Scheme of Maneuver: A Career Soldier Military Romance

by Tawdra Kandle

  “Better than okay, as long as I’m with you.” I smiled. “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  For the first hour of our drive, I tried to guess where Owen was taking me. Teasing him to get hints took both of our minds off what had happened with Kade; I was determined that I wouldn’t let my brother steal our joy in each other.

  We took route 460 East, but it wasn’t until the road morphed into Interstate 264 and I saw some road signs that I realized what our destination had to be.

  “Owen . . . are you taking me to the beach?” I bounced up and down in my seat. “Seriously? Oh, my God!”

  He grinned, clearly pleased by my reaction. “Where else would I take my California girl but the beach? It won’t be exactly the same as what you’re used to, but Virginia Beach has got sand, an ocean and sunshine.”

  “As long as it’s got you, I couldn’t be happier.”

  I could barely contain my excitement as we pulled up to a high-rise hotel right on the beach. Owen took our bags out of the trunk and tossed the keys to the waiting valet. After a quick stop at the registration desk to check in, an elevator whisked us up to our suite.

  The room was perfect. Wide floor-to-ceiling windows gave us an expansive view of the beach, and every thoughtful touch, from the gleaming wood furniture to the plush robe in the large bathroom, exuded luxury. But what caught my interest most was the king-sized bed that beckoned me.

  I turned to Owen, fitting my body to his. “This is the most perfect place I can imagine. Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “You’re very welcome. I’d do anything for you, babe. Anything that would make you happy. I hope you know that.” He rubbed small circles over my back before he brushed his hands lower to cup my ass, urging me even closer. “God, Jacey. I feel like a kid about to lose his virginity. I can’t think of anything but wanting you.”

  “You’ve got me.” I ground my hips against him. “I’m yours.”

  Owen began to lower his head to mine, and then he paused. “Hold on a second. I almost forgot.” Releasing me, he reached down to where his small suitcase sat on the floor. He dug around for a minute and pulled out a plastic shopping bag.

  “Here.” He thrust it toward me. “I hope you’ll like this. I wanted to do it for you, but I don’t want you to think I’m pressuring you into anything or making an assumption about our future. It’s just . . . a gift.”

  My heart beat a little faster as I accepted the bag and opened it. When I withdrew the large square box inside, my mouth dropped open. “Owen . . . is this . . . oh.” I eased off the lid. “My God. Look at this camera.”

  He still seemed nervous, and I wasn’t sure why. “It’s the best one, I guess. Or a lot of people seem to think so. I did all the research I could, and this seemed to be the consensus. If you’d rather have something else, we can trade it in. Or if I totally misread the situation, you don’t have to take it. I just . . . I wanted to do this for you.”

  “Owen, I love it.” I examined the camera, checking out all the buttons and features. “Why on earth would you think I wouldn’t?”

  He sighed. “I didn’t want to be one more person assuming I knew what was best for you. Last week, I saw how excited you were when you talked about photography, and that’s when I got the idea. I couldn’t wait to give it to you, but then I wondered if I was jumping to conclusions. You know, trying to push you into making a decision about your future. If you decide you want to pursue photography in some form, then great. But it’s fine if you don’t, too.”

  Tears flooded my eyes. “You amaze me. Not only do you know the perfect place to take me. . . and the perfect gift to give me . . . you know exactly what I need to hear, too. You’re not pressuring me, Owen. You’re opening doors in case I want to walk through them. Thank you. This is so cool. I can’t wait to use it.” I sniffled, wiping at my eyes. “You didn’t know this, but I actually signed up for a couple of photography courses this week, to brush up on the subject. And I talked to Samantha about volunteering to take pictures at some of the events on the battlefield in Petersburg, so that I can build up my portfolio. I was going to look at getting a used camera next week.”

  Owen’s smile was wide and full of joy. “Now you don’t have to. Now you have one.”

  “How can I ever thank you?” I replaced the camera in its box and lay it carefully on the dresser. “Can you think of something I could do that might express my gratitude . . .” I began to unbutton his shirt. “And my love, too. Does anything come to mind?”

