Uniformly Hot! Volume 1 from Harlequin: Letters from HomeBreaking the RulesComing Up for Air

by Rhonda Nelson

  “I’m sure you do. But it won’t work. Every redneck with a boat in a hundred-mile radius will be gunning to kick my ass.”

  Smiling, she nodded in agreement. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “I’ll think of something,” Levi said.

  Natalie’s sly gaze suddenly found his. “I know what you can call her,” she said.

  He essayed another grin and indulged her. “What?”

  “Second Helping.”

  He frowned. “Second Hel—”

  She grabbed his hand and tugged him from his chair, then pressed herself suggestively against him. He hardened and instantly understood her meaning. Second helping, eh? Levi smiled down at her and kissed her. “I like the way you think.”

  “And I like the way you taste.” She propelled him back toward the bedroom. “I’d like my second helping. Now.”

  He happily obliged. And would go back for thirds before the night was over.

  “ARE YOU sure this is a good idea?” Winnie asked, casting a furtive look over her shoulder at Adam, who was currently trailing along at the back of the group on his new temporary leg.

  They were stopping for a drink at one of Bethel Bay’s oldest pubs—it was the capping point of her usual tour—and Natalie sneaked a glance back at Adam. “I asked the same thing and Levi assured me that Adam’s therapist said he needed the exercise.”

  “It makes me nervous,” Winnie said.

  “You need to get over it,” Natalie told her. “Adam knows that you’ve always had a thing for him and he’s worried you won’t feel the same about him after the accident.”

  Winnie’s eyes widened in outrage. “Natalie, you know that’s not true. You know how I—”

  “I do. But he’s feeling emasculated, and the last damned thing he needs is for you to treat him any differently than you always have. He knows you care for him and he’s afraid that’ll change.”

  “It won’t.”

  Natalie jerked her head in Adam’s direction. “I’m not the one you need to convince.”

  Winnie nodded, seeming to mull over everything that Natalie had said. “What about you and Levi? Anything resolved on that front?”

  Natalie’s heart pricked. “You know nothing can be resolved. He’s leaving tomorrow to go back to Iraq and I’m staying here. This is it,” she said, swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat. She had to stop thinking like this, Natalie realized. She had to quit dwelling on the fact that he was about to leave and instead focus on making the most of the time they had.

  Up until tonight she’d managed to do that quite well. Last night they’d spent the evening hanging out with his parents and playing cards with Adam. He’d walked her home and they’d made love on her porch swing, then talked until the sun had come up.

  She’d never get tired of either, Natalie thought. Talking to him. Making love to him. Levi McPherson had always had the singular ability to make her heart sing, to engage her senses and her intellect, and he also had the rare talent of making her laugh until her sides hurt.

  He…simply did it for her.

  He completed her.

  Or would until he left tomorrow morning, Natalie thought. And then she would curl into a ball and cry until she couldn’t breathe.

  Until then, she had other plans for them.

  Levi and Adam sidled forward and Natalie immediately noticed the touch of confidence in the curve of Adam’s smile.

  “This kicks ass, Nat,” he told her. “I had no idea you knew all of this stuff about Bethel Bay.”

  She nodded primly. “We have a unique heritage.”

  “This has been cool.”

  “Left your crutches at home, I see.”

  If he’d been any prouder he would have preened. “I don’t need them.”

  “I know that’s a relief.”

  His eyes slid to Winnie. “It beats the hell out of sitting on my ass all day, I can tell you that.”

  Winnie gave him a once-over. “You look like you’ve gained weight.”

  Adam gaped at her. “What?”

  “Gained weight,” she repeated. She winced at him. “I probably don’t need to send any more care packages over. Now that you’ve got that leg, you might consider a bit of running again.”

  “I have not gained weight,” Adam said through slightly clenched teeth.

  “In fact, I lost several pounds when they lobbed off my leg.”

  She eyed his waistline. “Well, you seem to have found them around your middle. Maybe a few sit-ups are in order.”

