Code Name: Ghost

by Natasza Waters

  He shook his head, but reserved comment.

  “Do you think there’ll ever be another Kayla? Things will change, they have to, because you or she won’t be able to remain in this department if you plan on having a future together.”

  “She doesn’t want a future with me,” he said quietly. He’d given up on trying to talk with her after she’d left him standing outside her condo. Like a vulture, he’d swooped down and taken advantage of her weak moment today, but he wasn’t going to take it for granted either.

  “She might be sticking her spines out, but she’s doing it for a reason. You just don’t see it yet.”

  He couldn’t argue with that. Obviously, she wasn’t as moved by the experience as he was. Making love to her had affected him deeply and permanently. It swarmed in his mind hourly. Walking around with a twenty-four hour hard-on was uncomfortable if not frustrating. Yet, it wasn’t the sex. Every time he looked into the future, her image sat boldly there, taunting him.

  “Since you’re giving me half an ear, I want you to consider something else.”

  He stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

  “Your promotion has been approved. I know you don’t want it because you won’t be able to join your men in combat anymore. The brass isn’t going to let you waste away there for long. They’re looking at you for the next Admiral West Coast Chain. It’s time, Ghost. For you and for Kayla, it’s time to step out of the theater. I want you to seriously consider this.”

  “See ya, Red.” He wasn’t going to argue. The Captain was still the master in a war of words. He’d be lying anyway if he tried to deny the fact he hadn’t been considering his options and his tomorrows.

  “Son—”

  He twisted, knowing what was coming.

  “You’ve never had a mission as important as this one. I don’t want to lose either of you, but if she dies, I know I’ll lose both of you. Don’t fuck it up.”

  * * * *

  Kayla sat silently watching Thane prepare dinner. Caught in her thoughts, she circled the flecks of granite on his kitchen countertop with a fingertip. Thane wanted to see her smile again, filling the room and him with joy. As a SEAL, he and the others had to bear so much ugliness, and still remain sane and involved in a civilian world. He finally understood why his men juggled the stress of family life and warfare, and it was because their families were their solace and their strength. Coming home was always the prize. Until Kayla, he’d had nothing to covet.

  “What do you think his thing is?” she asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

  “His thing?” He forked the vegetables he’d finished cutting with olive oil and sprinkled them with seasoning.

  “Why do you think he does it? What pushed him there? Is it a sexual dysfunction, did his mother abandon him, abuse him, and now he’s pissed about it? What?” She gazed out his front window vacantly.

  He wondered if she was deliberating on her past or her present. A time would present itself when he’d have to admit he knew about hers. If he had to predict her reaction, he surmised she’d run from him or at least pull away, and that’s why he hadn’t prompted her. “You’re talking about a profile.”

  “I guess,” she said quietly.

  He seriously considered changing the subject, but he knew it would piss her off if he treated her like a helpless child. “Manchester let me take a look at the file they’ve built from the victims. They’re looking for a male forty to fifty years old. Probably someone who is abusive in his relationships, a laborer, and,” He paused. She finally turned her eyes on him. “And yes there’s a definite sexual dysfunction. All the women were sexually violated prior to death.”

  She nodded and stared out his front window again. He laid down the forks and rounded the island. “I know it’s hard, but I want you to try and forget, just for tonight,” he said, pulling her gently from the chair.

  “You want to go bowling?” she asked dryly.

  A smile cracked his lips. An eternal spark always flickered inside her, and it gave him hope too. “Nope, I want you to go change.”

  “Change into what? I should be helping you with dinner instead of sitting here like a useless sail without wind.”

  “I’ve got dinner covered, now go get changed and come back here. You’re going into the Jacuzzi before we eat. I want you to relax.” His cheeks puckered as a little glint brightened her eyes.

  “I could do that.”

  He turned her by her shoulders and prodded her to go.

