Ahí por dios, her desires rode her hard no matter how much she tried to deny them. Her body craved his touch like an addict craved her next hit.
Gabriel eased between her legs. “I want to sink into you and feel your body dance beneath mine as I make you come again.” Her heart raced, and her breath hitched. Every problem in the world dissipated into nothing as he slid the tip of his shaft along her opening.
“Take me…now,” she begged. Patience was not one of her virtues.
“Easy baby, we have all night.”
Maybe. Tomorrow she would be back in San Diego, losing her business and failing her little sister. And Gabriel would be back on base soon after. No room for her, and she definitely didn’t need a relationship on top of everything going on in her life.
But that was for tomorrow, she chided herself.
Ema gathered her strength and shoved all the nagging thoughts into the little box in the back of her mind. Tomorrow she’d deal with them and even her treacherous heart.
He slid the tip of his dick along her seam again, this time finding her entrance. Slowly, he pushed into her channel, pausing before taking her fully. “Are you ready for all of me, precious?” Her muscles gave, accepting his thick girth. The stretch of her body and the feel of his weight on her made her crazy with need.
He drove deeper. She clasped his shoulders, digging her nails in. “Make me want you, Gabriel.” Take me beyond reason, beyond what my head tells me is wrong. “Show me,” she added on a whispered wish.
He thrust into her the last few inches. The feel of his length buried hilt-deep into her channel drove all thoughts from her mind, replacing them with pure, undiluted desire. Wet heat flooded her core. He pulled out only to drive back in. Hard. Slow.
“I love watching you. The way your body responds to my touch is intoxicating.”
She caught his gaze. The truth she saw in his golden eyes touched her heart. “It’s something I can’t help. Not sure I really want to at the moment, either.”
“Even from across a room you draw my attention. The way you moved on the dance floor earlier...” At the mention of the earlier events, Ema stilled, but relaxed when Gabriel continued. “God, you stroke my libido into an inferno and don’t even know it.”
She knew. The firestorm burned brighter, hotter than ever before. Golden flecks lit his eyes as he spoke, sending a spark of something deep within her. Almost as if they were connected beyond the physical.
The last couple of times they’d rendezvoused, hadn’t she seen something like this happening? That it wouldn’t be just friends-with-benefits for long if they continued? Even without his whispered confession while he’d believed her asleep, she sensed his restlessness.
She shoved the thought aside. It’s just lust. Right?
Giving into temptation, Ema captured his lips in a heated kiss. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer…deeper. Her back arched, pleasure spiked deep within her. A part of her mind screamed in warning but her heart pushed her forward.
“I watched you earlier, as you worked the crowd and then later as you danced. The way you moved your hips like you were making love to the melody… Can you do that for me? Mueve la cadera, mì amor?”
“Mmmm…your Spanish…it sounds so sexy. You’ve been practicing.” Ema pressed her heels into the firm flesh of his ass, moving her hips in a slow grind to match his thrust.
“The easier to seduce you with, baby.” He delivered a quick nip to her breast then in a swift move pulled her up off the mattress to rock back on his heels, holding her close to his chest where she partially sat on top. He wrapped a strong arm around her back for support, using the other to secure her hips in place. Guess he liked her little moves.
“Don’t stop, baby, baila para me.”
Ahh…he wanted her to dance? His cock rode deep, and she could feel the pulse of need that fed from him into her. Ema let her head fall back, offering her full breasts for him to feast on while she started her slow, sensual tease. One flick of her hip followed by another.
Deep grunts vibrated up his chest and resounded in hers, his breath ragged with pleasure. She picked up the pace.
He followed her lead, allowing her to move over him to her own music, following up with his own thrust. The tip of his shaft hitting the soft bundle of nerves hidden within her passage, taking her closer, higher than she ever imagined.
Uno mas, one more, and her body would be his.
“Come for me, give yourself over, baby.” She couldn’t hold back if she wanted to. He stroked her body with each thrust.
