Sloane’s heart hammered against him and her breath was warm against his neck. He turned his head to kiss her, then rolled to one side and gathered her close against him. When he looped a long strand of hair behind her ear, she smiled.
“It’s been a long sixteen months,” she murmured, kissed his bare shoulder, and traced a long, thin scar across his upper arm with her fingertip, then kissed it.
He reciprocated by tipping her face up to kiss her lips. “A long eight months for me. I’ve been in and out of the country and training.”
“I haven’t really had the desire to date until now.”
He understood all too well what it was like to have a relationship implode. “Recovering from a relationship that’s ended is tough.”
“Yes. And I’ve never been one to use sex as a release valve.”
“I’ve been guilty of that, and it never works out like people think it will.” He couldn’t believe he just said that to her.
Her tawny eyes settled on his face while she brushed his short hair back to its normal order. “We ladies just go out and buy a big Vance or a bigger Vincent to keep us company.”
He raised a brow, laughter glittering in his dark eyes. “You name your sex toys.”
“Of course. You have to have something to call them during the finale.”
He laughed.
She ran a finger down his cheek. “I’m not just ending a dry spell with you, Connor.”
He tangled his fingers with hers. “I didn’t think you were.”
“I’ve never done anything like this before. Never allowed myself to reach for what I want without analyzing it to death.”
“I’m glad you did. This thing we have between us…is beyond my experience.”
“Mine, too. I’d like us to stay friends, Connor. Even after this is over. I don’t want to feel like this didn’t matter.”
He wasn’t sure where they were going. It was too soon. But friends seemed a bit tame to describe what they had here. Friends didn’t lust after each other like teenagers.
She moved to curl against his side. “We have nine days before I go home.”
He suddenly realized she was playing the role he usually assumed, cautioning him that she wouldn’t be around in a few days. And finding himself on the other side of things, feeling the disappointment and regret, gave him a hard emotional rap.
He needed more than a few days with Sloane. Now they’d entered the mating dance and he’d gotten a taste of her, he wanted more.
“I need to go take care of something. I’ll be right back.”
He rose to dispose of the condom down the toilet and wash his hands. While standing in the bathroom doorway, he paused to run his gaze over every generous curve of her body. Her breasts were full and round, her waist tiny compared to the curve of her hip. He was pleased to notice how her nipples puckered at his interest.
He forced his thoughts to something else. Jesus, he wanted her all over again. “Do you live in a house or an apartment?”
“An apartment.”
“How big an apartment?” He slipped in snuggled her close again.
“A two-bedroom close to work.”
“Do you have a balcony?” Using his fingertips, he caressed the smooth curve of her shoulder and trailed his touch over her collarbone.
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “Yes, a very small one. Why?” She reached up and traced the tattoo on his wrist.
If she asked about the tattoo, he’d have to explain, but he didn’t want to. He rushed on before she could question him about it. “I was thinking about the plant Dad wants to give you. Just trying to get some ideas about the amount of room you have.”
“You sound as though you’re certain he’ll give me a plant.”
“It’s his thing. He likes you a lot, and besides that you’ve made him food. He’ll want to give you something live to thank you.”
“That’s really sweet. If it’s small, I have several places I can put it.”
“I was thinking of something that would suit you better than a bouquet.”
Her brows rose, a look of interest on her face.
“We’ll talk more about it when we get out to the nursery. We can get under the covers,” he suggested.
“I like the view just fine from here.” She ran a hand over his shoulder, then down over his chest.
Urging her closer, he pressed his lips to her shoulder and breathed in the vanilla scent on her skin. “I don’t stop wanting you. I just distract myself with other things to keep from thinking about being inside you. That’s the way it’s been since I first laid eyes on you.”
Her gold-tinted eyes fastened on his face, cheeks heated with desire as she licked her lips, her breath coming faster. “Then come inside me again. I’m already wet for you.” At her invitation, spoken in that soft, husky voice, he went painfully hard in an instant. He reached for a condom and covered himself.
When she rolled onto her back, he followed and slipped inside her. She made a soft sound, a cross between a catch of breath and a hum of pleasure. He bent his head to place an openmouthed kiss beneath her ear. Then along her jaw.
She shivered in response and cupped his naked buttocks. When she scraped her teeth playfully along his shoulder, he groaned. Jesus, if she kept that up he wasn’t going to last even a full minute.
He thrust deep, seating himself tightly inside her, the warmth of her body a tempting torment. He kissed her with hungry pleasure. When she began moving beneath him, he pulled back to thrust again and again in quick, deep strokes, sealing their bodies together until they rocked the bed.
Her hands caressed and massaged at the same time, urging him on. He’d had his share of lovers, but she was so responsive to his every move, as hungry for him as he was for her.
She lightly raked her nails down his back. The sensation drove his need to DEFCON One in a split second.
“Sloane,” her name came out a strangled gasp.
“Oh, God. You feel so good,” she breathed.
Those few words set him off. His release raged through him, seeming to go on forever. When his breathing leveled out, he raised his head to look down at her. Her cheeks glowed, and her pupils were so large that only a narrow ring of gold remained.
