“Yep, Jeffery, everything’s fine. Goodnight.” She could see he wanted to say something more to her, but instead he slammed the door shut.
“I really don’t like that guy,” Ryan muttered as she slipped the key into the lock.
“I’m sure he’s just being an extra diligent neighbor. I bet he does this for everyone who lives the apartments around him.” Suzie wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince herself or Ryan with that comment. From memory, Jeffery hadn’t said boo to anyone else on this floor except her.
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
Damn, how had he known that was exactly what I was thinking?
Instead of answering she unlocked her door. Before she could step through Ryan pulled on the hand that still had possession of hers. “What?”
“Let me check it out before you go in.”
She rolled her eyes and tugged her hand free of his. “Seriously? If I hadn’t invited you up, you wouldn’t have been here to do this.”
Ryan leaned in close and she shivered at his intense look, the gold flecks in his hazel eyes warming her. “I always walk my date to her door.”
Suzie grabbed the door frame to stop herself from melting. The first time they’d met she never would’ve picked him as a guy who could be romantic. But with a simple sentence he showed her what he was capable of.
God, she wanted to kiss him. Wanted to feel his lips on hers again. He’d practically devoured her when they’d arrived at Robot’s place. It had been a miracle she’d been able to form coherent sentences the first half hour of their visit. But here they were, in her apartment with her bed calling to her like a siren’s call.
Giving into her needs, ones she’d denied herself since Ryan had come back into her life, she lifted her arms and looped them around his neck. She aligned her body against his. How much he wanted her evident by the hard ridge resting against her stomach.
“You really don’t want to check the whole apartment out. The only place that needs checking on is the bedroom,” she whispered as she laid her lips over his, nudging him so he stepped backward into her apartment. His arms tightened around her and he took over the kiss.
She moaned against his mouth and registered the slamming of her door before Ryan scooped her up in his arms. He pulled his lips away from hers and she chased his mouth, wanting to continue kissing him.
“Where’s the bedroom, Roses.”
Yeah, he’d only been in her kitchen and living room when he’d been over for dinner. “Down the hall, last door on the left,” she said before she zeroed in on his lips again.
His mouth was soft beneath hers. The urgency that had been flowing through her at the front door had settled into a delicious hum.
Once again Ryan dragged his lips from hers and slowly lowered her to the ground, sliding her body down his. The friction the movement created fired her blood in a way being with Peter never had.
Ryan smoothed his hands down her arms until their fingertips were touching, her skin quivered at the contact. “Are you sure you want this, Suzie? I know I want it but if you want to take more time to building up to us sharing a bed again, then that’s fine I’ll leave right now.”
As much as she tried to fight it, she fell a little in love with Ryan in that moment. To answer his question she took a step back from him, gathered the bottom of her top and pulled it up over her head. His breath hissed out and a rush of power washed over her at the way his eyes dilated upon seeing the lacy bra she wore. Her breast size had increased during her pregnancy and she normally wore more supportive bras, but today she’d wanted to feel sexy and had put on one of her nice bras. Her breasts almost spilled out of the cups.
He closed the gap between them and placed his hands on her hips, electricity zinged through her at the contact. The way her body was reacting to the slightest connection between them she could practically orgasm with another kiss. “Does this answer your question, Joker?”
“Definitely. And it’s Ryan. Call me Ryan.”
He lowered his head and took possession of her lips again, fanning the flames within her until they burst over her and she felt warm from the inside out and only Ryan could extinguish the flames.
Her hands found the hem of his shirt and pulled it out of the waistband of his jeans. She couldn’t wait to brush her naked body against his. It had been so long since they’d been intimate, but she remembered every second. Remembered every touch and sensation of flesh against flesh. Remembered the moment when the world stopped, and they orgasmed together.
Suzie didn’t doubt that tonight was going to be even better, even though last time had an illicit feel about it seeing as they’d only just met. The chemistry between the two of them couldn’t be denied. It was a once in a lifetime type of chemistry and she planned to hang onto it for as long as she could.
Her fingers plucked at the buttons until she was able to push the fabric off his shoulders. His skin burned beneath her fingers.
“More,” she moaned as he worked her jeans off her. “I need more.”
She sounded greedy and she didn’t care. It certainly wasn’t putting Ryan off as he quickly divested himself of his jeans and underwear so he stood in front of her gloriously naked while she still had her bra and panties on.
Ryan took her hand and led her the short distance to the bed, pulling her covers down with one hand before encouraging her to lie down. Before she lay down she went to unhook her bra, but Ryan stilled her movements. “That’s my job,” he murmured and placed a kiss between her breasts.
The last time they were together, urgency had dictated their actions. She couldn’t deny that taking it slow upped the ante and heightened her emotions.
She lay down on the bed, the cotton sheets cool beneath her heated flesh. She shifted to the middle to allow Ryan the room he needed. He crawled onto the bed and ran his hand up the inside of her left leg, stopping tantalizing close to her throbbing core. He had an amazing tongue and she was hoping he would use it as wickedly has he had before.
