His smile only intensified the deep throbbing, now pulsing, in every feminine part she possessed. Turning on his side, he propped his body up on his elbow as he reached for another piece of food. "Oh, I've learned my lesson. I don't intend to be late to your party ever again."
CHAPTER FIVE
The fact he hadn't crawled across the blanket and kissed Evelyn senseless proved his army training to be effective. Every time the temptation to lean over and drag her body on top of his raged, he'd hear his drill sergeant screaming in his ear. "Boy, are you stupid? You're going to drop and give me fifty if you don't stop drooling. Respect, son, that's how it's done. You hear me?"
Finally, he managed to silence the booming voice in his head. They'd finished all the finger foods and dessert was all that remained. "You ready for dessert now?" Part of him wanted her to be ready—the other part needed a few more minutes of focus to keep himself in check.
Her response of catching one side of her bottom lip between her teeth did absolutely nothing to quench the fire steadily growing. A fire that needed to be quenched one way or another. "How about a swim first?" Yeah, that's the ticket. I know she can swim and who knows, maybe I'll get lucky with a wardrobe malfunction.
Her legs folded gracefully under her, and she stood. "First one to the pylon wins." Without even waiting for his answer, off she ran toward the water. He stood, his feet frozen to the spot on the sand where she left him, gawking after her sprinting form. Grinning, he catapulted into a full on run, the drill sergeant's voice helping again. The winner was whoever officially reached the orange buoy in the water a small distance from shore. As her body dove into the water, and she started to swim, he already felt like a winner.
His brute strength helped him make some distance up, but she had a good head start, and, he grinned, earning him a mouthful of salt water, his focus was on a totally different prize. Still, he was a competitor, and he sensed that she was too. Redoubling his efforts, he kicked hard, ignoring the dull ache in his thigh. She touched the finish line only a second or so in front of him.
She pushed the hair away from her face, now beaming with excitement. "God, I haven't had that much fun in ages."
"Sure, rub it in the loser's face." He smiled, happy to have made her so happy.
When her body came into contact with his, he almost forgot to kick his feet to tread water. The heat of her skin touching his, the smell of her suntan oil filling his nostrils, and the radiance of her smile ratcheted his desire to new heights. "Admit it. You love the thrill of the chase." The breathiness of her voice put his whole body at attention. Not even an "at ease" from Sarge is going to work this time.
"I love chasing you."
She pulled away from him and swam toward shore, leaving him with a wink and a smile. She wanted to be chased. He wouldn't disappoint. A few strong strokes later, he was standing beside her in shallower water, now lapping at their chests. His arms circled her waist and pulled her close, their lips only inches apart now.
Her arms circled his neck, and the water helped lift her legs until they were holding his waist in a lover's embrace. "Well, you caught me. Now what?"
Where was his voice when he needed it? Damn it. All of those curves he'd been admiring were now pressed against his chest or being held securely in his hands. Every nerve ending in his body fired faster than a machine gun, every muscle coiled tight and ready to spring. Every muscle, that is, except his tongue, which had developed a serious case of paralysis.
Slim fingers threaded through his hair as her mouth moved toward him. Speak, dammit. Tell her how much you want to kiss her. Be a man. He might not be able to verbalize his thoughts, but his hands worked. One large hand continued to hold her bottom as the other slid up her back, pressing her softness even closer to his unyielding hardness. Oh yeah…opposites attracting in all the ways that really mattered. He angled his head to meet hers, crushing her mouth into his. Damn. Damn. Damn. She tasted even hotter than she looked. She kissed him with abandon, a force of nature sucking him in. He didn't even try to fight. His tongue pressed for entrance, and the battle for supremacy in the kiss began.
Needing oxygen, he dragged his mouth away from her but continued to hold her close. "Now that I caught you, I'll have to think twice about letting go." Sure, now I find my voice.
Her back arched, letting her hair dip into the water. The long line of her neck called out a siren song leaving him no choice but to lower his head to taste the salty skin. "Mmmm, nice."
Placing another kiss in the hollow of her throat, he whispered. "I want to sketch you, capture your image on paper so I will never forget the amazing woman that is Evelyn."
Her soft lips fused with his again, making him wish this was his first days of leave rather than the last. When she pulled away this time, her head rested on his shoulder. "I'll make you a deal."
Though she wouldn't be able to see, he smiled as he teased her. "I thought all the negotiating of the deal was done?"
Her body rumbled lightly in his arms from her laughter. "This deal is more…personal in nature."
"I'm listening, Counselor."
"I'd like to propose the following agenda for the remainder of the day."
His pulse quickened. She'd said the remainder of the day. He sure as hell hoped that included tonight. "I'm a soldier, accustomed to others planning my day."
At his words, her head lifted. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." She offered a half smile. "I find it difficult to think around you. I just…"
His lips stopped her apology, quickly and efficiently. "My only plan for today is to keep a smile on your face. You know better than anyone how to make that happen for me. So, before I ma'am you again, I suggest you continue on with the plan."
The smile returned. "Sir! Yes, sir."
