by Zoë Archer
That could still happen. In fact, it was more likely now than ever. Simon hadn’t said anything about wanting to get back together. He’d told her why he’d left and that reason seemed to continue to plague him. There were too many questions surrounding the future to know what it might hold for the two of them.
But none of that mattered now. Not with Simon’s knowing hands on her body, lowering the zipper on her jeans and sliding inside her panties. No, when Simon touched her, all coherent thought slipped from her mind.
She pushed at his shirt, hearing the sound of tearing fabric as she struggled with his clothing. He slid her jeans down her legs along with her panties and then his capable hands took over the task of removing his own clothes. Thank heavens. Within moments, he was as bare as she, lying over her, his muscular thighs in the space between her legs, his cock hard and waiting only for her to be ready to take him.
Simon always sought her pleasure before his own. He was a considerate and expert lover and even in their haste to come together after so long apart, he was careful of her. His hands stroked down over her rib cage as he watched her reactions, then into the vee of her thighs, spreading, parting. His fingers dipped within the wet folds, teasing and making her squirm.
“Don’t make me wait, Simon. I need you now!”
“This is going to be so good. Let me make it good for you, Mari.” He slid one thick finger into her core, his thumb circling her clit, heightening her pleasure. Bending over her, he placed licking kisses up her abdomen, pausing at her breasts to suck and nibble gently, all the while stroking into her depths with that maddening finger.
“Are you close, sweetheart? Are you going to come?”
“Simon!” She panted, raising her head to watch him as he teased her. He had kept her on the knife’s edge of pleasure before but she couldn’t take that kind of play tonight. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted him before. She had to have him.
“That close, eh?” His knowing grin was almost her undoing. “Come for me then, baby. Come on my hand.”
As if in response to his wicked words, her inner core clenched hard on his invading fingers. She cried out at the climax that hit her from out of nowhere. It had been fast and not nearly satisfying enough. With Simon though, she knew there was more to come. Only with Simon had she ever achieved multiple orgasms and this promised to be one of those encounters.
He held her gaze as her body quaked around his hand. She was so open to him, so willing to give him everything, anything he asked. She knew it was written all over her face but only his glittering eyes told her how much he hungered for her at that moment, how much he wanted to be inside her. He removed his hand from her body and reached over to grab his pants off the floor.
She followed his movements, glad to see at least one of them was still thinking clearly. Simon grabbed a condom out of his pants pocket, opened the foil packet, and rolled it over himself with efficient movements. Only the slight trembling of his hands told her how much he wanted to be inside her. As much as she wanted him, she guessed.
When he came back to her, she made room for him between her legs and he grinned. An unguarded, sexy grin that took her breath away and made her insides clench.
“I’ve been dreaming about this, Mari. So many dreams,” he whispered. Levering himself into just the right position, he held her gaze as he slid into her.
For Simon, it was like coming home after an eternity away. Her wet heat surrounded him, gloved him in her warmth, like no other woman had ever done. There hadn’t been anyone since Mariana, and with all that had happened to him in the interim, he very much doubted any other woman could ever take her place.
She would never know that, of course. He couldn’t tell her. It was bad enough he had succumbed now, when she was still in danger from the creatures he hunted. By all rights, he should have left her alone, but circumstances had conspired to bring them together one last time. One last time to hold her, to worship her body with his own and feel…complete.
Simon paused deep within her, savoring the feeling. The forbidden feeling of being one with the only woman who had ever really mattered to him. He wouldn’t call it love, thought it was something just as big and scary. She completed him in a way no one else ever had. She was funny, smart, and so beautiful. He cared for her more deeply than he had ever cared for anyone.
Pain lanced through his heart as he thought of having to leave her. Again. For inevitably, he would have to go. He would have to let her get on with her life.
But not today. No, today was a moment out of time. A moment for them to steal. A moment for him to spend making love with the most magical woman he’d ever met.
Simon began to move, each thrust rocking his world. Making love with Mari had always been like that, from the very beginning. It was good to see that hadn’t changed in the years since they’d been together last.
“You’re beautiful, baby. And so tight. Damn.” He tried to hold on to his excitement but it was slipping through his fingers. This first time was going to be fast. He only prayed Mari was with him. He didn’t know if he could wait for her this time. It had been too long. Much too long.
“Simon!” She breathed in excited gasps, the evidence of her renewed arousal pushing his own higher. “Simon, I’m so close.” She grasped his hips and urged him to move faster, wrapping her luscious legs around him. Little keening moans issued from her lips with his every thrust. He remembered the signs. Thank God, she was as close to oblivion as he was.
Able to let go at last, Simon pounded into her, giving her the slightly rough fuck that he knew she liked. He liked it, too. Almost too much. He had never been able to completely let go like this with another woman. Mari was like no one else. She matched him in every way. Her heels locked around the small of his back, her body stretching beautifully to accommodate him as if she were made to take him, made to receive his passion.
