Hers To Take

by Karen Anders

  9

  “CAPTAIN LEVINE is expecting you. Go right in.” The soft-spoken civilian receptionist said.

  They entered the captain’s office. Captain Levine was large, hearty, with iron gray hair and a firm jaw.

  A.J. came to attention. The captain eyed first Sienna and then him.

  “As you were, Lieutenant,” he said to A.J., nodding to Sienna. “Detective Parker.”

  He indicated two seats and both of them sat.

  “We’re here to ask some questions about Corporal David Buckner.” Her tone was soft but still forceful.

  “Buckner’s officially been listed as UL, but I’m inclined to cut the kid some slack. There’s no finer Marine.” He sat back in the chair, bringing with him a letter opener shaped like a sword. He drew the blade through his fingers.

  “A truck from your base was discovered in downtown San Diego. I have a statement from a witness that said that Buckner was selling guns out of the back of that truck.” Sienna said, her eyes following the way he was petting the blade.

  “You think he’s involved in illegal actions. Don’t buy it.” His eyes shifted toward Sienna and A.J. thought for a moment that the man looked nervous.

  “You’re in charge of security. Did you have reports that a truck is missing?” she said, sitting forward in her chair.

  “No, no one has reported that. Maybe you could call my receptionist with the information and I’ll track it here.” His eyes shifted away from her and focused once again on the sword in his hands. “You could talk with his partner.” The captain’s eyes twisted to A.J. “What is your part in this investigation, Lieutenant?”

  “I’ve been assigned as navy liaison.”

  The captain’s eyebrows rose.

  “We’d like to talk to Buckner’s partner,” Sienna said, rising.

  A.J. had been in the military long enough and been through enough covert operations that he was well aware when someone was being tightlipped about classified information. Captain Levine had that look.

  “My receptionist can lead you to Sergeant Gibson,” he said, nodding to them.

  The dispatcher at the security desk called in Gibson. A.J. and Sienna were taken back to the same room where they’d talked to Norton. They sat down in the nondescript gray metal chairs.

  A man was ushered into the room. He stood at attention.

  “Sergeant Gibson reporting as ordered, sir.”

  A.J. could see his name printed on his uniform. Gibson was a tall, muscular black man with a shaved head and kept his eyes straight ahead. He was wearing cammies with the sleeves rolled up. The uniform was impeccably clean and pressed.

  Sienna piped up. “Detective Parker from SDPD and this is Lieutenant Camacho. We need to ask you a few questions about Corporal Buckner.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Sergeant Gibson said, his brows narrowing.

  “Do you have any idea where he might be?” Sienna asked in her no-nonsense detective voice.

  “No, ma’am.” Sergeant Gibson said, sweat beginning to glisten off his smooth skull.

  “Would you know anything about a stolen military truck filled with guns?” Sienna persisted.

  “No, ma’am,” he said a little too quickly.

  A.J. put his hand on Sienna’s arm. She was frustrated, and knew as well as he did that this guy wasn’t telling them everything he knew. But badgering him wasn’t going to help the case.

  “David’s an upstanding guy. He would want to do the right thing.” The man had spoken out of turn, and for a moment A.J. saw something flash across his eyes.

  “Thank you for your help,” he said and weathered Sienna’s glare as he dismissed the Marine. He and Sienna left the room, and exited the building. But when they reached A.J.’s car, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt.

  “He’s holding back. Everyone we talked to today was tap-dancing. I saw it in their faces.” Her face was flushed with fury. “I hate being sandbagged.”

  “I know,” he growled.

  “Why didn’t you let me interrogate Gibson some more? You ended that interview too soon. I told you I call the shots.”

  “Something’s going on between Gibson and David, but at this point we don’t know what it is or if it has anything to do with those stolen weapons.”

  “I can’t find out if you won’t let me do my job.”

  “Let me question Gibson alone.”

  “You are not running this investigation, Camacho.” Ice sheathed that husky voice.

  “I’m well aware of that, but I’m the navy liaison. I know that Marine would rather face a firing squad than rat out his partner. Trust me on this?” Catching her hand, A.J. closed his fist around it. So much heat and energy in that one small hand radiating into him.

  “Trust? You think I don’t trust you?”

  “I think you have it in the back of your mind that I’m David’s brother and I want to keep him safe.”

  “You do. Don’t deny it.”

  “I’m not, but I promised you that I would be objective.”

  “Yes, you did and I see your point. I know all about protecting your partner and I understand Gibson’s reluctance to get Buckner in trouble,” she said, taking a determined step away from him.

  A.J. shifted, blocking her. Not sure if he had the trust he suddenly wanted from her. Halting her quick shift away from him, he gripped her shoulders. “Do you trust me?”

  For a moment she gazed up into his eyes. “Yes.”

  The simple answer hit him hard in the heart. It was something special to gain this woman’s trust.

  But although he went back inside to talk to Gibson, he had already gone off shift.

  A.J. got his address from the receptionist, but there was no answer at Gibson’s house.

  When A.J. got back in the car, Sienna said, “I could put out an APB on Gibson.”

  “No,” A.J. insisted, “getting hauled in by the police will only make him clam up more. I’ll track him down.”

