How she wanted him filling her until they were joined so tightly they couldn’t tell where each of them started.
“I need you inside of me, Ethan. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Soon, Izzy, soon,” he said against her skin.
Her moan of displeasure soon turned to a groan of delight as he sucked her silken folds into his mouth. Her head thrashed against the pillow as his tongue laved, licked, and bit her sensitive bundle of nerves. Her orgasm built in her toes and traversed up her legs. Isabella gripped the bedsheets and cried out loud with the release, her body shaking with the force of her climax. Ethan kept licking her, prolonging her orgasm until she crashed over the edge again.
Her erratic breathing echoed around the room as her heart thumped loudly in her chest.
“You okay, Izzy?” Ethan asked as she heard a crinkle. Another shudder ripped through her at the sound.
“I will be the second you get inside of me.”
He chuckled and the next instant he was laying over her, his dick nudging at her entrance. “Your wish is my command.”
He slid into her easily. Their mingled sighs of pleasure competed with the low hum of the air conditioner. Fully seated in her, Ethan paused—was he giving her time to adjust or did he need a moment to compose himself? It didn’t matter. She reveled in the sensation.
After a few seconds, he raised himself and retreated from her body before thrusting back in. He repeated the motion in a slow, measured movement, drawing out her pleasure. As his pace increased, so did their sounds of pleasure.
Isabella hooked her legs around his waist, angling her hips to send his thrusts deeper. The new angle ensured he hit her G-spot, and she bit down on his shoulder to stop from screaming out. But nothing could stop her from voicing the desire strumming through her.
“Oh, God, Ethan, I can’t take much more.”
His ragged breathing was loud in her ear. “Neither can I,” he said, and his rhythm faltered for a moment before becoming faster, smoother.
This time her orgasm started at the base of her spine, tingling through her nerve endings until they all met at her core and she exploded all around him. Her inner muscles clenched tightly around Ethan, and she knew the moment his release hit him. Not because of the way he shouted her name, but because of the way he jerked inside of her, totally out of control. It was wonderful.
Ethan gathered her close and rolled them so she was lying on top of him, their bodies still spasming as they came down from their high.
Isabella closed her eyes and snuggled closer. Nothing in her life was better than this moment.
Chapter Twelve
Ethan glanced from the road to Isabella in the passenger seat. Her hands were resting on her thighs and her fingers were tapping out a rapid beat. The closer they got to her dad’s house, the more tense she became. If anyone should be nervous it should be him. After all, he was meeting her father for the first time.
He laid his hand over one of hers, stilling her nervous movements. “It’s going to be fine, Izzy. I have your six.”
Her fingers gripped his and he controlled the shaft of desire flowing through him. Last night had been amazing and waking up in her arms had been even better. If he hadn’t heard the tail end of her conversation with her dad the previous evening, he would’ve persuaded her to stay in bed with him all day. But he had and going to see her father today was a big step in their relationship. No way did he want to come between father and daughter.
“It’s not like we’re going into a battle or anything. It’s lunch with my dad.”
“Aren’t we? I realize we haven’t known each other very long, but from our conversations, you’ve alluded to a strained relationship between you and your dad.”
“I don’t know what our relationship is at the moment. It goes from good to bad. I want it to stay good.” Isabella sighed.
He wanted to pull her in his arms and hold her close. Not possible considering he was driving, but the second they arrived at her father’s house, that was what he planned to do.
“Why don’t you tell me a little about him? You said he was in the army and then joined a special forces team.”
The most elite team in the army was Delta Force. If Isabella’s father was part of that he’d have kept his job pretty quiet from her. The less she knew the safer she’d be.
“Yeah, he never talked much about what he did. There were times I’d come home from school and find June at the house. I was thirteen when my mom left, and seeing as I pretty much had looked after myself from the age of six, the fact he wasn’t there didn’t bother me too much.”
“Who’s June?”
“I suppose you could say she was my nanny. She would stay with me until Dad returned. She was wonderful, but because I was still confused about Mom leaving, I was more of a brat than I should’ve been.”
Ethan squeezed her hand again. “I’m sure she understood. Maybe you should look her up. Does your dad still know where she lives?”
“I can’t.”
Her response was immediate and curt. Okay, best to leave that matter lie. “Does your dad do any sort of work now?”
“Yeah, he works at one of the big box hardware stores. He loves to help people with their DIY projects. If he could, I’m sure he’d go over there and do it with them.”
Ethan chuckled. “I think I’m going to like your dad. I don’t mind the odd DIY project.”
“Great, just what I need, two guys who think they can fix anything.” Isabella groaned and it took him back to the previous evening when she groaned as she climaxed around him. He shifted in his seat in an attempt to alleviate his growing hard-on.
“I promise not to encourage your dad to talk about his favorite brand of power tool.”
He was pleased she smiled. It didn’t quite reach her eyes, but at least it was better than the frown that had been marring her forehead the whole drive.
