Love Came Back (a Pyro-Princess Design and Style novel Book 1) (8 page)

13

Dinner? My Place, Your Place? Anyplace?

..::
Siddaleigh
::..

While opening my car door, I felt as if I was being watched. Looking up and around, I noticed I was right. The man staring at me was someone I thought I would never see again. I saw him clearly and it was like a step back in time. He stepped into his car and I almost fainted. Literally, to the concrete ground on my face, like fainted.

His skin was sun-kissed, and he looked even bigger than he was when I was seventeen. Big broad shoulders, massive torso but lean hips and when he got into his car, his backside looked tight and a little fluffy. Just like it did eight years ago.

No freaking way.

When he jumped back out, I knew without a doubt, he was the man that had come into my life, and blew out of it like the wind, just as fast.

This is too much of a coincidence. Right?

I didn’t know what I was doing, thinking I could go up to him. Didn’t I just swear off men in my future?
This man though, how could I?
Asking God for some extra confidence and courage, I walked up to him as he strode with purpose back towards the mall.

I met up with him at his side and stopped him by tapping on his shoulder for his attention. His muscles just rippled and his hair was just long enough that the wind lifted it, waving it back and forth.

He looked at me with a little bit of a surprise. “Can I help you?”

“Is your name Konner? Konner O’Brian?”

He surprised me by smiling the smile I remembered long ago, a wicked and salacious grin, when he replied, “Yes, I am. Do I know you?”

The sound of his deep, husky voice penetrated right through my ears and straight between my thighs. I definitely didn’t remember it being so thick with his accent. It made my spine want to shiver. The accent had not went away with time either. It seemed to thicken as the years went.

“Yes, well, kind of. It’s been about eight years since I last seen or talked to you. You left me for the war in Iraq and about a month after that, I never heard from you again. My name is Siddaleigh Carrington.”

Konner looked as if he was just got stung and with wide eyes, he chuckled surprisingly. “Oh my God. Siddaleigh? I thought it could’ve been you but thought it would’ve been too easy. Is it really you?”

Yup, definitely him. His ‘you’ still sounded like ‘ye’. When I nodded my head yes, he grabbed me by the waist and lifted me with ease into the air, then slid me sensuously down his body into a tight warm hug.

“Whoa, big boy, calm down. I can’t believe you remembered me. Any who, how have you been? It’s been so long,” I gazed up into his big sea green eyes. Those eyes. They had a way of making me melt into a swift puddle of ecstasy and desire.

Nothing had changed. He still took my breath away. God, I needed to get out of here. Before I did something stupid, like maul him. Or better yet, ravish him
.
He did look all kinds of yummy. I knew what my plans were later. Home and alone.

We walked back towards the entrance of a department store while he reached ahead of me to open the door.

“I am on injury leave. Yet again. I took a round of bullets in my thigh. Between rehabbing it and relaxing, I’m taking this time to help me dad with his construction company. I have a Bachelors in Architecture and Drafting, so that works out. Six months of RR isn’t really what I wanted, but my injuries are being fickle by not healing quicker than how I want them to. How about you
banphrionsa?
How are you?”

My cheeks began to heat up with the special name he called me.

“Well, I ended up doing a double major in college. I have my Bachelors in Fashion Design and Business. I am taking online courses to get my MFA in Fashion Design and Marketing. I own my own store inside this mall. It’s called-.”

“Pyro-Princess?” Konner finished before I had a chance. He laughed at the surprised look on my face.

“Yep! That’s the one. You must have walked by it before.”

I sat down on one of the nearby benches and looked at the proud face Konner gave me.

“Actually, sorry, no; my wee little sister shops there. All those clothes are designed by you.” Konner sat down next to me and put his arm around the bench behind me.

“I’ve been designing for over ten years. Saving my money like crazy. Just about a year ago I had enough to last a good while to open up and see how it goes. After shipping costs of getting my designs here and my girl-friend Mags designs here as well, it’s been pretty amazing. Our profit is increasing monthly, maybe not by much now but good enough to not put us under. The clothes are for sizes eight plus. Seeing as how I am a size fourteen, I figured it was a good size to start with.”

I knew I was babbling, but when I talked about my store it lit up a fire inside of me like nothing else could.

“What brings you to this part of the city? Do you live here or in Clear Lake?” I asked it so quickly, he asked me to repeat the questions again.

Konner looked at me with a devilishly wicked smile that just looking at it made me practically cream in my panties. I don’t remember having this reaction before; not even when I was seventeen. When he noticed my face flush with a rosy color, all I could think about was of cool sheets and burning fire.

