Everyone at the table stared at her, speechless.
She smiled. “He’s more than a pretty face. He was Corps. First in his class. It was going to be his career.”
“Like the Coast Guard for you?” Gunner asked.
“Yeah. Like that. We made changes for Bubba and I don’t regret it.”
“He left the Corps…then what?” Shawn pressed.
Barely controlling her growl, she told him, “He was jumped by enough guys to take him down and that’s saying a lot.”
“I imagine he doesn’t go down easy.”
A small smile crossed her face as the big man took a fortifying pull of the beer in front of him. “Wow. That sounded dirty.”
Shawn snarfed and she felt an ease in some of the usual tension thinking about that night inspired. “The attack laid him up for a while. He’s been hyper cautious since then.”
Glancing at the man beside her, she said, “I swear the guy was gay. So deep in the closet he couldn’t find his way out with a compass and a flashlight. Fucking coward stood there while his buddies tried to beat my brother to death.”
“You were there?” Gunner asked worriedly.
“Chaz was plastered, which was rare. He’d been trying to hide his depression about leaving the service. I’m sure he was lonely, too.” She sighed. “I hated seeing him like that.”
“I’m sorry, Dakota.” Shawn took hand. “I know how it can be. It must have been hard for you.”
Staring into his eyes, she whispered, “I went to get the car down the block. I was only gone three minutes.”
“So much can happen in three minutes. It wasn’t your fault.”
Until the words were said, she hadn’t realized the guilt she’d carried around with her. “They jumped him, dragged him into the alley. Took turns beating on him. Finally got him to the ground where they kicked him.”
“Fuck.”
“By the time I found him, he was nearly unconscious. I wasn’t.” She gripped Shawn’s hand hard. “I was something of a surprise. Racked the first two and cracked my extension baton across three heads.”
His eyes went wide.
“Mother fuckers were moaning on the ground. I gave them what they deserved.”
Every man at the table stared at her in awe.
“They were a disgrace to the uniform and the circumstances called for drastic measures. I needed enough time to get Chaz away. I didn’t have time to fight six prepared men.” She smiled tightly. “I still would have won. I was fully enraged.”
Gunner squeezed her shoulder. “I’m glad you didn’t risk sticking around to find out.”
“I wanted to but…I knew I couldn’t. He was hurt.”
“If I was straight, I’d beg you to marry me.” Shawn leaned forward and murmured at her ear, “I’ve struggled myself and I won’t hurt him, Dakota.”
Sitting back, he removed a card from his wallet. “My personal cell is on it. For Chaz.”
She squeezed his hand and let him go. “Life is funny.”
“I often find that.”
She turned to Gunner. “What’s your status?”
“Not gay, heart-broken, involved, or married. No kids, diseases, or anywhere else I need to be.”
“Excellent. That makes you my kind of fella.”
Chapter Six
The DJ played a slow song and Gunner stood, taking her hand. “Dance with me, Dakota.”
She didn’t hesitate and he led her to the floor. As he took her in his arms, she released a sigh.
“What?”
“It’s nice to wear heels and not tower over a man.” He laughed. “I’m either a barefoot or high heel kind of gal.”
“You’re not so tall.” Gunner glanced down at her legs, bared from her mid-thigh to the tips of her painted toes. “Even with your very nice legs.” She blushed. “Ah, so it’s possible to ruffle you. Compliments are your personal kryptonite. Noted.”
She shrugged. “I’m odd for a woman.”
“You’re not odd, just different. Different is good. I’m intrigued.” He paused and added, “I have to do it…” Reaching up, he removed the clip holding back her hair, watching as it fell in a tumble down her back. “Gorgeous.”
“I don’t have the patience to straighten it. Last time, I got halfway through and made Chaz and Bubba help me finish. Ultimately, still a mistake.”
Turning her head, she moved her hair aside to show him a scar behind her ear. “See the burn? They were terrified.”
As she started to turn back, he put his fingers lightly on her jaw to keep her still and dropped a kiss on the little scar.
She moaned softly. “I don’t usually lust after my clients and I never date them.” He nibbled along the column of her neck, waiting for her to finish. “I’m going to make an exception.” Her hands flattened on his chest. “It’s harder than it looks.”
“Hmm. Why are you willing to make an exception, Dakota?”
Gunner kissed his way to her jaw. His hand moved into the hair at her nape to hold her in place. He kept her close as the song ended. Another started so he felt justified.
“You’re different, too. Fun, good looking, and a gentleman.” His fingers massaged the back of her skull. “You’re also making me crazy in ways I don’t recognize.”
Lowering his head, he paused just shy of her mouth. Consent was always critical but a man who didn’t ensure he had it from a woman who could probably kill him was an idiot.
She lifted to close the distance and his body tightened around her. Parting her lips, she welcomed him. They tasted like tequila, lime, and salt. He kissed her thoroughly, his tongue stroking carefully in, his hands maintaining their hold.
In the end, he wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less than making her scream his name.
* * *
Dakota reached up to slide her fingers through his hair, fisting blonde strands that were softer than she’d imagined.