“I’m going to hold you to that one, Ethan Masters.”
“Anytime. I keep my promises.”
Well, he tried really hard and so far he’d been able to keep his word with his dealings with Isabella. His GPS broke the silence that had descended around them and he followed the instruction to turn right; in five hundred feet his destination would be on the left.
When they pulled into the driveway, he turned the engine off and studied the bungalow in front of him. The walls appeared to be freshly painted and in the corner of the front porch sat a swinging love seat. Everything about the place looked meticulously looked after and showed the person who lived inside took pride in their home.
He glanced over at Isabella and studied her as she kept staring at the house. “How long has it been since you’ve been here?” he asked.
“A while,” she responded quietly. He waited for her to make the move to get out of the car. The second her spine straightened and she pushed her shoulders back he knew she’d made her decision. “Let’s go.”
Not giving her a chance to back out, he released his seat belt at the same time as she did hers. Her hand reached out for the door handle and he reached over and squeezed her thigh. “Let me.”
She nodded and leaned down to pick her purse up off the floor in front of her. Her fingers gripped the leather, another sign that nerves still resided inside of her.
When he opened her door he held out his hand, relieved when she placed hers in it without any argument. He liked knowing she was leaning on him for support.
They’d taken two steps when she stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t bring anything. How could I not bring anything?”
Tugging her so she fell against him, he slipped his free arm around her and lowered his head until she had no option but to look up at him. “I don’t think your dad will expect you to bring anything. He’ll be glad to see you, and remember, you’re not in this alone. I’m right here beside you.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond, just closed the small gap between them an
d kissed her gently. The kiss wasn’t like the carnal ones they’d shared the previous evening. This was a kiss to reiterate everything he’d just said to her. Her body softened against his and he willed his growing erection to subside. What a great first impression that would make, walking into his girlfriend’s father’s house with the telltale bulge outlining his jeans.
Reluctantly, he severed their connection and rested his forehead against hers. Her breath puffing out against his chin. Nothing was better than standing like this with her.
“Can we stay like this forever?” she asked on a sigh.
“Would be nice but I’d prefer to be in a house than in your dad’s driveway.”
A little laugh rippled through her and the tension inside of her appeared to have dissipated between his kiss and their embrace. “Yeah, not sure Dad will be too impressed.” Putting a little distance between them she reached up and swiped her finger across his lips, his body jerked at the touch and he resisted the urge to chase her finger and suck it into his mouth. “That shade doesn’t suit you.”
Geez, he needed to get his mind out of the gutter and into meeting-the-father mode. This flirting needed to stop, but hell, it was so much fun. “Shame, I thought it would be nice to match when we met your dad.”
“Are you two planning to stay out there for the whole of your visit?” A gruff voice broke through their little cocoon and he automatically stood straighter.
Turning, he saw a tall man standing on the porch. Like Ethan, he wore his hair in a short buzz cut and had on jeans and a button-down shirt. Well, if two people were going to match, it was he and Isabella’s dad.
“Showtime,” Isabella muttered beside him. “Hi, Dad, it’s good to see you.”
Isabella made no attempt to move toward the house and he wasn’t going to force her to move until she was good and ready to.
As if sensing his daughter’s reluctance, her dad stepped off the porch and approached the two of them. The second he got close enough to them, the other man’s face split into a wide grin and in two strides he swept Isabella up into a warm hug. “Honey bee, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Honey bee?
Ethan didn’t know what surprised him the most, her dad’s nickname for her or her wide-eyed look at being hugged by her dad. Did they not normally hug when they saw each other? His mom always greeted him with a warm embrace and a sloppy kiss on the cheek. His dad, the obligatory slap-on-the-back-man-hug. He imagined when he took Isabella to meet his folks they’d do the same to her, although Dad wouldn’t slap her on the back. After seeing Isabella’s reaction to her father’s hug, he might have to warn them not to get so friendly.
And he totally needed to slow down. What he needed to concentrate on was getting through this day and then he could look at what was going to happen tomorrow. It wasn’t like his life was clear-cut at the moment. He had decisions to make, and he’d been putting them off. Soon he wouldn’t be able to ignore them.
“Dad, this is Ethan Masters. Ethan, my dad, Eric Knowles.”
Ethan stepped forward and held out his hand. “Sir, it’s nice to meet you.” Eric grasped his hand in a firm hold. He would expect nothing less of her father and an ex-military man.
“Good to meet you too. How about we continue this conversation inside where it’s cool?”
When he turned, Ethan couldn’t help but notice the precision of his turn. He had no idea how long Eric had been out of the military, but he certainly hadn’t lost the skills that had been drummed into him.
Ethan waited until Isabella’s dad was a couple of steps ahead of them before he slipped his arm back around her waist. “You okay?” he murmured in her ear.
Holding her so close to him, it was impossible to miss the full body shiver that ripped through her when his lips connected with her ear. His body answered with one of its own.
“Yeah, it was just the…”
“The hug?” he finished for her.
