Red, Hot & Blue 09 - A Prince Among Men (20 page)

She watched him through heavily lidded eyes that kept drifting closed as she came. Her body thrust against his until he felt the familiar tingle inside him. His toes in the rubber shower shoes started to curl. With barely a second to spare, Ryan pulled away enough so he came on Vicki’s stomach.

With Vicki’s legs still wrapped around him, Ryan leaned his forehead against hers. The spray deflected in all directions around them. “Mmm. One day, I’m going to be someplace where I can be with you in a nice, big, soft bed.”

“That would be nice.”

Her giggle sent shivers down his spine. He took in a deep breath. “I am so in love with you.”

Vicki smiled. “You know, I think I started to fall in love with you when I first read your blog. Why didn’t you tell me you were Groundpounder?”

Embarrassed at keeping that little secret, he shrugged. “I tried to tell you a few times, but something always interrupted me.” He decided to change the subject. In between planting kisses on Vicki’s face and neck while enjoying the weight of her in his arms, he asked, “How did you know where to find me?”

“I stopped by the hut first and Wally told me. Then I saw your uniform hanging on the hook.”

Ryan grinned. “Good. I’d hate to think that my girl is popping naked into a shower stall with any old Joe.”

Vicki got an uncomfortable look on her face and unwrapped her legs from around him. “Listen, Ryan…”

Uh, oh. He let her stand on her own but kept his arms firmly anchored around her back. “Yeah?”

“About you quitting the Army…”

Ryan shook his head to cut off any protest on her part. “Vicki. I meant what I wrote. There are lots of things I want to do with my life. When my current contract is up, I don’t have to reenlist to be happy.”

“I can’t…no, I won’t ask you to do that for me.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off.

“No. I fell in love with a soldier.” She laughed. “Even before I knew it was you, when you were just the author of a milblog. I would never ask you to give that up.”

“I don’t know if I like the fact you were in love with Groundpounder before me.” Ryan laughed, only half-teasing.

“It was more of a crush on him, I guess. And stop being silly. You’re the same person. But seriously, about you quitting—”

“I…we have plenty of time to think about it. I still have a few more months here, then another year before my contract is up and I have to decide anything.” Ryan ran his hands lightly up and down her arms and watched the goose bumps rise to the surface of her skin as the hot water began to run out. He flipped the shower stream off. “So let’s not waste time worrying about it now. Okay?”

She nodded, then grimaced. “What’s Hawk going to do now that I’m back? Was he doing a happy dance when he heard I’d left?”

“He’s the one that told me I should do whatever it took to get you back.”

“No!” Her eyes opened wide.

Ryan grinned. “Yeah, but don’t tell him I told you. It will spoil his mean-guy act.”

Vicki smiled. “Okay. I promise.”

Regretfully, Ryan pulled away from her. “We better get dressed. We’re lucky to have this much alone time in here already. Don’t want to push it.”

“You’re right.”

Watching her get dressed after having her totally naked for the first time in their relationship was not easy, but Ryan managed it. Finally, they both were decent again and could cross the base.

Walking back to the hut, Vicki turned to him. “I’m going to share my byline with you, you know.”

“What?”

“For the article on the women of Afghanistan. You did the interview, which was perfect by the way, so I’m putting you on my byline.”

He took her by both arms and spun her to face him. “You are one amazing woman. Do you know that?”

“No, you’re the one that’s amazing. Soldier. Writer. Investigative journalist. I think I’m a little jealous. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day you and your milblog get published. Your writing really is amazing.”

“Really. You think?” A writer. Now there was a post-military profession he hadn’t considered, but it kind of appealed to him.

She eyed him sideways. “Uh, oh. I better stop with the compliments. I can see your head swelling from here.”

An evil grin bowed Ryan’s lips. “Oh, I’m swelling all right. What do you say we get inside my quarters and I show you how much?”

“Oh, boy. Is this what life with you is going to be like? Just sex and orgasms all day long?” A coy smile played across her heart-shaped lips.

“You got a problem with that?”

“Nope, not one bit.”

“Good.” Neither did he.

About the Author

As an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance in genres including military, cowboy, and ménage, Cat Johnson uses her computer so much she wore the letters off the keyboard within a year. She is known for her creative marketing and research practices. Consequently, Cat owns an entire collection of camouflage and western attire for book signings and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. In her real life, she’s been a marketing manager, professional harpist, bartender, tour guide, radio show host, Junior League president, sponsor of a bull-riding rodeo cowboy, wife and avid animal lover.

To learn more about Cat, please visit www.catjohnson.net. Send an email to Cat at [email protected], like her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CatJohnsonAuthor or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.

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