"You."
A.J. gasped as he lowered and covered her lips with his. She slipped her arms up and around his neck. His hands splayed across her back as he pulled her into his kiss. His tongue licked the seam of her lips. She sighed and opened for him, overwhelmed by the tenderness of his approach.
She shifted and ran her fingers through his hair as he consumed the physical space around them. Everything but his possession of her lips and their embrace ceased to exist. He lifted his head trailing kisses across her cheek and before he spoke, "Look at me."
"No." She didn’t want to look at him.
His chest vibrated, and the rumble of laughter surrounded her. He squeezed her gently. "Why not?"
"Because I'm afraid if I open my eyes you wouldn't be there. That this moment isn't real. That maybe I knocked myself unconscious, and I'm dreaming."
"I'm not positive, but I don't think you dream when you're unconscious." Another light kiss dropped to her lips.
"How do you know? Have you ever been unconscious?" She kept her eyes closed and sighed.
"Once or twice." The teasing tone of his voice didn't change.
She popped her eyes open and stared at him. "I'm sorry."
He blinked and shook his head. "For what?"
"For braining you just now, and for assuming you were interested in that woman. I thought with the touches and when you called me babe...and then when she had her hands all over you...that smile you gave her..."
"That smile happened two seconds before I told her point blank that I wasn't interested in anyone except the cute redhead behind the bar—the one in a strange relationship with mop water." He traced her nose with his index finger before dropping it to her lips. "Just kidding. I was attracted to you the moment I saw you illuminated by the patrol car's headlights. We just need to work on this ninja-stealth-mode-assassination-fascination you have going on."
"I'm really not a klutz." She leaned her head against his chest and laughed. "I'm actually quite graceful."
He threw back his head and laughed. His chest moved under her head as his mirth filled the small storage room. "I can absolutely tell. You’re as graceful as a swan. Come on, I'll help you get rid of the evidence to the contrary before I change."
“Why do you have a change of clothes here?” A.J. groaned as she lifted to her feet. Her head hurt, the backside of her jeans were drenched. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Oh.” She felt her face flame again. His laughter echoed around her. They both grabbed mops and he righted the bucket. She sloshed the soaked mop into the mop bucket’s wringer attachment and squeezed the water out of the mop. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. The night had been screwed up, well at least for her. On the plus side, Gunner had kissed her, several times. Based on recent history with the man, she'd consider that a win.
Chapter 8
Gunner put his truck in park, turned it off and headed out seconds after he pushed the remote access button to close the garage door. On the pretense that it was the gentlemanly thing to do, he headed over to A.J.'s house to make sure she got inside safely. He scooted inside the garage just as she opened the door of her small car. Her smile lit up his insides.
"Hello, sailor. Come here often?"
He watched as she made sure to pull the handful of bar towels she'd covered her seat with off before she shut the door. He shook his head when she looked back up at him. "No, ma'am. My first time. I'm in foreign territory."
Her eyes widened coyishly as she pushed the button to close the garage door. "Well, we need to ensure you get the lay of the land. We wouldn't want you off course, now would we?"
He pulled her into him and palmed both hands over her tight little ass. The wet denim did nothing to distract him from his objective for the evening. He straightened, lifting her into his arms. She squeaked and scrambled, wrapping her arms securely behind his neck. He growled and nuzzled into her neck. "Wrap your legs around me."
She tipped her head back and laughed as she did what he asked. "If I'm dreaming, for the love of everything good, don't wake me up." She lifted her head and found his eyes. "Don't ever wake me up."
"You're not dreaming." He lifted her a bit higher and grabbed her ass with one hand, opening the kitchen door with the other. He knew the layout of the rental. Growing up, he'd cleaned it for extra allowance money when renters moved out. Her lips caressed then sucked the area just behind and below his ear. Fuck, her touch ignited a passion-filled lust that had been burning uncontrolled just under his skin since he’d realized she wasn’t actually trying to kill him. He kicked the door shut and made quick work of attaining his goal, the master bedroom, while her lips and tongue stoked that blaze. Every small touch or kiss poured gallons of kerosene onto an intense, growing fire.