  It didn’t take long for her to return with a sheer sundress draped across her like a second skin. Instantly, he realized violet was his favorite color, seeing the fading hues of purple covering her curves. As she walked in, she swept her waves of hair onto the top of her head, and clipped it in place. Small wisps fell from the sexy mop, curling around her cheeks, and his pulse began to thump hard. She always kick-started his heart, but now it was in a race for its life. The dark colors and sobering outfits she wore to work never failed to impress, but she couldn’t conceal her softness and femininity. “I’ll bring out the wine,” he said, jerking his head toward the patio doors.

  Suddenly her hands swept to her mouth and she covered a gasp. The glass dish thunked onto the counter. “What’s wrong?” his heart pounding.

  “I just remembered it’s your birthday. How could I have forgotten?” She clutched his hands. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Kayla,” he took a relieved breath and drew her against him. “Sweetheart, I got my present didn’t I?” Her brow twisted with confusion. “Remember? I wanted you to live with me.”

  “I’m not living here. I’m hiding here.”

  “Details,” he said grinning down at her. “Airlines on my speed dial. I could have us somewhere hot in five hours or less.” He stretched for his phone lying on the counter. “You want to take me to the Seychelles, be my guest.”

  She covered his hand. “Stop. I’m not much good as bait if I’m lying on a beach somewhere.”

  She wasn’t bait. He’d never allow that, but she was right. They couldn’t end this now, if he took her away. “Jacuzzi is good to go. Get your little ass in there.”

  “Little ass? Who the hell are you kidding?”

  He gave her a swat on her behind as she walked away from him.

  On his way back up from the basement with a ten-year-old Beaujolais in his hands, and appreciating the cool cellar relieving his overheated blood, he heard Tony. “Ahh, Commander?”

  “Holy shit,” Nathan blurted over top of him.

  Nathan was a good Catholic boy, and even when things got hot, his mouth never did.

  “Commander,” Mace cleared his throat. “You didn’t tell Kayla we were here, did you?”

  “No, why?” he asked, placing the bottle on the kitchen counter.

  “Lucky son of a bitch, Cobbs blurted, “Sorry, Thane, but fuck me.”

  “What the hell are you talking abou….” He looked outside and his hand jerked out, the bottle flying off the counter and smashing on the floor. “Eyes front, men,” he ordered running for the door.

  “Oh, they’re front, all right,” Mace groaned. “I’m never letting this image leave my brainpan.”

  “Why’s she doing that?” Cobbs asked, sounding a little breathless.

  He lunged through the open door, then stopped to try and control himself. “Get your eyes off her. She’d be mortified if she knew you were watching.”

  “Hey, you’ve seen my wife, it’s only fair I see yours,” Cobbs piped back.

  “Say what?” Tony and Mace barked at the same time.

  “Never mind,” he growled.

  Kayla stood near the end of the deck. The dress she wore dangled from her fingers, the sheer material only covering a small line of flesh down her middle. With her arm wrapped around the pillar, she stared out at the backyard. Her olive skin glowed in the ebbing light of the day and her hips swelled with smooth curves to her waist. “She wants this over. I think she’s trying to drive the Shark crazy, push hi
m to show his hand.”

  “She’s driving me crazy,” Mace quipped. “And it’s getting mighty uncomfortable lying on my stomach, Commander.”

  He clenched his jaw. “Well then don’t fucking look, Mace,” he ordered, but he was trapped himself in the vision he saw in front of him.

  Stretching out her arm, she let the violet cover drop from her fingers and then she lay out on a lounge chair catching the last brilliant ray settling in the backyard. Her hands slowly roved across her skin until she reached her breasts and gently pinched her nipples. No one made a sound, but he was pretty damn sure all of them were watching. Her legs opened with a sensual slowness that brought his heart down to a heavy, passionate thump. A hand caressed her inner leg as she rested her feet on the ground. One arm draped behind her, burying her fingers in her hair.

  She wasn’t going to…

  Every set of eyes watched her other hand slide between her legs. Stroking herself, her hips sensually arched with the first clutch of passion.

  “Oh, my God, Lord help me,” Tony blurted. “Commander!”