And perhaps she was. There was no doubt he had never found a more perfect bed partner. If he was the type to believe in happily ever after, he would certainly put Mariana at the top of his very short list of possible life mates. In fact, she was the only one on his list.
If he believed in that sort of thing.
But all of that didn’t matter as he felt his climax building, ready to release. He touched her, to be certain she would be with him at the last. He wanted her with him…always.
That crazy thought haunting his mind, Simon’s orgasm hit him like a fifty-caliber round, punching him skyward in a blinding rush of light and pleasure so intense, he nearly blacked out. He heard her cry out under him and knew she had found the same shuddering release as he spasmed within her tight depths.
She was magic, pure and simple. His Mari. His love.
They spent the day in bed, sleeping only to make love again and again. Mariana had given herself permission to enjoy this time without worrying about the future. It was the only way she could deal with this whole messed-up situation.
Zombies running around in the woods. Simon, back in her life, in her bed. It was all too bizarre and almost too much to take in.
They’d moved to her bedroom in the afterglow of their first climax together in years. Her bed was bigger and more comfortable than the one in the spare room. Simon had carried her in his arms from the spare room to her room and planted her in her big, fluffy bed. Then they’d lazed there all day, making love and chatting about commonplace things when they weren’t dozing in each other’s arms. Those were hours out of time, floating in some utopian world.
She had gone into the kitchen once or twice to get them sustenance, but other than that, they’d either been sleeping or making love since sunrise. By sunset, she was sore in places that hadn’t been sore since Simon left, and in desperate need of a shower. She soaked in the hot stream of water until Simon came in to fish her out.
That led to a slippery encounter in the shower that almost landed them both on their backsides. Simon’s sheer brute strength saved them from more than one potential fa
ll that could have cracked both the porcelain bathroom fixtures and Mari’s bones. She was also delighted to discover his inventiveness was back in full force. He had taken her in every position she could think of and a few she had never even contemplated throughout the day. She’d loved every minute of his possession, his passion, his desire.
Only one thing was missing, as it had been during their halcyon days years before. He had never uttered those three little words she longed to hear. She’d always thought and hoped he had felt the same way about her as she had about him, but he’d never said it in so many words. Mariana thought she’d be beyond the need to hear it now, yet the niggling thought remained with her while she dressed and headed for the kitchen where Simon had promised to prepare a meal before he went out on patrol.
They hadn’t talked much about anything serious during the day, spending their time either sleeping or making love. All in all, she’d had worse days, but she didn’t think she’d ever had better. Her body was deliciously sore and even with her mind in a whirl, she was looking forward to spending as much time with Simon as she could…before he left her again.
She resolved not to think about that now. She might be deluding herself, but she wanted whatever time she could get with him. For however long it lasted.
Entering the kitchen, she saw he had pulled out all the stops. Chicken breasts from her freezer had been thawed and marinated and were now cooking nicely on the stove. He had made rice and green beans, too. He was fairly well domesticated for a man. Of course, special ops guys were trained to survive in many different kinds of situations. The kitchen training though, had to have come from his mother, or some other nurturing influence in his life. This was too much like a family dinner not to have been something from out of his past.
“Where’d you learn to cook?”
He turned, spatula in hand, and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. Before it could turn into something more, she scooted away from the stove.
“Now is that any way to greet your chef?” He shook the spatula at her in mock chastisement, then turned back to turn the chicken.
“If I let you greet me any more, our dinner would end up burnt to a crisp.”
He tilted his head as if considering. “You may have a point there.”
“So where did you learn to cook like this? It looks and smells wonderful.”
“My mother believed her boys should at least know their way around a kitchen. As it happened, I enjoyed helping her. More than my brothers, at least.”
This was the first time he had talked about his family with her. When they’d been together before, he’d been very reticent. He had never talked about his past or where he’d come from beyond the basic vital statistics. Something had subtly changed within him in the years since.
It wasn’t noticeable at first glance. Only now that some of the barriers between them had broken down, little by little, she was seeing new facets to him that hadn’t been visible before. Anytime she had tried to ask about his past before, he’d managed to steer the conversation back to her. He probably knew more about her family than anyone except maybe her family members themselves. He was as adept at evading questions as he was at evading the enemy.
“How many brothers do you have?”
“Two. One older and one younger. All three of us can cook if we have to, but Jeremy and Bobby don’t enjoy it half as much as I do. They used to joke that I should become a chef and wear one of those poufy white hats. Then I’d pound some sense into their heads and they’d drop the subject. I still like to cook when I get a chance.”
“Lucky me.” She smiled at him as he plated the chicken and brought it to the table. He’d already set out the steaming rice and green beans. It was a simple and hearty dinner that both looked and smelled delicious.
“Did they join the military, too?” They served themselves and began to eat.
