Her Sexy Marine Valentine (7 page)

“Mari,” he moaned, as his release came quickly. Never had it felt so strong, so all-consuming. This wasn't just satisfaction, it was perfection. He rested on top of her, trailing kisses along her jaw, her neck, her shoulder. His cock was still throbbing inside her.

“I, um...” She bit her lip. Her big eyes focused squarely on him.

He nuzzled her gently. “What?”

“I've, um, never had an orgasm during sex before,” she said as she pursed her lips. “I didn't know it could be like that.”

“You've been hanging out with the wrong people.” He smiled.

She reached out and touched his cheek. The movement was so intimate, his cock hardened instantly. It wasn't possible. He usually needed a lot longer than this to recover. But then he'd never been with Mari before now.

“Obviously,” she said giggling. “I really didn't know...wow. And you only want to do it once? That's really disappointing because I quite liked it. I'd be game to do it again if you think you can handle it...” There was a challenge in her eyes.

“You're going to kill me, you know that?” he said. But she was right. This didn't quench his thirst. Like her, he wanted more.

She smiled sweetly.

His cock twitched again, harder than before.

Her eyes widened. “Is that...already?”

“Oh, babe, you have no idea. The first time was a bit rushed, believe me. You do that to me. Let me show you what happens when we take it slow. I mean, if we're only going to do this tonight, you really should experience it all.”

Her gaze flashed with surprise.

“Slow sounds really, really good,” she whispered.

He kissed her lip where she'd bitten it. “It is.”

And he showed her all night long.

8

B
REATHE
. M
ARI
HAD
to remind herself. The small quakes in her body continued as she worried about what to do next. Had he been as affected as she was by what had just happened? After the third time in three hours, she was nestled against his chest. He pulled the comforter up over them. She was sated, exhausted yet feeling more alive than she had in years.

And thoroughly confused.

Sex had never been that...intense. That was the only way to describe it.

Is it always like that for him?
How could she ask him without sounding so naive?

Sex with Gary had become more of a chore and it was always about him. When they were dating she never thought about how selfish he was. How could she? She'd been a virgin when she'd met him. In college, it wasn't as if she hadn't tried to lose her virginity, but after the third drunken frat boy passed out on her before the deed was done, she decided to focus on school instead.

She'd done her best to try and please Gary. But it hadn't been enough according to him. And now that she knew the difference between good sex—no, fantastic sex—and what wasn't, being with Gary wasn't enough for her.

Never had she imagined that would be the case for her. Brody had inspired her sexually. All she could think about was that next wave of pleasure and how she could give it right back to him. It was almost too much to comprehend.

She wasn't a cold lover at all.

It was a revelation.

Brody pushed a curl from her forehead and followed with a kiss. “You're exquisite,” he murmured, before lifting her chin so that he could kiss her mouth.

Her body already ached, but it was the good kind of ache. This was a night she would never forget. He'd awakened her to things that she never knew existed.

What was she supposed to say? Thanking him profusely was wrong, though she was more grateful than she'd ever been. “I think you made me not so frigid,” she told him. The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them.

What is wrong with me?
Shut up
.

He smiled. “Mari,
frigid
is the last word I would ever use to describe you. It's never been so—”

“Intense?” she asked.

“Exactly. Not for me, I mean. I had no idea that it could be like that.” So whatever it was that had happened between them, it was special for him, too. If it had never been like that for him either, that meant it wasn't one-sided. He was into it as much as she was.

At least there was that. Though it was truly disappointing that they only had this one night. But she'd made a promise and she wouldn't go back on that.

His hand slid down to her hip. “Are you okay?” he asked. “As you said, that was intense. That's what happens when I'm with you. I lose control.”

The power his words gave her made her feel bolder. “You do that to
me
. I lost control. I, uh...”

“What?” he asked, worry furrowing his brow.

“I want to lose control again... I know,” she said, pointing between them, “this is temporary. But you taught me stuff about myself tonight, I hadn't expected it. I'm inexperienced, I get that. Clearly, I missed some classes in my sexual education. So, this showed me...why can't I quit babbling?”

“Hey, you never have to worry with me.” He kissed her soundly. “I like that you say what you think. You can do that all the time around me.”

She nodded, grinning. “My ex was nothing like you, that's for sure.”

“If he couldn't bring out your wild side in you, then he didn't deserve you. You're a knockout, Mari, and I can't get enough of you.”

