Last Chance: Navy SEAL erotic romance (SEALs Crossfire Novella 1)

The last box was unloaded and I plopped onto my couch, exhausted. I hated moving, and moving alone was the worst. I paid a moving company to move all the large furniture but moved everything else myself. Boy, was I going to pay for that in the morning. My shoulders already ached from lifting box after box, and the idea of walking upstairs made me groan. I was finally enticed from my couch with the idea of a soak in my new garden tub.

I loved my new home, a small, three bedroom brick colonial. It even had the clichéd picket fence! I could see myself raising a family here. Of course that would mean I’d need to meet someone and get married first. I climbed the stairs to the master bedroom. Filling the tub, I peeled off my sweaty clothes, because I had to move in the height of the August heat wave, and slipped into the bath.

The sun was beginning to set as I stepped from the bath; I was turning into a prune and my eyes were drooping. I wrapped myself in a large, white, terry robe that I “borrowed” from a hotel I stayed in once, and sat on the bed. I was tempted to lay down and go to sleep just as I was, but knew I would wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable. After a few minutes, I stood, shucking the robe and grabbing a cotton t-shirt and underwear, pulling them on slowly because my arms were aching. I climbed into bed and turned the lights off, switching on the TV.

My eyes were drooping again, so I switched the TV off and snuggled under my blanket. I was just dozing when I heard a noise downstairs. I jumped with a start, living alone in a new house made every creek and groan sound ominous. Listening for a moment, I sat up. When I didn’t hear anything else I cuddled back down under the covers. I jumped again when I heard an even louder thump. I froze, one noise meaning the house settling and two meaning burglars, at least in my mind.

Thanking my father silently for teaching me to shoot and insisting that I have a gun if I was going to live alone, I tip toed from my bed and moved silently to the dresser. I slipped my Glock 9mm from the drawer, not even sure if I was faced with an intruder I would be able to pull the trigger. Making my way as quietly as possible to the hall, I gripped the gun tightly, flipping the safety to make sure I was ready. I made it to the top of the stairs before I realized I didn’t have any pants on. Indecision tore through me about whether to move back into my room or to keep going. Deciding I was already halfway there, I started down the stairs.

I froze at the bottom of the stairs, hearing another thump. The thump sounded like it was coming from my kitchen. I kept my back to the wall and crept through the living room soundlessly, methodically searching each room as I went. The kitchen was in the back of the house and even though my house wasn’t huge, it felt like it took me forever to get there. Once in the entrance to the kitchen I paused by the doorway, peering inside slightly. There wasn’t anything visible, person or beast. I sighed; sagging against the doorframe, almost laughing out loud at my reaction to what was probably the AC unit kicking on.

I turned to walk back upstairs and saw a movement from the corner of my eyes. Biting back a scream, I turned, pointing my weapon at the intruder.

“Don’t shoot!” A man yelled, coming out of the shadows, he looked disheveled and had a sheepish look on his face.

“Who the hell are you?!? And what are you doing in my house in the middle of the night?” I pointed the gun at his chest, lessons of target practice replaying in the back of my head.

“I’m so sorry to frighten you,” his gaze traveled down my body, just realizing I was in my underwear, “I live next door. I didn’t think anyone lived here.”

“Clearly you were wrong. What the fuck are you doing in here?” Some of the anger left my voice and a blush rose to my cheeks when I saw where his eyes were pointed.

His eyes raked down my body, stopping at my bare legs. My blush deepened and my breath hitched.

“I got locked out. The previous owner was a friend of mine and had my house key hidden in here for me. He told me how to get it if I needed it. I was hoping it was still here even though he wasn’t.”

He stepped closer, into the moonlight coming through the slits of the blinds, and I took a step back. I wasn’t sure if I could believe him or not.

“What’s your name and address?” I figured if he could give me the street and house address quickly he was probably telling the truth.

“Jason Erickson, I live at twenty-two Maple Drive.” He put his hands up in defeat.

I lowered my gun, I was twenty-four Maple Drive.

“How did you get in here?” I asked nervously, I was hoping he was the only one who knew how to get in.

