Seduced by the Soldier

by Melia Alexander

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Blake didn’t want to rush things with Zandra. Not tonight. No, tonight he’d show her how much their time together meant to him, how much she meant to him, but damn, she was making it impossible to think straight.

  She straddled him as he sat up, his back against the headboard, her face inches from his. “I want it hard and fast, Blake.”

  “What if I don’t? What if I want to make you come more than a couple of times? What if I want you to hold out until you scream my name?”

  A small smile touched her face, and she seemed undaunted by his words. “Then I guess we’ll have to see how long you can last,” she drawled, tracing a fingertip along his jawline.

  Well, duh. That would be Zandra, all right. Sassy and stubborn and determined to do him in before the night was through.

  “Do you want me to come too soon?”

  “Of course not.” She raised her hips to meet the thrust of his hand. “It was just a small challenge. You know, to keep things interesting.”

  He raised an eyebrow. Small challenge? If he lived through this, he’d consider it a major victory.

  Still, what was it about this woman that excited and maddened him at the same time? That made him crazy with want and need as well as drove him up the wall with her challenges? Whatever it was, he was in.

  Blake raised his head and flicked a thumb over her exposed nipple then grinned at her sharp intake of breath. “Challenge accepted.”

  A tide of lust rolled through him, fast and furious and encouraging him to give in, to give her what she wanted. It’d be so easy, especially when she raised up and gently rubbed her wetness against his cock…

  He closed his eyes. “Damn, that feels good,” he ground out. He was pretty sure that he’d need more than sheer willpower to keep him from losing his fucking load too soon.

  She bent forward, rubbed her gorgeous breasts across his chest. Somewhere along the way, she’d managed to remove her panties, the black lace against her creamy skin more inviting than any other piece of lingerie he’d ever seen on a woman.

  Her eyes were hooded, her lips swollen from his kisses, and he’d never been more turned on than when she moved her hips against his erection, pulling a deep groan from him.

  Blake gritted his teeth. Time for him to take charge. He moved quickly, flipping her onto her back before pinning her in place with one leg.

  “Hey,” Zandra protested. “I wasn’t done playing yet.”

  “Oh, yes you are.” Hell, he sure didn’t know how much longer he would’ve lasted, not with the way she tortured him with slow, deliberate movements then speeding up again. His body didn’t stand a fucking chance under these circumstances.

  He scrambled to the edge of the bed, pulling her with him before kneeling on the floor. “My turn to play.”

  She reached for him at the same moment he spread her wide and touched his mouth to her. “But—ah…”

  Her moans fueled him, made him alternate the pressure of his tongue on her clit before delicately sucking on it. And as soon as he did, she lifted her hips in a silent demand for more. He quickened the pace of his tongue, lapping and sucking, reveling in the tiny gasping sounds she made and the soft groans that confirmed he was doing things just right.

  With one hand, he caressed her thigh, inching closer to her wet opening. She rose up onto her elbows and placed her heels on the edge of the bed, her eyes glazed as she watched him. Blake saw the desire build with each stroke of his tongue, each kiss against her clit. Her moans intensified when he stroked one finger down her slit then pushed inside her. He lifted his head and caught her gaze. “God, you’re so wet.”

  “So come in me,” she gasped. “You know you want to.”

  “Uh-uh. Not yet.” He smiled. “You need to come first.”

  She bit down on her lower lip, her eyes glazing and hips lifting to meet the thrust of his hand. She lifted her chin up, and her eyes fluttered shut before she lowered herself onto the bed. “I’m…” she groaned, her body arching.

  “That’s it,” he said, taking her clit in his mouth again.

  “I’m—” She gasped, the word torn from her as she clutched the bed sheets.

  He rolled his tongue against her clit then inserted another finger into her wetness, and the moment she tensed, he increased the pressure, increased the pace of his fingers, drawing her orgasm out as long as possible.

  “That was unbelievable.”

  He smiled, masculine pride rushing through him. “We’re just getting started.”

  Zandra slowly floated back down to Earth, the world crystallizing in front of her as the throes of her orgasm faded and Blake’s face, just a few inches away, came back into focus.

  She smiled. “We’re just getting started, huh?”

  He shifted then stilled like he was studying her.

  “What do you see?” she asked.

  He smiled and shook his head. “You’re just so beautiful. Not just the exterior, but here, too,” he said, holding a hand over her heart. “Inside. Where it matters.”

  She tried to make light of it, wanted to make light of it, but the sincerity in his voice, in his touch, in his look…there was no way she could. “Thank you,” she said, her heart bursting with an unnameable something.

  Without another word, he leaned down and kissed her, lightly skimmed his mouth over the sensitive spot behind her right ear.

  “Oh my God,” she groaned as soon as he licked it. “That makes me insane.”

  He licked again, bolts of energy zipping through her like electrical wiring gone haywire. She groaned, her body restless once more.

  “Why do you think I do it?” he whispered, nuzzling her ear before tracing the shell back down.

