by Em Petrova
He crushed her against the wall again. “Is this better? Do I look like your type now?” He dipped his head to kiss her.
She went on tiptoes, parting her lips to accept the sweep of his tongue which caused a dark twist of want in her lower belly. As they broke away, she reached up and tugged the beanie off his head.
“If that’s not your type—”
“You’re my type, Harris. Just you.”
He pinched her braid and gave it a light yank. “I didn’t expect to fall in love with you either, fairy nymph.”
She went still. “Fall in love?”
“You gonna challenge me? I love you, Jenna. You’re already my longest relationship. Let’s see where it goes.”
She scraped her fingers over his hair. “I guess since you admitted you love me, it’s only fair that I tell you the same.”
His lips quirked, and his eyes gleamed like rays of sun beaming through the forest. “I’m waiting.”
She leaned her forehead against his. “I love you, Harris Lipton. You stole my heart from the start.”
“And the minute I opened my eyes after that tree dropped on me, I knew I was in way over my head with you.” He stole anything else she might say in the way of love words and took her mouth as his own, twisting his tongue over hers, teasing small moans from her.
She dropped her daypack to the floor and kicked off her boots. Since he still wore a cast, he had only one boot to remove. When he trapped her to the wall with both her arms pinned over her head, her breaths came hard and fast.
“What are you gonna do?” she rasped.
He ducked his head and opened his mouth over the pulse point in her throat. “Make you scream my name,” he murmured against her flesh as he nibbled a path down to her collarbone.
A shiver of pleasure ran through her. She tried to move her hands, but he held them to the wall and continued to lick and kiss her throat until she squirmed and rocked forward.
“I want you.” She heard the plea in her voice.
He raised his head and pierced her in his stare. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted…my fairy nymph.”
She kissed him long and deep. After they came up for air, she shook her head in wonder that Harris really was here—and he loved her.
“Let me go and I’ll show you my house.”
“I’m only interested in the surfaces we can have sex on.”
She giggled. “Why don’t I think you’re teasing?”
He released her hand and brought it down to the front of his cargo pants. The bulging outline of his cock made her moan. “Because I’m not,” he grated out.
She followed the ridge of his shaft with her fingertips and watched his eyes burn with more hunger. Then she took his hand and placed it on her breast. As he issued a growl, he swiped his thumb over her aching nipple until it peaked.
She pulled him out of the entryway, through her small, light-filled home and in to her bedroom.
He stopped dead in the doorway, staring at her space. “Jesus, how is your bedroom exactly like I pictured it?” He took in the bed covered in her favorite green comforter and pillows and up to the twinkle lights she’d strung from the ceiling like a canopy. In one window, she had a copper pipe contraption a friend had made for her that acted as a plant stand with bars to hang more plants on.
She grinned and led him to the bed. Once they stood beside it, facing each other, she grew shy.
He took her hand. “You’re shaking.”
“I thought that was you.”
“It might be. This feels different, doesn’t it? Being in love and making love?”
“Yes.” Her voice issued as a rasping whisper.
That they might be so different and yet feel exactly the same about each other spurred her to reach for him. He pulled her close and bent her over his arm to kiss her. They tumbled to the mattress and began tearing at each other’s clothes. When he reached her sports bra she wore for hiking, he issued a frustrated growl.
Laughing, she removed it, but the sound cut off as he dropped his lips to her breast and began to suck.
“Harris!” She dug her fingers into his hair, dragging him closer, wiggling to get into position so his bared cock lined up with her pussy.
Staring into her eyes, he jerked his hips once—and filled her with his cock. Need spanned her belly and a burning need took up in her core. She tightened her inner walls around him, holding him in place even as she wrapped her legs around his body.
Their gazes locked. “You mean everything to me,” she whispered.
“Jenna. My beautiful love.” He claimed her lips in a kiss that stole the rest of her thoughts and she gave herself up to sensation as he began to move. His ridged length gliding through her walls sent her flying in seconds. She gripped his shoulders and rocked with each thrust. Small gasps morphed to cries and finally, her orgasm stole over her and she called his name.
“Hell yeah!” He plunged into her again and again, drawing out her pulsations of release. When he pulled his cock out and looked down at her juices soaking his erection, she gasped at the erotic sight. Holding her stare, he gave his cock one long pump of his fist and slowly fed it back inside her.
Right to the hilt.
Her body shuddered around him, and Harris gritted his teeth against the need to blow. Not yet—he wasn’t even close to being done.
He rolled her over and dragged her up his body until she straddled his face. With her soft thighs around his ears, he couldn’t think of a place he’d rather be than right here eating her sweet, slick pussy.
“Harris, please!” She braced a hand on the wall.
His tongue snaked out and lapped her still quaking folds. When he dipped his tongue into her pussy, she tossed her head on a cry. He clamped his fingers on her hips and held her in place as he tormented her from top to bottom and bottom to top. Sucking on her clit and strumming the bundle of nerves with the tip of his tongue. His fantasies were nothing like reality, and he planned to keep her right here until he got his fill.
