Unconditional Surrender (11 page)

She tilted her head. “Why did you think you had to hide it?”

The muscle in his cheek jumped again. “A lot of people don’t look too favourably on the military these days. Especially units like Delta. We do the dirty jobs, the ones no one else wants or can do. And the ones that no one can ever talk about.”

“Slade, what you do is something to be proud of. But that’s why you’re gone for such long periods, right?”

“Yes.”

He still wasn’t smiling, as if waiting for her to throw him some kind of zinger. The air around the table was suddenly thick with tension.

“And you…what? Didn’t think I’d want to start something with someone who’s gone like that? Would just find someone else? Talk to me. Tell me what’s going through your mind because I know something is.”

He let out a slow, even breath. “I’m pushing forty, Kari. I’ve been doing this for more years than I want to count. It does something to your humanity, even when you know it’s for the greater good. I need more balance to my life but it’s not easy to find the right woman. Besides…”

“Besides what?”

“Okay, cards on the table here. It has to be someone I can see myself with for the long haul. I want the emotional as well as the physical connection. Someone who is secure in herself and can handle the extended absences until I retire. Which will probably be sooner rather than later. And someone who can live with what I do. With the need to unwind when I come home and the fact that not every day will be fun and giggles.”

Kari leant forward on the table. “I have my own issues, Slade. A case can consume me and make me unpleasant to be around sometimes. But what you’re saying… Do I look to you like such a shallow person? If I do, then I’m highly insulted. And maybe we should call a halt to what otherwise have been some very nice evenings.”

A grim expression washed over his face. “I’m doing this very badly. You’ll have to forgive me. It’s the first conversation I’ve ever had like this. And you are far from shallow. Will it frighten you if I tell you that you’re exactly what I had in mind when I was out on the mountains wondering if I’d make it back to base? That the woman in my dreams was exactly like you? And
became
you after we met? I’m not playing here, Kari. We have a powerful connection and it’s more than just physical. I know you feel it too.” He drained his glass. “So which is it? Forward or out?”

Yes or no, Kari. He’s what you’ve been waiting for all this time, right? And there’s only one way to make sure.

But I could get hurt.

Oh, boo-hoo. Are you a big girl or not?

“Can I get in on that conversation going on in your head?” he asked. “It looks like it would be interesting. Or are you getting ready to tell me I’m way off base here?”

“No,” she said.

He raised an eyebrow, his face still expressionless. “No?”

“I mean, no, that’s not what I’m getting ready to say. Yes.” Oh, good Lord, she sounded like an idiot. If he wanted someone smart it probably wasn’t going to be her. “Yes, we have that connection. And yes, there’s definitely something strong building here. Way more than sex.”

Although I wouldn’t mind some of that sex real fast.

“Good.” His face relaxed into a smile.

Slade hadn’t wanted to admit to himself just how tightly wound he’d been waiting for her answer. For one thing, he hadn’t been on anything resembling a real date in longer than he could remember. Once he’d been selected for Delta Force, his social life had been confined to bar hook-ups and women he met in bondage clubs. He was afraid the few social niceties he’d learned ages ago might have faded away.

He’d had to restrain himself from slugging down the entire glass of Jack Daniel’s when the waiter set it down. Until he actually saw Kari Malone again he hadn’t realised exactly how much she’d come to mean to him in such a short time. Hadn’t even thought something like this could be possible.

Now he wanted it to work more than he wanted his next breath.

A prosecutor! Who’d have thought it? But he could tell even from the first she had brains. And a self-assurance that was nothing like the hard edge he’d found in so many women. Even so, many of the subs he’d been with had either had a streak of dependency or a type of grittiness that irritated him.

But Kari was…Kari. A unique treasure. He’d never believed in fate before, but that’s what had put them in that club in Chicago five years ago then brought them back together just a few short months ago. The first time they’d met, a permanent relationship hadn’t even been on his radar. And maybe it hadn’t been on hers. But now? A different story.

