Soon, they moved in perfect counterpoint, pressing together, apart, together again. Each stroke deeper, slower, until, at last, her body held every inch.
He bent and kissed her, his mouth suctioning against hers, his tongue probing. All the while his hips moved against hers, circling, followed by deep thrusts, until she was breathless and nearing the peak.
She dug her fingernails into his shoulders and wrapped her thighs around his hips, lifting herself against him, needing him closer, deeper… And then she was there, stiffening beneath him, her head digging into the pillow as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over her.
He disentangled himself from her embrace too soon, and she clutched at him, but he was already moving downward, kissing her nipples, his palms molding and massaging her flesh. Her pussy was still pulsing in the aftermath of her orgasm when he slipped fingers inside her and tongued her clit.
She cried out, unable to still her cries as another wave crested. Then another. His mouth latched around her tiny nubbin and sucked, and she thrashed her head. “It’s too much. Carter…Carter!” She came again.
Mindless now, she barely noticed that he’d turned her. Not until he’d pulled her to her knees did she come back to herself. He nudged her folds, found her center, and slammed deep.
Melanie sank her back, lifting her bottom to take more. She fisted the bedding to hold herself in place as he pounded so hard the headboard banged against the wall. But she didn’t care about the noise. She fought for breath, felt the deep tremors in her channel as he drew another orgasm, this one so strong, so consuming, darkness pressed around her.
Carter gloried as the pressure built and built, until at last he couldn’t deny himself a moment longer. With one last stroke, pleasure exploded, come erupting in rhythmic spurts that stole away his breath. Long after he’d emptied himself, he continued rocking against her soft ass.
She’d collapsed against the bed. Her hair tangled and sticking to her face. Her lush pink mouth was swollen and open; her breaths were every bit as jagged as his own.
He was loath to stop moving, but he knew he must. She’d admitted she hadn’t had sex since the last time he’d had her beneath him like this. Years. She’d be sore. And the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He pulled free.
She didn’t stir as he rolled to the edge of the bed and sat. He removed the condom and dropped it into the wastebasket. Then he turned back to her. She hadn’t moved. Carter frowned and slid beside her, turning her gently in his arms until she rested against his chest. Her eyes were closed. She was sleeping.
“So much for that conversation,” he whispered. He kissed her forehead and lay back, holding her against his heart.
*
Sometime later, Melanie awoke. The candles had burned down, filling the corners of the room with shadows. Biting her lip, she glanced slowly upward. He was awake, his smoky gaze studying her face. She didn’t know what to say. Thank you? Oh my god, was it as good for you as it was for me?
Instead of blurting something embarrassing, she gave him a smile. “Didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You passed out.”
The dark humor in his expression had her narrowing her eyes. “Feeling proud of yourself, I see.”
“Yeah. I am.” His smile faded, and he touched her chin, lifting it an inch. “You okay?” he asked in a gruff voice.
“Yeah. I am.” Better than okay, but she’d already given him plenty to crow about. She blew out a narrow stream of air. “Maybe I should go…”
The arm slung low around her hip cinched. “Not until we talk. I told you something tonight. I think you owe me the courtesy of a response.”
She didn’t dare play stupid. He’d said he loved her. She knew how scary that was, putting it out there without any clue whether it would be returned. Still, she wasn’t quite ready to bare her soul. She noted a hint of bleakness in his gaze. A dark note she’d seen before. At the wedding. He was bracing for pain. “You’re taking the job.”
His jaw slowly ground shut, and he nodded.
She felt like weeping. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t be with him. Not and worry that every night he was away she’d be plagued by nightmares of blasts tearing him apart.
His eyes glistened. He smoothed her hair with a hand, then cupped her face in his palms and leaned toward her.
She wanted to pull away, but her eyes were filling, too. And she couldn’t bear the way he looked at her. Like he wanted to beg, but knew that wouldn’t be fair. Well, it’s not fair. How can you tell me you love me, then prove that you don’t love me enough to stay?
He kissed her hard then let her go. Before she could move, he was backing away from her. He pushed up from the mattress and strode to where they’d dropped their clothes. As he pulled on his jeans, she wished she could think of something to say to make him stay, to take away that terrible look in his eyes.
The door opened just as Carter pulled up his zipper, and Melanie quickly drew up the covers to hide her naked chest. She and Carter both turned to stare at Emmy, dressed in a blue Elsa nightgown, as she stood in the doorway. “I couldn’t find you,” she said, looking from Melanie to Carter. “I go wake up Gampa.”
“No,” Melanie said, reaching out. “I’ll get up and tuck you in.”
“It’s okay. I happy. I got a mommy and a daddy.”
Carter cleared his throat. “Emmy, that’s not quite…” But he glanced at Melanie as though to say, How do I explain this?
“Petey Whitehead said mommies and daddies get naked.”
“She’s not playing with that boy again,” Carter muttered.
“It’s how little sisters get made.”
“Oh, hell no,” Melanie said, feeling a little dizzy. “Emmy, go to your room. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No need,” came a gruff voice in the hallway. Lee peeked around the edge of the doorway. “I’ll tuck her in. Couldn’t sleep anyway with all the bangin’.”
