Gwen's Delta (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Delta Team Three Book 3)

by Lynne St. James

  Without letting go of his erection, she pulled gently. “I want to continue this on the bed.”

  Luke’s expression was intense, and a slash of red colored his cheeks. Then she took a step backward. His sexy grin sent heat to her core. She wanted him inside her, but she wanted to explore all of him for as long as he’d let her.

  When her legs hit the bed, she turned and pushed him onto the mattress. “Move to the middle.” Her voice sounded raspy, sexy, and she liked it.

  After he slid across the bed, she removed her shirt and slacks, then unhooked her bra and shimmied out of her panties.

  Luke’s gaze never wavered from her. As his breathing sped up, Gwen smiled. She had never felt so empowered in her life, and this man made it even more intense.

  “Where are your condoms?” Gwen asked as she looked around the room.

  “Inside pocket of my bag.”

  As she made her way around the bed and to his pack, she wiggled her butt, hoping to entice him.

  “God, woman, you’re killing me.”

  Her bravery deserted her when she had to bend over to go through the bag, and she turned sideways rather than bending over in front of him. After finding the silver packet, she put it on the nightstand and climbed onto the bed.

  “I’m in charge, and you’re not allowed to move.” Gwen straddled his hips and leaned down to lick the seam of his lips.

  “I’m not making any promises, princess, but I’ll try,” Luke said through gritted teeth as his erection bumped against her abdomen.

  “I’m sure you can do it. You’re a badass Delta; you can do anything.” Gwen slid her tongue between his lips and over his, sweeping the inside of his mouth, tasting of toothpaste.

  Pulling away, she kissed along his jaw, then down his neck to his chest. Gwen dragged her tongue over Luke’s pebbled nipples and then sucked one into her mouth, and her nipples hardened. As she nibbled and sucked, she watched for his reaction to learn what turned him on.

  Luke had shoved his arms under his pillow when he’d said he’d try not to move, but his muscles tensed with each lick. Taking the other nipple into her mouth, she sucked harder, and his eyelids dropped closed.

  Her hands played over his rock-hard chest, learning every inch of his washboard abs. Leaving a trail of kisses down his abdomen, she finally reached the prize as she kneeled between his thighs.

  Taking just the head of his cock into her mouth, her fingers traced the length. Using one hand to cradle his balls—and surprised they were so soft—she gently squeezed.

  Luke’s hips arched off the bed and pushed his erection in farther. Hard, hot, and salty—she circled the crown with her tongue and sucked as much as she could into her mouth.

  “Gwen, please…” His voice was rough with desire.

  She didn’t answer and just lowered her head to take more of him as she continued to fondle his balls. Her head bobbed up and down, each time taking a little more of him until her jaw protested. Maintaining the rhythm, she grasped the base of his cock and matched the movement of her mouth. Salty heat oozed over the tip, and she licked it off.

  “You need to stop, or I’m going to come.” Luke tugged on her hair to make sure she understood. He tugged her up his chest. He kissed her like his life depended on it, sending waves of heat to her core and making her inner muscles tremble.

  “I wasn’t done playing…” Gwen tried to pout when he released her lips.

  “You are for now. I need you.”

  Before she realized what he’d planned, he’d flipped them over and looked down at her. He used his knees to push her legs farther apart and settled between them.

  “You’re sweet perfection, and I’ll never get enough of you,” he whispered before taking one of her nipples into his mouth.

  Reaching for him, she ran her hands through his hair and tried to push him closer as she shuddered. Gwen couldn’t remember ever being so aroused. She rubbed against his erection with every lave of his tongue, yearning for the orgasm that lurked just out of reach.

  Then the head of his cock rubbed against her pulsing bundle of nerves.

  “Oh God, Luke.” Her thighs trembled, and her inner muscles clenched. “I need you inside, please.”

  When he didn’t enter her, she opened eyes she hadn’t realized she’d closed. He opened the condom, sliding it on. He met her gaze with a devilish grin, then took her mouth in a passionate kiss, his tongue darting in and out of her mouth.

