Her mind roiled, especially after the day’s events—hearing about the weapon aimed at what was left of the general’s Jeep. Lunch, and then the meeting. She’d sensed possible animosity from the USFT personnel toward Alpha Force.
Not against her, too...or was it?
The damage to her car couldn’t have been done by a civilian from Mary Glen—could it? If the whispering and glares she had seen there translated into genuine hatred, why her? Even if someone knew who she was and hated her position as General Yarrow’s aide, how could they have gotten onto the base unnoticed?
How would they know which car was hers?
In any event, how could the damage have been wreaked and not noticed while it was happening, even by someone stationed here?
She realized then that she was vocalizing some of her thoughts.
Jason’s golden wolf eyes were locked on to her. He understood.
“Can you shift back?” she asked. “You know cars. Maybe you can see some clue here that I won’t recognize.”
He bent his head as if nodding, then turned it slightly, as if telling her to follow.
“Okay,” she whispered.
As she stood, she looked around the parking lot again. It was late enough that it remained devoid of people, thank heavens. Not that most people here would be surprised to see an Alpha Force member with a wolf, or perhaps a cover dog, even if the timing seemed off.
Even so...she didn’t want to talk to anyone else about shifters or her car, just now.
Instead, she followed Jason’s sleek, wolfen form as he crossed the street and entered the woods at the edge of Ft. Lukman.
* * *
Maybe he shouldn’t have shifted that night.
Maybe he shouldn’t have assumed that any nastiness at Ft. Lukman would only center around the remains of General Yarrow’s car.
But shifted or not, he couldn’t have been everywhere on base. Seeing everything.
Watching everyone.
Consequently, he had missed the one thing he had needed to see: someone vandalizing Sara’s car.
Now at a clearing in the woods, he was back in human form.
Naked. With Sara’s eyes trying so hard not to look at him—and failing.
Under other circumstances, he’d have laughed. Teased her.
She had offered her shirt for him to tie around his waist and drape strategically, but it would have left her clad above in only her bra. Intriguing, but he wouldn’t embarrass her that way.
“Sorry,” he said. “I’d intended to return to the lab area before I shifted back. I left my clothes there.”
“I... We’re not far from your quarters,” she said. He enjoyed the flush on her face, visible even in the faint glow from the base’s artificial lights. “I could go inside and get you something—if I could get in, that is.”
“Maybe.” But his keys remained in his uniform pants, and they were still at the lab. “Look, I shifted back now because I didn’t want you to be alone. Why don’t you just accompany me back to the lab? We can stay in the woods for most of the walk.”
“All right.” Her next words surprised him. “Or maybe we should just go deeper into the woods first.”
He looked at her. Her lovely, full lips were raised into a teasing smile.
She was teasing him for a change. And he loved it.
“Like the thought behind it,” he said. “But I don’t think either of us would do well rolling on the ground there. Scratchy leaves, nasty bugs, the works. At the lab, though, I just happen to know where some nice, clean and unused bedding for the dogs upstairs are kept.”
Her expression turned speculative. And hot. Especially when she glanced down at his exposed genital area. All the talk had spurred his interest—enough that his cock had grown hard. Really hard.
“Sounds promising,” Sara said huskily. “If I can hold out that long.” She was suddenly in his arms, her body pressed hard against his, especially down below.
“This isn’t just because you’re scared, is it?” he managed to ask. He wouldn’t want her to regret what they surely were about to do—at least not for the wrong reasons.
He already figured she sometimes regretted having made love with him before.
“Yes, I’m scared,” she said, “but no, that’s not the reason.”
He groaned with need before pressing his mouth on hers. She tasted salty, seasoned by her tears of anger and fear upon finding her car.
The thought spurred him to hold her closer. Deepen the kiss—partly out of an urge to protect her. To make her feel safe and cared for. To replace the thoughts of her car with thoughts of him...and the sex they soon would be sharing. That they now had to share.
He’d want to get back to that car soon, to check it out. To move it inside near the general’s, to ensure it wasn’t damaged further, especially not until he had a chance to examine it.
But the hour was late enough, the car’s position in the parking lot distant enough, that it could wait.
It had to wait.
He had other things on his mind.
He ended that kiss, pulling his searching tongue from her welcoming mouth then placed one more hard kiss on her lips.
“Let’s hurry.” He grabbed her hand and began to lope with her through the trees.
“Sure,” she said, matching his pace. “But...why not go even faster?” She started to dart ahead, still holding his hand. Now it was his turn to keep up—which he did, gladly. Grinning in anticipation.
* * *
Sara knew that Jason was aware of all aspects of the kennel and lab building, certainly a lot more than she was.
As they reached the rear entry to the low-slung building and eased into the shadows beyond its exterior lights, she asked softly, “Are you sure no one will be here at this hour?”
