by Selena Blake
“This isn't going to last long, sweetheart. Bringing you to the brink twice and tasting you on my tongue has me on edge.” He grabbed his dick and swept the tip between her nether lips, gathering her moisture.
She purred. Honest to goodness purred.
Then she shoved her hips back, enveloping his cock in her hot wetness. He pushed her skirt higher, ignoring all the fluff and layers as he watched her fuck his cock as if he was a toy.
Damn he loved how she used him to gain her pleasure. They were equals in that. He'd let her play a little bit more, all the while, holding back.
“Teo...” This time, his name was a delightful mix between a cry and breathy neediness.
He kneaded her ass cheeks once, twice, then clamped his hands around her hips and gave her what they both needed. Release. Completion. Explosive ecstasy.
He drove into her until her torso was flat against the counter, her hands gripping the far edge for dear life.
All at once, her inner muscles tightened around him and her body went tight as a bow. She moaned against the butcher block and he couldn't help but give in to the orgasm rushing up from his balls. He slammed home one final time and froze, locked inside her.
As he came down from the heavens, he collapsed against her back and took a deep breath.
She moaned softly.
“Amazing,” he agreed. Somewhere in the last week he’d forgotten about his promise of a fling. Snuggled inside her now, he didn’t want to retreat. He didn’t want to stop seeing her. He didn’t want her making love to anyone else.
He was in trouble.
8
Teo tried to clear his head, but a green eyed beauty lingered there. He couldn't close his eyes without seeing her. Even when she wasn't with him, he found himself wondering what she was doing, if she was thinking of him. Did she miss him the way he missed her?
He'd whacked his thumb three times yesterday while he'd been lost in thought and had the ugly, blue bruise to prove it.
Jill had kissed it better.
“You gonna take the shot or stare at the target all day?” Dylan asked.
“Maybe he's forgotten how to shoot,” Boomer added. “Let me show you how it's done, buddy.”
The brick-house of a man to his left picked his gun from the table and aimed down range. Three blasts rent the air and Teo watched the bullets hit the middle of the paper target.
“Not bad,” Dylan called.
Teo took a breath, aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the outside edge of the target.
He let out a curse.
Boomer gave a long, surprised whistle. “Messed up in the head.”
“Something,” Dylan agreed.
Teo never shot that poorly, not even his first time holding a gun. There’d been an instant connection between him and his weapon. It was an extension of his arm and he’d been naturally gifted. To see his bullets so far from the center was a rude awakening.
Teo pushed all thoughts of Jill out of his mind and pulled the trigger slowly. The bullet hit the center of the target.
“Superman's still got it,” Dylan said, warmth in his voice.
Teo let out the breath he'd been holding for what seemed like a week. Right. He could do this. Just like the SEALs, he had to focus. Controlling his breathing, he emptied his mag, dead center of the paper.
“And still making the rest of us look bad,” Boomer added, gruffly.
“You just happen to be better with big explosions,” Teo said. And then to Dylan, “You were right. Does feel good to get back out here.”
It was a mild December day, the sun was warm on his back and the weight of a gun in his hand felt natural. Normal, something he'd struggled to feel for months.
There was nothing normal about training yourself to be ready for any situation, to not flinch in the face of danger, and then come home and shed that training like an old coat.
But somehow these men had done it. Dylan was happy and in love with Teo’s sister. Boomer seemed thrilled with his job in the movies. Over beer and burgers they'd caught up, talked about all the hot movie stars he'd worked with. The traveling sounded wearing, but SEALs were used to that. And the best part was, Boomer was making good money by using his generous housing stipend on an old RV. He could retire young if he wanted, but Teo knew the man thrived on a challenge.
“So what was that first shot about?” Dylan asked as they made their way back toward the parking area.
“He's just rusty,” Boomer ribbed.
“Just got things on my mind.”
“Dogs?” Dylan ventured a guess.
“Nah. I'm betting a woman. Women mess with yer mind, man.”
And no one knew that better than Boomer.
“Whoa, he's right,” Dylan said. “You're clenching your jaw.”
“Before you girls get into all that emotional shit, I'm out. Nice seeing you guys.”
“You too Boomer. Let's do it again before you leave town,” Teo said, recovering his manners for a moment.
“Sounds good.”
They shook hands and Boomer climbed behind the wheel of a big-assed truck.
“So what's eatin' you?” Dylan asked, putting his bag in the backseat of his truck.
“Jill.”
“I figured as much. What's the problem? She too into you?”
Teo climbed into the passenger's seat, put his seatbelt on and huffed out a sigh while Dylan circled the truck. Once he'd started the engine, he turned toward Teo expectantly.
“No. She wants to keep things casual.” Or so she said.
“I don't follow.”
“Me either. We agreed to a fling, but shouldn't a fling be over by now?”
The problem was, Teo didn't feel like his infatuation with her was burning out, if anything, it was getting hotter.
“I guess. So what's the problem? Are you ready to move on?”
Teo let out a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Part of me says to run hard and fast. Get out while I can. It's all so fast. I just got my life back and now I'm spending it all with her.”
“What does the other part say?”