Now that I was no longer in fight or flight mode I noticed how attractive he was. Actually, attractive didn’t do him justice. He was tall, well over six feet, and muscular. His biceps were straining against the short sleeves of his white t-shirt. I could make out every ripple of his six pack through the shirt, it hugged him like a second skin. His hair was chestnut brown, and hung over his eye, as if it was overdue for a haircut. I longed to push it back and had to clench my fist so that I didn’t. I felt a sudden warmth flood my body, and between my legs in particular, and I was appalled at myself. I took a few steps back toward the dark kitchen, hoping to disguise my sudden blush and the fact that I wasn’t wearing any pants.

I looked up at Jason to see why he hadn’t answered me and he was staring at me hungrily, his eyes focused on my bare legs and skimpy underwear that my short, threadbare t-shirt barely covered. His stare moved upwards to my chest, and I cursed my almost D cups that were straining against my traitorous t-shirt. I folded my arms over my chest and unsuccessfully tried to pull the tiny shirt down to cover myself.

Jason chuckled, “Aw, come on. I was enjoying the show.”

I frowned, “Yeah well get over yourself. You didn’t answer my question.” I said with a renewed sense of anger.

Who was this guy to break into my house and ogle me like a piece of meat? It didn’t matter that my stupid body betrayed me and reacted to his stare. My sex began to throb and my panties became moist with my lust. I stepped back even further.

“The basement window. I’ll fix it for you in the morning.” He moved closer still and I backed up until my back hit the wall.

His eyes burned with arousal, turning from a golden brown to almost black.

I held up my hand to tell him to stop advancing and he halted. “If you’re so good at breaking into houses, how come you can’t get into yours?” I cocked an eyebrow and him and gave him a ‘so there’ look.

He smirked, “My house it too secure to break into.” He said without further explanation.

I thought about something else, “Well, why did you wait until the middle of the night to break in then? Didn’t you see that someone was moving in?”

He looked pensive, an indistinguishable look crossing over his face, “I was, uh, out all day.”

Why wasn’t I convinced? Apparently my body was, a new round of arousal washing over me at the way he cocked an eyebrow at me. I looked down, trying to hide a new round of blushing that made my face flame.

I decided to let it go for now. The quicker I found his damn key, the sooner he would be gone.

“Where did the previous owner keep your key?” I asked, staying in the shadows.

“The master bedroom.” He said giving me a suggestive look.

My heart sped up. I silently chastised myself for even considering sleeping with a strange man, one that broke into my home at that. It wasn’t my style, I could count on one hand, minus three fingers, how many men I had actually slept with.

“Um, ok,” I said nervously, “Follow me.”

I futilely pulled at my tiny t-shirt, trying to cover the sheer lace back of my underwear. I was so glad it was dark in the house as we made our way up to my room. When we reached my room, I preceded him, and then tried to step aside. Before I could do so, he flipped the lights on, exposing my sheer lace underwear and everything else I was hiding in the dark. My face flamed red again, and I tried not to meet his eyes, afraid of what I’d see. Not only was I embarrassed to be caught dressed in barely anything by a stranger, but I knew I wasn’t doing it justice.

My head still down, I finally managed to whisper, “Have a look.”

I snuck a glance at his face when he didn’t move or acknowledge that I spoke. Lust shone in his eyes, once again making his golden brown eyes appear almost black. Though it wasn’t the reaction I expected, I still squirmed with discomfort under his stare. I yanked at my t-shirt again, silently vowing to wear more clothes to bed, and backed away from him again.

I nodded towards the bed to indicate he should check for his key in the room. He arched an eyebrow up, clearly thinking something else involving the bed, and I retreated away from him a bit more, shaking my head vigorously. He chuckled, turning his serious and intimidating features softer. And I relaxed a bit. Maybe he was just having a bit of fun with the chubby girl. He turned from me and headed towards the closet, disappearing into the interior without turning on the light. He stopped in front of me and held up a key.

“Found it.”

