Explosive Conditions

by L. J. Garland

  “That’s right,” Stephanie, her second-best friend added.

  Kaci looked at the reflection of the two women who’d moved to flank her chair. The three of them had been inseparable since kindergarten and had grown up at each other’s houses. They’d been devastated by her parents’ murder, and had never left her side at the hospital while she recovered from the attack.

  “And, no, we are not going to bug you about whatever it is you’re hiding from us, your best friends,” Steph, the petite blonde, arched a pencil-thin eyebrow. “But we’ve decided it’s time for you to get on with it. Whatever it is.”

  “Yep! The signs are all there,” Tara piped in again. “You’re restless, asking all kinds of strange questions and, like I said, the energy is back in your aura.”

  Good Lord, can they be right? Am I so damn transparent? The good thing was they had no idea what she hid and, for their own safety, they never would.

  “Right, so we think you need a one-night stand by Madame Eve.” A catlike smile curved Steph’s lips—trouble for sure. “Mary Scott. You know Mary, right? Well anyway, sh—”

  “Wait, back up. What the hell are you saying?” She twisted in the styling chair to face the blonde. Damn, she needed to get her head on straight and pay attention around these two.

  “I said,” Stephanie elaborated with a deep sigh, “that is why we set you up with a one-night stand with Madame Eve. All you have to do is go to her website and fill in the blanks we left, and you’ll be good to go.”

  Kaci’s stomach clenched. A one-night stand, like meet a stranger and go at it? “Oh no, what have you two done? Please tell me this is a joke.” Oh, crap. Were her two best friends setting her up on a sex date?

  “Nope, no joke. Like I was saying, Mary Scott told us all about the place when she was in here getting her hair done for her wedding. She met her guy through Madame Evangeline’s site. They’ve been together a year now and got hitched two weeks ago. How cool is that?”

  “Steph, I—”

  “We checked it all out,” Tara assured. She ruffled her fingers through Kaci’s new hairstyle again.

  She jerked away, turning to focus the brunette. “What?”

  “It’s totally legit.” Tara set her hands on Kaci’s shoulders, easing her back into the chair. Grabbing a brush, she arranged the shorter locks, a smirk on her lips. “Listen, it’s a private, secure site that hooks up consenting adults who are looking for a no-strings-attached situation and, for whatever reason, want a special night with someone, well…special. It’s like a secret dating service that’s not so secret anymore.” The tall brunette giggled. “Mostly because a lot of her one-night stands turn into much more than a night of sweaty monkey sex with a hottie. I guess she’s got the touch for getting people together.”

  “Yeah, anyway,” Stephanie started again. “We know you’re not looking for a commitment. You are way too devoted to your wild life.” Her mouth quirked, and she giggled. “Get it? Wild life, as in your career as a marine biologist?” When Tara groaned, Stephanie waved her hand, brushing the brunette off, and shifted her attention back to Kaci. “Face it, baby, you need to get laid, and then you need to get your life back. Getting laid is priority. You so need to loosen up.”

  “But—”

  The bell over the salon door jingled, signaling another customer.

  “It’s all settled, hon.” Tara pressed a slip of paper into Kaci’s hand. “Here’s the website address and your login and password.” She whipped off the stylist drape and tugged Kaci to her feet. “Now, scoot. Tiffany needs this chair. Oh, and you don’t have to thank us.”

  She snatched her purse from the side table as Tara escorted her toward the front of the salon. “Wait. I—“

  “We love you as much as you love us, and you’d do the same for either of us if needed.” She leaned over and kissed Kaci’s cheek, and the bell above her head jingled. “Now, off with you.”

  Kaci stumbled outside, the door clicking shut behind her. She frowned and glanced at the note in her hand and back at the salon entrance.

  What the hell just happened?

  Chapter Four

  Zeke sat parked in his Mustang, the engine thrumming while the air conditioner pumped cold air into the cabin. Gritting his teeth, he glanced at the paper in his hand. This had to be some huge cosmic joke. Or a mistake. He’d even emailed Madame Eve, asking if the location of his date had been sent in error.

