“Look, I just don’t want to hurt you, Lea.” His gaze was direct and bleak. “Please don’t fall for me.”
A smile tugged her lips despite the seriousness of their talk. “Conceited much?”
His soft chuckle filled the night air. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I do. And it’s okay. I’m leaving in a few weeks, remember? We’re good. I promise.”
Now was a great time to mention the friends-with-benefits thing, but the heat that entered his gaze zapped the brain cells connected to her voice. And when he cupped her face and lowered his head, she was lucky she remembered her darn name.
“We’re very good,” he said a second before his mouth captured hers.
Yes, they were.
Lea slid her hands over his wonderful chest and touched her tongue to his, eliciting a rough groan from the man who was taking her right out of herself. He kissed her long and wet and deep. Her body trembled in anticipation. Still holding her face with one hand, he skimmed the other down her side to her hip, where he snuck under her shirt to stroke her flesh. She moaned, and that’s when things got a little nuts.
He thrust a hand through her hair to cup the back of her head, pressed her against the cushions and brushed a thumb over her nipple straining the lace of her bra. Liquid heat pooled at her core.
Needing to touch all of him, she ran her hands up and down his hard, hot body, stroking his taut abs all the way down his happy trail.
How long they kissed and stroked, she had no idea. She was lost. Lost and drunk. Drunk on her desire for Benjamin Wyne. When they broke for air, she blinked at him.
“Every time,” he muttered, lowering his mouth to her neck, kissing and licking a path to the curve of her shoulder. “Every damn time.”
Did that mean he’d been lost, too? God, she hoped so. It was no fun being lost alone.
He sank his teeth in the soft spot behind her ear, and breath hitched in her throat as she clutched at his shoulders.
“Mmm…”
“I agree,” he said, brushing his lips down her jaw to her mouth, where he proceeded to kiss away what was left of her strength.
A rubbery pile of mush. That’s what she was. Warm mush. Warm, throbbing mush.
Skimming her hand down his torso again, she found him the opposite of mush. He was deliciously hard. And thick.
“Lea,” he said, breaking the kiss, voice so rough and sexy she shook.
Or was that him?
His wicked hand slid up and down her belly, making it very hard for her to concentrate on even the simplest things like breathing. She glanced at his hovering lips, wondering, waiting, needing to taste him again.
With a strangled groan, he lowered his mouth, then stilled. A second later, he released her and shot to his feet.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked, fixing her shirt as she stood, glancing around to see if someone had joined them.
“I’m not sure,” he answered distractedly as he fished the phone from his pocket and dialed a number. “Ethan? What’s going on?”
Lea’s heart rocked against her ribs as she watched his face. It was his gift. His sensing thing he’d inherited from his mother. She chewed her lower lip and continued to study his face for a clue to his older brother’s well being. Tyler had said his dad was on an overnight hike. Maybe Ethan was okay. Maybe Ben’s sixth sense was off.
Okay, it had never been off. Ever.
One summer, he’d been at her house, playing football in the backyard with Ryder and his brothers when he’d gone all still. And a little green. His gaze had crashed into hers. And she knew. She knew something bad had happened before the state police had shown up at the door with the news about her mom’s accident.
This was not going to turn into that. They all had had enough tragedy. Especially little Tyler. Nope. She wasn’t going to allow it. Thinking good thoughts, happy thoughts, willing away anything bad, she turned around and glanced over at the mountain, having no idea where the oldest Wyne brother was camped.
“I can barely hear you.” Ben frowned, glancing at the mountain as his youngest brother came rushing out of the house.
“Is that Ethan?” Keiffer asked, holding up a phone. “We were talking when all of a sudden the line went dead. But not before I heard a gunshot.”
Ben’s whole body stiffened, and the urge to grab his hand and squeeze shook through Lea, but she stayed put, out of the way as the two brothers banded together.
