All the Right Moves

by Jo Leigh

  As if he’d read her mind he moved his lips to the base of her throat, planting a kiss at the top of her breast before he sucked a nipple into his mouth. He used just the right amount of pressure and suction to make her quiver, make her want to beg him to ease the burning need inside her. But she wouldn’t, not yet.

  Gripping his shoulders, she inhaled his scent, clean and as masculine as the muscles that flexed under his warm skin. Try as she might, with him still teasing her breasts, she couldn’t reach far enough down to get a grip on his amazing butt.

  Balancing himself on his left elbow, he retraced the path on the inside of her thigh until she held her breath, waiting, desperate for him to touch her. She moved her hips against his erection, taking satisfaction in his groan. He lifted his head, and the moment seemed to freeze. He didn’t move, just watched her face.

  She wasn’t sure what was happening, and then gasped at the invasion of his finger sliding into her damp heat. Her shoulders came up off the mattress and she couldn’t seem to catch her next breath. He pushed in deeper, and rubbed her with his thumb.

  “No,” she said. “No. No. No.”

  He stopped. Everything.

  “Oh, God, no, it’s just...” She still couldn’t seem to catch her breath. “Not yet.”

  His expression changed in an instant. The intensity returned as his desire flared. He reentered her with two fingers. Found the sensitive nub.

  She bucked and clenched, which made everything worse. “You bastard.”

  “Don’t fight it.” His heated breath washed over her still-damp nipple. “I’m not going to stop at one.” Surging up, he kissed her lips, parted them with his tongue and thrust in rhythm with his fingers.

  Eyes shut, Cassie reached for him, but the pressure got to be too much. Everything inside her tightened. She arched against his hand, her body tensing, her breath held. When she came, she bucked so hard it dislodged his fingers. Another spasm hit, not as strong, but more than she expected. He was hot and it had been a while for her, but that didn’t explain her body’s reaction.

  His tongue tracing a line down her torso made her open one eye. He kissed her tummy, then dipped his tongue into her belly button. When he would’ve slid lower, she grabbed his hair where it was longer on top and lifted his head up. His eyes were dark and hooded, sexier than he had any right to be. “Condom,” she said, her voice shaky. “Now.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She released his hair, and when he wouldn’t move, gave him a shove. “Oh, my God. I’ve never...”

  He kept his slow-eyed gaze on her as he reached for the packet. “You’ve never what?”

  “Come more than once. I just don’t.”

  He returned to his position above her. “We’ll have to see about that.”

  God, he was hard and thick. And hot.

  It was his turn to jerk when she rubbed her thumb over the slick tip of his erection. Moving out of her reach, his gaze so dark and piercing she had another after-quake, she watched him slide on the condom.

  Her legs spread eagerly and he settled between them with a groan that made her squeeze all the parts of herself she could. She wondered if he were this focused when he strapped himself into his jet, making sure everything was ready for takeoff. The idea was surprisingly sexy.

  He rose above her again, leaning on one arm as he guided himself into her, catching and holding her gaze. “Oh, hell, Cassie,” he said, teasing her name out low and slow as he pushed inside.

  She grabbed the headboard above her head, bracing herself for his entry. He never once looked away from her eyes as he gritted his teeth and drove into her with a powerful thrust that tore a cry from her throat.

  Her right hand went to his forearm. With the other she clutched a pillow and wound her legs around his hips. He started to plunge deep, only to pull almost all the way out before doing it again. The pleasure sent waves through her, starting at her center then spreading with the rhythm of oceans, the strength of tides.

  Part of her wanted to look down, to roll her head on the pillow, to stop staring, but she was captivated. It didn’t stop her from moaning, though, or biting her bottom lip, or calling out when the rogue waves hit.

  It was unlike anything that had happened to her before. She never realized that sex had a certain sameness, that she’d come to think of it as a piece, separate from the man she was with, but this...this had everything to do with John.

  They were connected. Physically, but way more than that. “Oh,” she said, as if that small word could explain it. When she tried for more, it made her blink, so she stopped.

