Terms of Surrender

by Leslie Kelly

  He didn’t let her pleasure him for long, though, finally pushing her hand away and holding her by the wrist. Mari smiled in triumph, knowing he was on the edge and was as desperate as she was. He quickly tore the rest of his clothes off, then moved to her, the warmth of their naked bodies blasting away any remnants of evening chill.

  “You’re so beautiful,” she told him, meaning it.

  Marissa had never realized a man could be beautiful…but this one was. Even though his body was marked by a few scars, including a large one that ran from his hip down to his upper thigh, they only added to his masculine appeal.

  He laughed softly. “That’s my line.”

  “No line.” She drew her gaze back to his face as he moved in to kiss her again, deeply. Then he moved down her body, kissing every inch of her skin, rubbing his lips here and his tongue there. The here’s felt good, the there’s divine.

  When he got to her pelvis, he pushed her onto the chair. She shivered in anticipation, wondering where he’d go next. But he didn’t delve into her core, he proceeded farther down her leg. Reaching her feet, he tasted his way all the way down to her toes, nibbling them and whispering, “You evil woman, you’ve given me a foot fetish.”

  A sultry laugh escaped her mouth, but not for long. She was well past the point of amusement. The desperation had grown second by second, until now, she was a live wire, incendiary, ready to burst into flames. As he lowered her foot and began moving his way back up her quivering thighs, she said, “Danny, I am going to have you now.”

  “Is that so?” he asked, his eyes gleaming and anticipatory.

  She didn’t answer with words, just with action. Sliding out of the chair, she pushed him onto his back, then slid her legs over his lean hips, cradling his cock between her thighs.

  “Yeah. That’s so.” She slid up and down, cupping him with the lips of her sex, moistening that ridge of pulsing heat. The skin-on-skin contact was delicious, and it was with real regret that she reached for the condom he’d left nearby. She dropped the thing twice while trying to open it, so desperate to have him she could barely think straight.

  “Let me,” he said, taking it from her fingers. “Much longer and we’re not going to need it.”

  She cocked a brow. “If you let this end too quickly, we’re just going to have to start all over again.”

  He reached up and twined his fingers in her hair, drawing her down for a kiss. Before their lips touched, he whispered, “It’s not going to end quickly…and we are gonna start all over again once it’s over.”

  Which sounded like a very good plan to her.

  They kissed deeply, and once she was sure he was sheathed, Marissa began to slide over him, letting her body become accustomed to him, inch by inch. Danny’s muscles quivered and strained, and she knew he was holding back, letting her set the pace and the depth, making sure she was okay.

  Part of her wanted him to grab her hips and thrust up into her with every ounce of strength he possessed. Another part loved the slowness of it, the anticipation of that moment when they’d be fully joined, when he’d be buried to the hilt, imprinting himself deep inside her body, where no one had ever been before.

  “God help me,” he groaned as she continued to inch down.

  That—his audible desperation, finally drove away her last bit of restraint. She couldn’t resist him, had to give them both what they wanted. She thrust down, taking him all the way inside her, throwing her head back on a shocked gasp as he filled her to the utter brim.

  “You okay?” he asked, cupping her cheek and looking up at her in tender passion.

  She nodded. “Like I said, it’s been a while.”

  And she’d never had a man as generously built as this one.

  “You set the pace,” he told her.

  She nodded, knowing he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. So she slowly began to ride him, taking him in tiny thrusts and grinds, not pulling all the way off him and slamming down again, though that’s where they were headed. She knew she’d need it hard and deep sooner or later, but for now there was just such sweet possession, she wanted to savor it until the madness consumed her.

  Her first orgasm hit her hard, completely out of the blue. It had been building, of course, but it usually took much longer for her to get there. She shuddered, gasping as currents and eddies of pleasure washed through her entire body, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

  “Oh, yes,” she whispered, sagging onto him.

  As if knowing she’d gone boneless, weak, Danny rolled them over, never letting their bodies separate. The wood planking of the deck was hard and cool against her skin, and the amazing man on top of her took care not to rest his weight on her. His thick arms flexing as he bore his weight, he began to slowly thrust into her, while pressing his mouth to her cheek, her neck, her lips.

  “More,” she told him, “please, more.”

  As if he’d only been waiting to be invited, he thrust hard, then harder still. Feeling almost joyful, like she was flying, she rose to meet every powerful thrust, taking all of him over and over, until a high keening cry left her mouth as she came again.

  This time, she wasn’t alone. Danny shuddered, burying his face in her hair, whispering her name. One final powerful stroke, and a deep, guttural groan, told her he’d let the current carry him away, too.

  Collapsing onto his side, he tugged her against him, cradling her, their arms and legs tangled. Mari made no effort to pull away, knowing this wasn’t the end.

  It was only the beginning.

  THEY SPENT THE NIGHT on the water, curled up together in the small bed below deck. The size of the bed really didn’t matter much, considering they were twined around each other throughout the entire night. Danny had lost count of the number of times he’d gotten hard for her and slid into her warm, welcoming channel. He just knew that when the sun rose, and he saw her sleeping in his arms, he wanted her yet again.

