his steel-hard erection into her.

  She gulped.

  Her gaze snapped up to his and a lazy, sensual smile touched his mouth. “So what do you think?”

  Oh, man. Had he realized she’d been ogling his package? She cleared her throat. “About what?”

  “About anything. You’re sitting there looking nervous and earlier you seemed at ease. What’s wrong?”

  She should have known he’d be sharp as hell. She’d heard from Graham that Blayne spoke Arabic and German fluently, and he’d somehow managed to obtain his Master’s Degree in International Relations between missions. Not any easy thing to do considering his occupation.

  “Nothing is wrong.” She shifted and tried to relax. She allowed her left hand to finger the chair arm. The soft texture beneath her fingers soothed her nerves. “So why are you back from the Middle East?”

  His expression altered, eyes glittering with slow-boiling anger. “Bureaucracy is one reason. I hurt my knee, but not enough to send me back to the United States.” He took a deep breath and some of his ire seemed to ease. “Then I got the flu.”

  Jemma frowned, sensing immediately something wasn’t right. “You’re right. That doesn’t seem to be enough reason to separate you from your unit and send you stateside.”

  He scrubbed his hand over his jaw, then sat up and leaned against the arm of the couch. He kept his legs up on the couch. “How has life been treating you?”

  She figured his blatant subject change meant he didn’t want to explain the whys and wherefores of his return to the United States. Curious, but willing to go along, she allowed him to shift gears. “Frankly,” she said, “things have been a little boring lately. I need to get a life.”

  Blayne cocked one eyebrow. “Why? I thought your legal assistant job and your volunteer work at the art museum was enough.”

  Surprise made Jemma pause. “You remembered about the museum?”

  “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

  Why indeed? She shrugged. “Not many men remember that much about me, I don’t think.”

  “They must be idiots. How could they forget anything about you?” His voice turned husky. “From the first time I met you, Jemma, you made an impression on me.”

  Stunned, she allowed his clear admiration to absorb. Despite her resolution she couldn’t become involved with him, his blatant appreciation pulled her heart closer and closer to him. “Was that a good or bad impression?”

  “Very good.” Again he stretched and looked ready to fall asleep. “When I first met you I was curious. Graham told me what a great sister you were. Then when I saw you…well…I wanted to know everything about you.”

  A little surprised, she asked, “Graham said I was a great sister?”

  He grinned. “He thinks the world of you.”

  Deep inside the gratification felt good, although she wished Graham could say the words to her face. Then again, Graham had trouble expressing what he felt when it came to family. Instead he tried to show his affection through deeds.

  “You’d rather he tell you face-to-face,” Blayne said.

  Startled by his dead-on-to-rights assessment, she narrowed her eyes. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. How did you know?”

  Another heart-melting grin touched his mouth. “My mother and sisters trained me. I remember to say I love you on a regular basis.”

  I love you.

  Her heart did a flop, a stutter and triple-timed. Not even the guys who’d tried to coax her into bed had claimed to love her. The very idea of Blayne saying those words to her made her heart pound. On the other hand, the concept of him declaring his feelings to another woman, a woman he wanted in his life forever, made her stomach clench with unwanted jealousy. Floundering for a suitable answer, her mind seemed to turn to jelly.

  Humor, girl. Try humor.

  “That’s good to know,” she said. “That you can be trained, I mean.”

  The words came out sounding more taunting, more challenging than she wanted. He sat up and swung his feet off the couch.

  With a sleepy-eyed expression that looked too damned sexy, he said, “No one can train me unle
ss I want to be trained. I control my destiny.”

  She crossed her legs and pondered how they’d jumped into the cavern-deep side of the ocean so fast. “That sounds like a heavy subject.”

  “Don’t you believe people have ultimate responsibility for themselves?”

  Jemma frowned. “Why do I feel like we’ve catapulted straight into something far more serious than training?”

  She worried how he’d take her statement. He’d either find it too obtuse or believe she mocked him.

  “That’s the bottom line, Sweets. We’re in control. For example, you’ve decided your life is boring right now. But you’re the only one who can change it from boring to the best life you’ve ever had.”

  She nodded. “Got the book, wore the T-shirt. You’re preaching to the choir here, Blayne. When I said I needed to get a life, I meant I would have to do the work.”

  His own nod held solid affirmation. “Good.” He leaned forward and his forearms rested on his thighs. “What about you? Can you be trained?”

  The heat in his tone assured Jemma he meant the double entendre. Excitement entered her veins as she absorbed the electricity jumping between them. She could almost feel the anticipation pumping. A sensual ache started deep inside, moistening her with arousal. Her nipples tightened into sensitive points.

  Okay, she’d play along. She flipped her hair over her shoulders. “To do what?”

  “Reveal your secrets.”

  “I don’t have any secrets.”

  “Yeah, right. Everyone has secrets.”

  She felt like she’d plunged right into a Truth or Dare game. “Okay, I’ll bite. But watch out. When I bite it can be very painful.”

  His eyes widened and his lips parted. “I think I like the sound of that.” His chest rose and fell, the deep inhalation and exhalation catching her attention. “What is your deepest secret, Jemma?”

  She wondered if she’d made a mistake. If she let him in on her biggest secret he’d probably run in the other direction. A smile touched her lips. On the other hand, she doubted he’d ever run from anything in his life.

  No, she couldn’t tell him the biggest secret…that she wanted his body so much she could barely keep her hands off him. But she could tell him a little one. “My life is a pretty open book. Nothing too exciting has happened to me.”