A SEAL Always Wins

by Holly Castillo

  With a harsh groan, he ripped his lips from hers, kissing and suckling at her skin as he made his way along her jaw to her neck. His teeth nipped at the tender flesh below her ear as his hand slid up underneath her silk top. Her breath rasped in her ears, her chest heaving with each gasp.

  Then his hand was lifting her breast, cupping it and molding it. “Is this what you want, Elena?” His voice thick with passion, his lips moved against her ear as he spoke. “I’ve imagined holding you like this. Do you think about us together? Is this what you imagine? Is this what you want?”

  She moaned, arching into his hand. The ache between her legs had started the moment he touched her, but it had become a throbbing need, demanding satisfaction. He moved against her, and she cried out when the hard length of his desire rubbed against her where she ached the most.

  “Answer me, Elena,” he demanded, his breath hot and harsh against her neck. His hand on her wrists stretched her arms higher above her head, forcing her breast to arch further into his hand. His finger flicked her pouting, aching nipple, and she cried out in pleasure. “Is this what you want?”

  “Oh, Phantom, yes!” she exclaimed and wrapped one of her legs around his waist, gasping as she rubbed against him. “Yes, please. Yes. Yes.” She had imagined what it would be like to be held by him again, had fantasized about his rough hands touching her. Nothing compared to reality.

  “Tell me what you want, Elena. Tell me what you want me to do to you.” His hands released her briefly, only long enough to pull her tank top over her head. His gaze devoured the sight of her breasts, and her nipples tightened even more. His eyes returned to hers, and her breath caught in her throat at the blaze of passion burning there.

  He switched hands, once again grasping both her wrists. He held her wrists high above her head, forcing her back to arch and thrust her other breast into his hand. “Oh,” she moaned as he manipulated her sensitive flesh. Her eyes slid closed in ecstasy. She became restless quickly, though, as her neglected nipple ached to be touched, so tight it became nearly painful.

  Her eyelids fluttered open and his face was dark and intense, his eyes burning into her. “Tell me, Elena. Tell me what you want.” She moistened her lips, and he watched her tongue hungrily.

  “Touch me. Please, Phantom. Touch me.”

  His breath came as fast and rough as hers. “I am touching you, Elena.” As if to prove his point, his hand squeezed her breast, lifting it, caressing it.

  She couldn’t control her own body anymore. She had never been shy when it came to sex, and she knew what she wanted with Phantom. She moved her body against him, her breath hitching as pleasure rippled through her core. He pulled back, then slammed his body back up against her, lifting her slightly off the floor.

  “Oh!” she cried out in surprise and pleasure. He was so hard, so large. “Phantom…please… Phantom…”

  She didn’t think he could stretch her any further, but his hand squeezed around her wrists, forcing her body to contort the way he wanted. Her back was arched so far she could no longer touch the wall. His hand squeezed her breast again, and both exquisite delight and need pulsed through her veins. “Tell me, Elena.” His rough skin rubbing against hers made her crave more. “Tell me what you want me to do to you.”

  She lifted her eyes to his and thrilled at the excitement she saw reflected back. He wanted her to tell him the things her body craved, and a thousand images of what he could do to her flashed through her mind. She hadn’t known her desire could climb any higher, but her entire body quivered with it. “I want you to touch my nipple. Please, Phantom,” she beseeched him.

  His thumb lightly grazed across it. “Like this?” he rasped.

  She shook her head. “No. Squeeze it. Make me really feel it.”

  The breath rushed out of him, and his eyes dropped to her breast. She looked down as well, and the sight of his fingers moving against her dark nipple made her heart race. He gripped her nipple, squeezing it slowly, tighter and tighter. She drew in a sharp breath as he continued to tighten his thick fingers, and she lifted her eyes to find him watching her closely. And then he twisted.

  “Oh…” The moan was torn from within her, and she let her head fall backward, closing her eyes and thrilling in the exquisite pleasure he pulled from her body. His mouth landed on her neck, biting lightly, then lapping at the tender skin before biting again.

