“Unbelievable,” Mike muttered.
“Careful because you could get hurt. He seemed worried about you. Anyway, never mind. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“Damn straight,” he said. “No, Jordan should never have brought it up. None of his damn business.”
I eyed him warily as another couple came walking down the beaten path. I didn’t want them to hear us arguing and was wishing I hadn’t even brought it up. Maybe Jordan had told me that in confidence—although honestly, I didn’t see what the big deal was. Mike didn’t seem to be having any trouble adjusting from my perspective. But if there was nothing wrong, then why was Mike getting so bent out of shape?
Mike finished his sandwich and reached for the brownie container. “Would you like one?”
“No thanks, I’m not hungry.”
Mike eyed me carefully and took a deep breath. “Look, I’m not mad at you, Erin. I’m pissed at Jordan. My life is none of his business.”
“You’re right,” I said with a shrug. “Maybe he shouldn’t have said that to me; maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up. But let’s face it—you’re perfectly happy to spend the night in my bed but not to tell me anything about yourself. What does that say?”
Mike looked stunned as I stood up and brushed myself off. “Maybe we should just call it a day,” I added, in case my intentions of leaving weren’t clear.
“Erin, I’m sorry,” he said, scrambling to his feet. “I’ve been back stateside, what, just over a week? Yeah, I need some time to decompress. So would anyone.”
“Fine,” I said with a shrug. “Maybe we should slow this down then.” I started gathering up containers to put back into his backpack but mostly I was trying to avoid him seeing the hurt in my eyes. Obviously he’d said something to Jordan in order for his brother to be concerned. I wouldn’t have expected him to necessarily seek me out for comfort—we had just started seeing each other. Or whatever this was. But to just blow me off when I brought it up? That just hurt.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said quietly. “But if you want to go home, I’ll take you home.”
“Fine.”
I stuffed the containers in his backpack and stepped off the blanket. Mike shook it off and then folded it neatly up. He hoisted his backpack onto his shoulders and glanced over at me. “Lead the way,” he said, gesturing for me to go first.
I walked over to the trail and started hiking, hearing Mike fall in pace behind me. I didn’t say a word, and as the sky began to grow darker, it seemed to match my mood. The first few raindrops starting falling a couple of minutes later, and I silently wished we’d make it back to his rental car before heavy rain fell. Hawaii was famous for quick rain showers blowing through. We’d be at the pool one minute, it would suddenly start pouring, and twenty minutes later the sun would return for the rest of the day. Such was island life, I supposed.
I sped up my pace a little, sure that Mike would understand why I was hurrying. The deluge I was fearing started a few minutes later, and in seconds we were both soaked. I wiped rain from my eyes as I continued, trying to keep my face down to shield myself from the onslaught. My wet ponytail swung back and forth behind me, and the thin tank top I was wearing clung to my skin. A moment later I slipped, falling on the muddy trail. I caught myself with both hands but managed to splash mud all over my shorts.
“Are you okay?” Mike asked, hurrying to my side.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, standing up as Mike reached out to assist. He wrapped an arm around my waist, seemingly in an effort to help, and I burst out crying. I’d expected to have a romantic afternoon alone together. Now he was angry, I was hurt that he didn’t seem to want to confide in me, and we were both soaking wet.
“Erin,” he murmured, pulling me protectively into his arms. “Please don’t cry.” The rain continued to pour down on us, but I relaxed against him as he curved his large body around mine. “I’m sorry I got upset earlier—I guess I’m just used to being alone. To not opening up to anyone.”
The parking lot wasn’t much farther, and I pulled away from him, insisting that we keep going. By the time we reached Mike’s car I was muddy, wet, and shivering. Just as I predicted, the sudden rain was already slowing down, and in the distance I could see blue skies.
“I have some towels in the back,” Mike said, hastily dropping his backpack and grabbing a couple from the back seat. He handed one to me, and I wiped my face off before squeezing my ponytail out and wrapping the towel around my shoulders. He spread two towels on the front seats, and I gingerly climbed in, wishing we’d driven separately. Which didn’t make sense in that I didn’t have a car anyway and we were on a date. “I guess you want to go back to the hotel?” he asked, his voice deep.