“Can’t be sure of anything, but it’s unlikely. I’d already told Noel, who helped with my shift, that I wouldn’t need his help on the other end. We just arranged to leave my clothes downstairs where I changed. I’m supposed to call him later. If we see anyone else, you’ve already aided in my shifting before. We’ll just say you helped again—and can even mention what happened to your car. That’ll keep them from suspecting what we’re really up to.”
She shouldn’t be so drawn to his teasing ways, his sexy smile. But she was. Especially now, when she needed a distraction from reality.
And what a distraction, with his hard, muscular body so close. So bare. So enticing, with his penis thick and jutting and daring her to partake in mind-blowing sex with him.
She doubted they’d be able to voice their way out of anyone’s noticing that. But heck, maybe they wouldn’t run into anyone.
She hoped not.
But as they entered the building, after going in through a seldom-used rear door that was left unlocked for Jason while shifted, the dogs inevitably sensed their presence and began to bark.
Sara laughed nervously. “So much for trying to sneak in here.”
“It’s soundproofed enough that, unless someone’s already inside, no one will come to check why they’re barking.”
They headed for the door to the narrow stairway that led downstairs to the lab area. Sara noticed that the scratches on the door were still there.
“The general got me my own key cards for this building,” Sara told Jason, but he’d already gone down the hall and into an unlocked room, where he emerged with a key card of his own. “Was that one hidden, too?” she asked.
“Yeah, but not all Alpha Force members would know where to look for it—only those with a need to get to the lab. Or their cousins.” He grinned.
“But you’d have returned as a wolf,” Sara reminded him. “How would you have gotten the key and gone downstairs then?”
“If I didn’t have an aide with a card around, I’d have shifted first if necessary,” he told her. He zipped the card along the track that opened the door.
Then Jason flicked on the lights and held her hand as they walked down the stee
p flight.
She held on as if she were frail and needed his help. On the contrary, she felt strong. Jazzed. Ready, really ready, for what she was anticipating below.
Jason turned on the hallway lights once they exited the stairwell. The area looked sterile—like a laboratory should, Sara figured. The doors were all closed. Each had a small window, and no lights into the lab rooms were on.
Jason led her to the last door on their right. “Here we are,” he said.
Sara wondered for a moment what the room would be like inside. She’d seen some of the labs before—and they all had easily cleanable tile flooring and plenty of laboratory cabinets and surfaces.
Not the kind of place she hoped they would wind up in each other’s arms.
She’d also seen the small office that Drew Connell used here.
She really didn’t want to think about Drew now.
Still clasping her hand, Jason turned the knob and pushed the unlocked door open. He turned on the light.
Sara followed him inside.
And smiled.
This was an unexpected lounge area. Jason’s clothes—she assumed the camo uniform that lay there—were resting on a plush, if well-worn sofa.
This must be where those hanging out in the lab went to veg out while their concoctions were brewing—or whatever.
In any event...well, given her choice Sara would have chosen something more comfortable than that sofa for what they had in mind. But it was better than so many other alternatives.
She opened her mouth to say so as Jason turned—and his erection, still taut and enticing, waved slightly in the air. She saw that before he took her into his arms and kissed her again.
And more. His hands didn’t rest. She felt him immediately start to unbutton her shirt. “I’ll—” she began against his mouth, but he didn’t let her talk. Instead, he stripped her shirt off her, then stuck his hand immediately beneath her bra, clasping one breast gently, then the other, pushing the bra upward so he could more easily reach them—which made her moan.
Without waiting for him, she moved one of her hands from behind his back downward to push her pants off. She had to kneel to finish the act, and he moved with her. Helping her.
Then using his hand to move slowly, teasingly, sexily up the inside of her leg.
She moved so he could reach her. Touch her. Plunge a finger inside her, even as she grasped his cock and began pumping it gently.
Enjoying his deep moan of pleasure.
In moments—she wasn’t sure how—she was on her back on top of that sofa. Its texture scratched at her back, but she didn’t care. Her sense of touch, everywhere, was heightened by her sensual awareness of Jason.
She wanted him inside her. Instead, he kissed her once more, then moved down her body, tasting her with his lips, sucking her nipples, then farther down until his tongue lapped at her intimately and nearly made her scream. She caught herself, not wanting even the dogs to hear. “Please, Jason,” she whispered huskily.
He moved away from her altogether for what seemed like eternity, but when he returned from behind her, near the end of the sofa, he had apparently fished a condom from his pocket.
He carried one all the time?
She didn’t want to consider what that meant. Not now. For the moment, it only meant he was prepared, and she loved that.
And then, after he was shielded, he fulfilled her desire, plunging his hot and hard cock deep inside her. She was ready, bucking upward at his every thrust.
She didn’t know how long it took, but all too soon she reached a crescendo and he levered her over the top into an orgasm unlike any she had ever experienced before, ameliorated by his own gasp of pleasure as he, too, climaxed.
* * *
Jason lay there, out of breath, on top of Sara. Lord, had that been magnificent. Earth-shaking.
And even though he had not a shred of energy left, he knew he wanted—needed—even more.
He would never get enough of this woman.