Instead of fulfilling her silent wish, his hands and mouth totally bypassed her pussy. He blew a soft breath onto her tummy and gooseflesh bubbled over her skin. She expected him to follow that up with a kiss, but he sat back on his haunches and placed his hands over the slight bulge of her tummy.
She bit her lip as a wave of uncertainly washed over her. Irrational as it was, a million thoughts fired through her brain. Now confronted with the physical evidence of her pregnancy, bigger boobs and a rounded belly, did he find her unattractive? Did he find the whole idea of making love to her abhorrent?
A look down at his still hard cock jutting out from between his legs should’ve given her the answer she need, only it didn’t. After never being enough for Peter. After him always telling her she needed to make more effort, at moments when she was most vulnerable, like lying practically naked in front of a hot guy, the old wounds she thought she’d sewn shut, split open.
“I can’t believe that my son or daughter is growing inside of you,” he redirected his gaze from her belly to her face. “Thank you, Suzie for this amazing gift.”
Her breath whooshed out of her and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “It wasn’t just me.”
Ryan brushed a tear away that had leaked out of her eye. “I know, but it’s your body that is nurturing and creating our child. I swear I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”
Suzie placed her hand over one of his. “We know that.” She lifted her hips, signaling what she wanted. For half a heartbeat she wondered if Ryan was going to change his mind and hold her all night. But then he smiled and kissed her belly before trailing lower where she wanted him the most.
Her eyelids drifted shut as he blew over the top of her panties. His fingers looped around the lacy band and pulled them down her legs. She lifted her hips to help with the removal. He kissed her inner thigh again. Her body tightened anticipating the moment when he would finally give her the most intimate kiss she was craving
. She didn’t have to wait long, Ryan gripped her hips, holding her still as his lips closed over her. It was impossible to hold back the moan of delight as his tongue licked her slick folds. If she was being honest with herself, she’d been craving this moment again since she’d walked into the hospital room and had seen him. This was her child’s father and he could’ve died without knowing he had a son or daughter.
Now wasn’t the time to think over those few moments. What was happening to her right now was what she needed to do, to live in the moment. Ryan was here, in her bed and crawling into her heart.
His teeth nipped her sensitive bud and all her thoughts centered on the man between her legs and what he was doing to her. Her body warmed with every stroke of his tongue. Every bite on her clit. Her fingers clenched the bedsheets as the muscles within her tightened, waiting for that moment when all the tension was released in her climax. She was so close, she ground her hips against Ryan’s mouth, increasing the friction until her back arched and she cried out her release. Her blood pulsed through her as she came down from the high Ryan’s tongue had given her.
He crept up her body, his lips kissing her quivering flesh until he was lying over her, his hard cock nudging her entrance.
“You okay?” he asked, caressing the pale strip of skin beneath her ear lobe with his lips. She shuddered at the contact.
“No.”
He pulled back, his eyes filling with concern. “Are you hurting?”
She lifted her hips, circling them so she teased his hard length. “Yes, right here. You need to heal the pain.”
He groaned and entered her with the tip of his dick. “I was worried.”
Suzie knew she shouldn’t have teased him like that, but she couldn’t help it. Tightening her arms around his shoulders she moved so he slipped a little further inside of her. “I’m wonderful, but I’d be even better if you start moving.” He thrust in and she sighed out. “You feel so good, babe. So good.”
He began to move slowly. Each stroke building the tension up in her again. Her hands roamed down his back until she found his firm ass, her nails digging into the firm flesh. His rhythm faltered for a second before smoothing out. She did it again to see if she got the same reaction.
Suzie yelped when his arms firmed around her and in a blur their positions were changed and she was on top of him, looking down at his chest, the perfection marred by a couple of scars. Her breath caught in her throat, her man was a warrior who risked his life every day. She was in awe his bravery.
The urgency to reach a second climax flowed out of her, replaced by the need to stretch this encounter out for as long as possible. Before she could move he pulled her off him a grimace crossing his face.
“What?” she asked. No way he was stopping their encounter, was he?
“I’m not wearing protection.” Each word ground out between clenched teeth.
She laughed and placed a hand on her belly. “It’s a bit late to be worrying about protection. We tried that, and it didn’t work.” She bent and kissed him on the lips. “We don’t need it.”
His tongue tangled with hers, vying to dominate their lovemaking. She shifted herself so she could accept him back into her body, and bit back her disappointment when he pulled his mouth away from hers.
“I’m serious, Roses. It’s not just about getting pregnant.”
She sighed, and a spark of anger ignited in her. Was he suggesting he could catch something from her? Or she could catch something from him? She’d only ever slept with two guys in her life, her ex-husband Peter and the man she was currently lying on top of.
Ryan, on the other hand, was a big flirt, and a good looking Navy SEAL to boot. He probably had more bed partners than she wanted to think about.
“Why are we having this conversation now? It’s definitely a mood killer.” Although that was a lie, her body still hummed with sexual energy and the erection nudging her belly showed no signs of deflating.
“I need to keep you safe, Roses.”