“Ethan? Are you there? Did you fire your gun?” Ben frowned as he strained to hear on the phone. “Okay.” He nodded, and her sigh of relief mingled with Keiffers. “Where are you? Give me the coordinates.”
If she could feel her legs, she’d have rushed inside to grab a paper and pen, but she needn’t have worried. He fished both from a pocket in his cargos and started to jot something down.
“Got it,” he said. “You need Scott?”
Her heart hit her ribs again. Scott Holden was one of her brother’s guard buddy, and a paramedic. If he was needed then…
“No? You’re sure? Okay.” Ben was nodding again, some of the tightness easing from his face and body. “All right. Keiffer and I will meet you at the bottom of the mountain in two hours.” He hung up the phone and blew out a breath.
His younger brother cocked his head. “Let me guess, bear spooked someone?”
“Yep.” He nodded, mouth tight. “And now they’re insisting on coming in tonight, even though Ethan explained it’s more dangerous to trek down the mountain in the dark than sleep with a bear on the prowl.”
Keiffer plopped down on one of the chairs and shook his head. “There’s always one or two every year.”
“Yeah.” Ben glanced at her and blinked as if forgetting she’d been there. He walked over, small smile tugging his lips as regret filled his eyes. “Sorry. We’re going to have to break out the gear and go get them.”
She nodded, answering his smile with one of her own. Sex was out of the question, but she was okay with that. Ethan needed help. “I’m just glad everyone is all right. My heart is still in my throat.”
“How do you think I feel having heard that damn gunshot?” Keiffer asked, rising to his feet, face still a little pale.
The three of them shuddered.
And because the last thing Lea wanted to be was in the way, she said her good-byes and went home, but not before she got Ben to agree to come over to her dad’s for dinner the next day.
Déjà vu rippled through Ben’s mind Sunday afternoon as Lea’s father led him into the Gablonski kitchen where the delicious aromas of homemade pot-roast beckoned like a long lost friend. A lifetime ago, he’d practically been a fixture at their house for supper. Not that the food hadn’t been good at home while Brandi’s mom had been healthy, it was after she’d become sick and the duty of cooking meals had fallen to the boys that he looked forward to invites at Ryder’s. He loved his brothers, but unless it was Mason who had kitchen detail that week, Ben had taken to eating cold spaghetti out of a can. Much more appetizing than anything the rest of them could cook.
Truth be told, after a few visits, it hadn’t just been the food that had drawn him there. Ryder’s sister, Gwen, had been everything his teenage body had yearned for, a popular, beautiful, blonde cheerleader. Yeah, he’d been in heaven when she’d actually started to flirt with him. And he’d enjoyed Lea’s company, too. The young girl had been a great friend to his new sister. And smart. Like Brandi, she hadn’t been the type to play with dolls. And if she didn’t have her nose in a book, she liked sports and the outdoors, and was a quick learner. There was nothing superfluous about the youngest Gablonski
Unlike Gwen.
Funny how he’d never realized that before.
He also never realized just how far from superficial the woman was either. Walking into the kitchen, they found her placing the roast on a hotplate on the table. She wore a jean skirt and a simple baby blue, scoop-necked shirt with her hair pulled back in another pony
tail and no fancy necklace, or earrings or bracelets jangling from her limbs. The only piece of jewelry she wore was a pinky ring that used to belong to her mother. He knew this because Brandi wore one of her mother’s rings the same way. He remembered the two girls donning them around the same time.
“Something smells great in here, Lea,” her dad said with a smile as he slowly sank into his chair.
“Of course it does. It’s your recipe.”
She smiled back, then transferred that gaze to him, and his heart rocked hard in his chest.
“Hi, Ben. You’re just in time.”
Felt more like he was years late. He’d been walking around with blinders on or something, because although he’d always found her beautiful, he just never really looked beyond skin deep. Peering past the surface was always a risk, and one he’d learned never to take lest he risk getting hurt. Or disappointed. Again.