  It brought him out of his daze, and he quickly walked across the patio, standing in front of her to block the view. When her eyes opened, she pulled her glistening fingers to her nipple and circled it slowly. He wanted to say something. He should say something, but…

  “Commander, let’s drive him to the end of his chain,” she whispered, and reached for his hands.

  He slowly straddled the lounger, intent on taking her inside. Moisture glistened on her rose-colored nipple, a trajectory his lips demanded he follow. “Kayla,” he breathed, and then swallowed hard. She leaned forward and kissed him, and that’s all she needed to do to break him. His hands wove themselves under her ass, sliding her closer. Biting her breast gently sent a shallow quake through him.

  “Extra-hot,” she gasped, and began to unbutton his shirt.

  Lunging forward, his lust pushed at the barriers he’d tried so hard to put up. They were useless against her touch. Grasping her hips, his mouth came down on the beautiful little sensitive peak of flesh between her thighs, drawing it between his lips and assaulting it with his tongue. The lines holding him to reality snapped. Both her arms stretched behind her, hanging onto the top of the chair. Her hips rose in his hands, rocking her flesh against his mouth. Driving his tongue into her channel made her body pulse and his heart clench.

  “Oh, God, Thane, that feels so good.” She wove her fingers through his hair. “Please, I want—” but she stopped herself.

  Sucking on her peak gently, he caressed her sex with his thumb at the same time. He wanted to do so many things with her, but she’d have to trust him first. “What do you want, Kayla, tell me?” he prodded, snaking his fingers behind her back and drawing her against him. “I want to hear you say it.”

  Together, in their bed, they could say or do anything they wanted and leave the shades of evil in their world behind them. Finally, he understood there was no safer place than in her arms. Her eyes widened a little and he laid a tender kiss on her lips. Lead by example wove through his mind and he grinned. “I want to hear your gorgeous voice tell me you like it when my tongue runs across your sweet sex,” he said, tempting her. “It sends me over the edge when I taste you.” He slid two fingers inside her and her body responded clutching at them. “I want you to tell me you want me to touch you like this.”

  She placed her lips against his ear. “What I want, Thane, is to feel you inside of me. Take command of me,” she breathed.

  “We’re going inside,” he choked out.

  “What? No,” she argued, pulling away.

  “Yes.” He wrapped his hands around her ass and yanked her to his body. “This is about us, Kayla, not about the Shark.”

  A look of uncertainty crossed her features. “This is about catching him, ending this,” she stated, her forehead wrinkling.

  “No, it’s not.” Her inflamed lips called to his, and he brushed a kiss across them. The fact he could even walk surprised him. He passed through the patio door and the smell of wine assaulted his nose from the broken bottle on the floor.

  “Commander—”

  She was back to calling him Commander, and he grinned at the thought. Did she realize she only called him by his first name when he made love to her? He walked down the hallway, and she was looking more and more uncertain with every step. In about five seconds she was going to be back to calling him Thane, and she was going to be screaming it. He turned and pressed his back against the door, pushing it open.

  “This isn’t doing much unless he’s got your house wired.”

  She sounded too cute when she talked like a techie. He laid her down on the sheets and his hands went straight to his pants. The heat in her eyes scorched a trail down his abs as he leaned over her. She made him feel like a powerful man with just one heated look. Every muscle in him went taut, his chest flexing with the thought of loving her.

  She began to squirm backward on the bed, which was fine by him. He needed room to do what he had planned. Kayla was so small compared to him, and it meant holding back or he might hurt her. It was something he’d never considered, before her. “It’s just you and me, sweetheart, no one’s looking, no one’s…” He reached in his ear turning off the piece and tossing it behind him. Her eyes darted to see what he’d gotten rid of, then nervously stared back at him. “This is about me making love to you.” Running his hands up her legs, he spread her shapely thighs and bit his way to her glistening fold. “You taste so good.” As soon as his tongue began a slow, rhythmic movement across the center of her sex, she moaned and fell back. “That’s it baby, easy.” His fingers joined in and he gently entered her, feeling her flesh squeeze him.

