Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four) (23 page)

“It’s not luck,” Maxie replied, still waiting for him to remove his jeans. She’d have a long time to anticipate, too, because Berke gradually lifted her hand and linked their fingers together as he drew her closer to the bed. He had no intention of undressing just yet. “It’s fate.”

Berke eased her down on the bed, not bothering to contradict her. He kissed her neck before continuing on to her shoulder, his warm lips leaving a moist trail that might as well have been lit with fire. He cupped her right breast, bringing the ample flesh up as if he was serving himself a platter of his favorite dessert. She cried out in pleasure when he finally took her nipple into her mouth, circling the hardened peak with his tongue.

“God, yes,” Maxie cried out, arching even higher and reaching behind her to hold onto the pillow. Berke settled in between her legs, the rough fabric of his jeans resting against her clit. His bulge was unmistakable and she wanted more than just friction from the material. She wanted him. “Berke…”

“Let me enjoy myself,” Berke whispered, moving his mouth lower. His lips barely touched her skin, somehow making his exploration all the more sensual. Every now and then she’d sense the heat from his tongue as he glided it over very sensitive areas, such as her hipbone. Why did that erotic action cause her clit to throb even more? “Let me drive.”

The vibrations of Berke’s rich voice only added to the suggestive stimulus as he settled his lips right above her mound. Maxie separated her legs, never once losing contact with him. Her fingers were now feathered through his thick, dark hair while he pleasured her. She never thought in a million years they would be here like this, but she also wouldn’t have it any other way.

Maxie’s breath caught in her throat when he ever so slowly slid a finger through her moist folds, underneath the nub of aroused nerves where his lips now formed a gentle suction. She closed her eyes and pressed the back of her head farther into the pillow, mentally willing him to stop her torture and give her what she needed.

That didn’t happen. Not even close.

Berke continued to love her as minute after minute passed, taking her higher and higher as he continued to suckle on her clit and slide not one, but two, fingers inside of her over and over. He’d even reached up with his other hand and captured her nipple, rolling and massaging the hardened peak until she wasn’t sure where her pleasure began. It certainly hadn’t ended.

“Berke, please,” Maxie murmured, finally letting go of his hair and lifting her arms so that her hands clenched the pillow. She dug her heels into the mattress to gain more traction, arching her hips into him in hopes that would help ease her frustration. “I need to…”

Berke brought his thumb up and gently placed it right below her clit while using his tongue to stroke the swollen tissue. The pressure from both angles sent Maxie tumbling over the edge of that exquisite precipice with razor sharp pleasure. The world continued to spin as she continued to fall without any end in sight.

T
he small cries
of gratification from a woman’s lips had never before pushed Berke so far to the edge. The pressure at the base of his cock was almost painful, but that didn’t stop him from ensuring that Maxie was truly satiated by the time he got done loving her. He continued to slowly bring her down before pressing tender kisses on her thighs and massaging her muscles that were still quite tight.

“Relax,” Berke urged softly, stroking his hands firmly up and down the top of her legs before gently pressing his fingers against her mound. He shifted to where he was lying beside her, using his elbow as a prop. She slowly lifted her lashes until her crystal blue eyes shined with contentment. They deepened when he glided a finger into her cream and leisurely made circles over her clit. “There’s plenty more to come.”

Maxie let out a guttural moan and widened her legs, giving Berke full access to what he’d already had the pleasure of enjoying. He stared down at the beautiful woman who’d gone to extreme lengths to follow him into the unknown. She was brave and fiercely loyal when it came to those she protected. There was no question the lengths he would go to now to ensure she stayed here with him, safe in his arms.

“Undress.”

“In time,” Berke replied to her command as he continued to reverse the fulfillment she’d experienced. He wanted Maxie to crave him inside of her to the point she begged. There was nothing more gratifying than hearing a woman ask a man to make love to her. “I want to watch you enjoy my touch.”

Berke slid his index and ring finger on either side of her clit, using his middle finger to firmly stroke the heightened nerves. Her breath hitched in her throat and her right hand wrapped around his wrist. He wasn’t sure if it was for leverage or to stop the onslaught of too much pleasure. It didn’t matter, because he wasn’t stopping until she was dripping wet.

Maxie’s lips parted even more and her lashes lowered until they were resting on her flushed cheeks. She was a sight to behold. Her palpable arousal caused his cock to harden even more and he couldn’t take the constraints of the rough material any longer. He pressed his lips against hers, catching the low moan that escaped from her when he pulled his hand away.

Berke stood and quickly removed the rest of his clothing, reaching for the condom he’d set out on the desk earlier. The constant static coming from the baby monitor assured him that all was still well in the other room. There was no need to rush this moment, but that didn’t stop him from tearing open the foiled packet or withdrawing the latex. He’d rolled the disc over his shaft and was between her legs before her extended arm could reach for it herself.

“You’re quick on the draw, Mr. Daniels,” Maxie whispered as she wrapped an arm around his neck and drew him close to her. The intimate sensation of her enclosing his waist with her legs was intoxicating, becoming even more so when she tightened her grip and pulled his lower body to hers. His tip was at her entrance in record time. “I’d love to cross that finish line for the second time.”

“Let’s see what we can do about that,” Berke replied, slowly pressing his cock into her and savoring the way her folds accepted him. Hot. Tight. Heady. “Perfect.”

