“Okay so we’ll leave that conversation alone” he dipped me as the song ended. “I’ll get the bill and we can head to a bar that’s down the street if you like?”
“I was going to ask if you’d considered becoming a Seal” He stopped and turned red “and we can leave only if you tell me about what you said to Logan”
“Fine” he paid the bill and handed me my purse “By the way have I told you that you look so good tonight?”
“I think you might have” I nodded I walked away from him. We headed down the street to the bar he was talking about. He got drinks and we sat down in a booth. I put my feet up on the chair next to him.
“Okay are you going to stab me with those heels?”
“Only if you do what you normally do and piss me off” I smiled.
“Okay I’ll try not to” he rubbed my ankle making it fell like he’d shocked me. “So I guess it’s my turn then” he sighed picking up his beer, I nodded “Okay so I get to the Island and the General is on the phone” he played with the neck of the bottle “he gets off and I hand him the stuff I had for him and ask if it’s okay for me to stay for a while as I’ve been told I’m a Hollywood Marine and different” he looked at me making me laugh “so he gave me a small tour and we got talking about life and he asked me if I had a girl waiting for me”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that I was seriously trying my hardest to get this hot girl to date me but she was one tough assed cookie, with an ass to die for” I felt my cheeks turn red “And he told me not to give up because for every Marine there has to be one hell of a tough assed girl, if they aren’t tough then they can’t handle a Marine and if the Marine is going to be worth the name he is the only one that can handle her” I smiled and shook my head “and you know I think he’s right?”
“Yeah so do I… I know a lot of those women he’s talking about and they might not hold the rank but they have the authority… I don’t know why I ever thought a civilian guy was the way to go” Okay now the penny drops properly, remind me to Gibbs slap myself later.
“For a Marine brat like you it’s not the way to go… for all the fight and attitude you have they wouldn’t know how to deal with it “Aly from what I’ve seen of you you’re not afraid to say things how they are… you have more passion for the United States Marine Corps than some Marines I know…” I put my feet down and got up and walked to the pool table Ryne following me “You’ll give me crap without thinking twice about it… You put me on my ass in a way that I never thought a woman would ever do” he laughed “And you have what has to be the sexiest tattoo’s I think I have ever seen” he put his hand on my hip and pulled me into him “and you can kick my ass for doing this if you want but it’ll be worth it” He bent his head and kissed me. Wow I forget where we were my arms pulled him closer as the kiss deepened all the irritation, the arguing, the fighting, was channeled right in this kiss right here right now His hand knotted in the back of my hair. He pulled back and looked round the bar. He stepped back from me and grabbed my purse from the table and pulled me out to his truck. I pushed him against the tail gate and went right beck to kissing him all logic and rationality gone from my mind.
Chapter 44
Big brother
“You know you should get a room” a guy chuckled as he walked by us and to the bar. Ryne and I pulled apart both breathless and hotter than the fires of hell.
“Well… wow” Ryne smiled “What the hell happened then?”
‘I think you kissed me” I smiled back at him.
“Oh yeah” he laughed “I’m waiting for it”
“Waiting for what?”
“You to take a swing at me” he chuckled
“When you kiss that good… no chance” It was like some drug had hit my mind it was purely animalistic the thoughts that rattled into my brain right now. The kiss had been intoxicating.
“I’ll take that as a compliment from the woman that’s been driving me to distraction since I met her” he cocked his head “I think I should go take a dip in the ocean right now because the blood isn’t flowing to my brain”
“I can tell” thank god it was dark and he couldn’t see me blushing “Well it’s either that or you’re really carrying your sidearm in the wrong place”
“Side arm’s locked away Ma’am it’s all down to you” he knotted his hand in my hair and kissed me again “I’m sorry I had to make sure you were real”
“All me” I nodded as his thumb stroked the soft spot on the side of my neck “Okay if you keep doing that to me things could happen way to fast” I groaned feeling the tight ball in my stomach contract even more sending tingles up and down my spine.
“Doing what?” he literally growled deep and low in my ear. Oh I had to back away from him or things were going to become messy… literally. I stepped back and tried to take deep slow breaths
“A few days ago we were in a boxing ring and I was trying to beat the crap out of you” I pushed my hair back from my face “and all I can think of right now is how hot and sweaty we could get without the gloves on” Ryne started to grin
“I’ve been thinking about that since the first night I met you” I looked at him and cocked my head “What I’m a man and a Marine we know when we see a really hot girl we’d like to” I put my hand over his mouth
“Okay I think I’ve been round Marines enough to know what they think” I groaned I moved my hand.
