Jagger's Moves (3 page)

"Oh sweet heaven, I'm so embarrassed." Suddenly, Alexa sat beside him, her sweet fresh scent filling his lungs and causing his blood to divert south with the typical swelling reaction.

"Oh, darlin', no need to be shy." Trip sank to his haunches before Jagger’s childhood friend and took her fragile hands in his callused grip. "I haven't seen our boy that into a woman in years, if ever."

"Shut it, Trip," he growled at his soon to be ex-friend.

Of course, his buddy didn't listen or even pretend Jagger's opinion mattered. "Jagger's a little on the shy side. He sure as hell didn't expect his childhood buddy to cause a cock stand in the middle of a freakin’ airport."

Jagger did the only thing he could. He stood up, shoved Trip away, grabbed Alexa's hand, and took off for the airport entrance.

A few stumbling steps came from behind him before she caught his rhythm all the while tugging against his hold. "Damn it, Ty, let go of me. I can't leave my luggage here. I have appointments scheduled and people are depending on me. Let me go, you’re acting like a caveman."

Only right his actions should suit his mood. Right now he felt easily capable of clubbing Trip over the head, grabbing Alexa by the hair, and dragging her back to the safety of his cave. The cave in which he could fuck her senseless until they passed out then wake up enough to do it all over again.

"Jagger, sit-rep, now!"

Automatically, Jagger stood down, his muscle memory even stronger than the window licker side of his brain. Careful to take slow measured breaths, Jagger kept his gaze down, his grip light, and his thoughts on his actions.

First, dragging an angry woman out of a Florida airport would be bad. The Navy would frown on it, his mother would threaten to ground him, and Alexa, if her whispered threats were to be believed, would castrate him with a jagged plastic litter scooper.

Damn the woman was blood thirsty and devious
. What did it say about his own mental state when he was more turned on than ever? He gave a little mental high five to the makers of his cargo shorts. Thanks to those clothing geniuses his rock hard erection wasn't as noticeable as it could have been.

Second issue, little Alexa Westlake had turned into a hottie of unbelievable proportions. When did this happen and how the hell had it escaped his notice in all his trips back home?

Third swirl o' crap in his cereal, Alexa was stubborn and hot. Meaning, if he brought his girl, and yes, he already thought of the cursing and tugging woman as his, then the rest of the team would be all over her before introductions left his mouth.

Quickly he mentally reviewed his teammates and knew Ice would take in the situation with one glance from his sniper's gaze. Gotta love a man who knew more about everyone, but always kept his lid shut. The rest of the guys would back down once Jagger made his claim known, but until then, it would be a feeding frenzy of sharks after fresh meat.

"Tyler Jaggerstein," her voice growled directly in front of him. "If you don't let me go this instance, I'll shout at the top of my lungs your pop rock expe—"

Faster than a thought, Jagger covered her mouth with his hand and jerked her body hard against his own. Leaning down, he whispered very quietly in her small delicate ear, "One word, just one word about
that,
and I'll post your fifth grade picture all over the Internet."

The aggravating female in his arms bluffed her way through a casual
I don't care
shrug, and Jagger dropped the big one to seal the deal. "Then I'll overnight the picture to Freedom Enterprise. Old Mr. Gunthry still runs it, and as one military man to another, I know he'll be more than happy to print the picture for me…on the front page, above the fold."

Mumbled words came from her covered mouth while her eyes blazed danger signs only a fool or a Navy SEAL would ignore. Fortunately, he'd been taught to ignore danger signs and his job involved running into places angels and devils feared to tread.

"You ready to behave,
Matok
?"

The Hebrew word for sweet one or sweetheart slipped out of his lips without thought. It disturbed something in him because never before had he spoken in the language of his grandparents with a woman. Especially considering the popular opinion dealing with anyone of desert decent. Keeping his mouth shut and his heritage to himself kept Jagger out of more bar fights than he or his teammates could remember. Also he didn't want to be the poster child for religious tolerance or the chance for politically correct assholes to show how open-minded they were having him as a friend.

