SEAL'd Perfection The Complete Collection: A Navy SEAL Romance

by Winters, KB

  Chapter Nine — Kat

  The ride back into town was a completely different experience than the ride to the bar. Despite our teasing back and forth before we got back on the bike, I knew we were going back to Jace’s for more than just a conversation about the pros and cons of different layout patterns for his shop.

  As we rode, I let my mind run wild with impending possibilities—there was nothing to rein in my thoughts as we sped through the dark. And if I thought I’d been aware of every inch of Jace on the first ride…well…it was nothing compared to the heightened sensation on the way back. The close dancing had sent us plunging over the edge of an innocent dinner between two—maybe someday—friends. Flashes of heat burned through me as I replayed every moment, every touch of his hands, and the way our bodies moved together. By the time I saw the milepost for our small town, I’d had over an hour to think, anticipate…and fantasize, all the while, with my arms wrapped around his tight waist, my fingers pressing into the soft leather of his jacket, knowing that as good as the jacket looked on him, it would certainly look even better on his bedroom floor.

  God…I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d been with a man. It had been so long. During the divorce and custody battle, my body had shut down that side of me. I figured it was some type of protective instinct, knowing I didn’t have the time, energy, or mindset. And most of my friends encouraged me to throw myself into the arms of some random bar guy for a night of sinful pleasure. They’d said it would help me relax. Who knows? Maybe they’d been right, but at the time, I’d been such a mess I wasn’t sure what guy in his right mind would even want me—even if it was only for a night. With my fragile state of mind, it wouldn’t have been too farfetched to imagine myself trying to flirt and ending up sobbing into my martini glass—because I missed my baby and was scared to death that Mitch’s lawyers would find a way to steal him away from me for good.

  But now…I considered Jace’s broad shoulders as we rounded the corner that would lead us to his shop…everything was different. I had a custody agreement, and although Mitch’s threats still got to me, I assured myself it was all scare tactics to keep me under his thumb, and maybe Hilda was right. Maybe it was time to move on with my own life. Jax was happy and thriving, and if I was careful and didn’t rush into anything, I could find a way to balance the two sides of myself, couldn’t I? A single mom could still be single and a mother. Couldn’t she?

  Jace parked the bike and all my questions were silenced as he cut the engine, the street so quiet you could hear the leaves blowing across the road with the gentle night breeze. Jace hopped off, his motion fluid and cat like, and then I climbed off, not nearly as gracefully. I took off the helmet and set it on the seat next to where he’d set his. We stared at each other, our faces masked with shadows from the street light halfway down the block. “You ready for your tour?” Jace asked, walking me to the door, his key set jangling as he unlocked three different locks.

  “Is this a tattoo shop, or Fort Knox?” I teased, leaning against the wall as he worked the last lock free.

  Jace laughed softly. “I know, its a little overkill, but I had a break-in once and ever since, I don’t take any chances. Believe it or not, there’s about half a million dollars of equipment in this shop.” My mouth dropped open and he laughed louder. “What can I say? I require the best of everything.” Something about his tone and expression lent double meaning to his statement and I was rendered speechless. He held my gaze for a long moment, searching my eyes with a new level of intensity that made me feel raw and exposed.

  “So, about that couch…” I finally whispered, dropping my eyes from his stare.

  “Right.” Jace’s voice held an edge of disappointment. He pushed the door open and let me go inside, flicking the light switch as soon as I stepped into the shop. I’d seen the furniture and equipment being moved in at the beginning of the month, but seeing it all arranged was a new experience. I’d never been in a tattoo shop before, but the room in front of me was nothing like what I’d imagined.

