Chapter 8
Lieutenant Candace Murphy, self-proclaimed badass, opened the door to her apartment and almost wept.
Never had a brown military-issue couch look so damned good. She dropped her gear and staggered, no, more like limped to her sofa and collapsed. When was the last time she’d felt as if she’d been run over by a truck? Not long enough. Once her body’s protests lowered to a whimper, she gingerly placed her feet on the coffee table. It didn’t help that every muscle from her ass to her ankles ached.
The only thing that sucked more than Captain Bryce Renault were the new boots she wore.
She undid the buttons on her top and considered ordering a pizza, and would have, if only her phone wasn’t in her duffle—across the room.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Not just no, but hell no,” she mumbled.
“Yo, Murphy, I know you’re in there,” shouted Bryce.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she said in a low voice. For his perfect ears, she yelled, “Go away.”
“I came bearing gifts.”
“Not interested.” He sounded way too perky. Maybe he wasn’t even human. Probably some kind of secret military cyborg experiment. He needed to be far, far away. Like in another hemisphere. Anywhere except close to her.
“Did I mention it’s covered with cheese?”
Now he had her attention, but after eating MREs, mere cheese and dough wasn’t enough of a temptation.
“Oh wait, there’s double pepperoni too.” He lowered his voice, and she imagined him leaning one of those broad shoulders against the door. “Did I mention the side salad, to get your digestive system moving again?”
“That’s disgusting. You use that line on all the ladies?” Her lips may have twitched, but she still hated him.
“Nah, just badass Night Stalkers.” He quieted for a few seconds. “You going to let me in or what?”
“If you cared, you’d leave the pizza on the welcome mat. You know, kind of like a secret admirer…or the Easter Bunny.”
“Not my style. And judging from the way we met, I’d say it’s not yours either.”
At every opportunity, he’d lobbed words like hand grenades. Now he showed up with food? Fine. After she ate his food, she’d kick him out.
“It’s unlocked.” She expected a sexy irreverent grin when the door opened. Instead she was greeted with a glare—and a monster-sized pizza box.
“Why the hell are you sitting in here with the door unlocked? I know the building is full of officers, but trust me, they’re not all gentlemen.” He slammed the door, then turned the lock so forcefully it should have crumbled.
“No lectures”—she pointed at the box—“and you eat a piece first.”
“You think I’m going to roofie you?” He stared at her like she’d grown an extra head, then walked into her small galley kitchen.
“No.” She snorted. “Poison. Then you’ll finally be rid of me.” A pang of longing swept through her at the sight of his empty hands as he walked toward her. And she really shouldn’t be admiring how his black Henley hugged his chest.
When he reached the coffee table, he sat and pulled her feet into his lap. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.” He untied her right boot. “How bad?”
She watched the deft fingers untie her double-knotted laces, and imagined his skill at removing panties. Preferably with his teeth. Oh wait, she still hated him. Letting her guard down because of fatigue wouldn’t be smart—at least for her.
“Don’t lie.” He tugged on the heel of her right boot.
“Dude, you don’t want to do that.” Of course, he didn’t listen. As soon as the boot left her foot, she wiggled her toes. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He removed her other boot and tossed both boots over his shoulder. Her socks quickly followed. He leaned back and studied the soles of her feet. “Not bad, only a couple of red spots. I brought some Epsom salt.” He glanced in the direction of the kitchen. “You have a dishpan or something?”
“That’s nasty. I’m not going to soak my feet in a pan I wash the dishes in.” She stretched her toes. Her feet were sore, but now that the boots were off, they didn’t feel so bad. The land navigation portion of her training left her feet bloodied in spots. “Who are you, and what did you do with Captain Asshole?” This guy, pampering her with food and the promise of a foot soak was dangerous.
“Oh, he’s still here.” He ran a knuckle across the balls of her feet.
She pointed toward the bathroom, and hoped like heck he hadn’t noticed her shiver. He really needed to stop being nice. Every sweet word or kind gesture knocked another brick out of the wall she’d built between them. Of course, none of that stopped her from admiring how well the loose-fitting jeans highlighted the perfection of his ass.
Her thoughts drifted off to the last couple of days. Getting to know Jake and Shane was almost worth the aching muscles.
“What are you thinking about?” Bryce reappeared holding the round pink basin she bought from Dollar General for the pedicure she never got around to. “Or do I want to know?”
“Honestly?”
“Preferably.” He stopped between the coffee table and the couch, and sat the round pink tub on the floor. “Tell me.”
“Bossy much?” Bad question. Captain Asshole was probably a tie me up, tie me down lover. So why did that sound like something she wanted to try, like immediately?
His nostrils flared, and his eyes looked… brighter. Wow, she was tired. Candy shook her head, then fell against the back of the couch. “You guys are tight, more like a family than a team. I hope it’s like that when I get to my unit.”
“You have a large family?”
“No.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m alone.” Fatigue not only caused hallucinations, but loosened her tongue and lowered her guard.