“I followed Jeremy in, but he went in for jets in a big way. He’s a test pilot now, the crazy bastard. Bobby got accepted to Annapolis and is on the fast track to the admiralty if my mother is to be believed. The family is really proud of him. He was always a smart, sort of nerdy kid, and he’s grown into a fine officer.”
“He’s still in?”
Simon nodded as he ate a bite of chicken. “Stationed at the Pentagon right now.”
“This is really delicious, by the way. Thanks for cooking. I don’t think a man has ever cooked dinner for me before. It’s nice.”
“Just my way of saying thanks. For letting me stay here and for this afternoon.” His expression shuttered. “Mari, I—”
“Don’t.” She cut him off, unwilling to hear him say it had all been some kind of big mistake. “Let’s just say it was for old time’s sake and leave it at that.”
An uncomfortable silence greeted her words. Not daring to look at him, she applied herself to her dinner and refused to meet his eyes. She was afraid of what she might find there.
“It was more than just old time’s sake, Mari.” His low words forced her gaze upward to meet his. His eyes glittered with something she didn’t know how to interpret. Strange, when she’d thought she’d known every nuance of his subtle communication. “Thank you for today.”
It sounded so formal. She didn’t really know what to say, so she nodded tightly and returned her attention to her plate.
“Are you going back out tonight?” She already knew the answer, but desperately needed to change the subject.
“I hunt every night, and will continue to do so until this is finally over.”
“It won’t be long now though, right? I mean, you said you thought there weren’t too many left.”
“There were probably about six left, near as we can figure. I got three last night, so that leaves three more. Once they’re accounted for, I’ll patrol for a few more nights, just to be certain. Then my job will be done.”
“And then you’ll leave.”
“Then I’ll leave,” he agreed.
“Where will you go? You’re not military anymore, so where do you go between assignments?”
“I have a place in southeastern Pennsylvania, near my folks. It’s a small farm, actually. I don’t have any livestock for it yet. That’s in the works. As soon as I get some time to set things up the way I want them, I figured I’d keep a horse or two, maybe some chickens. Later, when I’m not working for hire anymore.”
“Sounds like heaven.”
“Your dad owned a big spread in Kansas, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, I grew up on the farm. It belongs to my brothers now.” She was surprised he’d remembered, but then, he had managed to get her entire life’s story out of her back when they had been dating.
“You sound like you miss it.”
“I didn’t think I would, but as I get older, I find myself longing for the simple things. A little place to plant a vegetable garden and live in peace with nature sounds like heaven to me now.”
“What about your medical practice? I thought you wanted the bright lights and the big city after your stint in the Navy was up.”
“I guess I did at one time, although I thought I’d stay in the service a lot longer. Things changed as I got older and my priorities realigned. My time in the Navy is almost over. I didn’t re-up. I’ll be a civilian again in just a few short weeks.” She was surprised to hear the almost wistful tone in her voice. “I’ve been thinking about my options a lot. I’ve had enough of the hustle and bustle while I was in the Navy. It wasn’t what I really thought it would be when I was younger. Now a quiet life appeals to me much more. That’s why I opted for this cabin way out here in the woods rather than stay on base or in town. I like the quiet.”
“That’s quite a change from the way you used to talk.” He sat back, finished with his meal, and just watched her.
She shrugged, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “I’ve changed in the past few years. My priorities have shifted a bit. That’s all.”
Unspoken went the thought that the failure of her relationsh
ip with him had changed her on a basic level. His leaving and his lack of communication after had made her rethink her priorities in a big way. She had spent a lot of time reevaluating her life and her goals. What had seemed so important when she was younger wasn’t nearly as crucial now. No, now the things she had shunned when she left the farm were what mattered most. Family, familiar surroundings, a home to nest in and make her own…and love.
She didn’t know if she’d ever really find it, but she wouldn’t give up hoping that somehow, she would have love in her life. The love of family, of friends, and if she was really lucky…the love of one special man.
The man sitting across the table from her right now, in fact.
But he was a tough nut to crack. She’d tried, and he’d left. She didn’t think she had a chance to convince him now. It was probably too late for them to start over. She would have to settle for what she could get now, because the day spent in his arms had only brought home how much her feelings were still engaged. She loved him with all her heart.
Chapter Five
Simon went out the door after a lingering kiss. He had made her promise to stay inside and he’d also left the specially loaded dart pistol with her again, just in case. As the night deepened, so did her fear for both his safety and of the creatures that stalked the night with him, evading and possibly lying in wait for him.
She wasn’t foolish enough to go out there, thinking she could be some sort of GI Jane with guns blazing by his side. She knew her limitations, and while she could defend herself if necessary, she was nobody’s idea of a warrior. She could hit what she aimed at and had passed the required self-defense tests, but she was a doctor first and foremost. Her calling was to heal, not to tear apart.
And if Simon was to be believed, those fallen Marines out there were really into tearing people apart and sentencing them to join their sinister brotherhood. The thought sent chills down her spine.