His sincerity melted away the anger in her. “You were the last person I slept with. I had a battery of tests when I first discovered I was pregnant. Everything came back clear. I haven’t slept with anyone since that one night with you. Can you say the same?”
Ryan brushed a hand over her hair, his fingers tracing a line down her cheek until he threaded his fingers through her silky threads and cupped the back of her hair, encouraging her to get closer to him. She complied. “You were the last person I slept with too and I’ve just been in hospital. I’ve had blood transfusions. I know these days the chances of getting an infection from a transfusion is slim, but I need to know I’m protecting you and our baby. Until I know for sure, I’m not taking the risk.”
As a nurse she should’ve taken into account his recent hospital stay, but in this room, in this bed, she was all woman. One who had the man she was craving lying underneath her. His concern was endearing and the fact he could keep his head when hers was in the clouds amazed her. “Top drawer.”
While keeping her anchored to his body, Ryan reached over and pulled the drawer open. Suzie extricated herself from his hold and grabbed the square box out. It had been unopen for months, she’d grabbed it from the samples at the hospital as a just in case. A minute later she had the square foil packet open and was back straddling Ryan’s body.
The break in action should’ve cooled her emotions, instead it only increased them. The anticipation of him filling her again had her fumbling as she rolled the latex over him. Once it was in place she rose up and sank back down his length. Her breath hissed out at the contact and she started moving. A slow, circular motion of her hips. She closed her eyes and tossed her head back, giving herself over to the connection they were building.
Every time she rose up, Ryan lifted his hips, chasing after her. She wanted to take it slow, savor being on top but it was too much. The base of her spine tingled with her impending release and her movements became jerky. Their bodies slapped together as they worked to reach the ultimate goal. Her toes curled as she shattered through a release more powerful than anything she’d ever experienced before. With another thrust Ryan clamped her tight against him as he called out her name and his body shook out his climax.
Unable to keep upright she collapsed against his chest, his breathing as ragged as hers. She thought their first night together was amazing, it paled into comparison to what they just shared. This time her emotions were fully engaged. This man was the father of her child. It made the connection between them stronger and more special. A connection she didn’t want to give up.
Chapter Nine
Ryan floated to the surface of consciousness. A distant buzzing reaching his ears. Opening his eyes he took a moment to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings. A smile broke out over his face when he heard the rustle of movement beside him.
Suzie.
He turned his head and there she lay, her gorgeous hair covering half her face and her shoulder. His fingers itched to smooth it away, but he didn’t want to wake her. He’d kept her active most of the night and she needed her sleep.
The buzzing stopped, and he closed his eyes again, only for them to pop open when it sounded again. Immediately his body snapped to attention. That was his phone. Two calls in succession could only mean one thing, he had orders.
He tossed the covers back and slipped out of the bed, cursing when his leg almost buckled beneath him. The muscles around his wound still hadn’t healed properly, but he was going to fight through the discomfort.
Scooping up his pants as he walked out of the room he strode down the short hallway to the living room so he could have this conversation without disturbing Suzie.
He pulled out his device and glanced at the screen, a frown marring his forehead when he saw Tex’s name flashing on the screen.
Why was he calling and what was so urgent that he had to call twice?
Ryan connected the call and stepped into his pants, disregarding the fact he didn’t have underwe
ar on. He didn’t want to have this conversation naked.
“Tex? What’s happening?”
“Joker, I’ve got the information you wanted on that guy, Jeffrey Elkin.”
“I’m guessing it’s bad if you’re giving me back to back calls this early in the morning.”
“I’ve called you once, the other was your Commander. I’ll make this quick.”
Ryan knew better than to question how Tex knew who’d called him. There was a reason so many SEAL teams worked with Tex. The guy was a computer whiz and knew things even before most of them did. He’d helped Italy in locating Erin and Antonia when they went missing. It was why he’d called the other man when he’d wanted information on Suzie’s creepy neighbor. “Okay, lay it on me.”
“The guy’s clean. He’s got three traffic violations for speeding, but they’re spread out over fifteen years. He works at the local library as the head librarian.”
“The guy’s a librarian? Never would’ve guessed that. Still there’s something about him Tex that doesn’t feel right. He always opens his door when Suzie comes home or leaves. He did it last night when I brought her home.”
“What’s your gut telling you?” Tex asked and Ryan appreciated that he didn’t make light of his concerns.
“That I need to watch him.”
“Then do it. Always trust your gut, Joker. I’ll make sure I keep a track of Suzie and I’ll keep an eye on this dude, too.”
“Thanks, ‘ppreciate man.”
“Always, brother, now I suggest you call your Commander back. And trust me, I’ll do everything I can to keep your woman safe.”
“Later.”
Ryan disconnected the call and a second later it started buzzing in his hand. Shit, it was his Commander. He was about to raked over the coals for not calling him straight back.
Unconsciously, Ryan straightened his spine, like he would when he walked into Commander Black’s office and hit the accept button. “Yes, Sir.”
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Guarding Suzie (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 8