Watching her eat dinner was a sensual experience all on its own. He almost forgot to eat his own food he was so mesmerised watching her. She ordered escargot in garlic butter for her appetiser and, when she licked the drops of butter from her full lower lip, his dick became so hard it was painful. He was glad the table hid his condition. He was seized with an insane desire to lean across the table and lick her lip himself.

If he’d thought that was bad, when they brought her entrée—a small filet with sauce béarnaise—his own steak went untouched while he watch the muscles in her throat work as she swallowed each bite. When the tip of her tongue peeped out to lick a bit of the sauce from her fork, he wanted to pull her into his lap and run his tongue over her lips before tasting the sweetness inside her mouth. Or maybe pull out his cock and let it slide over the sensuous bottom lip into the hot cavern of her mouth.

But the killer—the absolute killer—was the slice of Decadent Chocolate Delight that she ordered for dessert. Every time her tongue came out to swipe across her lip, Slade was afraid his balls would explode.

He knew they’d talked throughout the meal but if someone held a gun to his head he didn’t think he could repeat one word. He thought maybe some stuff about movies. Television. Books. Sports. And he had the vague idea that they had similar tastes in a lot of things. But all he could think of was burying himself deep in her wet, silken cunt and never coming up for air.

The longer they sat there, the more he became convinced she was everything he’d ever wanted. Every night they’d been together had reinforced that belief. Was it too soon to think of the ‘L’ word?
Love
? Maybe not, with his time schedule. Life had suddenly telescoped for him. He just didn’t want to make a mistake and follow the wrong L word—lust.

Get your shit together, dumbass. Dinner’s almost over.

He suddenly realised she was saying something to him.

“What?” He blinked. “I’m sorry. I think I just got lost looking at you.”

She grinned. “Good answer, soldier. I asked how long you were going to be home for this time.”

“Uh, two weeks.” He swallowed some of his coffee, making a face when he realised he’d let it get cold, and pushed the cup away.

“That’s good.” She paused. “I’m on a hot case, like I told you before. But we’re just at the beginning of the prep work so I’m not totally snowed under yet.”

“Then we can spend some time together.” He reached for her hand again, unable to stop himself from constantly touching her. “A lot of time.” The dual images of her in the business suits she probably wore to court, cross-examining witnesses, and the sight of her naked, on her knees, restrained while he applied the crop to her ass then fucked her senseless, sent lightning bolts zapping through him directly to his balls and his dick.

Jesus! Was he even going to be able to get up from this table? Taking a deep breath, he waved at the waiter to bring him the cheque.

All the way to her house he was digging around in his brain for a reasonable way to get himself invited in to her place when he took her home. He didn’t think he could leave without tasting her, holding her, feeling her mouth and her cunt on his dick.

He needn’t have worried. As he came around and opened the passenger door for her, she turned to him with a slightly tentative smile.

“Would you like to come in, Slade?”

He couldn’t help himself. He cupped her face in his big palms and took her mouth like a hungry animal. She tasted of garlic and chocolate and the special flavour that was Kari. When he lifted his head, her breathing was as irregular as his.

“Yes. I’d like that very much.”

Chapter Nine

It took two attempts for Kari to get her key in the lock and open her front door.

Why am I so nervous?

I’ve done the most intimate things with this man, given him complete control of my body and suddenly I feel like a high school senior on her first date.

A strong hand closed over hers and helped her with the door. Slade wrapped an arm around her as they finally made it into her little front hall. He turned her to face him, letting the knuckles of one hand graze her cheek. His touch electrified her, heating her blood and setting the pulse in her cunt to throbbing with a heavy beat. She wanted to rip off her clothes and drop to her knees at his feet, her posture signifying her submissiveness and her need for him to be her Master.

When he spoke, his voice was husky, rough with his own need. “I just want you to know I never thought I’d find a woman like you. For a while I thought you might be too good to be true.”

“And now?”

“I think you know the answer to that. I’m staying tonight, Kari. I think we’ve done enough dancing around this issue and I have to see your naked body again. Touch it. Bend it to my will.”