  THE DAY HAD PASSED and they were still no closer to finding David than they’d been that morning. The good news was that the crime scene investigation of the military truck revealed no blood on either the window shards or the seat. Yet, even with that encouraging news, A.J. couldn’t seem to relax.

  He paced in front of Sienna’s desk while she handled a few details for another case. Several detectives eyed him with wary eyes.

  A.J. rolled his shoulders trying to release some of the tension. Sienna finished her conversation and hung up the phone. She rubbed at the back of her neck.

  “A.J., let’s get out of here and blow off some steam.”

  He nodded and followed her as she exited division headquarters. The pressure tightened inside him as they walked to the parking lot. The sky was purple and orange in the west. Lights were coming on as dusk settled into night.

  “Something will break tomorrow. I can feel it.”

  He moved away from the car and swore.

  Sienna said softly, “I think I know what you need. You still have your duffel in your trunk?

  “Yeah.”

  “Got shorts and a T-shirt?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Follow me.”

  A.J. HIT THE BAG so hard, he felt as if his fist was going to come through the other side. He’d been hitting it steadily ever since Sienna had dragged him into the police gym and given him a pair of boxing gloves.

  A feeling of despair washed through him and the frustration only grew deeper until he was pummeling the bag with out of control strokes.

  Something tore inside him, something that had been building since he’d first heard that Sienna was looking for David. Fear. It raged at him and scored his insides, a fear he’d tried to bury.

  He ran out of steam, and a hollow feeling filled him until he was clutching at the bag. Sienna was up and moving, forcing him to let go of the bag. He held on to her instead.

  “I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to believe that my brother could have done something illegal.”


  “I know.”

  “I’m afraid for him,” he whispered against the softness of her hair.

  “I know.” Her hands moved up and down his back in a comforting motion.

  “How am I going to tell my parents?”

  “We still haven’t found him, A.J. We haven’t gotten his side of the story. You don’t have to tell your parents anything just yet.”

  “It looks bad, though.”

  “I’d say yes, if it wasn’t for all that maneuvering the navy types were doing today. Something just doesn’t seem to fit, but I don’t know what.”

  Back in the parking lot, he cupped her face between his hands before she could settle into the passenger seat. “Thanks. I was about to come out of my skin.”

  “I know that feeling. Punching that bag is the only thing that gets me through sometimes.”

  He nodded, and got into the car. When he was settled into the driver’s seat, she said, “Being fit in this job may save my life one day. At the academy we had to jump these hurdles. Everyone hated them, but I loved them. I used to get ribbed all the time.”

  “For training in the military, especially in the SEALS, you have to arrive in shape or you’ll fail almost immediately.”

  A.J. pulled up in front of a diner and they got out.

  “I’ve heard about SEAL training and the academy is nothing compared to that. At least we got to go home for rest and relaxation. I guess you didn’t get much R and R during training.”

  Settling into a booth, they ordered. “If you consider sleeping in the mud R and R, I guess I got that.”

  Sienna shook her head. “You guys are scary.”

  “Not really. It’s mind over matter. SEAL training disciplines you to get through so much tough stuff, missions are a piece of cake. Sloughing through mud. No problem. Staying submerged in icy water for an hour. Simple.”

  “What do you think you’re going to do about your diminished capacity?”

  A.J. answered after the waitress set down a chicken salad for Sienna and a steak for A.J. “You make me sound like I’m ready for the old folks’ home.”

  Forking up a bite, Sienna gave him a cheeky smile. “You know what I mean. You’re far from the old folks’ home. Damn, A.J., you are a hunk.”

  He laughed, looking down to cut his steak. The slight tinge to his skin made warmth curl inside her. He blushed. It was so sweet.

  “Am I? So if I quit the SEALs I should go into modeling?”

  She paused in reaching for her drink. “You’d quit?”

  “If I can’t perform my job 110 percent, then I don’t belong on missions where peoples’ lives hang in the balance,” he said quietly.

  “There are so many men who wouldn’t admit this to themselves, let alone someone else.”

  “To tell you the truth, this is the first time I’ve said it out loud. I’ve been trying to deny it for a while.”

  “If you admit it to yourself, then you have to do something about it.”

  A.J. shrugged. “I learned to be honest with myself a long time ago. Sometimes it’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s good medicine.” A.J. threw down some bills and rose. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Could he possibly make her admire him more? And his words about honesty made her squirm inside. She was honest with herself, she told that jeering little voice.

  They exited the diner. It looked like rain was threatening again.

  “Have you talked to your sister?” A.J. asked. “In case you’re confused on this part, you need to contact her.”

  Sienna sidestepped him, amazed at his ability to see more than she wanted him to see. It was almost more unnerving than his ability to make her want him.

  “I made another fitting appointment for tomorrow afternoon. So you see, I make room for my family.” She told that jeering little voice to shut up.

  “Making the appointment and keeping the appointment are two different things,” A.J. said.

  Sprinkles of rain peppered her skin. “This time I’m going.”

  “I can see that you’re determined.”

  They stared at each other for a moment.

  “We’re standing in the rain,” Sienna pointed out.

