by Hart, Kaily
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Kaily Hart
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Pin Down
Kaily Hart
For Nash Carmichael, this downtime was meant to be like any other. Pick a random city and settle in for some much needed R&R—of the adult variety. Except Nash didn’t count on meeting Lexi. He’d written her off as too young, too blonde and too “cute” for his brand of entertainment…until her smart mouth intrigues the hell out of him.
Alexis “Lexi” Ryan might be outwardly tough and plenty sarcastic, a byproduct of her crappy childhood, but it’s pretty much all for show. Fact is, she’s got a big-ass problem—one she’s kept from everyone, one she hasn’t been able to solve on her own. So how then does the hot, gorgeous, “it’s just sex” guy manage to zero right in on it? And somehow fix it?
Nash’s only permanent place is a storage unit he hasn’t checked in over five years and that’s just how he likes it. The sex with Lexi is plenty hot and dirty—just how he likes it—but it’s sweet too, and not just that. Soon he’s trying to remember why he vowed never to be pinned down by anything or anyone.
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PIN DOWN Copyright © 2015 Kaily Hart
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage or retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Edited by Grace Bradley
Cover design by The Killion Group, Inc.
I’ve always wanted to write military heroes. A guy willing to defend his country? That’s hot. But then I got to thinking…what happens after? When former special forces guys are out in the wild? They’d need a special woman who could handle them, right? And so…the Men Out of Uniform series was born. ENJOY!
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
EPILOGUE
So…now what?
Chapter One
How exactly did I get roped into this again?
Oh, yeah, the guilt card had been played in a major way and she’d been the sucker who’d caved. Also known as “doing a big-ass favor for a friend”. Lexi sighed. It really hadn’t been so bad and it was for a good cause, right? At least there’d been some decent eye candy to pass the time, although “decent” might be an understatement. All those fit, hard bodies. Close-cropped hair. And muscles, let’s not forget the muscles, a whole hell of a lot of them. And, oh man, add to that a uniform and you had a serious case of “wow”.
Just when she figured she’d put in enough time to be able to bow out, she saw him. Some guys had the walk, you know? The signature stride that drew the eye with its easy movement, the one that screamed confidence, the one you just knew meant he had to be awesome in bed. Or at least he thought he was. And this guy had it all going on. He had the same ripped, honed body, yet even in a crowded airport filled with returning serviceman—big, hot, hunky guys—he still somehow managed to stand out.
He wore dark, wrinkled cargo pants that rode low on lean hips and a black t-shirt that had seen better days, the seams stretched to the max over a massive chest and thick biceps. The shirt hung a little loose over a hard, flat stomach and God, how she loved that look on a guy.
His hair was dark and short, sticking up in places as if he’d run impatient fingers through it, and he had at least a day’s beard growth covering lean cheeks and the hard angles of his jaw. He should have just looked scruffy, he was scruffy, yet he exuded a sharp, savage awareness that had the air almost crackling with energy around him. Despite his casual appearance, his every movement screamed “fighter”, plain and simple.
He was rough, rugged and God help her, edible. She had an urge to lift up his t-shirt and taste that hard skin, put her mouth to him, lick him until he whimpered. Would a guy like that whimper? Would he even know how? What she wouldn’t give to find out. She took a deep breath at the curl of heat low in her abdomen. It had been too long, way too long, if she was drooling over a guy just because he had a spectacular bod. She snorted to herself. He probably had women hanging all over him on a regular basis and she’d never been much for following the crowd.
And just look at him. He was scanning the area as if he’d prefer to be anywhere but here. Now that she could relate to.
Lexi dragged her gaze away with an effort to land on the guy next to him. Oh, so not fair. They were of a similar height and build, but where the first guy was dark, this one was light. He was dressed in sand-colored cargoes, a white t-shirt and except for the hard edge in his gaze, he could have been a beach bum—brown sun-streaked hair, blue eyes and tanned. Separately, they were more than drool-worthy. Together, they almost hurt her eyes they were so stunning. And she wasn’t the only one to notice.
She watched with more than a little interest when the blond guy dropped his duffel and embraced the woman who stepped up and straight into his arms as if she belonged there. It was a clutching, clinging hold, his arms wrapped completely around her, almost as if they wanted in each other’s skin. Her heart slammed against her ribs, her throat went dry and she felt the heat in her cheeks.
Jeez, guys…get a room already.
Lexi swallowed and looked away. It was intimate, too intimate, and that’s when reality set in, hard and fast. She didn’t have anyone to hold or anyone to hold her and probably never ever like that anyway. As it was, she wasn’t even likely to be getting any action anytime soon. Mr. Hot Bod was staring down at the floor, almost as if he couldn’t stand to look at them either. As if sensing her eyes on him, his lids lifted and his dark gaze zeroed right in on her.
Chocolate. The color of his eyes made her think of melted chocolate—dark, decadent and so not good for her. In fact, probably outright bad for her. His look was bold and assessing and unapologetic as hell.
