A SEAL's Seduction (Alpha SEALs Book 4) (14 page)

Kenley stood outside her favorite bar in DC two weeks later, waiting for Lexi. She tapped her foot impatiently as she watched the masses leaving work.  Men in business suits, men in khakis and polo shirts all streamed by.  They were attractive, yes, but not one of them caught her interest the way that Mike had.  She’d been back for only a few days, her assignment down in Norfolk complete.  She hadn’t seen Mike once during her remainder of time there.  He’d texted her the day after their argument to make sure she was okay, but after the brief message she’d sent him back, she hadn’t heard from him since.  Not that she expected to.  He probably wasn’t used to women blowing him off.  Besides, those guys had a parade of women around them all the time.  The second she’d walked out his door he was probably already moving on to the next willing and available female.

Ugh, she thought with a groan.  If only the sex hadn’t been so off-the-charts spectacular.  Then maybe she could move on with her plan of finding a stable guy to settle down with.  Memories of Mike’s hard body moving over hers were giving her little incentive to find a “safe” guy though.  She doubted anyone would ever get her as worked up as him.  She almost wished she’d returned to his apartment before she left for one last night together.  Her face flamed just thinking about it.

Jesus, he’d seemed to get just as turned on as her by making her come over and over in his bed.  Other guys were more about seeking their own pleasure.  But with Mike?  She’d felt like a goddess he was worshipping.  And who wouldn’t want to be basking in all that attention of a sexy Navy SEAL?

They argued half of the time they’d been around each other though.  Maybe not that last night, but it’s not like they’d gotten off to the best start.  Which only further confirmed that things between them would never work.  Maybe the distance wasn’t as big a deal as she claimed—it wouldn’t be forever.  After all, Lexi was moving down to Virginia Beach to be with her man.  That type of life would never work for her though.

“Kenley!” Lexi called out, rushing down the block.  Her jet black hair swished around the sleek suit she was wearing, and not a few pairs of male eyes slid her way.  Of course.  She was stunning and beautiful.  Kenley was more petite and cute—but not exactly the type of women men chased down the street after.  Not that Mike had been complaining.

“Hey!  You made it,” Kenley said.  “I’m in desperate need of a martini.”

“Me too.  The first week back after my month off is killing me.  I didn’t think I’d be so tired after only a couple of days.”

Kenley dragged Lexi inside, and they fought their way through the happy hour crowd to snag some space at the bar.  A young bartender approached, and they each ordered drinks.  The bartender’s gaze quickly swept over Kenley, taking in the deep v-neck of the navy blue wrap dress she had on.  Without the blazer she’d worn to work covering her, her ample cleavage was on display.  She warmed slightly at his appreciative glance but found herself strangely wishing Mike could see her in it instead.

Not that she planned to see him again.  Ever. 

“Any word on the new job?” Kenley asked, stirring the olive around in the martini the bartender placed in front of her.  Holy crap.  Had he written his phone number on the napkin?

Lexi caught sight of it too and giggled.  “Picking up men in crowded bars?  Mike wouldn’t be too happy about that,” she teased.

Kenley flushed.  “Mike can date whoever he wants, and so can I.”

Lexi raised her eyebrows.  She took a sip of her Merlot and watched Kenley, waiting expectantly.

“Okay, so I don’t plan to actually
call
the bartender.  Please.  But that doesn’t mean anything.”

Lexi shrugged.  “Sure.  And as for the new job, not yet, but you know how the government works—at a snail’s pace.”

Kenley eyed her best friend suspiciously.  Why was she bringing up Mike tonight anyway?  They hadn’t even talked about him once since the coffee shop a couple of weeks ago—Kenley had made it very clear that that conversation was over.  For good.

“And you’re doing okay on your own?” she asked, changing the subject.  “You’re still more than welcome to stay at my place if you want.”

“I’m fine.  It’s strange, but being back home, I don’t have as many fears.”

“It makes sense.  You’re back where you’re comfortable.”

“Speaking of comfortable, I just noticed your cast is gone!”

“Just got it off this morning,” Kenley said, grinning.  “I can’t say I miss it.”

“Yeah, I bet that’s a relief.  So did your parents ever get back from that cruise?”

