“Honey, I’m worried about you,” her father added.
“I’m fine. Justus is with me. I was freaked out. He calmed me down. It’s over now. The perpetrator is in custody.” She reached for Justus’s hand and squeezed it.
Her mother breathed heavily for several seconds. “Why don’t you come to Rome, sweetie, or at least meet us back in New York next week?”
“Because I have two more months here. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“But isn’t Justus leaving in a few days?”
Justus grinned. “I am, ma’am, but I’ll make sure Arianna is safe before I leave. It was a fluke. She’ll be safely back at work in Sydney before I get on a plane.”
“Okay…” Her mother didn’t sound convinced. “When are you coming back to New York?” she asked.
Arianna winced, knowing she was talking to Justus.
“I don’t know yet, Mrs. Gallo. As soon as I can.” He met Arianna’s gaze and held it. Seconds passed while they stared at each other, both knowing the next few months and possibly years were going to be difficult. Also knowing they had no choice. They would make it work. They would find a way.
“Arianna? Are you still there?”
Arianna jerked her gaze back to the phone. “Yes. Sorry, Mom. I’m here. Please don’t let anyone worry. I’ll be in touch in a few days.”
“Okay, honey, but be careful. Justus?”
“Ma’am?”
“Make sure my daughter is safe.”
“I will do my best. She’s important to me.”
Arianna’s heart swelled as he made that announcement. She knew it would be huge for her mother. Just a few little words that would change everything.
She heard her mother’s sharp intake of breath. “I assumed as much.” Arianna could hear a sob in her mother’s voice. “When Tony told us you were going to Australia during your leave…” Her voice trailed off.
Arianna closed her eyes and leaned into Justus. Tony might not have realized he’d inadvertently set the two of them up, but her mother wasn’t stupid.
Her father cleared his throat. “Be safe. Love you both.”
“Thanks, Pop. Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Gallo.” Justus reached over to tap the phone and end the call. He tossed the phone on the nightstand and crawled toward Arianna, stalking her. “How many minutes before Tony calls, do you think?”
“We placing a bet on this too?”
Justus laughed. “Depends. What are we wagering this time? I haven’t even collected my last debt.”
“Do you think he’ll be surprised when he finds out we’re together?” She was grinning.
Justus winced. “I still think he’ll kick my ass, but eventually he’ll have to get over it.”
“He might have been oblivious, but my mother knew I had a crush on you,” she pointed out. “When he told her you were coming here for your leave, I’m sure she suspected I would work my ass off to get you to see me. Doesn’t mean she’ll tell Tony. You might be forced to handle that on your own.”
Justus reached out and grabbed her, hauling her against his body. “I’ll handle Tony. And, by the way, you didn’t have to do anything to get me to see you. My eyes were wide open the second I walked up to you.” He kissed her gently.
“I feel like I hit the lottery.”
“Hmmm. Baby, the lottery winner is me.”
Chapter 20
Justus was still sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard, while he waited for Arianna to emerge from the bathroom. He’d seen her naked body enough times that he thought it was a little silly for her to change from her naked self in a towel to whatever lingerie she’d purchased behind a closed door, but perhaps she was right. The suspense was making his dick hard while he wondered if she would have gone with white or black.
His cock went from hard to painfully stiff the second she emerged. His breath also left his lungs. She hadn’t gone with white or black. She’d gone with red. A deep blood red that made his mouth water the moment she stepped into view. She also had on strappy red heels. “Jesus,” he murmured. “You sure know how to kill a man.”
She giggled. “I hope you don’t die just because I’m wearing something sexy. That would spoil years of fun.”
He licked his lips. “Baby, that is way beyond sexy, and I like the way you’re thinking. Years and years of fun.”
She stalked around the room seductively. “Especially if all we get is two-week increments like this. We’ll have to plan well and take advantage of every moment.”
The thought of only seeing her a few weeks at a time for years did not sit well. He had no idea how to process that, but right now wasn’t the time. Right now he was trying to get his eyes to blink even though he would miss those precious moments of vision.
He leaned forward with the intention of snagging her by the hand and hauling her closer.
She jumped back. “Uh-uh. Sit back. Let me tease.”
“Tease happened in the first few seconds. I’m so hard I’m going to come while you’re strutting around the room.” He opened the towel and took his dick in his hand, hoping the sight would entice her to approach, maybe straddle him.
“Hands off your cock, big guy. Put them next to your hips.”
He totally stopped breathing. Did she just give an order?
He stared at her, his hand stilling.
She lifted a brow. “Let it go, Justus. Hands to your sides. I want to watch your cock react to me on its own.”
For a heartbeat, he hesitated, and then he decided this game was beyond fun. It was a dream come true. Granted, two could play. So if she thought it was a good idea to boss him around while she teased him to death, she would find herself in quite a dire situation next time he was in control.
Sure, he’d made her sweat it out the day before, denying her orgasms while the desire built all day, but there was so much more he could do to drive her crazy with need if she didn’t mind a little bondage play or perhaps even some toys.
