by Gennita Low
Her chuckles were infectious and they all joined in.
“Hey, it was Lulu who put the lampshade on Cumber’s head. He couldn’t do a thing because he had his arms full of that damn oak tree.”
“It’s an armoire,” Lulu corrected. “And he looked very nice wearing a lampshade.”
“And so did a dozen of your friends, seeing that you posted that picture online,” Lucas said wryly.
Lulu grinned. “I wish it was the first picture, in the pink bed with them.” She looked at Mink and Dirk. “Now, that would have been soooooo funny. Ah well, the pink lampshade will have to do.”
Lucas wagged a finger at her. “Payback is a bitch, sis,” he threatened softly. He put his hand on the back of Kit’s chair and noted her stiffening ever so slightly, betraying her awareness of him. “But not tonight. I’m in a good mood and not going to let you spoil it.”
He had enjoyed himself these few days. Downtime with family was rare and he savored every moment. His job as a SEAL was a demanding and dangerous one. Each operation abroad could be the last one, so he tried to see his folks every chance he got.
This time, he’d managed a lunch with his parents before heading to Charleston to help Lulu. Plus, he’d met Kit, someone he would like to see again, and hopefully, vice-versa. Family, friends, and meeting Kit. All in all, a damn good visit home.
“What did you have for dinner?” Kit asked. “Lulu took us to a seafood place.”
Lucas shrugged. “Meat and potatoes. Then we wandered around King St. and hung out at a couple of dive bars. Drank some at the Upper Deck. Ended up here because we can talk and have snacks.”
“Lulu said you guys would be in this bar.”
Lucas smiled. “You looking for me?”
She had a really sweet smile, with a big dimple on one side. “Yes. But because you’re such a cupcake.”
He leaned over and put his mouth against her ear. “Want another bite?”
“More than one, please,” she said.
Lucas’ smile widened. She was his kind of woman.
* * *
Kit couldn’t believe it. Usually, it didn’t take long for the investigative reporter in her to figure the whys and wherefores she liked or disliked anyone, especially a man. It was in her nature to listen and probe, to analyze and make connections with their stories. But somehow, the last three days, Lucas Branson had disconnected that little bit of wiring in her head.
She’d done completely un-Kit-like things. Her brother had warned her about spec ops. operatives on leave, that they were coming down from a high and were sometimes looking for a good time before returning to the field. Heck, her brother exemplified that behavior constantly with his many female acquaintances. Being the snoop she was, she’d once stolen his little black book (she’d rolled her eyes at the whole cliché of it all—a little black book, seriously?) and thumbed through all the female names and phone numbers next to it. She’d even considered playing a mean joke and calling all of them to meet “him” at the same place but had thought better of it. She had, however, led him to believe she did.
She still grinned at the memory at the horrified expression stuck on his face. Oh, brotherly rage was always a fine sight.
Being brought up in a household of protective males had its setbacks too, of course. Her dates were often intimidated to the point of never staying around too long. Her father alone had scared away most of them, but then her brothers all grew up and a couple of them had followed her dad into the army and geez, dating life, bye-bye. She loved her family to pieces and understood they had her best interest at heart, but life with overbearing men could drive one crazy after a while.
That was why she really enjoyed her friendship with Lulu, who had the same type of family. However, her pal was also an Amazon Queen who took charge of her life. Her father and brother, from what Kit could see, gave her room.
Kit studied Lucas, who was, at that moment, bantering with his sister. On one hand, he was exactly like a big brother to Lulu; on the other hand, not once had he intruded on his sister’s privacy by asking her about Mink. She thought of the other night when Mink had been in the room alone with Lulu. In his underwear. Her own brother would’ve had a conniption fit and tore down that door. Yet, Lucas had just waited outside. Sure, there was brotherly protectiveness there but there was also trust that his friend wouldn’t go too far.
She had been intrigued. Was still intrigued.