  Natalie shared a look with Levi and it was all she could do not to burst into laughter. Winnie was definitely back to treating him the way she always had.

  “Excuse me,” Winnie said. “I see Mark Holbrook over there. I hear he and Susan just split up,” she added in a stage whisper.

  Predictably, Adam watched her walk off, and from the stunned expression on his face, it was clear he’d been blindsided by Winnie’s new attitude. Glancing down at his middle, he pulled his shirt away from his body.

  He quirked a brow at Levi. “Is she right? Have I gained weight? Do I look soft?”

  Levi winced and considered him with a critical eye. “It wouldn’t hurt to lay off the sweets and hit the gym.”

  Adam glared at Natalie. “Is this true? Or are they just yanking my chain?”

  Knowing that Levi’s motivation was to get Adam out of the house, Natalie merely shrugged regretfully. “A little exercise probably wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Sonofabitch,” Adam murmured, seemingly dumbstruck. “I’m a cow.”

  Natalie chuckled at him. “You’re not a cow.”

  “Well, I sure as hell could look better.” He slapped Levi on the back. “You know your way home. I’m going to the gym.” He glared at Winnie, who was smiling warmly up at Mark. “Or maybe for a run.”

  Levi slung an arm around her shoulder and they watched Adam throw one last disgruntled look in Winnie’s direction before making a determined line for the gym up the street.

  “I take it you said something to Winnie.”

  Natalie chuckled softly and shook her head. “I sure as hell didn’t tell her to tell him he looked fat.”

  Levi shrugged, laughing right along with her. “Hey, whatever works. Did you see the look on his face? He’s been saying all week that he’s determined to get back to his boys, but this is the first sign I’ve seen that he’s actually going to do it, you know?”

  “What do you think about him going back? Is it doable?”

  Levi nodded slowly. “It’s doable,” he said. “And if he wants it bad enough, he can make it happen.”

  “Will he be safe?”

  He blew out a breath. “Just as safe as the rest of us, I guess.”

  She hugged him tightly around his waist and buried her head against his upper arm. “I know I’m not supposed to say this, but you going back scares the living hell out of me.”

  “You can say that, Nat,” Levi told her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

  She looked up at him, at the achingly familiar line of his jaw. “Are you ever afraid?”

  “I’d be a fool if I wasn’t, wouldn’t I?” He squeezed her tighter. “Adam was right. Your tour was very nice.”

  She nodded, pleased that he’d enjoyed it. “Thank you.”

  “What are we going to do now?” He pretended to be searching his memory for something important. “Seems like you mentioned doing something special for me? Am I remembering things correctly?”

  The wretch. He knew damned well that she’d planned something for them. Levi had made sure that he’d recreated all of her fantasies—now it was time for her to give him one of his own.

  And thanks to his most recent letter—the one that had arrived in her post-office box this morning—she had the ammunition to pull it off.

  Natalie threaded her fingers through his. “Come on,” she said with a significant arch of her brow. “I’m hungry.”

  12

  Dear Levi,

  I
miss the sound of your laugh. It’s deep and authentic and it makes me ache inside to hear it…

  FIFTEEN MINUTES later, Natalie turned right onto East Bay Drive, and from Levi’s vantage point in the passenger seat, it looked like they were going back to her house.

  Which suited him fine.

  In fact, he could honestly say that, other than being on his boat, her house had quickly become one of his favorite places in the world. It was roomy and comfortable and smacked of everything Natalie. Her scent, that sweet ginger citrus that would undoubtedly haunt his dreams, permeated the air, and he loved the lazy swirl of the ceiling fans overhead. The girl also had a healthy respect for high-end electronics, which was another sort of perk altogether.

  It was hard to imagine that he’d be on a plane tomorrow morning, headed back to Iraq by way of Fort Bragg. It didn’t seem possible, Levi thought as he slid her a look. The dash lights illuminated her profile in sharp relief, emphasizing that pert little nose, elfin chin and those ripe, wonderful lips.

