“Well, just know, if you don’t treat Mari right, I’m next in line. She told me on the phone the other day.”
“If you weren’t trying to deflect away from Chelly so hard, I might have had to punch your face,” Brody said.
“For the last time, she’s a—”
“Friend,” Ben and Brody said at the same time. Then they fist bumped across Matt.
“You guys suck.”
“So she’s just not into you?” Brody asked.
“What?” Matt growled. “Do we have to talk about this now?” This was not getting his mind off the Chelly problem.
“Okay, you do have it bad.” Ben chugged his beer and then signaled the bartender for another one.
“Does she know you’re interested?” Brody asked.
How could she not? She caught him looking at her so many times it was embarrassing. “Doesn’t matter,” he said. “I thought we were here to watch the game.”
“All right, brother. All right.” Brody patted him on the back. “Marines are stubborn.”
“True that,” Ben said and they clinked bottles.
Chelly had made it clear that she’d just gotten out of a bad relationship and she wasn’t looking for anything new. But what would happen if Matt let her know that he was interested?
And then what? Hot sex. He’d make those fantasies he’d had in the shower come to life.
No. No. Business. That was what this was.
He chugged his beer.
Right. Business.
* * *
THE GARAGE DOOR opening pulled Chelly away from her notebook where she’d been sketching ideas for Matt’s river house. He’d shown her the finalized plans the night before, and the ideas had been flowing like crazy. This was what her brain did when she was in creative mode—went a million miles a minute. And she was definitely in creative mode.
Earlier she’d tried to work on her website but she’d reached a point where she needed someone who wrote code.
And then there was the whole security aspect of a shopping website that she hadn’t counted on. It wasn’t just a matter of taking photos and posting them. She needed a way for people to check out securely, and a way to protect that info. Every day there was news about how hackers stole people’s personal information, and companies that were being sued for it.
That kind of buyer protection was beyond her capabilities, and put a damper on her plan to make some quick cash by putting Matt’s mom’s stuff up for sale. He’d given her carte blanche to sell the extra things in storage any way she saw fit.
And she’d planned on repurposing some of the junkier pieces she had in her truck to start her site. The rest she was farming out to different auction houses, ones that didn’t charge an arm and a leg. She’d also offer a few things on another online retail site just to mix it up.
There was a knock on the open doors of the pool house. She liked that he was unfailingly polite. Even though this was his property, he gave her privacy. And he never overstepped. Oh, and there was the fact that he was always feeding her and looking out for her.
“Come on in,” she said.
“Everything okay?” he asked as he stepped through the door. She still couldn’t get over how hot Matt was. Tonight he wore jeans and a black T-shirt. His muscled chest pulling the cotton tight, and those narrow hips—she’d been thinking about what it would be like to climb on him and kiss him until she couldn’t remember her name.
But she wouldn’t.
Sex would complicate things.
“Yep. Did you have fun? Who won?”
“Rangers did. What are you working on?”
She pulled the sketchbook to her chest. “You won’t get mad if I show you something, right?”
“I’d never get mad at you,” he said. He was so sincere, her heart did a little double thump. The man was dangerous.
She motioned him to come around the desk where she was sitting. He did, and pulled up the ottoman from the chair next to the desk and sat down.
“Okay, so these are just ideas and if you hate them, it’s okay.”
He frowned. “I thought we’d already decided on everything for the house.”
“We have,” she said. “But these are your ideas for your house.”
“The river house?”
She nodded. Then she held out her sketchbook and flipped back a few pages. “There are about six pages of ideas.”
He took the sketches from her and thumbed through the pages slowly. The man had to be a great poker player, because she could not read his face. He made it to the last page, and then he turned back to the beginning and started again.
She realized she’d been holding her breath and let it out. Did he hate them?
“I like the color scheme with the browns and the blues on the second one in the family room,” he said. “I wanted the focus to be on the view, and you did that. It sort of blends everything. It’s comfortable.”
“That’s good, right? Comfortable.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Is this some of the stuff from my mom’s storage?”
“Yes. I know you’re spending more on this house than you’d planned. I wasn’t sure how much you’d planned on spending for the river house. You said you wanted to keep things simple, more minimal. So I went with that.”
He smiled. “It’s like you were in my brain. You got this from just the little bit we talked about last night? I mean, this is unreal. The only thing I’d change is the couches. I know it sounds like a guy thing, but I really wanted leather. Not that supershiny stuff. But like a light tan, supersoft like an old pair of shoes or a saddle. More because I’ll be working outside a lot and fishing. I don’t want to have to worry about the furniture when I come in. And I’m planning on getting a dog so I want something easy to clean.”
“You’re going to get a dog?”
“I’ve always wanted one. We had a Great Dane when I was a kid. Hank. I loved that dog. I decided when I had enough land for one to run around, I wanted to get another Dane.”
“Those dogs are huge.”