Time stood still as they adjusted to one another. Their barriers, both mental and physical, had been dropped in favor of honesty. They were vulnerable to one another. Maxie had captured his heart on their journey and he would show her through his touch.

Berke slowly pulled out of her, although never releasing her gaze. He made love to her slowly and thoroughly, his elbows to the side of her so that he could caress her flushed cheeks. There wasn’t a part of their bodies that weren’t touching. Even their breaths mingled until their lips lightly touched. He slowly kissed her as they made love, both of them in no hurry to bring this to an end.

They each relaxed and enjoyed each other until one by one their muscles started to tighten in response to the pleasure they were receiving. Each passing minute brought them closer to that ascent. Berke moved in pace with her, ensuring her clit was pressing firmly over his pelvic bone with every thrust. They were now striving to ease their intense need and it wasn’t long until they reached their climaxes simultaneously, each calling out to one another.

Maxie shivered underneath him, pulling him down over her as the exhilaration faded from their bodies. Berke wrapped his arms around her, lowering himself to her side while pulling her into his embrace. He gave them time to collect themselves and enjoy this rare moment of seclusion, not knowing what tomorrow held.

“We’ll bring him back home,” Maxie whispered against his chest while she stroked his back in comfort. She pulled far enough away to where she could see his expression. He didn’t hide his concern. “Van has to know we’re coming for him.”

“I have no doubt he does,” Berke murmured, drawing her closer and resting his chin on top of her head. “Van’s trust in us is unshakable. I remember a time when he missed the vehicle designated as tail end Charlie during a night movement at an exercise out in Twenty-Nine Palms—
The
Stumps,
as we called it. That sandbox was hot as hell as well as a dusty old training base up in the high desert of southern California. It’s the largest base in the entire Marine Corps.”

“What happened?” Maxie asked, truly interested.

“The idiot waves tail end Charlie on, expecting another pickup vehicle to come along, only there wasn’t another truck coming. He spent two days and three nights in the middle of a very unforgiving desert, waiting for us to come for him, which we did after realizing he wasn’t with the training squad he’d been assigned,” Berke reminisced fondly over the days that now seemed like a cakewalk compared to what they were facing. “He was just sitting there under his poncho liner strung between two creosote bushes, waiting on Tank to send us out there to pick him up. Most guys would have started walking off to their deaths, lost in hundreds of square miles of desert. Not Van. He just sat there waiting on us.”

“Marines are made up of very special men and women,” Maxie said softly as she finally leaned into Berke and rolled him onto his back. She made herself comfortable by settling her chin on the back of her hand and sharing a story of her own that she truly believed would come true. He hoped like hell she was right. “Tank said he would work on a strategy based on what Owen and Ann found out from their scouting trek. We’ll find out what that plan is in the morning and then we’ll follow through until we have Van back here at home. You know what that means?”

Jacob chose that moment to wake up, calling out for his mother. There was no doubt which mother he was referring to and Maxie scurried off the bed as quick as she could, scrambling for her clothes, which had been left by the door.

“Rest,” Maxie answered her own question, stepping into her underwear and then doing the same to her shorts. She drew her tank top over her head and then hastily walked to the door, talking over her shoulder. “It means we need rest before we go out on a rescue mission.”

“It means that we need to be in one room, not two,” Berke called after her, recognizing her laugh to mean that she was in total agreement. He didn’t waste time getting up from the bed and making his way to the bathroom, where he cleaned up to the best of his abilities and then put on a pair of athletic shorts. He had a feeling that the days sleeping in the nude were long gone. He spotted Maxie near the bed when he finally walked into their room. “We should—”

“Book!”

Berke would have sworn that his heart had been hardened by the many experiences life had dealt him, but there was nothing that the innocent, exuberant greeting of a child—especially this little boy—couldn’t melt. He reached down and lifted Jacob so that he was high enough to rest his head on Berke’s shoulder. The trusting gesture brought about a storm of emotions.

It was impossible to prevent his throat from closing up. Berke instinctively started to slowly pace the room and softly pat Jacob on the back, wishing he could somehow reassure Van as easily as this. Was he being beaten? Was he being tortured for information regarding the lodge? Was there a difference in what that group was doing to Van and what Berke had done to Webb? Yes, although a very, very thin line of righteousness separated the reasons.

“Thank you,” Berke said without looking over to where Maxie stood watching them. He didn’t want to see the sympathy in her blue eyes, but did need her and Jacob’s presence more than he needed his next breath.

Maxie somehow understood what he was trying to convey and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around them both. The comforting gesture only made this moment more significant and Berke vowed that Van would be brought home to his family they’d created years ago. The added family members would make it that much sweeter. The small whisper that came from a sleepy boy brought tears to Berke’s eyes.

“Hug.”

T
he leather band
of Maxie’s watch now had a small crack in it that connected the notches. She’d done that with her nails after taking Jacob over to the lodge around five o’clock this morning. He didn’t even seem bothered by the fact that she was leaving him with Rosa and that somehow made it even harder. Maxie wasn’t going to be there to protect him should anything happen, and he didn’t seem to mind. He was a small child who didn’t understand the gravity of their situation. How was it possible that her heart experienced physical pain over something her mind understood to be nothing of real significance?