“I remember enough,” he whispered.
Letting go of her hands, putting space between them—that took effort. There was some magic, some cosmic pull between them, and he had to resist it. Because of her father, because this wasn’t what she seemed to want, because it was the right thing to do.
Hannah stared at him, her eyes narrowed. Her lower lip had the indention of two teeth marks and was puffy, a little damp.
Let no one ever say he shied away from the hard jobs, because letting go of Hannah was the hardest.
He took one step back. They really did need space. To separate themselves before the sparks ignited the powder keg of pent-up mess. Maybe what he needed was a cold shower.
“Mason...”
“Yeah.” He really did not want to hear her rejection. Feeling it was enough. He wasn’t that much of a glutton for punishment.
Hannah pushed off the wall with one hand and hooked her other arm around his neck. She kissed him before he could think or move. Their mouths met in a fiery hot explosion of lust that took him by surprise. Feet tangled and he stumbled forward. Hannah’s back hit the wall and he barely caught his weight on a hand before he crushed her.
Her tongue was in his mouth, her hand in his hair. It was the intensity he’d felt back the day he’d helped move her into her new house times ten. His dick pressed against his zipper, eager to relive last night. Every pass of her nails over his skin sent tingles down his body.
This wasn’t supposed to happen, but neither could he stop it. Each kiss, the nip of her teeth, it eroded his reasons why right now, in this moment, they couldn’t be whatever they wanted to be.
He cupped her ass, grinding her pelvis against him, and groaned into her mouth.
So damn good.
And this was with their clothes on.
He pushed his thigh between hers, the heat of her searing him through the jeans. She wiggled her hands up under his shirt, her little nails scoring his flesh. Her hips moved, sliding against his leg.
If he stayed like this, would she come? Fully clothed? In his arms?
He pulled her hands away from them, pulling them up out to either side and holding them there. She wiggled in his grasp, arching her back and tugging against his grip.
Not until he made her moan.
Mason kissed her lips briefly, her cheek, her jaw, just below her ear before zeroing in on that spot. He licked and sucked, while Hannah jerked and shifted against him. She squeezed his hands and her thighs clamped around his. At long last a high, keening moan burst from her lips.
Victory, of a kind.
He lifted his head, pressing a kiss to her panting lips and eased her arms down from the brick.
She jerked her hands out of his and threw her weight forward. Caught off guard, Mason stumbled back, but her leg was hooked around his. He rolled backward in a more or less controlled fall, Hannah’s body clutched tight to his, his head in the crook of her neck. Her weight drove the air from his lungs, but he didn’t mind. Having her on top of him was the only thing that mattered.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, you?”
“Fine.”
“Good.”
Hannah covered his mouth with hers. She straddled his hips, their bodies rubbing together. If he didn’t get some control of the situation he was going to come in his jeans. God, he hoped that hadn’t happened last night. If it had, he prayed he never remembered it.
Mason rolled, taking Hannah with him, and put her on her back. They had the nice added bonus of being on the rug now instead of the wood floor. She arched her spine and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Hannah.”
“Hm?” She pulled on his head. He resisted.
“You need to be really sure you want to kiss me.” Because his control was in tatters and he was losing sight of all the reasons they shouldn’t be together. Especially when she rolled her hips like that, stroking his cock.
She let go of him and wiggled her arms between them.
Was she pushing him away?
God, he’d have the worst blue balls.
No—no—that was not pushing him away.
Hannah pulled her shirt up and off. The camisole was thin enough he could see the lines of her bra and freckles under it. Just enough coverage to tease and drive him crazy.
Yeah, this was happening. There was no turning back now.
They were so not doing this on the floor.
He pushed up, grabbing her hands and hoisting them to their feet. Hannah attacked the hem of his shirt and ripped the clothing over his head.
Getting naked was next on his list. If he had an actual list there would be two things on it. Naked and sex.
He tossed the shirt to the floor and caught Hannah by the waistband of her shorts. Ideally he’d take it slow, but the energy was too high, the sense of urgency nipping at his heels.
She gripped his shoulders, and he could feel the muscles in her stomach flex against his knuckles. He tabbed the button through the slot with his thumb and the tiny, practically useless zipper lowered on its own.
A memory of short blonde curls lodged in his mind and damn if he didn’t want to discover the truth. He pushed her back up against the brick wall and went to a knee, jerking her panties and shorts down with him. She managed to kick off one shoe in the process.
An invisible fist punched him in the gut at the sight of her.
Perfect fucking curls.
A small voice told him he’d been here before, in much a similar position. The details were hazy, so clearly he needed to revisit the experience.
Mason pushed her leg over his shoulder, opening her to him. Hannah’s hands curled into his hair. He’d been here before. And she’d liked it. He leaned forward and licked the clitoral hood, drawing it back, and wrapped his lips around the bundle of nerves. She groaned, her hips moving against him. He thrust one finger then two inside of her, pumping her, coating his fingers with her arousal.
“Oh—oh, Mason!”
She was a screamer.
That memory dislodged, shaking several others lose with it.
