Rank: Lighthouse Security Investigations Series

by Maryann Jordan

  After paying the check, he stood and held out his hand. “You ready to get out of here?” he asked, trying to ignore his pounding heartbeat.

  “Oh, yeah. I’m ready to get out of here, but where should we go?”

  He started to say they could go anywhere she wanted, but was not sure if Walker was finished with the security on her home. “My place?”

  She tilted her head to the side, and asked, “I don’t even know where you live. Is it very far?”

  “I’m about thirty minutes from here.” He hesitated, not being able to read her expression. “Is that okay?”

  She smiled widely and he grinned, grabbing her hand and pulling her from her chair. Weaving their way back to the door, he fought the desire to throw her over his shoulder and sprint.

  On the way to her car, he debated whether or not to make a move. Technically he had told her that they just needed a place to talk privately, but the chemistry he felt in the air between them during dinner made him question whether or not she had changed her mind and was open to dating after all. Stopping next to the driver’s side, he kept hold of her hand as he decided what to do. He had unintentionally made her uncomfortable too many times. He did not want to do it again by making the wrong call.

  “Rank?” she asked, putting her other hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”

  Letting out a breath, he turned to her and backed her against the door, releasing her hand so he could put both of his on either side of her, effectively fencing her in but leaving her enough room to push him away or move if she wanted to, in case he had read the situation incorrectly. Immediately, she put her hands up to grip his waist, pulling him a little closer, and he let out a soft sigh. Staring down into her face, he said, “I want to kiss you. But I won’t unless it’s what you want, too.”

  Her hands slid upward over his chest and around his neck. Pulling him down while she lifted on her toes, she moved her lips against his, murmuring, “I want this. Screw complicated. We’ll figure it out.”

  “Thank fuck,” he mumbled in return, angling his head and taking over the kiss. Kissing her as though his very breath depended on it, he licked, nipped, and slid his tongue deep inside her mouth, wanting to taste the very essence of her.

  Her hands clutched the back of his neck before sliding down his shoulders, her fingertips digging in as though she were hanging on a ledge and his body was the only thing to keep her from falling. He banded his arms tighter around her, one pulling her waist up against him and the other, finally, blissfully tangling in her long tresses.

  After a long moment, he lifted his head away from her lips ever so slightly, his eyes blazing into hers. For a SEAL who was used to running great distances carrying heavy loads, he could not believe how out of breath he was from just one kiss. “I don’t want to drive separately, but I don’t want to leave either of our vehicles here either.”

  Gasping for air, she said, “It’s okay. We’ll drive separately.” He opened his mouth to try and come up with another idea, not wanting to leave her, way when she rushed out, “Don’t worry. The wait will just make the reward that much sweeter.”

  A woman had never said something like that to him before and he stared, mouth still hanging open, for a few seconds. More often than not, the women he slept with were just out to fuck a SEAL and he knew it. It had not bothered him then. It was win, win. Hearing that a woman longed to be with him because he was a sweet reward, made his chest tight and his heart ache.

  Leaning in quickly, he kissed her hard, fast, and wet before pulling back once again. “Follow me, babe. And I want your headlights right behind me every second of the way.” He jogged to his truck and watched as she drove behind him. If possible, his dick grew harder with each mile.

  “Oh my God Helena! You’re finally going to get some!”

  “Jesus, Janice. It hasn’t been that long. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about this with you. It might jinx the whole evening. I just wanted to know if you would go over and feed my cats.”

  Her friend huffed, but said, “Of course I will.” There was a slight silence, before Janice added, “You know I’m excited for you, right?”

  Laughing, she said, “Yeah, I think I got that. He also wanted me to make sure I called someone to give them the address. We do that anyway, but it says good things that he brought it up. So, write it down.” She rattled off the address to his place.

  “Got it. He might be a keeper after all. Call me tomorrow and give me all the details. And Helena? Most of all, just have fun. You deserve it.”