  Something in his chest shifted, but he determinedly ignored it. He would not dwell on what he couldn’t change. They’d each chosen their paths and, much as he’d like to see them come together—or hell, even intersect for more than this week—he knew it was impossible. Giving up a career he loved wasn’t feasible, and convincing her to make a life with him away from Bethel Bay would, ultimately, be cruel. If he’d learned anything this week—or tonight—it was that.

  Natalie loved her town and her place in it. Adam hadn’t been kidding when he’d said she had a finger in nearly every pie. She was on the city council, was part of the beautification committee and a member of their Historical Society. The city and its landscape had inspired her art, for pity’s sake.

  She was invested.

  As for his career…There had never been a time in his life when Levi had wanted to be anything other than a soldier. He was proud of what he did and who he was and, even though the idea of leaving Natalie made his gut tighten with dread, he knew he would slowly begin to dislike himself if he changed. He was a Ranger. And unfortunately, he didn’t know how to be both a Ranger and hers.

  Natalie turned into his driveway and slowly came to a stop. “Get out.”

  He blinked at her, surprised. “What?”

  She chuckled softly. “Get out, go inside and tell your parents that you’re going to bed early. You know, to rest up. And make sure you lock your bedroom door.”

  He felt a smile falter on his lips. He had a feeling he knew where this was going. “Should I unlock the window?”

  “No.”

  “No?” he asked. If this was indeed his her-sneaking-into-his-bed fantasy—and he couldn’t imagine what else it could be—then he knew damned well the window would need to be unlocked.

  “Adam’s already done it for me.”

  His eyes widened. “You told Adam you were going to sneak into my room through my window?”

  She gave a little shrug. “I needed some inside help and didn’t want to ask your parents. That would have been a bit, shall we say—” She gave a delicate shudder. “—awkward.”

  Levi cracked up, then leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss against her lips that turned into a make-out session that had him ready to drag her over into his lap and take her right there. That was a fantasy, too.

  Natalie drew back. “Get inside,” she said. “I’ll be along shortly.”

  “How shortly?”

  “Go,” she ordered.

  With another quick peck, Levi climbed from her car and made his way inside. He found his parents in the living room, sitting in front of the television watching one of their favorite game shows. They were holding hands, Levi noticed, and something about that tender display of affection wrapped around his middle and twisted.

  His parents genuinely loved each other, he realized.

  Naturally he’d known that. It had been evident over the years, unspoken and taken for granted. But looking at them now, sitting side by side in their matching recliners, his mother’s hand in his father’s…It hit him. Even after all these years—up and down and sideways, through thick and thin—they loved each other.

  And Levi knew, if circumstances were different, that could easily be him and Natalie. He had no trouble looking into his future and seeing her by his side, holding her hand. Sharing a bed and sharing breakfast, enjoying holidays and walks on the beach.

  His mother glanced up and quirked a brow. “Is something wrong, dear?”

  He gave his head a gentle shake. “Nah, I’m just tired. I think I’ll turn in early.”

  His father nodded and the rest went unsaid. Levi didn’t have to say “because I have an early flight.” His parents knew it. “Where’s your brother?”

  Levi felt a faint smile turn his lips. “He went to the gym.”

  A shared understanding passed between him and his father. Adam had turned a corner tonight. The General hummed under his breath, seemingly pleased. “All right then. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Because he knew she was putting on a brave face for his benefit, but was close to tears, Levi walked over and pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek. “G’night, Mom.”

  She reached up and gave him a light squeeze. “Goodnight, son.”

  A minute later, his heart unusually heavy, Levi closed his bedroom door behind him and locked it. He turned, and the sight that greeted him made every unpleasant thought vanish from his head.

  Natalie was sprawled on her side, on his bed, naked.

  A stunned breath stuttered out of his lungs.

  Sweet mercy, she was glorious. Illuminated only by his GI Joe night-light, her body was a landscape of shadows and valleys, of glowing tanned skin and wavy red hair. A long strand slithered over her shoulder and curled provocatively around the heavy globe of her breast. If he’d ever seen anything more lovely in his life, he couldn’t recall it.

