Sand and Sin (17 page)

* * * *

While Haley hopped in the shower, Peri opened the sliding glass door and stepped out by the pool. The water remained crystal clear as the day Jax left. Clarity was the opposite of her life at the moment. She’d believed she could play the waiting game, but now doubt tugged at her.

The same reservation had laced his voice. He’d always seemed positive about a time for them. Now, insecurity seemed to have crept in. Had the mission created it? Or maybe he’d grown discouraged because of it.

Almost losing Haley had nearly ripped her heart out. The toll from waiting for Jax to finish the job. She studied the marble pattern at the bottom of the pool. No. She needed to return to the real world, pre-Jax Taylor. No more fantasy. A lusty sailor had blown her off course, but the time had come to make a correction and sail on.

She went inside to change for a long run on the beach.

* * * *

“Mom, do you have any tampons?” Haley poked her head into the kitchen as Peri made breakfast.

Peri stared at the eggs frying in the pan and a cold sweat dampened her back. “Look in my bathroom, hon.”

Fear slithered down her spine as she silently tallied days since she last used a feminine hygiene product. She’d just finished a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection when she flew to San Diego. They were known to lessen the effectiveness of birth control pills. Fuck!

Her stomach protested the smell of food. She slid both eggs from the pan onto her daughter’s plate.

She hadn’t had a period since before visiting Jax in California, where she finished the birth control pack. After Haley was taken and she’d forgotten everything. Maybe it was stress and worry over Haley and Jax. She should probably take a pregnancy test first before starting the next pack.

Haley bounded into the kitchen, sat at the table, and buttered her toast. Peri sipped her coffee, trying to calm her queasy stomach, while her daughter chowed like she hadn’t eaten in forever.

“Did they feed you?” She hadn’t meant to remind her daughter of the last few days. “I’m sorry, Haley.”

With barely a glance up from her plate, she replied, “Water and some wafer things. Thank God the water was bottled.”

“How did you contact Jax without them knowing?" She must have some innate, unique ability to keep a cool head in dire situations.

“I saw the shadow of a gun while I was inside the limo. They aimed it at the driver. So I hid my cell phone before they grabbed us. They pushed me to the back of the van where no one paid any attention to me. While everyone screamed and yelled, I fired off a quick text. He’d said to call if I needed anything.” She forked down another mouthful.

Peri leaned over and planted a kiss on her daughter’s head. “You’re so brave. I’m so proud of you, and so is your dad.”

“Is that why you gave me Grand’s ring?” Her eyes glistened with emotion.

“You’ve more than proven you’re mature enough to take care of it.” More mature than Peri felt as she sat there planning to purchase a pregnancy test. How would she tell the father if the test turned out positive?

“After all of this, I was thinking I might want to go for FBI or CIA training after college.” She grinned.

Peri contemplated a prescription for Valium.

* * * *

A tap on his shoulder and Jax woke to TJ’s bearded face.

“We’re getting ready to land.”

For the first time ever, he wished for a longer flight. His analog watch showed five p.m. and the date. Would Peri be at the Trident? “What day is it?”

“Happy Friday. Let’s get this party started. Yahoo!” TJ buckled his seat belt as the heavily laden cargo plane began its descent.

Yeah, he could use a drink. More like ten. He probably couldn't find a flight to California until tomorrow anyway. Common sense urged him to flee while his heart pleaded for him to stay.

On base, he replaced the weapon he’d borrowed from the armory, then found TJ in his team’s area at the desk, finishing his report on his laptop.

“We’re going to the Trident after our meeting. You riding with me? Or have you decided?”

Damn, was he that obvious? “I want to see her, man. But it’ll just make going back to San Diego harder. If I don’t, it looks like I don’t give a shit.”

TJ’s face turned somber with a downward turn of his mouth. “Love’s a bitch, ain’t it?”

“I’m going to shower and steam my head.” He made his way to the team’s facilities.

Under the warm spray, Jax's muscles uncoiled as if he’d been plugged in the whole time. Of course he’d go see her. If his heart wasn’t enough provocation, his bobbing cock sealed the deal. Why couldn’t he shut his emotions off with her like he’d always done with other women? Did she have ambivalent feelings about their relationship as well?