  His roughened fingertip dragged over her clit. “What do you want, princess?”

  “You, Luke, please. I need you now.” Gwen needed him to find release more than she needed her next breath.

  He rubbed the head of his cock over her clit and then along her folds before slowly pushing into her heated entrance.

  “God, you’re so wet.” He groaned as he pushed deeper.

  This time, she was ready for him and wrapped her legs around his hips, urging him to go deeper, harder.

  Thrusting the rest of the way, he rubbed against nerves she didn’t know existed deep inside. Stars exploded behind her eyes, and she screamed his name as the orgasm rocked her to her core.

  Luke increased the rhythm, thrusting harder and deeper. She trembled, and her inner muscles clenched hard around him. He reached between them to tweak her clit as he drove her closer to another climax.

  Gwen’s nails scraped his arms, losing control as he brought her off again. Moments later, Luke’s body stiffened, and he arched his back as he came deep inside her.

  As she worked to catch her breath and regain use of her limbs, he pulled out and rolled to the side. He pulled her against his side and kissed her forehead.

  Gwen wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way, their breathing ragged, before he got up to discard the condom. When he returned, he had a damp washcloth for her. After they cleaned up, he returned to her side, and her head rested on his chest.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t let you play longer.” Luke’s voice rumbled against her ear.

  “I won’t let you off so easy next time,” Gwen teased, knowing she’d only be in charge as long as he let her. But she didn’t mind, not in the least.

  “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “I’m perfect.” Gwen almost purred, and then she yawned.

  “Get some sleep, princess. I’ll be right here,” Luke promised as she drifted off.

  Chapter 19

  It was still dark outside even though it was almost dawn. Gwen snuggled closer to Luke in the king-sized bed. She listened to his heart beat slow and steady as her head rested on his firm chest. The safe house was quiet. Everyone was asleep. But even after making love with Luke for hours, sleep eluded her. She couldn’t stop thinking about her parents. When she closed her eyes, she’d see their bruised and broken bodies, lying in the desert.

  He kept reminding her she had to be ready for anything. They’d gone over the plan at least twenty times until she knew it forward and backward—Plan B and C, too. It didn’t calm her nerves though. No matter how prepared she’d be, facing the kidnappers scared the shit out of her. What if she couldn’t do it? Or screwed up? If her parents died because of her, she didn’t know how she’d live with herself. It was a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

  After her meltdown in the bathroom, she’d have to put on her big girl pants and deal with whatever happened. The expression had always cracked her up, but now, it hit home. Her parents’ lives were at stake. If Luke’s team could risk their lives to save her parents, she needed to step up. If she fell apart, she’d endanger all of them.

  While Gwen had played poker with the guys the night before, Luke had been at the computer. His grim expression did little to ease her worry, but Zip had kept her distracted with funny stories from some of their missions. She had enjoyed their company and still felt bad she won so much money on the plane, so she had let them win most of the hands.

  When the game broke up, she’d thanked them for all they were doing to save her parents and
how much she appreciated everything they’d done and would do for her family. The surprise on their faces made her wonder if anyone ever thanked them for all they did, and it made her sad.

  “What are you thinking about so hard?” Luke’s voice rumbled under her head.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “I’ve been awake for a while, listening to you think.”

  Lifting her head to see his face, she smiled. “Don’t be silly, you can’t hear me think.”

  “I’m magic, remember?”

  “Just because I may have screamed that last night during an incredible orgasm, don’t let it go to your head.”

  “Damn. I’m devastated now.” His chuckle warmed her heart.

  “How do you do this all the time?”

  “Do what, princess?” He slid one of her curls through his fingers.

  Yearning raced along her spine at his touch. Or maybe she’d done it to herself as she ran her fingers over his washboard abs.

  The first rays of the sunrise lightened the sky. In a few hours, they’d be risking their lives. If anything happened to them, she’d never forgive herself. Now was not the time to think about sex, especially when she’d be lucky if she could walk straight after last night.

