Love Lies Beneath

by Jen Talty

  He cocked his head. “I did stay here last night. But nothing happened. I’m not that kind of man, and I think you know that.”

  Her cheeks heated. “I wasn’t referring to that. I know you wouldn’t take advantage of a drunk woman. I don’t remember much, but what I do remember isn’t pleasant, so I was hoping you’d bypassed certain things.” A memory of someone holding her hair back told her otherwise.

  The softness of his fingers surprised her as he traced them across her hairline, pushing her tangled mess behind her shoulders. “We’ve all been there at one time or another. Don’t think twice about it.”

  “Was my father really mad?”

  Mitch shook his head. “He’s worried about you, him, and Derek being in the same room, but he just asked that you text him or call when you’re vertical.”

  “I have to meet Suzie downstairs by eleven to get my hair done and all that nonsense. I’m going to look like shit.”

  He palmed her cheek. “You look beautiful and fortunately, on your worst day, you’ll still upstage the bride.”

  Her pulse raced as the thumping of her heart echoed with the throbbing pain between her ears. The corners of her mouth tugged into a smile, even though she fought it. “You’re a sweet man.”

  “I have my moments.” He leaned in, his mouth hovering a few inches away. “But now that you are sober, I’m going to do what I thought about doing last night.” He brushed his lips over hers once. “Feel free to push me away if you don’t want to be kissed.” His hand slid behind her back, pulling her body closer. He tasted like chocolate and coffee with a hint of sugar.

  Her mind screamed to stop.

  Her body hummed to life as if last night never happened. It was as if his kiss had the power to heal her aches and pains both physically.

  And emotionally.

  His strong muscles flexed under her touch. Their tongues gently teased each other with a promise of something more.

  A moan escaped her lips as he stretched out beside her with her leg draped over his hip in a not so subtle invitation. She had to be crazy to even be contemplating letting this go any further. Every second she thought to pull away, her body pressed harder against his, feeling his warmth wrap around her like the heat coming from a fireplace.

  “I didn’t think that through,” he whispered, dribbling kisses down the side of her face, landing on that sweet spot under her earlobe.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I intended on kissing you. Once.” He cupped her face, staring into her eyes with an intent so raw it nearly gave her an orgasm right there. “Leave you hanging, hoping that later we could pick up where we’d left off, but now I’m drunk on you.”

  She tucked her face into his neck, trying to stifle a laugh, but it proved impossible.

  “Yeah, that’s about the cheesiest thing I’ve ever said.” He rolled to his side, keeping one arm around her, his fingers dancing up and down her arm, giving her goosebumps.

  “I’ve heard worse.” Unable to control herself, she laid her hand over his rock-hard stomach. “But we probably better stop now before we take things too far.” She kept her body still, waiting for him to react to her words.

  “What would be too far, exactly?”

  “I’d say doing something that would make me blush when I had to take your arm at the end of the ceremony while we pass by my father, but that’s going to happen anyway. I mean, I’m assuming you undressed me last night.”

  His lips pressed against her forehead. “You helped. You didn’t want to stop either. I practically had to restrain you.”

  She covered her face. “That’s so embarrassing.”

  “Nah. I’m just glad I was there, and you didn’t throw yourself at someone else.”

  “Thanks for being a gentleman.” She kissed his chest, letting her hand glide across his nipple, grazing gently.

  “That’s dangerous,” he said with a strained voice.

  “Why is that?”

  “Because this time I know I wouldn’t be taking advantage.”

  “I seem to remember you telling me last night that when we were together it would be because I wanted it. Well, I want it.” A pang of guilt tickled her senses. Being with him might make it easier to be around Derek and Valerie. It would give her something else to focus on. Besides, Mitch knew her dad, and from what she surmised, her father at least respected Mitch.

  “You’d be breaking all your own rules,” he said with an arched brow and a wicked grin.

  “Some rules are meant to be broken,” she whispered, straddling his waist.

  “I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret later.”

  “Are you trying to talk me out of this?” She curled her fingers over the edge of her T-shirt. “Having second thoughts?”

  “Neither.” His hands rested on her knees, gliding gently up her thigh.

  “Then stop talking.” She ripped her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor.

  His fingers dug into her flesh when she unhooked her bra, letting it roll over her shoulders, slowly exposing her breasts, enjoying how his ocean-blue eyes widened with desire.

  He raised up, taking her nipple into his mouth, his hot, wet tongue flicking over the top and in a circle.

  Taking in a long breath, her chest rose to meet his lips. She’d thought about him kissing her body. Dreamt about it once. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how consumed her thoughts had been since she’d last seen him. Watching him go from one nipple to the other, lapping gently, letting his teeth graze while his fingers pinched, she couldn’t remember a time this had felt any better.

  Right.

  She rolled her hips, teasing his growing erection, enjoying the deep, throaty groan that came from his mouth, filling her ears with the sweet music of passion.

  “You’re a dangerous woman,” he whispered, lifting her up and laying her down on her back on the bed. He knelt between her legs, yanking his shirt off.