He bounced off the door frame, kissing her and trying to see at the same time. The kiss won. With her in his arms, he stood in the middle of the room, lost in the dance of their tongues.
She pulled away biting his bottom lip as she withdrew. "Having problems finding the bed, sailor?" Her hands pulled at his t-shirt, but it was trapped under the tight grip of her thighs.
"No, ma'am." He looked over his shoulder before he waggled his eyebrows, lifted her away from him and tossed her onto the bed.
He moved to follow her, but she sat up and turned on a small bedside lamp. "Whoa, there big guy."
He stopped halfway down to her and teased, “Oh God, please don’t say no. I’ll go home, but my balls will be blue for a week. Don’t they deserve a little kindness?”
She chuckled softly. “We’ll get there, but first I want to see that chest again, and this time I want to enjoy it." She sat on her heels in her wet jeans.
"Only if I get to see you, too." A wolfish smile split his face.
She pinched her chin between her thumb and forefinger and hummed as if considering it. "All right. You take off your shirt, and I'll take off mine."
His t-shirt whipped through the air and landed somewhere to his right. She reached down and undulated as she slowly teased the hem of her shirt up revealing flawless white skin. Already awake and plenty happy, he could now use his cock as a crowbar and it would forever sport the indelible teeth marks of his zipper. Her lacey black bra barely covered her breasts. The white of her skin held a rose hue which grew darker as he examined every inch of her gloriously bared torso.
"You're next."
He’d never heard more welcome words. He lost his boots and socks. A.J. unzipped her boots and peeled them off. Little black socks joined the pile of clothes. Gunner popped the button on his jeans. His cock jumped in delight. He was very careful when he unzipped making sure the damn thing didn't catch on the boxer briefs pushed against the metal teeth. His cock pushed a tent in the front of his boxers.
A.J. lay down on the bed and unfastened her button and zipper. She grabbed the headboard and lifted a foot toward him. "Pull."
There was no way she'd have to ask twice. He grabbed the hem of both legs and yanked. The denim resisted, but he tugged again and won the battle. He gazed down at her. A band of lace held the smallest triangle of material barely covering her mons Veneris—he knew that Latin class would come in handy sooner or later. He lowered to a knee between her spread legs intent on one thing. He glanced up one more time to make sure A.J. was on the same page.
She reached down and ran her hands through his hair. "I want to know what that beard feels like."
Green light. Gunner dipped his head and kissed her hip, trailing his tongue to the lace. Her fingers stayed in his hair, and her legs fell open. He was in fucking Nirvana. Both hands worked the thong down her hips and thighs. He moved so she could kick the lace off. His gaze traveled over her. She was beautiful. He started trailing kisses from her hip to her belly button, giving tiny nips that he soothed with more kisses. He traveled up her rib cage and nestled teasing kisses and licks just under the lace of her bra. Her back arched, pushing her flesh into his mouth. He took the opportunity to reach under her and unsnap the of
fending garment. He nosed the material out of his way as his fingers reversed course and traveled south. She bucked against his fingers when he found her core and moaned when he started to work her slickness back and forth across her engorged nub while he suckled on her rose-colored nipple. He could devour the woman, consume her and then do it again. When he slowed, she demanded more. When he played, she scolded. As he built her desire, she dug her fingers into his back and bit his shoulder.
"Please, don't stop."
As if that was an option. A.J. moaned deliciously when he moved lower and centered himself between her legs. She opened like a flower, ripe for his taking and take her is exactly what he did. As he ran his tongue over her heated skin, her hips bucked up wildly. He wrapped his arms around her legs and held her still. This beautiful, sweet, warm and delicious woman deserved to know ecstasy, and he was going to take her there. He couldn't stop. He worked her body with his mouth and fingers until she tensed. Her hands fisted in his hair. "Oh...there...yes...yes...Ahhh!" Her body clenched, tightening in a rhythmic pulse against his fingers.