Melanie shrieked and fell back, pulling the covers over her head. Laughter rang out in the room. The door closed. Melanie remained still for a moment then inched down the sheet.
Carter was still there, his arms crossed as he leaned against the door.
“The whole house knows,” she whispered harshly.
“Bet they will. Lee’s as big a gossip as Tilda.”
“They’re going to expect something. What are we going to say?”
“That we’re working it out, and they can mind their own damn business.”
Melanie swallowed. “Are we?”
Carter dropped his arms. “I was set to walk out that door, but there was Emmy. And she wants a daddy. How the hell can I deny her?”
“You did for two years.”
“And I’ll be sorry for the rest of my life about that. But in all fairness, I’d never met her.”
“But we’re at an impasse. I can’t go through that again, losing someone I…” she closed her eyes before she whispered, “love.”
“I call bullshit.”
She opened her eyes to glare at him.
Carter strode toward her and knelt beside the bed. “You are the strongest woman I know. Hell, you shielded that baby girl from the blast. Daniel’s staff had to pry her out of your arms when you were unconscious. Despite your own injuries, you were there for her. You’ve been taking care of her and my dad.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “I promise you now, I will never needlessly put myself in danger, but I’m taking that job. It’s what I do. Who I am. You fell in love with that guy. I’m not letting you get cold feet now.”
She continued to frown, but inside, she felt a shift. What he said was true. She had fallen in love with the SEAL. Had never really stopped. Was she holding onto this argument to punish him?
Carter held still, staring her down. His expression set. He’d wait her out. Wear her down. Eventually. Why fight it anymore? She loved him. She’d said it. Out loud. He’d never let her take it back.
And she didn’t want him to.
“Okay,” she whispered. Then she took a deeper breath and lifted her chin. “But we better have whatever this is settled by morning. Don’t be surprised if your dad shows up in his wheelchair with a shotgun on his lap.”
“We’re getting married. And not in a month or even a week. We’re heading to the courthouse in the morning to start the paperwork.”
“You going to even bother to ask me?”
He pinched her chin. “You gonna say no?”
She pouted her lips. “Would it do me any good to try?”
“Hell no.” He leaned toward her and kissed her. “No one will believe you. Only man for you is me.”
“Your dad tell you that?”
“He did.”
“Huh. You had one hell of a conversation.”
Carter smiled. “My old man’s smarter than I gave him credit for. He said there was only one woman for me. It’s how we Vances are made. Baby, it’s you. Always has been. Always will be.”
Melanie let go of her fear. Looking into his eyes, she couldn’t imagine loving anyone the way she loved him. Instantly. Completely. How quickly they’d arrived at this moment was a huge damn clue, but she’d been too scared to admit it. “So, tomorrow. What will we do until then?”
Carter’s mouth stretched. “I have an idea or two. But only if you don’t mind the fact we’re gonna get noisy.”
She winced. “Good Lord. We have to move the bed away from the wall.”
Carter laughed and crawled right over her. “Let’s worry about the furniture tomorrow.”
About Delilah Devlin
Delilah Devlin is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of erotica and sexy romance with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. She has published over a hundred sixty erotic stories in multiple genres and lengths, and she is published by Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Grand Central, Harlequin Spice, HarperCollins: Mischief, Kensington, Kindle, Kindle Worlds, Montlake Romance, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing.
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If you loved Baby, It’s You, check out more of Delilah’s UNCHARTED SEALS series:
Watch Over Me
Navy SEAL Deke Warrick’s unsanctioned detail is to keep tabs on a congressman’s daughter while she vacations in the Caribbean. He’s determined to keep his distance from the beautiful Nicky Martir, but finds his limits tested when Nicky sets out to seduce him. What seemed like a simple mission becomes deliciously complicated—and then dangerous, when she’s snatched from their hotel room.
Her Next Breath
Ex-SEAL Jackson “Jax” Keller’s first mission with the Charter Group’s spec ops unit is a bust. Instead of capturing a drug lord in his Mexican compound, he finds a beautiful, naked woman. But she may have information they need to nail the narco-terrorist, so he takes her, sealing his fate. She’s his to watch, his to “manage” until the op’s done.
Suri McAnally’s made some mistakes—mainly trusting her college roomie who just so happens to be the son of one of Mexico’s most dangerous drug lords. If Jackson can save her, she’ll do whatever he says, mirror his moves, and try to keep her insta-lust under control. Her next breath depends on it.
Through Her Eyes
Ex-SEAL and expert sniper, Wolf Kinkaid, is taking a little downtime while he considers his options. Being wooed by two elite black ops groups, he’s enjoying Charter Group’s beach house while he considers his options. A loner by nature as well as occupation, he wonders if he’ll ever really connect to the people around him. Afraid his loner nature will sentence him to spending his life alone, he’s not sure he wants to continue looking down a scope, even if the pay’s good.
Bounty hunter Piper Ames loves the adrenaline rush she gets from her high-stakes hunts, but now, she has time on her hands as she waits for her collar to pop up his head so she can take him down. While she’s waiting, it doesn’t hurt that a big, buff, ex-military type is staying right next door. Not the least shy about going after what she wants, she’s surprised when he’s equally as aggressive. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the sex is the hottest she’s ever had.
