Desire Unleashed (3 page)

“Sweetie! Anal is more like it, but if you think he’s so sweet you go out with him.”

“Wake up Kathy, it’s the twenty-first century and you’re still looking for the fairytale ending. Well, let me tell you girl, the Prince Charmings of this world are long gone.”

“Gosh, what a cynic you are, relax you’re turning sour.”

*

Liz gave an inelegant snort and turned to signal the waiter. She ordered another round of drinks and gave the room the once over.

It was fast filling up.

A group of strapping males had just arrived and staked out a position by the bar. They were a wild bunch, young, handsome, and full of life, obviously with something to celebrate. Judging by their appearance, they were from the local Naval Base. Eight in all, and from the appreciative looks bestowed upon them by the female patrons, the guys were in for a good time.

Liz eyed them with interest. Indeed they were a handsome bunch, but young, not long out of their teens if she were any judge. Her eyes traveled further up the bar and rested on a lone, fair-haired pin-up boy propped up against the counter having a beer. As she watched, three more guys sauntered in and joined him.

These four were in an entirely different league. Older, self-assured, a powerhouse of muscle, they looked positively lethal. Although less rowdy than the younger men, it was apparent from their camaraderie that both groups were acquainted.

Liz enjoyed an uninterrupted view and decided to taunt her friend. “See any potential husbands at the bar Kathy?” she joked nudging her. Not even in her wildest dreams did she think Kathy would be remotely interested in this crew.

*

“Bite me,” Kathy said, but intrigued swiveled to check out the guys. Although cute, she dismissed the first group as too young. “I teach first graders, I don’t want to hang out with them as well.” She laughed. Then her eye was captured by a tall dark-haired Adonis, older than the others and slightly removed from the group. He lounged with casual indifference against the bar in quiet conversation with three men more his own age.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Her chest constricted as if the oxygen had been squeezed from her lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Kathy blatantly stared, sizing him up, oblivious to everything else. She guessed his age to be around thirty. He was tall, well over six feet with ebony hair and a hard, powerfully built frame. The body of a warrior with the face of a god.

Dressed in denims and a black shirt, he oozed masculinity. One hundred percent home grown hunk—truly magnificent—she couldn’t drag her eyes from him. It was as if she was a moth and he was the flame.

*

Shane Jackson a.k.a. Ice leaned against the bar and sucked on a beer. The SEAL trainees were in fine form tonight. SEAL was the acronym for Sea, Air and Land and the SEALs had to be efficient in all disciplines, adept at reconnaissance to demolition and everything in between.

But tonight was all about fun. This was their first day off since
Hell Week
and that had been over weeks ago.
Hell Week
was exactly what the name implied. A punishing week where candidates survived on very little sleep and a truckload of adrenaline. A training session designed to divide and conquer and bring each man as close as possible to his physical and psychological breaking point. It wasn’t the first time he’d been through it, but it was his first time as the trainer. He was in great shape though, prime physical condition, and easily rose to the challenges of his job. But tonight was liberty, and judging by the antics going on around him, the trainees were hell bent on making the most of it.

He watched with amusement as a group of young women celebrating a bachelorette’s party flirted outrageously with the trainees, and the guys being guys, were lapping it up. Some of the girls were taking photos and flashes were going off like fireworks as one of the trainees and the bride-to-be entertained the crowd with their own rendition of dirty dancing.

Not to be outdone, two more of their group escorted a blonde and a brunette onto the dance floor and initiated some steamy moves of their own. Yeah, the place was heating up, and it didn’t take much encouragement for the rest of the trainees to join in the fun. From the smoldering looks and heat being generated on the dance floor, some of the guys were going to get lucky tonight.

Observing the young men, Ice could empathize, clearly remembering experiencing the same hype when he and Frosty were trainees. God, there were days back then when he thought he’d never make it through.

He glanced across at the tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed man beside him and smiled. Patrick Frost, or Frosty to the team, was the only married man among them. A man utterly content with his life and it showed. His best buddy, confidante, and family, ever since they’d met at SEAL training all those years ago. He recalled it had been a tough time, but with each other’s support, they had made it through. The following years and some dangerous missions together had reinforced just how steadfast and reliable Frosty was. Yes, he was a good man to have on his side.