Squatting down, he managed to dunk her under the water without getting dragged under himself. After a couple seconds and a few smacks of her hand, he assisted with her surfacing. Thankfully, she was still smiling. "You'll pay for that one," she declared as her nails raked down his chest.
"I'm counting on it. Now, c'mon woman. Don't keep me waiting." If your body and mine don't get separated soon, my plan to have my way with you right here on the beach is going to trump everything else.
"You're kind of demanding for a private, aren't you?" Her eyes twinkled and he knew he could get lost in the crystal blue depths for hours.
"That's private, first class to you."
"My apologies, soldier. Alright, no more delaying. I'd like to have dessert and then go for a swim as I suspect we'll be sticky from the fruit."
He had to interrupt. "As long as we're apologizing, I'll say sorry now for fantasizing about licking the juice from your body."
"As much as I would love that, I fear we'd never make it back to my room before we gave in to our carnal desires and put on quite a display for everyone. There are children around."
He sighed dramatically, thankful the cooler water kept the soldier below his waistband somewhat in check. "We must think of the children. Alright, a swim it is, but I'm saving some of the fruit for tonight."
"See, you come up with some great plans on your own."
Something in the timbre of her voice fueled him with the urgent desire to kiss her over and over again. If it weren't necessary to have food and oxygen, he would never stop kissing her. His hands squeezed her hips. "And, after dessert and a swim?"
"We enjoy a little more time in the sun, then separate long enough to shower, change, and meet for dinner."
"Everything sounds great except the separate part. We could shower together, save time and water. We thought of the children earlier, we can't forget the environment." At this rate, he'd be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize or something for thinking of others.
"Trust me."
There was no explanation for it, but he did. "Fine. Separate showers, dinner, and then?"
She rolled her hips against his as her lips moved in for another stealth attack. "And then, Cody, we're going
to heat up the night."
CHAPTER SIX
Evelyn collapsed onto the blanket, now scratchy with sand. Her chest heaved from the exertion of their final race through the water. She'd beat him again, only marginally. Of course, kissing him senseless before taking off from the buoy where everything started might have given her an unfair advantage.
Cool drops of water fell onto her skin as he rubbed the towel vigorously over his body before tossing it on to her stomach. "You need a towel?"
Tossing it back, she smiled. "I prefer to let the sun dry me. Chicago summers are either very, very hot or not. This year the sun has been absent more than it's been around. This may be the last I see and feel of its warmth for a while."
The glare of the sun disappeared, blocked by his broad chest, thinly veiled desire darkening his eyes to obsidian. His large, calloused hand gently caressed the skin right under her rib cage. She may be capable of rendering him speechless, but he'd taken her breath away more times than she cared to admit. "I should rub some lotion on you. Wouldn't want this soft skin of yours getting burned."
The man had a point. She tried to reach for her bag but his lips stilled her progress. Since she'd given up fighting the obvious attraction between them, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled his body closer. Liquid heat, hotter than the late afternoon sun filled every limb. I want this man. Over me, under me, in me.
"Well, look who finally came in from playing in the water." She recognized the voice as one of Cody's buddies. The moment ruined, she pushed at Cody's chest so she could sit up.
Extending her hand, she introduced herself. "I'm Evelyn. You are?"
He dropped onto the blanket on the side opposite Cody. Lifting her hand until he could kiss the back, she rolled her eyes. "I'm very jealous of my friend. Normally, I'm the one entertaining the hot woman."
"Daniel…" Cody's voice resembled a low rumble, almost a growl.
She ignored the caveman posturing by both men. "What's your other friend's name? The runner?"
"Sam. He's off running now, and I'm bored, which is why I tracked you two horny teenagers down."
"He really is jealous. Usually he's the horny teenager." Cody laughed, and she couldn't help but smile. They fight like brothers.
"I'm pretty sure I saw you with a hot woman last night." Cody reminded him.
"She was willing, but the love of my life called, so I bailed on the love of the moment."
Evelyn knew she'd regret it, but she asked anyway. "Does the love of your life know you're hitting on women in bars?"
"I figured I'd wait until she turned ten before I share my womanizing ways with her." This time his smile was genuine, his voice proud.
"Your daughter."
"Yes, my daughter, the love of my life, and the only woman who loves me just for me."
I wish life was that simple. "Life gets complicated as women get older. Much harder to love and be loved." She'd tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the sadness out of her voice.
"Geez, Daniel, could you be any more of a buzz kill?" Cody stood and extended his hand to help her up. "You'll need to find someone else to keep you company tonight. Evelyn and I have plans."
Daniel stood, his eyes drawn to their joined hands. She noted his icy stare, directed squarely at her. "If you hurt him, you'll answer to me." His attention turned to Cody. "See you tomorrow morning. Don't forget to meet at the rendezvous point at oh-nine-hundred hours. You know Uncle Sam doesn't like it when we're late."
Before she could say anything, he turned and left. Returning her attention back to Cody, she wanted to restore the carefree mood. First, though, she needed to clear the air. "Is he always that protective or just annoyed that I want to be with you instead of him?"
Cody shrugged. "We look out for each other. Daniel's been hurt by women in the past, so he assumes all women have the same intentions. I don't share his viewpoint."
