21 Marine Salute: 21 Always a Marine Tales (91 page)

“Oh, hell no,” Jazz murmured and the rest laughed.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me…I need to go kidnap my bride. We have orders.” He strode away and they all paused to watch him sweep Rebecca up in his arms and they were off.

“Damn. Did not have to tell him twice.” Damon gestured for the bartender to bring refills for everyone.

“No. He wanted to give her a big honeymoon, but they’re both wildly invested here. Hard to plan to be away when it means leaving work unfinished.” James accepted his drink. “One for me, and then I’m going to wrap this up. Damon, you’re in charge of the rest of the reception, make sure cleanup gets handled. Matt, if you and Naomi don’t mind taking care of the band. Logan, you and Jazz will be handling the exit interviews this week for anyone checking out. Zach, you get entrance….” The conversation migrated with the psychologist, but Paul didn’t listen.

With Rebecca’s departure, Lillianna drifted away from the other bridesmaids—heading back to the table they’d shared earlier. She moved with purpose. Abandoning his coffee, he followed. Over the last few years, he’d gone through women like an alcoholic through a case of schnapps.

Lillianna was single malt scotch.

And damn if he wasn’t in the mood for that.

By the time he reached the table, she stared at her shoes with a grimace.

“Need a ride home?” he murmured.

“You don’t give up, do you?” Laughter and fatigue twined in her voice, giving her a husky quality. Would she sound that way in bed, well-pleasured and languid? His body tightened at the mental image.

“No, ma’am. I do not.” No sense in denying it. “You’re one hell of an attractive woman, you’re funny, you’re smart…and you haven’t said anything about there being a man in your life. So would I be stepping on any toes?”
Say no
.

“Paul, you’re a nice guy, but….”

“No nice guy speeches.” He frowned. “They cut a man off at the ego.”

Her snort of laughter entertained him. “I think your ego would survive.”

“Maybe.” He leaned toward her, lowering his voice. “And if you abandon me, it means I don’t have a good excuse to leave early.” So close, the sweet scent of her perfume tickled his nostrils. She really was lovely, exceptionally lovely, and her eyes were softer brown, with just the hint of gold. Or maybe they simply reflected the lighting. But between her rich cocoa skin and faintly golden eyes, she looked like an African goddess and he wanted to be her supplicant.

Pursing her lips, she glared at him. “Are you playing me?”

“Not at all. If I wanted to play you, I’d make a lot of excuses to get into your pants.” He raked her form with an appreciative gaze. She really looked spectacular in the dress. “But I’m honest in my intentions. Do I want to take you to bed? Absolutely. Am I planning to push my luck or trick you into my bed? Not a chance. When you ask me—and yes, you’re going to ask me—you’ll want it as much as I do.” This close, he enjoyed the way her pupils dilated and her swift inhalation.

“Bold.”

“It doesn’t always pay to be subtle.” Tempted beyond reason to kiss her, he reached down to retrieve her shoes. “So what’s it going to be, Cinderella? Do you want to turn into a pumpkin or would you let me sweep you off your feet?”

Hesitation seemed to roll off her in waves.
Tempting, aren’t I?
He edged a little closer, imagining the invisible barrier around her evaporating. “Do you have to work tomorrow?”

“No.” She shook her head slowly.

“Do you want to go home right now?”

“I really should….” She bit her lip.

“Run away from everything with me? A night of make believe, no strings, no problems, lots of fun?” Pushing her wasn’t his style.
But fuck, I’ve got three days and then I’m on a plane. If I let her get away
—

“You’re all about the carpe diem, aren’t you?” She leaned against the chair, arms folded, but she didn’t look ready to escape and he still held her shoes.

“Life is too short not to go after what you want.” It was a motto. He worked hard. He played hard. He lived for the moment, particularly when tomorrow began halfway around the world.
Or at least three tomorrows from now
…

“Does it occur to you that maybe I’m not interested?” But the curve of her lips belied the comment.

“Oh, that wounds.” He pressed a hand over his heart. “Your words cut me.”

Lillianna laughed. “You’re terrible.”