She rocked wildly, her breaths coming in spurts, and he sensed she was about to come again.
The need to get inside her when she shattered grew too strong for him to ignore. He lifted her off his face and positioned himself behind her. Her chest rose and fell in sharp gasps, and she twisted her head to glance at him as he pressed his cock head against her entrance.
“Take me, Harris. In every way. I’m yours.”
“Damn right you are.” The possessive streak he’d never experienced before came out now when he plunged his cock into the love of his life.
Passion flowed up, a bubbling spring that he knew would never run dry for her. He wanted Jenna in his life forever.
He sank into her body, reveling in her gasps and cries and adding his own. His balls clenched tight to his body, and he slammed his eyes shut on the exquisite pressure building at the base of his spine. One more thrust…
As he lost all control, he issued a roar
Cum spurted up his cock and into her sweet pussy. He shoved deep while yanking her into him. She ground against his cock, and he slipped his fingers over her clit and rubbed. When she came apart around him, he growled out the last of his release.
They continued to move with each other. After he caught his breath, he gently pulled free and they stretched out in each other’s arms. With Jenna tucked against his side and her palm resting on his chest, a huge wave of love engulfed him. The strongest emotion he’d ever known in his life—all for her.
“I can’t believe you thought wearing that beanie would make you look more my type,” she said after a moment.
He kissed the top of her curly head. “I was a desperate man.”
“You never have to feel that way, Harris. I don’t ever want you questioning who I really want. It’s you.” He swore the gold flecks in the depths of her gaze twinkled brighter.
“I’m glad I finally won you over. I didn’t know how I’d get back to base if I didn’t.”
“What d
o you mean?” Her brows crinkled.
“I came by chopper. Cora dropped me off.”
She propped herself on an elbow to stare at him. “You’re telling me you only want me because you need a lift?”
He grinned. “You know that isn’t true, Nymph. I’m hungry too.”
She batted his shoulder, and they struggled a moment until their lips met. The sweet tangle of their tongues went on and on.
Slowly, she raised her head. “My boyfriend doesn’t drive a hot-rod or a big expensive truck suitable for the Alaskan mountains—he comes by chopper.”
He chuckled. “I’d like to take you up sometime. Show you the park from the air.”
“I always knew I was in for something big with you, and this proves it.”
He stroked a curl off her beautiful face. “I want to do the things you like too. I want to go on those hikes and see the world through your eyes. Maybe you’ll sing the song for me that earned you your nickname.”
“You can’t hike with a cast.”
“Comes off in days.”
“I don’t know how that can be possible—you haven’t rested at all to let it heal.”
His lips quirked. “I’m made of tougher stuff than that.”
“Or more stubborn.”
“Possibly.”
She laid her head down on his chest again, and he drew his fingers through her soft curls. A long minute passed. “Did you hear Joffrey will be released from the hospital any day?”
“I hadn’t heard, but I’m glad.”
“Me too. His family is so happy. They just got a new rescue dog to bring some joy into their lives while they wait for him to heal. It’s really the sweetest mutt. Also, the guys and I did a pool and took up a collection to help cover expenses.”
He didn’t think she could surprise him with her sweetness and generosity, yet she did. This woman’s heart was so big. “You’re always thinking of other people.”
She searched his eyes. “I think you should know that Jack and I are still friends,” she said quietly. “He isn’t a bad person. He’s a man who made a mistake and now lives a better life because of it. But there’s nothing between us other than friendship, Harris.”
“I know, Nymph. I’d never ask you to stop seeing him either.”
She sighed. “Thank you. It means a lot to me. But Jack’s gone. He left the area, on his way to some other adventure.”
“And when do you want to find your own adventure?”
With a smile and a glow in her eyes, she threaded their fingers together. “I already have, Harris. With you, every day of my life will be an adventure.”
He drew her up his body and kissed her. Each warm caress of her mouth enticed him into giving more of his heart, and he knew with this woman, he’d always find a new, exciting path to walk.
Epilogue
The beat of chopper blades pulsed in the air like the sound of a hundred large birds taking flight. Jenna didn’t need to turn in order to know who had just arrived at the park ranger picnic.
“Who the heck is that?” one of the park ranger’s wives burst out.
She smiled and got up from her lawn chair. “That’s my boyfriend.” She walked away from the group of friends and coworkers grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, crossing the field to meet the man exiting the helicopter.
When her gaze met Harris’s, her heart leaped. His grin couldn’t get any wider as he ducked under the blades and started toward her.
She threw a wave to Cora piloting the craft, and the woman waved in return. As soon as Harris was clear, Cora took off again, lifting into the sky.
Jenna ran the last few feet into Harris’s arms. He picked her up and whirled her, mouth crushing down on hers.
Far too quickly, he lifted his head. “God, you feel so damn good. I hate these weeks when I don’t see you.”
“Now that I asked you to make it to my work picnic, I don’t want to share you. I wish we could be alone.” She ran her thumb over his full lips.