“Hence the need for a lot of space. Hank was older when we got him so he was fine just hanging around the house. Anyway, other than the leather, if you can work that in, this is pretty close to perfect.”
“And here I was worried that you’d be mad. That you’d believe I was trying to take over everything.”
“I’m not sure why you would think that. I love everything you do. I mean, uh.” He handed her the sketchbook back. “There’s something—that is... Uh.”
She smiled and put her hand on his. He was so warm and strong. “What is it?”
He stared at their hands as if they were on fire and she pulled hers away. “Sorry,” she said.
But he caught her hand and held it in his. “I can’t get you out of my head,” he said.
Her heart did that weird double thump again. That happened a lot when he was around. “What?” Not her brightest moment, but she couldn’t form words. He thought about her?
“You’ve been through so much—and I don’t want to add to your troubles. But I’m having a hard time keeping this just business. You’re in my head twenty-four-seven. I’m telling you so that you aren’t freaked out when I do this.”
And then he leaned forward to kiss her, lightly at first. His lips testing hers. Heat seared from her mouth straight to her core. Yes. She’d been wanting this for days. Heck, ever since she’d laid eyes on him.
But it was wrong. Really wrong.
Then his thumb stroked across her jaw so tenderly, she sighed and opened her mouth to his exploration. He tasted of beer and mint, an odd but tasty combination. Never in her life had a kiss done so much to her body. She thrummed from head to toe.
And then she was lost in him.
Whe
n they parted they were both breathing hard.
They stared at each other and then he stood, looking as if he might bolt.
“That was—um, good,” she said. “Very, very good.”
She wasn’t going to do this.
Then he pulled her to him.
Yes, yes she was.
All reason flew out the window when he touched her.
His hand went around to her lower back, his other to her neck, angling her head so he could kiss her again.
“This is a really bad idea,” she said right before his lips came down on hers.
After another kiss that made her weak in the knees, she worried she wouldn’t be able to stand much longer. His mouth moved to her ear. “You’re right. This is a terrible idea. You can tell me to stop, but I’m doing this until you tell me you don’t want it.” Then he nibbled on her ear, and her body filled with heat.
“Can’t lie,” she moaned as she pressed herself to him and his hardness pressed into her belly. And yes, there was a whole lot of hardness there.
“Matt,” she said, her voice so husky and needy.
“Yes,” he answered, as he trailed kisses against her throat.
“If we do this, it won’t ruin what we have, right? I need you as my friend.”
“Friends,” he said. “Yes.”
She smiled. “I don’t think you’re listening to me.”
“I’ve heard every word, but you haven’t said stop, so I’m still doing this.” His hand slipped into the front of her shorts and went straight to her core. His rough fingers working their magic against her hard nub.
Gasping, she held on to his shoulders. When he slid a finger into her, she threw her head back. “Oh.” It was the only word that came to her mind. “Ohhh.”
He leaned her against the desk, his focus never wavering.
“Matt,” she cried out and shuddered. Never in her life had she come so quickly. This man. He did it to her. Did it for her.
“So beautiful,” he said, nuzzling her neck, and then his teeth were at the lobe of her ear again, as his fingers teased her to the brink once more.
“I need you,” she said. “Inside me. Please tell me you have a condom.”
He paused and she opened her eyes to look at him.
His eyes were hooded and slightly glazed. “Are you sure?” But the hand that had just brought her pleasure was digging into his pockets.
She couldn’t keep the slow grin. “No. But I need you. Tell me you need me, Matt.”
“So bad, Chelly,” he said. “So bad.”
“A Marine who follows orders. You really are something.”
He held up the package. “You can say no, of course, but I hope you say yes. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as you.”
That may have been the biggest turn-on yet.
She pulled her shorts and thong off, as well as her top.
He took her in, the expression on his face leaving no worry for her about how much he truly desired her.
“Yes is the only word I’ll be saying tonight,” she told him honestly. Bad idea or not, she needed him. “Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to get naked?”
He was out of his jeans and T-shirt in seconds, and then it was her turn to take a look. The man was a solid wall of muscled perfection, and he was at full attention.
Taking the package from his hand, she ripped it open with her teeth. Then she rolled the condom down his length. “Last chance.” He hissed out the words when she stroked his erection, which grew with her touch. She loved having this kind of effect on him.
“I’m only taking this chance because it’s you.” Then she scooted onto the desk and reached for him. “Come on, Marine. Let’s do this.”
He groaned. The tip of him touching her. “Wrap your legs around me, babe.”
She did what he asked. His lips found hers as he guided himself into her slowly. He filled her so much, she wasn’t sure she could take him all. He pulled out and went a little farther the next time.
She hissed in a breath.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered. “So tight.”
He was being careful with her. But she wasn’t in the mood for careful. “More, please,” she said, bending back onto her elbows, her bare breasts jutting into the air.