Alexa brought him back to the present with the hard bite of her sharp teeth on his hand. Gritting through the pain, Jagger kept his palm exactly where it was. "Last I heard the sight of blood made you faint. What do you think the taste of it will do to you?"

Was it evil of him to tease this woman and enjoy it so much? Probably, but the little minx had been two steps ahead him since before they met again. Payback felt as sweet and fulfilling as he remembered.

She released his skin with an unladylike snort. “What’s with the formality anyway? You sound like one of the moms with the whole Alexa thing.” She narrowed eyes. “You never called me anything but Lexa before.”

Because she didn’t look like the little Lexa in his mind anymore. This was a woman in his arms, and he needed to get his shit together before she walked away.

“Just getting used to the grown-up version of the brat I once knew, Lexa.” And yeah, there it was. The familiar spark he remembered glowing hotly in her pretty eyes.

Chapter Three

Damn Tyler and his elephant-like memory. Who else would remember the field trip from her sophomore year and her embarrassing floor dive in the city morgue? Hundreds of bags of blood hanging from hooks, the smell of formaldehyde combined with the frigid temperature of the windowless room sent black spots swarming across Lexa's eyes until they encompassed her world.

The incident made her the laughing stock of her class even as it ruined any future career plans in the medial field. She hated being reminded of her weakness, hated knowing the man—the boy—she'd had such a crush on knew her secret shame.

Thanks to Tyler's hand, she couldn't curse him. The most she could do was sink her teeth into the callused leather he called a hand. Even pain didn't make him flinch as she refused to let go even as he shook his hand in an attempt to lose her grip.

"Alexa, is this the behavior of a proper Southern lady? Really," he tsked at her, "what would your grandmother say?"

As she couldn't respond with her mouth covered, Lexa settled for glaring at him with the full force of her anger.

"You'll surely be kicked out of the Daughters of the Soldiers of Northern Aggression?"

"Jagger, you gonna let the nice lady go or will we have to bail you out of airport jail?" Trip stood behind his friend, arms crossed, legs spread, a frown pulling his full lips down while amusement shone brightly in his blue eyes. "Cause I gotta tell ya, Ice wasn't too happy with us after the last time."

"Last time was your fault, Trip." Tyler’s burning gaze never left Lexa's face as he replied to his friend. "Now be a good friend and grab a cab back to house."

Frown lines appeared between Trip's brows as he took in his friend's serious expression. "I'm out of here, asshole." He turned to Lexa shot her a charming smile that, if her heart hadn't already been lost to Tyler, would have her creaming all over her sexy girl undies. "'Scuse the language, ma'am."

"Of course," she replied, shoving Tyler’s hand from her mouth. Manners ingrained in her from the moment of birth gave her an automatic response. "It was a pleasure meeting you, sir."

Walking backwards with utter confidence, Trip grinned. "I work for a living, ma'am. Call me Trip."

Before she could open her mouth to respond to the cryptic remark, Tyler tugged her arm, swinging her around until she faced the opposite direction from where his handsome friend walked away.

Giving a useless yank on her arm, Alexa glared at him. "When did I agree to be your prisoner?"

"Since your mama called mine and told me to pick you up." Jagger never stopped moving as he walked back to her gate where her luggage would have been deposited. Sure enough, two pieces of neon green rolling bags waited with a less than happy porter holding a card with Lexie’s name written out in block letters.

"I'll take those," he said, slipping the disgruntled man a tip. With suitcases in one hand and Lexa in the other, Jagger made his way to the airport exit.

"Ty, really this isn't necessary," Lexa protested as she fruitlessly tugged her hand. "I'm perfectly capable of making my own way to my hotel."

"Oh, we're headed to your hotel, Lexa," he assured her while visions of their naked bodies danced through his head. "I've already got all the info thanks to the moms."

Instead of answering him, she merely huffed out a breath and grumbled. Fine with him. The less she talked, the less reaction his body would have or so he hoped. Once they reached the hotel he'd have her bags delivered to her room, take her out to dinner and do his damndest to woo her into his bed. Not that he had a shot of seeing the inside of her room tonight, but maybe before his leave was up Jagger would be able to convince his childhood pal long distance relationships could work. Sure as shit he'd make it worth it giving her so many orgasms she'd be addicted to him. So addicted she wouldn't notice or care as he moved them into a more permanent relationship.