“True” he nodded my phone started to ring “You’d better get that so I can go and walk over there a little and try to think of quadratic equations” he took a couple of steps back. I answered my phone.
Ryder * okay Mom is killing me with kindness
Me * and you’re calling me why?
Ryder * because I want help
Me * I’m at the island
Ryder * I know and I’m jealous… where are you?”
Me * outside of a bar
Ryder * A bar? Who with?
Me * Ryne
Ryder * you’re on a date
Me * yes I’m on a date
Ryder * put him on the phone
Me * no
Ryder * okay he’s not just ogling you he’s dating you now and with dating comes the scre….
Me * Ryder
Ryder * put him on the phone
Me * No
Ryder * okay I’ll call him I have his sister’s number and she’ll give it to me
Me * fine… Hey Ryne
Ryne looked over I held out my phone. Ryne tipped his head and walked over and took the phone from me
Ryne * hello
Ryder * Okay so you finally got my sister to agree to dinner?
Ryne * I sort of tricked her into it
Ryder * well about time but I have to point out that she’s my baby sister and she’s been through enough already
Ryne * I know she has we’ve talked
Ryder * she tell you about the cowboy?
Ryne * yes I just hope he crosses my path because this Marine shoots first and then questions why
Ryder * okay you’re good do what you want with her just don’t tell me
Ryne * I think I can hold out for at least tonight
Ryder * dude I meant kissing her
Ryne * oops my bad
I took the phone from him
Ryder * look I don’t care if you bang the ass… Ew I think I threw up a little… just don’t hurt here or this sniper will
Me * okay you need to stop right there or I’m calling mom and telling her I think you’re getting sick
Ryder * I love you and please don’t do that I can’t take much more chicken soup
Me * I love you too, now good night
I hung up and turned off the phone
“Okay so how baby are you?”
“What?”
“the difference between you and Ryder”
“2 minutes” I smiled “He never lets me forget it either”
“Big brother never do when there
’s a little sister to protect” he pulled me to him “Now I’ve regained control of my blood flow you ready to go home because it’s a 6 am start with family day tomorrow and you have a Marine to interrogate”
“I’m ready” I nodded “when do you go back to Lejeune?”
“Right after the graduation ceremony I’m on duty on Monday” he opened the door for me “When do you come home?”
“I don’t know yet depends when Brit’s done showing Marek her new metal” I laughed
“If she can drive you’re truck home then you could always ride back with me” he closed the door I watched him walk round, Damn this Marine was under my skin.
Chapter 45
Breakfast
We pulled up outside of my Aunt and Uncles house Ryne turned off the engine and turned in the seat to look at me.
“So you mind if this Hollywood Marine escorts you to Family day tomorrow?” he smiled
“Escorts me” I laughed “Wow what 40’s movie did you just fall out of”
“Oh fine you won’t get to see this fine ass in uniform then”
“Oh since you put it like that I’ll meet you in the mess hall at 5 am” he looked at his watch
“4 hours?”
‘You can sleep when you’re Dead Marine” I put my hand on the door handle “Thank you for tonight”
“See I’m not that bad after all” he nudged me “You think I could get a good night kiss”
“I’m sure you can” I felt my cheeks flush ad his hand touched the side of my face only this time it was the lightest of kisses that leaves you wanting more.
“Sleep well” he chuckled quietly
“I’ll try” I opened the door “Where are you staying by the way?”
“With one of the drill instructors” he started the engine as I got out
“Night Ryne” he nodded and waited till I’d got to the front door before he drove away. I put the key in the lock as the door opened and Brit was standing there grinning at me. she grabbed my hand and pulled me inside
“It’s 1 am and?
“And what?”
“Well you obviously didn’t kill him or get into a fight, because he dropped you off” She giggled “So you get it on?” she wiggled her eye brows
“No we had a good night that’s all”
“Bull come on throw me a bone” she groaned
“Okay we kissed”
“What peck on the cheek or full on tongue lashing spit swapping tonsil checking sort of kiss?” I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water “Well?”
“I’m so glad you’re going to be seeing Marek tomorrow you’re getting way to frustrated” I walked by her “Now I’m going to bed I’ve got a breakfast date” I walked away from her hearing the muttering and odd curse word coming from Brit. I was still tingling from the kisses the knot in my stomach was still wound tight. I was wishing Ryne was still with me, the heat of him, the smell of him and his touch. I shivered at the thought. What the hell was it about Ryne? Last week he was irritating the crap out of me now I wanted to spend more time with him… even if I wasn’t quite ready to admit that to anyone.