  Instinctively, she reached for the button on his jeans. “Why would you say that?” She pressed her lips against his navel, flicking out her tongue as his pants popped open. Carefully, she eased the zipper down, her hand rubbing against him in a promise of what would come.

  “Besides being gorgeous, you’re smart, kind, generous, and the kind of woman that could destroy a man’s heart.”

  She pressed her hand against his chest, staring up at him while his fingers tugged through her long hair, unsure of what to say. His gaze tore through her with intense heat. Those weren’t just words, and for a second, she couldn’t catch her breath.

  “I’m sure you’ve broken many.”

  “Not a single one that I know of,” he said. “And I can’t say that I’ve had mine broken, but if anyone could do it, it would be you.”

  He didn’t have to say such sweet things to get her in bed, she was already nearly naked with her hand over him while he removed the rest of his clothing. Mitch was like no man she’d ever met. She believed every word he said and felt them deep to her core.

  Ignoring the warning in her mind, telling her to tread lightly because she knew without a doubt he could easily do the same to her, she lowered her mouth over him, holding his gaze. She’d never been shy in the bedroom, which was what led to those tasteful nude pictures which turned disgusting when Derek decided he needed the world to know what he had, which hadn’t meant her stunning personality, just her physical attributes.

  Derek had never loved her, a fact that turned into a hard pill to swallow.

  Mitch made her feel valued. The time he took to make sure she wanted to take whatever they were feeling for each other to the physical level made her want him even more. She envied the woman who would be able to tame his heart and chase away the demons that make him feel he can’t love anyone, because it wouldn’t be her.

  Couldn’t be her.

  “Ashley,” he said softly, tugging at her hair. “Come here.”

  She kissed her way to his luscious mouth, nipping at his bottom
lip.

  He eased her down on the bed, slipping his hand inside her panties, toying with her moist folds. His fingers glided across her hard nub before sinking deep inside her, only to repeat the motion.

  Her skin turned into an electric current of pure pleasure. She arched her back, rocking her hips. “You sure are good with your hands,” she said with a breathy moan.

  “I could say the same about your mouth.” He kissed her, shoving his tongue between her lips as he plowed inside her again with another finger.

  Wiggling, she rolled her panties down, needing to feel his naked flesh against hers while the sun glistened against the perspiration beading on their bodies. The sound of the waves lapping at the shore as the ocean breeze filtered through the partially opened window.

  It seemed like he kissed every inch of her body while he teased her, bringing her to the edge only to back off enough to keep her release at bay.

  “You’re driving me crazy.”

  “That’s the point,” he mused, as he covered himself in protection before settling between her legs, entering her in one powerful stroke that sent her insides tumbling out.

  “Oh…God.” She dug her fingers into the middle of his back, clenching tight around him, desperately trying to maintain some control. The muscles in her stomach twitched. Heat swelled from her toes to her lips.

  She moved with him, creating more friction in the places that demanded them the most. His kiss was deep, wet, and wild.

  Digging her heels into the mattress, her body jerked with ferocious spasms. Her moans filled the room, bouncing off the walls and landing on her skin, making her shake all over again.

  He tucked his face into her neck, sucking on her earlobe. His movements grew faster, but never desperate. As her climax eased, Mitch arched his back as he groaned, his release spilling over her like warm fudge on a chocolate cake.

  She massaged his neck, shoulders, and back as they both struggled to catch their breath.

  He raised himself up on his elbows, fanning her face, his thumbs rubbing softly just above her cheeks.

  It was impossible to hold back a smile. He’d been her knight in shining armor last night, and this morning, her prince charming. There wasn’t a single thing about him she didn’t like, something she’d known after his third visit to her office. He was real. Genuine. Trustworthy.

  She could feel her heart shattering already.

  Chapter 5

  MITCH MANAGED to avoid Derek throughout the day, but now that the ceremony was over, and the guests mingled about the pool deck, it might be a little more difficult. The sun floated over the evening sky, casting its rays of deep orange, yellow, and speckles of pink.

  “When do you go back to the base?” Riggs asked as he sipped his beer, his free arm draped over the back of Ashley’s chair.

  When she’d walked down the sandy aisle in her crimson sundress and her dark hair with its bouncy curls flowing over her bare shoulders, he went weak in the knees, and his breath hitched. To say she was stunning would be the biggest understatement. During the entire ceremony, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her and when she slid her fingers over his forearm as they followed the happy couple, his chest puffed out in pride.

  “My flight leaves late tomorrow.”

  “So does Ashley’s. Perhaps you’re on the same flight,” Riggs said with a smile.

  “Dad, I already told you we’re going to the airport together.” Ashley let out a small laugh as she crossed her legs.

  A few hours ago, those same legs were wrapped around his body.

  “I wish I could stay longer, but you know your mother. She likes me home for Sunday supper.”

  “Because now that you’re teaching at West Point, she can actually cook you your favorite meals.”

  Riggs patted his stomach. “And my growing waistline appreciates it.”

  “Sir, mind if I ask you a question?” Mitch asked.

  “As long as you stop with the sir shit, go ahead.”