Keep her close for as long as possible. Don’t let her dodge their connection or act like she was too busy with work. They were both busy. Hell, he’d be insanely busy once he actually had dogs to train. But he couldn’t imagine working the dogs and going into an empty house every night. Maybe he was crazy for even thinking it, but in his mind, Jill was waiting for him at the end of each day. Smelling like coffee, looking like a fantasy.
He pushed the thought away before he got a hard on.
“Nothing. Let's go. I'm hungry.”
Dylan was quiet for so long, Teo shot him a glare.
“You're in love with her.”
“No, I'm not.”
“Keep telling yourself that man.”
Jill was glad Reya had suggested an afternoon of shopping. After a long morning behind the counter, a little retail therapy was just what the doctor ordered. They roamed the aisle of her favorite vintage shop in Little Five Points.
The shop was decked out in old-fashioned Christmas lights and holiday classics crooned through the speakers.
Jill found an amazing red dress. It'd be perfect for Reya and Dylan's party.
“Oh, I want to steal that,” Reya murmured. She strode over with several tops draped over her arm.
“I saw it first,” Jill teased. She'd need to try it on, but she was almost certain it'd fit. And if it was close enough, well, that's why she kept her sewing machine on standby.
“So how are things with Teo?” Reya asked as they made their way to the fitting booths.
“Good,” Jill said though the truth was he'd seemed distant the last few days. “How does he seem to you?”
Reya shrugged and pulled back a curtain. “I haven't talked to him since Sunday. Why?”
“I think he's got a lot on his mind.” At least she hoped that was the case. Maybe it was something she'd s
aid?
“We all do. It's the holidays,” Reya said from the next stall over.
Jill stripped out of her dress and unzipped the red number. She loved the silky fabric; it was so different from the usual cotton she wore. The subtle sheen gave the ensemble a very dressy look which was perfect for parties.
Reya was right. Jill had plenty on her own mind. Christmas shopping, her coffee shop, visiting with her mom for a few days. There was a lot to squeeze into one short month. Add to that, a social life and Teo...she wouldn't change a thing, really.
And she certainly wouldn't change a thing about this dress. She smoothed her hand down the skirt. The matching, extra-wide belt made her waist look extra tiny. The sweetheart neckline did great things for her boobs and the skirt was so graceful. And she simply adored the cherry red color. Definitely a keeper.
“You're right,” Jill said as she put her own clothes back on. “I know he's busy at the farm. Starting a business is a lot of work. I'm sure he's just preoccupied with all that.”
And boy didn't she sound like a girlfriend. Except Teo wasn't her boyfriend, he was her fling.
And if you believe that, a voice in the back of her mind whispered, I've got a bridge to sell you.
9
“Your brother is something else,” Jill told Reya as she helped her arrange the buffet for the Christmas party.
“What'd he do now?” Reya didn't sound the least bit surprised that her big brother was up to something.
“He must have aced the kidnapping course during training. Did you know he whisked me away to the mountains Friday? Hotel room. Sleigh ride through a Christmas tree farm, the whole bit.”
Jill was still glowing with pleasure over the night she'd spent in his arms in front of a cozy fire. Her loft was sorely missing a fireplace.
“Wow. When'd my brother get so romantic?”
Reya eyed Teo.
“Don't look at him. He'll know we're talking about him,” Jill insisted.
“Honey, they're SEALs. They have a sixth sense about things like that.”
As Reya'd been surrounded by them, dating one for months, Jill took her word for it.
“He must have used those magical powers on my staff. All I know is they ran the show and didn't bat an eyelash as he whisked me away from work. He even packed my suitcase.” Not that she'd spent the majority of her time clothed, but still. “What kind of a man does that?”
“One who wants to surprise you?”
Jill stared openly now. He wore a midnight colored sweater, held a glass of beer in one hand and had the other shoved in his jeans pocket. “He's too good to be true.
“Has he taken you to the farm yet?” Reya asked, moving toward the drink table. They had another twenty minutes before everyone else was supposed to show up.
Jill had offered to set up a hot chocolate station and now she was extra glad because it gave her something to do. Keeping her hands busy kept her mind from asking silly, repetitive questions.
“Yes,” Jill answered, smiling. “It's adorable. The little old farm house and that barn. I'm so in love with it.”
He'd purchased a giant wreath at the Christmas tree farm and hung it over the barn door. She loved that the barn was visible from the road and had suggested he get a spotlight so that folks out looking at Christmas lights could enjoy the display. The silvery green needles against the old, red wood were picture-perfect.
“I'm so glad that he's local. Settling in. No. I'm happy that he's alive and doesn't have PTSD like so many others. But—”
Jill squeezed Reya's hand. “I get it. My mom was in the army. After my dad left, she was it. I was always so thankful when she came home to us.”
“Teo was my rock. Even when he was halfway around the world, he made time for me. That's just who he is.”
“Speaking of rocks… are you ever going to let me get a good look at that ring?”
Reya grinned and held up her hand, then she stepped closer. “Can you keep a secret? I’m dying to tell someone.”
“Of course!”