I walked down to the Mess hall arm in arm with Uncle Logan talking about Dad and Ryder. We’d got tired of waiting for Brit to get ready. Uncle Logan opened the door for me I stepped inside. There was more of an excited buzz in there today as these new Marines were the matter of an hour away from seeing the families they hadn’t seen for 12 weeks. I smiled as I looked round the room.
‘Remind you of when it was family day for Ryder?” Uncle Logan smiled
“Oh yeah I’d waited to see him for so long and with in 20 minutes we were fighting over something” I laughed I walked with him to get the food. “Seems like an age ago”
“Tell me about it honey it doesn’t seem that long ago I was the one graduating from here” he sighed “Now look at me”
“Yeah not quite as Lean” I giggled
“Hey for my age I’m better than most” he protested “I miss the deployment sometimes though”
“Don’t let Aunt Beth hear you say that”
“Oh don’t worry I won’t” he laughed “Oh looks like someone’s looking for you” he nudged me and pointed to where Ryne was standing talking with Brit. “and looks like she finally made it out of the bathroom” he chuckled
“Oh leave her alone she’s here for her Marine?” I looked at him “What’s he like?”
“He’s going to climb the ranks quickly if he can control his temper I’m trying to get him put into your Dad’s platoon if anyone can handle his outbursts it’ll be J.J.” I narrowed my eyes at him
“He violent?”
“No but he’s had a rough time and it sometimes comes to the surface”
“Hmmm Looks like I’m going to have an interesting conversation with that Marine” I chewed my lip
“Alyssa” I was getting the oh here we go again look from Uncle Logan
“What Uncle Flynn is sunning his ass in Cali, Ryder got himself shot, Dadna d Jack are away and you have to be professional so the interrogating of the prspective new blood to the family lineage falls on my shoulders” I laughed
“Oh you’ve so been talking to your Grnamother” he sighed
“Yes I have” I laughed as Brit walked over
“Thanks for waiting” she pouted her eyes scanning the room
“You were taking forever” I laughed
“Yeah well at least I founf this Marine outside” she looked at Ryne.
“Morning Sgt” Uncle Logan nodded
“Sir” He nodded back “Morning Ma’am” he looked at me all the feelings from last night that I’d tried to getting out of my system were instantly back and laughing at me.
“Morning Hollywood” I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks “Wow Uncle Logan is the heat on in here?” I said quickly
“No honey… and I really don’t want to know what he did to you last night to get this sort of reaction from you” he chuckled Ryne had a lopsided grin on his face. I groaned and Uncle Logan high fived Brit.
“I think this is only the second time I haven’t seen you in heels” Ryne smiled as we walked away from Brit and Uncle Logan and sat down at a table with a group of Marines
“Yeah well I remember the amount of walking that goes on today” I smiled his arm was almost touching mine and I could feel the heat from him. And I gave a little shudder
“I’m liking the Brat shirt by the way” he grinned taking a bite of his food. “And how did you sleep?” he moved his head closer to mine to lower his voice. Okay this was ridiculous the way my head felt like it was beginning to spin when his fingers brushed my arm and his breath tickled my ear. ‘Because I struggled like hell to fall asleep”
“Out like I light” I breathed “No problem” I swear to god my nose was about to go with a lie like that. I’d tossed and turned and ended up going for a run at 3 to try to cool off and regain some control over my urges… well we all know how it feels to be on the edge of the cliff and not quite making it over… you’re ready to explode but nothing… right now if he touched me in anyway shape or form then I think my self control and will power would run out of the mess hall screaming and the really bad thoughts in my head that would make any hardened Marine (excuse the pun) blush would take over. Damn this Marine.
Chapter 46
Back bone
My phone vibrated in my pocket making me jump and my bad naughty train of thought switched from imaging licking Ryne’s abs to answering the phone.
Brit * Oooo he’s just walked in
Me * are you serious
I looked round and shook my head at my cousin who was three tables away from me
Brit * oh he’s hot
Me * I’m so hanging up and I’m going to be heading right to you
I pushed my cell back into my pocket. Ryne looked at me
“Who was that?”
“Brittany” I sighed pushing the chair in “She was telling me that her Marine had j
ust walked in” Ryne grinned
“You’re at least going to let the poor guy get some breakfast before you take him apart aren’t you?” I just shrugged and walked away back over to Brit, she was literally bouncing in her seat.
“Okay you know you can’t go to him before the rest of the guys get to see their families” I reminded her
“I know but I swear to god I’m about to go slipping right off this chair and under the table” she looked at me wide eyed.
“Ew” I Gibbs slapped her “I think we should go for a walk to cool you off while he eats” Marek hadn’t spotted Brit. I pulled her up and literally marched her ass out of the nearest door. “What the hell has gotten into you?’
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