“No. Just had too much to drink last night when I went out with Sharon.”
“You didn’t drive, did you?” Keith asked sternly.
“No, I…” Kiley frowned, unsure how she’d gotten home. “At least I don’t think I did.”
“That’s not funny, Kiley. What the hell were you doing getting that drunk?”
“Look, if you just called to fuss at me—“
“I didn’t. I’m sorry. We have Paula.”
Kiley sat up immediately and the sheet fell to her waist. “Is she okay? Is she there with you?
Can I talk to her?”
“Yes, yes, and no. We’re on the plane headed to London. Paula’s out. I thought initially her ribs were just bruised, but I think at least one of them is cracked. We’ll get her looked at when we get to London.”
“Did it happen during the extraction?” Kiley asked.
“No. Before.”
“Is she okay otherwise?”
“She’s fine. She’s strong. She did good.”
Kiley nodded and sighed in relief. “That’s good. I’m glad you got her. How’s everybody else?”
“We’re all fine and anxious to get home.”
“How much longer do you think?”
“A few days. Things any better between you and Scott or is that why you got so drunk?”
“To be honest, I don’t remember why. Can we not talk about this please? At least until I can talk without it causing a sledgehammer to vibrate inside my head.”
Keith’s chuckle on the other end made her smile just a little. She was relieved to know they were all okay. Every time they went off on one of these missions, she was a basket case inside.
“All right,” Keith replied. “I’ll talk to you again soon.”
“Bye,” Kiley said just before hitting the end button on her screen.
Frowning down at herself, she tried to remember how she’d gotten undressed, or even home.
Had Sharon brought her? And if she had, where was her car?
Her eyes widened. Oh, God. Had she come home with someone else?
She looked to the other side of the bed, then leaned over to see on the floor. No one else appeared to have slept on that side and there weren’t any strange clothes on the floor. So how did she get home?
A noise coming from the kitchen startled her, and she froze. Leaning over a bit, she tried to see through the crack in the bedroom door, but all she could see was the wall in the hallway. Who was in her kitchen?
She grabbed her robe off the bed post and slung the covers off. She stood and slid her arms into the satin robe. As she tied the belt, she padded barefoot down the hall toward the kitchen. As quietly as possible, she peeked around the corner, then gasped as she spotted Scott rummaging through her refrigerator.
“Scott? What the hell are you doing?” she asked as she rounded the corner.
Scott stood and stared at her over the door of the fridge. “Fixing breakfast. I drove your car here last night so I had to wait until you got up so you could take me back home.”
Kiley frowned. “You drove me home?”
“No. Sharon drove you home. I followed in your car. I didn’t want to leave it in the parking lot.”
An image flashed through her mind of Scott covering her body with his and every inch of her flesh heated. Had they done something?
She shook her head in confusion. “Why didn’t you get Sharon to take you home?”
Scott shut the refrigerator door and set the bacon on the counter. Her stomach rumbled despite the pounding behind her eyes.
“Because I didn’t want to leave you here by yourself. You were pretty drunk.”
“I wasn’t that drunk.”
“Right. Do you remember coming home?”
Kiley shook her head sadly. “No.”
“Do you remember taking off your clothes?”
“No.” She shot her gaze quickly to his. “Did I undress in front of you?”
Scott leaned one hand on the counter. “Yep.”
Kiley swallowed. “Are you serious? Please tell me you’re not serious.”
Scott poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “Here. You look like you need this.”
She took it within shaking fingers and brought the steaming cup to her lips. After swallowing a couple of sips, she stared warily at Scott. He looked incredible this morning, even if he did appear as though he’d slept in his clothes. That was a good thing though, right? If he slept in his clothes, then he hadn’t slept with her.
Although she wished he had. She would give anything if he’d sleep with her. She would also die if she’d told him that last night while drunk.
Kiley bit her lower lip. “What happened last night? Did we…did we, uh…?”
“We didn’t have sex, but you did dry hump my dick.”
Kiley dropped the cup of coffee and it shattered on the tile floor, sending hot coffee across the room. She didn’t even notice. All she could do was stare in shock at Scott. Images of her doing just that ran through her mind. He’d settled over her, kissed her, and she’d come rubbing against him until she’d exploded into a million blissful pieces. There was nothing after that.
“We need to talk, Kiley,” Scott said very seriously.
Kiley swallowed, suddenly feeling very nervous and exposed. She couldn’t. Not now. Feeling like she might throw up, Kiley turned and put her hand on her stomach. Heat flooded her face and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“I’m not feeling very well. Can this wait until I at least have a shower?” she asked, barely recognizing her own shaky voice.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly. “I’ll work on breakfast.”
Kiley nodded and made her way to the bedroom. She stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the water. Tears streamed down her face as she sank to her knees by the shower and leaned against the wall.
What did she do now? Come clean? Tell him she loved him? Try to lie her way out of it? Blame it on being drunk? She glanced up at the ceiling and squinted through misty eyes at the bright light over her head. What had she said last night? Or was it just her actions that had Scott all weird this morning?