  Mitch shifted, leaning in toward the table, trying to keep his hand from landing on Ashley’s leg. Having her sit between them had turned out to be a bit of a distraction and a test of his restraint. “How was it going from active duty to teaching?”

  “It was an adjustment, but one this old man needed to make, why?”

  This had been Mitch’s weekend to relax and think about what he should do with the next phase of his life, and he found himself wondering if there was a place with Ashley in his future.

  “I can’t go back to being a SEAL, and I’ve been offered two positions. One would be at the Naval Training Center heading up the selection process.” Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ashley shift in her seat. Probably meant nothing. “Higher pay grade and it’s a management position, but—”

  “You’d be at a desk,” Riggs said as he folded his arms on the table. “What’s option two?”

  “Training Rescue Swimmers in Jacksonville.”

  “That could be tough on your knee, causing more problems, especially if they are pulling you off active—”

  “Ashley,” her father interrupted. “Now is not the time to offer advice.”

  She narrowed her eyes and snapped her mouth shut, not looking too happy to be shushed by her father.

  What grown woman would?

  “I would think training is more up your alley, but recruitment into a program like the SEALs is an important job. Is there anything keeping you in Jacksonville?”

  Mitch stole a glance at Ashley, who diverted her gaze to her fingers as she picked at her nail polish. The question on his mind, was she trying to act as if she didn’t care if he stayed or if he left. “My team has been stationed out of there for three years, the longest I’ve lived anywhere, even when I’d been deployed more than half that time.”

  “I’ll be totally honest with you,” Riggs said. “I took the West Point assignment to bring my wife closer to her hometown There were other placement opportunities, but my wife stood by me all these years, I owed her a little peace and quiet.”

  Ashley patted her father’s leg. “You took the post because Mom threatened to adopt a few more children because she was getting so bored now that we are all out of the house.”

  “I let your mother think that,” Riggs said.

  “On that note, I’m going to use the little girls’ room. Anyone want anything while I’m gone?”

  “I’ll take another beer,” Riggs said.

  “Me too.” Mitch watched as she walked away, her hips swaying in the breeze.

  Riggs cleared his throat. “Young man?” he questioned with a deep growl.

  “Sorry, sir.”

  Riggs laughed. “She’s just like her mother in every way. Looks like her. Acts like her. Neither of them have any clue as to the extent of their beauty or the effect they have on any breathing man.”

  Mitch cleared his throat, unsure of how to respond. He felt like he knew Ashley as if they’d been long-time friends.

  But she’d been his therapist, always keeping him an arm’s length away.

  Now that they’d been intimate, he felt unsure of himself which is a concept he didn’t welcome. Not with women.

  Not with anything.

  He looked across the room, trying to find the appropriate words, but Derek, who headed in his direction, soured his mood. “Fuck,” he muttered.

  “What?”

  “Sorry to use such language, but Derek is headed this way.”

  “He’s got a lot of nerve.”

  “You can say that again.” Mitch rolled his neck and shook out his hands, ready to fight. Not with his fists, but he could have a laser sharp tongue when he needed it. When Derek bragged about his girl back home, it seemed like harmless talk at first, but when he started sharing details of their sex life and then the pictures, Mitch was surprised the commander hadn’t done more damage.

  But the fight Mitch had been called to report on had to do with insubordination. He hadn’t known Derek’s girlfriend was the commander’s
daughter until after they’d returned home.

  “He’s the sole reason she quit working on an Army base, my Army base. She thinks she embarrassed me. Well, she did no such thing, but that little weasel on the other hand—”

  “Sir, do I need to worry about you hauling off and hitting him again?”

  “Probably,” Riggs said.

  “Good to know.”

  “Excuse me,” Derek said as he hovered over the table. “Do you mind if I have a word with the commander alone?”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea for the two of us to be left alone.” Riggs took the last swig of his beer, shoving it across the table. “He stays.”

  “I wouldn’t ask, but it’s important,” Derek said in a polite, yet aggressive tone. “You’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

  “Whatever it is, you can say it in front of my daughter’s boyfriend.” Riggs folded his arms, smiling like a kid in a candy store.

  Mitch swallowed his cough. He wouldn’t mind being Ashley’s love interest, but hearing it roll off her father’s tongue like it were a statement of fact, sent his heart racing in a panic.

  He hadn’t caught her.

  Yet.

  Derek glanced over his shoulder before pulling an envelope out of his back pocket. “You should read this in the privacy of your own room if you’re not going to take a few moments to—”

  “Cut to the chase and tell me what’s inside. I can’t stand this kind of bullshit game.” Riggs kept his hands in his lap, glaring at Derek. “Or have you forgotten?”

  “If you want to have a confidential conversation about the contents, I’m happy to oblige but not in present company,” Derek said.

  “You have a problem with me?” Mitch knew he should have kept his mouth shut, but he couldn’t help himself. Derek was a class A asshole, and Mitch would enjoy putting him in place.

  Or watching Ashley’s father do it.

  Either would suffice.

  “I’m not going to waste my breath on you.” Derek didn’t even bother to look at Mitch, keeping his eyes locked on the commander.