Hotter. Higher. Fire roared to life, flaring out from her center. Heat flushed her entire body and she reveled in the flames.
Gabe wrapped warm lips around her nipple, laving gently. He eased her down against the bed. Soft sheets cocooned her back. Her eyes flickered open to see pure pleasure etched in every facet of his features.
“Lie back, baby, because this isn’t over yet.” He wrapped his hands around her hips to pull her flush against him, their bodies still connected.
He drew out only to thrust back in, balls deep, nudging her swollen bud.
“Ahì, so sensitive.” Her back arched on a wave of pleasure that shot through her. So good. She needed more.
Ema pushed herself onto her elbows. She could see the tiny beads of sweat across his forehead, the flush of heat up his cheeks. Her gaze moved to his parted lips, made for kissing. Her tongue darted out to wet her own. Her breath caught in her throat at how beautifully handsome he looked—tousled hair, stubble, and all.
“Baby, let me love you. Open for me.” Ema parted her legs farther and wrapped them around him again.
In the next breath, he devoured her lips, their tongues dancing to their own private rhythm. The slow, deep thrust from before fell into one of wild abandon. She followed his movements, rocking her hips against his, the fire building yet again. So close to coming, but she wanted this time to be with him.
“Come with me, Esmeralda. Come now.”
He gathered her in his arms, and with one last thrust took them both over the edge before they collapsed in a tangle of sheets and kisses.
Chapter Four
Ema couldn’t believe the extent Gabe had gone through to seduce her. With her stomach full of delicious food he’d arranged, her blood hitting the legal limit with the tequila they’d drank, and their lovemaking, and she couldn’t remember when she’d felt so satisfied.
Ema took a long look at herself in the bathroom mirror. The flush of their previous love session still lingered on her checks.
Heat settled over her, but this time it wasn’t her libido playing havoc with her. She loved the tropics, but she wouldn’t be giving up her beloved air conditioning any time soon.
Gabe, on the other hand, thrived in the humid weather. She caught a glimpse of him in the reflection, sound asleep in their love nest, his chest rising and falling in slow rhythm.
A tiny smile tilted her lips at the thought of how he’d learned to speak her native language. She gathered her long, heavy hair in a messy bun. She gasped then suppressed a groan. From the base of her neck to just below her chin, love marks colored every inch of her skin.
“Madre de dios,” she whispered. She moved closer to her reflection. No way to hide anything about tonight. Not that she needed to, but the fewer questions her cousin had the easier for everyone. Especially her. She took a deep breath. Maybe she’d call in her goodbyes this time ‘round.
Faint sounds of the ocean carried through the small bathroom window. A little dip wouldn’t hurt. She could use some time in the tropical waters before she left. The cool water would soothe her skin and the delicious ache between her thighs. Some time to gather her thoughts before she had to face D-day with Gabriel wouldn’t hurt either.
She moved into the bedroom and pulled on the robe she’d found hanging on the back of the door. Out of habit, Ema gathered her cell off the night table and slipped it into one of the oversized pockets.
Sand, still warm hours after sunset, cushioned her steps as she made her way down to the water. The beat of the waves against the beach vibrated up her soles and helped erase the tension working its way into her muscles.
In just a few hours the sun would come up, and with it, damn hard decisions. In all her twenty-six years, this was definitely the lowest point she’d hit. Losing her father to the Iraqi war at the age of eight had been tough. But it was infinity harder losing her mother to the shell she became because of his death.
And there was another reason Gabriel was off limits. How could she love a man in uniform?
Ema moved closer to the water, letting the cool, foamy water rush over her toes. Soft music from her cousin’s party carried on the wind currents. The slow pace probably meant it would be wrapping up soon. She tilted her head back to soak in the full moon’s silver beams.
Today had taken a turn she hadn’t expected. The minute she’d seen Gabriel decked out in his tuxedo, all her self-control blew out to sea. Tonight was proof she couldn’t resist the magnetic pull between them. She wasn’t strong enough to haul herself out of the trap her mother had fallen into. Love did more damage than good, but to walk away from it seemed just as crippling.