  Nope.

  Destin Marina, slip four.

  A damn boat? Jesus Christ, what was he doing here? Meeting a woman I know next to nothing about. Losing myself in her body, so I can try to forget the one woman whose eyes haunt my dreams. That’s what.

  The guys were right. The last six months he’d been way off his game, and it was starting to affect his performance on the job. That was one area he couldn’t afford to fuck up. Not only his life but also the life of every man on the team depended on him being on the mark every second. Those guys trusted him to have their backs.

  Beyond the eighteen months of pararescueman training—which covered everything from jumping out of perfectly good aircraft, combat diving, and survival training to combat medic training—he’d chosen to specialize in explosives. The elite combat force had been specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct full spectrum personnel recovery, including both conventional and unconventional combat rescue operations. Yet here he sat, frozen in his car…except for the shaking in his hands.

  Shit. As one of the most highly trained specialists in the world, I’m pathetic.

  Drawing in a deep breath, he crumpled the paper and threw it on the passenger seat. Christ, if the guys saw him, they’d boot him off the damn team. Adjusting his sunglasses, he shut off the engine, shoved his door open and climbed out into humid Florida Panhandle air. Fuck it.

  He wasn’t some damned greenhorn virgin. Pining away over a woman he’d spent a total of thirty minutes with—whom he knew nothing about and who doubtless had a posse of friends and family to help her get over her trauma—was bullshit. Even more so with the way the incident had begun to mess with his head to the point of distraction on the job.

  So yeah, the guys were dead on. This date—on the damn boat—with a no-strings-attached woman, was exactly what he needed to get Kaci Phillips out of his head. With renewed determination, he strode across the gravel parking lot to the dock, the heels of his Docksiders scuffing against the weathered planking as he walked down the pier. He stopped at slip four and frowned. Glancing around, he double-checked he hadn’t miscounted.

  Nope. No mistake.

  In front of him, a Zodiac bobbed on the dark gray-blue water. What the hell?

  He spotted something white taped to the small boat’s outboard motor. He squinted. An envelope?

  Easing into the craft, he retrieved the message and sat on the narrow bench seat, his movements causing the marina waters to slap against the inflated neoprene hull tubes as he moved around. He ripped the envelope open and pulled out a typed letter.

  Dear Mr. Matthews,

  As I’m sure you are more than capable of manning this vessel, I have left the coordinates with you instead of having someone deliver you to your destination. This way, you will retain a mode of transportation if needed. Your date will already be aboard the 1Night Sail—along with the captain, who will remain on the bridge for the duration unless called upon.

  Every comfort has been afforded, and all supplies for your night should be at your fingertips. Please feel free to call the 1Night Sail yours for the evening and take advantage of all she offers.

  Though fate may seem complicated, when it comes to questions of the heart, the answers can be quite simple.

  Make the most of this night, Sgt. Matthews.

  Madame Evangeline.

  He reread the note three more times. Yep. It’s definitely fuck-with-Zeke-Matthews day. His date. On a fucking boat. Oh yeah, that was a surefire way to stop thinking about the last woman he found on a boat. Replace her with ano
ther. Life had a twisted sense of humor.

  He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and made the decision. Turning the key, he fired up the Zodiac’s engine and followed the GPS directions to his destination. In no time at all, he came upon what looked to be at least eighty feet of pristine white yacht. What a beauty.

  Glancing up, he nodded to the captain in the pilothouse, who returned the gesture and gave him a friendly smile. Zeke tied off the tender, stepped onto the swim platform, and made his way up to a shaded teak deck.

  He bit back the urge to whistle. As far as boats went, this one was impressive. He entered the ship’s interior and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. Crisp white linen covered a table to his right. In the center, a silver bucket with ice chilled a bottle of champagne, and two crystal flutes flanked the bubbly.

  Nice.