  “I can think of one or two ways.” He spanned my waist with his hands and lifted me until I wrapped my legs around his hips. I felt the hard length of his erection under his jeans against the thin lace of my panties, and suddenly, everything else in the world lost significance. I moved against him, desperate to be as close as possible.

  “Let’s start here.” He breathed the words just before he slanted his head and sealed his mouth over mine.

  Chapter Five

  Owen

  It was the best night of my life. No question about that.

  I’d been kissing this woman pretty regularly for over a month now. I knew the shape of her mouth, the feel of her soft lips under mine, the sensuous way her tongue stroked into my mouth, teasing and inviting me . . . I knew her taste and her texture.

  But there was something inherently different about kissing her in the front seat of my car or on her brother’s sofa or when we were saying goodnight at her door—and this. Those other kisses had been an end unto themselves. I knew that they weren’t leading anywhere else. But today, as I explored her open mouth, I knew this was just the opening act. It was still wonderful and important, but it was leading to much, much more.

  Clearly, my body had received this message, too, because my dick had jumped to life, pressing like a spike against my zipper. I willed it to behave . . . for now. There was so much I wanted to do to her . . . with her . . . and I wasn’t sure where to start. But the heat pushing right against my stomach gave me a good idea.

  I stepped forward until my knees hit the end of the mattress, and then I lowered both of us down onto the bed. Jacey landed beneath me, her silky hair spreading out around her flushed face like a halo. Her eyes were soft and smoky, gazing up at me with so much emotion that I felt my own throat close.

  “Jacey . . .” I whispered her name, and it felt like a prayer. “I want to taste you. I want to feel you surge and come against my mouth. I want to lick you until you scream.” I dipped my lips to touch hers. “What is it that you want?”

  One side of her mouth curled up into a half-smile. “I want exactly that. I only want you, Owen. Only ever you.”

  It was all I needed to hear. Raising myself over her, I trailed kisses over the satin skin above her neckline, easing the material of her dress out of the way, exposing her luscious tits. Holy God, this woman was stacked. I brushed my fingers over the lace-covered nipples, watching in fascination as the rosy-tips hardened beneath my touch.

  “What do you like here, baby? Should I kiss them softly or suck them hard?”

  “Hard.” Jacey writhed. “Suck them hard. It makes me so hot . . . and wet.”

  “I live to serve.” I did as she asked, taking as much of her between my lips as I could, wetting the lace thoroughly. She clutched at the back of my neck, urging me on, nudging my head to the other side. Once I’d shifted, her fingers wandered to the other nipple I’d just left wet and well-laved, pinching and playing with the nub. Seeing her pleasure herself drove me out of my mind.

  Her dress was fitted over her ribs, and I couldn’t pull it down any further. Instead, I lifted the short skirt, revealing lace panties that matched the bra. Her sweet pussy was shaved bare and waiting for me.

  “Jacey, God.” With one finger, I traced her seam over the material, parting her for me, spreading her legs wide. “You’re so wet. I’ve got to feel you . . .” I slipped under the lace, my fingertips gliding through her swollen folds. “And taste you.”

&nbs
p; I fumbled to get the panties out of my way, sliding them down her legs until she kicked them away. And then I buried my face in nirvana.

  She tasted . . . exquisite. I couldn’t remember ever using that word before, but it was the perfect one here. I touched her with the tip of my tongue and was rewarded with her sharp hiss of breath. Smiling, I licked her from bottom to top and then sucked her clit between my lips.

  “Owen.” She moaned my name, canting her hips so that her sex pressed into my mouth. I spread my hands over her ass, holding her to me as her hands clutched my head.

  She was getting close. I could tell by the way her breath came in short puffs and her body wriggled against me. Her voice as she called out my name was filled with building need.

  “Do it, Jacey. Come for me. Come against my mouth. I want to taste you when you hit that peak.”

  She gasped, arched her back and dug her fingers into my hair. “God—Owen—don’t stop—my God—” She cried out again, riding the climax as I stayed with her, stroking and kissing until her breathing had calmed. Her legs still trembled a little from the intensity of her orgasm. I ran my hand down her thighs, soothing, before I trailed kisses back up her body until I was level with her eyes.

