Leah couldn’t get over how handsome Kell was without his beard. It was the first time she’d seen him without one. If he thought his brother Cody was the drop-dead gorgeous one, he was completely wrong. Kell belonged on the cover of GQ with his rugged good looks. She could see the dimples now when he smiled, which had been hidden before by the beard. It gave him a decidedly boyish look, someone carefree and fully comfortable with himself.
“Where’s Clutch?” she asked, sliding off the stool and taking the empty plates to the sink to rinse them off.
“He’s got a condo on the other side of the island. His car was parked at North Island Naval Air Station, where we flew into. Clutch drove me over here after we landed. He’s home with his girlfriend, Stacy, who has lived with him off and on for six years.”
“That was awfully nice of him,” Leah said, bringing over some fresh-baked cookies she’d made for him for tomorrow. His mother, Mary, had sent Kell’s favorite cookie recipe to her, told her all his favorite foods, and she was prepared to give him meals that he’d appreciate.
Kell smiled as Leah presented him with a plate of two dozen cookies. “Are these all mine?” He pulled it over in front of him.
“I know you’re a growing boy, Ballard, but I’d like a few left for me if you don’t mind.” Leah laughed.
Kell gave her a teasing look and said, “Okay, here’s two. Will that do?”
She threw her arms around his shoulder as he turned around on the stool to face her. “Your ma’s recipe,” she said against his smiling mouth. Kissing him, feeling his hands slide from her shoulders down to her hips, a purring sound caught in her throat. And when he cupped her hips and pulled her hard against him, she felt heat tunnel through her. It had been so long…so long…and she suddenly found herself picked up and Kell was carrying her down the hall.
“I told you,” Kell whispered gruffly against her hair, “you’re my dessert…”
Kell’s bedroom was spare, just like him. Leah had added a beautiful floor-to-ceiling corn plant near the heavy gold brocade drapes. It brought life to the very masculine dark-brown-and-gold room.
He placed her on the bed and then shoved off his Nikes, pulled off his green T-shirt and began to unzip his jeans. His narrowed gaze never left her face and Leah felt a quiver of anticipation race through her, fire about to erupt within her lower body. She appreciated his well-sprung, dark-haired chest, those incredibly strong, powerful shoulders of his, the muscles in his arms, lean and taut.
As he stepped out of his boxer shorts, her gaze drifted lower. Leah felt her channel tighten almost painfully with need of Kell. His erection left her mouth dry and her pulse leaping with expectancy. She stood and shimmied out of her shorts and pulled off her tank top, letting them drop to the floor beside his clothes. She wore no bra, saw Kell’s face go feral as his gaze locked onto her breasts. Heat flared through them, her nipples instantly puckering. He hadn’t even touched her and she was responding.
“You,” he growled, “are incredibly beautiful. I like you not wearing a bra.” He halted in front of her, his fingers skimming her shoulders, watching her breasts tighten, those nipples begging to be touched, suckled.
“I hate bras. Only wear them if I have to,” Leah admitted, her voice a little off-key and breathless. His fingers made her flesh melt as they skimmed her shoulders lightly and devoured her with his eyes.
“And your left arm?” Kell asked, gently cupping her wounded upper arm. He could see the puncture marks where the four screws had been placed into her flesh in order for the bones to knit. There was a long three-inch scar, a line of puckered red scar tissue where the surgeon had operated. He leaned over, lightly kissing the wound. Leah’s breath hitched, and she closed her eyes, leaning forward to make contact with him.
“My arm’s okay,” she managed, her voice wispy. “I’ve been cleared for flight duty a week from now. The flight surgeon feels I’m ready to go back to work.”
“Hmm,” Kell growled, lifting his lips away from her arm. “I only have you for a week?” He moved his hands down to her pink silk panties, sliding his fingers beneath the elastic, easing them down her long, slender legs and letting them drop around her feet. Rising, he said, “I’m not letting you out of here all week, then. That’s not enough time for what I had in mind for you.” Kell lifted her and placed her onto the center of the bed. He pulled some condoms from the pocket of his trousers and placed them on the bed stand.