  A quick scan of the rest of the room left him with the impression of lavish comfort. Somehow, the mix of gold colors and warm-toned wood eased his angst. Yeah, he shouldn’t let the location of his one-night stand detract from his blind date. Who gave a crap if the boat reminded him of Kaci? His mission was to get laid, so he could clear his head and move on.

  Beyond the room divider, he noticed the end of a bar. Was there a bottle of Scotch stocked back there? Because he sure could use a shot to take the edge off. As he rounded the partition, he stumbled to a stop. A petite woman with short red hair stood at the bar with her back to him. The plush carpet must have masked his approach because she tapped her fingernails on the granite counter, offering no sign of being aware of him.

  His gaze dipped below her copper strands to her backless dress. Damn. All that creamy skin sent lust jolting through him. Not to mention the way the black fabric hugged her like a wet suit, displaying one mighty fine looking ass. The hemline stopped mid-thigh, and at the very bottom of her long, toned legs, stilettos graced her feet, adding at least four inches to her height. Oh yeah, he could work with that.

  He cleared his throat. “Uh, hi. My name’s Zeke. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  The redhead turned to face him, and the blood rushed from his head. Sea green eyes met his.

  Shock rolled through him with such force, his whole axis tilted. “Holy shit.”

  Chapter Five

  Holy shit!

  In one split second, she was back on The Liquid Asset. Back in the middle of the nightmare she hadn’t been able to shake in six months. Her father and brother’s tortured cries, the echo of her mother’s last words, all present with her. The scent of blood as fresh as it had been after those monsters murdered her family and set the boat on fire.

  Kaci locked her gaze on the man who’d brought the horror slamming back into the present. It was him—the pararescueman who’d told her he was there to help. He’d held her tight, whispered in her ear, promised her everything would be okay, and then disappeared almost as fast as he’d arrived.

  “You.” The word came out more as a sigh as her knees buckled.

  “Whoa.” The man wrapped his arms around her before she hit the floor. “Easy now.”

  He held her with those same strong arms that appeared in her dreams every night to chase the bad men away. The same warm breath that had caressed her face that horrible day, brushed against her cheek. She gazed up at him. Good Lord, it’s really him.

  Heat flooded her body and rushed through her veins to claim her face. The room stopped spinning, but she still couldn’t seem to catch her breath, and every nerve ending in her body tingled with sensitivity, craving more of his touch.

  Good God, Kaci, get ahold of yourself.

  Straightening, he led her to the couch, never loosening his arm around her waist. Unable to take her gaze off him, she drank in the sight of her gorgeous military man. For so long, she’d relied on the memory of him to stave off her pain-filled nightmares and quiet her terrified screams. To have him holding her for real…?

  She shook her head. She needed to speak, move, do something before he thought she was certifiable and left.

  The intercom speaker above her head crackled to life. “Are we ready to set sail?”

  “One moment, Captain,” her date replied.

  At least she hoped this man was her date. Didn’t she?

  He gazed at her, dark eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay? Should we tell the captain to hold off?”

  “I…yes.” She took a deep breath and ran a hand through her short hair. God, last time he saw me, I had long brown hair. Does he even recognize me? “I’m fine. Really. It was just a shock. Seeing you, and well, being on this boat had me a little shaky to begin with. I’m afraid I reacted poorly, and I’m sorry for the near-fainting act I pulled.”

  “No need to apologize. I was surprised myself when I saw you.”

  She tingled all over. He does remember me.

  He still had a tight hold around her waist. “Are you sure you’re okay with me being here?”

  “Oh, yes. Absolutely.” Her gaze shifted to his full lips, and she couldn’t help but imagine what they would feel like pressed to hers. With the shock worn off, the weight of his hand and arm on her hip sent waves of hot impulses straight to her core.

