“I’m sorry, Duchess. The world is a fucked-up place, and we’ve been in one hellhole after another for the past six months. I had to ration time to go take a shit to avoid being killed. Reading emails and reminding myself of civilization weren’t high on my agenda.”
His tired, slightly slurred words made her glance at him sharply. He sat slouched in a chair that seemed as though it was groaning under his massive frame. Dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt that was stretched tight across his muscular chest and tattooed forearms, he was the embodiment of a seasoned soldier. There didn’t appear to be an ounce of spare flesh on his chiseled body. His skin was dark olive, as though he had weathered many harsh terrains and been through one too many battles. Danger and power seemed to emanate from every line of his body. However, it was the lack of emotion in his eyes that alerted her that something was drastically wrong. Now she really looked at him and could have kicked herself for dwelling so much on her hurt feelings. Sean looked exhausted, angry, and also seemed sad as well, and here she was feeling sorry for herself. He was one of the most carefree persons she had ever known, almost always wearing a mischievous smile on his lips and a wicked glint in his eyes. Something terrible had to have happened to him.
Malika walked toward him, stopping only when she stood directly in front of him. “Sean, I’m an idiot.”
“You’ll have a couple of Ph.D.’s in a few weeks that will significantly dispute that fact,” he said drily.
“No.” She stepped between his spread knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. “No, I stupidly forgot that we are at war.”
His large hands gripped her waist, holding her at arm’s length.
Malika didn’t think he was even aware of what he was doing. His grip was tight, but not hurting her. “I forgot that you and your teammates fight for the rest of us to live in peace, to go to school, to go to the theatre, to go shopping, for us to just live.”
His large frame trembled under her fingers. He was obviously upset now. His head was bent, his gaze glued to the floor, and his fingers dug into the flesh at her back.
Her voice softened with compassion. “You do so much for us. I’m an idiot because I forgot the price you pay everyday for my freedom, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“I’ve done nothing.” His voice sounded hoarse, filled with emotion. He buried his face against her soft belly.
“We lost one of our team mates.”
“One of the SEALs?” Malika’s heart rate accelerated again. What if it had been him? What if I could never see him again?
His fingers dug into her flesh; trembling visibly, his pain was palatable. “Yes.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry, Sean.” She pushed her fingers into his hair and clutched him tight against her belly. She had never met his teammates, but he had told her about them repeatedly in their email exchanges. There had been six of them on the SEAL team, Dominic Stone, who was the team leader, Neo, Rico, Adam, Damien, and Sean. She knew that Sean loved all of them as though they were his brothers. Adam had been killed some years back, and Sean had been just as devastated then. She remembered he had come to her then too. They had stayed up all night talking before he had left again. So she knew the loss of another one of them would be crushing to him. She bent her head and pressed her face into his hair. “I’m so very sorry. I know how close you guys are.”
“Thank you.” He sighed.
In seconds she was aware of her body’s inappropriate response at a time like this to his masculine warmth, his scent, his very hard body. “Who?” she whispered, trying desperately to distract herself.
He swallowed audibly, taking his time to answer her.
“Sean?”
“Damien and his family are the ones who paid the ultimate price. Some sick bastard killed them,” he said bitterly. “They killed Damien’s wife and son, mutilated them right in front of him.” His voice was clogged, and his tears soaked her blouse.
“Oh God, Sean, I’m so sorry.” She ran her fingers through his silky blond hair, massaging his scalp and trying to soothe him.
“I can’t let the guys see me like this. I’m so damn tired, and I can’t fuckin’ sleep.” His voice cracked then. He stopped speaking and started breathing in and out slowly. His big body continued to tremble against her.
She clutched him tighter against her. “When was the last time you slept?”
“We—” He swallowed. “Me and the guys don’t sleep much anyway. We’ve been in a number of different war zones over the past few years and have to be constantly on our guard. We sleep for a few hours, and then we’re at it again. So when Damien—”
“Shh, Sean. Damien wouldn’t want you to be like this. He wouldn’t want his death to make you feel like this. He loved you guys.”
“We’re going to kill the fucker who ordered the hit.”
“Sean?”
“No, I only came to see you before we go. If I don’t—”
“Don’t even finish that statement! You better come back!”
“I’m nobody.”
“You know that’s not true. You have thousands of employees who are depending on you to come home alive. And it may not mean much to you, but you’re everything to me,” she whispered earnestly.
“A sister is supposed to say that.”
“I’m not your sister, Sean.”
He frowned at her with confusion, and his gaze roamed over her body slowly. He sighed. “Believe me, I’m aware of that, sweetheart.” He twisted his lips in self-disgust and then hung his head moodily. “Damien was bloody amazing, a real good guy, ya know.”
“I know, Sean. All of you guys are amazing, and I’m sorry that this happened. Come, I think you should try to get some rest. This isn’t the Taj Mahal, but my sheets are clean, and you’re welcome to sleep here.”
He shook his head no, but Malika stopped him. “You’re going to sleep in my bed, and that’s the end of it. I’ll not take no for an answer. Besides, this part of town is not the safest, and my roommates probably won’t be back tonight. I don’t want to be here on my own again.”
