Her Adoring SEAL (Midnight Delta Book 3) (13 page)

“It’s not football season, otherwise yes.  But sure let’s see what’s on Netflix.  I vote for showers first.”  Beth jumped back. 

“Oh, I must stink!”

“Not even on your ripest day do I think you could stink.”  Jack smiled.  She grimaced and headed towards the bedroom to get a change of clothes for after her shower.

As she smoothed the vanilla scented soap over her body, Beth noticed something.  She liked the feel of her skin under her hands.  She’d never really thought about it before, bathing had always been a chore.  Actually, sometimes her body made her uncomfortable, a little unclean, like something needed to be washed a little more vigorously.  Not today, today it felt like her skin needed to be pampered with the foamy suds.

She got out of the shower, and slathered on the matching vanilla lotion.  She hardly ever put lotion on her skin, but today she thought of Jack noticing the softness and the scent and she shivered.  She caught sight of herself in the mirror.  Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was full and wavy.  She almost looked pretty. 

Maybe she’d been in stasis in
all
aspects of her life because of what the bastard had done to her.  Well, he wasn’t going to win anymore.  This was
her
life.  She was going to take it back, dammit.

Beth got dressed and went into the living room.  Jack still wasn’t there.  She rummaged around until she found some caramel corn, and put it into the microwave.  Her fingers trembled as she punched in the numbers.

“It’s just Jack,” she murmured to herself.

“What about me?” he said from behind her.  She whirled around.

“I was thinking about you.”  She blushed.

“I got that.”  He had a killer grin.

“Look, you...you...”

“Smart-ass, the term you’re looking for is smart-ass.”

The buzzer rang, and as she was about to grab the bag of popcorn he stopped her.

“It’s hot baby, let me.”  He pulled out the bag by the corner and put it onto the counter.

“So why were you talking about me?”

“I was telling myself why it would be okay if we tried to do more than just kiss.  I was reminding myself it was you.”  She enjoyed the way he froze in place.  It served the smart-ass right.

“How much more?” he asked hoarsely.  “I mean, only as much as you’re comfortable with, of course.”

Beth grasped one of his hands, and nuzzled her cheek against his palm.  With the other, she touched the dark blonde stubble on his face and traced his dimple.  His eyes were solemn as they looked down at her. 

She slipped her hand around the back of his neck and tugged slightly, loving the way his eyes warmed, and he bent towards her.  She’d ached to kiss him again, and prayed she could handle more this time.

“No expectations, sweetheart.  I’ll be happy with a kiss.”  Once again he’d read her mind.  Beth melted against him, and he picked her up as if she weighed nothing.  It was like something out of a girlish dream and she reveled in it.

He sat on the couch, and nestled her in his lap.  She’d kept her arm around his neck, and then stroked it into his hair. It had gotten a little longer since their stay on the ranch, and felt like warm silk.

“For the moment, just a kiss.  I
need
a kiss.  Your kiss.”  He tilted her chin, and brushed her lower lip down with his thumb.  She swiped her tongue against it, and he groaned.

“You’re going to burn me up before we even get started.”  He feathered a gentle kiss on her temple, gliding ever closer to her lips.  She held her breath in anticipation, until he finally rested his lips on the side of her mouth.  She turned her head and captured his mouth.

He groaned, and soon his tongue was curled around hers, and she heard a whimper rise from her that wasn’t fear, it was need.  Jack must have realized because he pressed closer.  His fingers tangled in her hair as his hand coaxed her closer, slanting her so their mouths met at the perfect angle.  Their noses brushed, just another caress, another connection making Beth melt into the moment with this man.

Her blood heated, and she squirmed on his lap.  When she felt his need, she paused and Jack broke the kiss.

“No, don’t stop.”

“Sweetheart, I told you ‘just a kiss’.”

“I want to make a goal.”  He looked perplexed, and then laughed out loud.

“You mean you want to go to second base?”

Now
she
didn’t know what
he
was talking about, but one way or another she needed his hands on her breasts.  She unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse.  He stayed her hand. 

“Beth, are you sure?”  Her fingers touched the opal necklace at her throat, and she smiled.

“I’m positive.”

