“Yeah,” Candace answered as they approached the restaurant entrance.
She hoped their time together here would bring her and Ryan closer together and not push them further apart.
TWO
Candace’s eyes flew open in the darkness when the mattress shifted and a warm, naked body pressed to hers.Her heart rate shot up as she instantly rolled away, then a low, masculine chuckle penetrated the haze of fear an instant before that distinctive, spicy scent registered.
Ryan.
As the wave of alarm receded, relief and joy took its place.“Oh my God.”
“Hi,” he whispered, sliding one arm around her to draw her close.
She rolled into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling against his mouth as he kissed her.“Hi.Am I dreaming?”She cuddled in closer and held on tight, squeezing her eyes shut.He was here, safe and sound, his embrace soothing all the emotional bruises she’d been feeling.
“Nope.Want me to prove it?”
“Yes.”God, he felt good.No surprise, he was already fully erect and hot against her abdomen.Arousal stirred, warming her from the inside out.
He brought his mouth down on hers and the kiss changed from slow and lazy to hungry in a single heartbeat.It felt like a year since she’d last held him this way, rather than months.He tasted like toothpaste and felt like heaven.
When he raised his head a minute later, she was breathing faster and her entire body tingled, crying out for more.“I can’t believe you’re really here,” she whispered, running a finger down the side of his cheek, over the short, neatly-trimmed beard.
Her gorgeous, proud warrior.In the last picture she’d seen of him a few days ago, the beard had been wild and bushy after spending almost two weeks out in the mountains.
“Things settled down a lot, so I managed to get leave a few days early.Found a flight that got me in an hour ago and drove straight here to surprise you.”He leaned back slightly, his grin flashing white in the faint streak of moonlight spilling through the blinds that covered the window above the headboard.“So, surprise.”
Her heart squeezed.“I’m so glad you’re here.”She had been tired when she’d gone to bed, but not so tired she should have missed the sound of the door opening or him coming into the room.He did have crazy stealth powers, however.
He huffed out a laugh and bent to find her mouth with his once more.“Damn, I’ve missed you, Ace.”
A pang shot through her.She’d been so worried that the tension inside her would ruin this moment, but everything else seemed to fade away when she was in his arms.
“Missed you more.”She pulled him down and kissed him, craving the chance to lose herself in him, and sighed as everything inside her melted.Running her hands over his bare back, she frowned in concern and pulled her lips away from his.“You’ve lost weight.”More than he normally did during a deployment.He was all muscle and bone now, not an ounce of fat on him.
“I’m all cut and chiseled for you, baby.Enjoy it while it lasts.”He nuzzled her neck.