Then there was B. Michael Brannigan, better known as Hawk, propped up against the bar, radar on girl alert, cruising the boundaries and taking in the scenery. Next to him was Zach Buchanan, likeable, easygoing, and rakishly handsome, but an unknown commodity. Ice believed the persona Zach presented to the world was just a veneer that masked the real man underneath. He talked a lot but revealed little and played his cards close to his chest. A computer wizard to boot, the man was smart and careful. His nerves of steel and Hollywood smile allowed him to excel at two things—dismantling bombs and impressing women.

The job never fazed or flustered him, as cool as anyone Ice had ever worked with. Yes, he was cool all right, except of course when it came to the ladies. He had a real knack with women. He only had to crook his little finger and they’d be there in a heartbeat, from the cutesy teens to the grandmotherly types, every last one of them, all eager to do his bidding. Yeah, a real big bad Wolf was Zach Buchanan.

Ice turned and addressed him, “Hey Wolf, I thought you had somewhere else to be tonight?”

“Plans fell through,” he grumped.

“Yeah, and this is as good a place as any to get laid,” Hawk chimed in.

Hawk’s mind was never above his navel for long. As Ice shook his head and smiled, the hairs on the back of his neck bristled, making him instantly alert. His instincts told him he was being watched. Like a predator, he scanned the room searching for the cause of his unease.

He shifted his head and like a bolt from the blue, the culprit entered his vision. Even in the dim light he could see the prettiest pair of doe eyes staring straight at him, and his attraction was instant.

Captivated, he held her gaze, ignoring the conversation around him.

“Forget it Ice, she’s too pure for you.” Wolf laughed and slapped him on the back.

“Fuck off,” he snapped, more aggressive than he’d intended, his attention still riveted on Doe Eyes.

“Ho, ho, ho, the old man’s smitten.” Hawk chuckled and rested his elbow on the bar.

Frosty took a swig of beer and sidled up next to Hawk. “Who’s he scoping?” he queried, craning his neck to see the source of Ice’s attraction.

“Hot Tits, at the back of the room,” Hawk supplied, tilting his head in her direction.

“Yeah, she’s a cutie, worth a try,” Frosty acknowledged. “And if I’m not mistaken Ice, she’s scoping you too.”

Ice ignored their banter. His focus unwavering, his eyes clashed with hers. She really was something else, a hot little number who brazenly ogled him back, her eyes beckoned with a not-so-subtle invitation and damn if he wasn’t going to take her up on it. But not before he finished his beer.

Ice swallowed the last mouthful and placed his empty on the bar, but before he could take a step, his plans collapsed like a house of cards in a breeze. Two young men had beaten him to the draw.

Hawk slapped him on the back and commiserated, “Too slow old man, better luck next time.”

“Plenty more to choose from,” he replied with careless abandon, though he was feeling mighty pissed. It wasn’t like he ever had trouble hooking up, but Doe Eyes was the only one who had captured his interest in the last five months and he’d wanted her bad.

*

Kathy watched Adonis turn his head and their eyes collided across the distance.

Caught.

It was one of those moments that stayed in your mind forever, but in actuality it couldn’t have lasted more than a minute. Telltale heat burned up her neck until her cheeks flamed. She lowered her eyes, but the urge to follow Liz’s advice was overwhelming. She gave into the temptation and gifted him with a smile.

It was spellbinding. Inexplicably drawn by the imposing dangerous force that seemed to emanate from him, it was as if she knew he’d be trouble but now that she’d stepped onto this treadmill, she was powerless to resist.

Kathy read the intention in his eyes. Apprehensive but thrilled at the prospect, her heart hammered in anticipation.

He was going to come over.

She knew it.

She could feel it.

She picked up her glass and downed the margarita for courage.

“I think we’re about to be approached,” Liz calmly announced.

Kathy grinned, but the smile slid off her face when she realized it was the two young blond guys from the adjacent table Liz meant.

“Hey ladies, mind if we join you?”

Before she had time to protest, Liz invited them to sit. Kathy could have screamed. She had to make a concerted effort to listen as they explained they were both college students over to spend a weekend by the beach. They were friendly enough and she tried to act interested, but it was Adonis at the bar that held her attention.