  “Hi.”

  She laughed softly, blinking at me. “Hi. That was incredible.”

  “You’re incredible. Hey, Jace, have I told you that I’m wild about you?”

  Her cheeks, already pink from her pleasure, went positively rosy. “Not since you went down on me.”

  “Huh. I’m sorry, I’ve been remiss.” I kissed her lips, letting her taste herself on me. “I love you, Jacey.”

  She gave a happy little hum of contentment. “I’m so glad you do. And if you roll over right now, I’ll show you how I feel about you.”

  I cocked one eyebrow. “I’m intrigued.” I dropped onto my back and laced my fingers together behind my head to watch what she would do.

  Jacey rose up onto her knees next to me. Crossing her arms over her middle, she drew her dress up over her head and tossed it away, leaving her in just her bra. She reached behind her back to unhook it, wriggling it down her arms before it flew off to join the rest of her clothes.

  “Wait a minute.” I laid my hand on her leg. “Let me look at you. I’ve been waiting to see you naked. I want to appreciate it.”

  She rolled her eyes, but I saw the pleased expression on her face. “When do I get to appreciate? You’re still dressed.”

  “Let’s take care of that.” I sat up, and together, we unbuttoned my shirt before I shrugged out of it. Jacey slung her leg over my thighs, straddling me as she reached for the button of my jeans. With excruciating slowness, she flipped open the button and slid down the zipper. My cock sprang up, freed, covered only by the thin cotton of my boxers.

  Jacey closed her fingers over my length, pumping me a couple of times before she helped take my jeans and boxers the rest of the way down my legs and off me. Once the pants were out of the way, she lay down between my legs, looking up at me.

  “What do you like?” She fisted me again, running her finger tips along my length.

  My voice was hoarse as I gazed down at her. “Kiss it. Lick it. Take me deep. Whatever you want to do, because as long as it’s you, it’s going to be the best thing I’ve ever felt.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Carte blanche. I like it.” She brought her head down, her tongue darting out to swirl around the crown. When she teased the slit, I growled in agonized pleasure. Before I could recover, she’d taken me between her lips, bobbing up and down over me, moving languidly at first and then with increasing speed.

  My balls tightened as her hot little mouth worked magic on me. I combed my fingers into her hair, caressing her head. “Jacey, babe . . . I want to come inside you.”

  She kissed the tip of my dick and slithered up my body. “I want you inside me, too. But we’ve got all night.”

  “We do. But I want this now. I’ve been fantasizing about burying myself inside you. I want to sink into you, feel you around me . . . God, babe. Now.”

  “Yes. Now.” She rose up over me and then paused. “Condom?”

  I managed to nod. “Side pocket of my bag. Whole box of them.”

  Jacey grinned. “Ambitious, are we?”

  I huffed out a laugh. “Hopeful.” My eyes trailed her as she knelt by the suitcase and found the box. She ripped open the small packet and resumed her position, the tip of her tongue darting to the corner of her mouth as she focused on rolling the condom onto me.

  “Now . . .” She positioned her entrance over my erection. “Now.” Slowly, she lowered herself onto me, taking me in, deeper than I’d thought possible. Sucking in a deep breath, she ground down, searching for the move and rhythm that brought each of us the most pleasure. Once she’d found it, we both groaned.

  “Owen . . .” Jacey covered her boobs with her hands, pinching her nipples. “God, I love you. You are so perfect inside me. So hard, so long . . .”

  “You take me so deep. Your pussy is the sweetest thing. I want to fuck you hard, baby. Ride me. Ride me fast.”

  Her breathing picked up, and bracing her hands against my chest, she rocked against me. I needed to be closer to her, to feel her slim body pressed close to my heart. I pushed myself up and wrapped my arms around her, bringing me even deeper inside her. Her eyes widened.

