Ice (Elite Forces #1)

by Hilary Storm

“No. I could use some water, though, to take one of these pain pills.” She smiles even though I know it’s fake. I need to pull her off to the side and ask her what the hell her problem is, but first I need to get rid of these two.

  “I’m going to grab something to eat. I’ll get the water and some food for you, Jade. If you don’t fucking eat it, then I’ll turn you over my knee and gladly spank that tight ass. Nice jeans by the way.” Harris isn't tactful with his shit way of expressing how much he wants her. He’s damn sure got another thing coming if he thinks he’s going to get anywhere near her ass. She walks away, glaring at me without a word. She knows damn well I’m not going to say a word. Yet anyway.

  Harris lifts his brows at her in a way I don’t like at all. Those two little slits he sees out of are half hanging out of his damn head, stuck right on her ass, and I pull back from attacking him right here in front of everyone... Motherfucker. He has no chance in hell against me. She won’t even consider him after I’m finished with her. I feel my hands clenching into tight fists at my sides. This fucker is pushing my limits, and I’m about to knock him straight on his ass. I just need time with her by myself, in my own environment. I want to treat her like the woman I know she is and deserves to be.

  “It’s a long flight, I’ll go with you. Commander, what would you like?” Now if Harris would be more like this polite kid and not send those fucking sexual innuendos around like he can’t wait to try to get into those sexy panties I saw her shimmy into back at the hospital this morning, then I might like the dude.

  “Doesn’t matter. I’ll eat anything. Why don’t you get us all something?” I curl my lip, never taking my eyes off of Jade, while I dig out a handful of twenties, count out four, and hand them over to him.

  “I’ll buy everyone’s.” I nod in his direction, my eyes never leaving hers. I see her, she can’t fool my ass. Her breathing speeds up and her cheeks flush. Damn, she’s gorgeous as she stands there trying to pretend I don’t affect her.

  These are the things I want to see on her. I bet anything if I dipped my hand into the front of her jeans, scraped my fingers around the edge of those silky panties, moved them down the seam, she’d be wet as fuck.

  “Perfect timing, beautiful. Come here.” My hand reaches out, pulling her flush against me. My back is to the wall, and she comes to me willingly. She has to, there are way too many people here to cause a scene. I’m about ready to stir her up and shake her to her damn core.

  “What the hell are you doing?” She snips into my ear.

  “Staking a claim right now.” My mouth takes hers. She resists me at first, then fuck, her hands land on my chest. She’s warm and completely intoxicating. My tongue swipes against hers the second she opens up to me, and she moans into my mouth.

  Shit, the sound of her voice drives me insane. The only thing I can think of is getting her alone, with no one around us for miles, just so I can hear those sweet little sounds escaping from her mouth, so I can tell her exactly what she does to me. No restrictions. No boundaries. No rules. Just us and this fiery hot chemistry we have between us.

  “Kaleb, what the hell are you doing?” She tries to pull away. Hell to the motherfucking no. She is not getting away from me.

  “Don’t stand there and pretend like you don’t want it. You want this as much as I do.” I press my engorged cock against her and she gasps.

  “There are people watching us.” She chooses right now to be shy. I shrug. I really don’t care; let them look. I’ll teach them all how this is done.

  “Harris is going to get his ass beat if he says one more word to you. It would be different if his intentions were noble, but we both know they aren’t. He wants you.” Her gaze borders on the verge of a smug smile. She knows damn well that shit is getting to me.

  “You have nothing to be jealous of. I’m not yours, nor am I his, and if you don’t get that through your thick alpha skull, I won’t let your ass near me. Check yourself, Maverick. I’m not a fucking piece of property for you to own, and I’m sure as fuck not a piece of meat for you two to tear apart while you fight over me.” I pull her wrist against my side, while she spews her words in my face.

  She’s feisty and not at all afraid to tell me off and remind me how it is. Goddamn, she will be so much fun to play with when I get her back home. The thoughts of all the possibilities cause a smile on my face, which only pisses her off even further.