The slide of his hand along his length while bathing had him rock hard, and his mind filled with visuals of the times they’d made love and fucked. He ached for both right now. He wanted her. Needed her. To feel her soft curves and lose himself inside of her was his heaven.

He quickly dressed in a pair of jeans and an Art of Dying T-shirt. He loved the band’s music—not to mention their name could be a metaphor for his profession.

After grabbing his laptop, he headed for the meeting room. In the hallway, he met the skipper he’d talked to about transferring a few weeks ago. “Sir.”

“Nice work, Chief,” he offered with a squinting smile. “Good to see you’re back to full speed.” He patted Jax on the shoulder as they walked toward the war room.

“Feels good being in the game again.”

“You put personal issues aside and handled business. And I understand it was very personal.”

“I felt a duty to her mom to see it though myself.” He couldn’t have lived with himself if he hadn’t gone.

The officer nodded. “I would have too. And that’s the type of operator I want here under my command.” He entered the room and started their stand down meeting.

While the team ran down the play-by-play, Jax attempted to distance his perspective to operator only. He commented only with facts while attempting to assign Haley as a faceless victim they’d saved. Although he didn’t feel as close to her as he did TJ or his SEAL brothers in California, he’d bonded with her and loved her mother. From experience, he anticipated nightmares of things gone wrong until his psyche accepted victory.

The meeting wound down to quips and sarcastic bullshit before the skipper concluded things. “Submit your reports and you’re on leave for the next forty-eight. I don’t want to receive any calls to bail anyone out of jail or hear about a SEAL on the news, gentlemen.”

Jax had already typed his report on the flight home. While TJ finished his, Jax sent his through cyberspace and decided he’d check his e-mail. There were three from his mother. He figured they’d be loaded with drama and decided to wait. He had several from his bank notifying him of bills paid in the last couple of weeks. Thank God for online banking.

Before he logged out, an incoming message pinged from his CO in Coronado. The subject read,
Transfer Request
.

His pulse surged as the e-mail opened. The Little Creek commander had sent a formal request for transfer to the training commander in California. He’d been disappointed before, but the lead weight in his stomach over seeing Peri lifted with renewed hope.

TJ closed his computer. “That’s done. Time for a beer. Many beers.”

“I need one on the way,” Jax said and grabbed his bag and laptop.

Jax finished his second brew as TJ pulled into the Trident’s parking lot.

“Looks like most of the guys are already here. Why don’t I go in and let you in the back door? You can surprise her.” TJ smiled slyly.

Jax rounded the corner of the building where she had parked her pick-up. Near the spot he’d passed out the night he’d met her. Fate had a funny way of redirecting one’s life. He shouldn’t be surprised. In his job, a millimeter one way or the other meant life or death. He stood at the door with his heart wedged in his esophagus.

Pussy bastard.

Wearing a sneaky grin, TJ opened the door. “Quick, they’re planning to sing to her.”

“Don’t tell me, ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.”

“Obviously. We are less predictable with our mission plans than barroom serenades.” He led him down the dimly lit hall.

Jax slipped unnoticed behind the bar.

She laughed as ten guys began singing the love song made corny by a movie about a Navy pilot almost three decades ago. She seemed totally at ease with their teasing. Another reason she was a keeper. Her hair shimmered like a halo under the bar lighting.

His Angel. And she was. His desire to see her again had kept him focused after Sam’s death while he rebuilt his stamina to return to the teams. She didn’t know it, but she’d made it possible for him to be there for Haley when the call came.

Slowly, he eased behind her and wrapped her in his arms. She smelled like tropical flowers and felt like home. He nuzzled her ear. “Angel.”

* * * *

Air rushed from Peri’s lungs as tanned, muscular arms closed around her from behind. Plans for her life’s course correction wilted against Jax’s clean scent and the hard planes of his chest pressed against her back. He’d come after all.

“Thought you didn’t know where you were headed.”

He stepped around in front of her and surveyed her like she might be a broken doll. “You mess with my compass.”