He looked intense, determined, almost angry. Would he give her the same speech as Keith; that he wasn’t good for her? He’d only hurt her? She was better off with someone else?
“But I don’t want anyone else.” she whispered. “I’m such a masochist. Why can’t I move on from him?”
Sighing, she wiped away her tears and prepared to climb into the shower.
* * * *
Thirty minutes later Kiley felt a little better physically, but mentally she was still a wreck. There wasn’t much she was afraid of, but right now she was terrified of what Scott might say.
Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, she made her way down the hall. The heavenly scent of bacon and sausage assaulted her nose. She inhaled and her stomach growled in response.
“That smells great,” she said as she rounded the corner into the kitchen.
Scott glanced sideways at her from his position at the stove and smiled in welcome. “You look better.”
“I feel better. Did I look that bad before?”
He snorted. “I probably shouldn’t say. You’ll hit me.”
“I wouldn’t hit you,” she mumbled as she took a seat at the small table by the bay window that overlooked her backyard.
Scott set a plate before her loaded with bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, and fruit. She knew it would be good. Out of all of them, Scott was the best cook. She picked up her fork and began to dig in. As anxious as she was to know what he wanted to talk about, she was just as nervous to hear it.
“You always hit me,” Scott said as he took the seat across from her. “Ever since you were a kid.
I have scars to prove it.”
She stopped chewing and stared at him. “You do not…Do you?”
Scott grinned as he took a bite of egg. “Maybe later I�
�ll show you,” he murmured around his bite.
“I don’t know,” she replied with just a hint of hesitation. “Where is it?”
The wicked grin on his face made her cheeks flush with dirty thoughts.
“You’re lying,” she said just before taking another bite of her breakfast.
“Maybe,” he drawled. “Maybe not.”
“I heard from Keith,” she said, changing the subject. “They got Paula.”
“Yeah, I know. I talked to him, too. He called from the phone on the plane.”
“Do you regret not going?” she asked.
Scott stared at her briefly before answering. “No. Especially not after last night.”
She took a deep breath and set her fork down. “About last night. I was drunk—“
“You said you loved me. Do you?”
His blunt question caught her off guard and for a few seconds all she could do was stare at him blankly.
“I don’t want any excuses about being drunk. I don’t want any attempts to change the subject. I want the truth.”
Kiley swallowed, unsure she could say the truth sober. “Why? Just so you can give me the same speech Keith does about how bad you would be for me?”
Scott frowned. “What?”
“Are you trying to bully a confession out of me? That will get you the truth,” she added in a snarky tone.
She stood and carried her plate to the sink, careful to keep her back to Scott so he wouldn’t see her shaking hands.
“Damn it, Kiley! That’s not what I’m doing. I just want the truth. You’re so damn hard to read.
If you care for me like that I never knew it. And believe me, I’ve been looking for signs. Any signs at all.”
Kiley’s heart stopped, but she didn’t dare turn around and look at him. If she did, she would fall apart. What was he saying? Was he saying what she’d wanted to hear since she was fifteen years old?
“I’ve always wanted you. For a long time, I’ve wanted you. But it wasn’t until I heard those words from you last night I realized I was in love with you.”
Kiley’s shoulders began to shake with silent sobs as tears fell unchecked from her eyes.
“Kiley?” Scott scooted his chair back and walked over. Grasping her shoulders, he turned her to face him. When she wouldn’t meet his gaze, he put his finger under her chin and forced it up.
“Look at me.”
Using the pad of his thumbs, he wiped away the tears.
“Say it again,” she whispered.
Scott’s lips twitched. “Say what again?”
“Say you love me.”
He smiled softly and cupped her face in his hands. “I love you.”
Kiley stood on her tiptoes and slanted her mouth over his. The groan of approval that rose from his chest vibrated against her own and sent a current of need screaming through her body.
Scott lowered his hands and wrapped them around her waist, pulling her tight against his warm, hard body. She slid her palms up his back. The muscles flexed and bunched under her fingers as his tongue slid between her parted lips and deepened the kiss even further.
She couldn’t get close enough. With trembling fingers she tugged his shirt up and ran her hands along the taut skin of his back.
“Hold onto me,” he murmured against her lips.
He cupped her ass, hauling her up and her arms lifted to snake around his neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he began to walk them toward her bedroom. Their lips were still locked, their tongues battling for control and every step he took rubbed his cock enticingly against her aching mound. Moaning, she tried to fit herself more tightly against him.
Once in the bedroom, Scott dumped her onto the bed where she landed with a soft squeal.
Looking up, she couldn’t take her eyes off him as he lifted his shirt over his head, exposing his muscular chest to her hungry gaze.
Every part of her body screamed for him to take her. Just looking at him sent her into a frenzy of lust so strong, she could hardly contain herself. Had he really said he loved her? She moved to her knees and pulled her shirt off as well. She matched him move for move; clothes for clothes, until they both were naked from head to toe.