"So you've never been hurt?" Evelyn couldn't look away from his face. She'd been hurt, more than she would even allow herself to acknowledge. He'd seen war and, she hazarded a reasonable guess, death. The youthfulness of his face, however, lent itself to an innocence she hadn't witnessed in an adult in a very long time.
Guilt that she might hurt him tugged at her heart. She'd never considered doing anything like this before. I want him, more than I've wanted anything else in a long time. He makes me feel special. He makes me laugh. Only one night. If he's willing then, God forgive me, I am too.
"Everyone get hurts. It's a part of life. I just don't believe every person I meet is out to screw me over." The gentleness of his kiss melted her where she stood. He smiled and added. "If we showered together, we could make the most of our night. I'd happily rub anything you wanted anywhere you wanted."
The palm of his hand cupped her cheek as her eyes closed. He may be the sweetest man she'd ever met. Turning her head, she kissed his hand. "You drive a hard bargain, but you win this round of negotiations. We'll save time and the environment."
Between the water and Cody's magnificent body, this shower burned her skin hotter than the sun at high noon on the beach. The desire to touch him, feel his skin against hers, and let herself be free washed over her in warm rivulets of sensation. Her hands slid over his chest, the soap easing the journey, down his side, over his perfectly rounded butt. The heat from his stare threatened to melt her where she stood, a pool of desire swirling uncontrollably throughout her nervous system. I either need to get out of this shower or he needs to take me against this wall. One or the other before I spontaneously combust. "I think we're clean now, either that or they're going to come after us for using so much water…even if we did try to conserve by sharing."
His hands returned the exploration, lighting each nerve ending. Her heart pounded against the walls of her chest, threatening to break free. "The thoughts I'm having about you certainly aren't clean." She caught a glimpse of his wicked smile before his mouth covered hers, erasing any remaining resistance.
She moved against him, wanting…needing him as close as possible. Tearing her mouth away from his, she moaned. "Screw the plan, dinner can wait. I want dessert first."
The water stopped and the resulting quiet left only the cadence of her heart resounding against the tile walls of the shower. This man is unlike anyone I've ever met before. Before her brain could make one last argument against this plan, he swept her into his arms and carried her out of the bathroom. Tossing her gently on the bed, she worked hard controlling her limbs to make the descent as graceful as possible. "Way to treat your precious cargo, soldier." She couldn't help but tease him. He brought out that side of her. A side I thought I'd buried deep and hidden away.
The intensity of his gaze held her immobile for a moment, the seriousness of what they were about to do hanging heavily in the air. Then he grinned, breaking the spell. "We've saved water and," he looked around the room, "there are no children in sight. Therefore, Counselor, I recall the right to lick the juice from dessert off every inch of your sinfully sweet body."
"Objection. We just showered, there's no fruit juice to be licked." At the thought of his skilled tongue gliding over her body, a shudder of pleasure coursed through the length of her frame.
Her breath hitched as his head lowered and began to lick the droplets of water clinging to her body, a deliberate and methodical removal of every drop from her left shoulder to the side of her neck. Could there be teeth marks on her tongue from trying to suppress the moans of approval? Once finished with the area, he lifted his head. "Have I mentioned how thirsty I am? I'll just have to lick every drop of water from your skin. For the sake of saving water, you know."
Yes, she was going to melt right here on the bed. They'd never find her body and she'd die a happy woman. Her fingers lifted to his close-cropped hair and slid through it easily, causing more water to fall on her skin. "It would be irresponsible of me to send you back into service dehydrated, wouldn't it?"
"Totally irresponsible," he murmured as his lips resumed their t
ask. Oh, this was irresponsible, no doubt. Probably the most irresponsible thing she'd ever done in her life. A flick of his tongue over the taut peak of her breast evaporated any remaining thoughts of responsibility faster than Cody's ability to render her into a quivering mass of need.
Inch by arousing inch, he brought her body alive. No longer calm, controlled Evelyn. No, she'd moved completely to the opposite spectrum, writhing and wanton. Her lower body began to circle and lift off the bed, a poorly veiled attempt to guide him to where her body screamed for his attention. Thankfully, he didn't make her beg, though she wasn't above it at this point in time.
Impatience clawed at her senses. They'd been engaging in foreplay for hours now. Her nails raked across his back eliciting a small nip of his teeth right at the apex of her thigh. "You can drink more later. I want you now!"
As his body moved over hers and she pulled him close, her last rational thought was how perfect he fit against her and how much she'd missed holding a lover in her arms.
CHAPTER SEVEN
He could watch her for forever. All of the walls she maintained high around her as protection had crumbled the moment he'd made love to her. The innocence of her face during sleep mesmerized him as few women had over the years. I have to draw her.
Slipping quietly from the bed, he searched around the room until he found a pad of paper in the desk drawer. Standard hotel scratch pad. Not great, but it would do. He pulled the pencil he always carried with him from the shorts he'd grabbed to change into on the way to her room. He smiled, remembering she'd given him exactly two minutes to retrieve whatever he needed for the night. Not a moment to waste.
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