I gave her a blank look. “What? We just got here?”
Her shoulders were slumped, and she pulled her hair. “I know. Isa is super nice, but I don’t know anyone else here. I just am not much of a party girl.”
“That’s the point of a party, babe. You get to know other people. Do you want a drink?”
She shook her head. “No, I missed my workout today so I shouldn’t.”
I took both of her hands in mine and gazed down at her. “Aria, you are in perfect shape. Just relax a bit.”
“I can’t. I came to Coronado to train, and I’ve been spending time with you, so I’m behind.”
“Behind on what? What are you training for exactly?”
She pulled her hair and looked away from me. “Nothing. You’re right.” She looked around the kitchen, extricated herself from my grip, and poured herself a rum and coke in a red solo cup. “Hey. I wanted to tell you something.”
“What’s up?”
“I like that you keep trying to push me out of my comfort zone.”
“I just want you to live a little, sweetheart. I spent six months of my life in BUD/S training. I was so focused. Didn’t want to let my dad down. But he died right after I graduated. He invited me to a Padres game once, and I didn’t go because I was training. I regret not taking the time to have fun.”
She gave me a sympathetic nod and stroked my forearm. “Wow. I’m sure he understood.”
“Yeah. Well, I can’t go back in time. I’d been so focused on school, my career. I want to make my personal life a priority.”
A shadow crossed her lovely face. “I don’t even know what that means. I’ve never even had a boyfriend.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and a wave of possessiveness surged through me. “Well, you have one now.”
She opened her mouth and then closed it quickly, her gaze darting between my eyes and the floor. “I like you, Erik. I really do…more than you can possibly know. But I’m leaving. I just don’t see how this can work out.”
“Doesn’t matter that you are leaving. Any relationship I’m in is long distance. You could be in another country, and it wouldn’t make a difference. I’ll be halfway around the world next month.”
She took a step back from me. “Look, I really care about you. It’s just—”
“Just what? What are you so afraid of, baby? We’re perfect for each other.”
“But…how can you even say that? You don’t even know me!”
I pulled her into my arms and held her close, forcing her to look at me. “You’re drop dead gorgeous. But it’s so much more than that. We’re both over achievers . . . and you inspire me. I’ll never be lazy with you. And I can teach you to have some fun, too. I’m a SEAL officer, and I want a strong woman like you beside me. Give me a chance.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Erik…my life is just so complicated right now that I can’t even think about anything long-term. Can’t we just enjoy our time together until I leave and then figure things out from there?”
“Fine.” I pounded my beer and left her in the kitchen. I wasn’t delusional. I knew she was attracted to me. I could see the way she looked at me, feel the way she touched me. If any part of me thought that she wasn’t interested in me, I’d back off. But that wasn’t it. Something was holding her back, and I didn’t have a clue what it was.
But I was a SEAL—and SEALs never quit.
I’d just have to break down her walls and make her mine.
18
Aria
We kept our distance for the rest of the party until I finally convinced him to leave. I hated myself right now. What on earth was I doing? I had this amazing guy, the type of man that my mom had repeatedly told me would never be interested in me, and I was pushing him away. He was insanely hot, incredible in bed, a Navy SEAL, sweet to his family, educated, and supportive. I’d be an idiot not to try to make a go of it with this man.
Okay. Tonight. I was going to tell him tonight.
If he liked me as much as he claimed, it wouldn’t change his feelings toward me. He could help train me and be there for me through BUD/S.
If we were meant to be, it would all work out. If he had a problem with it, I’d be devastated, but at least I would be prepared. There was no certainty about relationships. My mom had never been in a stable one, so I didn’t even have a role model to aspire toward. I could only rely on myself, and as much as I cared about Erik, I couldn’t let anything stand in the way of me achieving my goals.
He drove back to my place in silence. When we arrived, I invited him in, and to my relief he accepted. I let Flounder out and then sat on the porch, staring up at the stars.