  He looked up and smiled. “So we are. Isn’t it great to feel the cool drops against your skin? I love rain on a mission. Not only does it shield us from enemy eyes, but the sensation of being real, concrete, gives me an edge.”

  He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers. She still marveled how his could be so soft, so clever as his lips moved over hers with a sensual, seductive slide. He cupped her cheek, moving his thumb rhythmically around her skin as if he couldn’t seem to believe it was so soft.

  She kissed him back because she couldn’t help it. It wasn’t like taking at all. It was like succumbing.

  She’d been so careful for so long, she couldn’t believe she was being seduced by a rogue, one she’d invited into her bed.

  But invite him she had and she didn’t want him to disappear out of her life, but she didn’t see any way around the huge problem of his dangerous and demanding job.

  “I’m getting all wet, Camacho.”

  He lifted his hand and smoothed it over her hair, his eyes softening to tenderness. “Live a little, Parker. It won’t kill you,” he whispered.

  “Are you sure about that?” She pulled out of his arms and headed for the car. His talk about living brought raw emotions to the surface. Sienna didn’t care for chaos, but the more she tried to order those feelings, the more they slipped through her defences.

  “Living is a rush, Sienna. Taking what you want with both hands and breaking out of your safe little world feels good,” he said, slipping behind the wheel.

  “I like my rules and regulations. It orders my life.”

  “It boxes you in, too.”

  “Freethinking might be admired in the SEALs, but I’ve found that procedure works for me. It’s gotten us far on this investigation.”

  “I can’t argue with that, but that doesn’t mean that some of my methods weren’t effective.”

  He put the car in gear, pulling away from the curb. On the ride over to her apartment, she wondered if he felt as unsettled about their relationship as she did. Letting him off the hook seemed to be the best idea.

  She waited until she was inside her apartment before she turned to A.J., putting her hand against his chest. “I’m not asking for any promises from you, A.J. We’re clear on that score.”

  “I’m not good at making promises I can’t keep. I wish I knew where we were going, but I don’t.”

  “The future always takes care of itself. Why don’t we just worry about the here and now?” she answered.

  She gave him her honesty and felt certain that enjoying the moment with him while it lasted was all that she could do right now. Pursuing a relationship with A.J. would lead her inevitably to heartache. They were of two different mind-sets without common ground.

  “Then we go on and find out.”

  “I guess so.”

  He drew her deeper into the apartment and she reveled in the predatory light in his eyes. She gasped when he swept her off her feet. “In case you didn’t realize, Lieutenant, I’m a tough cop. I don’t need to be carried.”

  He set her on the floor close to the bed. “You’re lovely,” he murmured, one finger outlining the skin along her collarbone.

  Sienna felt hot blood rush to her face and burn. “You’ve obviously been on one mission too many,” she replied awkwardly.

  He was amused at her obvious embarrassment but declined to answer. He concentrated instead on dropping kisses lightly over her face, her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks.

  Sienna had a hard time letting her guard down, but with A.J.’s mouth on her, she found it easy to succumb to the heightened pleasure, seduced away from caution and safety.

  His hands went to her clothing. Wasting no time, he stripped her heated body, each touch of his hand making her heart beat wildly for more, e
ach breath he took making her own breathing align with his.

  She removed his clothes just as quickly, taking no time. His hot, wet mouth moved down her neck to her collarbone, gently nipping the ridge of flesh, then to her aching nipples. Everything in the world ceased to exist. There was just A.J., hot and hard, darkly seductive. A moan caught at the back of her throat, clamoring to get out. She could feel his body pulse with passion, strength, need, and she knew a wild desire to hold him in her hand, to feel the length of him, to feel him hard with the promise of sensual satisfaction.

  She could feel the heat of his arousal rubbing against the apex of her thighs. He moaned softly, his intense eyes closing, his chest flattened against hers, the hard ridges of his chest a sensual goad.

  The pressure of his weight was wonderful, the scent of him thick with male muskiness and arousal. She reveled in the feel of him against her.

  It was sheer madness on her part as her hands stole around to his firm, muscled buttocks, sliding over the hot taut flesh to pull his hips against hers. He twisted his head to the side, his breathing catching on another moan. His hands moved into her hair, his fists clenching and releasing to slide through the length.

  He pressed his hard arousal against her belly. Nothing else mattered to Sienna at this moment, not her loss of control, not anything. Her hands tightened on his sleek backside, bringing him closer, wanting more, wanting him inside her.

  He looked into her eyes, studied them. “Sienna?”

  In answer, her head fell back, and her lids half closed at the warm seductive lights in his eyes. “A.J., I want you. I want…”

  “This?” he said, his voice hitching. His head dipped and his smooth lips sent ripples of sensation skittering down her back, his fine white teeth nipped her skin, and Sienna gasped as goose bumps swelled all over her body. His warm, wet tongue stroked her skin, and her nipples tightened into hard, heated tips. She moaned. Her hands came up and delved into his hair as soft as strands of hot, wet silk. Sienna gently cupped his head as if it were the most precious thing on the earth.

  And it was.

  He was.

  So precious.

  “Sienna, I can’t get enough of you.”