  She lifted her hips so that his stiff cock was perfectly nestled at the juncture between her legs. There. That was better. So. Much. Better.

  Her eyes drifted shut, and she shifted, allowing his cock to glide over her clit once. Twice. The sensations were heightened by the feel of his mouth against her neck.

  She widened her legs, but he pulled back. “No,” he said. “I’ll rub my cock against you all you want, but that’s it.”

  “Wait. That’s it?” She offered her best pout. “Don’t you want to be inside me?” She lifted her hips again.

  This time, he groaned. “More than you know. But not yet.”

  He lowered himself until he was nestled against her again, but she saw the way he gritted his teeth, knew that this was costing him. The knowledge touched a part of her, made her aware of all the layers that made Blake who he was: fiercely loyal, tender, and giving among them.

  She shut her eyes and lifted her hips once more, lightly grazing herself against his stiff cock, but it was more than enough in her hypersensitive state. She bit down on her lower lip then nearly jumped as he increased pressure against her clit.

  “Oh.” She blew out a sharp breath as he did it again, and again, each time rocking against her a little longer, a little harder, his movements a whole lot sexier.

  She couldn’t contain the swell of emotion gathering force, pulling her forward, demanding she give in. She rubbed against him harder, holding onto his back and arching up so that she rubbed against him just right.

  The pressure built, release just one stroke, one light stroke away.

  And when it came, the tide was fierce, sweeping her up and over and… “Blake.”

  He continued to rock against her, murmuring praise and raining kisses on her mouth, her chin, her cheek, and then he was gone.

  When he returned a moment later, he tore open a condom packet and sheathed himself.

  She angled her hips, an invitation she was pretty sure he’d accept this time.

  “You’re so wet,” he groaned as he sank deep inside her, setting the pace with each slow plunge.

  Zandra he
ld his gaze and thrust upward, her legs wrapped around him. “So good,” she moaned as her eyes slowly shut.

  The feel of him inside her was powerful, each stroke gliding her closer to the edge, closer to another release.

  “Baby, I’m close…”

  Zandra arched, her body clenched as she went over the edge, with Blake not that far behind her.

  “Well,” she whispered a short while later. With a smile, she reached up one hand and traced his chin, the stubble on his face rough against her forefinger. “That was amazing.”

  It was more than amazing, actually. It was powerful, like lust mixed with a healthy dose of something that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

  He grinned and kissed her nose. “Don’t move.”

  “Like I can get my legs to work after that.”

  He chuckled as he moved off of her then pulled the covers up to her chin. A moment later, he returned and pulled the covers back.

  She blinked her eyes open. “A warm towel.” She rose onto one elbow and watched as he carefully bathed her thighs.

  Blake. Dear, sweet, amazing Blake. It felt like she’d searched a dozen lifetimes to find that one opportunity, that one chance to frame the perfect shot with a special man, only in the end, the timing was off.

  When it came right down to it, there was more than one “perfect” man, more than one person with whom she’d find that spark. Right now she needed to focus, no matter how tempting Blake was. She had to think about herself.

  Despite all the logical reasons to maintain an emotional distance, her heart ached with the kind of force only reserved for romance novels or sappy ballads. This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

  “You okay?” he asked, lines of concern on his face as he tossed the towel aside.

  Tears moistened Zandra’s eyes, and she quickly looked away. “Yes, of course.”

  “Good.” He snuggled next to her and pulled her close. “You’re pretty amazing, Zandra.”

  “I like when you say my name.”

  “It’s a unique name, that’s for sure. Then again, you’re pretty unique.” He kissed the top of her head, the movement so sweetly endearing her heart ached.

  She closed her eyes and savored the moment. This was it, their last night together. Tomorrow she’d be on a plane back to Seattle—without him.

  She alone was responsible for the course of her life, she alone chose the direction it went, and who, if anyone, would come on that journey with her. She needed to fly fast, which meant flying alone.

  Opening her eyes, she fought back the lump in her throat and tried like hell to concentrate on this moment. Blake’s gentle touch, his smile…the way he made her feel…especially the way he made her feel.

  She had so much she wanted to do with her life, starting with her photography career. She wanted it, and she’d earned a start in it. So how come her heart felt like it was shattering into a gazillion ragged pieces?

  Because it was.

  She laid on her side, one leg thrown over Blake’s, and let the pain wash over her. There was no shame in feeling. It’s what had allowed her to take the photos the e-zine editor loved so much that she was offered a chance at a full-time position with Flights and Sights. She owed it to herself, to the world, to pursue her passion.

  And this short interlude with Blake left her with a lot to smile about, didn’t it? Like the skull inked onto his chest, it reminded her of the brevity of life and the need to seize each moment.

  Zandra traced her fingers over the short hairs on his chest and tried to commit every hard ridge to memory. It would be all she’d have left after tonight.

  “Blake?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Do you believe in fate?”

  “I believe you make your own fate.”

  “So do I.” She cleared her throat. Damn, this was going to hurt, but there was no way around it. “Please don’t come to the airport with me tomorrow.”