  With the lights on, it was clean and spacious, the walls painted a rich plum color that gave the whole room an expensive feel. The setup was sectioned off into three different areas—a lobby with fancy leather furniture and an exquisite rug that gave the space a rich, Gothic feel. There was a metal desk that seemed set to serve as an office, with a sleek computer perched on top and a few knickknacks, and then the other half of the room was very clearly where the magic happened. A huge bookshelf loaded with black binders, which I assumed held designs and sketches, maybe even portfolio pieces, was perched against the wall. A large table that looked like a massage table—but covered in black leather that matched the other furniture—was on one side of the room, set next to plush leather rolling chair. The far wall had a large counter with a sink, and an array of strange looking tools, and a tall cabinet that’s contents were concealed with a large frosted glass door.

  “I don’t know what you needed my help for. This place looks great,” I said, pivoting on my heel to face Jace.

  “Well thank you, but this isn’t what I needed help with,” he said. “I was actually talking about the upstairs, in my apartment. This was all done by a designer back when I had my shop in Chicago, I just replicated and downsized when I moved in here. However, my apartment, I assure you, needs a lot of assistance.”

  I laughed and followed him across the room to a narrow staircase. We went up to a landing area that was painted, but had no other design elements. To the right, was a large metal door that looked like something from a restaurant meat locker, not an apartment. I made a mental note to start shopping for doors. Jace unlocked the deadbolt, slid the door open, and beckoned me inside. We entered into what was apparently the living room, but at the moment, it was more like a collection room at a thrift shop, boxes and boxes of stuff were scattered everywhere. Most of them were still taped shut, but the ones that were already open looked to be filled with pillows, books, small sculptures, and a few art prints in plain black frames.

  The couch in question was rough looking at best, a brown sectional that had definitely seen better days. It was the only piece of furniture in the room, save for a larger than life flat screen TV hung over the small fireplace that didn’t have anything but dust inside.

  “Hmmm.” I walked to the couch and ran my hand along the back, mentally debating whether or not it could be saved.

  “Uh-oh,” Jace said, a flicker of humor on his face as he watched me. “Tell me, is it terminal?”

  I laughed. “You want my real advice?”

  He spread his hands, “Hit me with it.”

  “Burn it.”

  Jace burst out laughing. “That bad huh?”

  “I’m sorry, but seeing your place downstairs and then seeing…this…I’m beginning to wonder if I have a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde situation on my hands here,” I teased.

  Jace crossed the room to stand next to me, looking down at the couch as though it was a dear friend. “First off, I had a designer downstairs, and second, while I don’t suffer from a split personality disorder, I do have to cop to being overly sentimental sometimes. This was my couch from college, actually, and it stayed in storage for the better part of the last decade while I was off globetrotting with the SEALs…” his voice dropped off, as though realizing he’d let a secret slip. “Anyway, I don’t know why, but I wanted to save it—not that big a deal.”

  SEAL? I nodded, my mind screaming out to ask questions about him being a SEAL, but I kept my mouth shut. It was obvious it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about, and as a woman with a past…I respected that desire. “Tell you what…I might have someone who can help.” Jace looked over at me. “I have a friend in one of my design classes, she has a shop and takes old things and makes them new. She’s basically a genius. She could probably reupholster this thing and it would look better than new, that is, if you’re willing to part with this brown corduroy looking stuff,” I said, smiling as I ran my fingers along the back
for emphasis.

  “Deal.”

  I turned to Jace and found his blue eyes locked on my lips. “Wasn’t there something else…?” I started, unable to finish my thought.

  Jace’s hand rested on the side of my face, and with the other, he gently brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen into my face. My lips parted slightly as I watched him studying me as though I was the most beautiful, intriguing thing he’d ever seen. My body was trembling, and when Jace brought his lips to mine, I shivered as he closed the gap between us, pressing his rock hard body against mine. His kiss was hot and intense, as though it had been simmering on his lips all night.

  He backed me up against the wall, the kiss getting deeper and more passionate with each step. With my back pressed to the wall, he planted his hands firmly on my hips and pinned me. My heart raced as his hot lips pressed into mine. The room was silent—the only sound was our ragged breathing. He pulled away, letting his lips hover inches from mine, as he stared into my eyes.

