Yellow Ribbons

by Caitlyn Willows

  Mita’s sigh said she wished he’d hurry up. Greg tried to accommodate her. Her owners hadn’t gone with the traditional cocker spaniel cut. No long furry feathers dragged her down. She was cut for comfort, well cared for, well loved. Shepard’s husband might have second thoughts once he learned Jeanette was gone. Greg tried not to get attached to the cats and dogs that wandered his way. This one was going to be hard. He’d grown very fond of Mita in such a short time.

  “All right, girl. Good enough.”

  He set her on her feet. Mita shook for good measure, then darted to the side door when he opened it to his fenced yard. “Scratch at the door when you’re ready to come back in.” By the marks on Shepard’s sliding glass door, he presumed she was used to that routine. If not, he’d check on her in a few minutes.

  Greg never got the chance. He’d barely cleaned up the mess and was on his way to return Lani’s blow-dryer to the master bathroom when Mita scratched at the door. Once he opened it, she made a beeline to the kitchen and the handouts. He found her at Lani’s feet, her big brown eyes focused on the four grilled cheese sandwiches coming off the stove. Lani chatted her up, telling her there was no way she was getting a taste. Mita’s stubby tail wagged all the same. Her food bowl had been licked clean.

  Lani had stripped off her cammie blouse and removed her boots, like Greg had when he’d gotten home. It comforted him to see her settling in. This was normal. Mita’s presence made it more so. It was also a lie. Nothing was normal.

  “All ready.” She pinched off a minuscule tidbit from the corner of one sandwich. “Want a taste?” she asked, and Greg knew that she accidentally dropped it on the floor when she brought the tidbit toward his mouth. Mita snapped it up in a heartbeat. Lani’s eyes gleamed. “Oops.”

  “Nice to know I’m not the only one who’s a sucker for big brown eyes.”

  “Whatever do you mean?” She batted her eyes and carried the plate to the breakfast bar. Mita followed her every move.

  Greg poured two large glasses of milk, grabbed the bag of chocolate chip cookies from the cupboard, then sat across from Lani. Eating was now the last thing on his mind. He picked up the sandwich nonetheless, bit into the heaven of melted cheese, and looked for the words to explain himself.

  “I was eighteen and right out of boot camp when I met Denise.”

  Lani set her sandwich down and met his gaze.

  “I was young, dumb, and full of cum. I was a marine and sure I could conquer the world and everything in it. God’s gift to women. A little short-tempered, very cocky. She got pregnant. We got married. I got orders. It was wrong from the start. When I got back, she wasn’t there to meet me. I went to the house and found her in bed with someone else. I knew then what a fool I’d been. She told me that while I was gone she’d miscarried. I knew it was a lie. She confirmed it later. Told me it wasn’t mine anyway, and that it shouldn’t matter. I lost control, Lani. Went ape-shit crazy. If it weren’t for Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg and Colonel Turner, I wouldn’t be sitting here as a marine today.”

  Lani slipped her hand over his forearm, giving him the comfort he’d longed for in the laundry room. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Greg put his sandwich down, wiped his fingers on the paper towel, and covered her hand with his. “It would be an underestimate to tell you I’m ashamed and embarrassed about that period of my life. I am mortified by it. The last thing I ever wanted was to tell you something so horrifying about myself, especially considering the control you place in my hands. I was scared to death to see indecision and fear in your eyes. Disgust. Hatred. Afraid I’d…” Lose you.

  She turned her hand and laced her fingers through his. “I should have found a better way to ask you about it, rather than attacking you when you came in the door. I was shocked when Jordan told me. I couldn’t believe you would—”

  “Lie? Because it was a lie not to tell you.” Greg freely admitted that. “I behaved like an ass today. All those things about myself I thought I’d buried long ago came raging to the surface.”

  “And I was a vindictive bitch. Lashing out, hurting myself as well as you in the process.” She snorted. “Aren’t we the pair?”

  “Yeah, I suppose we are.” Greg gripped her hand, afraid she’d jerk away when he uttered the only words he could, the ones he’d longed to tell her months ago. “Lani, I love you.”