Had he been physically able, he’d have taken her all over again.
Jesus, he was in trouble.
CHAPTER 10
‡
The smell of fertilizer and blooming flowers blended on the sluggish breeze as Sloane got out of the car and tucked her purse strap over her shoulder.
Connor caught her hand as they strolled across the gravel parking lot to the main office. Even that casual contact had her heart drumming. A passion like this couldn’t sustain itself forever, but she could—and would—enjoy it for the next nine days. Now she knew what she was missing, she wished she’d slept with him that first night.
They passed row after row of trees planted with military precision across several acres of land on the drive up, but here rows of greenhouses stretched alongside the main structure. A pebbled patio curved around the exterior of the office and branched out into sidewalks that stretched out on either side, and creative displays using some of the available plants were set up along the borders while a large fountain trickled in the sunniest area of the patio. The main building squatted beneath the shade of a huge Magnolia tree.
“One day I’d like to buy a house and have a Magnolia tree in my yard,” she commented.
“They’re nice trees, but they shed their leaves, and it’s a chore to rake them up.”
“But they bloom beautifully, and the blossoms smell wonderful.”
“They take a long time to get established and to bloom, though. Up to eight years.”
“Really? So long?”
“Yeah. This one was already here when Dad built the place.” He opened the door for her.
Sloane smiled as she eyed the interior. The structure was long, with wide wooden beams, and set up like a country store, w
ith shelves along the walls and displays set up in the center aisle.
“Uh-oh. I’ve seen that look before.”
“What look?”
“The look of an avid shopper.”
“Actually all you’re seeing is a look of interest, because I’m not a gardener, and I don’t have a clue about any of this. It’s just the country store ambiance.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “And if we were in the a sporting goods store looking at fishing equipment, tents, camp stoves, and all that, what kind of look would be on your face?”
He grinned. “Guilty. Why don’t you look around while I go find Dad?”
“Okay.”
Other people milled around the store, seeming to know exactly what they needed.
She wandered down one of the aisles and studied the supplies on the shelves. Flower pots, hanging baskets, bird feeders, bird food, potting soil, plant food, fertilizer, peat moss, sand, tools, hoses, wind chimes, all sorts of knickknacks to put in the yard, and several types of powder and spray to protect plants from insects. How could anyone have a clue what they needed?
She paused by a five-foot-wide magazine rack with books on how to build a deck, how to plant vegetables, and several other germane topics. She was thumbing through one of them when Connor returned.
“He’s out back in one of the greenhouses.”
She replaced the book on the rack and walked with him around the back of the building.
Inside the greenhouse, huge fans at either end stirred the air, keeping the temperature moderate. Sprinkler systems hung over tables that supported numerous pots of flowers.
Toby smiled when he saw her, his gloved hands in a large pot “Hi. Glad you could come by.”
“Thanks. This is an impressive business you’ve got here.”
“It keeps me busy. Come on over and see what I’m doing.”
She moved close to the table, which had sides had built up to trap any dirt or debris. At one corner, clippings lay gathered.
“I’ve put sand, clay and peat moss together in this mix. Connor says you like Magnolias.”
“They’re lovely. And when I have a house, I’ll plant one.”
“Well, even the smallest Magnolia can grow between eight and twenty feet, so a balcony garden won’t sustain it. But I have something that smells just as good, and I’m potting it for you. You can keep it on your balcony, and it will perfume the air throughout spring and summer.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but,” he leaned close, “if you’re going to keep Connor occupied while I’m busy, you deserve some kind of compensation.”
Her face flashed hot. If he knew how they’d occupied each other earlier—“What kind of plant is it?”
“It’s a dwarf gardenia radicans.” He raised a plastic pot from the floor to sit on the table. “It stays green year-round, only grows about three feet tall, blooms all spring and summer, and puts out a wonderful fragrance. And it doesn’t take much effort to care for. I’m potting two for you. You can put them on either side of your balcony door, and if you leave the door open, the scent will come right into the apartment.”
She breathed in the fragrance of the small white blossoms. “It smells wonderful, and it’s really sweet of you.”
He smiled. “When you buy that house, come back and get your Magnolia.”
She laughed. “Sold.”
“So, you’ve already been looking for a house?”
“Yes, I’ve done some looking…actually, a lot of looking and dreaming…and I have a nest egg saved for a down payment.” She’d backed off recently, due to her employment issues, but when she returned to Charleston, she was going to send her resume to every big firm in the area.
“What kind of house are you interested in?”
“Yours is gorgeous. And I love the style. But I don’t need anything quite as big for just me.”
“Someday it might not be just you.”
That gave her heart a squeeze. But she couldn’t count on it. “Maybe, but I can’t depend on someday, so I’m going to live my dreams, and maybe I’ll find someone who wants to share them with me.”
Toby shot a look toward his son. “Whoever they may be won’t just drop out of the sky. You have to put yourself out there. Had I not met Marian standing in line at the movies and introduced myself, Connor wouldn’t be here.”
