by Susan Stoker
“Is it wrong that I found that extremely sexy?” Emily asked in a quiet voice, smiling broadly when Fletch’s head whipped around to stare at her incredulously.
She held up a hand to forestall anything he might say. “I know, I know, I’m sick, but you totally took charge, and even the vein pumping in your forehead is turning me on right now.”
A small smile crept across Fletch’s face. “How can I want to laugh when I’m so pissed off?”
Emily reached out a hand and put it on Fletch’s arm. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For dealing with that so I didn’t have to. For protecting me, even when I don’t really need it because I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time now. For being pissed on my behalf…and yours. For just…all of it. Thanks.”
Fletch’s face relaxed and Emily could almost see his muscles unclenching.
She went on before he could say anything. “And I was being serious. Everyone’s eyes in the restaurant were on you. You commanded everyone’s attention but you didn’t even seem to notice. That’s sexy as hell.”
“Come here, Em,” Fletch growled, reaching out with a hand and putting it on the back of her neck as he pulled her to him.
Emily didn’t hesitate, but leaned over the middle seat of the truck toward him at the same time he bent into her. The kiss didn’t start out sweet like the only other time they’d kissed. This one was carnal and hot.
Fletch held her to him and devoured her mouth. He plunged inside as if he was claiming his prize, caveman style. Maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe it was what guys did after the heat of battle. But it didn’t matter. Emily didn’t protest, she simply opened more and let Fletch take what he wanted. She felt herself grow slick and her nipples hardened under his passionate deluge.
Shifting in her seat to try to assuage the ache between her legs, Emily groaned in frustration and ecstasy as he fucked her mouth with his tongue. He wasn’t making love to it, he was claiming it, marking her to the world as his own…and Emily loved it.
Finally, he pulled back, looking down at her, taking all of her in…from her peaked nipples to her heavy breathing. “Jesus, Em. You have me so worked up I have to keep reminding myself that we’re parked in a public lot outside a fairly busy restaurant. But…even that’s not really helping. I want you. I want you under me, writhing like you were just now, begging for my tongue, my cock. I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you right now.”
Emily closed her eyes at his words for a moment, feeling them zing down to her core. She flexed her fingers against the seat under her, then opened her eyes and met his gaze straight on. “Yes.”
She was fascinated at the way his pupils dilated at the one word. Oh yeah, he liked that.
“Damn.” The word was guttural and came from the depths of his belly.
Confused when he pulled back, Emily could only stare at Fletch.
“Don’t look at me like that, Em. I’m holding on to my control by a thread here. I want you. I want nothing more than to push you back, strip off your shirt and suck on those nipples I can see pushing out toward me. I want to feast on your pussy more than I want to breathe. I’ve imagined what you’ll look like naked and panting for me over and over. But…not here. When I get between those succulent thighs of yours, it’ll be when I can take my time.
“Not only are we in a public place, but Annie, Rayne, and Mary are waiting for us to get home. I need to talk to Ghost and the rest of the team and figure out what we’re going to do about that fucker Jacks. Coach will contact them and get the ball rolling, but I need to give them a heads up on what went on here tonight. Oh, and my colonel needs to know about this latest play on Jacks’s part as well.
“Lastly, I’m not going to rush this. I want you, but I also don’t want this to only be about sex. I’m in this for the long haul. We have time to get to know each other before we jump into bed together.”
At the look of obvious frustration on Emily’s face, he went on, “But, mark this, it’s not going to be six months like it was with Annie’s father. I’m thinking a week or two, max. I’m all about anticipation, but I’m not that patient. I’ve wondered what you’ll feel and taste like for too many months to drag it out much longer.”
Emily could only nod and swallow painfully. She had no spit in her mouth at all. She could picture Fletch lying between her legs, smirking up at her right before he lowered his head. She’d gotten herself off more than once just thinking about that very thing. At least…before she thought he was an asshole. Having the real thing just might kill her, but what a way to go.
Emily clenched her teeth and shifted back to sit properly in her seat. “Okay.”
“Okay,” Fletch confirmed, reaching out a hand and brushing her hair away from her face tenderly. “Thank you for a wonderful time tonight. You’re easy to talk to, not demanding at all, and beautiful to boot. I’m a lucky man.”
Emily bit her lip, but didn’t say anything.
“Come on, let’s get home. I’m sure Rayne and Mary are dying to hear how our date went.”
“I like them,” Emily said, both relieved and sad that the sexual tension eased from the cab of the truck. “I mean, I don’t know them all that well yet, but they seem nice.”
“They are nice. I know Rayne better than her friend, but I think you’ll like her. She’s a lot like you…down-to-earth and can be snarky as hell sometimes.”
“I’m not snarky,” Emily exclaimed huffily.
Fletch laughed as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Don’t get me wrong, I like snarky…at least on you. It means you’re tough.”
“I let Jacks walk all over me,” Emily pointed out a bit sadly.
“No, you were protecting your daughter. That’s completely different.”
“I should’ve confronted you.”
“Yeah, maybe so, but I should’ve asked you about him, so we’re even in the blame game. We’ve been over this. It’s done.”