  As if reading her mind, he lowered his mouth to hers. What started off as a gentle meeting of lips, quickly turned into a dominant display of a man knowing what he wanted and taking it. Not one to be out maneuvered, Kaci molded herself against him, wrapped her fingers around the nape of his neck, and dove into the kiss. Oh, my God. Hotter than I ever dreamed.

  His hand left her hip, traveled up her ribcage, and cupped her breast. His mouth slipped from hers to trace the line of her jaw where he continued down her neck to her collarbone. As his lips grazed over her skin, hot chill bumps danced along her limbs. She shivered, and her nipples tightened.

  Untying the strings to her halter-top, he pulled the thin material down, exposing her breasts. “Damn, Kaci. You’re so soft and beautiful.”

  He remembered my name. After all these months, he still remembers me. Swept up in a myriad of sensations, she arched her back, thrusting her breasts toward him as he took her nipple in his mouth. His palm skimmed along her thigh, delving beneath her skirt, making quick time of pushing aside the silk panties covering her throbbing core. With great skill, his thumb and forefinger spread her folds and moved to massage the bundle of nerves within.

  Her body thrummed beneath his touch, a decadent heat coiling tighter and tighter. Her legs trembled, and her mind raced. She didn’t do this type of thing—get intimate so fast. Damn, they’d barely even said hello, and within seconds of seeing him, she’d become so…wanton. The whole situation was so unlike anything—

  He plunged his finger inside her.

  “Oh!” A delicious quiver rippled through her core. “Oh, God.”

  In and out, he set up a hard, fast rhythm while his mouth made love to her breast. Her body tensed, flying over the edge of ecstasy, and she clutched his shoulders.

  “Oh, sweet Lord.” A kaleidoscope of colors burst before her eyes. Her surroundings slipped away, and all she could do was feel the amazing sensations he wrought within her. Gasping, she rode wave after wave of bliss in his embrace until her limbs softened in the glow of her release.

  Placing soft kisses on her neck, he eased her back to reality. She stared at the man who’d given her such wonderful pleasure, discovering unadulterated lust swirling in his dark gaze. With care, he removed his hand from between her thighs, straightened her panties, and slid his palm from her hip and down her thigh to smooth her skirt. She wanted to say something, but his intense expression kept the words at bay while he tied her halter-top back into place.

  Dipping his head, he crushed his mouth to hers in a long, hard kiss that left her panting, her body gearing up for more. When at last he broke away, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Are you okay?”

  “Oh, yes.” What? Wait! She stood up, glancing around at the cabin’s lush furnishings in an attempt to clear her head. What the hell am I doing? “Um. Wait, no
, I’m not.”

  He cocked his head, and she almost laughed out loud at his confused expression. Oh yes, this night was going to be fun.

  “You just gave me the best orgasm of my life, and I don’t even know your name.”

  Chapter Six

  Zeke let out a long, pent up breath. For a moment, he’d been sure she would slap his face and kick his ass straight off the boat. But all she’d wanted to know was his name.

  “Zeke, Zeke Matthews. I, uh….” He chuckled and brushed a stray strand of her hair from her brow. “It’s great to meet you. I mean, see you again.” Hell, I’m screwing this up by the numbers. And she did look gorgeous when she arched in my arms. “Wow. You’ve got me at a loss for words, and believe me, that’s a first.”

  “Same here. I think I’m still in shock. So, should we tell the captain to shove off?”

  “Absolutely.” He thumbed the intercom and gave the instructions to head out to sea. Rising from the couch, he took her hand and led her to the table. After helping her into her chair, he sat across from her. “Champagne?”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Yes, please.”

  He removed the wrapping, cage, twisted the cork, and was rewarded with an explosive pop—the stopper shooting off.

  “Oh!” she squealed, sounding every bit as sexy as she had when she came in his arms.

  He grinned, planning to hear more of the erotic noises she’d uttered before daylight signaled the date was over. Frothy wine spilled from the bottle’s mouth. Grabbing a glass, he poured the cold liquid into one crystal flute and offered it to her.

  “Mmm,” she moaned. “Wow, that’s good.”