Leah lay on her back, watching his animal grace, that bonelessness that belied the dominance he had strength-wise. Kell lay down beside Leah, propped up on one elbow, reaching out and grazing her cheek. “You aren’t going to get any disagreement out of me,” Leah said breathlessly as his fingers trailed down the line of her neck and he cupped her breast with his large palm. Her mind simply went blank as she closed her eyes, felt Kell memorizing her breast, his thumb lazily stroking the peak, making her gasp and then whimper with need.
His lips settled over the first peak and she pressed against his long, hard body, her hips nestling against his, telling him what else she wanted. Kell tensed, his entire body stilling for a moment, savoring her moving sensuously against him. Leah dug her nails into his thickly bunched shoulders as his teeth settled teasingly upon her nipple. Her entire world came apart.
Kell devoted equal attention to the other breast, suckling her until she pressed wildly against his hips. His mouth plundered her lips, curving powerfully against hers, opening her, his tongue taking hers quick and hard. Her breath changed, and she strained, wanting Kell within her, to become one with him.
The tempo shifted like quicksilver and Kell felt the driving ache, felt the sleekness of her flesh beneath his exploring fingers. There was nothing gentle or tender between them right now. It was raw appetite, starvation of a kind that drove him to almost lose his control as her breasts moved teasingly against his chest, those hardened nipples tangling in his soft, curled hair. She bucked against him, demanding. Wanting. He was starving for her, wanting to feel her around him, gripping him, lavishing him with her sweet, hot fluids.
He slid his hand down across her hip, opening her thighs, and her breath hitched for a moment. Kell touched her, felt her wetness, felt her explosive release of breath, her whimpering cry as she buried her face against his neck.
He’d dreamed of a hundred ways he was going to make love to Leah when he returned home. But her wildness, her naturalness, just tore apart any erotic plans he’d planned previously. Leah wasn’t lying quietly beneath him, either. Her assertiveness as a lover was a powerful turn-on for him.
She wrapped her fingers around his erection, and a guttural growl rolled through his chest, his entire body stiffening, the exquisite heat and softness of her fingers moving around him damn near making him release way too soon.
Kell appreciated and understood her hunger because he was equally starved for her. Their mouths clashed together, their breaths heavy and ragged, his finger slipping into her wetness, her body contracting powerfully around him. She tore her mouth from his, arching, crying out. Her body clenched, and he felt her heat, knew how close she was. Easing from her, he pushed his knees between her thighs, opening her to him.
Leah’s eyes were drowsy with lust, her lips swollen from his bruising kisses. She slid her hands along his flanks, pulling him forward, pulling him into her. His world collided with hers and she quivered violently as he sheathed into her. She enclosed him, so tight, so damn tight, that air hissed between his clenched teeth. His fists knotted into the bedding on either side of her head as she drew him deeply into herself, just wanting what she knew he could give her.
He met her mouth, her tongue tangling with his. His entire body had reached a point of no return. He slid his hand beneath her hips, angling her, her cry drowning in his mouth as he surged repeatedly into her, taking her, establishing a wild, chaotic rhythm between them.
Leah suddenly froze, her body contracting violently in release. Kell groaned, burying his head against her neck and
shoulder. The hot fluids spilled like a riptide around him and he could not stop the explosion from being drawn out of his body, hammering him with pleasure. He grated her name against her temple and ear, arching deep into her, the pleasure so intense, his entire body shuddering.
Leah’s sweet moan caught in her throat as she curved powerfully beneath him, their hips fused as another orgasm shook her. Kell held her, sliding his arms beneath her shoulders, grasping her tightly, feeling the sweat of her body mingle with his, their chests rising and falling in sync with one another, their hearts thundering as one.
Leah felt the rippling release surge outward, spreading out across her entire belly. Then came the euphoric aftereffects as it continued to flow in relentless, fiery waves. She absorbed Kell’s weight, like a warm, living blanket across her. Leah had never felt as loved or as protected as she did right now. His breathing was harsh against her ear, his head pressed against hers, his arms holding her against his taut, trembling body. And slowly, so deliciously slowly, their breathing began to ease and become more shallow, less chaotic. Leah made a happy sound in her throat, sliding her hands across Kell’s narrow hips, lifting hers just enough to feel him so potent within her even now.