“Yep, he’s not usually big on affection.”
The uncertainty in her voice almost killed him and he wished there was a way he could rip it out of her. No one should ever question signs of affection from their parents.
“Just remember, I’m here for you. Any time you want to leave, let me know.”
“Thank you,” she said softly and kissed him on the cheek. “I do feel like I can face anything with you by my side.”
Her words filled him with hope, that a future was possible for them. The more time he spent with her the more he wanted to always come home to her. “That’s what I’m here for, Izzy.”
“Well, I hope that’s not all,” she said on a laugh as they entered the house.
“I promise I’ll show you later exactly what else I’m here for.” Again her body reacted with a delicious little shimmer and he made himself think of repetitive marching drills in an attempt to control his ever rising erection.
*
So far, so good.
The words whispered through Isabella’s mind as the front door clicked shut behind Ethan. He’d offered to get more beer, at her father’s suggestion of course. They’d gotten through lunch without too many landmines exploding. She didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know her father wanted to spend some alone time with her to quiz her about Ethan.
“I like him, honey bee. And it’s clear he likes you. How about you? What do you think of your young man?”
All day, Dad had been calling her honey bee. When Ethan had called her Izzy she’d let herself believe he was the first man to give her a nickname. Travis had always called her Isabella. But she was wrong. Like the memories of June, she’d pushed her father’s nickname to the far recesses of her mind. She’d believed she’d been doing it for her own good, dwelling on the past was never a good thing, especially if that past wasn’t pleasant. But slowly and surely, good times were beginning to filter back into her consciousness, reminding her that not everything had been bad and the rift between her and her father was of her doing, not his. She’d pushed him away because she thought it would keep her safe.
“Isabella? Are you okay?”
While she’d been strolling through her memories, her dad had moved off his chair and was squatting in front of her, his hand hovering above her knee.
“Yeah, Dad, I’m good. Better than I’ve been in a while and, in answer to your question, I like Ethan too.”
The smile splitting her dad’s face told her all she needed to know. But she needed to stop him from getting any ideas.
“Stop whatever it is you’re thinking, Dad.”
He moved back to his chair. “What am I thinking?” he said, attempting to widen his eyes in innocence.
Had he always been this fun?
Yes, he’d always teased and joked with her, but after Mom left them, Isabella had put up a barrier and things went from good to bad. She had blamed him for Mom walking out, even though life had been better once she’d been gone. She’d maintained that wall even though she thought she’d been letting him in. How wrong she’d been.
“You’re thinking dresses and churches and flowers.”
He shrugged and lifted his bottle of light beer to his lips. “A dad’s job is to make sure his daughter is well looked after and with the right man. And you’re happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Dad, we’ve only just started dating. Anything could happen. He could be hiding terrible habits and hasn’t shown them to me yet.”
Her dad burst out laughing. “Who are you trying to convince?” He leaned forward and waited for her to do the same, which she did. She waited for an invisible cone to close down on them, like their conversation had to be conducted without prying ears. “Honey bee, I know things between us haven’t been easy. I know I should’ve tried harder to bridge the gap, but I’m a man, a military man at that, we don’t show our true feelings too much. In our line of work, any hint of vulnerability could get us killed.”
If Dad was trying to make her feel better abou
t pursuing a relationship with Ethan, telling her that falling in love with Ethan could get him killed wasn’t the way to go about it.
Whoa, hang on, I am not falling in love with Ethan. Nope. No way. Not happening.
Isabella tried to grasp that thought close, but her heart pushed it away, telling her that yes she was. Nope, she wasn’t listening to her heart. This time she was going to listen to her head, and her head said no way.
Why did she think her heart was laughing at her?
“Now I’ve gone and worried you, haven’t I?” he asked.
“No, you haven’t.” Even she could hear the tremor in her voice.
“That wasn’t what I meant to do. Back in my day, things were different from what they are today. I’ve found that out from my frequent visits to the veterans’ home and by talking to this generation of soldiers. Now, the men tell me there’s a lot more avenues of support for families and servicemen than before. Places where both men and women can talk about issues. The individual special ops teams are like little communities. All supporting and being there for each other during good times and bad. Certainly makes me wonder if some of the services they talk about were available during my marriage, things may have been different for us.” He paused and ran a hand over his head. “Sure, there are still some relationships that don’t work out. Hell, I know I should’ve done more for your mom. You shouldn’t have had to deal with what you did as a kid. That’s on me. I hold myself accountable for letting you both down.”
Tears began a slow trickle down her cheeks. This was the most honest she’d ever heard her father being. The conversation they were now having was one they should’ve had years ago, when he first moved to San Antonio to be closer to her. “I feel like I should say it’s not your fault,” she began. “But I’d be lying if I did.” God, it killed her to say that to her dad, but honesty was needed in this conversation. To rebuild their relationship, and boy did she want to rebuild it, both of them wouldn’t benefit if she denied how she truly felt.
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