Kiley dropped her gaze to his erect shaft and her breath caught. He was huge. Thick and long, it came practically to his naval. He was gorgeous with that big cock, those thick thighs and washboard stomach, as well as the most beautiful pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. And for the first time, those eyes were looking at her with unmistakable love. How had she not seen it before? Why had they wasted so much time?
She reached out and touched the tip of her finger to the head of his shaft. She ran it slowly down to the base, then back up, never taking her eyes off the lust burning in his.
“Your brother is so going to kick my ass for this,” he growled.
Kiley grinned. “Mine, too. But I think it will be worth it.”
“Oh, yeah,” he purred as he leaned forward. “Most definitely worth it.”
Chapter Twelve
Kiley fell to her back and uncurled her legs. Scott braced himself by placing his palms on the mattress next to her shoulders. He still had his feet on the floor and much to Kiley’s frustration, several inches separated their bodies.
She placed her hands at his waist before slowly feathering them up his ribs. Scott grinned as he lowered his mouth to hers. “I hope you’re not in a hurry,” he teased, then brushed his lips over hers.
Kiley sucked in a breath as she parted her lips, wanting so much more. Unfortunately, Scott seemed determined to make her beg.
“I plan on taking my time. Matter of fact,” he whispered. “I plan on making love to you all day long.”
* * * *
Keith carried Paula into the two bedroom hotel suite and placed her gently on the bed. The military doctor they often called upon when in London, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Lloyd, followed behind him.
“She’s been out a while now,” Keith said as he stood back and let the doctor examine her ribs.
Josh probed gently, but Paula never budged. She was out like a light, and Keith’s chest tightened with worry.
“How much did you give her?” Josh asked as he lifted one eye lid and shined a light at her pupil before quickly moving it aside.
“Same amount we always use.”
“She’s pretty small. May have been a bit much, but she should be fine and sleep it off. She may also be sick when she wakes up.” Josh stood and turned to face him. “I think at least two ribs are cracked. I’d really like to get them x-rayed. Mind bringing her by the base when she comes to?”
Keith nodded. “I also need to send one of the guys out for some clothes. Looks like what she’s wearing is hand-me-downs from someone else.”
Josh looked down at Paula and grinned slightly at the baggy clothes that covered her small frame. “How did she handle things?”
Keith’s lips quirked just a bit. “She was a trooper. Handled it a lot better than some have.” Josh studied him closely, making Keith squirm. “What?”
“You just sounded impressed. Not many people impress you, so I’m shocked.”
Keith frowned as he turned to leave the room. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“What’s her story?” Josh asked as he followed Keith out of the room and into the parlor that separated the two bedrooms.
“She got involved with someone she shouldn’t have and found herself in prison in Turkey for drug trafficking.”
“Jeez,” Josh replied as he took the cup of coffee John offered him. “Thanks.”
John nodded once, then turned to Keith. “The guys and I thought we might head out for a while, since we’re just mostly waiting around for her paperwork. Need anything?”
Keith inclined his head toward the bedroom. “Something for her to wear.”
“Anything in particular?”
“Nah, just something…I don’t know…casual.”
John snorted. “That helps. This is w
hen we need Kiley. Do you have any idea about a size?”
Keith looked to Josh for help. Josh snickered before replying, “I would say a size six. As for shoes, we need to look.”
“Hang on a sec,” Keith said as he walked to Paula’s bedroom.
She’d moved to her side, and he briefly let his gaze wander down her small frame. God, he would break someone that little if he tried to have sex with them. Surprised at the direction his thoughts were taking, he shook his head to try and clear it. Gently, so as not to wake her, he slid her shoe off her foot. He looked inside to find the size, then set it on the floor by the bed. He started to leave, but then decided to take the other one off as well, setting it on the floor by the first one.
He straightened and made his way to the other room. “She’s a seven in shoes.”
John wiggled two fingers at the other guys. “Got it. Let’s go.” He turned to grin at Keith. “Be back soon. Don’t wait up.”
“Wonder what he’ll come back with,” Josh mumbled dryly, but with a hint of amusement.
Keith shrugged. “He’ll either call Kiley or my assistant for suggestions. John isn’t any better at women’s fashions than I am.”
Josh chuckled. “You need a wife.”
“Oh, God no,” Keith said with a shudder.
“Being married isn’t so bad.”
“For you, maybe. How long have you been married now? Ten years?” Keith asked as he sat on the sofa.
Josh took the chair and smiled as he answered Keith’s question. “Twelve. Lots of Seals are happily married.”
“I’m not a Seal anymore. And I know just as many Seals who are unhappily divorced. Women don’t go well with a Mercenary lifestyle. Wives are even worse.”
Josh lifted his cup to take a sip of coffee. “Makes for a lonely life.”
“I’m not lonely. I have my pick of women. I can have sex pretty much anytime I want.” His lips twitched. “Can you say the same?”
Josh snorted. “Kind of hard to have sex when your wife is stateside. I get where you’re coming from. I do. But I still say there’s a woman out there that can love you despite who you are.”
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