She didn't know if he was saying those words to be nice or what, but she appreciated so much that he wanted to make her feel good about herself. Even before this evening, he'd always been complimentary about her, how she looked, how bright she was and how hard she worked.

Bottom line: he was kind and what she needed right now.

“I don't know about you, but I could use a good soak,” he said. “How about we christen that new bathtub we installed?”

She was now glad she'd forgone the traditional claw-foot tub for the behemoth one with jets. She'd warred with her design side over those jets and the need to keep things traditional in the old Victorian. In the end, the jets won. Her muscles had been really sore that day.

It hadn't occurred to her that she'd one day be sharing the tub with Brody.

Bonus
.

He jumped up and swooped her into his arms. “Done.” He smiled and captured her lips.

He sat her on the white marble counter while he turned on the taps. Once the tub was full, he swooped her up a second time and deposited her in the warm water. Then he slid in behind her.

“I'm going to be delightfully numb in about six minutes,” she said as he shifted her back against his chest. He used the remote on the side of the tub to switch on the jets.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes. “This is the most relaxed I've been in ages,” she said.

He laughed. “You and me both. I, uh, was wondering something,” he said as his erection poked at her backside. The guy was insatiable. The idea that she had that kind of effect on a man as incredible as Brody blew her mind.

“What's that?” she said, playfully ignoring his hard-on for her. It wasn't easy to do it since her body was already so tuned to his. Anticipation began to buzz through her.

His hands softly massaged her nipples. It wasn't long before they were tight peaks.

“Maybe we should ride this out, this thing between us. I'm not sure tonight will be enough to get you out of my system.”

This time she was the one who laughed.

With the back of his hand he caressed her jaw and used his other hand to stroke her breast. “I know that sounds
oh so
romantic. What I meant to say was I wasn't expecting...oh, man, I'm making a mess out of this.”

“Yes,” she said, understanding what he wanted. “We'll play it by ear. Take each hour and day as it comes. That's kind of how I live my life now.” She turned then and sat back on her heels, her knees on the bottom of the tub. “When we have our fill of one another, we'll be honest. Mature. This is a short-term fling while we fix up the house, right? We pleasure each other, seduce each other...”
Did I really just say that?
“And then we go back to being just friends.”

He traced along her collarbone with his fingers and up to her jaw again. “You'll be okay with that? Just friends? I don't want to hurt you, Mari. But this can't—”

She smiled to reassure him. He was always trying to protect her. Maybe her heart would get involved, maybe it wouldn't. But she was going to treasure this time with him regardless. “Brody, I want you, I want to be with you and when it's done, it's done. I'm good. So good in fact, we should try something I've been thinking about ever since you mentioned the shower.” She winked. “Will you let me do whatever I want to you?”

His eyebrow shot upward, but he nodded.

“Sit up on the ledge,” she asked him.

He used his massive forearms to push himself up onto the ledge of the tub. Originally, she'd put the marble seating area there as an added convenience, but it was going to work quite well for what she had in mind.

“Lean back,” she told him. When he did, his shaft popped up between them.

Her insides pulled tight at the thought of taking Brody into her mouth. He'd given her an unforgettable experience earlier; she was determined to do the same for him. “I need you to tell me the best way to do this,” she said, right before she squeezed the bottom of his cock and then suckled the tip.

He moaned and placed a hand on her cheek. “Mari, what you're doing, your mouth feels so amazing. I don't need to tell you anything. You know how to—”

His words gave her confidence. She kissed him and licked his shaft, and then suckled him some more. Glancing up, she caught him watching her. With his head tilted back, he murmured her name as if he was in ecstasy. She smiled; she was doing that to him.

He called out, tangled his hands in her hair. She stopped and grinned.

This was how it was supposed to be. This give-and-take. Fifty-fifty.

“Mari, so good.” One of his hands slipped from her hair to caress her shoulder. “I want you so much with that sweet little mouth of yours doing such wicked things to me.”

Wicked? “What can I say, I'm a fast learner.”

He groaned louder.

Yes. This was how it was supposed to be.

* * *

F
OR
AN
HOUR
Brody watched her sleep. Her relaxed face made her look almost angelic.

Yeah, an angel with a mouth made for sin. How could any man walk away from a woman like Mari? The scene in the bathtub was now number one on his top ten list of all-time favorite moments. Just thinking about her mouth on him made his cock hard again, which was why he was extricating himself from her bed. Four times in one night was enough.