“I have a condo I lease with Brianne, my sister. I built a big, one story ranch house over in the country ten miles from Clear Lake. I am hardly ever there though. I have an older couple who live in the pool house that keep an eye on it for me when I’m not there. Until I’m out of the Navy, I really only come here a few times a year. I usually stay at the Naval Station in Coronado, California before I get shipped off on a mission. The only time I actually come to Houston is when I have an injury or extended leave. They usually like keeping us close at hand for emergency deployment. While I am here, I help my athair, my father, and I stay at the condo. As a matter of fact, why don’t you join me for dinner and a movie at my place tonight?”

Konner shifted closer to me and I stood up hastily and a brief half-nervous, half-excited laugh escaped my lips.

“Ha, I uh…hmm,” I couldn’t believe he asked
me
out. After all these years, I thought he would have contacted me or found a way to be with me. My mind went from blank to angry at that thought. I mean he could have found me, right? I shook my head and walked off in a huff.

♥

..::
Konner
:..

I sensed her hesitation and when she jerked up and walked away, I went jogging up behind her and gently turned her around to face me. I hooked my thumb under her chin to make her look straight into my eyes. Forgetting all about what I came out here for, I placed that errand in the back of my mind. My father would just have to understand. I’ll take care of picking up the necklace later.

This was too important to me to just let her walk away. My earlier thoughts about the hook-ups, the not-wanting-to-settle-down mantra I’ve been trying to convince myself of, vanished. Just like that.

Although, I never thought I’d see a hint of fear in her hazel green eyes. I would have to ask her about that as soon as we were alone. Then I brushed a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.

♥

..::
Siddaleigh
::..

I crossed my eyes to look at my nose, wondering if maybe he left a mark. And he did, right on my heart.

“I’m sorry if that came out a little too bluntly, Siddaleigh. I definitely don’t want to scare you,
banphrionsa
. I just thought maybe you’d like to catch up. Hang out with me. These years apart have been really good on you and I’d like to know everything you’ve been up to.”

Konner placed a hand on the small of my back and led me out to the parking lot.

“I don’t have any plans for tonight. I guess I can.”

I
was
curious about seeing him again. I know my head was screaming out a warning of caution but my heart and the dampening flesh between my thighs were saying,
go for it
. I led him towards the packed parking lot when I suddenly stopped and before he knocked me down from behind, he wrapped his big massive arms around my waist.

“What’s wrong, Iómhara?” Konner asked as he pulled me closer to him.

I felt a sense of safeness in his arms but that could only be wishful thinking on my part. I have never felt safe in a man’s embrace. At least, not since the last time with Konner.

“What about the driving situation? No offense, but I am definitely not leaving my car here. As good as an area it is, I don’t take unwarranted chances with my property. It might be eight years old, but this car is my other pride and joy besides my shop,” I gestured over to my Mustang.

I removed my body from his embrace and walked towards my car, shuffling through my Coach Hand bag; which was kind of more like a suitcase, to find my keys. Silently cursing for allowing my brain to be sidetracked by a man when I knew nothing would come out of it in the end, I grabbed my keys. Why I felt so conflicted, I didn’t know. I didn’t want to be under the thumb of any man. A good one or not.

This totally hot, hunky, muscular, total beef-cake of a man could be my down fall, I just knew it. His embrace was like a warm blanket surrounding me. His biceps were huge and I saw an edge of a tattoo. Tattoos? When did he get those? I never saw him without a shirt, so who knows? He could be covered in them. I didn’t know if I’d like a guy with tattoos or not.

Konner made me feel as if I was losing something greater; my independence. Because I knew that’s the choice of being with a man like Konner. He would want me to surrender everything, especially the one thing I promised myself I’d keep locked away. My heart. Oh, why did I let myself go up to him?

It had to be because I was horny. My vibrator hadn’t been enough lately. I felt myself come but it just wasn’t awe inspiring enough for me to feel anything more than brief relief. There was no way I still had a deep affection or yearning for him. After eight years, surely that had burned out. He left me. He didn’t even come find me. Mikhail’s voice reverberated in my head just then.
What guy could want that piece? You’re just not enough.

Sigh.

My eyes started to sting.

No.

I forced myself forward and heard the jangling of my keys. I needed to get out of here. I was so stupid going up to him.

Konner jogged back up to me and clutched my arm gently.

“Siddaleigh, what’s going on? Are you okay? I was thinking maybe we can go by your place if you want, drop the ‘stang off and we can drive back to my place to eat a good home cooked meal with a movie to watch. If I can remember your favorite one is
Camille
, with Greta Garbo, right? Maybe we can stop by a movie renter and get it. I won’t pressure anything on you,
muirnín
.”