They swayed together to the music but it wasn’t really dancing. When the second song ended, he broke the kiss and stroked his thumb over her jaw. His palm was hot where it wrapped around one side of her neck.
His smile made her breath catch quietly.
“Do you have space in your dive tours tomorrow?” She nodded, confused at the topic change. “I’m going to figure out who wants to go out tomorrow.” He paused. “I want you badly but I’m getting too old for one night stands. I see more in you than I have in anyone else. Let’s keep going.”
Dakota nodded, surprised and pleased.
He laughed and led her back to the table. When he posed the dive trip question, Shawn and Tyler immediately agreed.
“I haven’t been in a few months. Not good to get rusty.”
Shawn said, “I have an ulterior motive so…yeah, I’m in.”
The other three wanted to do some sightseeing but said they’d meet up later in the day.
Dakota put her hand on Shawn’s shoulder. “Should I mention our earlier conversation or leave it alone?”
He considered the question. “Leave it alone.”
She grinned. “This is going to be priceless.”
When she tried to pay, all six men insisted – with varying degrees of loudness – that she put her money away. It made her laugh.
“Thank you for a great evening. I’m going to head out. Long day tomorrow and I want to be sure I have enough gear.”
“We have our own,” Gunner told her. “We’re experienced divers. We’ve been planning to dive.” His fingertip stroked lazily back and forth over her bare shoulder.
“What do you consider experienced?” Her voice sounded funny, even to her.
“Ten years as SEALs and now we volunteer with Dade County’s rescue dive team. We won’t drown.” She gave him a nod. “I’ll walk you back, Dakota.”
“Gentlemen, thank you for a lovely time.” Leaning in, she whispered at Shawn’s ear, “He won’t let his guard down easy. Be patient, okay?” He nodded and she kissed his cheek.
G
unner held her hand as they left the bar and walked at a leisurely pace to the boat.
“Why aren’t you married? That surprises me considering how long you spent in the service.”
He shrugged. “I was married for a little while. After a long deployment, I came back to find my stuff in storage and some dude living in my house. I figured it was over.”
She was floored at the implication.
“The military is hard on people waiting at home. I was an asshole at first. Then I realized we’d only spent two months together over four years of marriage. It was bound to happen. We didn’t know each other enough to miss what we had.”
At her boat, he turned her to him. “Since then, I’ve had a hard time finding anyone interesting enough to take things further than a few dates.” His hands slid over her shoulders and up into her hair. “I find you interesting on multiple levels.”
Dakota said firmly, “Come inside with me.”
He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. A muscle ticked in his cheek. Inhaling deeply, he opened his eyes and she saw his hunger clearly defined.
The heat of it could have singed her skin.
His voice hoarse, he said. “I’ve never wanted anyone more and that’s the truth.” Strong fingers massaged her shoulders. “I’ll spend the day with you tomorrow but…I’ll drop right here if I don’t kiss you again.”
Then he devoured her mouth until she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Both seemed overrated and she didn’t miss them in the slightest.
His hands roamed over her hair, back, and ass until she was gripping him in an effort to get closer.
He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m making the right decision.”
“I disagree. Wholeheartedly.”
“How old are you, Dakota?”
She had to think. “Twenty-seven.”
“I’m thirty-eight. I need to walk away before I forget all my good intentions.” He kissed her hard, gathering her body against his. His powerful erection was unequivocal evidence of how much he wanted her.
He attempted to nudge her away but Dakota’s grip tightened around him. She leaned in and ground against him.
“Jesus.” She could hear his need.
“Blame it on tequila if it helps. The guys can bring your gear.” She held his hand as she moved closer to the boat. “Stay. Break my dry spell like a champ.”
“Dry spell?”
“Two years.”
His hands fisted in her hair. “Two years?”
“I got busy raising Bubba, running the business, and I just…wasn’t interested, I guess. I got used to not being interested until you came walking down this dock and I ended up trapped on a boat with you for days at a time.”
“I understand. Believe me.”
“Do you have any idea what you look like fishing? Then I got to know you and discovered you’re pretty fucking great.”
She reached up to kiss him again. “Stay with me. I promise not to forget I was the pushy one.”
Gunner’s arms tightened hard. “You’re going to be the death of me.” Then he picked her up and jumped smoothly to the boat deck.
Winning never got old.
Chapter Seven
Gunner set her on her feet and Dakota pulled him down for another kiss. She unlocked the door to the cabin and backed inside holding his hand.
At the bottom of the short flight of steps, she unlocked another door to a bedroom and he raised his head to take it all in. Despite his sense of urgency to get this woman beneath him, he had to chuckle at the huge bed covered in mosquito netting, recessed lighting, and a giant flat-panel television.
“This is…accommodating.” Her smile flickered with something he couldn’t quite read.
“Our father bought this boat for trysts with mistress number two. It’s well appointed. Watch.”
She held his hand as she walked to a panel on the wall. Pressing buttons brought up a faux fireplace on the flat screen, slow music over the speaker system, and dimmed the lights.
“He was a whore.” Her tone was sharp and she caught herself, inhaling carefully. “One of us stays here on the weekends so it doesn’t sit empty. I’m really enjoying the privacy.”
