Wild Nevada Ride (10 page)

He quickly stood up, his eyes turning darker while the bubbles slid down her torso and his gaze followed them. The dimples in his cheeks peeked out when he reached over, grabbed a big fluffy towel from the rack and started to dry her off.

They stepped out of the tub onto the wet floor and he mumbled, “Sorry. I’ll help you clean it up—much later, though.”

He quickly finished drying her off and himself before he bent down and swung her up in his arms. She squealed, “Put me down, Justin.”

“Your room?”

“That way,” she said, pointing to her left with a girlish giggle.

Chapter Nine

Standing in the kitchen at the stove, she slowly stirred the sauce in the pot. Her thoughts strayed to the afternoon she had spent in Justin’s arms, and she sighed before she let a small smile drift across her lips.

“What is the wicked little smile for?” Justin asked, slipping his hands around her waist and drawing her back against his chest. His lips nuzzled her neck while his fingers drifted to the underside of her breast.

Laying the spoon aside, she turned in his arms and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

A grin rippled across his mouth. “I’m sure I could torture it out of you.”

“Sounds like fun, but maybe after dinner.”

He growled low in his throat. “What smells so good?”

“Plain old spaghetti. When I left for the base this morning, I hadn’t planned on having company for dinner.”

Frown lines appeared between his brows when he looked in her eyes. “Do you have company often?”

She tsked and said, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous, Mr. Wilder.”

“No more so than you were at your grandmother’s birthday when Adrianna stuck her tongue down my throat.”

She dropped her gaze as a frown marred her face before she turned back to the food on the stove. “This is almost ready. How about you set the table?”

“Sure. Where are your plates?”

“Above your head to the right. I’m pretty sure there is still some wine in the refrigerator or beer if you would like some.”

The clank of dishes and silverware met her ears while her thoughts raced.
Jealous. I can’t be jealous. I’d have to care to be jealous.
The noodles finished, she reached for the strainer in the sink, dumping the limp pasta inside. She poured sauce in one bowl and the noodles in another before she headed for the table.

Her eyes widened at the intimate setting presented to her gaze. The sun had begun to set outside, casting the room in a soft glow of yellow. Justin had placed the plates and silverware across from each other on the small table, poured two glasses of wine, and lit a candle between them. She hadn’t noticed before now, but he had even changed the music on her stereo to something softer and warmer. She put the two bowls on the table, and he stepped behind her and pulled out the chair.

“Thanks,” she whispered, knowing somehow this behavior suited him.

Every encounter between the two of them to date had bordered on innuendos and snide remarks, punctuated with sexual tension and a need so strong, she could hardly control herself in his presence. This side of Justin Wilder took her totally off guard and she didn’t know what to think. This time, his personality hit on the considerate lover.
Lover? Holy shit, I guess that is what we are—at least we are now.

“Looks good,” he murmured and took his own chair. “You must be a pretty good cook.”

She laughed, breaking the tension she had started to feel. “Not really. I usually only cook for myself.” She dished up some of the food before passing the bowl across the table. “I can get by with the basics.”

“You put up a pretty good front.”

“What do you mean?”

“The persona you give off. I bet everyone thinks you are this tough, no nonsense kind of a woman. But I’ve seen the other side.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Oh yes, you do. The minute I walked into your townhouse, I could tell there is a soft, feminine woman under the shell you present. The soft pastels on the walls—even the furniture gives you away.” His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

She shrugged.

“Why the hard shell?”

“I have to be tough. If I gave an inch when I’m flying, the enemy or even my own competition for rank would cut me down.”

“What rank are you?”

“Major.”

“And how long have you been in?”

“Eight years.”

“You can’t be more than twenty-two.”

She laughed. “Thanks—I think. Actually, I’m twenty-eight. I did four years of college before I went into the Air Force.”

“Why did you go in?”

“I got bored with just school. Besides, I guess you could call it following in my father’s footsteps since he didn’t have a son to fill those shoes. My brother Matt avoided the Air Force like the plague.”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Your dad is military?”

“Yeah, he’s a colonel. He’s about to retire.”

“Was he at the party for your grandmother?”

“Yes. I don’t know if you saw him though.”

“I’m not sure.” Frown lines wrinkled the skin between his eyes when he concentrated on trying to remember.

“He noticed you.”

“He did?”

“Yeah.”

“Why do I get the feeling there is more to your statement?”

She sighed. “He saw you kiss me goodbye.”

“Ah. So he wanted to know about me.”