“Yeah, just drop me off,” I said quietly. “I need to get out of these clothes anyway.”
Mike didn’t comment and started the engine. We were silent for the beginning of the drive, and as we rounded a corner heading back to Waikiki, saw flashing lights up ahead. “Looks like an accident up ahead.”
“Great,” I muttered.
Mike sighed as he slowed down the car. “Well, we have a couple of options. We can wait here and hope it clears up soon. I can loop back around, but that will add at least an hour to our trip. Or I can bring you back to my apartment. I’ve got plenty of clothes you can borrow, and then at least you’ll be dry and warm when I take you home.”
I stared ahead at the accident and long back-up of cars. Sitting here stuck for hours didn’t sound very promising, and who knew how long a detour back to the city would take. Mike’s apartment sounded like the best option at this point, and who’d have believed I’d have said that a few minutes ago.
“Okay. Let’s just go back to your place.”
“All right. Let me just turn us around.”
Chapter 15
Mike slid his key into the lock and pushed open the door, gesturing for me to go first. If I’d imagined going to his apartment with him, it certainly wasn’t like this—soaking wet and caked in mud. I stepped inside, pulling off my muddy sneakers so as not to track dirt throughout the place. Mike followed suit, taking off his hiking boots and dropping his backpack to the ground.
“This is it, home sweet home,” he said, glancing around as if looking at it for the first time himself. Maybe he was taking it all in. He’d just moved in a week ago; the place was fully furnished, so it’s not like he’d brought along his own things to decorate. And now he had an unexpected guest—me. “How about I grab some clean clothes and a towel for you. You can shower and change. I can even throw your clothes in the wash.”
“Okay,” I said glancing over to meet his eyes. For the first time I noticed that he did look tired, but maybe he was just drained from our morning together.
“Okay,” he replied, springing into action. He walked into a bedroom as I hesitated in the living room. Finally I walked over to his doorway, curious. Mike was rummaging around through his drawers. His bed was neatly made with a navy blue bedspread, and his suitcases were stacked in the corner. His open closet revealed a row of uniforms. “Let’s see,” he said, pulling out a tee shirt. “Here’s a shirt and some clean boxers. Or I can grab some shorts for you, but I know they’ll be huge.”
“Those are fine,” I said, hugging the towel around myself. The cold air conditioning in his apartment was making me shiver, and I had to admit I was looking forward to a long, hot shower.
“Are you cold?” he asked, concerned. “I’ll turn down the air conditioning. The guest bathroom is in the hallway,” he said, handing me his clothes.
“Okay, thanks,” I said, taking them and turning to leave. I walked down the hallway and had reached the door to the bathroom when I sensed Mike stepping out the doorway behind me.
“Erin,” he said quietly. “I do have nightmares. All the time. And I haven’t been sleeping well since leaving Afghanistan. Hell, I wouldn’t have slept well over there either, but I was worn out from twelve-hour shifts. Sleep was
my only escape. But here, I’ve got time to think about everything. What I saw, the guys we lost….”
His voice trailed off, and I turned to face him. “You can talk to me, you know,” I said quietly. “It’s okay.”
He nodded, mouth tight, and I knew he was trying to hold it together. “I will, I just need some time.”
I nodded, a stray tear slipping down my cheek. “That’s fine,” I said, hastily wiping it away. “I understand if you need time. I just thought you didn’t want to talk specifically to me.”
“Oh, God, Erin,” he said, stepping closer. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a helluva long time. The only nights I’ve slept at all here were the nights I was with you. And I know you were there, years ago, right in front of my eyes, but I was too dumb to ever pursue anything with you.”
I nodded shakily as Mike stopped in front of me. “You’re shivering,” he said, running his hands up and down my arms before pulling me close. I relaxed into his embrace, wondering how he could be so warm when I was cold and wet in his air conditioned apartment. “Let me start a shower for you,” he said in a low voice, leaving one arm around my shoulders as he guided me into the bathroom. He turned on the water and checked the temperature with one hand as steam started to fill the room. I reached up and pulled the ponytail holder from my hair, letting my damp hair fall to my shoulders. I set the change of clothes down on the counter as Mike eyed them.
“Are we okay?” he asked hesitantly.
