vittanos willow (3 page)

under control before he embarrassed himself.

“Sorry about that,” she told him as she took her stool again.

“No need to apologize. I’m the one intruding into your lunch.”

He took a drink of water and watched as heat flared in her gaze when

he licked a drop off his lip. His erection pressed against the confines of

his uniform.

“No intrusion,” CJ hastened to assure him.

The bell rang, causing them both to jump. “Well, thank you for

lunch,” Osten offered as he helped her put things in the trash.

“Thanks for the company.” CJ cleared her throat and took

another drink of water.

Together they walked up to the door. Osten snuck another look

at her face and had to fight his desire to kiss her pouty lips. “See you

around.” He slipped out the door and flowed toward his table. Each

motion was flawless.

She didn’t step out of her class for the rest of the day. Osten

watched her door, but never saw her. He waited until the halls had

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cleared a bit before he gathered up his box and walked to her door,

knocking on the frame.

“Come on in,” she called.

Stepping in the room, he gazed about and found her in the back

of the room putting some items in a locked cabinet. “Thought I’d take

you up on that offer,” he said, his smooth timbre moving across the

large room.

That brought her head around. “Osten,” she said with a grin.

“Place it anywhere you like.” She faced her cabinet again. “Unless you

want it double-locked.”

Osten placed the box beside her desk and walked through the

sterile tables to where she stood. Hopping up onto a stool, he ogled her

unobserved. Her body was toned and fit. She was beautiful. “No need

for that, it’s just pamphlets and such.”

Facing her shelves, CJ fought for sanity. Her knees just about

gave out when she heard his silvery voice in her room. This attraction

was crazy. Then with him being so close behind her, she wanted to

crumple just to see if he would put his arms around her and help her

up.

“Suit yourself.” One more quick prayer and she was ready to

face the man who was fast becoming an obsession to her daydreams.

Abigail wasn’t crazy about her pick this time. Turning, CJ was amazed

by the amount of desire she saw on the face that met hers. Crossing her

arms over her chest, CJ stood there and waited for him to regain control

of his emotions.
At least I’m not the only one affected here.

“Are you leaving?” his question was raspy.

“Yes. I have to get going.”

He stood in one smooth motion. “I’ll see you out.”

“Ever the gentleman,” she kidded him as they walked to the

front of the class.

“Especially with a lady.” He nodded his head toward her.

“Oh, that’s funny.” She put on her jacket and gathered her

things before gesturing him to leave the room before her.
Damn, but he

fills out a pair of pants nicely.

She locked the door and at the main entrance a feminine voice

halted them. Abigail. The blonde came scurrying up the hall. “Oh, there

you are! I was hoping for a word with you before you left for the day.”

After a brief pause she added, “Hello, CJ.”

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CJ nodded in return. “Good evening.” Then she walked out into

the blustery afternoon.
Why does Abigail bother me so much? Oh, right,

because she thinks she is better than I am.
The frown that crossed her face

disappeared the second her gaze settled upon the handsome man

standing beside her vehicle.

“Hey, you!” she yelled and quickened her step towards him.

Osten and Abigail walked out in time to see her launch herself

into the waiting arms of the man. Abigail smiled while Osten scowled.

The man was big, taller than Osten and just as muscular. He had jet

black hair and Osten saw he was of Asian descent.

CJ smiled as the strong arms closed around her. She breathed in

the scent that had always made her feel so safe. “How are you doing?”

she asked, pulling back to place a gentle kiss on his lips.

“Wonderful. Yourself?” His eyes were tender as he looked down

at the brown pixie in his arms.

“Good. Busy, but good.”

The callused hand cupped her cheek. “I brought you my Esca-

lade.”

CJ’s eyes grew wide. “What? Why would you do that? I don’t

need it.”

The man shook his head, immediately silencing her protests.

“There is a huge system moving in. One, your car shouldn’t be out in

snow; and two, I want to know you are safe. No arguments from you. I

will use my truck.”

“Binh, I don’t want to take your vehicle. At least not that one.”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. It’s been decided.” His finger

tapped the end of her nose. “Come on, you need to get out of this

wind.”

“When are you going to stop treating me like I’m in diapers?”

she grumbled as she followed him over to his black Escalade.

He grinned. “Probably never.” Holding the door for her, he

helped her inside and made sure she buckled her belt.

“I love you. Are you coming for dinner?” CJ asked as she placed

her keys in his hand.

“I’ll be there. Six?”

“Perfect. That gives me time to get home and work out before

cooking.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Take care of my baby and I

will see you later this evening.”

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Aliyah Burke

Returning the kiss, he nodded. “I will and I will. I love you too.”

He pulled back and shut the door before walking over to the '58 Cor-

vette, unlocking it, and climbing behind the wheel. He left the lot in a

flurry of fallen leaves.

In his car, Osten didn’t like the anger he felt pooled in his gut at

the sight of CJ in another man’s arms. Admittedly, when he had first

met her at Dezarae’s car show he’d only given her a cursory glance until

Aidrian began talking to her more. But at Ross and Dezarae’s wedding,

he had been smitten by the toffee-skinned temptress who was Dezarae’s

maid of honor.

Her dress had hugged her body like a dream. It had been a

shade of purple that he still didn’t know; but on her, it was perfect. He

hadn’t gotten up the nerve to ask her to dance. Instead, she’d danced

with Ernst, who had been the best man, and Aidrian. So he’d just

watched her all evening.

Then Osten had seen CJ for a third time at the party his Team

had held to celebrate Dezarae and Ross returning home with their son

Murdock. As before, he’d spent observing her as well.