Gunner loved the fuck out of her uncensored responses. He wanted more of A.J., more of both of them on the same page, in the same bed, working together, more than just this evening. He wanted more and more wasn't something he'd ever considered with any other woman.
He lifted away from her delicate skin. She grabbed at his arm. "Where are you going?"
"Nowhere.” He dropped his boxers, and his cock slapped his stomach. He could use the damn thing to pound nails. "Oh my God! It is a good thing I don't have a bone left in my body. You're huge!"
Gunner threw back his head and laughed before he leaned over kissed her soundly on the lips. When he pulled away, he growled, "My ego thanks you." He waggled his eyebrows at her and moved to grab his jeans. He had two condoms tucked inside his wallet. Only two, and somehow, he didn't think that would be sufficient for what he wanted to do with this woman.
"The free ogle I got that first day didn't do you justice." She lifted up onto her elbows and ran her eyes over him. He tossed the condoms onto the bed and crawled back over her. She surprised him when she pushed him back and to the side. He went with it and fell onto the bed. "On your back. I want to show you why us girls from Texas are so famous."
"Really? Texas girls have a claim to fame?” He moved onto his back as she straddled him.
"Oh yes, haven't you heard?" She leaned down and kissed him before she lifted away running her nails down his chest. She ignited every sensory receptor in his body which, at this moment, funneled straight to his cock, and that dude didn’t need encouragement. He watched her reach for and open the condom wrapper. Turning back to him with an innocent expression, she batted her lashes as she spoke, "Texas women make the best cowgirls in the world." Her hand circled the base of his cock, and with her other hand, she rolled a condom onto him. “’cause we all just love to ride.”
"Shit, your hands feel so good." There was no doubt he'd spill in her hand if she continued to stroke him like that. He grabbed her and moved her up his body before he grabbed his cock. He encircled the base in a tight grip to push back the orgasm looming far too closely. She trailed kisses over his shoulders as he pulled himself back from the edge. Moment of crisis past, he settled his hand at her hip. "Hmmm...I think I'm ready for some proof of this famous talent. Show me whatcha got cowgirl. Make Texas proud."
A.J. smiled and pulled her hair out of the haphazard ponytail, sending her auburn hair tumbling to her shoulders. With a wicked grin, she reached back through her legs centered his shaft between her soft, slick folds, and sank down at the rate of one millimeter per hour. Gunner closed his eyes and moaned as her tight heat surrounded him quarter-inch by quarter-inch until the weight of her body rested on his hips. It took fucking hours. Probably. The clock might call him a liar, but he knew what he knew. Fucking hours. It was ecstasy and agony.
God, he wanted to see this. His eyes flew open. A.J.'s back arched, her hands barely rested on his pecs as she lifted her hips and lowered them. Her hips swiveled and undulated with each slow drag of her tight, hot, slick, flesh up and down his hyper-sensitive shaft. As much as he wanted to watch, his eyes crossed from the leisurely torture by pleasure. He forced them back open. His hands found purchase, not to stop her, God no, but to anchor himself from levitating off the bed.
Beautiful didn't describe the woman who'd mounted him and was currently writhing on his cock. Her chest and face blushed with a light rose hue. Her lithe body presented a visual feast, and the look in her eyes as she gazed down at him filled him with stupid, reckless thoughts. Thoughts of relationships and permanence skidded through his mind. The imminent orgasm burning at the base of his spine chased them away.
A.J.'s pace stuttered, and Gunner seized the moment. He flipped them and nestled between her legs. Wrapping his arms underneath her and cupping her shoulders, he clutched against his chest while his hips found the rhythm he needed. He shifted to get deeper and earned a low approving hum from A.J. He thrust a little bit harder. She gasped and clutched his ass to her tightly. Yeah, that was all he needed to know. Finding his own release had been his intention but taking her to the edge with him was now firmly his goal.
Her mouth found his neck and bit before she sucked the sting away. Basic instinct drove him forward. Her legs wrapped around him and she sank her heels into the back of his thighs. He sucked in air in short pants as his hips plunged into her heat again and again. A.J. released his ass and gasped, "Yes!"