Her heart skipped a beat as if agreeing. If she stepped closer to the temptation he conjured in her, there would be no telling what would happen, and that uncertainty she couldn’t afford. She had to keep focused, find a way to get the funds she needed, and make sure she was around for the only family she had left.
Her phone vibrated against her thigh. She jumped at the sudden intrusion on her thoughts but answered it as soon as she saw her sister’s name flash across the screen.
“Hola, chica. I was just thinking about you.” She hoped she didn’t sound as emotional as she felt. She suppressed a deep sigh at her sister’s sweet laugh through the earpiece. “So why are you up so late? Something wrong?”
“Not at all, sis. Cramming for finals isn’t all that exciting, contrary to what’s in the brochures, and it definitely doesn’t compare to one of Lucas’s fiestas. Needed to wake myself up a bit.” There was a long pause. “And…I’m a little nervous about some news on a job I applied for today.”
“Ah, what kind of job?”
Her sister sighed one of those dreamy, I’ve-got-it-bad sighs that signaled lustful thoughts. Something she knew about all too well. “It’s a temp job at a security firm here in L.A. I think you’ve heard of Re-Con Securities? Its owned by two former Recon Marines and from what I’ve heard, they’ve made a name for themselves on an international basis. Anyway, if I get the job, I’ll be their personal assistant and client coordinator.”
“And I bet they’re dreamy, right?” Her sister’s laugh said it all. It only made an appearance when she was nervous or wanted to hide the truth.
“I’m there to work, sis. It’s not my fault they’re a pair of hunky former Marines. Besides, with the ‘we’ll call you tomorrow’, and curt dismissal, I don’t think they’re all that interested in a secretary on that level.”
“Ahì, Mia, you have no idea just how beautiful you really are.” Her heart reached out for her sister. She changed the subject before the conversation turned sappy. No way she’d keep it together if that happened. “We missed you today, hermana.”
“Yeah, me, too. With only another year to go, I really need to focus. I’m still making up for what I missed…ya know…when mama was sick. But hey, I’ll make it and when I do, we can rewrite our story a bit, sì? I think we’ve lived enough hell, ya know.”
“Sì, I do know, Mia. I’ll call you when I hit San Diego tomorrow afternoon. Now get some sleep. Oh, and hey, good luck with that job, chica.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up. Ema eased back from the water, rethinking the skinny-dipping at midnight plan, and turned on her heel.
Mia worked so hard and sounded so happy. No way Ema could bring the rain to the party and tell her about the financial situation that could pull her from school even if she did land that job. Not yet. She’d have to find the right time, and soon.
She made her way to Gabriel’s bungalow positioned back from the beach a few yards, shadowed by palm trees. The moon played in the palm fronds, casting long shadows that danced on the sand.
The crunching of dry leaves caught her attention off to her left and slowed her pace. Fear tickled the back of her mind. Her gaze darted between the palm trunks, searching for the source of the noise. She squinted, fastening her attention to the corner of the bungalow.
There was the crunching again. This time the noise came from deeper within the tree line. She strained to make out exactly which direction, but the pounding of her heart and the waves behind her both served as white-noise, drowning out sounds nearby. She took another three steps before the acrid smell of gasoline, carried on the wind, stopped her cold.
Que diablos, what the hell? She knelt for a better look. Through the trees a single flame lit the darkest recess toward the back corner of the bungalow. Her palms began to sweat and her heart rate tripled. She balled her fists and pushed her body into action, all fear replaced with pure anger.
Gabriel. No! No! No! She had to get to him.
Esmeralda dashed across the sand, her feet sinking into the soft layers slowing her progress. She took the stairs two at a time, her calves screaming in protest.
She busted through the unlocked door and rushed to where Gabriel slept. Smoke already obscured the small room, the flames were eating away at the back wall of the bathroom.