  Her breath came out in a whoosh. “I love you too.” She bit her lower lip.

  Greg leaned forward and kissed her, a simple touch of lips that squeezed his heart until Greg thought he’d die. It was Lani who broke free, butting her forehead against his.

  “To what end?”

  He cupped her face, gently tilting it upward. “Does there have to be an end?”

  Lani whimpered when he nipped at the corners of her mouth. “There will be consequences.”

  “There are already consequences, sweetheart. We’ll deal with them tomorrow. Tonight is us, here, in love. The rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

  “We… We can plan that secret vacation.”

  Joy and despair raged inside. Secret liaisons were all they’d ever have. It was better than nothing. Greg was determined to see they kept it. He’d do whatever it took to get Jordan to keep his mouth shut.

  Lani leaned against the padded headrest and watched the stars overhead. Warm bubbles swirled around them. Greg was so still, she wondered if he’d fallen asleep. She sure wanted to. Relaxed, a full stomach, a fuller heart, and one hell of a day. Mita ignored their invitation to come outside and had curled into a deep sleep of her own on a pile of old blankets in the corner of the living room. She and Greg had talked of Maui, researched an itinerary, set the date. The only things remaining to be done were to coordinate with their siblings so their asses would be covered when they left and to put in leave requests.

  Oh, what a dangerous game they played. The success of which depended on keeping Jordan quiet, of lying low, and hoping no one else discovered their secret. What would buy the silence of a man like Jordan? For all she knew, he could have already filed his report. One e-mail would ruin them both.

  She and Greg had yet to speak of it. They’d fallen into the game of pretending they were a normal couple with a normal life tonight, hiding behind the walls declarations of love erected around them. A pretty illusion, nothing more. Not the love, that was real. It was the rest of the game that was going to bring it all tumbling down.

  “Reality check,” she said softly. “What are we going to do about Jordan?”

  Greg sighed. “I don’t want to talk about Jordan tonight.”

  “Don’t want to, or can’t figure out how to keep him quiet?”

  “Both?” He opened his eyes and stared at the stars painting the midnight sky. “I swear he shits protocol, rules, and regulations.”

  Lani snickered. “There are people who say that about us. No one’s totally clean.” They’d learned that all too well the last couple of days. “There’s a chink in his rusted armor somewhere. We just have to find his Achilles’ heel.”

  Greg glided her way, looped his hands around her waist, and shifted until she was astride his lap. “I’m thinking that would be you.”

  “I am not sleeping with Jordan Beck.”

  His arms tensed. “Damn straight you’re not.”

  “And neither are you,” she added.

  Greg’s chuckle shook the water. “Yeah, that’ll fix everything. Although it might be fun to put him in that situation and see how fast he takes off. Or introduce him to our community friends.”

  “Still waters. Never know. He might enjoy it.” Though the idea of Jordan in a BDSM lifestyle didn’t quite mesh in Lani’s mind. “It’s a risk I’m not willing to take without a little more research into the man. What we need is to find something Jordan wants more than anything else and offer it to him in exchange for his silence. Unless that something is me.”

  Greg cupped her ass and pulled her against his growing erection. “If it was you, I’m sure you could
make him regret every single second. You can be a hell of a domme when you want. Now that’s something I’d love to see.”

  “Flattery, my love, will get you anything.” She kissed his nose, lifted her hips, and seated his cock inside. She liked when they sat this way—one in body, soul, and now in heart.

  He grinned. “Finally, the key I’ve been looking for. If it was only as easy with everyone.”

  “I did talk to him tonight after you left. I’m not sure how much good it did to appeal to his compassion, or if he even listened. Frankly, I think the thing Jordan wants right now is to find this killer.”

  “Don’t we all. Trouble is, Jordan doesn’t care who he takes down in the process.”

  Very true. She and Greg were fallout. “At least we’ll be going down together. Might as well enjoy our last night.”

  “Great minds…” He twisted off the controls and vaulted to his feet, taking Lani with him.