Lexi cleared her throat. “Welcome home, soldier.”
Groan.
It wasn’t what she’d meant to say but at least she hadn’t blurted out what she was really thinking. Yeah, that wouldn’t have been good, but it still pissed her off because her voice came out a lot huskier than normal. Why? Because he was a hot guy and pushed her buttons? Every single one of them? Please. He probably had a voice like Mickey Mouse.
“Yeah. Why don’t you save that for someone who’ll appreciate it more?”
Okay, so he had a deep, gravelly voice that pushed all the aforementioned buttons—hard—and then some. She couldn’t help thinking about what he’d sound like whispering dirty, naughty things in her ear while he did dirty, naughty things to her body. So maybe he was lacking in the size department. Nah. No guy strutted around like he owned the place with nothing under the hood. Besides, the size of those hands and feet pretty much nixed that thought.
His eyes narrowed on her before he turned away and she ground her teeth together. He hadn’t given her more than a cursory once-over. Most of the guys coming through the welcome station were happy to be home, eager to be with friends, family and loved ones. Grateful. Not this sorry, surly ass.
“Jeez, someone needs a hug,” she muttered.
His head whipped back around. He looked surprised, as if he’d already dismissed her from his mind and wondered who the hell she was. And he didn’t strike her as the type of
guy who was surprised very often. His eyes didn’t move from hers, but somehow she knew he’d seen as much of her as if he’d slid his gaze up and down her body in a detailed inventory.
“Yeah?” he drawled. “You handing out those too?”
Actually, she’d lost count of the number she’d given today. They’d been brief, casual, simple “welcome homes” and none had gotten her stomach twisted in knots at the mere thought of it.
“Here.”
He glanced down at the bottle of chilled water she all but shoved at him. The corner of his mouth lifted. “I don’t qualify for the hug then?”
He didn’t think she would, Lexi could see that. She’d never backed down from a challenge in her life, even if it was idiotic. In fact, that was one of her weaknesses, probably her biggest one. She’d been here for three long hours, handing out water, snacks and hugs, a whole lot of hugs. She needed to get her kicks where she could, right?
“Why not?” she countered.
Lexi stepped to him before she chickened out, reached a hand up to his shoulder and leaned in. The flesh under her hand was warm and firm. Okay, it was more like rock hard and even through the t-shirt she could feel the heat coming off his big body. Before she could pull back, he’d wrapped an arm around the back of her waist and eased her closer to him. She’d meant the hug to be quick and impersonal, just like all the others, except he was too big, too warm and smelled so damn good she’d forgotten the point of it.
He held her loosely and didn’t do anything inappropriate, yet all of a sudden Lexi had difficulty breathing. She swallowed at the wash of heat that surged through her, arrowed down between her legs and caused a stinging ache, deep inside. He smelled like a man should—hot, woodsy with a hint of something elusive that just said “guy”, and “hot guy” at that. It was a turn on, plain and simple. He was a turn on. God, did he realize what a weapon of mass destruction he was? Yeah, he probably did.
She felt the deep breath he pulled into his lungs and frowned. She eased back and he released her immediately.
He stared at her for a second before a frown appeared between his eyes. “Thanks for the bump and grind, but I gotta go.”
Lexi felt heat crawl into her cheeks and clenched her hands into fists. It had nothing to do with her reaction to him. Nothing. He was just a rude, obnoxious…
“What the hell is your problem?” she hissed.
One of his eyebrows lifted. “My problem?”
“I’m here, voluntarily and on my own free time as a service to welcome you home and you—”
“So? You want a medal for that?”
“So? So?” she all but sputtered. “So, the least you could do—”
“Is what? Christ,” he sighed and shook his head. “Do-fucking-gooders.”
“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath.
“Is that the best you can do?” He laughed, laughed and Lexi ground her teeth to keep from saying anything else. “Baby, I’ve been called a hell of a lot worse than that, believe me.”
Baby?
“Come home with me.”
Lexi’s stomach jolted and for a split second she thought he’d said the words. And to her.
Wrong on both counts. They both turned to look at the blond guy at the same time. She’d completely forgotten about him and that had to be saying a lot. If the expression on the dark-haired guy’s face was anything to go on, he’d forgotten him too.
Maybe she had rocked his world some—just a little—or at the very least provided an unwelcome distraction.
Mr. Hot Bod gave her a last quick look, cleared his throat and turned away from her. “Nah,” he said to the blond guy. “You go enjoy yourself.”
Lexi could guess exactly how the blond guy was going to do that if the way the woman was clutching his hand was any indication. Some women had all the luck.
“Come on, man—”
“Fuck, Jake, don’t we spend enough time together? Look, I plan to hole up somewhere, get some decent sleep on a soft bed, drink some good quality beer and get laid. As often as possible. Don’t need a babysitter for that.” He glanced at the other woman. “You get in some quality time, okay?”
“You’re not fooling me. Anonymous sex isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
He choked out a laugh. “Yeah? I deserve some oblivion. We’re both long overdue. You get it your way, I’ll get it mine.”
