Uniform Desires (Make Mine Military Romance) (10 page)

Shannon settled against the pillows with a sigh that made Kade happier than he thought possible.

“That was a good idea. I didn’t realize what an appetite I’d worked up.”

He chuckled. “Really? I would have thought you needed a side of beef after that.”

“Have you always been into BDSM? I’ve just never heard you talk about it.”

“Does it bother you?”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t have let you touch me like that if I didn’t want to. I like sex, but not enough to do something like that if I had issues with it.”

He should have known that would be her answer. He had never met a woman so confident and straight up about her sexuality.

“I’ve always had some interest in it. But it’s a little different now.”

He could tell by her expression she wanted to ask him more. He was a little surprised by the need to control her. It almost overwhelmed his good senses. Kade just hoped he held himself in check for the week.

“Hm, I need a good night’s sleep,” she said. The patter of rain hit against the window, and Shannon was snuggled up against Kade as he pulled the sheet up. It was an image he had often dreamed of before his last mission.

He cleared his throat. “You’re not the only one.”

“And that rain is perfect. It always makes me so drowsy. I love the sound of it.”

She was already drifting into sleep. A selfish part of him wanted to stop her, keep her awake. They weren’t going to have much time together. Kade wanted to savor every minute, try and draw out his visit.

There was a very good chance he was really screwing up. He had prepared himself to resist her, resist the crazy pull she always had on him. He had thought he could do it.

Inwardly, he snorted. Yeah, he could resist her. He’d been in New Orleans for less than forty-eight hours, and he had already crumbled.

“You’re thinking too much.”

Her breath tickled his chest. “What?”

She lifted her head and looked up at him. “You’re thinking too much. Right now, your head is turning over all the things you’re worried about.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “Don’t worry about it. Let it go.”

“Aren’t women supposed to get all talkative after sex?”

“If you don’t do it right. Apparently, you haven’t been doing it right.”

Her sassy tone made him chuckle. How could he stay out of her bed? The woman had just submitted to him, and now she was messing with him. If a man could resist her, he had to be stupid or gay.

“Or maybe I had the wrong partners.”

“I have to agree with that. Listen, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate. There is no pressure here, not right now. Let’s just take it one day at a time. If you can handle that, Seal?”

Her tone was flirtatious, but there was a hint of steel beneath it. He had been preparing for a long, drawn out discussion of why he hadn’t contacted her. Instead, she offered him nothing but understanding.

“I am more than up to the task.”

“Good.” She leaned up and gave him a kiss on the nose then on his mouth. She lingered there, giving him a taste of her, tempting him. She pulled back, a smile curving her lips. In the soft moonlight, there in her room with the rain hitting the window, he knew he was still in love with her. His heart lurched at the thought, but he brushed the worry aside. One day at a time was what she wanted. That was what he would give her.

“You get some sleep,” he said, trying to keep a lid on his emotions.

“You betcha.” She chuckled, then settled back down and snuggled close to him.

He wanted this, wanted it more than he had ever wanted to be a Seal. It scared him a bit to know that. From the time he entered the Navy, he had wanted to be a Seal. He had questioned that in the last few months, but other than trying to protect her, he had never thought of giving up on Shannon.

Again, he shoved the thoughts aside and decided to do as ordered. A good night’s sleep was what he really needed to get his head back on straight.

· · · · ·

Kade came awake with a shout. His heart was beating out of control, his body slick with sweat. He had been having these nightmares since he got back, but they hadn’t been quite this bad. This one had been vivid, almost real to him.

Each time, he saw Forrester’s face as he was shot, as the life seeped from him.

With a shake of his head, Kade stood and stretched. Shannon grumbled and settled deeper into the pillows. He brushed her hair from her face and noticed his hand was shaking. He wanted to touch her, to love her again, but he was too raw to handle that now. He needed to get his head out of the dream and back onto the day. He went into the bathroom and splashed his face with some cool water, then found his jeans and pulled them on. Even through the closed blinds, he could see the first stirrings of the sunrise. There was one thing about a good bout of healthy sex. He had finally slept through the night. When he unlocked the door, he heard someone moving around in the kitchen. He had a feeling it was Mal. He didn’t want to really deal with his friend without some coffee. Unfortunately, the coffee was, of course, in the kitchen. He could smell it brewing.

Kade squared his shoulders and walked to the kitchen. He found Mal there, frying some bacon.

“About time you emerged from her bedroom,” he said without turning around.

He didn’t sound mad, but he knew better than to trust that. Mal could be his deadliest when he was cool.

“Look. Mal…”

He trailed off when his friend turned with a smile on his face. “What are you, stupid?”

“Not following you, mate.”

“Get some coffee before you fall down.”

He did as ordered, watching Mal as he forked up the bacon and put it on a plate. Next, he pulled out some eggs and started cracking them into a bowl.

“See, I know you don’t remember after we were evac’d out.”

Hell, he could remember up until the moment he was shot. Then nothing until he woke up in the hospital.

Mal nodded. “You were completely out of it there for a while. But I remember. Once I came to, I was by your side.”

He had sort of known that. Each time he had surfaced, he had seen him there by the side of his bed. "And?”

“You know the most amazing thing about being out of your mind after an injury? You don’t know what you say.”

It took Kade a second to figure it out. Then it hit him.

“I said something.”

Mal nodded without turning around. "Over and over. You wanted to talk to Shannon.”

“Shit.”