  She grew hot in increments. Again, from where he thrust into her, then outward. As if he’d set her blood on fire with a slow match. A prickling sort of heat sparked her nerve endings. God, she didn’t know what was happening. It wasn’t pressure as much as sheer pleasure that kept building. She wasn’t even sure if it was his hand making her feel...

  The orgasm overtook her. Her eyes closed.

  This was different. Sound muffled, the sheets rubbed against her skin, his weight kept her from floating away, and the tremors, lord, they weren’t waves but pounding surf.

  Somewhere in the outer world, he stopped and a sound from deep in his throat broke through. It took a long while to come back from wherever she’d gone. Until the world focused again, and she could breathe without gasping.

  John held her in his arms. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her gently, savoring rather than taking. Making Cassie feel safe. Safer than she’d felt in a long time.

  * * *

  HIS ARM WAS still around her when Cassie opened her eyes, and her cheek was pressed against his lightly haired chest. Something else new for her. She liked having her space, especially in summer when it was warm even with the air on. She also didn’t like bringing men home. When it came to John, it seemed she was willing to break all kinds of rules.

  They’d both dozed off sometime around 2:00 a.m., which was good. At least for Cassie. She needed the sleep. Her last exam was tomorrow and tonight she had to work. As much as she hated to, she moved her head to see the digital alarm clock. Only five-twenty. She didn’t have to kick John out for a few more hours. It wouldn’t be easy, but she had little choice if she wanted to get in some serious studying.

  He tightened his hold. “How long have you been awake?”

  “Just now. I woke you when I looked at the clock, didn’t I?”

  “Nope.” He rubbed her arm, his fingers grazing her bare breast. “I’ve been lying here for ten minutes trying to decide how cruel it would be to wake you.”

  “For?”

  John laughed and kissed her hair.

  “Need I remind you we already used the second condom?” She threw a leg over his, not surprised to find he was getting hard.

  “I’m a pretty creative guy.” He rolled onto his side so they were face-to-face and put his other arm around her, too. “Did I tell you how great you were last night?”

  Startled, she looked up at him and laughed.

  “At the party.”

  “Oh.”

  “Because after we got home, you were spectacular.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose, then briefly kissed her lips before resting his chin on top of her head. She liked that her cheek ended up against his chest again. Loved that she felt the vibration of his deep, contented sigh.

  “So, I was wondering. How come you’re so tan?”

  “All the topics in the world and you come up with why am I so tan?”

  “I couldn’t help it. That adorably pale butt was mesmerizing.”

  She raised her head to stare at him. “Because you think it’s adorable, and only because of that, I’ll tell you. I’m tan from my weekly spa day. I try to fit in a spray tan between my mani-pedi and facial.”

  The way he looked at her was priceless. “Now who’s adorable? Yard work, goofus. I mow the grass and weed in my swimsuit.”

  “Lucky neighbors.”

  “Most of them are
over seventy. They wouldn’t care if I were naked.”

  “Here I thought you were smart,” he said, his face lit with amusement. “You don’t have a clue about men.”

  “The hell you say. I’m around enough of them.”

  “When it comes to a naked woman, as long as a man is breathing—”

  “Stop.” She groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. “Thanks for that— Just what I need, to picture Ed Gibbons from next door leering at me through the blinds...eww.”

  He captured her hand and only then did she realize she’d been inching toward his cock. “When is yard-work day?”

  “Why?” She peeked at him through half-closed eyes. “Do you want to help?”

  “Depends. You ever wear a thong bikini?”

  Laughing, Cassie tried to twist out of his hold.

  He used the distraction to slide down and kiss her breast. He teased her nipple with his teeth and tongue, and she dug her fingers into his shoulder. The rough feel of his stubble against her skin sent pleasure shimmering through her. Already she was damp, and damn it, why didn’t she have a box of condoms stashed?

  After giving her other breast equal attention, he kissed his way back up to her face. “Any chance you’ll be off tonight?”