  “How do you make jokes when you could die later?” Gwen asked. Not exactly what she’d meant, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice her real thoughts.

  “We focus on life. If we worried about dying, we wouldn’t be an elite team. We chose this life—to fight for our country. Over the years, we’ve become a family—we know what everyone is thinking, how we’ll react, and have each other’s backs. I’m not sure if that answers your question.”

  “It does, mostly. It must be incredible to have bonds like that.”

  “It is. I’m closer to these men than my blood family. But when you meet my parents, and especially my sisters, promise me you won’t tell them,” Luke teased.

  “I won’t. If I meet them.” Gwen tried to smile, but she couldn’t shake the dread filling her heart.

  “You’ll meet them. I told you, I’m not going anywhere. You’ll have to tell me to get lost.”

  She shifted so she could kiss him. “Thank you.”

  “If you’re thanking me for the best sex of your life, then you’re welcome. If it’s for anything else—you don’t need to thank me.”

  Gwen didn’t care what he or the other guys said, she would be thankful until the day she died. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be later that day. She leaned up on her elbows and smiled. This man rocked her world. After kissing him on each cheek and his lips, she hopped out of bed to shower and get ready to face the scariest day of her life.

  Less than three hours later, Luke held the door of the taxi while Gwen climbed inside. The moment she’d been dreading had finally arrived. Luke gave the driver the address, then opened the other door and slid the heavy duffle bag next to her. It turned out a million dollars was heavy. Not something she’d ever expected to know firsthand.

  “Are you ready?” Luke asked as he leaned into the taxi to kiss her.

  “As I’ll ever be.” Her voice trembled slightly as her stomach churned. Maybe the two cups of coffee she’d had weren’t the best idea.

  He reached in and put his hand over her clenched ones. “You’ve got this, princess. Remember, we’ll be watching you the entire time. If something doesn’t feel right, get out of there. Don’t worry about the money or anything else—just run. No matter which way you go, one of us will be there to get you.”

  She could do this. She would do this, even if her palms were sweaty, and she wanted to throw up. “I’ll be okay. I know the plan and that you’ll be there to make sure I’m okay,” she said and took a deep breath. “See you soon.”

  He held her gaze for a moment more, then closed the door and stepped away from the cab. As the car weaved through the congested streets, she checked the knife in her boot. Just knowing it was there made her feel better. Using it was a whole other story.

  Zip had pinned a flower on her khaki shirt after she’d gotten dressed. He explained that it was a camera and mic, and they’d be able to see and hear everything she did. The only way she’d be safer was if she had stayed in Texas.

  Too soon, they pulled up in front of the Tamara Café. Zip and Luke would be there soon, hiding in plain sight. Luke told her she wouldn’t be able to see them, and hopefully, the bad guys wouldn’t, either.

  After she paid the driver, she climbed out of the cab, dragging the heavy duffle bag across the seat and then swinging it over her shoulder. With one last look around, she walked into the brightly lit café.

  A line of customers snaked around the front of the shop. It was at the height of the breakfast rush and packed with customers. As Gwen searched the café, she breathed a sigh of relief when her table was empty.

  In all the scenarios Gwen had imagined, not one of them had her walking into a brightly lit bakery to exchange the ransom. The scent of fresh coffee and pastries filled the air. Loud chatter mixed with Arabic music playing over the speakers. Surreal.

  The tables were close together, and she had to take the bag off her shoulder or risk hurting someone. As she made her way to the back, she tried to figure out who was waiting for the bag. Duff was somewhere in the café as her personal bodyguard, but she was afraid to look around in case the kidnappers were already there.

  Gwen approached the empty table near the kitchen. Someone had placed a reserved sign in the center of the table—in Arabic and English. No wonder it was still empty.

  A shudder ran down her spine, and her hands were damp as she pulled out the chair and sat down at the table. Following the instructions they had given her, she slid the bag underneath it by her feet. As she stood up to leave, something sharp and hard bit into the back of her neck.