Sloane bit her bottom lip and refused to look at Connor. The warmth of his body radiated against her back, and when he laid his hand on her shoulder, she touched his fingers.
Toby glanced up at her, then went back to what he was doing, a slight smile curving his mouth.
She reached to touch one of the blossoms and inhaled the fragrance again. “You’d better tell me how to take care of these so I don’t kill them. What kind of sun, and how much water, and I noticed some plant food, but I have no idea what kind to buy.” And she’d pay for the pots and other materials at least.
He went through everything she needed to do to keep the plants healthy, then he and Connor loaded the two heavy pots into a high-sided wagon.
“Take my truck so you can haul these to the house. You can take them to Sloane’s this evening.” Toby held out his keys, and Connor gave him the car keys in exchange.
“I’m glad you came, Sloane.”
He extended his hand and she stepped past it to hug him. “Thank you.”
“Sloane left dinner for you in the refrigerator.” Connor said. “It’s enough for two.”
Toby’s eyebrows rose.
Before he could thank her, she said, “When you’re cooking it’s easy to throw in a few extra tomatoes and a little more pasta. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I will.”
Connor pulled the wagon to the parking lot. “We have one more stop to make before we go back to the house.”
The sun was higher and the air still. “You talked it over with your dad about what kind of plant I’d like.”
“The other night I noticed you liked the jasmine and clematis that Mom planted, and you commented on the Magnolia. So we picked something that has a strong, sweet fragrance that would also thrive on your balcony without taking up too much room.” He lowered truck’s bent tailgate and loaded the two pots.
“It was very thoughtful. Thank you. But I want to pay for at least half the cost.”
Connor shook his head. “Dad got free labor out of me the first two days I was here, and you’ve thanked him with a meal he’ll enjoy. And you’ve already thanked me.” He shot her a smile. “But you can do it again any time you like.”
Heat touched her cheeks even as her body quickened at the suggestion. Connor opened the truck door for her, offering her a hand up. Once she was settled he said, “I’ll be right back. Need to return the garden wagon to the office.”
She tracked him as he strode back to the office and parked the wagon. He was so careful about everything he said, other than the fact that he wanted her. He kept everything on the surface. Like the tattoo on his wrist. Who was Olivia? An old flame? A younger sister? Someone important, for certain. Maybe she’d find an opportunity to ask him later, over dinner.
Or should she? She was only a temporary lover. And it wasn’t her business. The thought gave her a hard pinch.
*
Beneath the water, the hollow sound of each breath he released was as familiar as his own footsteps. He watched Sloane as she sat on the bottom of the pool and regulated her breathing.
He remembered drownproofing during BUD/S. One of the guys hadn’t quite made it to the surface and almost drowned.
How many missions had he been on where they infiltrated the area from the water? Twenty? Twenty-five? Adding in training missions brought the count up to a hundred times at least. He’d always thrived on the challenge.
But this wasn’t supposed to be a real challenge. It was supposed to be something fun for Sloane. And he didn’t get that from her. She was doing it more to please him than because she wanted to.
She wouldn’t back down from this any more than she would from her ex and the partners of her law firm.
But she had nothing to prove to him, and apparently he needed to make that clear. If scuba wasn’t her cup of tea, it was okay. Because if something happened to her—The idea gave his insides a twist. The chances were slim, but they were real. For all the pleasure of scuba diving, there was an edge of danger to it too. Something that hounded most everything he and his teammates did.
Behind her mask, her eyes were closed. Her body looked relaxed, and her hands rested on her thighs. When he touched her wrist, she startled and her tawny eyes sprang open.
Using the hand signals he’d taught her, he motioned for her to surface.
She kicked off from the bottom of the twelve-foot depth and turned to paddle to the steps leading down into the pool.
She pulled the mouthpiece free, perched on the steps on one hip, and pushed the facemask atop her head.
He joined her. “You’re doing really well.”
“But?”
“If this is as far as you want to go with it, it’s fine. You’ve experienced what it’s like to use the tanks, and you’ve been a quick study with everything I’ve taught you.”
She focused on her flippers as she moved them in the water. “It’s—a little claustrophobic looking up and seeing the water overhead.”
“Is that what the meditation is for?”
“Yes, to calm me. It helps with my breathing, too.”
“That’s a good idea. But once you’re in the ocean, there will be other things to focus on besides looking up. But if you don’t want to try it, it’s okay.”
“You’ll be with me. I trust you to keep me safe.”
The tightness in his stomach loosened. “We’ll practice a couple more times in the pool before we go out. And Dad will come along to spot us one day this coming week.”
“Okay.”
As he dressed to follow her home for dinner, he thought about the trust he read in her eyes, her expression. He couldn’t protect her from being hurt after they parted. He couldn’t promise her more than these few days. But he wanted to. That thought sent a short burst of panic through him. He hadn’t done a bang-up job as a husband or a boyfriend. And the teams were only part of why.
Hot SEAL, Rusty Nail (SEALs In Paradise ) Page 9