  She’d been just as passionate the last time as the first, the sparks just as electric, their joining just as fulfilling.

  One thing he knew without a doubt—last night, he’d had the best sex of his entire life.

  And he was not about to let her get away anytime soon.

  “So,” he asked as he steered the boat back into the slip at around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, “when do you think you’ll hear about the job?”

  “Since they want to start the guest lectures within the next few weeks, I imagine it will be soon. Why? Hoping I’ll have a dead battery again?”

  He reached out and brushed her tangled hair back behind her ear, noting the lazy, satisfied look on her face. “It’s not gonna take car trouble to bring us together again, Mari.”

  She nibbled her bottom lip, as if unsure of his meaning. “You want to…get together again?”

  Laughing, seeing her uncertainty, he tugged her into his arms and kissed her. “Hell, yes, I want to…get together again.”

  “I mean, we don’t have to, it’s not like you made any promises. I went into this with my eyes wide-open.”

  Cocking a brow, he asked, “You saying you don’t want to?”

  “Oh, God, no!” She shook her head so hard her jaw audibly cracked.

  Glad to hear it, he kissed her again, hard, a little more possessively than before. She’d given him a scare. He hadn’t thought this had been an unimportant, one-time-only thing for her, but it was good to hear her confirm it.

  “Okay then. I have to make a quick trip down to Norfolk—I have to leave in a couple of hours, actually. But I’ll be back by Wednesday at the latest. I’ll call you then.”

  “Okay.”

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “Do me a favor? Plug your phone number into my address book. I’m not going to take a chance on the wind stealing away a piece of paper with your number on it.”

  She did as he asked, then handed the phone back. Danny glanced at the screen, knowing he’d be dialing that number very soon. Hell, maybe even ton
ight. He was rapidly growing addicted to her and phone sex seemed like a good way to spend a night in a crappy bed at the Norfolk Naval Station.

  “I really should go,” she said. “I had to call my neighbor to ask her to check in on my cat last night, and I’d prefer to get home while she’s at church. Otherwise, she’ll definitely come snooping around and will notice if I come home looking like I’ve been well-and-truly done.”

  “Well and truly, huh?”

  She grinned. “So well, so truly.”

  “Okay, you get going. I’ve got to batten her down.”

  “Do you want me to stay and help?”

  He waved a hand. “Nah, get on the road. You’ve got a hike. I’ll talk to you Wednesday. Thursday at the very latest. I promise.”

  Nodding, Mari brushed a kiss against his lips and whispered, “Thanks, Danny.”

  He grabbed her hips and kissed her more thoroughly. She was wobbling on her high heels when he finally let her go.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Smiling, she let him help her onto the dock, and walked to the parking lot. She’d left her car right beside his, and he watched her get in, lifting a hand as she drove away. He waited until her car had completely disappeared from view before he got back to work, stowing his gear, getting Jazzie Girl properly bedded down for the windy few days predicted.

  It took a while—possibly because everywhere he turned, he was confronted with another hot memory about something he’d done with Mari the night before. It was almost an hour later before he, too, was finally ready to head home to prepare for his trip down to Norfolk.

  He had just grabbed the keys and was climbing down to the dock when his phone rang. Tugging it from his pocket, he saw his youngest brother’s name, and was about to answer when his wet shoe slipped a little on the ladder. He didn’t fall, or even stumble, but when he grabbed for the rung, the phone slipped out of his hand.

  Danny lunged for the small device, almost catching it in midair. His fingers actually brushed against the thing. But he didn’t quite make it.

  The phone fell with a plop into the murky waters of the marina.

  “Hell,” he muttered, watching it sink beneath the surface. The phone wasn’t terribly new, or expensive, so for the first second, he was only mildly annoyed.

  Then something sunk in. Something that was a whole lot more important to him than spending a couple of hundred bucks on a new phone.

  Mari. The woman he was rapidly becoming addicted to. The woman whose last name he didn’t even know.

  Her number—the only way he had to get in touch with her—was in that phone.

  Which was right now resting in several inches of silt at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.

  5

  Monday 5/9/11, 07:00 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/09/whataday

  Don’t you just love spring?

  I do. I swear, all day yesterday, I walked around with a smile on my face, sure I’d never seen such a beautiful day. The sky was more blue, the sun more bright, the air more clean…okay, well, scratch that. You guys know I live in Baltimore. The air’s not really that clean. Ugh.

  Then today, I woke up, and it was raining. Pouring. Cats and dogs and Noah’s ark type stuff.

  But you know what? It’s still absolutely gorgeous! I’m still smiling!

  I’m still very happy.

  Okay, before I go on, I’ll admit, I met someone pretty spectacular. Yes, this is still me, still Mad-Mari, the man-hating shrew (or so says John L. from Wyoming, who wrote me that nice, chatty email last week. John, if you ever break into my house to teach me a lesson, as you threatened to, be prepared to come face-to-face with my .22. I’m an army brat and my dad taught me to shoot when I was ten).

  Back to the subject—I’ve never said I hated men. And I don’t hate men. Remember, people, a sense of humor is your friend! Sarcasm does not equal hatred.

