“I’ll be along shortly then, sir.”
She listened to the conversation in astonishment, trying to keep her mouth from gaping wide. She couldn’t refute the Commander in front of Captain Martin. Not only was he superior in rank, but she’d be stepping way out of line if she did so in front of his CO.
Even though she didn’t want to go, she let him hustle her out of the office with little fanfare.
Holly knew now how Alice felt when she fell down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. The situation was so surreal, she wouldn’t have been surprised if someone jumped out and yelled, “Off with her head!” Scott definitely didn’t fit the spineless description of the King of Hearts, though. He kept a firm grip on the crook of her elbow, leading her down a sparsely decorated passageway. She recognized a few of the posters lining the wall from when she’d arrived, but when he turned them down a small corridor, a shiver trilled along her spine.
“Where are you taking me?” She waited a moment before asking again, but still he didn’t respond. “This isn’t funny. I have a lot of things to do.”
He stopped her in front of a door, leaning against the jam with a negligent pose, his hip lightly brushing the cipher lock near the handle. “It’s 1530. You don’t have any patients scheduled this late.”
“How do you know?”
“I know a lot of things, Holly.”
The absolute surety in his voice threw her for a moment before it dawned on her that he’d called her by her first name. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to refer to her as Doctor Burton, but she realized with a start, he was no longer her patient.
Raising her eyes, she read the golden plaque on the front of the door marking this as his office. Holly had an odd feeling of the tables being turned.
“What would you like to speak with me about?” she asked, determined to end this here and now.
“Why don’t you step inside so we can discuss this properly?”
“I-I don’t t-think th-that’s wise.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
She remembered the question from their very first session, and she shook her head. “You know I’m not.”
“Then come inside,” he murmured, running a long finger along the curve of her jaw.
The seductiveness of his voice flowed over her and Holly knew she’d lost the battle.
Chapter Nine
Scott’s office was Spartan. No frills, no pictures, nothing that personalized the space as his. The walls were stark white, the desk a drab brown; the two standard gray Navy-issued chairs were worn but serviceable. The only hint of true color came from the two floor length windows letting in a bit of green from the tall trees breezing in the background through the partially opened blinds.
In the corner nearest the door stood a file cabinet with a printer on top, next to a freestanding coat rack. On the opposite wall was a small hanging space filled with seasonal dress uniforms as well several pairs of the standard year round khakis and BDUs.
The desk was bare, with only a computer monitor and calendar on top. She didn’t even see a stray pen.
The bleak interior reminded Holly of the loneliness she’d sensed from their first meeting and she closed her eyes, not wanting to see any more. “This has to stop,” she whimpered, the heat from his torso seared her back like a bursting flame. The caress of his fingers against the soft baby hairs of her neck made her gasp with awareness.
“It’s beyond our control. You know that as well as I do,” he said, his tone lush like velvet.
God! She did want this, but it was so very wrong. “I don’t believe that,” she denied, desperately attempting to stem the flow of desire tangling her insides.
Scott sighed, stepping around her with the dexterity of a man half his size. “Kiss me,” he demanded, his voice daring.
Holly shook her head. “No.”
“Why not? You’ve already said you aren’t afraid. What do you have to lose?”
“Too much to be counted at this juncture and more if I allow it to go further,” she responded, lifting her chin in defiance.
“I think you are scared, scared of yourself. Let’s face it. The majority of your days are spent scrutinizing the faults of others,” he smiled wickedly, leaning forward to sensually flick her lips with the tip of his tongue, “but I bet you rarely analyze yourself.”
“I don’t think I’m perfect.”
“I’m sure you don’t, but I know you don’t spend the same amount of time wondering where you might have gone wrong in life. That’s reserved for other people, isn’t it?” She wanted to look away but the firm hold on her chin stopped her. “Do you want to know what I think of you? Do you want to know my analysis?”
She snorted, shrugging her shoulders. “The tables are officially turned now, huh?”
Scott chuckled. “Only in the fact that you don’t want to hear what I have to say.”
“So, let’s hear it,” she said defensively.
He didn’t even hesitate. “You think you’re better than everyone else. Way above the problems of mere mortals.”
Astounded, Holly’s mouth gaped. “Is that what you think?”
“No. That’s what I know.”
“You seem really sure about that.”
“I wouldn’t say it if I thought otherwise,”
Shaking her head, she closed her eyes before opening them to look at him helplessly, praying to stop the equal amounts of anger and yearning clawing at the core of her being. “Wh-what are you saying, Scott?”
“Do you want me to explain it to you?”
“I don’t think I can stop you,” she sighed.
He laughed breathlessly, wrapping both his massive arms about her and lifting her with ease. “Finally, we agree on something.”
As he held her, feet dangling, and walked around the office silently, Holly was amazed he could move with such grace. At this moment, more than any other since they’d first met, she became aware of the strength of Scott’s persona, of his absolute determination. When he settled her on the desk, she gasped, spreading her legs to prevent from falling backwards. Her skirt rose to mid thigh and he immediately took advantage by stepping between the gap.