  “Jacey, honey, I’m going to come. Are you . . . God, I can’t stop. I have to—”

  She threw back her head and let out a long keening cry as her pussy tightened around me, making it impossible for me to stop the pleasure that rocketed through me. I shouted, holding her tight, chanting her name over and over against her neck as I pulsed and throbbed within the woman I loved.

  “Owen.” Jacey sighed my name as we collapsed together onto the bed. “God, that was . . . I can’t think of a word. Perfect? Intense? Un-fucking-believable?”

  “It was love, honey.” I swept her hair out of her face, kissing her flushed cheek. “It was incredible because it wasn’t just sex. It was me loving you. You loving me. It was us.”

  Her full lips curved into a smile of repletion. “I like us.”

  “I like us, too.” After I slipped out of bed to get rid of the condom, I settled myself behind her, curving my body around hers and draping one arm around her waist. Jacey sighed, relaxing into me. My eyes drifted shut as I breathed her scent deep and fell into the sleep of the satisfied and loved.

  * * *

  There had been a time in my life when getting up at five for PT every morning had been a simple thing. I’d party all weekend, hooking up with women, drinking, playing games of pick-up ball with my friends and staying up until all hours. And then I’d bounce out of bed on Monday morning with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. No problemo.

  But that was then, and this was now.

  Jacey and I had squeezed the shit out of this past weekend. We’d spent Saturday night alternating between the hottest sex I’d ever known and sleeping. We’d fucked in the shower, against the wall of the hotel room, in one of the wide winged chairs . . . and I’d even bent her over the desk and taken her from behind.

  Room service had brought us our dinner, which we’d eaten in bed while we talked, touched and kissed. Afterward, I’d rubbed her back until I was so hard that I had to have her again. She’d rolled over with a sleepy smile, slid down my body and sucked my cock until I’d come with a roar into her waiting mouth.

  When the sky had lightened, we’d gotten up and finally left the room, walking on the beach hand in hand as the sun rose over the ocean. Jacey had told me stories about growing up on the beach, and I’d told her about what I wanted for my future—which I was beginning to think of as our future.

  We’d arranged for a late check-out, so after the beach walk, we’d returned to the room and slept for a few hours before leaving to head home. When I’d dropped Jacey at her brother’s house, I’d asked if she wanted me to walk her inside.

  “No.” She’d smiled
as she kissed my cheek. “We’ll be fine, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  Back at the barracks, I’d had some work to finish, but still, I’d gotten to bed at a decent hour. Even so, when the alarm went off the next morning, I felt like I’d been hit by a large speeding truck.

  Down on the field for formation, Jake smirked when he spotted me. “Dude, you look like you were ridden hard and put away wet. Rough weekend?”

  I grinned and shook my head. “Actually, best weekend of my life so far. But I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep.”

  “Ahhhhh . . .” He nodded knowingly. “So that’s why Kade looks like shit, too. Because your best weekend was with his little sister.”

  I glanced down the line to where our friend stood. “Could be.”

  “You know, you might want to talk with him. I understand what’s going on with you and Jacey, but this isn’t easy on Kade. Throw him a bone. The guy’s suffering.”

  I lifted my shoulder, non-committal. “I did the right thing. I came clean, I told him how I felt about Jacey, and I kept all my promises.” I leaned down, stretching my back. “What’s between us—Jacey and me—it’s not just a hook-up. It’s real.”

  Jake cocked one eyebrow. “You found her, huh?”

  “Found her?” I frowned.

  He slapped my back. “The one. You found the one for you. Haven’t you noticed that all of us have gone from alone to attached in the last year or so? It’s not accidental. We’ve hit a certain age, and we’ve gotten lucky enough to fall in love with women who not only tolerate our pathetic asses but seem to love us, too. Crazy, but look around. You were the last hold-out, and now you’ve fallen, too.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I know.” I turned my head, taking in Max, who was talking with Shaw and Derek. Kade was the only one of us standing alone and silent.

  The lieutenant leading our run this morning called out, and everyone fell in. For the next five miles, I concentrated only on moving my feet and staying upright between the column of men and women on either side of me, listening half-heartedly to the guy who was calling the cadences.