Reya glanced over toward the men who were in deep conversation about something and then leaned in to whisper in Jill’s ear. “Dylan asked me in June.”
Wha— Jill’s jaw dropped. Reya nodded.
“I wanted to keep things quiet until Teo got home.”
“But… Dylan asked for Teo’s permission the other day.”
Reya nodded. They turned toward their men.
“We figured that was a good way to make sure he was okay with it. Really okay.”
“Trust me,” Jill murmured. “He’s thrilled, his exact words by the way, that he got the two of you together.”
Reya beamed as they stared at her ring for a few moments longer.
A companionable silence fell between them as they fussed over the table. Tiny marshmallows? Check. Whipped cream? Check. Chocolate syrup, cinnamon, peppermint sticks? Check, check, check.
“I'm so glad he found you,” Reya murmured. “I was so afraid that he'd come home and be a bachelor forever.”
Jill was touched by the compliment but afraid to ruin Reya's illusion. Teo wasn't looking for love and Jill wasn’t sure that was in the cards for her. Besides, she was happy filling her days with work and lots of friends.
“I just wish he wasn’t going out of town this week. I’m surprised you weren’t able to stop him. I see the way he looks at you.”
Jill’s brows hit her hairline. He was going out of town? How did he look at her?
“You have to know,” Reya murmured. “He’s crazy about you.”
If only…
“What are you two lovely ladies talking about?” Teo asked, stalking up behind her with panther-like silence.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she teased.
“You,” Reya added.
Jill shot her a look.
Teo seemed to ignore his sister.
“Dance with me,” he murmured against Jill’s ear, spinning her by the hips to face him.
“I'm not done—”
“Reya can handle it,” he assured her.
Teo handled Jill with ease, rocking her around in the small space between the living room and dining room.
“Reya said something about you going out of town,” Jill murmured, hoping she didn’t sound whiny.
Teo nodded. “I was going to tell you tonight. My flights are finalized.”
“Where are you going?”
“Research trip to Belgium.”
Wow. That was really far.
“I’ll be back before you leave for your mom’s.”
She nodded. It wasn’t like they’d made Christmas plans, in fact, she’d specifically avoided mentioning seeing him then. But it was harder and harder to deny the feelings in her chest, telling her to make plans. Throw caution to the wind. Forget about a fling and embrace her future. Hold on to him with both hands.
“Maybe I’ll see you on Christmas? You could come with me to Reya and Dylan’s,” he said.
Gosh, he sounded so confident. Full steam ahead. That was a heady sensation.
“Sounds great,” she said with a smile.
“Have I told you how much I love this dress?” he asked, sliding his hand dangerously low at the small of her back.
“Only three times,” she murmured, thoroughly enchanted. He was like Prince Charming come to life. Tall, dark and oh-so-handsome. Not to mention romantic. Who would have thought the big, tough SEAL would be a closet romantic?
He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “I can't wait to take it off later.”
She laughed, loving that he was as sex-crazed as she was. And that he was always thinking about getting her alone and naked. A girl could get used to this kind of attention.
It was Jill's turn to lean in close and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. Or in this case, naughty nothings. “I have a secret.”
“Oh yeah?” He straightened to look down at her upturned face, brows lifted in question.
She trailed her fi
ngers through his hair and pulled him back down.
“Blush Shoppe sent me crotchless panties.”
Teo froze and then a low growl rumbled from his chest.
“The mistletoe is over there,” Reya said after clearing her throat. Jill glanced over to see her friend pointing toward the hallway.
“We'll keep that in mind,” Teo said, recovering more quickly than Jill could even hope to do.
Luckily, a knock at the door broke through her lust. Soon the house was busting at the seams with people. Jill recognized Boomer from the movie shoot, Baby and Joe from Teo's welcome home party and Trevor Wyatt because JackAss had been a big fan of the guy.
Her hot chocolate bar was a hit. Teo made ample use of the mistletoe, and by the time he took her home she was having real trouble remembering why she'd agreed to a fling with such an incredible man.
And since he didn't seem to be in any hurry to end their tryst, she found herself hoping for a different miracle this Christmas.
That he might just stick around long past the New Year.
10
Jill paced across the living room and back to the kitchen. She wasn't a pacer by nature, but Teo Canales had her wound in knots. Why hadn't she heard from him yet?
And why was she so worried?
A car cruised along Main Street and she watched it for a moment, her heart beating faster for a split second as she hoped it was him.
But he'd said he'd call when his flight landed at Hartsfield-Jackson airport. And it had - hours ago, according to the flight tracker app on her phone. What was taking so long?
Her mind went from one worst case scenario to the next.
And she was sick of her own company. She'd been rattled all day. This morning she'd broken her favorite compact, sending powder all over the bathroom and then after lunch, she'd dropped a mug. Nothing could withstand the kitchen tile and the mug had shattered into a billion pieces, alerting everyone in the coffee shop that she was having an off day.
Jill didn't have off days. She prided herself on a simple life that was steady. Perhaps she was boring because she had a budget and shopped second-hand. Her one big risk was this business and that made her extra careful with her relationships, especially after JackAss. She didn't get her hopes up and yet...