My phone buzzed. Eight missed calls from my mom. I could not deal with her right now.
When Flounder was done taking care of business, we went back inside my place. Erik was sitting on the sofa with a stone hard expression on his face. Was he still mad at me? I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Or feeling. And it killed me.
I sat next to him, my heart pounding in my chest, and nearly wept with relief when he put his arm around me.
“I’m sorry. I—”
He pressed a finger to my lips. “Don’t. It’s fine, baby.”
“No. I owe you an explanation.”
“Aria, you don’t owe anyone anything. Just do whatever you got to do in your life. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
I blinked back tears. What had I done to deserve his blind loyalty? I knew the answer to that. Nothing. Why did he even like me? I could never be good enough for an incredible guy like him. “You mean that?”
“I do. I’ll be around until you leave, and then I deploy. It’s not like I’ll be dating when I’m Iraq. You know, since women still aren’t on the Teams.”
I punched his arm. “Smartass.”
“No seriously. Go and do whatever it is that is next in your life. We can stay in touch while I’m gone. And we can see where we’re at when I return.”
My body flushed with warmth. I straddled him and looked into his eyes.
Say it, dammit. Tell him the truth.
But no words came out of my mouth. He reached behind my neck and undid my bustier as easy as if he was picking a lock. My breasts bounced free, and the cool air hardened my nipples.
He pulled my wig off, and I shook my hair free as it cascaded over my breasts.
“Aria,” he rasped as he planted kisses on my neck. “You’re so sexy.”
I squeezed the muscles in his arms, slowly tracing the intricate ink from his tattoos. What were the stories behind his body art? Tribal patterns were interwoven with some script. There was so much about this man that I had yet to discover. But all I knew was I needed to get lost in him, feel his strong arms encircling my body. For so long I had been so independent, relying on no one but myself. But for as long as I was with him, I would depend on him.
I flipped back my hair as he buried his face into my chest. The warmth of his tongue excited me, and I gasped when he sucked on my left nipple as his hand worked on my right one. My own hands became addicted to his body, kneading his muscles, stroking his back, never wanting to let go.
I let out a moan when his mouth switched to my other nipple. My enthusiastic response invigorated him. He grasped my hair in his fist, kissed me aggressively, his tongue probing my mouth.
He pulled my panties down over my legs, leaving my boots on. I hiked up my skirt and wrapped my legs around his waist, desperate to feel his hard cock.
“That’s it, baby. Rub your pussy all over me. I’m going to get you off before I fuck you. I want to watch you come.”
He grasped my hips, situating me closer, and began to rock me back and forth.
His mouth went back to work on my nipple, and his other hand massaged my breast.
“Oh my god, baby. That feels so incredible.”
I swiveled my hips around as I grasped his thighs. I was so close to coming, but I wanted to hold on to this edge of ecstasy.
He spread
my legs wide and pulled me into him and rubbed me over his hard cock. “Come for me now, champ.”
“Oh! Yes! Yes!” My breath hitched, and I crashed into paradise, riding him and savoring every last second of my orgasm.
He cradled me in his arms as I relaxed in his embrace. Enjoying the perfect beauty of the moment.
He leaped up and stripped off his leather pants. As he stood stark naked in front of me, I marveled at how ridiculously hot this man was. He had a better physique than any Olympian I’d ever met, and the hair on his chest made him look so masculine, so virile. I’d found other men sexy, but I had never felt an insatiable hunger for anyone else as I had for Erik.
With one arm, he flipped me around, and his hand slid down my belly and landed in between my thighs. His finger parted my lips as he pressed it inside me and then slowly removed it. He angled my ass up, gripped my waist, as the tip of his cock pushed into me. He was so hard, and I was so wet, the perfect combination of pressure and ecstasy sent me soaring again.
He filled me up as he went deeper and deeper, fucking me so hard I was panting as if I had just run four miles.
“You have the perfect ass, baby.” He spanked me, and I moaned.