He glanced back at her, a single hot glance that said he probably knew what she looked like naked and she didn’t exactly do it for him, hoisted his duffel more firmly over his shoulder and walked off. No, sauntered. The way he moved couldn’t be called mere walking and dammit if she still didn’t get a tingle just from watching him.
Lexi sighed, her gaze fixed on the way the soft fabric of his pants hugged the hard curves of his ass, when her phone beeped. God, how she’d come to hate the sound. She should have turned the damn thing off. The sense of dread that was never far from the surface rose up and over her like an ominous blanket, even before she took the phone out of her pocket, flipped open the cover and looked at the text. All the warmth, even the sharp heat of annoyance was gone, replaced in an instant with ice—cold and black—in her gut, deep inside her bones.
She flipped the sound off and slid the phone back into the pocket of her jeans. She glanced around, trying to act normal, trying to be normal. Everyone was going about their business, living their everyday lives, taking care of everyday, mundane things. It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t. She tried to swallow, but the ice had made its way up into her throat. She hated feeling like this, hated feeling helpless, clueless and scared. And yeah, she couldn’t help but be a little resentful. How she wished her only problem was some gorgeous jerk who defined a new level of rude and thought he was God’s gift to women. That she knew how to handle. This other crap? Not so much.
* * * * *
What were the chances?
Nash leaned back against the bar and lowered his lids while he kept his gaze trained on the dance floor. For someone he’d written off as too young, too blonde and too “cute”, she sure knew how to move that hot body. And those curves…where the hell had she been hiding those curves at the airport earlier?
He knew despite his civilian clothes and longer-than-regulation hair, he looked military. He lived it and breathed it, so why not? And he knew the way he carried himself pretty much catalogued him too. There wasn’t a whole hell of a lot he could do about that.
The dismissive line he’d thrown her should have left her speechless, stopped her in her tracks, had her crying back to her mama. Nope. Not even close. She’d looked down her nose at him as if she’d missed the cutting comeback. Even if the brush-off had gone over her head, the scowl was usually enough on its own.
Tough guys had cringed under one of his famous scowls, but not her. And she’d called him an asshole. He smiled. She’d muttered it low enough that no one around them would be able to hear. Except him. He’d bet she’d pitched it perfectly to be sure he heard it though.
Right now she was wearing a short denim skirt, a white tank top and cowboy boots. Oh, man, those boots. Even though she was kind of short, they made her legs look endless. Sleek, smooth expanses of honey skin he could all too easily picture wrapped around his hips. Hooked in the crook of his elbows. Or draped over his shoulders. He swallowed. And yeah, she’d have nothing but those boots on.
All at once he was hard and not just his dick. Every single muscle in his body had stiffened at those images crowding his brain. Christ, it couldn’t be because of her. So she was the first woman he’d been close to in months. He still should have been able to get the feel of her softness out of his mind by now, along with how sweet she’d smelled.
He told himself he’d still been raw from witnessing the reception Jake had gotten from his girlfriend. They’d held on to each other as if they couldn’t get close enough. Man, whatever floated his boat. Even though Nash thought being reduced to that was lame, he could still wonder what it felt like to want—
to need—someone else like that, right?
He shook his head.
He just needed a woman, any woman. He could barely remember the last time he’d had the luxury of being inside one. All he knew was that it’d been rough and quick. A momentary flash of sensation, fleeting and then…nothing. Not nearly satisfying enough, but it had taken the edge off back then. This time? This time he wanted to make it count.
Nash took a swig of his beer. He wasn’t the only chump watching her either. Actually, she had a growing fan club of drooling idiots around the edge of the dance floor, hanging on every sway of those hips. If he hadn’t been honed to assess every specific of a given situation, he’d say she was doing it deliberately, but all his instincts said it was totally unconscious. The guy closest to her leaned back, gave her a heated look up and down and let his gaze focus on the curves of her ass. Nash’s jaw clenched at the move. The guy was cocky. He’d done it so she wouldn’t notice, but didn’t care who else saw him.
The guy looked like an operator and Nash should know, although he’d never been that obnoxious. At least he hoped not. He’d like to think he had more finesse, a lot more. He wondered if she’d be dumb enough to fall for someone like that. Or smart enough to recognize him for exactly what he was and go for it anyway.
And why the fuck should he even care? Damn. Her? Why did it have to be her that piqued his interest? God, of all the women here there were any number who’d been giving him “the look”. The one that said he could approach them and wouldn’t be walking away with a “no”, to whatever he suggested. So why her?
Nash took another swig of his beer as she walked off the dance floor, running a hand around the back of her neck and lifting her hair up. She looked hot, sweaty and so fucking sexy his dick felt as if it was about to rip a hole through the front of his jeans. He was pretty sure he’d have the zipper imprint to prove it. He more than liked the slightly messed look and all at once he had the urge to see her plenty messed up. From being under him. Or on top of him. Or between him and any hard surface. He wasn’t that particular.