“It’s your bedroom,” he insisted.
“But why don’t you at least use the bathroom. A week ago it was your bathroom, until I came and took it over. The bathroom in the hall is tiny. You’re big.”
His eyes twinkled. “You noticed, huh?”
She gave an exasperated sigh. “I thought we established that I’m not mentally impaired, and even if I was…my God, man, you fill up a room.”
They were sitting on the couch, and he had brought her apple juice in a wine glass. He was always doing sweet things like that. She couldn’t drink, but it made her feel nice while he had a beer, that she was drinking her juice and feeling like a grown-up.
“I think you fill up a room, too. I’m always aware of where you are.”
“You are?”
His eyes were taking on a heated glow. He reached out and started to play with a strand of her hair, and she sucked in a deep breath. This was the first time he had touched her in a flirtatious manner since she had arrived. She’d been praying for this. “I stalked you for nine weeks on a train. If I did that, what makes you think I wouldn’t be tossing and turning in the room next to yours?”
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping, too.”
“Nightmares. I know.”
“Not always. Sometimes they’re dreams I had before the wreck. You’re a sexy man, Griffin.” She arched her head so that his hand could cup her cheek. Her head hurt less and less as the days went on. She needed his touch.
“You had dreams about me?” He moved closer to her, his lips a whisper away from hers.
“Needy dreams. Wanton dreams.” She twined her arms around his neck, then arched against him, relishing the feel of her breasts against the hard planes of his chest. They both groaned at the feel. He was gentle as he pulled her even closer.
She pulled away. “I won’t break.”
“Who says I’m not this way with all my lovers?”
She searched his eyes and saw a bit of truth. She smiled. She had really been enjoying being treated like rare treasure. “Kiss me some more, I need to get used to this.” The lines around his eyes fanned out as he leaned in for another kiss.
His tongue traced the line of her lips, and she opened, begging for more, and he thrust in. She captured him, welcoming him in, loving his flavor, the way he tenderly commanded her compliance. She surrendered, and found herself in a maelstrom of pleasure.
She moved her hands so she could touch his shoulders, his chest. His body was such a wonder, and then, as he continued to feed a need deep inside her, she found herself digging in with her fingernails, all parts of her body pulsing and humming, needing more. So much more.
“Griffin, please,” she moaned.
He stroked her cheek. “It’s still too soon after the surgery.”
“No it’s not,” she said. But her voice sounded weak, even to her own ears.
“Miranda, honesty. Please?” She retracted her nails, and looked up into his warm and caring eyes.
“Yes, it’s too soon.”
“You’re tired, aren’t you?”
She nodded.
“Let’s get you to bed. To sleep. Alone.”
They both laughed.
* * *
“Beth, you don’t have to stay with me. I don’t mind having the nurse here.”
“Nonsense. I wanted to come and visit.” Miranda really liked Beth’s warm smile. Being around the woman was soothing. “Anyway, I needed something to do to kill some time before I fly out to San Antonio tomorrow.”
“Why are you going there?” Miranda asked.
“That’s where my in-laws have a ranch. I usually go out there when Jack is on a mission.”
Miranda looked carefully at Beth’s face. Now that she was looking for it, she could see a look of strain around her eyes and mouth.
“How often does Jack go out on a mission?”
“It varies. Since we’ve been together, he’s been gone about five and a half months total. We’ve been together almost two years.”
“Griff is a sniper on the Midnight Dawn team. He said he’s off rotation right now,” Miranda blurted out.
Beth reached across the kitchen table and covered Miranda’s hand. “I know. He’s been off rotation while he’s taken care of his dad and you. He’s going to go back on pretty soon.”
Miranda didn’t like the sound of that at all.
“How do you deal with that?” she asked Beth. She was surprised when the woman laughed.
“Pretty easily, actually. I’ve seen him in action. He saved me.”
“What?”
“I was kidnapped. Jack and his team came and saved me. I know just how good his team is. Those men are the best at what they do.”
“You were kidnapped?”
“It’s a long story. But have you ever researched Navy SEALs? Do you have any idea what their training is?”
Miranda thought back to what she read before the train wreck. “Yes I did. But, Beth, they might have gone through all of that training, but then they go on some of the most dangerous missions.”
“I can’t explain it really well. But each of them knows what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s like they can read each other’s minds. My brother-in-law, Clint, he’s the computer expert. He feeds them information. Then there’s Finn, he can find and provide anything. Their leader is Mason, and Jack trusts him with his life. They found me in the middle of nowhere, and they took out four times as many men, and the bad guys never saw it coming.
“But Griff isn’t on Jack’s team anymore,” Miranda protested.
“Jack’s talked about Griff. He’s told me that there are very few people he would want covering his six other than Griffin Porter.”
“Really?”
“Really. But, Miranda, if this is something you can’t handle, you need to tell Griff now. He’s falling for you hard.”
“It’s a two-way street. I have been thinking about this. A lot. I’ve dealt with loss. For the longest time it was just my mother and me. My dad took off before I was born. My mom was the best. She died three years ago. Losing her hurt worse than anything I’ve ever had to deal with, but I wouldn’t trade a day with her. I will always choose love.”