While Wolf and Piper connect in the only way their independent natures allow, danger lurks. When her target comes, guns blazing, they have to pull together to make it out alive.
Dream of Me
After losing her partner and lover in a shootout, New Orleans police officer Aislin Dupree is tormented by memories of the past and the day she lost Marc LeBrun. At her darkest hour, she discovers that Marc had planned a romantic getaway on a Caribbean island before his death. All expenses paid. She decides to take the trip, hoping the island getaway will help her come to terms with her sorrow. Instead, she meets a man, a friend of Marc’s from his time served as Navy SEAL.
Sam Blalock is like Marc in so many ways that he makes her ache for what she once had. Strong, rugged Sam is her rock, holding her when she breaks, encouraging her to move on, because he knows about the pain of loss and the horror of violence all too well. She soon finds her waking hours consumed by Sam while she roams her dreams in search of Marc. As the time approaches for her to go home, she’s afraid to let go of the connection she’s found, and she fears she might be holding onto Sam for all the wrong reasons while she imagines another reality where dreams do come true.
Before We Kiss
Navy SEAL, William “Wiley” Coyote, should have known his “piece of cake” assignment would go sideways in a hurry. But he’d been lured by the promise of an all-expenses-paid cruise. A nice “fluffy” assignment after the last one spent escorting freighters through pirate-infested waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
A general’s daughter, Poppy Shackleford, wasn’t some spoiled daughter of a man made famous for defeating insurgent forces. She’d endured her own tragedies—the loss of her mother when she was young and her father stationed in Afghanistan, and the loss of her fiancé after he’d sustained wounds in Iraq—not from the physical wounds that had claimed his two legs—he’d taken his own life. His death was why Poppy was involved in Soldiers’ Sanctuary, a non-profit that helped disabled soldiers adjust to their new circumstances. Her mission in life is to see that no veteran of war would ever feel so alone, so hopeless he’d choose her dead fiancé’s path. Which was why, despite the current threats against her father, she was on this cruise, assessing the ship’s ability to accommodate the soldiers rather than sending a surrogate.
However, the first threat doesn’t come from terrorists with an axe to grind. Mexican banditos stop her tour bus heading toward Mayan ruins to shake down the passengers for their money and belongings. When one snaps a picture of her, he soon figures out there’s a much bigger payday. She knows she’s going to be kidnapped, but she didn’t know someone was on that same tour bus who had her back.
Wiley’s unconventional takedown of her would-be kidnappers exposes the fact her father didn’t honor her wishes to fly under the radar. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, Wiley’s made it clear he’s moving into her suite for the rest of their time at sea to keep her out of harm’s way.
Read an excerpt from Before We Kiss…
William “Wiley” Coyote should have known the “piece of cake” assignment his team leader, Deke Warrick, had offered him would go sideways in a hurry. But he’d been lured by the promise of an all-expenses-paid cruise. A nice “fluffy” assignment after the last one spent escorting freighters through pirate-infested waters in the Strait of Hormuz. He was due a vacation and had envisioned slipping into a chaise on cruise ship’s deck while his target sunbathed nearby.
“Every time she steps out of her suite, the room attendant will buzz you. You keep on her ta
il, but not close enough she notices. Her daddy said she’d raise hell if she knew he’d hired security after she’d refused a special detail.” Deke had grinned. “I think he’s a little afraid of her.”
They’d barely left the port of Miami before Wiley had understood. The woman never stopped moving. Or talking. Sometimes loudly, if she didn’t like what she heard. If he could have worn earplugs, his first impressions of her would have been very different.
Poppy Shackleford was a pretty little thing. Blonde-haired, lightly tanned, curves in all the right places. And maybe five-foot-two in her espadrille sandals. He’d had a girlfriend charge two pairs to his credit card, so he knew darn well how what they were and how much the cork-heeled things cost. Although he could appreciate the sexy stretch they’d given her calves, he was still relieved that, so far, he’d managed to operate under the radar. He had no doubts she’d know exactly what he was there to do if she got one good look at him. Nothing escaped her attention. Not the too-steep ramps leading onto the ship when they’d embarked. Or the undercooked steak she’d been served last night in the dining room.
He’d begun to think she was deaf she talked so loudly, but then he’d realized her complaints were on behalf of her fellow passengers, and this cruise had been billed as a senior-themed cruise. Most of the thousand passengers were over seventy. The dinner conversation surrounding him last night had consisted of trading blood sugar levels, as his companions pricked their fingertips and fed droplets of blood into their readers. Afterwards, their conversation had drifted to the best fiber to promote healthy bowels and where the captain would store their bodies if they happened to pass during the night.
“No kidding?” Deke had said after Wiley had given him a status update early that morning.
Wiley’s jaw had ground shut at the snickering no hand over a receiver could muffle. “The Countess’s security seems pretty tight. There’s always someone nearby, although they’re better at blending in than I am.”
Baby, It's You (Uncharted SEALs Book 5) Page 8