But he couldn’t help it now. Her blue eyes sparkled with warmth and acceptance. No judgments on his lack of dress clothes, which was good, because he wore a uniform all damn week so on weekends he relaxed in a T-shirt and jeans or cargos. She didn’t seem to care in the slightest. In fact, her gaze had lingered on him, as if she wanted to add him to the menu.
His ribs took a jolt on that. The woman didn’t pull any punches. And that was okay with him. Just like yesterday. He’d vowed to stay away from her, but the minute she’d stumbled upon him fishing with Tyler, he’d caved like a man starved for her attention. Because he was. Damn it.
“Thanks for the wine.”
Wine…
Remembering the bottle held in a death grip, he thrust the red wine toward her and cleared his throat. “Hope it’s the right compliment to your hard work.”
A blush colored her cheeks, deepening the blue of her eyes. “I’m sure it will. Thank you.”
Pure and real, her beauty fogged his mind and stole his breath. He rubbed at his chest in an attempt to relieve the tightness squeezing without mercy.
“Have a seat while I get some glasses.”
Once she removed her debilitating gaze, he found his breathing returned and the tightness slowly dissipated.
“So, I heard Ethan had a bunch of pansies on the mountain yesterday,” Mr. Gablonski said, and the dinner conversation centered on bears, mountain lions and rookie hikers.
A half-hour later, having just barely resisted the urge to lick his plate clean, Ben acknowledged he was one mouthful away from a food coma. The pot-roast had melted in his mouth the instant it hit his tongue, and the mashed potatoes…ah hell, the mashed potatoes were real. And hearty. And had just a hint of garlic enhanced by the rich, thick gravy she should patent and sell to every damn bachelor on the planet. The delicious meal was the stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal a guy longs to have after a hard day’s work.
Then she’d placed a warm-from-the-oven peach pie—made from scratch—on the table.
Two mouthwatering slices later, that damn food coma had him by the shirt tails.
“Well, Ben, what do you say we go catch what’s left of the four o’clock football game?” her dad suggested, rising to his feet and slapping his belly.
He glanced from the mound of dishes on the table to Lea. Who smiled and waved him toward the front room. “Go ahead. I’ve got this. It’ll be nice for Dad to watch the game with someone other than me…you know, someone who actually likes the NFL.”
She sat and watched games with her dad?
Lea Gablonski was the most warm-hearted, kind and giving person he’d ever met. That damn tightening in his chest returned. Nodding to her, he left the kitchen, rubbing his chest, again, and wondering how he could reverse the effects.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?”
It took Ben a full five seconds before he realized Lea’s father had been asking about Brandi’s plans and not his. Jesus, his heart had stopped for those full five seconds, too.
“Good, sir,” he replied, settling into the other recliner facing the TV. “The resort has the rooms reserved for all the Harland County guests, and the banquet hall details are complete down to my sister’s favorite color. The cook has the menu figured out. Lea took care of the flowers and cake arrangements. And my brothers and I will be standing by to pick everyone up at the local airport when we get the call on Wednesday.”
The older man nodded, then smiled. “How is your dad through all this? Is he ready to give his little girl away?”
Normally, Ben would’ve responded with a yes, of course. But lately, he’d caught his stoic, no-nonsense father lingering over photos of Brandi hanging on the walls at home. “I believe, so, sir.”
“Yeah, even your dad will feel the punch to the gut, I’m sure.”
Ben nodded, suspecting the man was right.
“At least Brandi is marrying the right man.”
“I agree.”
“Sometimes you think you know what you want, and don’t realize how wrong you are until you discover the right one was in front of you all the time.”
Since he wasn’t sitting across from the man, and could only gage him from the side, Ben had no idea if Lea’s father was referring to him…or Brandi. Thankfully, Lea chose that moment to waltz into the room and save him from himself.
“Okay, you’ve had Ben for a half-hour, so now it’s my turn to torture him,” she stated with a smile sparkling in her gaze.
“Oh boy. That sounds like more wedding stuff, Ben.” Her father grimaced. “Sorry. You’re on your own, there.”