  “None.” She finger-combed his hair off his forehead. And smiled when it tumbled back down. “Even if I didn’t go in, it wouldn’t be so I could play.”

  “You have to crack the books.”

  “Yep, but tomorrow is my last exam, which is awesome. The bad news is that my professor wrote the textbook we used this semester, so I’d better know the material inside and out.”

  “Can you get off early to study?”

  “I’m hoping to, but only if Tommy steps up. I’m not counting on it.” She wanted to kick herself for adding the last part. Her brother had his good qualities. She didn’t want John thinking he was a total jerk. “I probably haven’t made it clear that it’s important I have the time off. But I will, and he’ll pitch in.”

  John didn’t believe her. She saw the mix of pity and irritation in his eyes. But he left the matter alone. “Is there anything I can do to help? Quiz you? Stimulating massage?”

  “Oh, right, that’ll work.”

  “What?” His mouth curved in a guilty smile.

  “Don’t ‘what’ me.” She ducked her head to rub her cheek against him, mostly to hide her pleased blush. He seemed to really want to see her again. It could’ve easily gone the other way so she’d tried to not get her hopes up. “Last night...” she said. “You were pretty great yourself.”

  He hesitated. “At the party?”

  “Actually, yes,” she said. “Not that you weren’t great back here, but I meant at the party...when I told your friends that I’m a bartender.”

  “What’s that?” He nudged her into looking up. “I don’t recall saying anything.”

  She petted his chest. “Didn’t you want to explain bartending is temporary, and I’m a grad student?”

  “No.” He looked puzzled. “Why would I?”

  “So they know I don’t plan to work behind a bar the rest of my life.”

  “Why would you care what they think?”

  “Not me. You.”

  John frowned at her, then rolled back to glance at the clock. “I work with those guys. That’s it. I don’t owe them anything.” He faced her again with a smile. “Now, making the best use of our time? That concerns me.” He brushed the hair off her cheek. “I figure you’ll be throwing me out soon.”

  “Yes, I will.”

  “Then we better get busy.”

  Of all things, Gwen’s words popped into Cassie’s head. Her insistence that Cassie wasn’t wife material. Why would he care what anyone thought when he was only looking for a good time during his leave?

  John slid down to kiss her breasts, then just below her rib cage. By the time he got to the top of her thighs, she’d lost her train of thought.

  11

  AT TWO-THIRTY in the afternoon, John started a pot of coffee before he talked himself into going back to bed. He’d had too little sleep, and his room was dark and cool thanks to good blackout shades. Poor Cassie was just as sleep-deprived and had no choice but to study, and then had to show up at the bar in an hour.

  It reminded him too much of what it was like for him all during his pilot training. The never-ending cycle of work and schoolwork, and the irrational belief that sleep was for the weak.

  He’d left her place around eight, and thought about her the whole way back to his condo. He was really glad that he’d asked her to go to the party, even if his timing was nothing short of rude. She’d been an ace in what could have been an uncomfortable situation. She’d known it, too. Her asking him about the bartending bit told him she truly did understand air force officer culture.

  Was that why he’d brought her? To show her off, or worse, as some kind of rebellious statement? It didn’t feel as if he’d used her, but he hadn’t been himself lately, and he didn’t know what that was about, either.

  He grabbed his phone from the charger, carried it with him to the living room and sprawled out on the couch while he checked for messages. Much as he didn’t expect to hear from her, he was kind of hoping he would. But no, nothing from Cassie. He did have two voice mails, one of them from Mike.

  Shit.

  Moony rarely called him, which meant he probably wanted to talk about last night. Though everything had seemed cool between them after Cassie walked off with Gwen. And surely Moony didn’t blame him for his wife’s inappropriate behavior. John hadn’t asked her to touch him, and he’d made it clear it was unwelcome.

  A whiff of the brewing Columbian drew him back to the kitchen. He filled a mug before he punched in Mike’s number, prepared to leave a message since Mike was at work. Luckily, he answered.

  “Hey...what’s up?”