“Not yet.  It’s a month long.  I did finally reach them via email, and get this, all my mom said was ‘Glad you’re okay, sweetie.’  You’d think running off the road and breaking my wrist would’ve justified a phone call or something.”

“I’m sorry, hun.  I don’t think they’re ever going to change.”

Kenley shrugged.  “It’s fine.  I’m used to it by now.  I mean they supported me financially when I was younger, they just weren’t ever around.”

“That sucks, sweetie.”

“Yep.”  She drained the rest of her martini.  No sense in lingering on the past now.  She hadn’t exactly had a bad childhood, just absentee parents.  There was always food on the table, a warm place to live, a nanny to take care of her and her sister.

“Oh!” Lexi gasped, glancing toward the bar entrance.

“What?” Kenley asked, swiveling around on her barstool.  Only one thing could light up her best friend’s face like that, but the chances of Christopher walking through the door were slim to none.  Her stomach dropped when she caught sight of Mike standing beside Lexi’s fiancé.  He cleaned up nicely, in khaki pants and a button down shirt.  It did little to conceal the pounds of muscle that lay beneath, and he scanned the room, his chiseled features drawing the attention of many of the women.

His blue gaze locked with hers, and her heart pounded furiously in her chest.  He’d come for her.  Driven all the way up here to…what?  Talk?  Ask her on a proper date?  Drag her off to bed?  She flushed as he took a step closer.  The way his gaze ran over her torso felt like a caress.  Shakily, she stood up as Lexi whispered that she’d pay for their round of drinks.  Christopher was already moving toward Lexi, but Kenley brushed past him, hurrying toward Mike, who was rooted by the door.

***

Kenley walked toward him, face flushed, curls bouncing around her head, and that sexy-as-fuck dress clinging to her like a second skin.  The way it wrapped around her breasts should be illegal—he’d have to convince her not to wear things like that when he wasn’t around.  Because hell, the things he wanted to do to her…she was like a present, just waiting for him to unwrap.  The dark blue set off her ivory skin, and for a moment, he was again reminded of a painting.  She looked like a goddess stepping out of a canvas, headed straight for him.

She stopped in front of him, not hesitating to meet his gaze.  Her heels made her a bit taller, but she still only reached his shoulder.  His eyes were drawn to her chest rapidly rising and falling.  Was she angry?  Aroused?  In complete shock to see him?

“Your cast is off,” he finally said, his voice sounding gruffer than expected.

She swallowed.  “I just got it off this morning.”

“So you’re okay?”

“Fine,” she said, her voice wavering.  “Fine,” she repeated.

Unable to help himself, he reached out, brushing one of those curls back from her face, his hand skimming across her cheek.  She looked so fragile and delicate, he wanted to tuck her against him, hold her close, and keep her safe.  Forever.

Hell.  He’d never had any such desires with a woman before.  But something about her made him want to protect and honor her.  Cherish her.  Love her.

“You left without saying goodbye,” he said quietly.

“You knew I was leaving.”

He nodded.  “That doesn’t mean I like the idea of you walking right out of my life.  Hell, Kenley, I’ve never taken a woman home before.  Never made her breakfast, offered to help her fix her car.  I care about you.”

Her mouth dropped open in surprise.  “But you guys always have women hanging around—I’m not stupid.  I’m not blind. Why me?”

“Because you’re the only woman I’ve had to chase after.  You’re not afraid to talk back to me, to tell me like it is.  To call me out when I’m being an asshole.  You rushed down to help your best friend when she needed you.  And because you’re the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Mike….”  Her voice sounded breathless.  His heart pounded furiously in his chest.  Damn, it felt like a herd of galloping horses.  He jumped out of airplanes, fought with unknown enemies, shot at insurgents.  And he couldn’t tell a woman how he felt without his nerves getting in the way?

“I’m scared of the way I feel around you,” she admitted.  “I do like you—even if you can be arrogant some of the time, you’re a good guy.  But I just feel so out of control when we’re together.”

His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer toward him.

“I feel completely out of control when I’m with you,” he said huskily.

He cupped her chin, tilting it up.  Her vanilla scent washed over him, and his groin tightened.  Kenley was so damn sweet it almost hurt just to look at her.  He ducked lower and kissed her softly, gently.  Promising her everything that was to come.