“Hey.”
She jammed her hands on her hips, and he really tried not to notice how the movement thrust out her mouthwatering breasts. But he was a guy. And her breasts really were to die for.
“He’d promised Brandi he’d help. And it’s not that bad. I need to show him the silk leis for the horses.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Her dad’s face lit up. “Kade was happy about that, I bet.”
Ben nodded with a smile tugging his lips. “Very. They’re all rescues the resort is proud to own. Brandi and Lea’s idea to reach out to the local shelters up here was brilliant.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Thank you very much,” she said, hooking her arm through his and tugging him forward. “It’s time to go look at the leis and tell me if they are too girly or not.”
He said a quick good-bye to her chuckling father and found himself descending back into that déjà vu territory again. The basement. The make-out den where he’d copped his first feel, ever, and with her sister Gwen, which now just made him feel a lot weird.
Weirded out.
But as he reached the bottom and glanced around, he realized the place had been completely overhauled and brought back no twinges of the past. It was still a rec room with a TV, a bar and couch, but they were new, and the room was set up differently.
“Ryder remodeled the place five years ago,” she said, opening the door to show him a full bathroom that had once been a small half-bath. “The rest is similar, but he changed the layout to be more functional.”
Placing his back to the couch, Ben worked on curbing errant thoughts of getting Lea naked on the cushions and sinking in to her warm, wet…
He cleared his throat. “It seems bigger, too.” He motioned toward the table against the wall by the steps where the silk pieces for the horses rested.
“Yeah, I like it down here now.”
This caused him to frown. “I don’t remember you not liking it down here.”
Pink settled in her cheeks. “Some memories weren’t that great.”
Even though she was clearly embarrassed, the woman held his gaze, unafraid if he read them. And he did. He knew exactly which memories she’d meant.
Him and Gwen making out on the couch.
They were quickly turning into some of his least favorites, too. If he’d been of his right mind, he would’ve realized that analogy was cause for a massive red flag and would’ve required him to hit the stairs running.
But, he was far from his right m
ind. In fact, he only had a one track mind. The one that wanted Lea on the couch. Naked. And screaming his name.
He had no idea where the last part came from, but it worked for him.
“Wait.” She stepped back, apparently seeing his intent in his eyes. “You haven’t said what you thought a-about the leis.”
“They’re one of my most favorite things.” He moved toward her. “In fact, I’d love to get lei-d right now.”
“Ben.”
“Lea.”
She choked on a laugh. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“That it’s time you had some new memories down here. Good memories,” he said, stalking her, backing her up until the back of her knees hit the couch, and she fell onto the cushions.
Chapter Eight
“I—”
Ben followed her down, swallowing her words with his tongue, covering her body completely with his. God, she felt great, all warm and soft and trembling. Her hands were on the back of his head, holding him close, brushing her thumbs across his neck, sending goosebumps down his shoulders and spine.
Groaning, he ground into her, eliciting a sexy moan as her hands skimmed his back to grab his ass and press up into him. Ah hell, she had him on the fast track in under a minute. He broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to yank the shirt up and over her head. Breath hissed in his lungs at the sight of her white, lacy bra barely containing her breasts. He lowered his head to kiss her cleavage, and she grabbed him again, this time his head as he pulled the lace aside and sucked a beaded nipple into his mouth.
“Yes…” Her breathing came shallow and ragged.
Her body was hot, and he needed to touch all of her.
Slipping his hand under her skirt, he shifted his weight so he could push the denim up to her hips. He released her nipple and glanced down, nearly coming undone at the sight of her matching lace panties barely covering her mound.
“Don’t stop,” she begged, pulling his head back down to her chest.
Needing no further instruction, he kissed his way to her other nipple, pressing the pert peak to the roof of his mouth with his tongue. She moaned, arching into him while his fingers slid over her sexy lace panties… finding them damp.
Wyne and Dine (Citizen Soldier Series Book 1) Page 12