“No, you’re not. You’ll never be alone again.” He raised her feet, pressing his thumbs against her arches, before slipping her feet into the tub. “Too much?”
“No, it’s perfect…” The backs of his fingers grazed her ankles as he rolled up the bottoms of her pants. Those gorgeous, inscrutable eyes of his focused on her with an intensity that made her damned near combust.
“You want kids?” He wrapped his hands around her calves, and trailed his thumb against her skin, as if touching her was the most natural thing in the world.
“Oh, yes. I want a whole litter.” Well, that should scare the hell out of him. He should flee in five…
Four…
Three…
Bryce sprung to his feet and walked to the kitchen.
Ouch.
She’d expected him to run. Baby talk terrified most men. And that tiny part of her that hoped he wasn’t most men was disappointed. “Why are you here?”
“I’m tired.” He sat the plates down with a clang and pressed his hands against the counter.
“Then leave. I’ll make it easy for you. Call my command and tell them my services are no longer required. No muss, no fuss, and best of all, I’ll be one less inconvenience.” It felt like someone had taken a blowtorch to her insides.
Yes, he was hot. But that wasn’t enough. No man was worth the battering her self-esteem had taken.
“Are you done?” he asked.
Getting words past the knot in her throat was not going to happen, so she nodded. He continued to watch her. Keeping the span of a room between them didn’t feel like enough. It was strange, his expression remained hard and impassive, but in his quiet, she saw so much.
Regret.
Longing.
Hope.
“I’m tired of battling myself. I’m weary thinking I know what’s best for you.”
“What do you think that is?” She managed to ask the question, but wasn’t sure she was ready for the answer.
“A life without me in it.”
If ever there was a time to swoon, this was it. Too bad she couldn’t move, heck, she could barely breathe.
“Thanks.” He’d cared for her feet, fed her, and blown her mind. All in less than thirty minutes. This man would wreck her.
“Why? Why didn’t you show up?” He rested his booted feet on the coffee table, sat the pizza on his lap, and waited.
“The airline lost my luggage…”
“Ah, that explains the new boots.” She rolled her eyes. Next time she changed duty stations, she’d wear them on the plane.
“Is that the only reason?”
“No, not at all.” She cleared her throat and stared at the tiny puddles of grease floating atop a piece of pepperoni. This was it. She could keep running from not only her feelings toward Bryce, but any kind of emotional intimacy. “I was scared shitless.” She turned her head toward him. “No one has ever made me feel so reckless, so…out of control.”
“Never?” He didn’t bother hiding his surprise.
She shook her head and almost laughed at the cockiness easing into his expression. “Not even close.”
“Want to know a secret?” His voice lowered, not only in volume, but pitch. “Neither have I.”
“Renault…” She pressed on her knee to keep it still.
“Bryce.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then rubbed the back of his fingers against her cheek. “My name. Use it.”
“Bryce.” The words left her mouth, like a wish upon the wind, breathy and hopeful. What did she want? She studied his handsome face, the dark brows, and those lips… “Again, why are you here?” Because she knew exactly what she wanted most—him.
“Tell me you haven’t thought about that kiss.” He leaned in close, their lips not quite touching.
“I haven’t…” A long slow breath and most of her common sense escaped, but she pushed on. What was there to be afraid of? This non-relationship had a built-in expiration date. She stared at his mouth and finished the sentence. “…had a moment when I can’t remember what you tasted like.”
“Tell me to get the hell out, and that you don’t want me kissing you.”
“If only it were that easy.” The crazed, all over the place emotions every time Bryce was near was an addiction—or obsession. It really didn’t matter at this point.
Chapter 9
Bryce couldn’t move. As her breath mingled with his, he knew he had a nanosecond to change his mind, because touching her again would change her life.
“Bryce,” she whispered, shifting her body so her torso mirrored his.
The scent of her arousal mixed with his, making the wolf howl in anticipation, the man groan, and his icy control shatter. This would be their first kiss, the first touch, the beginning of their fatal mistake.
When their lips finally touched, he sipped of her sweetness, savoring her taste as well as the touch of her fingers against his cheek. A sense of…well, rightness enveloped him, settling deep in his gut. She belonged to him and with him. Tonight was about pleasure. Tomorrow, they could forge a path forward.
He bit gently on her lower lip. Had to give himself credit for holding back, but the unraveling thread of that restraint was shredded when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and trailed her fingernails along the nape of his neck.
The kiss became a battle. As her tongue delved into his mouth, and his hers, this was one fight he didn’t mind losing. Pizza and sore feet apparently forgotten, she straddled his lap. What he wanted to do was settle her over his cock to give her the orgasm she was denied that first night. Then, once she came, he’d peel those jeans off her body and the next orgasm would be around him.
Small hands slid beneath his shirt and inched their way up his body. Eventually, she cupped his pecs. When her thumbs grazed his nipples, then pinched them, he flipped her on her back, settling his hips in the cradle of her thighs. “We need to slow down.” Yeah, that sounded convincing to absolutely no one.