Her hands slid around his neck, and those tempting breasts pushed against his chest.  Damn.  She was so soft and yielding to him, just completely perfect.  “Take me home,” he instructed, breaking their kiss.  “Let me make love to you all night.”

“But how did you manage to get leave?” she asked.  “I thought you had to be on call twenty-four seven.”

Mike shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips.  “Christopher assured our CO that it was urgent.  I’ve only got the night, and then I have to drive back.  We’ve got late training again tomorrow.  Lexi said you two could come down this weekend though.”

Kenley raised her eyebrows. 

“Surprise,” Mike said.

Kenley laughed, and then looked back toward the bar.  Mike’s gaze followed hers.

Christopher had his arms wrapped around Lexi, and she waved at Mike and Kenley from across the room.  He’d have to thank both of them later on for convincing him to go after Kenley.

Her small hand slipped into his, and he glanced down.  “Let’s go,” she said.

“Where are you taking me?”

“My place.  And you’re not allowed to leave until morning.”

Kenley and Mike hurried hand-in-hand through the lobby of her apartment building.  Mike’s jaw was set in a firm line, his eyes dark with arousal, and there was no mistaking the bulge that had formed in his pants.  The metro ride back to Arlington from DC had been torture, with Mike whispering suggestively in her ear the entire time.  By the time they’d reached the station, she was all but ready to rip her dress off right then and there.

The cool October evening did little to chill her overheated flesh as they’d rushed down the block to her apartment.  She had a feeling that if Mike had known the way, he’d have scooped her up and carried her there himself in an effort to make haste.  Not that that would have drawn attention to them or anything, she’d thought with a smirk.

The elevator doors finally opened, and Mike backed her against the wall as they rode up to her floor, his spicy scent making her dizzy with desire.  His hands rested on the wall on either side of her head, his muscular arms caging her in as he bent over.  He was big and strong and looked ready to completely devour her.  But despite his aggressive stance, he kissed her softly, his mouth moving slowly against hers, holding back.

The elevator dinged as it finally reached her floor, and she practically dragged Mike down the hallway.  The second her apartment door swung shut behind her, Mike was on her, kissing her passionately.  “It’s been too long since I’ve touched you,” he growled, backing her against the door until his hard body was pressed against hers.

She felt every inch of him, from his broad pecs and solid abs to his thick arousal.  She trembled as his lips skimmed down the column of her neck, his breath hot on her flesh, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin.  His hands fumbled with the sash at her waist, tugging it until her dress fell open.

Hot hands brushed over her skin.  Her breasts swelled and nipples tightened as arousal dampened her panties.  Mike’s fingers slid across her bare shoulders, pushing the dress off, allowing the blue frock to fall to the ground.  “Hey, your cast’s gone,” he said.

Kenley smirked.  “It took you a while to notice.”

Blue eyes nailed her with a gaze.  In an instant, he’d captured her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand.  She gasped as he flashed her a wicked grin and then tugged one cup of her lacy bra down.  He sucked one nipple into his mouth, pulling hard on the taut bud.  She cried out as the feeling shot straight to her core.  His tongue laved against her nipple, teasing and tormenting her, as his other hand slid to her black lace panties.  She was drenched, dripping for him, and he groaned in approval as he fingered her through the delicate material.

“Fuck, Kenley, you are so wet for me.”  His hand slipped inside her panties, and she moaned as his fingers slid through her slick folds.  Mike’s breathing was heavy as he ducked his head, sucking on the skin of her neck.  She didn’t know who was more aroused at the moment—her or him.  Two thick fingers penetrated her, and his thumb slid across her throbbing clit.  She gasped and arched against him, desperate for more.  Mike softly bit the tendon where her neck and shoulder met, causing her to cry out.  His fingers began thrusting in and out of her core, stretching and filling her as she writhed against him.  It was good, so good, but not nearly enough.

“Please,” she begged.  “I need you inside me.”

“Not yet.”