Still, he hadn't had his fill.

He thought she'd be trouble and he was right. There was a connection he had with her that he hadn't had with anyone else. Maybe it was the fact that they'd begun as friends. Whatever it was due to, his feelings for her meant he'd have to rethink their arrangement.

But that wasn't the only reason he couldn't stay. He got dressed and went to leave, but stopped and stood at the door for another few minutes with his gaze on her.

The angelic blonde had no idea how amazing she was. It wasn't only the sex, which was the best ever. He could admit that. She was also a good person. Maybe that was it. So much of his life was filled with darkness and she was light. From the way she hummed when she worked, to her showing up with cold lemonade or making his favorite foods on the hot plate.

He'd never met a more giving soul.

But she's not for you
. He had to remember that. Whatever it took, he would make sure that no one else around him was ever hurt, especially Mari.

The familiar pain. Another migraine. He needed to get his meds.

With one last wistful look in her direction, he then double-timed it down the stairs. He checked the back door and windows and then locked the front dead bolt with the key she'd given him so that he could get things done when she wasn't there.

Something he couldn't fully process had happened last night, and Brody wasn't convinced it was only the nature of the relationship he had with Mari that had changed.

He'd changed.

And there wasn't anything he could do about it. Because tomorrow he'd be back to take whatever she could give him.

Hell. He had a new demon and her name was Mari.

9

M
ARI
WAS
HUMMING
as she put away some files when Abbott walked in. Her friend looked like she might have partied a bit too much the night before.

“Late night?” Mari asked, slamming the file drawer shut with her hip.

Abbott flinched. “Stop that. There's no reason to be so loud. And why are you so cheerful. You either got busy with that Marine, or the Colsons finally signed their contract.”

Mari grinned. “Both.”

Abbott's eyes flashed wide. “Wait.” She held up her hand. She left the office and came back with two cups of coffee. She placed one cup in front of Mari, who was sitting behind her desk, and then she sipped from the other.

“Abbott—”

Her friend held up a finger. “Two more minutes.”

After half a cup of coffee, she smiled. “Okay, yay on the stuffy Colsons. Though, you know they're going to be a huge pain in the butt. Can you imagine them making a decision on the redesign of their kitchen when it took them two months just to sign their contract?”

“Which is why I had a stipulation added that they have one week to make a decision on any idea presented to them. They actually agreed to it.”

“That's brilliant.”

“I thought so.”

“All right.” Abbott took another sip of coffee. “So you slept with the Marine. I'm going to throw you a party since you finally let go and had some fun.”

Mari laughed. “I admit I haven't been this relaxed in years. However, I refuse to be one of those women who kisses and tells.”

“Oh, no. You are so gonna spill,” Abbott insisted.

She shook her head. “Talking about it, I don't know, it takes some of the fantasy away.”

Abbott sighed. “I get that, but you have to give me something. Was he amazing?”

“I'll say only this—I had no idea how much I didn't know. He's taught me a lot. And, I knew before, but now it's been confirmed, breaking up with Gary was the best thing that ever happened to me. The. Best. Thing. Now that I know what can be, I'll never settle for less.”

Abbott whistled. “Look at you! I'm happy for you. It's about time.”

“True that.”

They both laughed.

“Is it serious?” Abbott leaned forward still cupping the coffee close to her face.

Mari cocked her head. “No. We've both been really clear about that. I'm not ready for anything serious. He's not into commitments, so it's kind of perfect for both of us. We're having fun. That's it.”

Abbott's hand went to her chest. “My little Mari is all grown up and having excellent casual sex with a hot Marine. I couldn't be any prouder.”

Mari rolled her eyes. “So I had this crazy idea, and I might need your help.”

“Crazier than having steamy sex with your boy toy?”

“Stop. Yes. I'm going to throw a Valentine's party for family, friends and a few of our clients. Maybe even a few of our potential clients.”

Abbott frowned. “I hate Valentine's Day.”

“Me, too, which is why I thought we could make this more a friendly gathering.”

“Where is this shindig supposed to take place?”

“My house.”

Her friend nearly dropped the coffee cup.

“But Valentine's Day is a few weeks away.”

She wagged her finger. “You haven't been by in a while. With Brody's help, it's all come together so fast. The man can do anything.”