  Disconnecting, she closely followed the red tail lights in front of her, biting her lip as she tried to keep the nerves from overtaking her. For a second, she wondered what she was doing, going to the home of a man she barely knew, and yet everything in her screamed for her to trust him. Even when she had been mad at him, thinking he had been using her, she still trusted him. Blowing out her breath in a long, slow sigh, she smiled in anticipation. Come what may tomorrow morning, tonight she wanted to enjoy herself.

  12

  Rank jerked into his parking space and was out the door before Helena could pull in next to him. Stalking over, he threw open her car door and assisted her out. Once he made sure she clicked her locks, he gave her arm a tug and pulled her body tightly against his. She stood on her tiptoes once again, but he said, “Uh-uh. I taste your lips again right now, we’re going to give my neighbors a show.”

  She opened her mouth in surprise, but no words came forth as she stared at his intense gaze. Keeping one arm around her shoulders he bent and snagged her up into his arms. She squealed and latched her arms around his neck.

  “What floor do you live on?” she asked.

  “Fourth.”

  “You can’t carry me up three flights of stairs!” she exclaimed.

  “I used to carry your weight easily on long hikes and missions. Believe me, it didn’t feel nearly as good as what you feel like in my arms right now. Hell, woman, I could carry you around all day.”

  He jostled her a little and she looked down to see he was using his elbow to hit the elevator button. Lifting an eyebrow, she quipped, “I think you’re cheating.”

  He pretended to drop her and she squealed again, clinging tighter to him as he stepped inside the elevator. “This, babe, is not cheating.” He lowered her feet to the floor and pressed her back against the wall, diving in for a kiss.

  This time, there was no holding back and he pressed his front against hers, stealing her breath. She felt the evidence of his arousal pressing against her stomach and her legs shook.

  Helena grunted as the railing around the elevator wall dug into her back and, hearing that, Rank stepped backward and lifted her in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, never breaking the kiss.

  His tongue thrust deeply, tangling with hers, tasting the sweet wine she had with dinner. Their noses bumped as their heads moved back and forth and with her now in his arms, he could feel her heat right against his cock. Pulling back, he banged his head against the wall, gasping for breath, trying not to come in his pants like a teenager dry humping for the first time. Thankful that the elevator had reached the fourth floor and the doors were opening, he rushed out, with her still clinging to him.

  At his door, he fumbled for the keys as she peppered his face and jaw with kisses. Finally unlocking and throwing it open, he tripped going through the door, banging her shoulder against the doorframe. He usually considered himself to be a smooth operator and could only shake his head in disbelief at his clumsiness tonight. “Sorry—”

  She cut his words off, grabbing his face and latching onto his lips. Whirling around, he closed the door and locked it, then pressed her back against his door, the feel of her silken lips drowning out all other thoughts.

  Helena’s breasts were crushed against Rank’s chest and as he ground his hips against her heat, she began to pant. Joining his movement, she rocked up and down, the rough material of his jeans creating the friction she craved. Her hands delved i
nto his long hair and her fingers fisted against the waves, nails scraping on his scalp, eliciting a groan.

  Pulling back, he growled,“No.”

  Blinking in confusion, her heart plunged. Still panting, she asked, “No?”

  He began moving again, this time down a hall. “Not no. Just no to our first time being up against the door.”

  Before she had a chance to process his words, he turned into his bedroom, stalking toward the bed. Realizing where he was going, all objections flew out of her mind and a smile curved her lips.

  Rank tossed Helena gently onto the bed and stood there for a few seconds just taking in her beauty. Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were kiss-swollen. Her green eyes were hooded with lust. Her dark hair spread across his bed, looking even better than he had imagined—and he had imagined her a lot.

  Towering over her, he reached behind his back and pulled his T-shirt over his head. His hands moved to his belt and, after unfastening it, he unzipped his jeans, the sound clicking in the silence as her breath shallowed in anticipation. He bent over and quickly tossed his boots to the side before standing up and jerking his jeans down his legs. Kicking them to the side, he slid off his boxers and took a deep breath, eyes devouring her as she lay on the bed.