She opened her eyes, feeling floaty and utterly satisfied, turning her head toward his. Sweat beaded Kell’s brow, his gray eyes burning with desire even now. She leaned over, sipping from his lips, feeling his return pressure, feeling him grow inside of her once more as she languidly kissed him more deeply. He quivered as she thrust her hips seductively against his. She placed her hands on his damp chest, asking Kell to roll over and onto his back. He did and he slid his hands around her waist, lifting and bringing her on top of him.
Kell looked lazily up into Leah’s sated green eyes, that ginger-colored hair of hers a beautiful frame around her flushed face. It was the bloom of orgasm, of good sex with one you loved, and he luxuriated in how beautiful she looked. “That was one helluva dessert, darlin’.” He grinned as he slid his fingers across her cheek, watching her lashes drop, her well-kissed lips part in a faint smile of agreement.
Leah laid her head on his chest, her fingers moving through his damp hair, feeling the pounding beat of his heart beneath her own. “I love you. I love what we have. We’re so good together, Kell…”
Sliding his large hand down across her damp back, he whispered, “Better than any dreams I’ve ever had.” He gave her a feral smile. Her eyes were barely open, yet the heat still lingered. “I think you’re an incredibly natural woman. I like you being the warrior you are with me.”
She laughed and kissed his jaw. “I never knew I was so assertive.” She sighed. “All I knew was I wanted you, Kell. All of you. Every second was wonderful…”
“I liked every second of it, too, Sugar. Don’t ever stop being yourself. You’re perfect for me, and we’re a good match for one another. That’s all that counts.”
“Just remember that,” Leah said playfully, smoothing her hand over his shoulder, feeling the muscles leap wherever she grazed his tight skin.
*
LEAH SAVORED HER cold white wine later on the back porch of Kell’s condo. They’d gone to sleep in each other’s arms and slept until an hour before dinnertime. Her body still glowed from their recent lovemaking in the shower. And judging from the relaxed look on Kell’s normally tense, hard face, he felt as mellow as she did right now.
He had a beer in his hand and was watching the hamburgers on the grill. There were seven in all, and six of them were for Kell. She’d already brought out the plates, napkins and all the condiments. The evening was balmy, the bay a smooth reflection. She watched white seagulls with black wing tips sail silently over the three-story structure where Kell had his condo.
“This is so peaceful,” Leah murmured. She watched Kell handily flip the burgers.
“Something we don’t get much of,” he agreed, sitting down opposite her at the picnic table.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Kell.”
He held her serious gaze. “Things we couldn’t talk about when I was overseas?” Even though they could talk via Skype, personal things were off-limits.
Leah smiled a little and sipped the white wine. “Yes. It took me about a month to shake off the initial shock from what happened to me and Harper. I had nightmares for a while, too, but they’re going away over time.” She twisted the slender stem of the wineglass between her fingers, staring down at it. “I’m going to resign my commission to the Army, Kell. Are you all right with that?” Lifting her chin, Leah needed to see his reaction.
“I figured that was coming,” he said quietly. “And I couldn’t be happier about your decision, Leah.” Because he’d have worried himself sick when she was deployed back into a combat theater.
“How did you know?”
Kell shrugged, tipped the beer up and took a drink, then set the empty bottle aside. “I think it goes back to your childhood, Leah. To your father.” He held out his hand and captured hers. “I think you joined the Army to try to get him to love you, or at least pay some attention to you.”
Hurt drifted through Leah, his strong fingers holding hers so gently. Nodding, she whispered, “You’re right.” And then she stared into Kell’s somber face, searching those gray eyes of his. She saw sadness in them—for her. “You saw it all along?”
“It’s easy to see things when you’re not swimming in the fishbowl.” Kell shared a warm look with her. “I think it’s time you decided what’s best for you, instead of trying to be something for someone else so they will pay attention to you. You were trapped and you couldn’t have realized what you were doing or why you were doing it, Leah.”