14

That Metaphorical Court and Ball

..::Siddaleigh::..

He slid his hands up and down my arms to comfort my wariness, and it seemed to be working until he planted his lips square on mine. Then, there was no wariness, just all tingling sensations working through my skin cells and flooding my stomach with butterflies and my sex moistening.

My entire body began to spark and shudder in excitement. The recognition of his lips on mine was like a fire cracker going off. I finally gave in to my body’s desire to be held, protected and wanted. I stretched up to wrap my arms around his neck and when I couldn't quite reach, Konner picked me up easily to tangle my mouth with his delectable tongue twisting talents. He deepened the kiss with more passion and with a hunger I didn’t know if I could handle. When he gently squeezed me tighter, he let me feel the length of his desire. He slowly broke the kiss and tapered soft, light kisses on my face and neck, then slowly looked in my feverish eyes.

“So, how about it?”

Huh?
I shook my head back to reality.

“What? I am not so sure anymore. It’s been eight years. What do you expect to come out of this, Kon?” The nickname I had for him slipped out before I realized it. I did not want to admit that during that mind blowing, practically orgasmic kiss, I remembered my nickname for him. Damn the man, he knew how to distract me evidently.

My desire for him escalated. Usually when desire was being provoked by the opposite sex (because Mags would take me to these stupid meet and greet speed dating things, ugh), I would normally become like ice and tense up. I did go out on a few dates after
him
, just not many. How Konner was looking at me now, it felt like a hot sensual touch. Sensitizing my very being. Awakening a deep hunger inside of me that was desperate for more.

My salacious libido was returning to life, full force. This man did things to my emotions and I didn’t know what to think. How am I supposed to reign in control when in the past ten minutes as my eyes met his, I felt like he could take it away so easily?

When Konner looked at me for a real answer, I ended up giving in. Only live once, right? You know what they say about regrets. You’ll never live well with them.

“Fine, we can get the movie and if you have anything to cook, we can eat, watch a movie and catch up. I’ll feel safer driving my own car. If there’s a problem with that, please tell me, I could just go home instead.”

Konner’s eyes burned into mine as he curled a finger through my wild and curly mane.

He lowered his head again for yet another soul stealing kiss and when he gently pushed me against the warm metal of the Mustang, the back of his other hand traveled from my collar bone down to the top swell of my breasts. I quivered. The silk of the blouse made my nipples peak even through my Cacique strapless bra.

When I inhaled sharply, he slowly curled a few fingers underneath the fabric on the left side of the blouse where it was strapless. Making his way underneath the fabric and my bra far enough to caress the tips of his fingers over my hardening nipples. Konner finally backed away, leaving my lips feeling swollen and bruised. He removed his fingers from my breast and they too felt the same as my lips. This kind of swollen and bruised was so good on my senses though. I knew control was well away to slipping out the window.

“We can go to your place, Konner. It’s okay. I trust you. I know I am safe.”

I made myself sound more confident than I really felt.

“Brianne is staying with my parents while Kent is away on business this week. He is a lawyer but since one of his cases is out of the Houston area, she decided it wouldn’t be so lonely if she stayed with my parents. The condo we live in is only about five minutes away. We can stop at the video store and be on our way.”

“Konner, I don’t want you to get any ideas about what we’re-

I was interrupted by Konner cupping my face with his hands and gliding his thumb across my lips.

“Whatever happens, happens. The ball is in your court.”

He tucked me inside the car, leaned in to grab the seatbelt and clicked it into place for me. With that, he went back to his Camaro and started its engine.

I didn’t know what to expect but something propelled me to just go with it. The past eight years tarnished my belief in true love and happiness, but I knew he would never physically harm me. He was the protective sort. Heroic. So hot, too. The classic alpha-male. Like I was Jane to his Tarzan. Buffy to his Angel. Those guys were hot, right? Yummo.

Then I thought, I am so going to regret this, aren’t I?
Please, don’t let me.

With a sappy looking smile on my face, I thought fuck it. I roared up my cars engine and followed him in anticipation for what hopefully would be a great evening. Even if it was just a movie and dinner.

A dinner and a movie with a man I knew lit my soul on fire, and made me happy and excited. I just hoped that at the end of the night I wouldn’t let anything happen that I wasn’t willing to be able to move on from.

Like making love with him would be a gigantic mistake, but then I prayed he would ravish me and take me to a whole new level of fiery passion. Yeah, thoughts like that equaled trouble with a capitol T. Did not want to go there. Maybe.

Yeah, girlfriend, keep telling yourself that.

♥

..::Konner::..

