Brandon's Bliss

by Dale Mayer

“There’s just nothing like water,” she added gently. Her hand stroked down his arms, his chest, his hips. When she enclosed his erection, he moaned softly, a shudder working from deep inside up and out through his body.

  She chuckled and said, “I’ve been wanting to meet this guy for a long time.”

  Her humor lightened the atmosphere and at the same time raised the temperature that much more. Something else he wasn’t used to. But it felt right. It felt natural. Matter of fact, it felt damn good.

  He grabbed the bar of soap. “My turn,” he whispered as he dragged the soap across her breasts, cupping first one firmly with his hand and then the other, the bar gently teasing as he soaped her from head to toe. Unable to help himself, he pulled her back against him, his hands reaching around to cup her breasts, then to slide down to tangle at the juncture of her thighs. She moaned, arching into his fingers. Gently he slid one finger deeper into the soft skin folds to the button hidden within. She cried out, the soap making her even more slippery against him. She turned him and pivoted so she was up against the back wall, and the water now pounded on his back. She slipped her arms around him and said, “I really don’t want to wait.”

  Again it amazed him. She was just so damn natural about all this. A nymph in the water and everything seemed normal. More than normal, it seemed right. She lifted one leg high up over his hip and gently rubbed against him. He reached down and caught both of her back cheeks and pressed her against the wall. But he wasn’t ready to take this to the limit already. He wanted to enjoy the moment. Enjoy having her in his arms.

  He kissed her again—slow, drugging, tongue-stroking, passion-fueling kisses—even as his fingers continued to tease her. He squeezed her buttocks tight, holding her firmly—yet holding off. With both her legs wrapped around his hips, she rocked back and forth as she clutched at his head and held him firm for her kiss. Tongues danced, fingers stroked, and all the while the temperature of the water added to the steaminess. Finally he couldn’t stand it. He pulled back, arched and filled her completely.

  She cried out and lay pinned against the wall, shuddering.

  He waited a long moment and murmured against her ear, “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m not.”

  He pulled back ever-so-slightly, looked at her in surprise.

  She said, “But I will be if you start to move.” She pinched his buttocks.

  He gave a shout of laughter and plunged deep. Once would never be enough. He held her tight, kept her pressed against the wall so she wouldn’t fall and pounded, driving them both to the cliff’s edge they so desperately wanted. When she came apart in his arms, he rode her through it. Then, with a long, low groan, he felt his whole body clench as his climax ripped through him.

  He laid his head against the wall for a long moment. Her hands gently stroked his back. He reached down and kissed her neck. But that was about as much effort as he could expend. Slowly she disengaged herself and shifted so they were both in the full spray of the water, and then finally she shut it off. She grabbed two towels and said, “We have plenty of time yet. Let’s go back to bed.”

  Again following, he stepped out, wrapped one towel around his hips and used the other to dry off. As they walked into the bedroom, moonlight fell across the bed. She laughed and said, “I love that about it here. The sunshine is nice too in this room, especially in the afternoon, if I could just lie in bed during that time, not that I ever got much chance to do that,” she admitted. “But it’s just such a special light that hits this bedroom.”

  The bed was still warm from when they had left it. She sat down and gently towel-dried her hair. He dried off and sat beside her and then took over the job of separating her long locks and squeezing out the excess moisture. When he was done, she shifted until she sat in his lap and looped her arms around his neck. “I wish we were already in the US.”

  He looked at her in surprise. “Are you sure you want to come?”

  She nodded. “I’m sure. Like you, I want to see where this goes. I’ve never felt anything so special in my life.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and just held her close. “I don’t know what to call this,” he admitted. “I’m scared to jump to conclusions and make more of it than it is. But, at the same time, I’m petrified I’ll lose you.”

  She tilted his chin up and dropped a light kiss on his lips. “I don’t have any intention of losing you. So, whether we stay here or we go back to Levi’s, it doesn’t really matter. I always did intend to go back home again though. I have a lot of family in New Mexico. They are expecting me.”

  “Is New Mexico a place you want to visit, or are you planning on moving back there?”

  “A place to visit. I think I’ll give Levi and Ice’s offer a chance. See where we are in three months. Maybe talk to Bullard too about coming back here if I want to later,” she admitted. “Are you good with that?”