But this was not the right place.
Neither was his car.
He wanted to take her somewhere special the next time.
There had to be a next time.
But at the moment, there was only now.
She was breathing just as heavily below him. He moved a bit, wishing the sofa was a little wider. He didn’t want to crush her.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Oh, yes.”
He smiled. Those words... They surely weren’t the biggest turn-on in the whole world. But they were enough, that and her body still up against his, to lure him into touching her again. More. And as she gasped his name, in a way that suggested she, too, was ready for more, he started in once more to touch her. Everywhere.
* * *
Sara had no idea what time it was. She just lay there on the couch, Jason pushed up against her, facing her. His arm over her, just as hers twisted around him, since she had no other place to put it.
If she hadn’t felt so sated, his body so close and so hot would turn her on again.
His breathing had eased up a bit, as had hers.
They couldn’t stay here all night, though it was tempting. But someone might come in. Even if no one did until morning, staying here was really no option.
A thought struck her and she wound up smiling.
“What?” Jason asked in a lazy tone. His eyes had opened and now studied her face.
“I thought we were here for you to get dressed, not for me to get undressed.” Despite how her respiration had quieted, she still felt her nipples touch his hard chest with each breath. It felt damned sexy—but with all that she had just experienced, she couldn’t do it again...could she?
“Both,” he said, and she realized he was speaking in only single syllables at a time. He must feel as exhausted as she did.
“Let’s do the other part, then,” she said with determination she didn’t really feel. But then she considered how, and why, they had gotten together in the first place that night. “I want to get back to my car. I’d like for you to examine it while you’re not shifted. And...should we move it into the same place as the general’s till it’s been examined? Maybe there’ll be fingerprints or some other way of figuring out who vandalized it.”
His body grew tense against hers. “You’re right. We can’t leave it there like that. Not till we at least make an attempt to figure out who did it.”
He drew away and stood, and she almost sighed at the loss.
He disappeared from her view in the dim light, but she heard him beyond the end of the couch. He was undoubtedly getting dressed.
Time for her to do the same.
Odd for her to feel a little shy standing and searching the floor for her clothing. She didn’t even look toward Jason—even though she felt certain she would enjoy watching him put his uniform back on.
She definitely had the other times she had seen him perform that action. Even more so when he took it off.
The light in that room remained dim, but it was bright enough for Sara to follow the brief trail they’d taken while Jason helped her remove her clothes. She took it in reverse now, picking things up. She wished there was someplace private to go to get dressed, but of course that was silly.
Even so, she drew everything back on quickly, looking down at the floor as if not watching Jason would keep him from watching her.
Which was ridiculous. And wrong. When she finished and looked up, he was back near the couch, fully dressed, his gaze on her. Smiling.
She knew she was flushing again. She felt shy suddenly. But that was silly. “Are you ready to go?” She attempted to sound businesslike, a soldier prepared to jump back into battle.
With herself.
The fact that she had just made love with Jason—again—remained wrong, no matter how good it had felt.
But she would scold herself for it later.
Right now she needed his assistance with her car.
And she especially liked the idea tha
t her car would give her a good reason to remain in his presence. For now.
Chapter 20
The walk back to Sara’s car helped to wake Jason. No, it did more than that. It stoked the anger that he’d felt even while shifted, when he had seen the vandalism.
He liked cars. He liked them in pristine form. No one should harm them intentionally, for any reason.
Mostly, he wanted to strangle whoever had done this, since it was Sara’s car. More than anything, he wanted to protect her.
Well...maybe have sex with her again. But that would come later. He hoped.
For now he just stood there with her, in the dimly lighted parking lot, staring at what someone had dared to do to her nice hybrid. Scratches were bad enough. So was the damage to her headlights and taillights.
But that threat: Die bitch. Your CO is still alive but you won’t be for long. That begged to be avenged. Maybe even doing to the perpetrator what he had dared to suggest would happen to Sara.
And that wasn’t just the wild, shifter side of him talking. No, even as a human he craved some kind of retribution.
He didn’t tell Sara, though. She had waited till they got there but was now on her cell phone. “Yes, General,” she said. “I know it’s late but I wanted you to know what happened. I’m going to take some photos, then drive my car to store it, for now, with yours, where there’s at least some security.” She paused to listen. “No, sir. I’m not here alone. I called Jason Connell first since he works with cars. He came as soon as he could, and he’s here with me now.”
She tossed a glance at Jason, as if asking him to back her up—that he had just arrived. He nodded as if hearing her request aloud. Far as he knew, no one had seen him here before, in shifted form, when he’d first reconnoitered with Sara near her car.
Sara looked away again, staring at the car. She appeared pale in the soft light, all military in her camo uniform, all woman in the way she hunched over her phone, her short, blond hair framing her face, her blue-green eyes even more luminous than usual as she seemed to hold back tears. The outdoor parking lot remained full of cars. Sara and he stood off to the side of her car, squeezed in near the wall that had obscured the damage at first.
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