“We’re okay,” I agreed.
“God, Erin,” he said, cupping my face gently as he bent down for a kiss. “I don’t ever want you to think that I don’t want all of you. Everything.”
“Okay,” I nodded, more tears slipping down my cheeks.
Mike gently wiped them away with his thumbs and then traced my lower lip. I rose up to my tip-toes to kiss him tenderly.
“Maybe you won’t need those spare clothes after all,” he said huskily.
“How do you figure?” I asked, attempting to hide the smile threatening.
“Because after our shower, I’m taking you straight to my bed.”
***
Mike wrapped me in a fluffy white towel and before I could say a single word, scooped me up into his arms. He wordlessly carried me down the hall to his own room, his strong arms holding me close. As he gently placed me down on his bed, I realized he hadn’t bothered with a towel for himself after our shower and was completely naked. And fully aroused. He slowly unwrapped my towel, leaving me naked and trembling with need before him. He carefully climbed on top of me, working his way up my body, until the tip of his penis was brushing enticingly against my clit and his lips were hot on mine.
Mike took his time tonight, kissing his way down my neck and cherishing each of my breasts with his mouth and tongue. As my breathing grew heavier, he flicked his tongue lightly over each nipple, knowing how easily that aroused me. He gripped my hips and traced light kisses down my stomach, seemingly in no rush as I ached for his touch below. After what felt like an eternity, he slowly licked my center, his tongue easily finding my throbbing bud. Two fingers slipped inside of me, working their way in and out through my arousal, and I just about lost it right then. He sped up the erotic caress of his tongue and soon I was shattering in a million pieces before him.
Mike quickly pulled a condom over his throbbing erection, and a moment later he was slowly inching his way inside of me. I groaned, feeling him fill me up completely. His lips again met mine in tender kisses as he gently began thrusting. I whimpered, needing more as he continued this slow pace. He positioned himself slightly higher, so that the base of his erection was rubbing against my clit with every achingly slow movement he made. “Mike,” I begged. “Faster. Please.”
“Anything you want,” he said huskily, speeding up his movements. He gripped my hands in his and lifted them above my head. I hung on for dear life as waves of arousal shot though me. With every movement he brushed against my bundle of nerves, sending me helplessly out of control.
“Mike,” I gasped.
He rolled over suddenly, pulling me with him, so that I was now on top. He was seated even deeper inside me in this position, and I was momentarily stunned by his thick length filling me so completely. Before I could take control, though, he gripped my hips in powerful hands and thrust upward.
“Oh!” I gasped as the base of his erection met my most sensitive spot. Before I could recover he was thrusting up again and again, and I cried out into his room, unable to stop the pleasure surging through me. Mike hardened even more and then released, pulling me down into his arms while he was still inside of me.
“God Erin, that was amazing,” he mumbled, slightly out of breath.
“You can say that again,” I agreed, collapsing against his chest.
“I hope you don’t have any plans tonight,” he said, letting his hands trail down my back and over my bare bottom. He squeezed gently and I laughed, planting a soft kiss on his lips.
“That depends what you have in mind,” I teased.
“I plan on making love to you as many times as possible,” he said, a gleam in his eye. “Tonight, and all summer long.”
“Now there’s a plan I can get on board with,” I said, laughing as Mike wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and rolled us over again. He gently extracted himself from me and tossed the condom away, and I was amazed to see he was already growing hard again.
“I don’t know what’ll happen in September, where I’ll end up, where you’ll be, but promise that you’ll spend the summer with me.”
“I promise,” I agreed. “Every moment.”
“Now about that plan for tonight….”
His lips were instantly on me again, and I knew that no matter what happened, this would be one summer that I’d never forget.
About the Author
Makenna Jameison is the author of the Soldier Series Romance Novellas, including the bestselling Christmas with a Soldier. She grew up dreaming of writing, is an avid reader, and lives in Washington, DC with her husband and daughter.
I hope you enjoyed this Soldier Series Romance Novella.
My stories sizzle with passion, complete with strong, sexy heroes and smart heroines following their own path to love. They’re fun, steamy, and always red-hot!
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
About the Author
Summer with a Soldier (Soldier Series Romance Novellas Book 5) Page 8