  Laughing, she locked her ankles around his waist. “Are you sure you want to risk penis injury or worse by walking to the bedroom linked up?”

  He frowned. “What could be worse than a penis injury?”

  “Having your secret girlfriend and captain at your side in the emergency room trying to help explain how you obtained said injury.”

  “Point taken.” He girdled his hands around her waist and eased them apart.

  A cold breeze whipped around them. Lani watched his nipples peak. Her own felt like icicles. Greg grabbed one of the towels and dusted the droplets from her skin while goose bumps covered him from head to toe. His jaw was clenched in an effort to keep his teeth from chattering.

  “Next project is to enclose the hot tub.” He draped a robe around her as she stepped from the tub, then put the other one on without bothering to dry off. Water wicked into the terry cloth. Before Lani could grab a towel and help him out, Greg scooped her into his arms.

  “This is all I need to keep me warm.” He nudged her cheek and took a deep breath. Lani swore he sucked in her soul, then returned it to her permanently meshed with his.

  He carried her inside with all the care of a prized treasure. Each slow step raced her heart all the more. He was her fortress against the world. Her knight. The love of her life. Lani refused to think any further than that.

  Once inside his bedroom, Greg set her on her feet long enough to peel the dusty rose and steel blue bedspread down the bed. It wasn’t a color she would have associated with a man until she met Greg. He’d chosen the decor because it reminded him of the desert sky at sunset. Lani couldn’t agree more. She walked to the far side of the king-size bed and helped pull the pale blue sheet back. The fresh-washed scent wafted around her.

  Greg swept his hand down the center and knelt on the mattress, extending his hand to her. Lani slipped her fingers into his gentle grip and met him in the middle. They reached for the robe belts at the same time, loosening the knots. Greg brushed his hands over her breasts, pausing to rub his palms over her hard nipples before gliding to her shoulders to slip the robe from her arms. As it fell to the bed, he cupped her buttocks, kissed her slow and sweet, then drew her downward. Lani tugged his robe off his shoulders. Pleasure speared through her when he shrugged free. The action, the want in his eyes, screamed she was his.

  “Every time we’re together, I make love to you.” He tickled his fingers down her cheek. “Tonight you know that.”

  Lani looped her leg around his calf. “I already did.”

  One eyebrow lifted with his half smile. His gaze drifted to her lips. He pulled one and then the other between his, then took them both and fell into one of those full-body kisses Lani loved so much. A kiss that left them panting for more.

  He dragged his mouth down her throat to the well at the base. Suckles and nips hinted of what was soon to come—his mouth buried between her legs. Still she muttered a protest when he moved downward. She felt his teeth graze her nipple.

  Lani gasped and tucked her legs around his. She clasped his head in a vain attempt to keep it in place. Greg growled and raked his teeth over to the other nipple. The tingle flashed toward her swollen clitoris, doubling the ache there, but when she tried to rear up to ride the cock pressed against her stomach, Greg pulled free.

  “Unless you want me to come all over your tits, you’d better stop moving.” He punctuated his words with a love pat to her thigh.

  “I do know how you love to fuck my tits.” Lani dug her nails into his ass.

  Greg closed his eyes on a gasp, his jaw clenched, the heat from his cock warming her belly. When her fingers wandered to his crack, he pushed to his knees, leaving a string of precum linking them. Lani caught it on the tip of her finger and brought it to her lips. Greg leaned down and licked the rest from her skin, then twirled his tongue into her navel.

  Lani half sighed, half moaned and parted her thighs for him. Greg wasted no time sliding between. A gentle nudge pushed her legs over his shoulders. Lani lifted her pelvis to him. She caressed his head with one hand and gripped the pillow beneath her head with the other.

  “I love the smell of you. The taste of you.” He kissed her clit, then slipped his tongue inside her pussy.

  Eyes closed, she lost herself in the wonder of climax slowly built by a master. His tongue mined her juices. Lips kneaded her labia over and over. Then he’d wander through the valleys, tease her clitoris, and dive into her pussy for more. She shuddered and gasped the closer she came, writhing into his mouth, out of control, mindlessly begging for more and more. Cried and clutched for him when Greg pulled away.