  My stomach fluttered, wondering if I’d done something wrong. It had been a while…but then, in answer to my silent question, he pressed against me, letting me feel the weight of him against me and dragging my lips back to his. I melted into him as the kiss exploded into a frantic, desperate, clinging, pushing and pulling as we devoured each other like lovers that had been separated by time and space for decades. I moaned into Jace’s mouth as his hands slipped up the front of my sweater, taking his time as his fingertips explored my skin beneath. His mouth left mine and went to the bare skin on my shoulder, the scruff on his jaw scratching me softly, creating a delicious mix of hard and soft, gentle and rough.

  “Jace,” I whispered into his ear, my breath hot and frantic. I arched against the wall, desperate to be even closer to him. The carefully orchestrated dance that had begun on the balcony was now reaching its finale and I was breathless, waiting and wanting what would happen next.

  He tugged my sweater even lower, exposing more skin for him to ravage, and I couldn’t hold back another moan as his tongue flicked over my collarbone, shoulder, and then back up the side of my neck, until he found my hungry mouth again. With a flick of his tongue, he parted my lips, slipping between them and slowing to explore every bit of me. I gripped his strong shoulders, digging into the leather as I had on the back of the bike. Jace’s hands slid down my body, taking in every curve, until he reached my hips. He grabbed my ass, pulling me into his obvious hardon, and I gasped. Even through the thick material of his jeans, I knew what lay beneath would deliver pleasure beyond even my wildest fantasies. As though imagining him inside me, I moaned out his name again, and he hoisted me up, so my legs were wrapped around his hips.

  With my back braced against the wall, he held me with one arm, and let his free hand explore up the front of my sweater, and I wished I’d left the bra off. His fingers ran over my skin, sending licks of heat fanning out from wherever he touched me. He cupped my breast and ran his fingers over the smooth fabric of my bra. I strained against him, wishing there was much less clothing between us.

  As though reading my mind, he pulled away, and grabbed my waist with both hands so he could carry me over to the couch. He set me on the back of it. I balanced on the tops of the cushions and took advantage of the space between us to claw at the zipper of his jacket. Once free, I pushed it from his shoulders, smiling when it hit the floor with a significant thump. He pulled the sweater off of me and tossed it to the floor to join his jacket. His eyes devoured me for a moment, before he stripped off his shirt. I gasped at the sight, the combinations of dark ink and sinewy muscles driving me to distraction.

  “What do you think?” Jace asked, reading my wide eyes.

  I reached forward and ran my fingers over the smooth ink of the largest design that sprawled over half of his torso, a large, black snake that was coiled to strike. There were half a dozen other designs and I ran my fingers over all of them, letting myself explore every tattoo and trace each detailed line. Jace was silent, his heavy breaths the only sounds, as I sat before him, mesmerized.

  After a minute, Jace took my hands and pressed kisses to each finger, locking his eyes with mine. The air crackled between us, as though we both had things to say, but no words to express them. Before I could dive too far into my own thoughts, he kissed me again, stealing away my ability to process anything other than how good his lips felt on mine, and how good his skin felt against mine. I wrapped my arms up around his neck as he got closer, and relished being able to dig my fingers into his hot inked flesh.

  As we melted together again, he reached between us, aiming for the zipper on my jeans, and suddenly I inhaled sharply, as though I’d just emerged from a pool of ice water. What am I thinking? It has been years since I’ve done this, and here I am, giving it away to a stranger on our first date that isn’t even supposed to be a date. Shit! Kat, what are you doing?

  “Are you okay?” Jace asked, his eyes now wide with alarm. “Kat?”

  I untangled myself from him and pushed off the couch. “I just can’t…right now…not like this.” I knew my words made no sense, and I felt bad, seeing the look of confusion on Jace’s face. “I had a good time, it’s just—it’s not the right thing.”

  God, I sound like an idiot.

  “I have to go.” I turned away, shrugged into my sweater, and ran out the door, before Jace could say anything else. One plea from him, or one more look at his hard body, would make me lose my mind.

  And that was the one thing I couldn’t lose. Not for a man. Not ever again.