Gunner turned her to face him. He took his time with kisses as he ran his hands through her hair and down her back.
She explored his entire upper body, slipping her palms under his shirt and over his bare skin. He sighed into her mouth.
Pivoting and presenting her back, she lifted her hair out of the way. He massaged her shoulders before moving to the zipper of her sun dress. Lowering it slowly, he dragged out his suspense as inch by inch of her spine was revealed.
When it was fully open, Dakota shrugged. The dress drifted to the floor, leaving her in a lacy white thong with a wide band across the top curve of her ass. She wasn’t wearing a bra.
Gunner stroked his fingertips over warm skin to the firm globes of her ass, squeezing gently. His hand circling her waist, he lowered his mouth to her shoulder.
The moment his lips made contact, she leaned back with a sigh. Cupping a firm breast, he let his thumb stroke over a stiff nipple and was pleased with her low moan.
Her upper body arched into his hands as she responded openly and honestly to his touch.
He raked blunt nails down her torso and felt her hold her breath as he made his way to her center. Stroking lightly over her folds through the thin fabric of her panties, he bit the bend of her shoulder softly.
Cupping her mound, he groaned. “Already wet and hot.”
“You’ve been killing me softly for a while now.”
Her ass rotated over his cock and his body clenched. Deceptively delicate hands rested on his thighs, massaging the muscles through his jeans. She moved higher, reaching around to his ass so she could pull him snugly against her.
Gunner turned her quickly and claimed her mouth, sliding into the welcoming warmth of her with a growl. Her hands searched for the hem of his shirt and she worked it up his body until he leaned back so she could take it off.
“I want to see you, touch you. Now.”
He laid her palm over his heart, covering it with his own. “Take whatever you want, whatever you need.”
Aqua-blue eyes held his as she glided over every inch of bare skin she could reach, alternately massaging or scraping her nails over his back and chest.
Tracing her fingers along the waist of his jeans, she stopped at his stomach. Carefully, she unbuttoned and unzipped him. As she reached inside to stroke his erection, she smiled.
“So hard for me.”
His abs twitched against the back of her hands. “You have no idea. I’m hard every time I’m around you.”
“I never suspected.”
“Women aren’t responsible for handling a man’s erection. I wait for what I want like an adult.” He smiled grimly. “I was glad we stayed at the hotel every night. I needed privacy.
“That sounds intriguing.” Her fingers moved up his length and down again to cup his balls beneath his clothes. “You’ve been hard all day?”
He nodded. He kicked off his ratty sandals and she watched him while he hooked his thumbs in the band of his pants and briefs. Pushing them down and kicking them away, he embraced a moment where every man held his breath.
Dakota’s expression turned predatory.
Stepping closer, her fingers circled his cock. “I like this very much.” Her eyes flicked up. “More than average but not like having a procedure. I was worried given your size.” She crossed her eyes and he laughed.
Another stroke and his eyes narrowed. “Leave me some control, pretty girl. Let go.”
With a smile, she said, “No.”
Her face was positively cheerful as she dropped to her knees and took him deep into the wet heat of her mouth. His hands went into her hair and fisted tight.
“I could pull you away,” he groaned.
Maintaining eye contact, she pulled back slowly and told him, “Only a ma
sochist would do such a thing.” Her tongue flicked out along the head. “Clean male with a tang of salt. Pick your battles, Gunner. I win this one.”
The woman was so right.
Then she went back to sucking him, staring at him, moaning around him until he wondered how the fuck he’d be able to remain standing.
She couldn’t swallow all of him but she took what she could with enthusiasm. She took him deep with every thrust and her tongue circled the tip as she pulled back.
His fingers stroked along her cheek. “You’re incredible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dreamed of this.” The ability to stare into her eyes heightened the pleasure to an almost surreal level. “Your eyes are beautiful.”
One of her hands stroked the base. The other moved up and down his thigh.
Sex wasn’t usually such a tactile experience for him. The sensations and differences drove his body toward climax without mercy.
She slid up to cup his aching balls in her palm, stroking over them with her thumb. One devious finger stroked the skin just behind the sac and a chill rocketed through him. He locked his knees and gathered her hair to hold in one hand.
“I won’t last.” His thumb rubbed along her lower lip, stretched to take his width.
Her nipples were hard as pebbles and his mouth watered with the need to suck them. His hand cupped her skull, his thumb along her jaw. Each time she pulled back, her cheeks tightened with the pressure of her suckling.
Gunner was seconds from losing control. “Dakota, I need to come. I can’t hold it back…” She took him deep and tightened her fist around his balls. “Oh fuck. Yes.”
His body spasmed and the first jet left the head of his dick harder than ever before. She swallowed with a soft moan and he wanted the moment to last forever.
Pumping everything he had between her lips was heaven and hell as his body shook with the pure relief of her gift.
In a hoarse whisper, he told her, “So good. Fucking fantastic.” He traced his finger over her temple. “I’m going to thank you thoroughly, Dakota. Until your legs won’t hold you up.”
Permission to Come Aboard (The Great Outdoors Book 2) Page 4