  I’ve had some crappy relationships and known some real jerks and that might have started this whole Mad-Mari thing. But if you’ve been around here for a while, you know that’s not what I’m all about. I have known some really great guys. In fact, I have two fantastic, wonderful younger brothers. I just haven’t had much luck in the romance department.

  My luck, it appears, has changed.

  But (to quote Forrest Gump) that’s all I’ve got to say about that. The rest of the story is strictly Noneya…as in none ya bizness. I’m not one of those kiss-and-tell types who’ll spill my guts all over the internet.

  Suffice it to say, I met a nice man. In fact, maybe a perfect man.

  And this rainy day is suddenly looking a whole lot brighter.

  Wednesday 5/11/11, 07:00 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/11/humpday

  It’s hump day!

  Don’t you just love that even mature, adult people use that term? Whenever I hear it on the radio, it always makes me giggle. Some people who know me in my real life would probably be horrified, but, yes, apparently there’s a ten-year-old-boy’s sense of humor lurking inside this grown-up exterior. Shh! Don’t tell.

  There’s this great writer I read (actually, it’s two writers, a husband-and-wife team.) They produce these supersexy Harlequin books that have definitely tided me over during some romantic dry spells. (Ahem. Uh, sorry, TMI!)

  Anyway, they have a Facebook page, and every Wednesday, for hump day, they offer up a naughty quote, often by Mae West. Like, “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” Or “A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up.” (My addition: Unless she wants to!)

  But here’s my absolute favorite of Ms. West’s words of wisdom. Might be a little too romantic for hump day (and, to be honest, for Mad-Mari). But I’m in that kind of mood.

  “A man’s kiss is his signature.”

  You got that right, Mae.

  Thought for the day: Would hump day still be as much fun if it were called middle-of-the-week day?

  Or, I guess for you traditionalists, we could still go with Wednesday.

  Whatever you call it, hope it’s a great one!

  Mari

  Friday 5/13/11, 07:00 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/13/Friday

  It’s Friday the 13th! Do you think it’s unlucky? I never have. I’m not a big believer in luck. I much prefer the idea that you get what you want out of life because you worked hard and you deserve it. I guess I do have a bit of my father’s no-nonsense blood in my veins after all.

  But not too much.:)

  Quick question for you: How soon is too soon to start wondering why he hasn’t called yet? It’s been a while since I’ve done this dating thing.

  Thanks!

  Mari

  Oh, P.S. Thought for the day—do people still say dating? My teenage sister just says “hooking up.” Which, to me, means something else entirely. (And the thought of my teenage sister doing that really shocks me. Yikes!) So, what do you think?

  Discuss!

  Monday 5/16/11, 07:00 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  I got the job! Yay!

  Monday 5/16/11, 07:32 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  Comment #6

  Thanks for the kudos on the job AllyBMe!

  SandyT, JLoNo, Sucrebby, Franni from Frisco…the whole point of me posting about the job, and not about him was because no, (to answer your much-repeated question) I haven’t heard from him. Yet.

  Monday 5/16/11, 08:45 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  Comment #21

  Thanks again for the congrats. But to those of you who are just determined to ask…no, I am NOT worried that he won’t call. I don’t know him well, but I know a lying scumbag when I meet one, and he’s not one.

  Monday 5/16/11, 07:20 p.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  Comment #48

  You guys really aren’t making me feel any better here. Am I totally crazy to be telling myself
there’s a good reason I haven’t heard from him? He did say he was going out of town for a few days. And I did tell him he didn’t have to call.

  Monday 5/16/11, 07:58 p.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  Comment #62

  No, Joanie from KY, of course I didn’t mean it when I told him he didn’t have to call. Duh!

  And yes, Tiredmommy, he did promise he would.

  Monday 5/16/11, 08:18 p.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  Comment #70

  Yeah, I’m pretty sure there are phones where he was going.

  And no, I don’t suppose he could have lost my number…unless his cell phone got run over by a truck or something!

  Hey, anything’s possible, right?

  Monday 5/16/11, 10:32 p.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/16/goodnews

  Comment #92

  PLEASE stop trying to cheer me up about how all men are scum! I am NOT ready to concede that about this particular one. Something could have happened.

  Or…not. Shit.

  It’s been a long day. Think I’ll go drink a bottle of wine and eat a quart of Häagen-Dazs now.

  P.S. Maybe he got sick?

  Tuesday 5/17/11, 07:00 a.m.

  www.mad-mari.com/2011/05/17/stillhope

  I got a good night’s sleep and woke up feeling better. I’m not ready to give up hope. There was a trip involved. And we all know crazy things can happen when you travel.

  Okay, he was only traveling about a hundred miles so there’s no way he lost a passport or a plane ticket or got some rare tropical disease. But still, cars do break down.

  Well…okay, maybe not that one. (Can’t say why—I’m trying to be discreet about who he is, remember?)

  But his business could have taken longer than he expected. So I am not going to panic here. Not going to doubt my own judgment. I’m a pretty good judge of character and I’m not a pushover.

  Say it with me: There’s no reason to fear the worst!

  Tuesday 5/17/11, 8:48 p.m.