And now he had the chance to get to know her better and there

was a man in her life. Well, why wouldn’t there be? She was a vibrant,

attractive, young woman.

He left the school lot with the scowl still fixed firmly upon his

face.

When CJ pulled into the school’s lot the next morning, she

watched as the sailor climbed out of his own vehicle. He had a cup of

coffee in his hand and he walked toward her as she got out. CJ swal-

lowed to get her emotions under control.

“Morning,” his sexy voice said as he stopped before her.

“Morning, yourself. Aren’t you here a bit early?” she asked with

a smile as she locked the SUV.

“I have some students coming in to talk to me and I wanted a

chance to see you.” He fell into step beside her.

CJ fought to stop the trembling. “Really? And what did you

need to see me about?”

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25

“I wanted to ask you out.” He raked his gaze over her body. “If

you aren’t seeing anyone right now.”

CJ stopped and faced him. One hand settled on her jean-clad hip

as she tried to see what his game was. “You wanted to ask me out?”

Nervous, Osten nodded. “I did.”

Walking again, CJ waited for him to open the door to the school

and they headed to her classroom. The halls were basically empty at

this time; a few students were here but for the most part, their steps

echoed in the big building. Stopping at her classroom, she unlocked it

and swung the door open, hitting the lights.

Osten followed her in, closing the door almost totally behind

him. He watched as she hung up her coat and put her purse in a drawer

of her desk. “Well?” he asked, resting a lean hip against her desk.

Sitting up in her chair, CJ put her light eyes on his face. “I don’t

normally go out with guys from school, but I guess that wouldn’t really

apply to you. So, sure, I’ll go out with you.”

A sexy grin turned up one corner of his mouth, showing her that

he definitely had a rakish side. “Wonderful. Tonight work for you?”

Mentally, CJ ran over her schedule. “Later on in the evening, I

won’t be leaving the school right away today. Where did you want to

meet?”

“I can pick you up,” he insisted.

Hesitating, CJ almost said no when something prompted her to

agree. “Okay, let me give you my address.” Opening a drawer in her

desk, she pulled out a pen and paper. She scrawled the information

down and handed him the sheet.

“Beautiful,” he said with a wink. “What time?”

Thinking quickly, since her students were beginning to file in

the room, CJ answered, “Seven?”

“Great.” He stood up straight and set his coffee on her desk, per-

fectly aware of the students watching him. Lifting his box in one arm,

he spoke, “Thank you for allowing me to keep my stuff here, Ms.

Jackson.”

“No problem,” she responded.

Making sure none of the students could see him; Osten boldly

raked his gaze over her body again and sent her a candid wink along

with a lick of his firm lips. Then he grabbed his coffee and walked out

the door.

CJ tried not to squirm in her seat as her students began to ask

her questions about the man who’d been in the room. She answered

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Aliyah Burke

them the best she could, but all she could see was that tongue of Osten

Scoleri’s sneaking out to lick her body. Up and down, over and over

again.

T h r e e

CJ locked her door and walked down the hall. Osten had

stopped by to put his box in her room, but there had been students after

class so all he did was thank her and disappear.

Her students had cleared their throats as her gaze had lingered

on the spot where the handsome Navy man had been standing. With a

blush, she’d turned her attention to helping them. Now they were gone

and she was on her way to her next destination.

She put her bag in the car and locked it again. Pocketing her

keys and phone she began to go in a different direction. Opening the

gate, she stepped onto the field. A deep breath made her shiver from

the chill in the air, but still she began her warm up.

Finally she was ready. Hitting the track, CJ began to run. The

first lap was the hardest, but then she settled into her rhythm. The

familiar feel of the steps and the repetitive motion was just what she

needed.

Round and round she went, her body aching, but she refused to

quit. She needed to release some energy. So zoned, CJ failed to notice a

pair of eyes watching her as her feet pounded on the track.

A man stood in the shadows and watched. His eyes grew preda-

tory as she moved around the track. He watched how her ponytail

bounced with each step she took, how her workout clothes fit her like a

second-skin.

As he became aroused, he bit his lip. Now was not the time to

act upon that urge. Soon, the moment would be right. Ignorant to the

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Aliyah Burke

blood on his chin, he continued to stare. However, the desire was too

strong for him to ignore. Reaching into his pants, he gripped his hard

shaft and stroked it as his gaze stayed upon her strong body. He came

with a muffled shout as he envisioned breaking that spirit and enjoying

her the way he was meant to. Sagging against the cold concrete wall, he

wiped his hand on his leg and put his softening cock back in his pants.

Soon, she would be the one bringing him pleasure. In more ways than

one.

Her steps slowed, and soon she was by the gate and stretching

out. The compulsion to take her had him moving out from his hiding

place. Yet, the appearance of another man brought him around.

His eyes narrowed into slits when he saw the way she wel-

comed him. “You shouldn’t be such a slut,” he hissed to the dark. “I

will have to break you of that. Cleanse you.”

CJ looked up as a shadow loomed over her. A face-splitting grin

filled her face. “Thurston! What are you doing here?”

The tall blond opened the gate and moved toward her, kissing

and hugging her. “Ugh, you are sweaty.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I
did
just get done running.”

“I can see that, Chipmunk.” Laughing, he pulled her back into

his embrace. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too.” She reached up and kissed him. “But that

doesn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”

“So, what, now I can’t come see you?” Piercing blue eyes shifted

around. “Are you planning a secret rendezvous with someone?”