“Wow. You're into him. I can tell. I don't care how casual you think things are, you're so into him.”

Maybe she was. But when Brody grew tired of what they had, she would let go. Fast. She'd promised him she would. She'd promised herself.

It would hurt, but at the first sign she saw of him losing interest, she would walk away. She had to, for her own good and for his.

* * *

M
ARI
AND
B
RODY
stood outside the high-rise building where her ex's engagement party was being thrown. The wind had picked up and a thunderstorm threatened. Her red dress whipped around her thighs and she had to hold it down with her hands. It wasn't that she was worried about seeing Gary and his new fiancée again. It was that some of their old friends would be there. People who had treated her like a social pariah when he'd dumped her, as if she'd done something wrong.

The lobby doorman pushed open the glass door. Brody put his hand lightly on her hip to guide her into the fancy building. Funny how in the last week since they'd first made love, she'd grown to crave his touch. Her body leaned into his, without her even thinking about it. There was strength in him and never had she needed it more.

“We don't have to go in,” Mari said as they rode up in the elevator.

“No. We don't. You have nothing to prove.” Brody took her hand in his. “You look great in that dress and those heels. All I can think about is stripping them off of you. Frankly, I'm okay with leaving, if that's what you want. What I want is to be inside you.”

It was as if a passel of butterflies was let loose low in her belly. “Brody,” she scolded, and slapped at him playfully. “Now I won't be able to think about anything else. I can hardly breathe.”

He chuckled and then caressed her jawline with the back of his hand. He did that often. She loved how he was always touching her. Having his hands on her, even now, made her think of him filling her so completely.

“You're all I think about,” he whispered. “And now I'm hard as a rock. You can't talk like that and expect me to stand idly by. I could press you up against the wall right here and—” The doors to the elevator dinged open. He took her hand and led her from the elevator. In the hallway, people milled around and the apartment door at the end of the corridor was open.

“Twenty minutes,” he said as they made their way to Gary's. “Then I'm taking you home. That's about as long as I can wait to have you.”

Heat pooled at her core. It was all she could do not to haul him back to the elevator so they could go home and make love.

As they neared the open door, his arm went around her shoulders. “We're going to show your ex that you've moved on and that he's pretty much the dumbest guy who's ever lived.”

On the inside, she was doing a happy dance. Every once in a while Brody would say something like that and make her wonder what life might be like with a man like him—permanently. One who treated her with kindness and satisfied every desire she had. Not that they were really together. This was a friends-with-benefits situation, which she kept having to remind herself of, but still...

“You've got this,” Brody said as he guided her through the entryway.

They were met by Annalise, the new fiancée, who wore a tight, neon green dress with cutouts and very high heels.

How does she breathe in that outfit?
There wasn't an ounce of fat anywhere in those cutouts.

Mari sighed. No matter. Even if her time with Brody wasn't long-term, she had moved forward with her life. She didn't need a man—any man—to define her. But if she was going to have fun and awesome sex, she might as well do it with the handsome, well-built Marine.

She took a deep breath and smiled.

Annalise's eyes went straight to Brody. “Hi,” she said breathily without even glancing at Mari. “I'm so very glad you could make it. I remember meeting you—I mean, who would forget you, but I'm afraid I have forgotten your name.”

His eyebrow lifted. “Brody,” he said. “And this is my girlfriend, Mari. Remember, she used to date your fiancé?”

Annalise frowned as she spared Mari a quick glance. “Yes. I remember now.” She waved at them and then gestured at the room. “How grown up are all of us that we can hang out like this?”

Mari wasn't feeling grown up at all. Annalise's hand had landed on Brody's biceps. She was about ready to tell the woman to get her hand off of his arm. Hadn't she taken enough from Mari? Well, she'd done her a favor. After being with Brody for a short time, she couldn't believe she'd almost ended up with a creep like Gary. Still, the woman needed to stop touching Brody.

She cleared her throat and looped her arm through his, effectively removing him from the other woman's clutches.

Annalise's lips formed a pout as if Mari had taken away her favorite toy.

“Yeah, so...my Gary is over at the bar,” Annalise said. “You guys should go say hello. He was just telling me the other day that he doubted you would show up. He'll be so surprised.”

I bet
. Mari'd prefer to avoid ol' Gary, but she and Brody could at least get a drink and maybe check out the view.