I sighed, glad he was leaving. I didn’t trust myself to resist him much longer. I felt a strange pull toward him, even though I fought against it. We walked silently back downstairs. He followed so close to me I could feel his heat through my thin t-shirt. My nipples tightened into tight pebbles, rubbing against my shirt. The feeling made me ache between my legs, and my stomach clenched down low. I gripped the railing so hard my knuckles were probably white and was never more grateful to reach the front door.

I yanked the door open with haste, “Ok then.” I said, not knowing what else to say and needing him to leave before I did something stupid.

“Thanks,” he said, brushing his hand against my arm.

I stiffened, his touch feeling like an electric current, my body instantly responding to him in ways that made me blush, again. I leaned forward, my long black hair falling over my face; I didn’t want him to see the effect he had on me. Nodding I ushered him out the door, keeping my face hidden. He turned suddenly, looking at me.

“I didn’t catch your name?” He asked.

I sighed, “McKenzie.” I whispered.

He nodded and moved out the door. When he was outside, I slammed the door shut and locked it. Leaning against the door I sighed, horrified and something else I couldn’t name, didn’t want to name, with my reaction to a stranger who broke into my house.

***

Chance McBride walked away from the woman’s house; glancing back several times for some reason, wondering what had gotten into him. He couldn’t get involved with anyone, let alone his neighbor. His dick was still hard from watching her walk in those see-through lace panties and threadbare t-shirt. He let himself into his house next door, cursing his stupidity for leaving his keys in his house when he left for his meeting. This was not a time to be careless, and since the Navy vacated the house next door, and no one was left to help keep those who wanted him away, he had to be extra diligent. Bringing a defenseless woman, even one with a set of tits that made him rock hard and whose touch set him on fire, would be a bad idea. Maintaining his cover was paramount if the Navy wanted to catch the bastards who had him hiding.

Since it was two in the morning, Chance knew he should try to sleep, but he was too wound up from his unexpected encounter with a beautiful woman. He couldn’t get McKenzie out of his head. The way her black hair has shined in the moonlight and her curves refused to be contained by the tiny t-shirt had him gritting his teeth as he pulled his jeans off over his still hard erection. The innocence in her greenish hazel eyes made his chest ache in a way he didn’t want to examine.

Chance walked into his bathroom, his bedroom almost identical to hers, and wondered what she was doing since he left. He could picture her sliding under that flowered comforter that was on her bed, the tiny t-shirt riding up an exposing her belly and more of those underwear that were begging for him to rip off. Chance groaned in discomfort, his dick so hard it hurt, and stepped under the shower spray. He had the urge to grab his aching dick and take care of it himself when the image of the woman next door wouldn’t leave his mind. What he really wanted to do was go back over there and bury it inside of her. But that would cause too many problems. Chance took the shower level and turned it all the way to cold. Wincing in surprise from the extreme temperature change, his hard on was suddenly forgotten and with it he tried to forget the woman as well.

***

I woke up the next morning for a moment forgetting about my episode last night. When the reason I was still so sleepy finally came to me I groaned in embarrassment. Rolling over with a grunt, my body sore from moving, I sat on the edge of my bed willing myself to get up and shower. I needed coffee and I needed it right away, but I also needed a shower. Glad for the fact that it was Saturday and I didn’t have to work, I moved slowly through my morning routine. By the time I made my way downstairs, admiring the beauty of my new home as I went, I forgot about last night and my mood lifted.

I pulled the coffee pot and a can of coffee out of the box marked ‘kitchen’ and started it up. As I fixed my coffee, cream and stevia, I pictured all of the updates I would make in my new house over the years. I wanted to build a new mantle for the fire place, a built-in bookcase in the living room, and paint. I wandered from room to room imagining all that I would do. A sudden knock on the door made me jump and pulled me from my thoughts. With caution I moved to the door, being a woman living alone made me very aware of all the lunatics in the world. I peered though the peep hole and stepped back in shock. It was Jason, from next door. Last night’s incident came back in a rush and I blushed, the embarrassment engulfing me again. I straighten my jean shorts and white tank top, thankful to be dressed more decently this time, and pulled the door opened.

Jason stood there smirking at me; he looked me up and down. Clearly he also remembered last night. I fought off a new round of blushing.