“Now, you’re in my office, good doctor. And I’m the one who’ll be doing the assessing.” He caressed her cheek with the tip of his finger as he peered down at her.
“Y-you don’t know a-anything about me,” she stumbled.
“Oh, but I do. I know everything there is to know.”
She probably shouldn’t taunt him, but his boast couldn’t be left unanswered. “Like what.”
“Like your hair,” he murmured, leaning close. “I bet you spend hours in front the mirror trying to contain it in this tight, little bun.” His finger deftly released the pins and clips containing the thick tresses so they plummeted down her back with abandon. “You wear nothing more than mascara because you don’t want to enhance your beauty. You’re scared that if you do, no one will take you seriously,” he wagged an errant finger at her before trailing the tip along the curve of her jaw, smiling as he leaned just that much closer, “and you’ve worked too hard for that to happen, haven’t you?” Without warning he cradled her face in his large calloused hands. “Yet even though you try and hide the woman, she’s still there lurking, waiting to be found.” His nostrils flared as he moved his face into the crook of her shoulder, and the air in her lungs stilled when his fingers skillfully unbuttoned her blouse. “I can smell her,” he whispered huskily.
Lust, hot and rich, raced through her veins as his tongued laved an enticing path toward the upper slope of her breasts. Moaning, Holly arched her back, pushing her flesh into his waiting hands while he massaged her nipples through the silky lace fabric of her bra. The tiny tips stood like attentive little soldiers and she yelped when he suddenly pinched one hard.
“Your skin is very sensitive,” he murmured, tweaking her nipple again. “That’s why you want them to be licked. I bet you stand in the shower letting the hot
water run over your body because you like the way it feels. That’s why you wear this fine, lacy thing.” He laughed, and his hot breath washed over her like a caress. “It’s pretty enough and probably very expensive, but it’s the softness you crave.”
Holly opened her mouth to deny him, but the truth of his words held her immobile. She watched in fascination as he pulled free the edges of her shirt and slipped the straps of her bra over her shoulders and down her arms. Both breasts popped free with a rush and the cool air against her sensitive skin made her shiver with anticipation. Intrinsically, her hips pushed forward and her gaze dropped to stare at the straining erection in his pants. Even contained, his cock was violently aroused. She almost begged him to fuck her. A strangled gasp escaped her lips because a part of her wanted just that. Lifting her eyes, she stared at the fierce, determined man holding her prisoner with desire. His eyes were narrowed and he looked down thoughtfully at her naked chest. He had rested his hands on the upper portion of her thighs, but he remained still like a statue. Holly almost thought something was wrong until he shuddered and pushed her back against the desk with force.
She landed with an ungraceful “oomph” and watched with wide eyes as her skirt was unceremoniously shoved upward. Scott was breathing hard, his chest rolling as his muscles accommodated the change in pressure. He looked unbelievably angry, or unbelievably aroused. It was hard to say, but when his palm latched between her open thighs she figured it had to be the latter.
“You’re not going to get anything soft from me,” he stated. “Because I know that’s not how you like it.” His eyes glittered dangerously, making his face seem harsh and angular. “When I told you before that I wanted to fuck you, hard, your nipples puckered and your entire face turned red. But you didn’t look away and you weren’t shocked because you wanted it, too.”
She couldn’t deny it. Ever since that time in the office, she’d been thinking of him fucking her so hard she wouldn’t be able to walk straight. It had bothered her because he was a patient, but try as she might she hadn’t been able to get the disturbing thoughts out of her mind. Now, staring up into his implacable expression as his thick cock pushed against the folds of his pants and the smell of her own desire wafted about her, she whimpered, wanting it more than ever.
His fingers caressed the damp fabric of her panties, and Holly remembered absently she’d worn thigh-high stockings today instead of regular hose. He had direct access to her, and he wasted no time.
One long finger teased the bud of her clit, finally moving aside the thin material so the pad of his thumb could caress her wet, trembling flesh. She began to buck wildly, increasing the pressure.
“I bet all that sensitivity makes your pussy tingle and purr like a little cat.” His breathing was labored, and he moved one long large hand to her breast so he could knead the plump mound. “You’re a hot little piece. Beautiful. Sexy. Fuckable.” Hard presses to her clit punctuated each word.
When he slid two fingers inside her, Holly became delirious with pleasure. She grabbed at his hand, making him finger-fuck her harder, glorying in the low animal growl rumbling from his throat. He lurched toward her suddenly, his mouth centimeters away from her breast, and lapped the tender bud with a long slow lick. She wanted to scream with satisfaction, but a distant part of her mind recognized where they were, so she moaned instead.
He lavished equal attention on her other nipple while at the same time his fingers repeatedly plunged inside her wet pussy. Then suddenly, without warning, a flood of lava-like heat pooled low in her belly. Her vagina clenched and flexed with painful intensity as a wave of paralyzing ecstasy took hold. Her body burst like an exploding super nova and she literally saw stars.
The powerful orgasm took her unawares. Holly bit her lip to keep from crying out. Her body shook from the force, and clenched painfully with need because her pussy still felt empty. She wanted him to kiss her, fuck her, ease the aching torment in her abdomen. She thought he would oblige her when he grunted and began working the buttons of his camouflage pants but he stopped suddenly, the same stillness she’d witnessed earlier taking hold of him again.