“Nah. I’m cute. You’re just a little overwhelmed by all this hotness.” He winked, and then laid off the hard push. “How about a quiet cup of coffee? We can slide out of here, I’ll give you a lift home after, and we can relax—quiet, no pressure, no demands.”

She stepped toward him, and traced a finger down the buttons of his coat. “I’m sorry, what part of no pressure and no demands is carpe diem?”

“The part that is a gentleman. But we can skip that—if you insist.” A pulse of pure want beat from his head to his cock and back again.

“Tempting. So coffee…and then what?” She trailed her hand up to his neck, her face mere inches from his.

“Whatever we want.” The urge to kiss her grew harder to ignore. “Do you want coffee?”

She sighed, her expression settling into some decision. “No.”

Disappointment bled through him. “Okay.”

“But I will take the carpe diem.”

Had she really just said she’d take the carpe diem? Paul wasted no time getting them out of the reception. Fortunately, Luke and Rebecca’s exit made amidst laughter and fanfare allowed most of the party to focus on their partners or friends. No one even gave Paul and Lillianna a second glance as they walked out the door. The evening air was humid and warm, the late day heat lingering long after the sun went down—but it was still cooler than Lillianna’s blood.

He paused outside the door and frowned at the concrete and then at her feet. Before she said anything, he mirrored the groom’s he-man tactic earlier and swept her into his arms. A whoosh of air escaped and her pulse double-timed it. There was nothing soft about Marine Master Sergeant Torres, and cradled to his uniformed chest, she couldn’t stop thinking about peeling away the dress blues to investigate it for herself.

Good lord, woman, it’s basic anatomy—calm down
. But her body paid absolutely no attention to her mind. Despite holding her, Paul didn’t start walking right away. The drawn-out silence pulled her gaze to meet his eyes. He studied her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

“What?” She didn’t quite squirm under his regard.

“Waiting to see if you changed your mind.”

Had she? Running her hand over his shoulder, she teased herself with the possibilities. “Not as far as I can tell. Thanks for the lift, by the way.”

His full mouth spread into a heart-stopping grin.
God, the charm in him doesn’t quit
. “No problem. I didn’t want you to hurt your feet.” He started walking but didn’t head for the parking lot.

Little jolts of electricity skittered along her nerves. “Where are you going?”

Paul paused. “The apartment I’m staying in.” He nodded toward the oblong buildings visible on the other side of the tree-lined greenbelt.

“Oh.” Another shiver of excitement collided with the first. She thought they’d at least have the drive to stretch out the moment.

“Still good?” He waited patiently.

“You look like you’re waiting for me to change my mind.”

“Do I?” The low lighting hid his expression, but his actions bespoke a certainty that she might very well flip-flop on her decision.

“Well, that’s twice you’ve asked. Do you want me to?” It seemed a fair question, particularly since a tiny voice in the back of her mind gulped every time she assured him she hadn’t.

“Hmm.” He canted his head to the side as though considering his response.

Disappointment fluttered in her breast, the barest beat of a butterfly’s wings. Did he really want her to reconsider? He closed the distance and took possession of her mouth, darting his tongue inside for a full-on sensual assault. She forgot to think.

Hell, she forgot to breathe.

The world around her vanished, leaving only the sensation of his lips massaging hers, teasing her with his tongue until she groaned. By the time he lifted his head, they were both breathing heavily. Her haphazard thoughts shut down and she forgot how to speak. Which was a good thing, because she didn’t remember what they’d been discussing.

Apparently, Paul didn’t share her dilemma. “I definitely don’t want you to change your mind.”

“Okay,” she managed. It wasn’t much of a response, but if she hadn’t heard the huskier desire in his voice, she might have been embarrassed. Her mouth still tingled from the kiss and she leaned into him, tucking her head against his neck. He didn’t seem remotely bothered by carrying her, but when he started walking again, he increased the pace.

She giggled and he murmured a low, “hmmm?”

“I was wondering what people would think if they saw us.” She kept her voice to a whisper. Yes, they were outside. Yes, they walked from the larger buildings toward the quieter apartments. Yes, even the lighting on the path seemed dim and private. But all of those factors didn’t mean they were alone.