“Mmm. Me too, Nymph. Let me look at you.” He held her at arms’ length just to run his eyes up and down her body, leaving her feeling hot and sticky and more than ready to undress for her lover.
“We’re leaving as soon as we eat,” she announced and took him by the hand. His laugh rumbled as they crossed the picnic area to reach the rest of the group. Some of the park rangers greeted Harris by name, and she introduced him to others. When they settled down with their plates to eat, she found she didn’t really feel like socializing and wanted only to talk to her man.
“I missed you so much,” she told him.
His eyes creased with his smile. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I think I drove all my teammates crazy talking about you. I even told the K-9 unit handler we were working with about you. She’s eager to meet you, by the way.”
“K-9 unit…” She learned early on that she didn’t always wish to hear about the missions and dangers Harris faced, but the thought of using dogs to help intrigued her.
“Yes, we’ve used this company before, and her dogs are the best in the state. I think there’s another reason we keep using her, though.”
“Why’s that?” She bit into her hot dog.
“Broshears has a thing for her.”
She chewed and swallowed, brows raised. “Oh really?”
“Yeah, he hasn’t said so, but you just know when one of your buddies is crushin’ hard on a woman.”
“Did they know that about you?” She took his hand and examined his bruised knuckles that again, she didn’t want to know how he got. She knew if he really needed to talk through some issues, he wouldn’t hesitate and hadn’t in the past.
“Yes, they pegged us as a couple from the beginning.”
She couldn’t hide her grin. He raised her hand to his mouth and gave it a gentle kiss that edged deep inside her. She bit off a moan and pressed her thighs together beneath the table.
“What do you say we get going on that hike we have planned?” he rumbled.
She nodded. “A week alone with you in the wilderness, under the moon? I can’t think of anything I want more.”
“I hope you brought bug spray, because I plan on keeping you naked the whole week.” He took her empty plate from her and carried both plates to drop into the trash.
When he returned, she was on her feet. “We have to swing by my place and get our gear. I have our backpacks filled and ready to go.”
“I think there might be one thing you left out.”
She arched a brow, racking her brain for something she could have missed. Besides, how would he know what she packed? “No, I don’t think so.”
“Let’s say our goodbyes.” He anchored her to his side as they revolved through the group, chatting and saying farewell. Joffrey told them to have a great trip, and she beamed at her friend who’d healed enough to return to work a few days earlier.
When they walked to her truck, she noted how Harris slowed his pace, as if he wanted to drag out the time it took to reach the vehicle. She shot him a glance. “Everything okay?”
“More than okay, Nymph.” Without warning, he plucked her off her feet and pressed her against a nearby tree. She sucked in a gasp and laughed at the playful kiss he dropped to her lips.
“Oh Harris, I love you so much.” She moved to slip her arms around his neck, but he caught her hand and glided something over her finger.
She froze. Her heart gave a hard squeeze of shock. Feeling her eyes go round, she met his gaze. “Harris?”
“Jenna Moon Shadow Underwood, will you be my wife?”
She jerked her hand up to her face to stare at the engagement ring encircling her finger. It wasn’t a big flashy diamond, which would be the furthest thing from her style, but instead a small gem was wrapped by a crescent moon made of gold and sparkling diamonds.
“It’s a moonstone. Not as traditional as a diamond, but I knew—”
She cut off his speech with a kiss. Love and warmth drowned her as emotions rip
pled through her. There wasn’t a way to love this man more, and yet every day he proved her wrong and she found she did love him more.
When she broke the kiss, she met his stare. “I love it. It’s so perfect…more than perfect. I love you with all my heart, Harris, and yes! I will marry you!”
His grin flashed and he let out a whoop as he lifted her off her feet and squeezed her tight. “You’ve just made me the happiest man alive.”
“You’re my life, Harris.” She cupped his angled jaw and tilted her face up for his kiss, thoughts of their backpacking trip far away.
THE END
NEXT IN THE XTREME OPS SERIES, XTREME BEHAVIOR
He doesn’t break rules—but she could tempt him past his limits.
Special Operative Alix Broshears will do anything for his Xtreme Ops and country, but breaking rules isn’t one of them. After a string of deaths is linked to a man locked up for another crime, Broshears and his team are racing against the clock to stop him before another person dies. Bringing in the gorgeous handler for a local K-9 unit makes sense—unless you ask Broshears’ libido. When it comes to the intelligent woman who thinks on her feet better than most men he’s worked with, his control is tested every damn minute.
But trusting a woman who breaks all the rules can’t end well, and they both know it.
Vivian Valentine is up for the challenge of joining the special ops team on yet another mission with her K-9 partner, Zack. Driven by the thrill of the job, she’s also determined to prove her worth to a certain special operative who takes arguing with her seriously.
Sure, they hate each other. They’re also friends.
And there might have been one encounter in a restroom, but they don’t discuss that.
Broshears and Vivian must work in close proximity to solve the crime—and whether they kill each other or wind up in bed is anyone’s guess. But when someone turns on her, Broshears must make a hard choice. Will he stick to his beliefs or throw away the rule book in order to save her?