I couldn’t believe that eight years had gone by and I didn’t remember her face. She looked a little like her teenage self, just older. The light in her eyes was dimmer and it made me curious as to what made it fade. She somehow didn’t look naïve anymore. I thought I had lost her that July when I went on that mission so long ago.

The ambush, the fire, everything was lost. I could recall the long conversations we had before the black out. The little time slots at the camp in Syria, where I was able to talk to her on the phone. And the e-mails. All those e-mails.

When we got ambushed everything had to been erased. Wiped out. No trace of me or my team ever being there.

Even at her young age of seventeen, I believed she was mine. No matter the wait and circumstances our lives brought. This was destiny, bringing us together.

God, I sound like a pussy.

She was still mine though. As soon as I knew it was her, there was not a second thought to it. She was mine then, she was mine now and she’d be mine forever. Knowing I set my mind down this path, I knew it was the right one. The only one I could live with. I’ll keep that to myself for now; no need to scare her away from the get-go.

Now founding her again, being a SEAL wasn’t what I wanted anymore. That feeling of excitement some of us get when going out on a mission, faded just a bit. In the light of finding Siddaleigh again, I made a promise to myself. No more adrenaline rushes, no more missions. I’d have to talk to my CO when I got back to Coronado. Maybe the guys at the base were right. I’ll do my twenty years. That meant going into the Navy Reserve for the last five of them. Nathan, my best friend since we were kids, was thinking about it, too. Maybe it was time.

Brianne was right. Maybe it is time to settle. And with Siddaleigh, I was ready. It happened too fast, but who cares when the one thing that’s mine and mine alone is staring back at you with soulful bedroom eyes.

My iPhone 5 lit up with an incoming call. My mother’s picture lit up the screen and I made myself suppress the groan wanting to come out. She wanted me settled, too. This time, I wouldn’t let her down. She’s going to get the daughter-in-law she’s been begging me for, and for at least the last five years, my mother had been begging.

Looking back in my rearview mirror, I saw Sidda on her phone. Seeing the smile on her face, made me realize that yeah, she was mine. I’ll do anything to make her happy. Just to see that blush that seemed to rush on her face and the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. I knew it would take some time, and perhaps some convincing. That was a challenge I would happily accept.

♥

..::Siddaleigh::..

Feeling like a teenager, a giggle passed my lips. Going with Konner was such a stupid idea, but I just couldn’t tell him no. Looking in his beautiful eyes, I knew I wouldn’t tell him no. Whatever happened tonight, I knew I was most likely risking my heart, but it might be worth it, to give in. Even if it was for only a night.

Driving behind him, I looked in my rearview mirror to make sure my face wasn’t splotchy or red. My face gets hot from this Houston heat. I was not made for the heat. I have always been what I called an ‘air-baby’, because if I didn’t get air, I was going to hyperventilate.

Hyperventilating and me just didn‘t get along. Not with my size.

As he said we’d do, we stopped at a rinky-dink movie renters shop, and picked up the movie. I was surprised they even had it. But as we walked through the aisles, I noticed they had a lot of old-timey type movies. I loved that. So vintage. As we walked back to our cars, he must have noticed my nervousness because we stopped when we reached mine. He lifted my face with the crook of his pointer finger. Just looking in his eyes seemed to make me relax. He always had that effect on me. Good thing that never went away.

“It’s okay, Siddaleigh. I will not hurt you, love. Never. No rush, no hurry. Lemme get to know you again, sweet love.” Just the lull of his voice seemed to melt the tension in my body.

“I know, it’s just I don’t do this. You know, being impulsive. Reckless.”

A helpless laugh came out of my mouth and Konner just shifted his hand past my face to my neck. He caressed the fast beating thump-thump of my pulse with his thumb.

“Don’t worry, álainn. It’s just dinner and a movie. You want more, you show me. I know the word no. A woman’s trust should be honored and respected. Besides, after eight years, I think my will power is strong. Hopefully.” Konner chuckled and released me with a tender kiss to my forehead.

Getting back into my car, and settling down into the cushion, I realized that he was right. I would have to make the first move. Showing him what happened to me would be agonizing but if it were to progress into intimacy, he would have to know the truth. The absolute honest truth; and that’s not something I think I can do. It’s bad enough I can’t look at my body in the mirror when I dress. Too many scars outfitted my body.

When we got to a high rise building, Konner parked in a designated lot and I rolled in next to him. Thank God it’s near a door. I like exercise, but I did not want to work up a sweat, I was already nervous about the night ahead. If anything happened beyond dinner and a movie. Getting out, I walked up to the front of his Camaro to wait for him. He locked up his Camaro and offered me his hand.