“You like when I’m snarky?” Emily asked, trying to get back to the mood they’d had.
“Yup.”
“Even when it’s with you?”
“Yup.”
“You’re weird.”
Fletch chuckled. “Guess so.”
Emily laid her head back on the headrest and sighed. “Thanks for the date, Fletch.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Are you going to kiss me at the doorstep then pretend to drive away to complete the illusion that this was a conventional date?”
“You’ll have to wait and see. Can’t let you know all my secrets.”
Emily turned her head without lifting it. “I can’t wait.”
It turned out that Fletch did almost exactly that. He pulled up to the front of his house and shut off the engine to his truck. He asked her to stay put and walked around to open her door. They held hands as they approached the front door, and he kissed the hell out of her. It wasn’t a “thanks, I had a good first date” kiss. It was an “I want to fuck you right here against the door” kiss.
Emily stood breathless for a moment, happy to see that Fletch was just as out of breath as she was.
“Go inside, Em. I’ll be in there in a bit.”
She looked down at his obvious erection and nodded. It would be awkward to walk into the house with the other women and Annie there to see him like that. He tipped an imaginary hat to her and backed away toward his truck. Emily let herself inside and quickly tapped in the code. She was getting more comfortable with the alarm system…not all the way, but enough so that she could input the numbers without having to think too hard about them.
Rayne and Mary smiled at her from the couch and both stood up as Emily entered. “Have a good time?” Rayne asked
“Yeah.”
“Fletch parking?”
“Yup.”
“If I had to guess, I’d say you look…satisfied,” Mary observed with a smirk
.
“Then you’d be wrong,” Emily retorted before she could think. Smacking a hand over her mouth, she smiled as both women laughed.
“Give it a day or so, I’m betting that’s how long he’ll be able to stay away from you,” Rayne quipped.
“He said a week or so.”
Rayne barked out a laugh. “He’s dreaming.”
Emily could only smile at the other woman. She turned when the door opened behind her and Fletch strode in. She stared at him in wonder. How he got better looking every time she saw him was beyond her.
“Everything all right tonight?” he asked Rayne and Mary.
“Yup. No problems,” Rayne told him easily.
“Ghost coming over to get you two?”
“Yeah, I just need to call him.”
“No need, I texted him and Truck before I moved my vehicle.”
Rayne rolled her eyes at Fletch, but didn’t protest.
Mary, on the other hand, did protest. “Why the fuck did you text Trucker? I’m going with Rayne.”
“Actually, no you’re not,” Fletch told the riled woman with a smile. “Truck told me to let him know when I got back so he could drive you home.”
“Well, he’s not my dad or my boyfriend, so he can just go to hell,” Mary stated emphatically with her arms crossed.
“Deal,” Fletch ordered unsympathetically. “Ghost had duty tonight. He’s tired, and even though you don’t live that far away, it would take an extra thirty or so minutes. Truck volunteered to pick you up so Ghost could get home with Rayne and get some much needed sleep.” Fletch was putting more emphasis on Ghost’s need for sleep than was actually necessary, but he’d do anything for his buddy Truck. And if Truck wanted to spend some time with the prickly Mary, he’d make it happen.
“Humph.” It wasn’t actually a word, more a sound, but Mary didn’t protest further.
“What time did you get Annie to bed?” Emily asked, wisely changing the subject.
“Did you know your daughter can read at a fifth-grade level?” Rayne asked.
The question was unexpected, but Emily simply smiled. “Yeah, it’s crazy isn’t it?”
“She’s delightful, but I don’t envy you. She’s gonna be a handful.”
“I know, but I look forward to every second,” Emily stated proudly.
“As you should. I read to her for about thirty minutes, then told her she could stay up as late as she wanted…as long as she was in bed reading.”
“Hey,” Emily gushed, “that’s a great idea. You’re a genius!”
Rayne laughed. “I don’t know about that, but I figure you can use it for a while before she cottons on to the fact that her friends and classmates can stay up late and don’t have to read.”
Emily shrugged. “Yeah, but if it gives me extra time now, I’m happy.”
The two women smiled at each other and Emily knew that they’d just solidified a start to a good friendship.
The four of them chit-chatted about nothing in particular for twenty or so more minutes until Ghost and Truck arrived.
“Stay here a minute, yeah?” Fletch asked the women. “I’ll be right back; I need to talk to my teammates for a second.”
“Of course,” Rayne agreed immediately. When he was out of sight, both she and Mary turned to Emily with raised eyebrows.
Emily sighed. “Yeah, so that Jacks guy showed up at the restaurant tonight.”
“He didn’t!” Rayne exclaimed.
“What a fucker,” Mary swore at the same time.
“He did. But Fletch took care of it. I’m sure that’s what he wants to talk to the guys about.”
“What an ass,” Rayne said, disgusted. Then clarified, “Jacks, not our guys.”
“I knew who you meant, and I agree,” Emily reassured her with a smile.