  “Kaleb. I’m tired. I’m not dealing with this pissing match. You’re going to have to get over yourself and relax a little.”

  “I’ll relax when I can slip inside that sweet pussy of yours again. Until then, I’m going to be worked up. It comes with the territory of running a big mission like this. I’ll need to blow off this aggression somehow, and I can only think of one way that sounds perfect.”

  “Do you always think with your dick?”

  “No. I assure you, honey, there’s so much more of me craving you than just my dick. I’m not just here to fuck around, Jade.” I pull her closer as I speak close to her ear. She tucks her arms into my chest as I wrap my arms around her before she pushes away. Her hurt arm is wrapped, but she's still moving it.

  Using her big, beautiful eyes to look straight into mine, she begins again. “You’re insane. Kaleb, please don’t do this shit in front of the guys anymore. I won’t have anyone thinking I’m fucking my way into these missions. I’ve worked too damn hard for my career to throw it all away like that. I respect these guys, and I want them to continue to respect me. Just because I had a lapse in judgement a few times with you doesn’t mean I’m yours to toy with for all eternity.”

  I open my mouth to respond to her lapse of judgment lie, a damn hit to my fucking gut, but see Harris behind her, returning with a shit ton of food in his arms. She turns to see what my eyes are focused on and instantly moves to help him. He must be telling fucking jokes when she reaches him, because she throws her head back and smiles the largest smile I've ever seen on her face. My heart skips at least once, knowing I've never been the reason for her happiness. That's something I plan to change very soon.

  JJ and Roberts walk up from their trip to find the latrine, and I exhale knowing I've fucked up my last moment alone with her. From here on out, the team will be tight in our vicinity. I know my seat is next to hers, and I made sure JJ is on the opposite side of her. Harris is in a different fucking row, and I don't give two shits who he's stuck next to. The guy had my back on that mission, but I know damn well he’s not on my side when it comes to Jade.

  I don't eat anything he brings back, but I do watch them all interact as a group of great friends. That's what I miss most about being active. The comradery among the guys begins lifelong friendships that lead to so much support, and in the worst cases, heartache as they all come home from the extremities of being on active duty.

  Lives change and evolve like the seasons, and a soldier deals with the most extreme cases of that. Going from training for years then to active duty for even more, it's extremely difficult to fit in at home after being away for so long. I should know, I still don't. I have my brothers. Brothers I met when I served and who haven't faltered since. My real blood brother is a piece of shit who doesn't even deserve a mention from my mouth. He’ll get his one day. I don't even have to serve it to him. He fucks up enough that karma will do its job.

  Her laughter pulls me from my thoughts, and I watch her stand to land a punch to Harris’ shoulder, tucking her injured arm against her body. I wish to fuck it was a real punch to his face, but it wasn't. It was more like a playful, flirty slug that just irritates the shit out of me. I can either stand back here and sulk, or join the party.

  I guess it's time I start to play the game. I don't lose. I want her, and I will make her see that we’re going to be great together. She's just not in the right mindset to focus on that right now. There are too many emotions at the surface with everything that's going on for her to think about anything except going home.

  They finally call our flig
ht to begin boarding, and I stand quickly to grab my carry-on bag, picking up hers as I do. She takes it from me and throws it over her good shoulder with a quiet ‘thanks’ before walking to the line of people ready to board. I fall in behind them all and wait patiently for my chance to spend hours next to her.

  This will be a chance to talk to her about real life. I want to know everything about her, and today is where that journey continues.

  An elderly couple steps near me, and I use my hand to let them go in front of me. There's no hurry to board a plane that has assigned seats. My bag fits below the one in front of me, so I'm not in any rush.

  They fumble with their boarding passes before we finally move through the doors and I cross over from solid concrete to the temporary walkway leading up to the airplane, welcoming the shift of my environment. This is another step of many with her, and I let the smile grace my face with the anticipation of what's to come.