“Okay.” She wrapped her athletic legs around his waist.
Bryce chuckled and lowered his chest. “You’re a beast.”
“No way.” She tightened her legs. “You’re the beast. A huge gray-eyed wolf, with fur black as night.”
He jerked his head back. What the… If she already knew, then this would be…perfect. He wouldn’t have to hide an important part of his life.
“You’re not my werewolf dream guy, but I think I like you anyway. This version, at least.” She trailed her nails down his back.
He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh or cry.
She frowned, as if thinking about something not related to werewolves. After a few hesitant seconds, she spoke, “I…” The cutest flush stained her dark cheeks burgundy, before spreading like a forest fire to her neck.
Damn, could this woman get any cuter? She managed to be a confusing combination of tough but vulnerable, and he wouldn’t have her any other way. He bit back the laugh sure to piss her off, and kissed the tip of her nose instead. “If getting naked is on your checklist, there should be nothing we can’t discuss.”
“I don’t expect a happily every after, but while we’re together…” She swallowed, but held his gaze as if wishing he’d just read her mind.
“I’ll save you some time. I don’t want anyone else. It’s just you and me.”
“Okay…” Her words came out riding a rush of air followed by a relaxed smile.
“Don’t move.” Bryce touched his lips to hers and hopped off the couch, and unfortunately her. He backed away from the temptation of her already full lips swollen by his kisses, and hair wild, loose, and begging for his fingers.
“If you insist.” She interlaced her fingers behind her head, which placed her erect nipples on full display.
“You’re an evil woman.”
“Looks like Karma isn’t the only bitch in the room.” She wiggled her eyebrows before her gaze drifted lower.
He shook his head, and left the living room while he could. Each step closer to the bathroom, and away from his mate felt like swimming through quicksand. Once he reached the small utilitarian bathroom he sighed and recalled how much he enjoyed his massive clawfoot tub.
One he planned to get Candy in as soon as possible.
* * *
After turning on the water he spotted a basket filled with bath bombs and all kinds of girly stuff. He grabbed a random bottle, and squeezed a shitload under the running water. The clean citrusy scent transformed the small nondescript bathroom into a spa.
He nabbed a couple of towels, sat them on the small bench by the tub, and removed his boots, feeling like a pervert for all the dirty things he wanted to do to and with sweet little Candy.
He was so screwed.
The smell of pepperoni and marina sauce made him look up to find the woman who confounded, confused, and challenged him at every step standing beautifully naked, holding the pizza box and two bottles of Stellas.
“I thought I told you to wait on the couch.” He deserved major cookies for maintaining eye contact with all five-plus feet of rich brown skin on display.
“I suck at taking orders,” she said while looking entirely unrepentant.
“I’ve noticed.” He already wanted her, but watching Candy bust out of her shell both humbled and pleased him. For all her bravado, she had a core of vulnerability that he’d greatly abused. He swore to himself he’d do a better job.
She stalked closer, her lithe body as graceful as a panther, leaned over, and swiped her tongue along his lower lip. Of course, that simple touch invited images of those beautiful lips elsewhere.
“At work, I obey because I must.” She pressed her lips against his then stood. “But in private, the odds aren’t in your favor.” She retreated and stepped gracefully into the tub, sliding down until the bu
bbles reached her chin. “If you’re going to join me, we should turn off the water.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He turned the spigot off and glanced up to find the smile on her lips reflected in her eyes. “Don’t get cocky.”
“Moi?” She batted her lashes, trying her best to look innocent, and failing. “I thought that was the entire point of the evening.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He stood and unbuttoned his pants. “I have a list of filthy shit I want to do with and to you before I leave.”
“In two weeks.” She sat higher in the tub, and he was suddenly fascinated by the bubbles clinging to her dark skin. “I don’t date military guys.” She sat up and wrapped her arms around her bent knees. “Looks like you’re my exception.”
“Good.” He shoved his pants down, and they hit the floor with a thud. They didn’t have the luxury of another wasted second.
“Is that all for me?” She scooted up in the tub, then wrapped her long, wet fingers around his cock, before gliding her finger across the tip.
“And then some.” A shiver rode up his body. Down, boy. He reluctantly unwound her fingers, because if he didn’t, he’d wind up embarrassing himself like an inexperienced teen.
After he settled in the tub behind her, she leaned back against him, sighing like a contented kitten when he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Um, had I known you were this comfortable, I would have snuck into your tent.”
“It would have taken more than a snuggle to change your mind about murdering me in my sleep.” She tried to turn around, but he held tight. No way could he let her go now.
She snorted. “Good point.”
“About that, I was an asshole—”
“Yes, you were.”
“I apologize.” He slid his hand a couple inches higher and trailed his thumb along the curve of her breast. “You put me off my game.”
“From what I hear, you have plenty.”
“Oh, you’ve been asking about me?” He grinned against her hair.
“Don’t get a big head.” She slapped the back of his arm. “I needed to know if you hated all women or just me.”
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