“You could say that, yes.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Only the basics.”
There is no way in hell I’m going to tell him he’s the reason I got chewed out for not paying attention on my training mission.

“I’d like to meet him.”

She choked on her wine for a moment. “I don’t think you should.”

“Why? I could learn some interesting facts about you, I’m sure.”

“You probably could.”
I do not need my father taking to Justin. Shit! Dad would probably have me married off to him by the end of the conversation.
“More than likely you would learn things you really don’t need to know or things I don’t want you to know.”

“Are you hiding something?”

“No, but it’s not like we are trying to build a relationship here. We are using each other for a little sexual release. I enjoy having sex with you, but I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“Neither am I.”

“Good, then we are on the same page. Besides, my career could have me leaving town at any time.”

He smiled, and she frowned when she tried to understand why her heart didn’t like the thought at all.

“You do realize your grandmother is a very astute woman, don’t you?” he asked and then sipped his wine. Watching her over the rim of the glass, his brown eyes sparkled in the light above the table.

“Most definitely. She had our relationship pegged from the minute we both walked out of the house.”

“I thought you said we weren’t in a relationship?”

“We aren’t, but my grandmother would have us in one if she had her way.”

He chuckled. “I got the same impression.”

“She can be very persuasive.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to give into your grandmother’s wishes unless they are my own.”

She frowned again, before she stood and grabbed their plates, retreating into the kitchen. Their conversation made her anxious and uneasy. After she had rinsed the plates and put them inside the dishwasher, she turned the dial. A moment later, Justin’s hands slid around her waist and pulled her back against his chest.

“I have an idea,” he whispered against the skin of her neck, and her heart started to pound. Her legs went weak when his hand slipped up and cupped her breast in his palm.

“What idea?”

“Mmm… we could stay here and have sex in your bed,” he suggested, his lips trailing down to find the dip in her shoulder, “or we can go back to my place and have sex in my bed.”

Shivers rolled down her arms when his warm breath caressed the side of her neck. She sighed, giving into the sensations he aroused before turning in his arms.

“I don’t think I want to wait until we get to your place.” She slipped her hands up around his neck and nibbled at the corners of his lips before she whispered, “Make me scream for you, Justin.”

“My pleasure.” His hands found her ass and gripped both cheeks before he lifted her in his arms, slipping her up onto the counter behind her.

She tipped her head back when his lips found the frantic pulse at the base of her throat. His hand slid under the edge of her shirt, working it up until it bunched between them. Lifting his head, his eyes met hers for a moment and her breath caught in her throat at the heat reflected there.

“I want you, and believe it or not, I want you more than I’ve ever wanted a woman in my life.” He slipped the shirt over her head and moaned softly. “You are exquisite.” His thumb skimmed softly against her nipple. “So passionate—so responsive.” She moaned, arching toward his touch. When his mouth found her hardened nub, she almost screamed as he sucked and pulled. Liquid seeped from her pussy, wetting her panties.

His hands grasped the edges of her pants, encouraging her to lift her hips. In one swift motion, he had her pants and underwear off and her bare ass hit the cold countertop. She inhaled sharply and he chuckled.

“I’ll help you warm up,” he whispered against her breast when he returned to her nipple and laved it with his tongue.

He worked his way down her flat stomach and stopped to play with the dangling earring at her belly button. “Did I ever tell you how incredibly sexy this is?”

“No,” she moaned softly.

“It is. I love it. It’s like a cat toy.”

He played for a moment before his mouth flittered down the inside of her left thigh and she squirmed. He avoided the one spot aching for his touch. She almost screamed in frustration.
Damn it! He’s driving me crazy!

He continued his downward trek, nipping at her knee while she wiggled her butt on the countertop. “God, Justin—please.”

“Please what?”

“Eat me—fuck me—do something. I can’t stand this.”

He chuckled softly, nibbling his way up her right thigh. “Impatient, aren’t we?”

Swiping his tongue quickly across her clit, she groaned and reached for his head to hold him in place, but he turned his face, kissing the inside of her thigh. A second later, his warm breath flittered across her still wet clit, and she whimpered as cum seeped from inside.

When his tongue finally started to toggle her clit, she threw her head back, grasped him between her hands, and rode the wave of sensation. He slipped two fingers inside her pussy, sliding them in and out until she screamed. He continued to lap at her pussy until she stopped trembling.

Standing up, he reached for the button at his waist. With hooded eyes, she watched him release his hard cock from the confines of his jeans as he slipped his pants down around his ankles.