  The hand that had absently traced her hip came to a stop so briefly, she thought she’d imagined it. “Okay.”

  He hadn’t argued, hadn’t demanded she rethink her stance, hadn’t fought for her, for them.

  Because there was no them.

  And she needed to accept that.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Blake felt like shit. Not the I-drank-too-fucking-much kind of shit, but more like the someone’s-run-over-me-with-an-emotional-tank kind. And there was only one way he knew of to get rid of it. Which was why he was pushing himself so hard this morning.

  His heart pounded with each stomp of his running shoes on the sidewalks around Stuttgart, past the Tesla store, and toward the construction site that seemed to buzz with the same kind of activity that stuttered through him.

  Blake needed to forget, needed to remember, needed to figure out which way his head had to be screwed on so he didn’t screw up his life—or Zandra’s, for that matter.

  Please don’t come to the airport with me…

  Even now the words stung, her quietly spoken request reverberating through him as he continued to pound his way back to the hotel. Cars honked, buses honked, every fucking vehicle on the roadway seemed to fucking honk.

  He forced his focus on the next step, the next footfall, the next breath he took in instead of the heaviness in his heart. It felt crushed, almost, like the weight of the world had stomped it into less than half its original size.

  Please don’t come to the airport with me…

  How could Zandra do it? How could she walk away from what they had like it had meant nothing to her?

  Sure, she had goals, had plans for herself. So did he, for that matter. The last thing Blake wanted to do was stomp out her dreams. She’d fought too hard for her freedom. He saw that, saw the respect she’d earned from others with the photos she took. She had talent in spades, and she needed to explore it. She needed to grow herself.

  As for him? Well, he had obligations, duties, responsibilities. He had a fucking Life Plan, for God’s sake, one he wasn’t going to deviate from no matter what—or who—walked into his life.

  Except he’d do it for Zandra.

  That’s what freaked him out.

  He waited for a break in traffic before crossing the heavily traveled street.

  The fact he cared about her couldn’t be denied.

  But did she care about him?

  Please don’t come to the airport with me…

  Sure, she’d made that ridiculous request, but what if she hadn’t really meant it? And what if he presented terms that were mutually agreeable to both of them? Things between them were good, better than good, really, so why should things change once they left Germany? At least, until he figured out where his next assignment would take him.

  But given his position on the Special Forces team, he had a luxury afforded to so few in the Army—he could choose his next post. And right now there were two generals vying for his attention.

  That’s what he’d do. He’d take the post closest to Seattle that trained Special Forces soldiers, which meant moving to North Carolina. Sure, it still meant they were on opposite sides of the country, but he could take long weekends every now and then, and maybe she’d get an assignment close enough so they could see each other.

  Zandra was obviously unwilling to let go of her freedom, so he’d work with it. If he did that, maybe he could convince her to take their relationship to the next level.

  As he neared their extended stay hotel, Blake’s heartbeat increased, and he was sure it was more than just the exercise. He raced up the stairs, careful not to knock over the potted plant at the landing.

  Outside their room, he took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. They would be logical, orderly, and ones that she’d agree to. Because why wouldn’t she? They could enjoy each other’s company and still go after what they wanted in life, right?


  Blake contained his excitement and pushed open the door. Her flight didn’t leave until tonight, and even though she was flying out of Frankfurt, it was a few hours until she needed to catch the train.

  As soon as the door opened, he stopped.

  The lights were off, but the blinds were wide open…and Zandra was gone.

  …

  Zandra stood off to the side in Frankfurt’s train station terminal and watched the crowd go by. She’d done it. She’d figured out the schedule, gotten herself to the station in Stuttgart, and even caught the right train to Frankfurt. Blake would be so proud. Too bad she couldn’t tell him.

  Even worse, the victory now rang hollow.

  Her heart hurt, but she’d accept it, and it would heal in time. Because what else could she do? Even now, she had proposals in place with three other e-zines, so it wouldn’t be long before she’d head off to a new assignment, even if Flights and Sights didn’t take her on for something new right away.

  And Blake? Well, he needed to find a woman who could be with him, no matter the direction his dreams took him. She couldn’t give him that.

  The pain intensified, and she eased in a deep breath, cinched her backpack tight around her waist, and dragged her roller bag in one hand and her suitcase in the other.

  Situational awareness…watch the crowd…make sure to keep your possessions close.

  She shouldn’t be surprised that Blake’s instructions echoed in her head. They made sense, after all, and helped make her a better world traveler, which was exactly the trajectory her career would take her. And exactly what she wanted to do with her life, right?

  Right.

  She studied the signs, following the ones that led to the adjoining airport. Yeah, she was being a coward, but after last night, after the way Blake took care of her and held her until she fell asleep, there was no way she was hanging around this morning. Nope.

  She’d done the right thing, quickly packing her stuff and heading out a few minutes after he’d left on this morning’s run. It might be a coward’s way of handling things, but it already hurt like a mother, and she wasn’t going to make it worse by hanging around and saying good-bye.