“What do you mean again? And why are you not living in a better neighborhood?”
Malika knew he would respond to the damsel in distress she was painting, although he knew that she could take care of herself. Now all she had to do was ensure he got some sleep while he was intent on protecting her. “Sean, my salary can only stretch so far.”
“What salary? Why the hell are you working? Don’t my parents pay for your schooling?”
Malika rolled her eyes in exasperation. “You parents haven’t paid my fees since you left.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“Your parents felt that the salary they paid my mother was sufficient charity. They didn’t like the fact that I got accepted into uni at fourteen and Becky was barely making it through eighth grade.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what? Sean, I’m fine. Your parents were right. I didn’t need them.”
“How can your mom afford the fees?”
Malika laughed. “She doesn’t have to. I work.”
“You? Who the hell would hire a kid?”
“Sean, let it go. I’m not a kid, and I haven’t been a kid for a long time.”
“That shit’s just not right. I’ll pay for you. There’s no need for you to work.”
“I’m fine, and besides, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m through with uni in two weeks.” She wanted to laugh at his dark scowl but didn’t dare. “It’s almost two a.m., and I’m exhausted.” Malika crossed over the open space from the tiny kitchen dinette area to the cozy sitting area. The flat had three small bedrooms with one bathroom that she and her roommates shared. It was tight accommodations, but she was going to make sure Sean slept, even if she had to watch over him all night to ensure he did so.
“Go get ready for bed,” Sean told her.
Malika turned to look at him a
nd wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t moved from the kitchen. Time to lay on the distress real thick. “I’m really grateful that you’re here right now. I sometimes spend the night in the library to avoid coming home on Friday nights. My roommates are both freshmen, so they are great partiers. I can finally catch up on some sleep.”
“You need to change your damn roommates.”
“They are really nice girls. I’ve gone through quite a number of roommates in my years here.”
Sean continued to frown at her. He downed the last of the beer and placed the bottle on the table before finally muttering, “I’ll sleep out here. Go to bed.”
“Yeah right, and just where will you sleep? I know we don’t even own a sofa, only these single chairs. Look, you keep reminding me that you’re my big brother. There’s no reason my brother can’t sleep in the same bed as me, is there? Malcolm sleeps with me when he comes to visit.”
“Do you have a toothbrush I can use?” He ignored her reference to the lack of furniture and the suggestion to sleep in her bed.
Malika almost laugh out loud in triumph. She couldn’t believe he’d given in so easily. “Sure, I have a new one I haven’t used yet.” She strode quickly to her bedroom. Briefly she looked around her small but neat bedroom. With a double-mattress bed, one chest of drawers, an armchair, a side table, and not a whole lot to talk about for clothes, Malika had second thoughts about bringing Sean into such humble surroundings. Despite Sean’s insistence at being a Navy SEAL for his father’s country, now his country, he had great wealth. Even without the ownership in his father’s business empire, Sean was still worth billions. As the eldest son of his mother, who was the only child of a duke in Scotland, Sean was next in line to inherit from his grandfather. It had been the expectations of his media mogul father and his domineering grandfather that forced Sean to take such a drastic stand and enlist in the US Naval Academy. Despite having taken over the reins of his father’s business in England years ago, Sean still insisted on going on missions with his SEAL mates.
Malika quickly pulled on a pair of silk lilac pajama shorts and tank camisole. The soft material hugged her round bottom and generous breasts. It was nothing fancy, but it made her feel feminine. She didn’t have a mirror in her room, and she wondered briefly what Sean would think when he saw her. Just the thought of him looking at her caused her nipples to throb and tighten. She looked down at her chest and was not surprised that her nipples were now brazenly displayed. For a woman her size, five-foot-five and barely over one hundred pounds, her C-cup breasts and apple-shaped bottom almost seemed disproportionate to her frame. It didn’t help that her tiny waist and flat stomach made her curves even more pronounced. She was suddenly feeling extremely shy and indecisive. She walked through the connecting door to the bathroom she shared with her roommates. After brushing her teeth and brushing her now dry hair until it shone in silky raven waves, she went back into her bedroom.
“Look, Duchess…” Sean started to say as he came into the room, but he stopped speaking on seeing her standing at the entrance of her bathroom. He swallowed audibly and kept an intense unwavering regard on her. “I think I’d better stay in the room out there until your roommates get home and then head back home. I’m returning Stateside again tomorrow.”
Malika swiftly crossed the room and pulled the comforter and sheets back on the bed. “Let’s not have this argument again, Sean. The bed’s not big, but it can hold both of us,” she murmured, referring to her bed. “I just want to help you sleep, Sean. I’m really worried about you,” she said softly.
“I’m fine. Go to bed. I’ll be out here.” His words were delivered with him barely moving his lips and his gaze following her every movement. She had grabbed a few pillows out of her closet and thrown them on one side of the bed, obviously making space for him. Sean didn’t move a muscle to leave as he kept promising to do. He simply stood in the doorway of her bedroom, staring at her through slightly lowered lashes.