“I’d rather not hang out here all night,” Lucas said, turning to her. “What do you want to do?”
She glanced over at Lulu, who shrugged. “I’m game for anything. What do you have in mind?”
“Some alone time.” He stood up and offered her his hand. “We can all meet back here later. Mink and Dirk, you’re not to let Lulu out of your sight.”
“What?” Lulu protested. “You’re leaving me with them and kidnapping my friend?”
“Only for a little while. Here, go see a movie. The guys are funny at the movies.”
“You suck!” Lulu said while snatching the money Lucas threw on the table. “Bribery doesn’t work with little sister anymore!”
Kit laughed because Lulu loved going to the movies. This was the classic big brother bribe.
“And babysitters should be paid too!” Mink chimed in. “I mean, the girl needs two babysitters. Right, Dirk?”
The two SEALs high-fived each other.
“You okay with this?” Kit asked Lulu.
Her friend smiled and waved her away. “I know how to get into trouble on my own,” she said, then winked. “Besides, who wants her brother along when she has two SEALs to play with?”
Kit grinned. True.
“Okay, we meet back here later. Text us when the movie is over,” Lucas ordered. “And don’t get my men in trouble, Lulu. We’re due back on duty first thing and I can’t break them out of jail.”
Lulu snorted and gave Kit another wave before turning to Mink and Dirk. “Boys,” she said in silky tones, “I’m in the mood for a romantic comedy.”
Lucas shook his head and gestured to Kit to exit the noisy scene, made more so by the howls of protests from the two SEALs at the table. She grabbed her jacket and purse and walked with him out of the bar.
The night air was cool and felt good after being in a crowded place, so she didn’t put on her jacket. They climbed down the steps and headed away from the lights and noise. She had no idea where he was taking her but figured it would be somewhere quiet and a little more private. She hoped so, anyway.
It was the last night she was going to see this man. Not forever, perhaps, but other than the fact that they shared a mutual attraction, she had no idea what was ahead. Did he want to see her again? Why was she even thinking about this when she should be concentrating on her new career plans? For all she knew, she was just a passing fancy, someone to flirt with while he was in town. Too many questions. Why was she always asking so many questions when she should be enjoying this moment, this man?
“Looking forward to getting back to work?” she asked, to break the silence.
“Why do you say that? Trying to get rid of me already?”
His tone was light but she couldn’t be sure in the semi-darkness.
“Well, moving furniture around can’t be as exciting as toting machine guns and taking down enemies,” she said.
“Sometimes boring stuff to normal people can be interesting and exciting to those of us who live a pretty rigid lifestyle,” he told her. “We get to appreciate little things as meaningful and important.”
He squeezed her hand. It felt natural, walking with him like this, with the cool breeze from the river blowing against her face, and the lights from the bridge twinkling not far away.
“So, what meaningful thing did you get from moving furniture?” She was curious how he viewed things in general. In her experience, from watching her family and interviewing returning military personnel, they were, more often than not, unable to function normally for a while.
&
nbsp; “I met you.”
His swift reply brought a smile on her lips. Military men also flirted a lot.
“Okay, besides that.”
There was a short pause. “I’m not good at explaining things,” he finally said, adding, with some ruefulness, “at least, without using a lot of curse words. I try not to do that back home so much but when I talk too long, they slip out sometimes.”
“My brother is...”
“...a fucking Airborne Ranger,” he finished for her and laughed quietly. “You keep saying that like a shield.”
Surprise stopped her in mid-stride and she stumbled, since he’d kept on walking. His arms came around her, pulling her close. His scent—a mixture of maleness, leather and cologne—played with her senses.
“A shield?” She repeated. “That’s ridiculous. I was just trying to explain I’m used to hearing bad language around me. Believe me, my brothers don’t censor much.”
“Mmmhmm.”
He didn’t seem interested in whatever she was saying at the moment and she shivered a little when his hands slid up her hips and under her sweater. His warm hands caressed her lower back as he pulled her close.