Her hot flesh tightened on his cock and she cried out his name. At that point, nothing in the world could have prevented his release. He cradled her in his arms as his orgasm detonated. His body moved as explosions of light flared behind his eyelids. He sucked air only when he realized he'd been holding his breath. It was damn near everything he could do to keep from dropping on top of A.J. and smothering her. He carefully withdrew and dropped at her side. He took care of the condom and then pulled her into him.
"That was amazing." She ran her hand up his arm as she spoke.
The action sent a shiver through him, the aftershocks from one hellacious earthquake of an orgasm. "I'll second that." He pushed her hair away from her face and leaned in to kiss her. "You were right. Texas girls have a great talent."
She laughed. "Right? I'm surprised it’s not a better-known fact, but hey, I'm glad to be the one to educate you."
He trailed a finger across her collarbone. God, he hoped like hell things got easier between them. If shit got awkward now, he'd be royally fucked, because he wanted to see where things between them could go. What if she didn't want the same thing? What would he do? How would he be able to work with her? Hell, he lived two hundred yards from her. He closed his eyes and shook his head to clear all the doubts away. Shit, he didn't like the questions, the worry. They were foreign, unexpected and unwelcome. Now wasn't the time for any type of deep introspection, but regardless, the questions were there. "What do we do now?" His thoughts escaped as a whispered question.
She drew a deep breath and then lifted one delicate shoulder in a shrug. "I have some ideas." She lifted eyes filled with warmth and humor to him. "We'll figure it out. If our history is any indication, we'll mess up plenty. Probably ought to increase your health insurance."
"As long as we can make up like that, I'll wade through all the misunderstandings and personal injury." Gunner moved in for another kiss.
Chapter 9
Gunner shut A.J.'s front door and headed back to his house. The sun had long since crested in the east. He glanced at his watch and smiled. They'd fallen into an exhausted sleep at about five this morning. It was now ten o'clock, and he was dragging his happy ass home. He needed to shower, make a drugstore run for condoms, and then he had another shift with A.J. tonight. He tossed his keys up into the air and caught them with a laugh.
"Well, look what the cat is dragging home." Silas leaned against his front door, dressed and ready to go for his daily walk. With A.J. Well that could be awkward.
Gunner stopped and did a three sixty. He held up his hands. "I don't see a cat."
"You're an adult, so is she. Just make sure you don't mess up the business end of the situation, and I'll have no dog in this fight." Silas came down the front steps and motioned toward Gunner's house. Both men sauntered in that direction.
Echoes of his thoughts last night bounced through his mind. "I thought we were talking about cats?"
"You know what I mean, boy. Don't get smart with me." He swatted the back of Gunner's head catching only a bit of hair. A signature move of his dad's. "Upstart kid."
"Hey, just taking after my old man." Gunner laughed at his pops.
"Yeah, such a shame. Anyway, she's a good woman and you, hell, you know I love you. I think you two fit together well. In my mind, you make sense. But if it doesn't work out between you, we still have a business to run." Silas leaned against the railing of the front stoop of Gunner's house.
"She's...different..." Gunner leaned against the opposite rail from his father. "And when she's not trying to have me arrested, or drowning me in dirty mop water, she's pretty fucking amazing." A smile spread across his face.
"See, that is what I always knew. The woman is fantastic. If I were twenty years younger..." Silas winked at him.
"You'd still be with Mom." Gunner regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth. "Sorry, Dad, I didn't mean to..."
Silas smiled a sad smile and shook his head cutting off Gunner's words. "I loved her with everything I had. She just couldn't fight her demons any longer." He swallowed hard and then shook his head. "We had a good life, right up until the day she quit fighting. I won't tarnish what we had by remembering how it ended. She was the love of my life."
Gunner stepped across the three feet that separated him from his father and pulled him into a hug. "I love you, Dad. You've always been there for me. You've always been my hero. Never doubt that. I'm so lucky to be your son."
Hot SEAL, Single Malt (SEALs in Paradise Book 9) Page 6