  “Tell me, Elena.”

  Oh, good heavens. Every time he says my name, it’s like he’s stroking me inside. This can’t be real. I must be dreaming. I never want to wake up.

  “Tell me what you want me to do, Elena. I want to hear everything you want me to do to your beautiful little body.”

  His words washed over her, and her eyes slid open. She stared up at the ceiling, panting, her body twisted to his command. “Let me touch you,” she gasped out. His teeth bit her again, this time not as gently, and hot, pulsing desire coiled deep inside.

  “No.” His tone left no room for disagreement. He had taken control, though he still wanted her to tell him what she wanted and needed. “Answer me.” He twisted her nipple again and she cried out his name. “That’s it, Elena. You’re mine. I’m the one doing this to you. Say my name again.”

  “Phantom…touch my mound. Touch me where I ache to feel you.” She felt her cheeks run hot. His growl of pleasure against her throat made the embarrassment more than worth it.

  His hand slid over her stomach and she trembled violently. His fingers dipped inside her pants, and he murmured in appreciation when he found her entirely without underwear.

  His fingers combed through her carefully trimmed curls, and his teeth sank into the skin over her collarbone. “Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Please, Phantom.” Her words were breathy whispers. His fingers slid slightly past her highly sensitized flesh and into the soft, wet folds of her sex. Any moment now, she would entirely lose control.

  She didn’t hesitate. Her other leg lifted and wrapped around his waist, exposing herself to his questing fingers. He stroked his fingers further within her core, and the tip of a thick finger lightly pressed up into her. “Phantom!” she cried out loud.

  “That’s it, Elena. That’s it.” And then his fingers circled where she felt the most sensitive. She threw her head back again, a hoarse cry tearing from her lips. He rubbed the inflamed nub lightly, then harder, and harder still.

  “Phantom, Phantom, Phantom.” She was gasping out his name as a mantra.

  Then he stopped and just pressed his fingers hard against her throbbing nub. The coil of desire tightened, tightened, and held her on the edge of an incredible precipice. “Tell me, Elena,” he whispered. “Tell me what you want me to do to your body. Tell me what to do to you.”

  He was torturing her, the sweetest torture she had ever experienced in her life. She drew in a quivering breath. “Take me, Phantom. I need you inside me. I need you to take me. I need—” Her words ended with a gasp as he released her wrists. His hands tore at her pants, and she heard them rip as he shredded them like tissue.

  She became intensely aware of every motion he made as she suddenly stood without him supporting her hands. She wanted to watch every move his impressive body made. He pulled a condom out of his wallet, and she watched him tear the foil packet open. She held her breath as he rolled it on, trembling with anticipation.

  He gripped her hands over her head once again and pressed a kiss to her lips. Pleasure exploded through her body as he thrust into her, slamming her into the wall. He seated himself fully inside her, and she gasped for air as her body contracted around him, trying to accommodate his length and girth.

  She expected him to begin to move, but he stayed still, his body pressed firmly against hers, his mouth still moving against her lips, coaxing her to relax. He breathed heavily, and she trembled as she felt him pulse once inside her. His lips slid across her cheek, and she loved the feeling of his chest risin
g and falling against her chest, stimulating her already sensitive nipples.

  “Elena?” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “What do you want?”

  His need to please her made her feel more treasured than she had ever felt in her life. “Take me, Phantom. Take me hard. Take me—”

  “Aw, hell,” he moaned and pulled back, then thrust his body into her, before pulling nearly all the way out and again slamming back in to the hilt. His free hand grabbed hold of her breast, squeezing and twisting the nipple, massaging and crushing the sensitive tissue.

  “Phantom,” she moaned.

  Her body tightened all over, and her toes curled as her inner muscles began to squeeze his length with a power she had never felt before. She lost the ability to talk, to think. She could only feel. And cry out his name so loudly she feared people in other cabins heard her. Then she didn’t care.