Yet.

Another quiver of excitement raced through her. Anticipation ping-ponged from her breasts to her sex and back again. He’d barely touched her, and given her only that one pulse-pounding kiss, and all she could think about was in a few short minutes, they’d be naked.

Together
.

“They’d think ‘damn, he’s lucky. Did you see her? She’s gorgeous.’” Amusement threaded beneath the need in his voice and she forgot to think again. He called her gorgeous.

An eternity passed before they reached the door to the apartment and he slowly lowered her to the ground. When she would have stepped away, his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close. She liked his height and strength.

Rising up on her tiptoes, she met his second, hot, thoroughly arousing kiss. She wrapped a hand around his neck, and ached with the want for him. Somewhere between her hesitation and that first kiss on the sidewalk, she’d committed to the night.

He trailed a path of kisses from her mouth to her ear and when his tongue glided along the lobe, her knees buckled. “We need to go inside….” Teasing colored the words.

Oh hell…look at me hanging all over him and ready to go at it right here against the door
. Hadn’t she just been worried about who might see them?

Dragging herself back a step, she adjusted the front of her dress, the cooler air leaving goose bumps across her feverish skin. Paul slipped his cover off. The harsh sound of his breathing promised her he was just as affected as she.

Still time to change your mind
…. The creeping voice of doubt slunk back in, but she ignored it. Maybe she would regret tonight in the morning, maybe. If she left right then, she’d definitely regret it.

Fight the battles you know how to win
….

She didn’t have to regret not being with him. Especially if the night was all they had. He unlocked the door and opened it, then held out his hand. A muscle in his jaw twitched, and the line of his mouth went taut. The control he exerted to not ask her if she changed her mind impressed her.

Again.

Placing her hand in his, she let him tug her inside. Tonight wasn’t about the past or personal hang-ups.

“Lillianna—”

She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing whatever he might have been about to say. “You’re wearing too many clothes, Master Sergeant.”

He kissed her gloved fingertip and stepped back, one by one loosening the buttons on his uniform jacket and began to strip out of his clothes. Unlike most men, he didn’t drop them on the floor, but hung them over the back of a chair. Neat. Precise.

Orderly.

And by the time he reached his belt, frustration screamed through her. Heat hit her, everything in her body responding to his—and he hadn’t touched her since he’d started stripping. She hadn’t reacted that way to any of the guys she hooked up with—not in college, not since.

Because in my vast experience, all three guys were funny and interesting and seemed attractive
…. But not in a gut-wrenching, panty-wetting, fuck-me-walking way—no that seemed to be her response to Paul and him alone. Of course, Paul was all hard muscle, and tanned skin. And then there were his eyes, a rich shade of green that served as a brilliant counterpoint to his Latin name, the sex god looks, and utterly captivating, open smile. Her sex clenched as if imagining him already easing his cock into her.

Naked save for a very dark pair of briefs, he stepped in and kissed her, drowning the other needs colliding in her with one light brush of his lips.

“Ready for duty, ma’am…would you like some help with your clothes?”

“Oh. Yeah.” Two syllables. They were all she managed to wrap her tongue around.

Paul waited patiently, even though every urge said reach out and take what he wanted. He’d learned a lot about Lillianna over the last few hours. A contained woman, she kept her emotions closeted away from the rest of the world. Her compassionate nature reflected in her manners and choice of professions. She took the time to chat with him even though his uniform made her uncomfortable. Her words told him she didn’t approve of Luke and harbored ill will toward him for his past treatment of Rebecca, but her genuine affection and cheer toward the bride spoke volumes about her willingness to see her friend happy.

Layers upon layers, carefully shielding the woman beneath—from what, he wasn’t certain—but damned if he didn’t want to find out. In a few short hours, he recognized a certain kindred spirit. Becoming obsessed with her wouldn’t be hard. Getting involved, especially when he had to leave in less than sixty hours, was a mistake.

“Lily?” He read the hesitation in her eyes. If she changed her mind, he would accept it. Stuffing his desire down, he ignored the raging need tightening his balls.

“What did you call me?” She set her clutch purse on a side table and drifted closer to him.