  “I’d wanted to talk to you last night but you left too soon.” Mike had to be near the hangar. The fading noise from a Raptor engine drowned out half his voice. “Wait a second...I’m on the move.”

  John listened to the familiar background sounds, trying to decide if he missed being on the base. There was an odd comfort in hearing a fighter take off and land. But he had to admit, he was enjoying his leave. Primarily because of Cassie.

  “I just came off a three-hour debriefing that should’ve taken two,” Mike said when it was quieter. “Goddamn Sanford’s got a stick up his ass today.”

  “He always does.” Bullshit debriefings John definitely didn’t miss. “So you flew this morning.”

  “Yeah. Wasn’t scheduled to. Good thing Gwen and I left shortly after you and—is it Cassie or Cassidy?”

  “Cassie.” He wondered if Mike’s wife had told him about Cassie’s using-him-for-sex comment. Well, yeah, of course she had. John smiled.

  “She seems like a real spitfire.”

  “Oh, she is.”

  “Gwen really liked her. She was hoping we could all get together for dinner.”

  Christ. Was that why he’d called? John squeezed the bridge of his nose. “That would be hard. She works nights.”

  “No problem if you can’t. I told Gwen I’d mention it.” Mike paused. “By the way, she had one too many margaritas. She didn’t mean anything.”

  “Already forgotten.”

  Mike quietly cleared his throat. “The reason I called, some of us—Towlie, Rufus and maybe Waldo... We’re planning an Alaskan fishing trip. We figured we’d hop a transport to Seattle, rent a plane and then fly to Seward. Book a few one-day charters. My neighbor went last year. He said the halibut and salmon fishing is unreal.”

  “When?” John wasn’t into standing around holding a pole, but he knew that bunch. There’d be more to the trip than fishing. “I don’t know when I’ll get more leave.”

  “Not right away. We’re in the planning stages.”

  “How long a trip?”

  “Personally, I’d like to go for ten days, minimum. But Gwen would bitch. But then she�
�ll complain even if I take off for a week.”

  “Ah...come on. You’re still newlyweds.”

  “Screw you, Devil.” Mike laughed. “Wait until it’s your turn. Let’s see how you handle being on a short leash.”

  “Never happen, buddy.”

  “Marriage or the short leash?”

  His knee-jerk response was to say both. But that wasn’t true. “Nothing’s slipping around this neck.”

  “We’ll see. Half my damn reenlistment bonus is gone, and I only got the check three months ago.” Mike kind of laughed again, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. “Hell, I’m not sure where the money all went.”

  John hoped he was exaggerating. They were talking six figures.

  “Don’t think I’m complaining about Gwen. I’m not. She likes to look good, and I want her to. It’s just—” His sigh was pure frustration. “I figured I’d better grab some of that bonus for the fishing trip. I can’t remember the last time we all got together. Been a while.”

  There was a good reason he couldn’t remember. The five of them had never gone out of town as a group. But John knew the chatter was more about steering the conversation away from Mike’s wife. “Yeah, sounds good,” he said, wondering if he’d still be around. “Let me know once you guys work out the details, and I’ll find out if I can get leave.”

  “You’re coming up on reenlistment soon, right?”

  John briefly closed his eyes. Why had he thought for one second that it wouldn’t come up? “Yep.”

  “Don’t sign until they give you a week off for Alaska.”

  “Right.” John knew everyone assumed he was staying put. And why not? He’d be crazy to give up his air force career. He knew that. Trouble was, it didn’t make his decision any easier.

  “You got plans for the money?”

  “What? I go on leave and everybody slacks off? You have nothing to do but talk on the phone all day?”

  Mike told him what he could do to himself, then exhaled into the phone. “That’s right, you’re still single. You don’t have to think one step ahead.”

  “I’m single, yeah, but I’m not twelve. I’ll invest.”

  “Attaboy, Devil. You always were the brightest of the bunch. Just remember, though...before you buy that diamond ring, choose carefully, my friend. Find a woman who won’t embarrass you, makes you look good, but can stand on her own. And make sure you have a secret bank account,” Mike said, pretending that last part was a joke.