“Lucas,” she began. “There are people around us.”
Not that many, but still. She was kind of afraid if he started kissing her, she was going to embarrass herself by climbing all over him. The revelation of how strong her attraction for him was both startled and unnerved her.
“Yeah, and then someone you know would probably take a picture of us, plaster it all over some social media and then your Ranger brother will show up on my ship demanding to defend his little sister’s honor,” he mocked. “Quaking in my boots here.”
She giggled at the thought. “That was a mighty long sentence and not one cuss word,” she mocked back.
His hands traveled higher, molding her body against his. “They’re all in my head right now,” he said huskily. “Pages and pages filled with words like fuck and tongue and...my something something inside your something something. Lady, you don’t know how hard I am right now.”
His self-censorship made her burst out in laughter. Recklessly, she reached up and grabbed him by the collar with both hands, pulling his head lower.
“Show me,” she invited. “Let’s get a room and show me those pages and pages.”
“Who’s being quick now?” he teased.
“You did ask for a memorable night,” she told him.
He bent his head lower. Just as she’d known, the moment his lips touched hers, it felt as if she was one of those fireworks being set off. She responded fiercely, unthinkingly. His tongue slid against her, invading like silky honey. She felt the sexual heat snaking its way down her whole being. She hardly knew this man, but she knew she desired him with a burning intensity. She snuggled against him, wanting more.
“Get a room!” A passing stranger yelled out in an amused voice.
Kit laid her forehead against his chest when he released her lips. Her ears were buzzing, her lips felt swollen, and her heart was doing gymnastic tricks. She knew it. She knew she would forget where she was once that gorgeous mouth met hers. Anticipation had only fueled her passion.
“Yeah, I think we will,” Lucas agreed in a low, sexy voice.
CHAPTER FOUR
When it came to romancing a woman, Lucas preferred nice and slow, mostly because he usually liked to get to know the person first. His job was all about precision, planning and practice. War might be nasty business but a SEAL team incision was all about stealthy attacks.
He’d applied this philosophy in his pursuit of female company—methodical and somewhat predictable because he was, after all, a SEAL. It’d never cross his mind that he wouldn’t succeed.
That wasn’t happening with Kit.
From the moment he’d set eyes on her, there was this urgency to go after her. Male instinct told him to claim and to claim quickly. He didn’t question why. From the get-go, he just knew this wasn’t going to be nice and slow.
He prided himself as a pretty uncomplicated male. Don’t just talk. Do. Don’t just explain. Show. Don’t beat around the bush. Make it clear, mow it down.
Yeah, he didn’t have much use for words.
He could sum up his current thoughts in a couple of caveman sentences. Want Kit. Take Kit. Claim Kit.
A nice hotel room would just have to do instead of a cave.
Actually, this woman was leading the charge. She took the keys from the desk clerk. She led him to the room. She turned the key and tugged at his hand to come in after her.
Okay, he kicked the door shut. But that was it. He quite enjoyed letting a woman order him around. Their jackets were already on the floor.
“Take off your shirt,” she said.
He obediently did so, pulling it over his head. Her smile made him want to rip her sweater off her but he stayed still as she ran bold hands through his chest hair.
“Lower, please,” Lucas requested.
“I like your chest hair. I like to play with it.”
“They don’t give me the same pleasure as other parts of me,” he explained. He placed his hand over hers and slid it down over the steely bulge in his pants. His cock expanded some more, eager for more pleasure. “See? This part of me has hair too. And there is something there for you to play with.”
Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “And what could that be?”
“Something big. Hard. And I heard, quite enjoyable.”
“Take off your pants, then.”
“Thought you’d never ask,” he said, and did what came from years of training—unzip, tug, kick pants away. All SEAL, all commando. And his team’s motto: standing and ready for action.
She looked down for a long moment, then her gaze came back up to meet his. Her eyes were very wide. She licked her moist lips.