The two blonds were stereotypically handsome. Gym junkies with brightly whitened teeth and solarium tans, eye candy but shallow. Their main topic of conversation—themselves. Boring.

To her credit, Liz tried to steer the talk to other topics, but it was an uphill battle and she gave up. Kathy smiled and nodded in all the right places. Liz wasn’t listening though—her mind was wedged on Adonis. The urge to turn in his direction was overwhelming and she surrendered to the temptation.

He was still staring. The corners of her mouth tilted upward again, but as they did he turned away and ordered another drink. It seemed the attraction was only one-sided after all. Her face almost crumpled, her disappointment was tangible.

“How about a dance?” One of the guys asked.

“Good idea,” Liz replied.

Kathy perked up. She’d had enough of listening to their prattle, so didn’t object when Liz hauled her to her feet.

The foursome wove their way through the crowd of dancers crammed onto the inadequate floor space until they found a gap. Kathy swayed in time to the beat, but it took a whole lot of concentration and willpower to stay focused on what her partner was saying—visuals of Adonis still cluttered her mind, despite his disinterest.

When the band struck up a romantic number, Kathy’s partner Blondie pulled her into his arms and began moving against her suggestively. Roving hands groped her butt. Annoyed she knocked them away and stepped backward, glaring until he got the message.

For the next few songs he behaved and they settled into spasmodic conversation. Then the band played “Unchained Melody.” Blondie closed the gap. One hand gripped her waist the other splayed her derriere forcing her hips hard up against his groin. His mouth dropped to her neck, his moist lips against her skin and alcoholic breath in her face was nauseating. She placed her palms against his pecs and pushed firmly.

*

Ice fumed in silence and berated himself for missing his chance. More often than not, he wouldn’t give a rat’s, but Doe Eyes had made an impression and he wanted to kick his own ass for hesitating. He wasn’t a masochist, but those two were leaving nothing to his imagination as they cavorted and writhed together in slow motion on the dance floor.

Time to split.

Downing his beer in one swallow and without another word, Ice headed for the exit. He made the mistake of shooting a final glance in her direction and wished he hadn’t. The lucky son of a bitch had her fanny in a firm grip, kneading those tight ass cheeks and rotating his hips against hers, doing the vertical version of the horizontal rumba right there on the dance floor for all to see. Ice uttered an expletive and marched through the crowded club, out into the temperate night air.

*

“Quit groping me.” Kathy hissed, her low tones masking her annoyance.

“Come on doll face, you know you want it, I can feel it.”

The temerity of the guy had her seething. “You are so wrong. I don’t want it. You can’t feel it, in fact, I’m out of here.” She wrenched away and stormed off, leaving her partner standing mouth agape and alone on the dance floor.

“You’ll be sorry.” His petulant cry carried on the air after her.

Kathy ignored the childish threat. The only reason she had to be sorry was because by dancing with him, she’d missed her chance with Adonis.

Enough was enough.

Scanning the floor she spotted Liz among the dancers right away and threaded a path toward her.

“I think it’s time to leave.” She touched her friend’s shoulder.

Liz tapped her ear with her index finger.

Kathy interpreted the gesture and pointed to her wristwatch, then the exit.

Liz nodded her understanding and leaning toward her partner shouted, “Thanks for the evening, it’s been fun, but I’m going now.”

The boy’s reaction was quick and he caught her arm just as the band switched to a ballad. “Not yet sweetheart, it’s still early,” he cajoled.

Kathy was standing close enough to hear their words over the lull in the music and she felt bad. He was right of course, it was still early, not yet eleven in fact. Kathy gave him a commiserating shrug as she led the way off the dance floor.

The girls collected their handbags and made for the exit. Kathy though, couldn’t resist a final peep along the bar. Her eyes raked the group, but Adonis was not standing among them. The smile slipped from her face and her disappointment swelled. It was unreasonable; she hadn’t even exchanged a single word with the guy. One of his buddies though winked at her, she lifted her chin and her lips curved upward, he returned the smile and raised his beer in mock salute as she sailed by.