  Helena found it hard to breathe as she dragged her gaze along Rank’s naked, muscular body proudly on display. He was over six feet of honed muscles covered with just a smattering of hair from his pecs, to his abs, to the delectable V that led down to his cock. Much more muscular than the men she had dated in the past, she now knew that any man in the future would pale in comparison to him.

  Rank moved forward and paused, his hands resting on Helena’s skirt. She bit her lip and nodded, a sassy smirk playing about her lips. Grinning in return, he found the side zipper, drew it downward and slipped the material over her hips, leaving the scrap of silk that was her panties in place. He fought the urge to rip her clothes from her body, wanting to savor every moment. She had called him her sweet reward, but he knew he was nothing compared to her. He vowed to make sure he spent as much time worshiping her body as he could. Crawling onto the bed so that his massive thighs straddled her hips, he began to unbutton her blouse. Just like with the keys, he felt his fingers fumbling and unsure with the tiny buttons.

  She smiled and brought her hands forward as though to help but he snagged both of her wrists and pressed them back to the bed next to her head. “This is all me…all mine.”

  After finishing with the buttons, he urged her to shift slightly so that he was able to pull the blouse off of her arms and, with a quick toss, it landed on the floor along with her skirt. Staring down at her, his gaze roved slowly over her body, taking in every nuance of her beauty.

  Her breasts were spilling out of the top of her lacy bra, her curves soft and delicate. Her waist was narrow and gently sloped into her hips, which he had admired from the first moment he saw her. Leaning forward, he trailed his lips to the middle of her chest, moving from one breast to the other. Her skin was soft and warm and he could feel her heartbeat against his mouth.

  Her skin came alive as his lips moved over her breasts. Lifting his hands from her hips to the front clasp of her bra, with a flip of his fingers he slowly peeled it away and it joined her other clothes as he tossed it over the edge of the bed.

  Her dusky rose nipples hardened and pebbled in the cool air, beckoning. He moved quickly, sucking first one and then the other into his mouth. He nipped, dragging his teeth over the sensitive tips, then soothed the sting with the flat of his tongue.

  “Rank,” she breathed, her hips undulating, seeking his heat.

  “Patience,” he murmured against her skin as his lips continued to trail between her breasts.

  “Fuck patience,” she moaned.

  Chuckling, he said, “I’d rather you fuck me.”

  She jerked her hips upward again only to find herself pinned against the mattress with his much larger body. “That’s what I’m trying to do,” she complained, her voice raspy with need.

  Kissing his way down her body, he snagged her panties as he slid off the bed, leaving her spread out before him, a feast to be savored. Towering over her once more, he admired her perfection.

  She smiled as he grabbed her ankles and slowly dragged her to the edge of the bed. Kneeling on the floor, he placed her legs over his shoulders. Biting her lip in anticipation, she gasped as he dove in, feasting on her wet folds, sliding his tongue deep inside.

  “God, I’ve wanted to do this since I first smelled your sex pressed against my face.”

  Helena brought her hands up and clapped them over her face, shaking her head back and forth. “Ugh…” she moaned, in both embarrassment and pleasure. Soon, embarrassment took a backseat to the tightening coil winding inside her.

  Unable to hold her head up any longer, she lay back on the mattress allowing the sensations to sweep over her body. Her sex throbbed with need and he shifted slightly to insert a finger inside. She rocked her hips upward, unable to keep still.

  He chuckled again and this time she felt the rumble deep inside. “Oh…my…oh…” she stammered, unable to form a coherent thought, much less a coherent sentence.

  Scissoring his fingers inside, he sucked deeply, pulling her clit into his mouth. She cried out as sparks flew from her core, traveling throughout her body. It had been over a year since she had had a lover other than her trusty battery-operated boyfriend and she was reminded of how much better an orgasm was when induced by a real man.