  “Have I ever left you wanting, sweet stuff?” he asked.

  No. He never had. But she wanted him so badly. Lani shook her head and clutched the sheet, watching, waiting.

  Greg retrieved one of the glass plugs from the bedside drawer. A spurt reached her ears. Lani braced herself against the first touch of cold lube against her ass, then groaned when his fingers probed her.

  “Feels good. I know.” He eased the glass butt plug in place and thumbed her clitoris.

  He tore open a wet wipe to clean his fingers, then patted her hip and lay facedown beside her. “My turn.”

  “Oh, I like this.” She rolled upright.

  “Figured you might. I know I do.”

  Lani found the other glass plug and lube in the open drawer. This was the closest they would ever come to partners; adding other people in their bed was out of the question. They’d both made that clear from the start.

  “And don’t forget the ring,” he added. “I want us to come together tonight.”

  “Does that mean I get to be on top?”

  “No.”

  “I see.” That didn’t mean she had to be quick about inserting his toy. She mapped her palms over his firm ass, tickled his thighs, and kneaded his sac until a telltale hip jerk told Lani he’d had enough. She eased the plug into place, kissed his lower back, and cleaned her fingers as he had, tossing the spent wipe into the trashcan next to the bed.

  “Roll over.” She swatted his butt.

  “Ow,” he halfheartedly mumbled.

  “Just wanted to see if you were still awake.”

  “Barely.” He rolled over. “You realize that smack is gonna cost you.”

  Lani grinned. “I do hope so.” She plucked the clitoral stimulator from the depths of the drawer and slowly rolled the ring over his erection. Greg thrust into it with a strangled moan and fumbled for one of the robes.

  “This is going to be a little tricky,” he said, pulling the belt free. “Give yourself to me.”

  She stretched out and reached for the headboard slats. He settled atop her, nudging her legs apart. Lani curled her calves over his hips, and Greg plunged into her pussy…and froze. Hard breaths helped him rein in control. Lani lay as still as possible, giving him what he’d asked for, what he needed. What felt like minutes later, he loosely bound their left wrists to the headboard, tested the slipknot, and did the same with their right wrists. One tug from either of them would release them.<
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  “Now we’re bound. Heart and body.”

  Lani tightened her hold around his hips, digging her heels into his ass. He sealed their mouths and thrust into her. They fell into an easy glide that became harder to maintain with each thrust. Sweat slicked their bodies, adding to the scent of sex building in the room. She writhed into his pivots, anxious now for the feel of the ring rubbing her clit harder. Vaginal muscles clamped around him, and she felt the heat in his penis raise to furnace-level. The contractions rippled through her anus, but it was knowing he felt the same sensation that doubled her groan.

  “God!” he gasped and laced their fingers together.

  “Oh please,” she begged.

  Greg pushed deep and rolled into her. Her body locked tight in anticipation. Her breath stopped. Everything pushed free. She thrashed with the force, flexing and releasing around his cock, taking everything that Greg shot out. It felt like they’d come forever, and yet it ended all too soon, leaving them spent and panting.

  He tugged the binding free. Rubbing her arms, he pulled her hands against his chest as he rolled them to one side. Lani’s head buzzed. Her body thrummed. A joint shiver forced them to move long enough to remove their toys, retrieve the sheet and bedspread. A sigh settled them once more.

  “By the way, how did you manage to find me tonight?”

  “I followed you, of course.” He spooned his body around hers. “I’d follow you anywhere, sweetheart.”

  Her breath caught. “Greg…”

  “Shh.” He smoothed his hand over her hip before she could say anything more. “Don’t safe word me tonight, Lani. Not tonight.”

  She wouldn’t dream of it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Wake up. We have company.” Lani’s soft words drifted through Greg’s dreams. The last sentence jerked him fully awake. He looked into a pair of big brown eyes staring up at him from his chest. Mita had clearly made herself at home in their bed.