“She sounds like a special woman.”
“She was.”
* * *
“How was your day with Beth?” Griff asked, as he dished out the stir-fry.
“It was good. She is really nice.” Miranda waited for Griff to sit down before she started to eat. “You sure can cook.”
“So can you. I loved the meatloaf you made yesterday.”
Miranda blushed, and took a sip of her apple juice. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay.”
“I saw the doctor today.”
“I didn’t know you had a doctor’s appointment today.”
“I know. You always insist on leaving base. Lila can take me, and it’s her job to do it. Anyway, Dr. Carter said I’m fine to be on my own.”
“So soon?”
“Come on, it was overkill to have the nurse during the day after the first week. You and I both know it.”
“Is there anything she’s not clearing you for?” It sounded like Griff was hopeful.
“She just isn’t clearing me to drive.” Miranda laughed. “It’s kind of tough. I’m not really psyched to ride the train.”
“Yeah, I can’t say that’s high on my list, either,” Griff agreed.
Miranda pushed the food around on her plate.
“What about work?” Griff asked.
“I can’t work for as many hours a week. I should start at twenty for the first month. I already talked to my supervisor, and it turns out they’re happy to have me. It seems they’re even willing to arrange software to read the contracts to me, so I don’t have eyestrain,” she gave a weak chuckle.
“You don’t sound too happy,” he noted. She saw that he wasn’t eating, either.
She put down her fork. “I’m blunt.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, never mind.” She picked up her fork again.
Griff reached over and took the utensil out of her hand, and set it down on her plate. “Miranda, tell me what you meant by that.”
She pushed up from the table and walked over to the window in the living room with barely a limp. Then she turned around and faced him. “I’m blunt. I should be able to say this. Griffin, you’re going back on regular rotation after I leave, aren’t you?”
He nodded.
“I’m going to be living up in Anaheim, and you’re down here in San Diego, and then you might be God knows where some of the time.”
“Yes,” he said carefully. “That’s true.”
“I don’t want to go home. But I don’t want to be your pet project.”
He charged up from the dining room table. “What the fuck do you mean, my pet project? Goddammit, you were never my pet project!”
“I’ve been getting better for the last three weeks, and, except for one kiss, you’ve kept your hands to yourself,” she complained.
“You’ve been a guest in my house. I told you we were going to date after you were well. I should never have kissed you, it was taking advantage of you.”
She stared at him like he had grown a second head. “Are you out of your mind? I have been wearing actual nighties, not sleep shirts. I’ve had them delivered here from Victoria’s Secret, for God’s sake. Have you not noticed?”
“Of course I’ve fucking noticed. It’s damn near killed me. Especially the damn red one.”
Miranda smiled. Thank God. If he hadn’t noticed the red one, they were in a world of trouble.
“You’ve been torturing me on purpose? Asking for juice in the middle of night?”
She bent her head. Okay, maybe the juice had been a bit too much…
Griff reached out and touched her cheek, and she nuzzled against his hand. “I should have been blunt,” she said ruefully.
“Red is now my favorite color,” he said as he bent forward.
Miranda watched him with wide eyes as their lips met. She didn’t want to miss a moment of this kiss. He was so tender, until he wasn’t. He took over like a thunderstorm, pulling her close, and her eyes closed as she sank into his kiss. Moment after moment spun together, and only Griffin kept her safe. When he pulled away she whimpered. “You’re not always tender?” she asked.
“There are other flavors available,” he admitted.
“I want the whole sampler platter,” she said breathlessly.
“That’s good, Honey, because tonight I want more than just a kiss.”
“Oh, yes,” she answered. “Yes, please.”
He swung her up in his arms, and she didn’t get dizzy, which made her giddy with joy. “You okay?”
“I’m fantastic,” she grinned up at him.
“Yes you are,” he agreed, as he strode down the hallway to the master bedroom.
He laid her down on the bed with exquisite care, and, for just a moment, Miranda wished she was wearing her red nightie.
“What?” he asked.
“Get out of my head.”
“I like your head. I like everything about you. Now what were you thinking?” His beautiful black eyes searched hers.
“I wished that I was wearing my negligee,” she said wistfully.
He kissed her long and lingeringly. “Do you know what I wish? I wish you were naked. I’ve been wishing that for days.”
She gave a husky laugh.
Griff slowly started unbuttoning her blouse, and as each inch of flesh was exposed, he pressed a soft kiss against her skin. By the time he got to her belly button, she was frantic with need.
“Shhh, softly Miranda. We’ll get there. Trust me.” He cupped her cheeks and stilled her head, kissing her gently. She sighed. “We’re taking this slow, okay love?”
Her heart melted. “Yes,” she whispered.
He undid the front clasp of her bra, and she luxuriated in the feel of his big, warm hands cupping her breasts. He bent down, and sucked her nipple, then blew a stream of air around her areola. It was the most erotic thing anybody had ever done, and she was about to come unglued.
She wrapped her legs around his waist. He chuckled and pushed them back down on the bed. “I think we need to get those pants off first.”
“Hurry.”