  Rank shifted slightly, so that he was able to keep his eyes on Helena. Her body, now flush and rosy, was even more beautiful as she came for him. This was not just sex and she was not just any woman. He wanted more, but not just more sex. He wanted more her.

  As he stood, her legs slid off his shoulders. Crawling over her body, he pulled her back up to the pillows then straddled her thighs, the scent of her sex filling the air. He kissed her breasts again, this time moving his lips up over her collarbone to the soft base of her neck where her pulse was beating erratically.

  He found complete contentment in knowing that he had brought her pleasure, even if he had not orgasmed yet. He continued to kiss his way up her neck, over her jaw, finally latching onto her lips, the silken warmth of her tongue tangling with his.

  Sitting up, while still straddling her hips, he grabbed a condom from the nightstand. Rolling it on, he turned back and caught her gaze, loving that there was no hesitation in her eyes.

  Helena lifted her hands to Rank’s shoulders, her fingers digging in slightly to his thick muscles. He was so large, but she marveled at how well they fit together.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he whispered. “I want you to be sure.”

  With a wide smile, she said, “I don’t think I’ve been surer of anything in my whole life.”

  With the tip of his cock at Helena’s entrance, Rank eased in slowly, inch by inch. Her tight sheath nearly undid him as soon as he entered. Not wanting to cause her pain, he hesitated, but she forced her hips upward to meet his and he was soon seated. He began to thrust deeply and as her fingers clutched his shoulders even tighter, he pumped harder.

  The intensity was overwhelming and it was not long before she cried out his name, her climax roaring through her. As her sex squeezed around him, he panted, wanting to delay his own pleasure.

  He pulled out and, before she had a chance to protest, he rolled her to the side and lifted her leg, entering her from the back. Reaching around, he gave her clit a light pinch. Hearing her gasp, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she panted, pushing her hips back against his cock. “Just move!”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, sucking gently on her neck as he thrust his engorged cock deep inside her waiting core.

  The angle brought new sensations and Rank gripped Helena’s hips to hold her in place as he thrust swiftly, rocking into her body. He held her tightly, one hand on her breast, as his body drove into hers. The tight friction built inside, but she d
esired to feel the sensations on her clit. Sliding her hand down between her legs, she fingered herself. Finding her slick, swollen nub, she rubbed and pulled, feeling her inner muscles twitch with need.

  “Fuck, Helena. You touching yourself is gonna make me come even harder,” he panted between thrusts.

  She whimpered at his words and one of his hands moved back up to tweak her sensitive nipple. “You almost there?” he asked, his voice rough.

  “Yes,” she panted as the gripping from her sex sent sparks outward and the pressure began to build, straining until she found her release.

  Helena’s inner walls convulsed around his cock as Rank gave over to his own climax. Head thrown back, thick neck muscles straining, he pulsated into her waiting body, experiencing a release unlike any he had ever felt in his life.

  Lying with legs and arms tangled, no words came as their sweaty bodies slowly cooled in the night air.

  After catching his breath, Rank mumbled, “Gotta deal with the condom,” and Helena rolled over and watched him stalk toward the bathroom. Having spent time admiring the front, she had to admit that the naked back view was just as spectacular. His shoulder and back muscles tapered to his waist, leading to a perfect ass. The thought crossed her mind that she had never before admired a man’s ass. But Rank’s body was like a work of art, every angle to be appreciated.

  Her mind was still lost in those thoughts as he stalked back in and the smile on his face took her breath away. He hesitated for a few seconds at the foot of the bed and her lust-lazy mind cleared quickly. She jumped up from the bed, her eyes darting about the floor, looking for her clothes.

  He stepped forward and snagged her wrists in a firm, but painless, grip. “Hey, are you okay?”

  She lifted her gaze to stare into his but was unable to read his expression. “Sorry, I was actually just lying on the bed admiring your body. I guess I got kind of lost in the afterglow,” she giggled nervously. Looking back down, she tried to ignore his stirring cock and spied her panties on the floor. “I’ll just get dressed now—”