“Is that why they call you Cucumber?”
Lucas smiled slowly. SEALs’ nicknames were given to them by their own platoon, usually after a physical attribute or an embarrassing moment. His came from a combo of both.
“Kinda. Do you really want me to tell you a bedtime story now? I’d rather have you undress so I can tuck you into bed.”
She lifted her arms. “Go for it, sailor.”
He didn’t need to be asked twice. Her top came off in one swift pull and he threw it over his shoulder. She had on some frilly black bra. She unbuttoned her pants and they fell to the floor, then turned and ran towards the bed.
He watched her luscious ass for a long moment. Praise the Lord for inventing thongs. And after his brain cells settled back down, he leapt after her.
She bounced onto the bed. He dropped on his knees behind her, and tucking an arm around her waist, he stopped her from turning over. That sexy ass was too beautiful a sight.
“Don’t move just yet,” he said, fitting his hands on the round cheeks.
So smooth. He bent down and took a nibble. His hand, tucked under her, slipped inside the flimsy thong. She gasped as he cupped her.
He slowly slid the elastic aside, intimately brushing against her, priming her. He was a big guy. It was important to get a woman really ready for him. She was wet already. He teased her some more while he took his time nibbling the back of her thighs and the gorgeous silky-smooth ass until he had her squirming.
“Cupcake, I’m going to taste you first,” he murmured, slowly turning her around.
He pulled the thong aside with one finger. Beautiful. The kind of rosy pink he liked. Her wetness beckoned, whetting his appetite, and he slid another finger down slowly, exploring her slickness. She made a strangled sound and fell back on the bed. Yeah, like that. Just the way he wanted, with all the juicy parts within easy reach. He put both hands on her thighs and spread her legs a little more, then leaned in, placing his mouth on the exposed pink flesh.
He heard some muffled sounds from her as her lower body jerked up. His firm hold on her thighs kept her from escaping his lips. So lusciously wet. So deliciously sweet. Her soft moa
ns and thrusts to his face sent electric jolts right down to his waiting rock-hard cock, impatiently waiting his turn. A woman was meant to moan like that for a man.
He tongued her slit and pushed upward, looking for that nub. Yeah, there it was, the little pearl waiting for his attention. He kissed it and rolled his tongue around, adjusting the pressure on her clit as he checked her reaction.
“Lucas!” She squirmed at one point.
Jackpot. He wanted her squirming and moaning his name.
“What?” He whispered, in between licks.
“Lu...cas! I’m...going to come.”
He laughed quietly. “Ladies first, baby.”
He went in for the kill, sliding one finger inside her as he continued stroking her with his tongue, this time not bothering to answer her when she choked out his name again.
Her rapid breathing became little throaty cries. He gently sucked the hood hiding that little pearl between her legs. Her hands gripped his hair as she came hard. Then she went limp. Her damp release excited him unbearably and he gave her one last flick with his tongue before getting off his knees slowly and went to get his pants.
She lay there panting, looking at him as he sheathed on a condom over his very hard, about to burst, erection. He strode back to her.
“My turn, babe,” he said.
* * *
Kit languorously stretched, and using her legs, slid higher on the bed, opening her arms to invite the tall, impressive-looking man to come to her. Oh God, but he was a big, muscular hunk. Everything in her world had turned into small, unimportant stuff since they’d met.
All the advice her brothers had given her.
All her careful planning about taking her time with relationships after the last fiasco.
All the usual “don’t give the guy what he wants or he won’t come back” girlie chitchat.
Whoosh. Out the window. She wanted Lucas Branson in a way she’d never felt before. It started as a hot flush of awareness, that initial attraction which then bloomed into a cloud of heat and desire that seemed to weigh down on all the calm, oh-so-sensible advice in her brain. All he had to do was put his arms around her, enveloping her with his irresistible male scent, and that cloud had exploded and she’d let all her wants and needs rain down on her.