  “Do as I say, and you will not be hurt,” a heavily accented voice murmured into her ear.

  “Wait. You’re making a mistake…” Gwen didn’t move, afraid he’d stab her with the sharp blade. He stood so close; his body odor overpowered the scent of the coffee.

  “No, Ms. Dedmond.”

  Shit, he knew her name. They weren’t following their own instructions. What the hell was going on?

  “Now pick up the bag and hand it to me. Slowly. If you scream or make any attempt to get away, I will sever your spine. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, I understand.” Gwen moved as slowly as she could, fighting to keep her panic under control even while her body trembled. She’d pushed the bag farther than she realized. As she reached for it, she stumbled and grabbed the edge of the table to keep from falling.

  “Hurry, Ms. Dedmond. You do not want to try my patience.” His hot breath raised the hairs on her neck. He’d mirrored her moves and kept the blade to her skin. She needed to get away from him. But how?

  As she grabbed the straps and pulled the bag out from under the table, she contemplated hitting him in the balls with it. The duffle weighed a ton, and it might give her enough time to run for it. Then she raised her head and saw Duff sitting about ten feet away at another table.

  The kidnapper leaned into her back, and her skin crawled. Her shiver pushed the edge of the knife into her skin.

  “Hand me the bag. If you try anything, you will die along with your parents. Now, hurry.”

  Gwen could do this; they’d planned for this. Whether it was B or C, she wasn’t sure, but her only job was to get away from the man with the knife.

  Pretending to lose her balance again as she picked up the bag, she swung it into his leg, hoping the momentum would take him down. Instead of falling, her kidnapper pulled her against him and slid the knife to the front of her throat. It burned, and blood slid down her neck, but it didn’t seem like much.

  “I told you not to try anything,” he growled. “Do you have a death wish?”

  “The bag is heavy. I lost my balance.”

  Praying he believed her, she waited for Duff to save her. But he didn’t move, though he was tracking th
eir movements. She replayed the plans in her head. What was going on? Why weren’t they saving her? Instead, a terrorist held her at knifepoint, and no one moved. Like she was invisible.

  Panic flooded her veins, and her breath hitched in her throat. Nausea roiled in her stomach from his stench. She struggled, and he pushed the blade against her throat, drawing more blood.

  Terrified, she swallowed to dampen her dry mouth and focused on Duff. Maybe something went wrong, and they were on a different plan—one she didn’t know.

  Luke’s last words from the taxi echoed in her heart. “No matter what, you aren’t alone.” Tears filled her eyes from the sting of the cuts, but she straightened her spine and held onto the duffle bag.

  The kidnapper wrapped his other arm around her waist as he walked them backward toward the kitchen entrance. A few more feet and he’d pull her through the doors and out of sight.

  “Where are my parents?” she demanded. “That was the deal. I bring you the money, and you give me my parents.” She needed to stall. To give the Deltas time to come to the rescue. Since she couldn’t reach her knife, she’d use words.

  “You Americans are stupid. Did you really think we would return your parents to you? Now we have you and the money,” the kidnapper whispered into her ear, his breath making her gag.

  “You are messing with the wrong person,” Gwen hissed through barely parted lips.

  His chuckle increased her fear. “Really? What are you going to do?”

  With each step, he dragged her closer to the swinging doors. When he finally got her into the kitchen, would he kill her? And where were her parents? Had this only been about the money? Time slowed as she struggled in the assailant’s arms, and each time, he pushed the knife into her neck enough to remind her he had the control.

  “Let her go.”

  Gwen’s head jerked up. The voice…it sounded like her dad, but not. Her dad’s voice was soft and intellectual like her professors’. This man was hard, angry. Then she looked into his face. Dad.

  Her brain struggled to catch up to reality. It really was her dad, but not the one who’d left for Egypt less than a month earlier. This Arthur Dedmond looked like a killer, and he held the gun to do it.