“Ooh.”
“You like that? You like it rough? Are you my dirty girl?”
“Yes!”
He pulled my hair as if it was in a ponytail and spanked me again.
The sting from his hand on my ass contrasted with the pure pleasure of his cock inside my body. My clit was throbbing, and I was desperate to come again, come with him. I could feel his pace quicken, his breath coming in hot spurts on my neck.
“Erik!” I screamed. My hands clutched the sofa as he pounded into my pussy again and again until there was no him and no me, just us as one, coming together.
He held me tight as I quivered and I wanted to stay in this moment forever.
But I knew that we could never return to this perfect time. Once I told him my truth, he would never feel the same about me as he did right now.
19
Erik
I had a brutal week of training out at San Clemente Island. My Team was flown out of Coronado up the coast to spend some time blowing up buildings and practicing raids. We even trained on a full-scale replica of Osama Bin Laden’s compound. Honestly, I had a blast and couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough that this was actually my job. Most days, I felt like I was living in a video game. But even so, I missed Aria.
Reception sucked, and Wi Fi was nonexistent. I’d explained this to her before I’d left and she was cool with it. I was so grateful to meet a girl who understood my job—my last girlfriend would always get upset when I couldn’t call, text, or email. Not that I had a choice—I was married to the Teams.
I flew back into Coronado on Sunday and called Aria. She invited me over to her place, but first, I had some shopping to do.
I walked down Orange Ave and went to Holland’s Bicycles. I spent around twenty minutes browsing different bikes before I chose an Electra Cruiser in Sea foam.
I paid for the bike and a helmet. The shop girl eyed me. “Wow. Nice bike. Must be a lucky lady.”
I smiled. “She’s not the lucky one; I am.”
I left the store and walked the bike to Aria’s place when my phone rang. It was that potential client.
“Hello, Mr. Johnson. How are you?”
“Fine, Erik. Just fine. The CFO will be in town next weekend. I want him to meet you. I was wondering if we could have dinner together next Friday.”
I had to ask Aria to accompany me. “Of course, sir.”
“Wonderful. I’ll make reservations at Addison for 6:00.”
I tried not to laugh. Addison was the same place my mom suggested I take Aria out for a first date. “Wonderful, sir. I’ll be there. Do you mind if a bring a date?”
“No, Erik. Not at all. We will be bringing our wives. I’ll see you next week.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m looking forward to it.”
I hung up the phone, excitement racing through my chest. Mr. Johnson was a huge potential client who ran a biotechnology firm. I’d met him at a fundraiser for the Naval SEAL Foundation. Snagging him could take TritonFix to the next level.
I’d ask Aria tonight.
I turned down her street and opened the gate to her yard. Flounder greeted me with a sloppy kiss, and I rubbed his ears. Aria emerged from the house, and her eyes immediately focused on the bike.
“Erik, you didn’t.”
I leaned the bike against the fence and went in for a kiss. She tasted even sweeter than I remembered. “I did.”
“Did you buy it or rent it?”
“I bought it, champ. It’s all yours.” I attempted to read her face. She bit her lip, and her brow contorted. What was she so afraid of?
I gave her another kiss. “Come on. You don’t trust me?”
“No. That’s not it. I do.” She exhaled. “Okay . . . I’ll give it a try.”
“Good girl.” I kissed the tip of her nose and took her hand in mine. Yet something felt…off. Once again, I experienced the gut feeling that she was holding something back from me. Some grand plan that she didn’t want me to know. That was fine on our first date, but now that we’d slept together, I needed more. I wanted to be with someone who was open and honest with me.
“Let’s walk over to my place and get my bike. We can start the trail from there.”
We strolled by the beach as the tourists whizzed by us in their bikes. I often wondered how many of them were aware that Navy SEALs trained less than a mile away from their vacation.
She touched my arm—her delicate fingers sending spikes of heat through me. “So, what did you do this week?”