“I realize now that everything I did was to please my father. To get him to love me…”
“He must have seen you had a lot on the ball to invite you into the Shadow Squadron. Only the finest aviators get asked. So he saw you, Leah, in his own way. Maybe not as his child or his daughter, but he did acknowledge your flight skills.”
Leah felt a soul-deep sadness, the abandonment scoring her heart. “I feel like I’ve lived my entire life for him, not for myself, Kell.”
“Sugar, you saved a lot of men’s lives by making the choices you did. You braved danger and you were indispensable in the role you played in those operators’ lives. You got something of worth out of it.”
“You’re right,” Leah admitted. “I love flying. What I don’t like is the violence, Kell. And with Hayden nearly killing me and Harper, it’s just pushed me over the edge. I don’t want to go back and be in my father’s squadron. I don’t want to be in violent places or situations anymore. I’ve had it.”
“Then don’t. I’ll support whatever you want to do, Leah. And frankly, I’m happy because it means you’re not going back into harm’s way.”
Relief flooded her. Kell released her hand and walked to the grill. He took the huge platter and scooped up all the burgers and set them on the table. He picked up the bottle of wine and refilled her glass, and then ambled into the kitchen, to the refrigerator, to fetch himself another cold beer.
When he returned, he sat down, holding her gaze. “I’m glad you’re going home with me to meet my family. There’s time for you to sort out what you really want to do with your life.” And then he gave Leah a crooked, little-boy smile. “So long as you marry me, of course.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
LEAH’S HANDS GREW damp as Kell pulled the SUV rental into the dairy farm run by his parents. The late-November sky was a bright blue and the surrounding hills had mostly naked gray and brown trees. It had snowed the night before and patches of white were still here and there. She saw the huge red barn and two tall red silos next to it. There were miles of pristine white fence, thirty black-and-white Holstein dairy cows in two different pastures. The grass was yellowed and the cows stood out against the color. The family home was a large, three-story, rectangular redbrick structure, probably five thousand square feet in total.
The white picket fe
nce around the huge yard warmed Leah’s heart. It represented home. How she wished she’d had a stable one. Kell drew to a crawl as he guided the vehicle through an outer gate and down a muddy road that led to home.
“You grew up in one place,” she said to Kell. “You never had to move around.” Leah wondered what that kind of stability would have been like. Her father moved every two years. Kell was the epitome of stability and now Leah understood where it had come from.
“No place like home,” Kell murmured, reaching over and gripping her hand in her lap. “Doing okay?” He knew Leah was worried about meeting his family, afraid she would somehow not measure up or fit in. She was anxious, afraid of being judged by all of them.
Kell had tried to tell her that her family would welcome her with open arms, love her and would never judge her. It wasn’t in the family genes. Her fingers were clammy. “They won’t bite you, Sugar,” he teased, meeting her anxious-looking eyes for a moment.
Her mouth pulled in. “I want to believe you,” she muttered. “I—I just worry is all, Kell.”
He nodded and squeezed her fingers gently, trying to give her silent support. “They’re excited to meet you.”
Suddenly, two people emerged from the house. Leah’s pulse took off in leaps and bounds. It had to be Kell’s parents. They opened the screened-in porch door and walked down the steps, coming to meet them. The noon sunlight was bright and it was a coolish forty-five degrees. As they drew closer, she could see Orin Ballard was very tall. Kell had said he was six feet five inches tall. His mother, Mary, was closer to her height.
“See?” Kell murmured teasingly, “they’re smiling.”
Leah gulped and nodded. Orin was in a denim set of coveralls and wore a red flannel shirt beneath his brown barn coat. His arm was around his wife, Mary, who wore a set of black wool slacks, a white blouse with a red knit cape thrown around her shoulders.
It had been nearly a year since Kell had last visited his parents. Leah wondered how the rural couple coped with three sons in the the black ops community, always in harm’s way. Yet, Orin’s oval face, although weathered, didn’t look worried or anxious. His parents were in their midfifties, but she couldn’t believe it; they both exuded youth and vitality. Maybe being out in the country did it?
Running Fire Page 29