He sucked a nipple, and there was a tingling in her core. The man had the best mouth ever. As they found a powerful rhythm, his hand went back to that hard little nub. Soon she was mindlessly writhing underneath him.
“Matt,” she begged.
“Yes, Chelly?”
“Sooo. Good. Sooo.” And then she came apart, her body quivering, her muscles tightening. For a second she thought she might pass out from the pleasure, but then he was thrusting, full, heavy strokes, and she could feel herself quickening again.
He might kill her with all these orgasms, but what a way to go.
“You’re exquisite, Chelly.”
It was all she could do not to cry with joy. Never had she felt so cherished or appreciated. And sure it was just sex, but it was with Matt. And the way he looked at her...
It was everything.
“I’m so close again,” she said. “Come with me.”
He smiled and then thrust faster. Her mind nearly blacking out again.
“Chelly,” he said as he came. “Yes.”
And then she was over the edge with him.
Tomorrow. She’d think about the consequences of what they’d just done tomorrow.
For now, she was losing herself in her favorite Marine.
8
MATT STARED AT the woman beside him. She was sound asleep, her strawberry-blond hair a riotous mass framing her face on the pillow. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman. They were cramped on the daybed in the pool house, but he hadn’t been able to leave. Or sleep. He had to be at work at zero seven hundred hours, which was quickly approaching. But he couldn’t drag himself away.
And it scared him.
She wasn’t a forever kind of girl. She’d actually told him that. Said she was too much of a free spirit to ever settle down.
They’d only had sex twice. Yet before she’d fallen asleep, she’d whispered that he was the most talented friend with benefits she’d ever had.
It caught him off guard. He wasn’t sure if he should be grateful that she’d thought he was the best. But he was more worried about the fact that the moment she’d had him inside her, he’d been hers. As in, he’d begun to wonder what happened next because he wanted more. Not just sex. Not just friends.
But she didn’t want more. He was just kidding himself. If he pushed her, she’d probably run. So he had to play it cool.
Cool? He hadn’t gone to get ready for work yet and he already felt lonely. He carefully extricated himself so as not to wake her.
He grabbed his stuff but then stopped to write her a note. But what was he supposed to say? Best sex of my life, thanks? No. His hand hit the mouse on the computer and the screen popped to life. She’d been working on her website. He read a few lines and saw where she was trying to write some code. But she had it wrong. Well, it depended on what exactly she needed, but he could help her with that. He’d had to learn to write code as part of his job in the Corps and had finished his business degree while overseas. But he didn’t have the time now to fix it.
If he was late, and he never was, the CO would kick his butt. He scribbled a quick note, and then twenty minutes later he was heading into work, having taken the quickest shower ever.
He was a little nervous about leaving Chelly without talking. But they could discuss things later when he got home. Figure out what this was and move on.
Until then, it was finals for the grunts he’d been training. They’d be taking their flight tests next week
. And he had to be on his game.
* * *
WHEN HE LATER pulled up to the garage with the U-Haul in tow for the extra furniture, the door was already open. Chelly was there, covered in paint, staring at what used to be the old dresser from his room when he was a kid. He hadn’t minded it much then. It was a place to hold his clothes, but Chelly had commented that it was the ugliest piece of furniture she’d ever seen, though it had potential.
He didn’t see it then, but he’d helped her move the dresser to the garage so she could work on it just the same. But now, heck, it was barely recognizable. It looked like something out of a magazine. Definitely no longer looked like a dresser. She’d cut off the legs so that it sat lower.
“Is it an entertainment center?”
“Ding, ding, ding, the Marine wins another prize,” she called out. Then she bent over to put the lid on the paint can, and Matt forgot to breathe.
“Is that from one of your sketches I saw last night?”
“You win again.” She stood up and he noticed the paint she had on her forehead and hands and knees. But she wasn’t smiling.
“Did you paint it, or did it paint you?” he joked.
She glanced down at herself. “I tend to be a bit messy when I work, but don’t worry. I’ll clean everything up in here.”
Somehow he’d disappointed her. He could tell from her tone. “You’re an artist, and maybe part magician,” he said. “Really, Chelly, this could be some high-end piece at a furniture store. It’ll go perfect in my family room at the river house.”
This time she grinned. “I know, right? I went a little lighter with the dry brush colors and gave it more of a natural look, but in a masculine way. Like you can tell it’s furniture for a guy’s place.”
“Exactly. I really like it. It’s perfect for my flat screen. What are you doing with the drawers?”
She bent over again and picked up a sack. She had to stop doing that or his heart might stop. “I found these at a restoration place,” she said as she opened the sack and pulled out a rustic-looking handle. “They’ll complement the drawers. And it will give it that entertainment-cabinet feel. Plus, you’ll have storage for your games or DVDs. Seems everyone’s stuff is digital these days, but it’s still lots of good storage. The bottom drawers are wide and tall enough that you could store blankets or afghans for the winter months. Not that it ever gets that chilly down here.”
Make Mine a Marine Page 7