“A bunch of training evolutions. There’s like a full city built out there. It’s like a special forces Disneyland.”
“Wow. That’s so cool. I’d love to visit the island one day. I’ve read so much about it.”
I eyed her. “Well, you can’t. The island is restricted to the military. Unless you are a biologist. We occasionally have environmentalists come out to examine our impact on the native ecosystem. There are a couple of endangered species there—the San Clemente loggerhead shrike and the island fox.” Leaning down, I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “The entire island is really breathtaking. I’ll show you pictures.”
We made small talk as we headed to the parking garage under my condo to grab my bike. Then we walked to the trail in front of the Del.
“Hop on, champ. You have perfect balance. I’ve seen you pop out of the water on one foot.”
She bit her finger nails. “It’s different in the water.”
“Get on the bike. I got you, babe. You’re fine.”
She strapped on the helmet, climbed on the bike, clutched the handle bars, and put both feet on the ground instead of the pedals. Waddling like a duck, within a few minutes, she maintained an awkward glide.
“That’s it.”
She stopped and just glared at me. “This is ridiculous. Everyone is staring at me.”
I looked around, and a few tourists were gawking, but maybe they recognized her. “Forget about them. Get back on the bike.”
She exhaled and then gave me a dirty look when a boy of around six lapped by her. But she mounted the bike again and placed her feet on the pedals. Though a bit wobbly at first, she slowly began to ride.
I hopped on my own bike. “See, you’re a natural. It’s easy.” I yelled, but by now she was in front of me.
We biked through the neighborhoods and cut into Star Park where we passed L. Frank Baum’s former residence, a two-story yellow house. I stopped on the sidewalk and showed her the Wicked Witch peering out from the side of the home and the Wizard of Oz sign hanging above the front door.
Her face beamed at the sight. “I loved the Oz books when I was a little girl.”
“Yeah. He wrote Wizard of Oz here and based the Emerald City off the Del.”
“I didn’t know that. That’s so
cool. Thanks for showing me this.”
We got back on the bikes and continued down the path. Aria had no problems keeping up with me at all. We headed to the North Island Naval Base, and we stopped in Bayview Park for a break.
She dismounted her bike and took a swig from her water bottle. We sat on a bench in the shade. I put my arm around her, drawing her close, and we gazed at the beautiful San Diego skyline.
“I can’t thank you enough for forcing me to overcome my fear. It’s been this secret of mine for years. I feel free. That was so much fun.”
I grinned down at her. “It’s hard for me to believe you are afraid of anything.”
“My entire identity is wrapped up in being an Olympian, Erik. At being the best. I often feel like people only like me for my accomplishments.”
I leaned over and gave her a kiss under a towering tree. “I don’t like you because you are a champion. That drew me to you at first, but you are so much more than your title. You are a beautiful woman. And you are adventurous and sexy.” I tilted my head, and she leaned in to meet my lips. This wasn’t our first kiss, but this time everything felt different. More intimate. The kiss was slower, yet laced with longing. When her hand reached behind my neck, a tingle shot through my body. With that jolt came a realization.
She was beginning to trust me.
Her hand gripped my upper thigh, and my cock ached for her.
I wanted to fuck her right there on the bench. But a chill took over me. I had to ask her if she would accompany me to dinner with my client next week. When I’d met her, getting her to help me with my business had been a goal. But now, I was falling for her.
I hoped I wouldn’t erase all the progress we had made together by asking her for a favor.
20
Aria
My feet sliced through the air, my hair blew in the wind.
Free. I felt free.
He had been right. Riding a bicycle, exploring this amazing island that I hoped to call home filled my heart with joy. I was delighted. I almost never took any time for myself. Sure, I’d indulge in a nice dinner after I’d won a competition or occasionally take in a movie with my teammates, but I never would just take a full day off and relax.
TRITON: A Navy SEAL Romance (Heroes Ever After Book 2) Page 9