“Then let me.”

His knuckles brushed her skin as he unbuttoned the rest of her blouse, his hands slipped the cotton off her shoulders and he trailed kisses on her collarbone.  She reached to unfasten the front clasp of her bra, but again, he stopped her.

“Please, Beth, this is my fantasy.”  It wasn’t possible, but when she looked at him, he gave a solemn nod.  “I love you Beth, I’ve dreamed of seeing you, touching you, pleasing you.”  She blinked fast, fighting back tears. 

Then his hands cupped her bare breasts and thought was beyond her.  There was only sensation. 

“Ahhh.”  He softly molded her flesh, and she watched.  His strong hands holding her tender flesh was mesmerizing.  When his thumbs brushed her nipples she arched up, her gaze flashing to his face, needing reassurance as every cell in her body lit up. 

“Too much?”

“I’m not sure.”  He stopped.  “No, don’t stop.  I like it.  A lot.”  She put her hands over his and looked down.  She gave a choked laugh.  They were so small in comparison.

His lips pressed against the side of her neck and her laugh changed to a sigh.  “More please.”  This time he laughed.

“So polite.” He lightly suckled her throat and his thumbs rasped. Beth’s eyes drifted closed as she started to float.

“Beth?  Beth, are you with me?”  She jerked at the feel of his teeth on her neck, and she moaned as he scraped them downwards to her shoulder.

“Do I have your attention?”

“Yes, Jack.”  It was a puff of air.

“Any fear?”

She searched, and if she was honest his erection did scare her.  But then again it didn’t because it was Jack, and he would never force her.  But then it did because she would never be able to please him.  It was all mixed up in her head.  His teeth nipped her again.

“Beth, stay with me.  Remember, you’re in charge.  We’re only making as many goals as you want to.”

“Bases.  We’re making bases,” she corrected him.

His tongue laved over where he’d bitten and she shivered.

He moved his hands, and brought his head down.  She cried out as his tongue touched her nipple.  So warm and soft, her head swirled with delight as she realized this was yet another form of loving.

****

B
eth caught fire in his arms.  Jack hadn’t expected she would burn so bright and so fast.  He looked up at her face, and saw her biting her lip her face suffused with passion.  He was scared, but it had never stopped him before, and it wasn’t going to stop him now.  This was the most important mission of his life. 

Her brow furrowed as she began to rock back and forth in his lap.  It was clear to him what she needed. He continued to taste the sublime texture of her nipple, licking, savoring, and then he took the brown rose nub into his mouth. She arched into him with a sigh.  He continued to hold her breast to his lips, while his other hand began a languid journey down her torso.

He knew Beth was unaware of her rocking, the way her legs had shifted and were now slightly spread apart.  Her soft buttocks tortured his erection, and her legs attempted to clamp around his knee.  He stroked further downwards, easing over the waistband of her Capri pants.  She jerked.

Her hands were suddenly there, and he couldn’t help a second of disappointment he immediately tamped down.  But her hands slid underneath his, and she was unbuttoning her trousers and lowering the zipper.

He considered, and knew he needed to take this opportunity to show her she could.  She made a frustrated sound as the zipper caught. 

“Shhhh, I’ve got it.  They train us in complicated machinery.”  She gave a little giggle.  Just what he wanted.  Her hands stayed on her zipper, as if not sure where to go.

“I love it when you touch my hair,” he coaxed.

“You do?”  He looked at her and smiled.  “Don’t you like it when I touch yours?”

“Yes.”  She reached up put and her arms around his neck, her hands playing in his hair.

He kissed her, once again luxuriating in the taste of Beth Hidalgo.

She relaxed, and he unzipped her pants, easing his hand inside the front of her silky panties.  Her curls were damp.  He dipped down further, nudging her tender folds apart, finding her drenched.  He brought some of that moisture upwards, and began to gently circle her engorged bud. 

She broke off the kiss, and buried her head in the crook of his neck, panting.  He continued his ministrations.  She pushed against him, hard.  Understanding her wordless command he increased his speed and pressure.

She sobbed into his neck.  “I can’t.”

“You can.  You were meant to fly in my arms.”