“We have all the time in the world,” he said soothingly.
“No. We. Don’t!”
He laughed again. Then he lifted her up a bit so he could help her out of her blouse and bra. “God, you’re gorgeous.”
“Now it’s your turn. I’ve been a good girl. I want my Christmas present. I want to see you without a shirt.”
She saw him give a little bit of a start, then his eyes turned molten. She held her breath as he peeled off his shirt. He was gorgeous. She could do laundry on his abdomen. She reached out to touch him. He grabbed her hand before she could.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
“I have no self-control. If you touch me, I’ll go off like a fifteen-year-old boy.”
“I’ll just have to work on making you hard again,” she purred. He let go of her hand and she stroked her way up his chest. He groaned with pleasure.
He swooped down and kissed her with controlled fury. She reveled in it. She knew that one day they could let loose, and she looked forward to it, but for now this was glorious.
He reached down and unbuttoned her capris pants, and slid his hand inside, underneath her panties. She bucked up against his hand. His finger circled her clit, and she started to moan. She needed this. She needed him. She tried to shove her pants down, not wanting to find her release without him inside her.
“Here, Honey,” he helped her. Soon she was naked, but then everything stopped. She looked up at him in frustration, and then she saw him staring at her. She was mesmerized by the look in his eyes. He seemed to be fascinated by her.
“Griffin?”
“You’re stunning. Look at you.” His hands stroked her from breast to hip, as if he we memorizing each curve. As his fingers rested against her pelvis, his thumbs traced the juncture of her thighs. She trembled. “Part your legs.”
She did.
“So beautiful. All mine.”
She watched in rapt silence as he bent towards her and took that first lick. He felt like something out of a dream, better than a dream. How could he know her body better than she did? It made no sense.
“Griffin?’
“I’m here.” He looked up and gave her the a carnal smile filled with love. “Are you with me?”
She sighed and nodded, and he smiled a bad boy smile, and dipped down. Oh God. The rasp of his tongue over her sensitive flesh soon had her arching high and she let out a sharp wail of fulfillment, and like a thunderstorm after a drought, the tears started in earnest. In a flash he was up beside her, and hauling her into the warmth and safety of his arms.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she sobbed.
“Absolutely nothing. You’re perfect.”
“Then why am I crying?” Miranda hiccupped, and the crying seemed to get worse. She had a man that meant the world to her, holding her, and she couldn’t stop the tears. What was her problem?
He rocked her for long minutes, whispering nonsense, telling her she was beautiful and precious. Finally she calmed.
“Griff, I don’t know why that happened.” They were under the covers, and she was cuddled up against the man who was her world. Nothing made sense.
Griff kissed her forehead and gave a sigh. “I’ve kind of been expecting it. Maybe not at that moment, but I’ve been expecting a breakdown. You’ve been wound pretty tight, Ms. Slade.”
“I’ve been a mess.”
“Miranda, you have powered through like a damn Navy SEAL. It’s only when I’ve come into this room to help you during your nightmares that the walls have come down. Honey, you’ve needed to cry.”
“That first day I was here I was grum
py and teary.”
Griff let out a big laugh. “Hell, my dad’s been more emotional than you have. I’ve been worried about you. I’m just glad you finally let it all out. Don’t you feel better?”
Miranda blushed. She felt amazingly well.
“Okay, blunt girl is back. How could I not feel fantastic, I had the best orgasm of my life, and I finally cried. My pipes have been cleared.”
“That’s cleaning the pipes,” Griffin laughed so hard the bed started to shake.
Finally he subsided. He turned her so that she was cradled in his arms, and he was staring down into her grinning face.
“I’m so in love with you, I just can’t stand it. Getting on that train was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Miranda swallowed. The thought of the train sometimes got to her, but looking up into those captivating black eyes, she realized that finding Griffin was worth everything. “I love you, too.”
He closed his eyes, then they opened with unshed tears. “Thank God.” He placed a soft, ,a tender, a gentle kiss against her lips, that soon had her spinning into a vortex of heat. She reached up for him, but he stilled her.
“Wait.” He got up from the bed, and left the room. He was still in his jeans. They had to fix that. Hopefully he was getting a condom.
He came back in, and she couldn’t help but ogle that chest. He was the best-looking man she had ever seen in person. He came over to the bed and knelt down beside it.
“Get up here,” she patted the bed beside her.
“In a minute.” He opened his hand, and her heart stuttered. There was a gray box in it. Her eyes flew up to his.
“Griffin, no! You can’t mean it.”
“Miranda, yes,” he smiled. “I absolutely do mean it.” He opened the box, and there was an emerald cut diamond with two pink sapphires on either side. Miranda felt tears form again.
“Marry me. Please be my wife, and my partner. Live with me forever.”
“We’ve never talked about a future together. We don’t know where we would live, if we wanted to have children.” She sounded dazed.
“Miranda, having you go over that cliff, not knowing if you were dead or alive. Then waiting for you to wake up. It puts things into perspective for a man. I know life is too damn short to live without you. Do you love me? Do you want to marry me?”
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Hope (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Midnight Delta Book 7) Page 8