  Stepping onto the crowded airplane, I quickly see Harris leaning over Jade. I watch JJ stand and cut the line of passengers off as he crosses into the other row of seats. He sits in what should be Harris’ seat, and my anger instantly boils to the surface. That motherfucker needs to be taught a damn lesson in survival. Rule number one…. Don't fuck with my woman. Rule number two… Don't fuck with me.

  The smile on my face has been replaced with hatred as I watch him have her move to the window seat. He takes the middle, and I begin to plan where I’ll stab this asshole first. “Fucking dick.” I didn't mean to say that out loud, but from the looks I'm getting, apparently I did.

  I finally arrive at my fucked-up destination, my eyes focused on Harris. My mind made up that I'll just yank the cocky asshole out of the seat next to her and sit there myself. It's as simple as that. The fight won't disrupt the flight, and I don't give a fuck what anyone has to say about me if it does. He's not taking away the hours I plan to sit with her. No fucking way.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  JADE

  Holy shit, he's pissed. I can see him coming behind all the passengers down the center of the plane. How could I miss him? He's the big one with all the tattoos and bulging muscles that barely fit through the aisle. He's the one sending bullets through Harris before he even gets near.

  At the risk of being in a fucking war zone, I tell Harris to switch me seats. He hasn't noticed Kaleb’s face yet, so I know he's oblivious to what he's doing. I've been very careful about what Harris knows and thinks when it comes to Kaleb Maverick. He doesn't need to know Maverick single-handedly gave me the best fucks I've ever had. That even with the slight introduction to Harris’ dick, I can tell there's no comparison. I also know I'd never let Harris treat me like Kaleb has. His domineering attitude is obnoxious, yet downright fucking sweltering to my core at the same time. I'd beat Harris across his fucking head if he tried half the shit Kaleb has done to me.

  “I’d feel better having you in the middle, Elliott. You’ll have more room to move your sore arm around if you do.” Kaleb glares at both Harris and I. Shit, if looks could kill, we’d both be dead. Move my arm around, my goddamn ass. This is his way of staking his claim.

  I’m not about to argue on an airplane full of people, so I switch with Harris. Simple as that. Screw it. I’m going to fall asleep, so he can huff, piss, and moan his arrogant ass to himself.

  This flight will be interesting with these two sandwiching me in, that’s for damn sure. Harris is bound to tease me like he always does, and Kaleb is going to get pissed about the banter between Harris and I. It's destined to be a horrible flight. The lack of oxygen is already overridden from fumes of testosterone. Someone knock me out now, please.

  Harris and I struggle to switch seats, and I feel Kaleb staring at us. He's been in the aisle waiting for the switch, allowing us room to prevent bumping my sore arm. I appreciate his impatient patience, but he's going to have to chill.

  We’re finally settled just before Kaleb sits in the seat on my right. Both guys are wide in the shoulders, so I'm glad I halfway like them both, because they’re taking up more than their own space.

  We’re all quiet as the rest of the passengers finish boarding, but I can feel the tension on my right. There's no doubt Kaleb could fuck something up right now, or in my case, fuck something hard.

  He slides his ass forward in the seat, sitting lower in his chair and taking up even more leg room, with his leg against mine like he’s marking his territory by touching me. I refuse to let him weigh heavy on me with a flight home in front of me. I should be ecstatic. I should be planning my stay and preparing to notify everyone of my return, but I'm not. My family doesn’t even know where I’ve been. Hell, I’m not even sure I should call them before I walk in their door.

  I need to though. Something is ticking away in the back of my head to contact my parents. I realize it has everything to do with me shooting a young child. No matter how I see it, he was someone's son, but he was a young man who was going to shoot Kaleb. Yet, I can’t seem to get his young face out of my mind. I’d give anything to be able to have my dad hold me like he did when I was growing up. He’d comfort me when I fell off my bike or when my brother Jason thought it would be fun to sneak up behind me, tackle me to the ground, and put a pair of his underwear over my head. I hated that more than anything. No matter how many times he was told to knock it off, he tortured me every chance he got by pulling sick jokes.