Brody kissed Mari's cheek. “Babe, we need to hurry and do whatever it is we're going to do here. We're down to eighteen minutes.”

She smiled and her breath caught yet again. The man did dangerous things to her body with mere words. “We could go now.”

He leaned down and nipped her ear. “Or, we could do it now. Again and again,” he murmured.

She couldn't seem to catch her breath, it took her a long moment before she replied. “Hmm, who's the one being bad now? But really, I'm ready to leave, we can—”

“Mari?” She instantly recognized the voice. She turned to find Gary's mother standing before her. “Darling girl, how are you?” she gushed and kissed the air near Mari's face. The thing was, Mari had always liked her ex's mom. Unlike Gary, his mother was pretty down to earth. She came from old money, but she didn't put on any airs and graces. A Southern belle from Georgia, she had a way of telling it like it was, but it still sounded sweet.

“I'm great,” Mari answered truthfully. For the first time in her life, she meant those words. Her life had been a nightmare for the last few months, but being with Brody had been good for her. She'd learned so much about herself and her body, and when they did part, she would be better off for having been with him. Even though it might break her heart.

“I could disown him for what he did to you,” his mother said, “and then he attaches himself to her. There's not a part of that woman that hasn't been surgically enhanced for no good reason. She was actually bragging about her butt implants earlier. Can you imagine? Harold and I don't understand. You're such a lovely young woman. Honest and genuine.”

“That's nice of you to say.” Mari smiled. “And I do miss you and Harold. But your son actually did me a huge favor. If I was still with Gary, I would have never met Brody.” She nodded toward the man holding her close. Those words were true, as well. The heat from Brody's body poured strength into her. With him at her side, she felt invincible. “Brody, if you haven't guessed yet, this is Gary's mother, Helen.”

Brody reached out his right hand and said, “It's great to meet you, ma'am.”

Helen's eyes widened and she smiled. “Oh, my, you are a handsome one, and I'd hazard military with those muscles and that haircut.”

“Marine, ma'am, Lieutenant Brody Williams, and thank you for the kind words.”

“It's deserved. My, my. Mari, you've done well for yourself. And that voice, so low and husky. You are a dreamboat, Lieutenant.”

Mari chuckled and so did Brody. “As I told you...” The older woman's eyebrow shot up. “His father and I aren't exactly ecstatic about his choices of late. He was silly to let you get away.”

“I couldn't agree more,” Brody put in. “But I have to admit I'm grateful. My time with Mari has been some of the best in my life. She's helped me figure out a lot of things and made my world a better place to be.” When he glanced down at her, her heart caught in her throat. He'd meant those words. She could tell from the sincerity in his eyes.

“You're bright as well as handsome. Smart enough to grab our Mari up. She's a superb young woman, and she's going places. I've always said that.”

“Don't I know it,” Brody said as he kissed her hair. “She's special.”

She glanced up at him and he gave her a look that made her believe the words yet again. Her desire for him skyrocketed.

No.
He's playing a role
. And he's really, really good at it. That was it. All the goodness and better-world stuff was an act.

Do not fall for this
.
He's your friend who you have awesome sex with, and that's it
.

Then he kissed her lightly on the lips. Every nerve ending in her body tingled. Too late, she was under the spell that was Brody Williams. The man's lips were dangerous. His hand slipped down to her hip, and it was all she could do not to crawl onto him right there in the middle of the party and wrap her legs around him. She'd done it so many times in the last week. They'd worked hard on the house, but they'd played hard every night, and still she wanted more. He'd touch her, or smile, and just like that, her body ached with the need for him.

Like it did right now in the middle of this party.

Yep, she had it bad.

“Yes, Mari, you've done quite well for yourself.” She barely heard the woman. Her attention was focused on Brody. When he favored her with one of his crooked smiles, her knees almost gave out.

“You kids have fun,” Helen said as she sauntered away, giving them a knowing smile.

“I can't wait eleven more minutes,” Brody said into her ear. “I need to have you now.”

“Well, look who is here.” Michael, one of Gary's business partners, walked up to them. He'd always been nice to her, and was one of the people who called to check on her after the breakup.

“Hey, Michael,” she said, stepping out of Brody's arms to hug the other man.

Michael hugged her back and then held her out at arm's length.

“You look to die for. I could eat you up, Mari. You are delicious.”

She thought she heard a growl. Brody was playing the possessive male to the hilt, and she was falling hard for it.