He blinked rapidly, as though he were trying to wake himself from a deep sleep. “Jesus,” he muttered, wiping a hand across his face. “You make me crazy. I-I can’t believe I’m doing this. We can’t do this here.”
Holly took a deep breath, not really trusting herself to speak. Her body felt languid, but tremors still shook her insides. Slowly, she rose from the desk, bracing her upper body with her arms.
Scott stepped backward, giving her room to move and she felt more than saw his gaze drop to her open legs. She could imagine the picture she presented. Her shirt open wide, breasts bare, bra pushed down. The normal loose fitting khaki skirt had risen to her hips, prominently showing her thigh-high stockings and white lace panties. Since they were drenched with her juices, the material was probably transparent.
Self-conscious, she pulled up the straps of her bra and unhurriedly began to fix her clothing. She took her time because she didn’t trust herself to rush. Pent up energy and emotion were swirling dangerously out of control. Violence—sexual and physical—lay just under the surface. Scott must have sensed it as well because he didn’t move a muscle.
Holly didn’t even want to look at him. By the time she felt steady enough, she walked around to the other side of the desk so she wouldn’t have to come in contact with him. She knew her clothes were rumpled, so she smoothed her hands across them, self-ironing the wrinkles. Her long hair flowed around her shoulders, and she looked down at the floor where a few of her pins and her garrison cap had fallen. Twisting her locks into one long rope before wrapping a tight spiral at the base of her neck, she bent slowly to retrieve her clips, grimacing when her silky panties rubbed against her sensitive clit.
Finally, with some strategic pinning, she had her hair secured. She breathed slowly because she still felt dangerously out of control, and she waited a moment to gather her composure.
Scott still stood silently behind her, but she didn’t turn to face him. There were no words that needed to be said and she walked toward the door with head held high.
Through some cruel trick of what had to be the wind, she thought she heard her name whispered, like a prayer.
She stopped, every fiber of her being wanting to turn around. But instead, she grabbed the handle and opened the door.
Chapter Ten
There are some things in this life, son, that don’t really bear consideration. It’s simply a matter of action found and reaction taken.
The words his father had uttered when he came back from his first mission echoed in his mind. Bruised and battered, upset and lonely, he’d lain in a hospital bed in Bethesda, Maryland, listening with half an ear. Of course, “dear ol’ dad” had been talking about the horrors of battle. But as usual, it was something they didn’t see eye to eye on.
He would never enter a fray blinded by blood lust. He knew beforehand the risk to others and himself. Every step he took was calculated, and well thought out, because he didn’t believe in any other way of operating. Nor did he think human life should ever be factored down to simple action and reaction.
Yet, at this very moment, Scott had a greater understanding of what his father had meant.
As he drove his Chevy Tahoe south on Route 168 at law-breaking speed, he recognized the change that had overwhelmed him and directly attributed it to action found and reaction taken.
Action: He wanted Holly. He needed Holly.
Reaction: He would have Holly.
No other considerations were needed.
Obsession, lust, and some weird possessive emotion he couldn’t name hounded him brutally. It didn’t help that he could still smell her on his clothes. He hadn’t changed from his uniform because the need to see her and be with her was so strong; he’d left the overly long planning meeting and headed directly toward his car.
Primal.
He’d felt it before in her
office the first time they’d met, but he knew it now with a vengeance that would be answered. The heated passion that sparked between them had to be resolved. Not just because he couldn’t go one more moment without her, but also because he was sure his dick would explode from built-up pressure if he didn’t. Talons of desire had squeezed every shred of civility from his person. The only thing remaining was a man determined to find his woman. He wanted to see her, touch her, and God knew he lusted to be inside her. But his most fervent wish and absolute need, was just to be near her. She radiated internal warmth like a nuclear bomb and he felt like an Eskimo in need of a good thaw.
There’s a name to describe this, he thought. Psychotic.
But, yet and still, Scott owned up to it because he felt absolutely crazed.
His jaw clenched tightly as he glanced at the road ahead and then the odometer. He could push his car, or himself for that matter, to the limits, but traffic stood in his way, and it didn’t give a shit about him or Holly.
Easing his foot from the gas pedal, he slowed down automatically to keep from causing a pile up, frowning at the flashing brake lights in his path. He reminded himself, almost as an afterthought, that it was important to get there in one piece.
He recounted her address from memory, and his hands flexed on the leather-encased steering wheel, mentally urging the people in front of him to drive faster. It was a friggin’ Thursday but there were nothing but Sunday drivers in front of him. Thankfully the damnable gridlock lessened on the suburban roads and when he pulled into the exclusive Beachfront Homes development, he got past the security guard by flashing his government ID and looking very official. He knew her address, license plate number and the make and model of her car, so he found her split-level condo easily, pulling in alongside her black Jeep Cherokee within moments.
Counting forward and backwards from ten, Scott tried to stop the sizzling heat in his veins, though his mind continually replayed the images from earlier like some eighties porno.
Operation Love Page 20