“Really? Then you’re my Bermuda Triangle.”

He let out a husky laugh and leaned close, pressing his lips to hers.

His kiss burned through her defenses. Only the unused pregnancy test stashed in her purse kept her in touch with reality while he held her with her feet dangling above the floor.

He carried her from the crowd while cheers replaced singing. Her office clicked shut before her feet touched down and his mouth left hers.

The back of her thighs hit the edge of her desk. Why the hell hadn’t she taken the test? “Welcome home, frogman.”

He framed her face while his midnight blue gaze caressed her. “I missed you, baby.”

“Missed you too. Nothing I can do is enough to repay you for saving Haley.” Except, maybe, give him a child of his own.

Taking her mouth in another a kiss, he sat her on the desk. A signal he didn’t want to talk.

Peri ran her hands over his shoulders. They felt tense under her fingertips. She began a light massage, unable to imagine the stress he’d been under while trying to rescue Haley. While recon might be part of his job, the personal attachment involved had to have taken a toll.

He moaned and cupped her ass, bringing them closer.

The old military-issued desk squeaked in warning. Too much rocking and someone might come knocking.

With a tug on his T-shirt, she heaved it over his head and tossed it aside, leaving him bare-chested. A couple of bruises and scrapes from the mission marred his arms and shoulders. She touched each one in reverence.

“It’s nothing, Angel.”

Not true. He could have died trying to save Haley and the others. “You are the angel, an angel of mercy.”

“I like your brand of mercy.” He squinted.

She liked that he wanted to keep things light. Migrating south, she traced along his washboard abs that tightened under her light exploration. The trail of dark, silky hair drove her to offer a lick. Lord help her. He sliced through her defenses without trying.

He made quick work of her lace-edged camisole, and ran a long finger under her bra strap.

She flicked open the hooks and let her breasts fall free. Her nipples beaded under his gaze. The way he looked at her set her on fire.

He weighed each breast. “Mmm.” Then he bent and latched on to a tip. His mouth warmed and tantalized one nipple while he caressed the other. He lowered her onto the desk. “I’ll never get enough.”

“Hope not.” She’d never had sex in an office, yet the thrill of getting caught made her panties wetter. Had he locked the door? Did she care? She combed through his short hair as his mouth sucked and toyed, making her ache for more. Papers crinkled beneath her while the pounding beat of music from the bar matched her heartbeat.

She wanted to explain her possible situation but failed getting the words out as he worked off her shorts along with her panties. His strong hands parted her thighs. He lowered his head, and his warm breath hovered over her mound.

“I’ve been dreaming of your sweetness.” The tip of his tongue lined in her crease.

She levered to her elbows and met his fiery gaze. The sight of him enjoying her flesh set off tingling along her spine in addition to the throbbing heat between her legs.

Pressure increased, and she let her head dip. Vivid memories of them together combined with her pulsing need. He increased his tempo, and she levered her hips for more. Wanting him. Deep inside.

She dug her nails into the desk and let go.

* * * *

As she came, it was all he could do not to drop his jeans and sink into her soft heat. Not now. He wanted her in her four-poster bed with the frilly comforter. Hopefully, Virginia Beach would be his home soon and he’d have her on the bar’s virgin pool table. He sipped of her nectar once more and licked his lips.

“Wow.” Peri sat up and threw her arms around his neck. “Your turn.”

“Soon, baby.” He stepped back. “Besides, the guys are probably drinking the place dry after you offered rounds on the house.”

He hated when she bit her lip. However, it might pay off later.

“We’re leaving in an hour.” She propped a hand on her hip and gave him a determined leer.

Fine with him. He grabbed their clothes from the floor. “I’ll be ready.”

Her gaze fell to the crotch of his jeans, then she gave him a squeeze.

He might make it that long, or not.

Minutes later he sat at the bar, sipping whiskey, admiring the way her shorts highlighted her shapely legs as she served his teammates drinks. He didn’t remember her breasts being so full when she visited him in Coronado. The way they filled his hands only moments ago still had a spike driving at his zipper.

“Did you tell her about the e-mail?” TJ elbowed him.