His thumb slid across her sensitive bundle of nerves, and she bucked against him.  His grip tightened around her wrists as he held her in place.  Molten heat slid through her veins, setting her entire body on fire.  She was helpless, trapped between the door and Mike’s large frame, and she’d never been so aroused in her life.  He was once again in complete control, commanding her body, and she was desperate for him to bring her to release.

She glanced down at his hand pushed inside her skimpy little panties, the sight as erotic and enticing as hell.  He pumped his fingers faster, harder, edging her on.  His thumb circled her clit, moving faster and faster, and suddenly she exploded, crying out as she burst into a million little pieces.  Mike continued his onslaught as she bucked wildly against his hand.  Finally she fell back down to Earth, gasping as she tried to regain her breath.

Mike fumbled with the clasp on her bra, and cool air rushed over her nipples.  He quickly shucked off his shirt and ducked down to help her step out of her lace panties.  All she had on were her heels, and Mike gripped her ankles, instructing her to leave them on.  It was sexy as hell having him hold her in place like that, and her breath caught as he gazed up at her from where he knelt, his expression wild.  Mike was a man on the edge, and she wanted to take him up the precipice and send him soaring.

“Just one taste,” he muttered, hooking her leg over his shoulder.  She was completely bare, exposed to him, and his mouth was on her in an instant.  He grabbed her hips, pulling her closer, holding her to him.  He licked, sucked, and lapped at her, drinking in all of her juices.  Long swipes of his tongue were interspersed with tiny ministrations, and she was whimpering within moments.  Teasing her swollen clit, he brought her higher once more.  She grabbed onto his head, her fingernails scraping against his scalp as he devoured her.  Her legs began trembling, and a moment later, Mike had lifted her other leg onto his shoulder, so she was leaning against the door, legs spread wide over his broad shoulders.

He slid two fingers inside her tight channel once more, and she exploded, bucking against his mouth as he suckled her clit.  Finally Mike lifted her off him but stood, holding her steady as if she weighed nothing at all.  He backed her against the door, lining his throbbing erection up with her wet heat.  “I’ve wanted to do this since the first day I met you,” he confessed as he slowly pushed inside.

She gasped, clinging to his broad shoulders.  He was so big, bigger than she remembered, his cock like velvet-covered steel.  He was so hot and hard for her, she eagerly took him in, the aftershocks from her orgasm causing her walls to continuously spasm, until he filled her completely.  Mike inside of her felt like coming home—like she’d been missing something all along without ever knowing it.  She’d never tire of the feel of this man inside her, joined with her.  It was just about the closest thing to heaven she’d ever known.

Mike gently began thrusting, gripping her ass with muscular hands, forcing her to ride up and down his shaft.  She cried out as waves of pleasure began to overtake her once more.  She’d barely come down from her last high and Mike was already building her up.  She couldn’t control anything in this position, she was simply at Mike’s complete mercy as he claimed her.  He stepped away from the door so she was solely supported by him, completely impaled by his erection.  She cried out again and again as he thrust deeply.  Gasping, she threw her head back.  His mouth captured one breast, and he sucked eagerly, bucking into her, until she was crying out his name in ecstasy.

“Oh my God,” she gasped as she finally collapsed against him.

“Bedroom,” he demanded.

“Down the hall,” she murmured, her lips brushing against his neck.  He smelled so good, like man and spice and comfort.  Like home.  Maybe her own parents hadn’t been there for her, but Mike had proven that he would be.

He carried her down the hall, still buried deep inside her.  It was erotic as hell having him hold her this way, their bodies still joined.  She never wanted it to end.

Mike sat on the edge of the bed as she straddled him, and her eyes grew wide as he hardened once more.

Mike shot her a cocky grin.  “I told you, I’m always hard around you.”

“Jesus.  I’m never going to get any rest with you around.”

He raised one eyebrow.  “Is that a bad thing?”

“Not at all,” she said, kissing him passionately.

“So about this weekend,” he interrupted, breaking off their kiss.

“I’ll be there,” she promised.

“So we’re giving this a go between us?”

“Absolutely.  I want this to work.  And if we have to do the long-distance thing for a while, then we’ll do it.  I’ve never felt the way that I do when we’re together.”

“I’m falling in love with you Kenley,” he said, meeting her eyes.

She happily sighed.  “I think I’ve already fallen in love with you.”