  Chapter Ten — Kat

  “Kat! Wait!” Jace called after me, as he chased me down the stairs. I hit the door of the tattoo shop, and sagged against it. He jogged across the room but stopped a few feet from me, leaving plenty of space between us. “Hey, listen, I’m sorry about that, I got carried away.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. “It wasn’t you Jace, I was there too. It’s just—it’s complicated, you know?”

  “I do know, believe me.” There was some deeper meaning behind his admission, but I couldn’t ask what was fueling it. “Let me give you a ride home, it’s late and it’s not safe out there.”

  I ignored the fact that there hadn’t been so much as a robbery in the last two years, but agreed to let him take me home. We went outside and got back on his bike, but this time, the tension between us was strained with awkwardness. It took less than ten minutes to reach my townhouse, and he insisted on walking me up. I opened the door and before I could turn back to say goodnight to Jace, I heard Mitch’s voice filtering over from the kitchen. I rushed inside, and screeched to a halt in the kitchen, where the voicemail for the home phone was currently recording a message —

  “…I don’t know what’s so fucking important that you can’t answer your phone, but this is a new low, Katherine. Your son is in the hospital and you can’t be bothered to—”

  I snatched the phone off the hook, interrupting the message. “What—what are you talking about?”

  “Katherine?” Mitch sounded ruffled at his message getting cut off. “Where the fuck have you been? I’ve called you half a dozen times!”

  My hand went to my pocket, patting frantically where I remembered stashing it before leaving the house with Jace. “I don’t know—what happened?” I demanded, shaking my head to focus on what was really important. “Where is Jax? What happened?”

  “He’s in the emergency room. He started throwing up after dinner and had a fever so we rushed him over. We’re waiting to hear from the doctor right now, they’re running tests.”

  “Oh my God! Mitch, is he—is he gonna be all right?” My heart thrashed violently inside of my chest.

  Mitch sighed. “I think so, Katherine. The doctor says there’s a bug going around, but with his age…they have him getting fluids and all this stuff is hooked to him. Jax was screaming, asking where you were.”

  My heart stopped, cracks breaking it into a thousand pieces at the visual of my baby screaming my name. “I’m gett
ing in the car right now. I don’t have my cell phone, but I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  Mitch gave me the information and I hung up the phone, momentarily paralyzed as I mentally reamed myself for being so irresponsible. Maybe Mitch was right…maybe I was a terrible mother…

  “What’s going on?”

  I swirled to find Jace standing two feet away, his eyes dark with concern.

  I was still searching my pockets, wondering where my phone was. “Oh my God,” I gasped, my mind filling with horror. “My phone! It must have…oh my God. It must have fallen out on the way to the bar, and I didn’t even notice it was gone! I’m a mother! I can’t not have my phone on me.” Tears were streaking down my eyes. “My baby…my son is in the hospital! And I didn’t know because my phone…oh my God. I need to go! I have to get to the hospital.”

  Jace grabbed me and pulled me to him. “It’s okay, come on, let me take you out there right now.”

  “No!” I recoiled. “I’ll drive myself.”

  Jace started for the door. “You’re not fit to drive right now. The last thing your son needs is for you to end up in an accident. Now, come on. I’m driving you.”

  “Fine,” I said, giving in to his demand.

  We raced to the hospital and I was bolting for the emergency room doors practically before Jace cut the engine. He chased after me, running through the doors, up to the front desk. Minutes later, we were headed towards Jax’s room, but I stopped short, seeing Mitch and Hannah huddled together in the hallway. Mitch looked up at my approach, his eyes dark with anger. “Finally!”

  “Mitch, don’t start. It was a mistake,” I pleaded.

  “A pretty big mistake, Katherine. What if something more serious had happened?”

  Before I could continue to defend myself, Mitch’s eyes landed on Jace, who was a few paces behind me. He ran his eyes over him with a disapproving stare, a sneer turning up the corner of his lip. “And who exactly is this?” He snarled, shooting his accusatory eyes to me.