Fletch came back into the house not too much later, followed by Ghost and Truck. Emily watched as Ghost immediately went to Rayne and pulled her into his embrace as if they’d been apart for days instead of a few hours.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
Rayne nodded.
Mary stood and crossed her arms, glaring at Truck. “Don’t make this a habit, Trucker.”
The large man merely smiled with that half smile of his and gestured toward the door. “After you.”
Mary rolled her eyes, hugged Rayne, but went out the door without any other comments.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” Ghost promised Fletch before he left the house, his arm around Rayne’s waist.
“What’s up with Mary and Truck?” Emily asked Fletch once everyone had left.
He shrugged. “They like each other, but neither will admit it.”
“They’re acting like grade-school kids.”
“Yup.” Fletch was smiling. “But it’s amusing as hell. I can’t wait until they both let go of whatever it is that’s holding them back and go for it. It’s gonna be explosive.”
Emily nodded and looked up at Fletch nervously. She hadn’t felt like this when she’d been alone with him over the past week, but somehow the kisses she and Fletch had shared tonight made everything different. He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head gently.
“Get some sleep, Em. I’m sure Annie will be up at the crack of dawn wanting to know how our dinner went. I’ll keep her quiet for as long as I can so you can sleep in.”
“I can get up with her,” she protested.
“No need. I’m up anyway.”
It was one of three hundred and two ways Fletch had made her feel cherished in the last week.
“Okay, thanks.”
Fletch stood back and turned to head into the kitchen and the words came blurting out before Emily could stop them. “You aren’t going to kiss me good night?”
Fletch turned slowly, but didn’t come closer. “No. And don’t get that pouty look on your face,” he teased, then got serious. “The next time my lips touch yours, I won’t be stopping. I’ll take you to my bed and make love to you all night. So no, no more kisses tonight. But you’ve been warned, Em.”
His words once again made Emily’s woman parts sit up and take notice. She smiled at him. “So noted. Good night, Fletch.”
“Night.”
Emily fell asleep in the double bed in Fletch’s guest bedroom with a smile on her face, knowing she’d dream about Fletch hovering over her as he thrust in and out of her satisfied body. She couldn’t wait.
* * *
Jacks paced his apartment, his phone to his ear. “It’s almost time…Don’t be a pussy, it has to be this way…No one is gonna get hurt, but we have to do it if we want to get them out to the battlefield…I told you already, it’s not gonna hurt them, it’s just going to make them more compliant…Fine, we’ll talk about it later…No. You’re in this up to your eyeballs, just like I am. We’ll get this done and show them they aren’t the only soldiers on this base who’re badass. Get the others and we’ll meet at the battlefield to rehearse in an hour…Good. Later.”
He hung up the phone and threw it onto his couch, putting his hands over his ears to try to drown out the voice that had gotten louder and more insistent over the last couple of months.
Eliminate the threat.
They’re in the way.
If you don’t, you’ll look weak to the enemy!
Nodding, Jacks stalked into his bedroom to change into the black clothes he wore to blend into the darkness. He might’ve told the naïve and gullible privates in his squad that they were only playing a trick on the other soldiers, that the woman and kid wouldn’t be hurt, but he knew the truth. It was up to him to show those super-soldier fuckers that he was better than all of them. And if there were casualties…so be it.
Chapter 15
“This needs to end,” Fletch demanded in a deadly tone to the colonel. “He needs to be in the brig until he’s chaptered out. He threatened Emily and her daughter to my face! He doesn’t give a shit about authority and he’s escalating.”
Fletch and the rest of
the team were sitting around the table with the colonel, discussing the incident from the other night.
“He flat-out told me he was planning some grand scheme, and if he touches one hair on Emily or Annie’s head, I can’t guarantee his safety.”
The colonel held up his hand. “Look, I get that you’re pissed, but don’t overreact.”
It was Hollywood who spoke up this time, his words all the more effective because he was usually the quiet one who backed up his teammates, but never really started anything. “That’s bullshit and you know it, Sir. What would you do if this was your wife he was harassing? Would you like for someone to tell you not to overreact?”
“Of course not, but it’s being handled.”
Beatle shook his head. “Not very well. With all due respect, Sir, this needs to be moved up the chain of command.”
The older man sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I know, and I’m doing everything I can. All I’m asking is for you to not go crazy. So far it seems like, other than the money thing, he’s been all talk.”
“Talk leads to other shit,” Truck observed dryly.
“I know,” the colonel conceded. “I have a meeting with the general today. He’ll fast track this.”
“And lock him up until it’s done?” Fletch persisted.
“Yes. I will highly suggest he take that into consideration.”
Fletch wasn’t happy with the conversation, but honestly hadn’t thought it would go any other way. After being cut off from Emily, Jacks hadn’t really done anything that broke the law. There was nothing against showing up at the same restaurant where they were having dinner, but Fletch knew it was an intimidation tactic on the other man’s part. At least he wanted it to be. Unfortunately, or fortunately, he picked the wrong group of men to try to intimidate. It was one thing to be able to blackmail a mother with a young child, it was another altogether to try to do the same to a team of Delta Force soldiers…even if he didn’t know they were Delta.