“I can’t, it won’t work.”

Jack heard the frustration in her voice, how she was working herself into a self-fulfilling prophecy.  With his free hand he tilted her head up, and gave her a reassuring smile.  He kissed her, plunging his tongue into her mouth.  She sucked him inside.  At the same moment he slid one finger inside her sheath.  Her head arched backwards, the tendons in her neck rigid, and she let loose a silent scream.

****

H
e’d done it.  She’d done it.  She was shaking.  Beth collapsed into the arms of the man she loved, shuddering in ecstasy.  She felt his erection and wasn’t scared, she saw nothing but patience, satisfaction, and love in his eyes.

“Beth.”

“What?”

“Just Beth.  Always and forever, it will be just Beth.”

––––––––

J
ack looked at the beautiful woman lying in the bed, and slid in beside her.  He’d gotten up early, even though all he wanted to do was stay with her curled up beside him.

Last night after their gentle love making he coaxed her towards the bedroom.  She hesitantly tried to disrobe in front of him, but he’d said he was changing in the guest bath, and saw her relief.

“But you’re going to sleep with me, right?” she asked anxiously.

“Wild horses couldn’t keep me out of your bed tonight.”  She relaxed and smiled.

When he got back to the bedroom she was under the covers, and fairly vibrating with tension.  He decided to take the Band-Aid approach, and slipped in under the sheets beside her.  She was cold.

“Come here sweetheart, let me warm you up.”

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous, you’ve held me in bed before.”

“This is different, and we both know it.” 

She looked at him with big solemn black eyes and nodded.

“But it’s different in a good way.”  She moved closer to him, and sighed.  “You’re warm.”

“That’s what happens when you’re so big, you exude body heat.”

“I like it with your shirt off.”  She ran her hands over his chest, and he thought he might spontaneously combust.

He inched closer, until they were pressed together, and her head rested on his chest.  Jack noticed she had her thigh against his erection and it didn’t seem to bother her, but it sure as hell bothered him.  There was no doubt in his mind he wouldn’t be getting any sleep, and he’d been right.  But he’d come up with a plan.

The sun was up and she looked beautiful in the morning light.

“You’re staring at me again.”

“I’d be a fool not to.”  He leaned in for a kiss.  She melted like powder sugar against his lips.  Before things could go too far, he pulled back.

“Up.  We’re getting up.”

“Why?  I like it right here.  I want to make some more goals.”

Jack gave a strained laugh, and lifted her hand off his chest. 

“Off you go.  Into the shower with you.  We’re going on a trip.”

“A trip?  I can’t.  I need to go to the courthouse.”

“I’ve already talked to your sister, and she agreed, you need some time away.  She’s going to be there with them.”

“That’s not fair to her, I should be there as well.”

“It was as much her idea as mine.”  He watched her wheels turn.  She was still on the fence.

“Lydia needs to do this.  She told me she feels she let you down.”

She reared up in the bed.  “That makes no sense.  She damn near died for me.”

“She’s your sister.  Your
older
sister.  You understand her sense of responsibility better than anyone.  What is going to make her feel better after hearing your story?” 

“She’d need to take control.  She’d need to do something for me.”

“That’s what she’s trying to do, sweetheart.  Can you let her?”

“Okay.”

He hugged her close, and breathed a kiss against her temple.  “So it means you’re willing to do a favor for me too.  I really appreciate it.” 

Beth laughed at his silliness.

“So where are we going?”

“Vegas, baby.”

“Las Vegas?”

“I want to be someplace close so when the team gets back we can discuss the next steps.”

“What next steps?”

“For after your father testifies against the DEA agents.  Everyone is pretty sure they’ll realize they’re well and truly caught, and they’ll roll and testify against Guzman and the congressman.”

Beth nodded, she knew this plan.

“Then they should have the information they need to go after Guzman and finally get him.”

She nodded again.

“I want to be able to come back when it happens.  Or when the team comes back, whichever comes first.  I want to start making plans with the good members of the DEA, US Marshals, and Midnight Delta to take down Guzman.  That’s why I don’t want to be far from California.”

Beth shuddered, and he knew the direction her thoughts had taken.