“I was pretty pissed right then.” He glanced back at Kade. "But, then, you were injured, and I couldn’t beat the shit out of you. I wanted to, believe me. Especially since I figured out that you might have used the wedding to get her into bed.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Mal stopped mixing the eggs and faced him. "Come on, Kade. I know you as well as you know me.”

“And you know I’m not a slut like you.”

Mal chuckled. "Yeah, you are, but it stopped about a couple of years ago. I realized then how many times you came back to New Orleans with me.”

Kade couldn’t help the heat that crawled into his face. Damnit, he was blushing.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The moment he said it, he knew he sounded like an idiot.

Mal shook his head. "Son, you have got to lie better. Anyway, I realized a long time ago you had a crush on her. I ignored it for the most part because, when you have sisters like Jocelyn and Shannon, well, you’re used to it. Jocelyn was always so serious, but with Shannon, well, she’s got that soft heart of hers. All the guys loved to get her sympathy.”

“If that’s what you think attracts them and keeps them coming around, you’re living in denial.”

“Okay, I know it had to do with the way she’s built. I’m not blind, but I can pretend. She’s my sister.” Mal jerked a shoulder. “Anyway, I worked through my anger. It’s hard to be pissed at a guy who had his knee all fucked up, and well, knocked stupid. Stupider. I guess I should ask your intentions, but that would get me smacked around by Shannon if she found out.”

“I’m not truly sure of my intentions.”

Mal nodded in understanding. Their job didn’t allow for a lot of self-reflection. Any relationship, whether sexual or not, didn’t always stand up to the horrible life of the significant other of a Seal.

“I just wanted you to know I will stand clear. Shannon wouldn’t have taken you to bed if she didn’t want you there.”

“Your sister never does anything she doesn’t want to.” Even Kade could hear the admiration in his own voice. He had always been drawn to strong, capable women.

“You’ll get no problems from me unless you hurt her.”

Kade sighed and shook his head. "Fuck, Mal, I’m a man. I’m going to hurt her.”

“Not intentionally. That’s different.”

He nodded.

“I decided Chief and I are going out to Mama’s. I really don’t want to be in a house with you two. Kind of gross.”

“I hope you have cheese grated for those eggs,” Shannon said from the doorway. He looked in her direction, and his breath caught in his throat. The sun was now streaming in behind her. She was wearing that same little robe she was before, and he couldn’t help the heat that poured into his blood at the sight of her.

“Oh, God, you two are disgusting. Can the kitchen be a non-sex part of the house?”

He glanced at his friend. “Get used to it.”

Mal chuckled. “And no, I didn’t put cheese into the eggs because not everyone wants it.”

“My kitchen, my rules.”

“But I’m not giving your boyfriend here any issues. And, remember, I am the one cooking. I won’t make you any.”

“You suck.”

“Well, be glad I’m not going to kick your boyfriend’s ass. Because he knows I can.”

She smiled at her brother then looked at Kade. “He lives in a little world of his own making, doesn’t he?”

“Also, be happy I’m leaving you two alone. Chief and I are going to Mama’s.”

“You’ll get more home-cooked meals there.”

She walked over to Kade, then as if it was the most natural thing to do, slipped onto his lap. He hesitated, his chest tight at the simple gesture, and slid his arms around her waist. Chief came in next, clean-shaven, looking like he was ready to report to duty.

He gave them a disgusted look. “I still think you would be better off with me.”

She laughed at that. “I’m sure you do. I need to get dressed because I have paperwork to get done.”

“I thought you had off for the next few days,” Kade said.

She nodded. “I forgot I have to get the schedule set up and the time sheets processed. I’ll be back and there better be cheese in those eggs.”

After she gave him a quick kiss, she said, “You can come with me today, but it would be really boring.”

He wanted to go. He wanted to be anywhere she was. For some reason, he felt a desperate need to be in the same room as her.

The moment he thought it, he felt funny, as if something was clutching at his throat. Immediately, he backed up from that thought. They had little time together, but he needed some space. “I think the guys and I are going to go over to your mama’s for lunch, or that was the plan yesterday.”

Mal nodded. “Mama will be pissed if I don’t bring her favorite boy.”

She sighed. “Fine, abandon me for an older woman who can cook better than I could ever dream of. See where that gets you.”

She slipped off his lap and went to get ready.

He rose to fill his cup when Chief said, “You know if you fuck this up, McKade, there is a good chance that after Dupree finishes with you, I’ll kick your ass.”

“You could try, Chief,” he said cheerfully, feeling somehow lighter. He filled his cup then looked over Mal’s shoulder. “Seriously, mate, you better put some cheese in those eggs.”

“Shit.”

· · · · ·

“You better get something to drink, Francis,” Anna Louise Dupree said. He did as she told him, enjoying the homemade strawberry lemonade more than he would admit. Other than his mother, she was the only person who could get away with calling him by his first name. “And don’t you worry. We’ll put some meat on you this week.”

He loved her as if she was his own mother, and sadly, he had a better relationship with Mal’s mother. Closer. Where Jocelyn had taken after their father in looks and temperament, Shannon was her mother through and through. Her mother was average height, delightfully rounded, and so full of joy, you couldn’t help but smile at her. She had taken him under her wing the moment he’d shown up with Mal several years earlier. His parents weren’t bad people, they were just distant. His sister wasn’t much better, not now, especially after her divorce last month. It was their nature. Their work in the field of nuclear energy was important to them, and it was the focus of most of their energy. So, when Anna Louise had hugged him like he was a long lost relative, he had been slightly overwhelmed. And, he had fallen in love with her by the end of the weekend.