  “Elena…aw, hell, Elena!” He slammed into her one more time and bit down on her collarbone. She felt him pulsing inside her, his body straining against hers as he stood on the balls of his feet, thrusting as deep into her as he could possibly go.

  Waves of pleasure washed over her. Vaguely she became aware that the rough wall no longer pressed at her back. The coolness of the soft sheets against her flesh told her she had been placed on the bed, and she slowly began to catch her breath.

  Phantom was still inside her. He lay on top of her, breathing heavily against her neck. She could feel his tension, could feel him still pulsing within her. Her hands stroked his back in soothing circles. Slowly, slowly, he pulled out of her and went into the restroom briefly before returning to her. He pressed a kiss to her sweaty forehead and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him so she lay halfway across his chest.

  She listened to the gradual slowing of his racing heart and felt him draw in a shuddering breath. She could finally touch him, and her fingers brushed over the light whorls of hair on his chest as they both slowly returned to earth.

  She felt slightly exposed, as foolish as that was after what they had just done. She pressed a kiss against his chest and sighed. His fingers stroked lightly up and down her arm, and the silence of the room wrapped around them.

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head as they continued their lazy touches. But she felt a tension growing in his body, and irrational fear formed like icicles in her stomach. Don’t say sorry. Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. You wanted me, and I wanted you.

  “Elena, I didn’t hurt you, did I? Everything happened so fast.”

  She let out a breath of relief. If that was all that was bothering him… “No. It felt wonderful.”

  His fingers came under her chin, tilting it up so he could look down in her eyes. “You’d tell me the truth, right?”

  Elena’s cheeks heated and she chuckled. “Yes. You were also right about me imagining us being together. It’s just been a little while—maybe a year—since I’ve been with a man.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut and let his breath out slowly. “I’m sorry, Elena. I should have… I’m just sorry.”

  No. Oh, no. Why? Why did he have to ruin what had been so incredible?

  She began to pull away, not wanting him to know how much his words had hurt. But his eyes snapped open and he watched her intently. His arms tightened around her, refusing to let her leave.

  “Phantom…you’ve said enough. Just let me go.”

  “No.” He rolled so that she lay on her back again, and he leaned over her. “I don’t think you understand what I’m sorry for.”

  “It’s rather obvious.” Her heart slammed against her rib cage and her stomach churned.

  “If I had known… Elena, you’re incredible. I would have made love to you. I would have kissed you all over. I would have treasured you properly—in a bed. You haven’t been with a man in a year, and I’m so insensitive I take you standing against a wall!”

  Elena’s eyes searched his face. “That’s what you’re apologizing for?”

  “Yes. I should have made our first time together far more special.”

  She smiled and traced his lips. “You made it more than special—you made it incredible. I enjoyed it. Every single thing we did. If I hadn’t wanted to have sex like that, I would’ve stopped you.”

  He watched her thoughtfully. “I don’t know if I could have stopped once I got to hold you the way I’ve wanted for so long.”

  She glanced down at his chest, trying to decide the best way to ask him the things running through her mind. “If you’ve wanted this for so long, why did you wait?”

  “I want to make you happy. I don’t want you to think this is meaningless to me. You are special to me. And I don’t want you ever to think otherwise. Thank you for coming into my life.”

  “I think I’m the one who should thank you after the amazing experience you just gave me, Phantom.”

  “Enrique.” He watched her closely.

  Her eyebrows snapped together in confusion. “What?”

  “You should know my real name. Phantom is my nickname, but you deserve to know my birth name. It’s Enrique Ramirez.”

  “Enrique.” She enjoyed the feel of his name on her lips. “It fits you. Would you like me to call you Enrique, or do you prefer Phantom?”

  “I enjoy hearing you call me by either name. Phantom is what I’m most used to.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.