Fuck, the guys would give him hell over this, but all the hazing and pussy whipped jokes in the world wouldn't stop him from claiming the stubborn woman at his side. One look was all it had taken to lose his heart.

He would accept nothing less than Alexa loving him back. Like the good sailor he was Jagger mentally planned out the most important mission of his life. Getting her to fall in love with him before his leave was up.

****

Subtly, Lexa slid her free hand down to her thigh and pinched the skin hard. She bit back a yelp of pain, assuring herself this was not a dream. Tyler was here. He'd been at the airport to pick her up and the erection he sported during their panty-drenching kiss had been real as well.

The drive to her hotel took place mostly in silence. She kept her eyes glued out the window but didn't really see the pristine beaches or azure waters. All her attention and focus tuned to the man driving easily and confidently through thick traffic.

What would happen once they reached her hotel? Would he drop her off with a brotherly kiss to the forehead and wish her well? Damn it, she didn't want to go back to the little sister spot in his mind. For the first time in her life, Tyler had seen her as a woman and she didn't care to shift back to the asexual being he'd always seen her as.

So what to do? Take the easy way and let him go without protest? Everything inside her screamed a resounding no. Tyler was the man she'd compared all others to and they'd all fallen short. Oh, yes, it was time to take back her life and sexuality. The only way to accomplish that? Lexa needed to seduce him into her bed.

A nice boring round of sex would put to rest her silly crush and she could get on with finding a man to settle down with it.

And if he blows your mind and turns out to be the best sexual experience of your life?

She ignored the inner voice. No reason to believe he would be any different than the few other men she'd slept with. As far as Lexa was concerned the G-spot was a myth made up by men to keep women coming back in hopes one of the idiots would finally discover the mysterious instant orgasm spot.

Her door opened, jolting Lexa out of her thoughts as she looked into the smiling tanned face of the valet parking attendant.

"Welcome, madam." He gave a small nod as he waited for her to slid out of the large SUV.

"Thank you. My bags are in the back. If you could—"

Too late. Ty was already unloading her bags. The thin cotton shirt strained under the fluid motion of his muscles as he lifted each suitcase from the cargo area. Did it make her a bad woman just because she wanted to lick and bite that firm skin and leave her mark on him?

A flip of his wrist sent his keys soaring to the young valet who caught them with ease. "I'll take it from here. Thanks." In a smooth gesture, he palmed the other guy's hand and the tip passed without anyone being aware. Why he acted so secretive over a lousy gratuity she'd never understand. If she got the opportunity, Lexa knew she'd ask him.

"Let's go," he said as one callused palm cupped her elbow, gently leading her into the air-conditioned coolness of the wide, white lobby.

"Ty, this really isn't necessary," she protested even as she wallowed in his proprietary attention. "I'm perfectly capable of getting to my room."

Abruptly, he stopped a few feet from the shining pale pine registration desk and turned to face her. He released her suitcase handles to shove his sunglasses on top of his head while keeping his other hand firmly wrapped around her arm.

"Look, Lex, I know you're an adult. I'm sure you have no problems getting things done without me here. However, I am here, and I thought we'd grab some dinner before you called it a night. Your mom said you didn't have plans until tomorrow night, right?" The sincere look in his bedroom eyes melted her protests before they even formed.

"I came in early to do a little sight-seeing," she explained even as another idea, a far more intimate idea came into her head. "But I've been travelling for what feels like days now. Instead of going to a noisy crowded restaurant, why don't we eat in my room? We'll be able to catch up and not have to shout over loud music, screaming kids, and idiots on cell phones."

Desire darkened his hazel eyes for a brief second before he quickly blinked it away. "I don't think that's a good idea, Lex."

The brief glimpse of his hunger gave her the courage to step closer until their bodies brushed in an intimate caress. "I think it's the best idea I've had all year." Deliberately, she dropped her hand to cup his rapidly swelling cock. "Looks like part of you thinks so, too."