  He smiled as her fingers stroked his cheek. He kissed each one. “I’m more than good with that. I’m really thrilled at that idea.” He crushed her against him, his lips sealing the deal for now and hopefully forever. He knew the guys would tease him. They had yet to have a relationship break up at Legendary Security. That was part of what made the company and all its people so legendary. He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it for himself. He wanted that. Maybe, if he was lucky, he had found it.

  “Let’s make love again,” she said, as she lay back on the bed with a lazy sigh.

  “With pleasure,” Brandon said, kissing her deeply.

  *

  After their lovemaking, they both dozed for another couple hours. When she woke up, she checked the time.

  He chuckled. “It’s only 5:00 a.m. We’re not late for the meeting. But we do have more time just for us.”

  She leaned over and looked at him with a smile and said, “You know we can make it if we want to.”

  “I want to,” he whispered. “I want it all.”

  Her eyes darkened, and her lips pouted. She gently bit him on the bottom lip and whispered, “So do I. How about we take one step at a time and see where we end up?” She nipped him again gently and asked, “Is that a deal?”

  He lifted her chin and whispered, “It’s a deal.”

  He kissed her. Not just for the moment, not just for the hour, not just for the day. But, if he was a lucky man, it would be forever.

  Epilogue

  Liam O’Brien stepped to the side, peering out the garage window, watching as Brandon parked nearby. Rory and Michael stood at Liam’s side as they watched their friend arrive with Kasha. They’d heard from Ice how crazy saving Bullard had been and how it had ended up with another of their own finding a partner.

  “Told you, Liam. Our unit is all here,” Michael said quietly at his side.

  “And, except for you, we’re all taken,” Rory added to Michael’s comment.

  “And it’s a good thing too,” Michael said. “We were all lost for long enough. I never thought to find anyone who’d accept me or put up with me. But it’s all good.” He slapped Liam on the shoulder.

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” Liam admitted. “It’s one thing to be a part of this family thing you guys have going on, but it’s a completely different issue to be standing on the outside and looking in. I’m not sure there’s a place for me here. And, even if there is, I’d have no idea how to fit in.”

  “That’s the thing. None of us did before we arrived. You have to trust you’ll find your way.”

  Just then Brandon got out of the truck and stretched.

  Damn, he looked good. Liam had been close to him—Rory and Michael too—but there’d always been a connection between Liam and Brandon. And to see his buddy looking so happy, … so fit—both emotionally and physically—well, it was a joy.

  Liam would love and accept Kasha for that alone. They’d all had a hell of a last year. Each one in their unit had moved past it in their own way. Except for Liam.

  The happy cou
ple was laughing and talking as they moved toward the kitchen door. Liam could hear their conversation.

  “It’s a good thing we took a week off before coming here.” Kasha beamed at Brandon.

  He chuckled. “In truth that week was like a minihoneymoon.”

  Liam grinned at the flags of color blooming on Kasha’s cheeks, but she didn’t hide them. Instead she nodded. “It was indeed. It was also nice to see my family.”

  The huge double doors opened then. Liam glanced at Levi who was manning the controls on the garage. Levi waited for the door to lift fully, then stepped out.

  “So much for being here when I arrived.” Liam grinned at the blank look on Brandon’s face before it lit up in joy.

  The two men hugged each other.

  Brandon stepped back to study Liam’s face. “When the hell did you get here? You said you were considering it, not that you’d made up your mind.” He slugged Liam on his shoulder. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

  “You haven’t missed me at all,” Liam scoffed, nodding to the stunning woman at Brandon’s side.

  “This is Kasha.” Brandon held out his arm for her. She stepped close enough that his arm slid around her shoulder. “Kasha, this is my good friend, Liam. He and I were in the same unit in the navy.”

  The smile Kasha flashed his way was both delightful and compassionate. Enough for him to know Brandon obviously cared a lot about this woman if he’d shared some of these last few years’ events.

  He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.” He’d heard plenty about Kasha and Bullard and the nightmare Levi’s team had gone through as they’d flown over to help out in Africa. “Too bad I didn’t meet you first,” he said in a teasing tone.