  “Thane, stop, I’m going to…”

  He grinned hearing his name again, but he kept up the attack until she writhed in his hands. Her whimpers of pleasure drove him crazy. Rolling over, he brought her with him. Closing his eyes, he reveled in the soft skin of her thighs straddling his hips. “I love it when you ride me, Kayla.” Palming the back of her head, he brought her mouth to his. Her kiss disarmed him, and his heart swelled. “You belong in my arms, sweetheart.”

  Kayla taunted him, her wet channel dancing across his pulsing head. His hips rose wanting more, but she backed away, a grin tightening her lips. She was being playful, and warmth spread through him, but the fire was close behind, and he wanted that, too.

  “Sweetheart, you’re all I want for my birthday, every single one I have left.” He clutched her ass and plunged inside her. “You are so tight and wet it makes me want to come the second I’m inside you.” Her muscles clenched him with his words, and it pulled a groan from his throat. “Oh, yeah, do that again.”

  “Oh, God, Thane, that feels so beautiful,” she murmured, her full hips swaying in a way that sent him spiraling out of control.

  Her sensual cries rippled through him. He’d never felt so close to a woman before or loved being inside one as much as he loved being inside her. His body jerked when his gaze fell to their joining. Her swollen nub—delicious—glided over his shaft. The overwhelming urge to suck it into his mouth, and thrust inside her at the same time overcame him. They were too perfect together. The friction pulled at his desire, she pulled at his heart. The heat took over, her muscles milked him and she rode him faster, leaning back on her palms, taking them higher until he teetered.

  “Oh, baby, you’re going to come, I can feel it. Sweetheart, get off on me,” he groaned as the wave of her orgasm clutched him and set him off at the same time. It racked his body and lasted so long he thought he’d lose his mind. His seed pumped into her with forceful spurts, mixing with her silk, and his body seized with blinding pleasure. “Kayla.” Her name erupted with a loud shout from his throat as he shuddered out the last of his release.

  Finally, he opened his eyes, his breath coming in choppy gusts. How the hell did such a little creature rid him of every ugly thought? Full breasts brushed against his chest, and her curls fell
across his face when she leaned over to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and met her lips.

  When she pulled away, she looked embarrassed. “Next time we have to stay outside,” she stated.

  He grinned. There was going to be more than one next time. “Not a chance.” He gently rolled her over, and followed the line of her cheek down to her chin with his finger. “I don’t want an audience when I make love to you.” A shot of fear streaked through her eyes. “The shower is through those doors,” he said motioning behind him. “I’m going to finish dinner. I want you to take a nap. I’ll wake you up when it’s ready.”

  “Commander—”

  Back to Commander, huh? He’d have to work on that, too.

  “Did you send me those flowers?” Her dainty jaw tightened with her question as she searched his eyes.

  Before he left her warmth, he wanted one more kiss. For some reason he knew she was going to pull away from him now. A smile twinged the edge of his lips. “Yes.” But before she could ask why, and he knew she would, he wanted to brand her with a kiss he hoped she would never forget, and in that kiss he’d leave his answer.

  * * * *

  The timer on the oven beeped, and he pulled the glass casserole from the oven. He turned to go get Kayla just as she wandered into the kitchen. Her hands were behind her back and she looked…he wasn’t quite sure how to describe the expression, but it kind of worried him. She shimmied onto the stool as he stepped to the oven. “Did you sleep?” Instead of an answer, a sound caught his ear as something metal dropped onto the granite countertop, and he swiveled. His earpiece lay there, and her fingers began to click on the counter beside it, her brow rising. “Dinner’s ready,” he said, and turned away. Shit.

  “Commander,” she growled, and it didn’t sound friendly.

  “Come on, let’s eat,” he prompted, but her gaze lobbed grenades at him. And for the first time in his life he knew what the term chicken shit meant.

  “Who—exactly, is on the other end of that?”

  He leaned his knuckles on the counter and found he really wasn’t brave enough to look at her. “Ah, well—we use that to communicate to each other,” he said, and nodded once then grabbed the casserole dish taking it to the table.