  “I like calling you Phantom. Thank you for sharing your name with me. Thank you for this incredible night.”

  He chuckled softly. “Let’s see what you say in the morning. I’m afraid you’re going to be sore.”

  She sighed and stretched, stifling a yawn. “Well worth it.”

  He shook his head and brushed another kiss over her lips. Then he stood and stripped out of his jeans and boots, then lifted her and slid her under the covers and joined her. “Morning is going to be here before we know it,” he murmured against her ear.

  “Mmm. Our first class isn’t until ten thirty. We can sleep in for a little bit.”

  His arms tightened around her, and he dropped his forehead to hers. “Elena…I was so… You were so… I don’t even know the right words.”

  She smiled, feeling light and heavy at the same time. As she began to fall asleep, she felt Phantom’s lips press against her temple. “Good night, Elena.”

  * * *

  They slept in on Saturday morning as she had promised, but they woke up far earlier than either one wanted. The horse show beckoned. His preference would have been to spend the weekend finding ways to make love to Elena gently, to show her exactly what he had been talking about.

  If she was sore, she didn’t complain. She went on to compete beautifully, exhibiting Strawberry in more than four different events. He competed with Black Out in showmanship and Western pleasure, and he felt every bounce in the saddle. He could only imagine what it had been like for Elena competing in jumping.

  The drive back to the ranch had been full of laughter. The judges had taken everything in the competition far too seriously, and their attempts at covering up their confusion when something didn’t work out perfectly—such as the announcer calling out the next program, or horses being called out of order—had been hilarious. The judges even confused one another at different points throughout the day, making for animated moments. Elena and Phantom enjoyed talking about the horses’ performances and were bringing home new trophies to be added to the ranch’s collection. Phantom had been both shocked and excited to win his first trophy as a quarter-horse competitor, tasting the addiction to win more.

  They held hands as he drove, her small hand nestled in his, and she eventually dozed off. He knew she had to be exhausted, and he took every opportunity to glance over at her and admire her profile. He couldn’t believe this beautiful woman had entered his life and turned it into an unexpected, delightful experience. He couldn’t wait to see what hap
pened next.

  * * *

  “That should be all the tack. I’ll be able to clean it more thoroughly on Monday,” Elena said to him as she closed the tack-room door behind her. She kept her voice slightly hushed, which only seemed right with the inky black of night surrounding them.

  He nodded as he secured Black Out’s stall. For some reason, he struggled to find words to say to her. How could he tell her he didn’t know how to tell her goodbye?

  He didn’t have the right to ask her for anything. She hadn’t asked anything of him. She acted as if she expected everything to continue as it had been. He wanted more. He didn’t know what to say or do to make that happen, though.

  Maybe she had just wanted to know what it would be like with him. Maybe she had sensed his passion for her and had wanted to catch fire with him for one night. She had given her body to him with desire that matched his and had made him burn hotter than he ever had before. Could one night be all she wanted?

  He walked with her out of the barn toward her truck. It looked small parked next to the long row of giant trucks that he and his fellow SEALs drove. It seemed perfect for her, though. She walked up to the driver’s side and he followed her. She reached for the door handle, but he grabbed it before her. He didn’t open her door.

  He moved around her as she turned to look at him, pressing her back against the truck and bracing his arms on either side of her. He studied her and she watched him in return, one eyebrow raised. Even exhausted from a grueling day at the horse show, two days on the road, and a very demanding man, she shone. Her lips turned up slightly in the hint of a smile, and her eyes were curious.

  He couldn’t say goodbye. He leaned forward, pressing against her as his lips sought hers. She came to him quickly and eagerly, her mouth meeting his.

  He wanted to be gentle. He wanted to show her that he could be slow and meticulous, drawing out her pleasure. But she let out a shuddering breath, and the fire of desire clawed within him again. He had thought after the previous night his need would be satiated for a while, but he could hear her cries of ecstasy echoing around him as clearly as if they were back at the B and B.