It was completely selfish, but he wanted to be in her when she came. Feel her around him. See the look in her eye. It wasn’t enough to remember anymore. He wanted to live it.
Mason sat back on his heels and stripped the shorts, her underwear and the other shoe off. She seemed to catch on and tossed the camisole off. He stood and she grabbed his belt buckle, making quick work of the catch. Their fingers tangled in the rush to get his jeans off—but he was wearing boots.
He’d have to sit down and pick the laces apart.
Or he could just leave them on.
Wait.
Fuck...
“Please tell me you got the condoms out of my bag.” He held his breath.
Hannah stilled. “If I say no—”
“Please don’t say no.”
“Inside zipper pocket.” She grinned.
“Stay right there.” He kissed her forehead then crossed the apartment in a blur. The bag sat on the kitchen counter, the sides sagging.
The strip of packets was right where she said it would be.
He pulled out one of the packets and turned back to Hannah.
She’d shrugged out of the bra and stood braced against the exposed brick wall. Naked. Her hair was a mess, her face, neck, and chest flushed, beautiful. This was a moment he’d remember forever. The way she looked, the lust, how badly he wanted her.
Mason made himself walk back to her, savoring the sight, his buckle jangling with every step.
Hannah reached for him first, pulled him in close and kissed his mouth. There was no uncertainty about what she wanted—what he wanted. It was as simple as biology, and more. Because it was her. Because of this thing between them he couldn’t explain.
He pushed his jeans and boxers down, freeing his dick. Somehow between kisses he managed to get the condom open and on. It was a minor miracle. He’d had ideas of making it to the bed, but even
that wasn’t happening.
Mason gripped her ass and lifted, hoisting Hannah up until he had her back against the wall, her legs around his waist and her lips wrapped around him. Her pretty eyes opened wide and all he could do was grin. He guided his cock to her entrance and gravity did the rest. She slid down, inch by inch, fitting around him perfectly. She groaned, shifting and digging her nails into him. The scratches on his biceps made perfect sense now. And he didn’t mind them in the least.
He lifted her and shifted his hips, pulling out just a bit. Her legs constricted around him, deepening his thrust.
“Oh—yeah.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, but her inner muscles squeezed. It was nearly impossible to breathe past the velvet grip of her vagina. “Hannah, stop that.”
“What? Why?” Her voice was pained, as if she were the one aching.
“Because I’m going to come way too fast if you keep doing that.”
“I can’t help it.” She arched her back, rubbing her breasts against his chest, a mindless, sexy as fuck action.
“Hold onto me.” He got that. He couldn’t help how his body reacted to hers either.
Mason moved his hips, sliding out of her and thrust again. Her voice hitched, hitting a higher note. He prayed the neighbors weren’t sleeping—or better yet, they were out. She tipped her head back, groaning with abandon. There was nothing hotter than knowing how turned on she was, hearing it, feeling it.
He squeezed her ass and thrust again, harder, deeper. The sinfully sweet smile said he hit the right spots. Again, he plunged into her pussy, a hot vice around his cock.
“Mason!”
Yeah, she screamed his name. No big deal or anything.
He used his body to hold her against the brick and cupped her breasts, pushing them together until he could lick the hard nipples.
Hannah jerked on his hair, her frustration telegraphed loud and clear. This wasn’t a race to come though. If it were, they’d have been over already. He toyed with one breast, tracing the areola with his finger and the other with his tongue.
She shifted, moving her hips the slightest bit, squeezing him tighter.
Fuck.
Much more of that and he’d come just from being inside of her. Which was great and all—but she had to come, too.
Mason gave her nipples one last tweak, enticing a hiss from between her lips, and let go. He palmed her ass, lifting her just a bit higher.
She wanted to come?
He’d make her come.
Mason drew back and thrust as hard as he could. Her eyes fluttered open wide and her jaw dropped on a long, loud moan.
“Like that?” he asked.
“Yes!”
He let go of his control, one bit at a time, until he pounded into her with his full strength. Over and over he thrust, her panting chants driving him on to cries of harder and yes. Her breasts bounced against his chest, the hardened nipples drawing on his skin.
“Oh—oh—Mason!” She drew his name out over several seconds, her body rippling apart in his hands.
He didn’t stop moving, he kept thrusting, gritting his teeth as her orgasm stoked his.
Almost.
She arched her back and all her muscles clamped down around him.
“Fuck.” He thrust and rocked into her, lights flashing behind his lids as the orgasm rolled up through his body, robbing him of his senses.
His legs trembled. Fucking shook.
He’d never come so hard his knees turned to jelly.
Mason wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Holy fuck, this he would remember forever.
He knew what the thing knocking around in his chest was. He knew why she was special. But he could never say it. They might be able to come back from sex and be okay, but he couldn’t acknowledge that. He couldn’t say it. If he did, there would be no hope. And right now, he really hoped he made it to the bed before he collapsed.
Hannah stared at the ceiling and listened to the beat of Mason’s heart. She still couldn’t think straight. Or at all, really. They’d somehow made it to the bed, and here they were.
“You want some water or something?” Mason’s voice rumbled against her ear.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“Okay.” He squeezed her and she felt his lips brush the top of her head.