She fell to her knees and crawled to the bed on the far side and closest to the bathroom. Fuck, she had to hurry. Why wasn’t he already awake? Maybe the alcohol affected him more than she’d thought.
Ema reached the bed and rose to her knees. “Gabriel!” she shouted at the top of her lungs, shaking his shoulders. He bolted up, grabbing her, realization sinking in immediately. Thank God.
“Move. Now.” He grabbed her hand and pushed her to the front door. “Go. I’ll be right behind you.” She turned to see him disappear into the thickening smoke. Forced to step back, she waited for him on the deck, not really wanting to go back out there alone in case whoever started the fire was still there. Who would want to do this?
For a long moment she stood there. Waiting. Screw it.
She pushed forward into the bungalow. Gabe walked toward her, a cloth wrapped around the lower part of his face. Black ash and soot smeared across his forehead and eyes. If her throat wasn’t closed off with fear, she’d laugh at his disheveled state.
“I have it contained, sweetheart. You good?” He wrapped her in his arms, and she had to admit it felt good to have him there. To help, of course.
“What the hell happened? You light a candle or something?”
She pulled back. Her brows furrowed. Really?
She had no idea how he pieced that one together. “Sì, I’m also the one that was playing with the gasoline and matches behind the bungalow. Thought we could use a little excitement. Ya know, have a Mexican bonfire.”
“Okay. Let me take a sec and remove my foot from my mouth.” He inhaled and leaned in, his features in full Marine mode. “A minute more and this place would be ashes in the sand, Ema. You said something about gasoline?” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what you saw, heard, anything you can think of, sweetheart.”
She wanted to frown at him, but he was only trying to assess the situation. And damn if he didn’t look sinfully gorgeous in his boxers with soot covering face. “I was on the beach talking to my sister. When I headed back, I thought I saw something in the palm grove. I shrugged it off to shadow play, but when the wind changed, I caught the fumes. Then I saw whoever it was light something, then he disappeared in the shadows. That’s when I rushed in to get you.”
Worry creased the set of his mouth. “Stay right here.” He took the stairs two at a time and disappeared around the side of the bungalow in seconds. Her heart tightened in contrast to the lazy breeze that tickled the back of
her neck. She paralleled the wall at her back, opening her senses to anyone that might sneak up on her.
“Let me borrow your phone.”
Ema jumped, her heart in her throat. “Diablos, Gabriel, warn a person, snap a twig or something.” She rubbed her chest, understanding the swift, silent, and deadly wording of his unit’s tattoo. The man made the footsteps of a mouse seem loud.
He winked at her, clearly amused by her reaction and unconcerned that he’d almost slept through the fire.. “Sorry, precious. Occupational habit.” Sure, he was use to the danger and the excitement but she wasn’t. “Here.” She pulled her cell from her pocket. “Did you find anything, anyone?”
He shook his head. “Negative. Whoever the arsonist was, he’s long gone.”
Gabriel entered the bungalow and returned with her clothes. Soot covered them, but it was better than the thin robe she wore.
Smoke still hung low even with all the windows, but she could see the damage from where she stood out on the deck. After tonight and the ominous warning Bougainvillea had tossed out to Gabriel like a loaded gun, she couldn’t help but think this had to be connected. Who would randomly walk by a bungalow and set a match to gasoline?
After dressing, Ema took stock of the damage while Gabe walked over to the charred area, phone already to his ear. As he spoke, his gaze followed her every movement. “Lucas.”
“Party’s still going…damn man.
“Listen, we’ve run into some trouble.
“No, leave the local PD and FD out of it for now.
“Yeah, she’s with me.
“Yeah. The bungalow caught fire. Not sure on the details but something’s up. I followed the tracks. Whoever it was worked solo. I lost him once he hit pavement. Listen, I need to borrow your house for the night until we get this all worked out. The keys still in the same spot?”
Tequila Sunset: A Military Erotic Romance (Sexy Siesta Series Book 2) Page 4