  It was surreal, Levi thought dimly, being in this room with her. The history of his life—Little League pictures and Uncle Sam Wants You posters, cassette tapes, his letterman jacket, various trophies and certificates…and her.

  His past and present seemed to culminate completely in this moment.

  She smiled then, a little uncertainly, and that small hint of vulnerability did something strange to his insides. His chest grew inexplicably tight and his throat closed, preventing speech. He couldn’t have said a word if he’d wanted to.

  And, he realized thankfully, he didn’t have to.

  Swallowing tightly, Levi walked toward the bed, shrugging out of his shirt along the way. He hit Play on the CD player and the first notes of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” filled the air. A second later his hands were in her hair and he was feeding at her breasts. It was slow and deliberate, desperate and devastating…

  Because he was in love with her.

  Whether it had happened that day he’d seen her helping Adam wash his car, or when he’d received her first letter or they’d shared their first kiss—more than likely a combination of all of the above—somewhere, somehow, when he hadn’t been paying attention, he’d let himself fall in love with her.

  Natalie rolled him over onto his back and kissed his chest, ran her hands lovingly over his abdomen, seemingly determined to measure and memorize every ridge and bump. Her hair slithered over his belly and sides, making him quake with delicious sensation.

  Without saying a word, she straddled him, the wet V of her hot sex gliding over the ridge of his arousal. She coated him in her juices, then arched up and slowly, carefully sank down, impaling herself on him.

  Levi clenched his teeth so hard he feared they’d break, the pleasure was so intense. Her greedy muscles clamped around him as she slowly rocked back and forth, riding him. He watched her eyes flutter closed, her mouth curve into a wickedly sexual smile and her head roll languidly from side to side as she upped the tempo along with the music. His balls drew up so tight he could feel the climax building in the back of his dick, gathering force. He grasped
her hips and then bent forward and drew the delicate bud of her breast into his mouth, suckling gently.

  Natalie made a mewl of pleasure and her feminine muscles clasped tighter around him. She rode him harder, up and down, up and down, seemingly desperate for release to come.

  “Oh, damn,” she said, her voice a feminine growl. “You are—I want—”

  Me, Levi thought. She wanted him. And he knew from her letters that she always had. The thought did it for him, tripped a trigger deep inside of him. The orgasm burst from his loins and he felt his body go rigid.

  Her turn, Levi thought, then pressed his thumb against her swollen clit. Predictably she shattered. She spasmed hard around him, her feminine muscles milking the last of his release from his body. Breathing hard, she collapsed on top of him, her pebbled breasts against his chest, her tight little body still fisting around him as the last vestiges of her release ran through her.

  Levi stroked his hands down her back, then traced the heart-shaped outline of her wonderful rump.

  Lacking the courage to say “I love you,” he mouthed the words against the top of her head and, for the first time in his life, wished he might have considered another path.

  One that could have included her.

  DETERMINED to keep from squalling until after she got home, Natalie curled up and settled contentedly against Levi’s side. His fingers doodled pleasantly on her upper arm, bringing a smile to her lips.

  She sighed and glanced around his room. “The Bat Cave,” she said with dramatic emphasis. “At last.”

  Levi chuckled under his breath. “What?”

  “Your room,” she said. “I used to think of it as the Bat Cave. You usually kept your door closed. I could only get a peek when you came out of your room.”

  She felt his smile in the darkness. “And you wanted to?”

  “Of course. This was your lair,” she explained. “Your space. I wanted to know what it looked like. I thought it would be like taking a little peek at your soul. And, of course, I would have loved to pilfer through your stuff.”

  Levi laughed. “You’re a nut.”

  “No I’m not.” She jerked her head toward his Uncle Sam poster. “That’s a look at who you are. And those trophies and that aftershave—and you know what impressed me the most?” she asked, propping up on her elbow to peer at him through the darkness.