She’d finally seen the Mason she remembered again, the one she’d coaxed out of that grumbling bear of a man she’d first met. He could be funny and sweet, a bit stubborn, but she liked him. He was a good man. And in another set of circumstances he could be more than that for her. But not Mason. Not now. And that was an ache, a desire, she’d carry with her for a long time. She might not be well-versed in love or sex, but her gut told her this was a once-in-a- lifetime kind of thing. So she’d better enjoy it while she had it.
“I was thinking about taking a shower before bed.” Mason drew lazy circles on her arm.
“M’kay.” She liked being tucked up close to him. Being touched by him.
“That would require moving.”
“It would.”
“I see problems with this plan.”
She chuckled and peered up at him.
“So no shower?” she asked. Anything that took him out of bed didn’t rate very high on her plan.
“I can do that in the morning.” She could see his smile even in the darkness of the apartment. He pushed his fingers into her hair, combing it out over her shoulder. “I have to say, the idea of this trip was a good one.”
“I should have gone to Cancun or something.” She shifted to lie beside him. If he was going to talk, it was too weird hearing him in one ear and listening to his voice reverberate in his chest with the other.
“Cancun has invested a lot in their security.” Mason rolled to his side and splayed his hand over her stomach, the sheet between them.
“Really?”
“Yeah, there’s a wall and guards and everything. They’re very protective of the tourism business there. Way too much money has gone into making it profitable.”
“Okay, maybe not anywhere in Mexico for the next vacation. Where would you recommend?” She covered his hand with hers and gave in to the fantasy. Vacations together. More of this. Maybe that was what they should do. Coordinate random rendezvous across the world. The initial idea was exciting, but her heart ached. To only have moments in time? To have to hide a relationship? That was torture.
“I haven’t been anywhere that didn’t have a Naval base attached to it. At least, not many that didn’t.”
“What’s the best one?”
“I don’t know if it was the best one, but we had a great time at this beach in Thailand. It was just...beautiful. And sad. I kept thinking about the tsunami and people who lost their lives.”
She squeezed his hand. What did she say to that?
“But the people were nice. I think that was my last good memory of the SEALs.”
Hannah almost didn’t dare to breathe. He’d never spoken about why he left, just that it’d happened. It was the way he said it though, and the little comments her father made that filled in the holes. There was something there. Something had had happened. And she wanted to know.
“What happened after that?” She swallowed and focused on a single spot on the ceiling.
He didn’t respond for a moment. “You don’t know?”
“No.”
“It’s not a nice story.”
“I gathered that.”
“It’s not the kind of thing you want to know about.” He pulled his hand from hers and lay flat on his back, arms crossed behind his head.
“I don’t know what happened, but I know it was bad, that it forced you to make the decision to leave the SEALs, and you think because of it working for Aegis is your only option. Maybe it is? I don’t know. I have a hard time imagining that you did something so terrible the world hates you.”
“The world doesn’t hate me. Just other SEALs.”
>
“Why?”
He sighed the kind of sigh that said, shut up, Hannah, without words.
Mason wouldn’t tell her. She’d always known he’d keep his secrets to himself, that she would never really know why they couldn’t be together, but this was his resolve in action. It stung. She was not worth telling the whole story to. Or she couldn’t be trusted. Whatever his measuring stick was, she didn’t fit the bill.
“We were doing this thing.” He spoke as if in slow motion, as though each word were mired in mud and had to be pulled free before he could say it. “It was a highly secretive, classified mission and everything went bad the moment we...as soon as we got to the location. Our CO was the first to get killed. Two guys got separated from us and...they’re gone. We lost all our communications devices between those three men, and we had to cut and run. This was not a typical situation. We had no extraction. No support. We were on our own. And bad things happened.”
Hannah held her breath. For several long moments he didn’t speak—and she didn’t breathe.
“The next in command guy...I never liked him. Some people are born killers. If it wasn’t for the Navy making him into a weapon, I’m certain he’s the kind of guy who’d become a serial killer. I had a bad feeling about the way things were going as soon as everyone fell in line with his plan.”
“How could you have made a plan in that situation?”
“He wanted us to march to a village and make contact. Unfortunately the village we found had a couple Taliban guys there. This was before ISIS was a real threat.” Mason scrubbed a hand across his jaw.
She reached for his hand and squeezed. His palm was cold. She turned to face him and cradled his hand in hers.
“I didn’t know what was going on until I heard the shooting. I’d hung back to guard our six and act as a sentry. They killed everyone in that village, and then didn’t even try to make contact. By the time I got to them, they’d already hatched this fucked up plan. The CO and I got into it and I’m pretty sure he’d have killed me, too, but the guys weren’t having that. I almost wish he’d killed me, but then I wouldn’t have been there to see him sentenced.”
“What? What happened?”
“I decided instead of figuring out a way to stop them, instead of doing what was right, I’d actively try to get us out of there, protect my ass, and stay with them. Forty-nine people died before we were picked up. It could have been more than that. And I didn’t do a fucking thing.”
Dangerous in Training (Aegis Group, #2) Page 14