Never in his wildest imagination would he have expected to be turned on by having a woman order him around, but this was Arianna. She could do anything she wanted. She owned his heart.
And she was hotter than hell in that red teddy. It was little more than strips of lace and a bit of silk in between. Her dark skin teased him between the fabric. And her nipples were equally visible between the dainty lace at her breasts.
He licked his lips again.
She picked up her phone and tapped the screen a few times. He certainly hoped she was turning it off. Tony hadn’t called yet. It was too late now. No way was Justus taking a call from his best friend for at least another hour.
When soft music filled the room, Justus realized what she’d been doing. His cock jumped against his belly as she moved to the music. So sensual. He’d had no idea she could dance. Then again, maybe dance wasn’t the right word for the seductive way she was slinking around, using every piece of furniture to tease him with a variety of positions.
Every time she bent over or lifted her leg behind her, he gulped. She gave him a show he would never forget.
By the time she finally climbed onto the mattress and crawled toward him on her hands and knees, he was speechless. Her breasts hung swollen, her nipples tight buds. The only part of her he hadn’t gotten a good look at yet was the exact spot he most adored between her legs.
She didn’t seem in a mood to give him that just yet either. No. Her gaze was on his cock. And her crawl was aimed toward the bobbing appendage.
He fisted his hands at his sides next to his hips.
She straddled his legs, making him groan, but instead of climbing the rest of the way up his body, she lowered her face to his dick and licked a line from the base to the tip.
He groaned. “Baby…”
“Mmm.”
Jesus.
Two seconds later, her lips were wrapped around his length, and she sucked him deep and hard without pausing. No hands. Just her mouth. Her fucking sexy cu
rls fell all around her face, curtaining her and adding to the allure. If she never straightened her hair again, he would be fine. It was hot straight, but in his opinion, it was even sexier natural, curls everywhere.
She set her hands on his thighs while she tortured him with her mouth.
He gritted his teeth, willing to let her play for about ten more seconds before he turned the tables.
In painstakingly slow motion, she lifted off his cock and sucked him back down. Deeper this time.
That was it. He didn’t want to come in her mouth. Not this time.
He lunged forward, grabbed her by the waist, and flipped her onto her back.
She gasped, a giggle escaping her mouth. “Hey, I wasn’t done.”
“Yes, you were.” He claimed her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss until she moaned. God, he loved that sound. With her hands on his back, her nails digging into his skin, he lowered one hand to her core and explored.
He froze when he reached between her legs, lifting his gaze to stare down at her. “Imp.” He crawled down her body, spreading her legs, and settling between them. Two surprises had caught his attention. One, she’d shaved. Bare.
Fuck me.
And two, the teddy was split right up the center. Crotchless, in a sense. Her glistening folds were wide open to him. He stroked a finger through her moisture, eliciting a gasp as her eyes rolled back. She was so ready for him, and he needed his mouth on her urgently, more than he needed his cock inside her.
She whimpered as he withdrew his fingers and then slid down her body. Before she could react, his hands were on her thighs, pressing them wide, his lips on her sweet center. He didn’t have the patience to ease into his assault. Desperation controlled his movements. He sucked her pussy into his mouth and thrust his tongue into her channel.
She cried out, her hips stiffening as they lifted toward him. Her hands landed on his head. “Justus,” she breathed.
He withdrew his tongue from her tightness to flick it rapidly over her clit.
“Oh God.” Her voice was shrill.
He wanted her to come against his mouth. He wanted to swallow her orgasm while he continued to torment her toward a second one, but his cock was too hard, too insistent. He released her abruptly, scrambled up her body, lined his cock up with her entrance, and thrust home.
She screamed. Loudly. “Oh, God. Justus. Oh, God.”
He loved that sound. And he made her do it again two seconds later on his next thrust. And again. And again. In a few moments her throat elongated, her lips slackened, and then she came. So beautiful. Her hair spread out against the pillow. Her hands gripping his back. Her hips lifted off the bed.
Perfection.
Mine.
Forever.
Without moving a muscle, he too came, deep and hard, so hot for her that he knew this lust between them would never fade. Not in a million years.
He had no idea how he was going to fix things so that her future didn’t match the sorrowful picture she had in her mind, but he would find a way. And he would make it happen.
Chapter 21
Three months later…
Arianna rushed into the living room of her brother Tony’s San Diego apartment, carrying her sandals. Tony’s fiancée, Darcy, was sitting on the couch staring at her phone. “Sorry I’m running late.” The two of them had lunch plans, and then they were going to see an early movie.
Arianna had been back in the States a month. She’d spent the first two weeks with her parents in New York, but she’d come to San Diego two weeks ago, and she was staying at Tony’s place with Darcy while she looked for a job.
Darcy had only recently moved to San Diego herself to be with Tony. She’d insisted she would love to have Arianna stay with her. The two of them could commiserate together. Keep each other company while Tony and Justus were deployed.