Feeling her nipples beading even more under his molten regard, Malika climbed between the cool sheets, desperate to hide her own desire. Her heart rate was beating a mile a minute in helpless anticipation of him joining her. I would take anything from him right now, but having him sleep beside me is more than enough to satisfy my needs right now.
“Sean, do whatever makes you comfortable, but you need to rest. How can you be at your best out in battle if you’re tired?” She wanted to plant at least a seed of doubt for him to reconsider this stubborn stance. “How can you protect your team mates? Come and get some sleep, please.”
He looked at her silently for a brief moment, his big body incredibly still. “I’ll sleep on top of the covers,” he said quietly after a long minute.
Afraid he might change his mind, Malika nodded quickly in agreement.
Sean closed her bedroom door before crossing over to her bathroom.
“You’ll find the new toothbrush below the sink,” Malika told him.
He continued into the bathroom without acknowledging her statement. A few minutes later, he came back into the room and toed off his shoes but otherwise didn’t remove any other article of clothing. He turned off the overhead lights before climbing onto the bed. True to his word, he remained on top of the covers. However, he could do nothing about the size of the bed. Although she was relatively tiny, Sean was massive. At almost a foot taller than she was and over two hundred pounds of hard muscle, his frame dominated more than half of the bed. It was impossible for him to avoid touching her.
At first Malika remained tense and silent beside him. She took a deep breath before whispering, “Tell me about your teammates.” She thought that if he talked about them he would relax and perhaps forget that they were in bed together.
He laughed softly. “Go to sleep, Duchess. One day you’ll meet them, and I want you to form your own opinions of them.”
“Good night, Sean.”
“Good night, Duchess. Duchess?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for caring.”
“I love you, Sean. I would give anything to remove the pain of losing Damien.”
He sighed softly. “I know, sweetheart. And I love you too.”
Malika snuggled against him. She was surprised when he didn’t try to distance himself from her but, instead, turned on his side and pulled her closer. She closed her eyes in bliss, gorging herself on his masculine presence. His scent and the heat from his body played havoc with her starved senses.
“Coconuts, your hair smell like coconuts,” he whispered.
Malika smiled. “My mom, she insisted on it. I’ve been using coconut oil on my hair and skin since I was a little girl.”
“Nice,” he breathed out and inhaled her scent again. His arms were like heavy bands around her waist.
She was rigid with anticipation, hoping he would touch her more intimately. So far, he had been nothing but a gentleman, not touching her in any way that could be construed as an attempt to take advantage of their intimate position. Malika throbbed with need, and her body eagerly hummed as her nipples tightened, her clit pulsed, and her folds moistened with hopeful anticipation.
He tightened his arms around her, but that was the only overture he made. In the next few silent moments, she was almost brought to tears with disappointment when she heard his even deep breathing.
Sean was asleep.
Chapter Six
Malika couldn’t sleep no matter how hard she tried. Lying next to Sean was making her burn with desire. Although she was as close to him as possible without them being intimately joined, she still tried to wiggle closer. She rotated her hips sensually against his growing erection, and his cock pulsed enthusiastically in response.
Sean slept on.
After a few frustrating minutes of sleeplessness, Malika stilled with anticipation as Sean moved his arm that he had anchored around her waist to drape over her chest. He pulled her tighter against him before he cupped one silk-clad breast in his large palm.
He did nothing else, only palmed her aching breast.
Malika waited for what felt like endless seconds for his fingers to squeeze the plump flesh, but nothing further happened. Finally in desperation, she pushed her chest deeper into the palm, wiggling a little to get the friction she craved. Only by sheer will did she not moan loudly in ecstasy when strong fingers closed around the firm globe. She contented herself with a soft hiss.
It wasn’t enough.
She impatiently pushed the neckline of her tank off her shoulder and removed any material between his hand and her naked flesh.
As she had hoped, the rough pad of his thumb grazed the painfully pebbled nipple.
Malika bit her lower lip and moaned softly as raw need consumed her. She rolled her hips insistently against his hard lengthening shaft. The silk material covering her ass did nothing to prevent the granite pole from nestling between her butt cheeks.
She was so desperate to relieve the maddening ache deep within her that she writhed against him in agitation.
Suddenly he rolled her to her back and then placed his head on her chest. He was perfectly still for a few seconds before he turned his head and pulled the exposed nipple into his mouth.
She opened her mouth in a silent scream, not wanting to wake him from the most erotic experience of her life. The insistent sucking on her taut nipple created the most intense need in her lower pelvis.
“Oh God!” She couldn’t suppress the hoarse cry.
Sean wrapped his lips around first her left nipple and then her right. He trailed his fingers down the smooth skin of her stomach, wiggled his hand into her silk shorts, and then cupped her between her legs.
Malika eagerly spread her legs to give him better access.
He ran a thumb over the sensitive flesh of her clit.
The dual assault on her nipples and her clit made her shiver violently with lust.
He slid a broad finger into her heat, and then he rooted to the next nipple.
Malika whimpered loudly.
His finger grazed her clit every time he sawed in and out of her.
It was too much. She cried out long and loud as a blistering orgasm ripped through her.
Waiting For You (The Guardians: Book 3) Page 5