  I laugh out loud, recalling the day I got him back. He was sleeping. I crept into his room, scattered unused tampons all over his bed, and of course had to dip them in red paint for effect. He freaked the hell out when he woke up. All I could do was laugh my ass off when he wandered into my room the next morning. His face was beat red and he was so pissed. Then he cocked his head to the side when he saw me sitting at my vanity, applying the little bit of makeup I wore.

  “After all these years you paid me back. It’s about time you grew a set of balls.” We laughed and joked around about the balls thing.

  “I think I’ll stick with what I have, thank you very much. Now, get the hell out of my room and keep your underwear off of my head, asshole, or next time I do pay you back, you’ll really be sorry.” At thirteen years old I had finally grown up, he had said as he walked out the door, laughing all the way to his room. Needless to say, after that night, I never saw a pair of his underwear again.

  Shit, I miss him. I just wish I were going home to see him.

  “What’s so funny?” Harris leans into my space. His hand goes to my leg, squeezing it gently. I lean my head back, shifting my body to face him the best I can. Being careful not to put too much pressure on my sore arm. I feel the effects of the pain pills kicking in slightly, although I’m not quite ready to zone out yet.

  I’m afraid to sleep. I’m terrified of the dreams I’ll have. I try to tune those thoughts out and move a little closer to Harris to tell him the story. The entire time we’re talking, with my body facing away from Kaleb, I can feel his anger, jealousy, and frustration poking holes in the back of my head. He’s a ticking time bomb ready to go off at any second.

  The truth is, I can’t bear to look at the man. He makes me want to feel things I’m not ready for. Mainly him. If we had started off normal, like a date, or getting to know each other before we fucked without me even knowing his damn name, then who knows, maybe things could be different between us, but it can’t be. He’s my damn Commander. This shit is off-limits and completely against everything we both know. Whatever happened needs to be left here, or should I say, back in Afghanistan.

  I’m not sure how long Harris and I talk, keeping everything low-key. I talk more about my past while he brings up the things he wants to do when he returns. As my eyes drift closed, my head falls onto his shoulder, and I swear I hear him ask me to dinner when we return. I’m also pretty sure I hear a low rumbling growl of “fuck no” from behind me.

  KALEB

  No fucking way is he taking her anywhere. This shit ends the minute we step off this plane. She may not have taken Ha
rris’ joke about spanking her ass seriously, but by god, the first chance I get, I’m spanking her ass. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it turns me on. I’m going to punish her in a way that will have her begging me to fuck her when I’m done. Then she’ll learn not to ignore my ass. Or to treat me like I don’t even exist. Fuck that.

  I’m not sure what kind of game she’s playing, but this guy never played nice in the sandbox, and I’ll be damned if I start now. What’s mine is mine and Harris needs to know she’s off-limits for him.

  Out of the corner of my eye I watch her sleep on his shoulder, her long blond hair enveloping her face. I glare at the motherfucker, who seems to be content with his head laid back and his eyes closed. He’s fucking sleeping next to her.

  What I need right the hell now is a few shots of whiskey to kill the burn that it’s him and not me. Shit. I sound like a pussy, a defeated one at that.

  “No!” She jolts up, scaring the shit out of me and several other people around us who gasp at her loud voice.

  “Hey.” I place my hand over the top of hers. Her head whips around in my direction. Harris wakes with her abruptness too, but I couldn’t care less about him; my focus is on her.

  “Are you alright, Miss?” The cute little flight attendant who has been flirting with me every time she walks past stops to ask.

  “Yes. Bad dream. Sorry.” Jade sits up. Shit. I don’t even have to ask what she was dreaming about. I can see the agony in her eyes. She’s suffering over what happened more than I thought she would.

  “Come here, please.” Removing my hand from hers and bringing it up and around her shoulder, I am careful not to cause her physical pain.

  She’s carrying so much anguish inside of her, and it kills me to see her like this. She may hate me for what I’m going to recommend to my superior when I return, but Jade needs help. She needs to talk to someone about this. Someone neutral. One of the Army’s doctors who specialize in treating soldiers who have a difficult time when returning home from war or a mission.