  “There’s a reason I overwhelmed her with my charms so fast.” Brandon laughed. “You have a reputation with women …”

  Kasha laughed. Liam gave her a lopsided grin, and her eyes widened. “Wow, that’s a lethal smile.”

  Brandon tugged her close. “See?” he complained. “Women drop at his feet.”

  She sent Brandon a sideways glance. “I’m still standing.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. Then they both broke out laughing.

  Just then Levi and Ice walked over. Ice smiled and said, “About time you two got here. We’ve got a crapload of work to do.”

  More of the clan arrived to greet the newcomers. Liam still struggled to remember everyone’s name, and he’d been here a week already.

  But Kasha walked in confidently, shaking hands with those she didn’t know as she introduced herself.

  “A lot of new faces are around here,” Levi said to Liam.

  “It’ll take me time to learn everybody’s name,” Liam replied.

  Levi finished the introductions. He turned to both Brandon and Rory and said, “You guys up for work? We weren’t kidding about the jobs. We’ve caught several hot ones this morning alone.”

  Both men nodded, their faces brightening with interest. “We are so ready.”

  Levi turned to Kasha and said, “Are you on field duty or office work?”

  She snorted. “Am I dead yet?”

  Ice laughed. “That’s my girl.”

  Levi gave her a wide smile and said, “Welcome. And goodbye. All three of you are leaving in the morning.”

  Liam looked from one to the other with a big smile and said, “What about me? Do you have something for me?” He’d done one short security job for Levi since he’d arrived, but, other than that, Liam had been helping set up the new security-alarm-system side of the business. That had been fun as he’d gotten to know several of the locals and had enjoyed being around the animals at Anna and Flynn’s place. Then the puppies at the compound were adorable too. He was afraid to care and get his heart broken when they were adopted out—if they were adopted out. Something he knew Alfred and Bailey were fighting pretty hard against.

  Levi chuckled. “If you want to go out on this one, you’ve got it.”

  Liam nodded. “I’m in.”

  “Be ready to leave by 6:00 a.m.”

  There was a collective groan but not from Liam. He was energized. “That’s awesome. Where are we going? Somewhere exotic, like Thailand? Maybe a sandy paradise, like the Sahara? How about foggy Scotland?”

  Ice, standing in the doorway, called out, “How about horses in Texas?”

  He turned to her and said, “But we’re in Texas now. There’s nothing exotic about that.”

  She grinned. “Just you wait. There’s something very exotic ahead for you.”

  On that cryptic note, she walked back inside, leaving Liam staring at her. He wasn’t exactly sure what she meant by that.

  Levi smacked him on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry about it. Ice is good at this sort of stuff.”

  Liam looked at him suspiciously. “What sort of stuff?”

  But Levi was already stepping inside the house. He tossed back, “You’ll find out soon enough. Just keep an open mind—and heart—and you’ll be good.”

  At the open-heart comment, the others grinned, then laughed. Liam stared at them. “What the hell did he mean by that?”

  Everyone just walked away, some laughing, others whistling.

  Liam glared at Brandon, waiting for clarification.

  Brandon shrugged and said, “Trust me. Like Levi said, you’ll find out soon enough.”

  Then Brandon walked inside with Kasha, leaving Liam alone to contemplate what everyone else already knew, and he had yet to find out.

  This concludes Book 13 of Heroes for Hire: Brandon’s Bliss.

  Read about Liam’s Lily: Heroes for Hire, Book 14

  Heroes for Hire: Liam’s Lily (Book #14)

  Welcome to Liam’s Lily, book 14 in Heroes for Hire, reconnecting readers with the unforgettable men from SEALs of Honor in a new series of action-packed, page turning romantic suspense that fans have come to expect from USA TODAY Bestselling author Dale Mayer.

  Book 14 is available now!

  To find out more visit Dale Mayer’s website.

  Author’s Note

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  KILL OR BE KILLED

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  About the Author

  Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

  She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

  To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion
gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.

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  BRANDON’S BLISS: HEROES FOR HIRE, BOOK 13

  Dale Mayer

  Valley Publishing

  Copyright © 2018

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-773360-64-5

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