Justus had told Arianna she was welcome to stay at his apartment, even insisting at times, but Arianna hadn’t been comfortable moving into his place when he wasn’t home himself. Besides, she knew she would be lonely, and wandering around in his space would make things worse. She would wait for him to get home, and then they could discuss her living arrangements. For now, she was content to stay with Darcy. They both were.
Arianna’s life was upside down, but she’d known from the moment Justus had left Australia that she needed to relocate to San Diego where he would be stationed when he wasn’t deployed.
“No worries. I’m not in a hurry,” Darcy assured her. “The movie doesn’t start for two hours. We’ve got plenty of time.”
Arianna sighed, trying to slow her racing heart. She was exhausted lately. And truthfully, a little frustrated.
She took a deep breath and plopped down on the couch to put her sandals on. Her skirt spread out around her.
Darcy met her gaze when she was finished. “You okay?”
Arianna leaned back on the sofa. “I think so.” She tucked a curly lock of hair behind her ear, wondering for the millionth time why the hell she’d stopped straightening her hair to appease a man she hadn’t seen in three months.
“I know it’s stressful. This isn’t a life we would choose.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. Most of the time the two of them tried to pretend everything was normal. Sometimes, they paused for a serious moment.
“You can do this. It’s in your blood. Half your cousins are married to the military.”
Adrianna groaned. “God, don’t remind me, and please don’t use the M-word. I’m barely existing as a peripheral girlfriend right now. Let’s not talk marriage. He’s starting to seem like an apparition, like I dreamed him up, and those ten days never happened.”
Darcy smiled warmly. “I’m pretty sure they happened. And I’m pretty sure you know this is it for you, or you wouldn’t have relocated to San Diego.”
Darcy was right about that. There was no way to ignore her feelings for Justus, which was why she’d agreed to this arrangement in the first place. It wouldn’t even do any good to break up with him because it wouldn’t change her heart.
She’d done okay while she was finishing her last two months in Australia. She spoke to him through FaceTime every few days, and he was fantastic with email, often sending her more than one to look forward to while she slept.
Since returning to the States and moving in with Tony’s fiancée, she’d been antsy. She’d meant to get a job at one of the major hotels as soon as possible. She’d even had an interview. But her life felt like it was on hold. And that was frustrating.
Being committed to a SEAL was demanding. It required flexibility. It wasn’t conducive to her getting a sixty-hour-a-week job because the reality was that when Justus did surface, she wanted to be with him every moment.
Was she crazy? Her life was in limbo. She was living in her brother’s apartment. And her “boyfriend” was a man she hardly knew whom she’d spent ten magical days with three months ago.
Okay. That wasn’t exactly fair. She knew him better than she admitted to herself. She’d known him for years. They’d spent countless hours talking on the phone in the last three months. She knew what kind of man he was. And any questions she had about him could easily be answered by Tony.
Of course, Tony hadn’t been home more than a few days in three months either.
Arianna forced herself to respond to Darcy’s comment. “I’m adapting. I’m just not doing it well.”
“Do you love him?”
“With all my heart.” In fact, said organ beat faster just at the mention. “There is no way in hell I would consent to dating a SEAL if he hadn’t captured my heart and taken it with him. I’m stuck,” she half-joked.
Darcy’s smile broadened. “Yes. You are.”
“I don’t have a job. I’m mooching off my brother’s fiancée at twenty-three years old. I’m lost and aimless.” Her voice wobbled. A tear escaped, one of the billions of tears she knew would fall in her lifetime now that she’d made the horrifying blunder of falling in love with a SEAL.
“I miss him so much,” she admitted, shifting her gaze to the floor.
“I know. I know it’s hard. But it won’t always be this hard. There will be rough times when he’s gone for months, but there will also be amazing times when he’s home for even longer periods.” Darcy was incredibly supportive for a woman who was in the same position as Arianna.
“I haven’t heard from him in three days.” This was why she was cranky this morning. Three days was an eon when he didn’t call for that long. It happened. She couldn’t control it. She didn’t blame him. But it hurt.
Even though she’d only spent ten nights with him, her bed had felt lonely and empty ever since he left her. She often curled up in a ball and cried. For a man she’d spent ten days with. Ugh.
Arianna flinched when a knock sounded at the front door. She pushed to standing. “I’ll see who it is.” She hurried over to the door and opened it. And then she froze. Her breath stopped in her lungs.
Justus stood there, his smile huge, his eyes sparkling. He was in his uniform, and he looked like heaven.
For a moment, she couldn’t believe it was real. She blinked and he was still there. And then she leaped into his arms.
He caught her, lifting her off the ground as he pressed her against his chest. His lips were on her neck and then trailing around to her cheek before capturing her mouth.
She slid to the ground, her feet barely touching, as he clasped her face in both hands and kissed her fully.
The door was standing open. She was certain Darcy was watching this display from behind her. She didn’t care.
When he finally released her lips, she stared into his eyes. “You’re here.”
“I am. Did you miss me?”
“More than you’ll ever understand.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I understand perfectly.” He nodded behind her. “You going to invite me in?”
She took a step backward when he released his tight hold on her. His hands were still on her waist, though. “I was just about to head to lunch with Darcy.”
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