Yes, yes, yes!

His face was so close to hers that his breath, lightly scented with the whisky he’d been drinking and his citrusy aftershave, was a warm caress on her skin. His mouth was barely a whisper away from hers.

Kiss me! Kiss me!

And then he did, a light touch of lips at first, a soft brush. His tongue traced the outline of her mouth and licked the closed seam. Automatically she parted for him and his tongue slipped inside, softly invasive, tasting everywhere. It was a coaxing kiss more than a demanding one, and it made her weak in the knees. She clutched his arms to hold herself steady, her head swimming and her senses roaring to life.

His hands rested lightly on her shoulders but that was the only contact besides the kiss.

“I meant what I just said.” He lifted his head, his hazel eyes now darkened almost to a forest green. “For a man like me, the special woman to complete him can be almost non-existent. I don’t know how I got so lucky with you.”

“I think it was meant to be,” she said in a whisper. “What were the chances we’d meet five years ago in Chicago and not even know we lived in the same city? Then hook up again at The Edge? I always believe there’s an invisible hand guiding us.”

“It’s guiding us in the right direction. That’s for sure.” He brushed his mouth over hers again. “I’d like to do some guiding with my own hands right now. Like I said before, tonight I don’t plan to leave after just one kiss, Kari. Tonight I want it all again.”

She touched his cheek then deliberately backed away.

“Give me ten minutes, okay?” She gestured towards the kitchen. “I left a bottle of Jack Black out on the counter with a couple of glasses. Ice is in the freezer.”

He frowned. “Ten minutes? For what?”

She smiled at him, hoping her nervousness didn’t show. “Just do it, okay? I promise it will be worth it.”

She slipped away down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door.

Now or never, Kari. Show him how you feel. He said the words. Now it’s time for you to take a chance.

Letting out a slow breath she pushed away from the door and set about getting ready.

Slade took off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of a kitchen chair before pouring his drink. He looked around at the room, impressed by its warmth. He hadn’t known what to expect from Kari’s house. He’d only seen the little foyer when he’d picked her up each time and he’d wondered what its decor would show about who she was.

Cosy was a word that came to mind. Friendly. Relaxed.

So the high-powered prosecuting attorney and excellent sub had a soft side to her. A nurturing side. Well, he could certainly do with a lot of that. Coming home to a place like this would take the hard edge off what the missions did to him. No doubt about that. Not that he regretted what he did. He and his team were dedicated to protecting the freedom and safety of the United States. But this house…this woman. They could sustain him forever.

He wondered exactly what Kari was doing now? He had to contain the urge to knock the whole drink back but he’d already had two at dinner and he wanted to have all of his wits about him. He had a surprise of his own planned for later.

He heard the click of the bedroom door opening, then Kari’s soft voice calling him.

“Slade? Please come in.”

“On my way.”

He filled the other glass with ice then poured in a small amount of whisky. He might need it, you just never knew. Carrying both glasses, he walked down the hallway and nudged the door to her room open all the way…and stopped, stunned.

Candles were lit on every flat surface, their flames dancing gently in the breeze from the ceiling fan, their scents tantalising and teasing. Soft music floated on the air from somewhere. But what really made his heart nearly stop and his cock get harder than steel was the sight of the woman beside the bed on her knees, hands clasped behind her back, head bowed, surrounded by a coiled pile of rope, a crop and a flogger. He could, only stare, drinking it all in.

“Jesus, Butterfly. You take my breath away.”

“I’m glad that I please you, Sir.”

“Oh, you more than please me. Make no mistake about that.”

His eyes still fastened on her, he stripped off his tie and shirt, tossing them onto the bed, and rid himself of his shoes and socks. Standing in front of her, he reached down and stroked a finger over her plump breasts, scraping the surface of the already hardened nipples. He saw her hitch in a breath at his touch but she kept her gaze appropriately lowered.

“You must have gone on a shopping spree,” he commented. “I’m pleased.”