Get a hold of yourself, Malone.Four weeks of self-defense and shooting lessons.Nothing more.Uh-huh, right.
He told the devil on his shoulder to shut the fuck up.Giving himself a mental shake, he reminded himself that this was temporary, and Maura had given him no signs she wanted to play house for the next few weeks.
If he repeated the “self-defense and shooting lessons only” mantra over and over, he could try to keep himself in check, but he knew it would be hard.When he’d been standing behind her at the range, it had taken all his strength not to wrap his arms around her and pull her against him.Her silky, auburn hair was made for a man to run his hands through, and her body had been created for pure pleasure.He felt his cock twitch as he thought of how her incredible body would feel under his as he touched, licked, and nibbled every inch of her.He groaned aloud at the image of her doing the same things to him.
Again?Back off, Malone!His mind screamed at the horned, red prick on his shoulder holding a pitchfork.
The lady didn’t need to be mauled by a guy who’d been without a lover for almost a year.After an abusive relationship, she needed someone gentle, and he knew if he ever got her in his bed, there would be nothing gentle about what he’d do to her.He would attack her like a male lion with its mate, pawing at her as he took what he wanted, leaving them both exhausted and sated.It would be hot, explosive, mind-blowing sex and probably scare the hell out of a woman like Maura.
KC had been involved with plenty of lovers in his past, but no real relationships.After weeding out the SEAL bunnies looking for a status position, he’d found very few women were willing to stay with a man who could be sent on a mission at the last minute.His tours were long, with the team being incommunicado for weeks or months at a time, and there was always the question of when orifhe would ever be back.
So, he hooked up with women who wanted to have a few weeks of mutually gratifying off-the-wall sex, and when they both decided it was time to move on, they’d go their separate ways with no regrets.It had always worked for him in the past, but lately, KC was starting to think of possibly finding someone to settle down with and have a family.If he left SEAL Team Six and became a training instructor, he would be home most evenings, which would be a plus in any relationship.
When he heard the door above him open, he glanced over his shoulder and watched as Maura stepped out.She leaned over the wood banister facing him.“Since it’s still warm out, I thought we might eat out here on the deck.What do you think?”
He stared at her for a minute, letting his eyes roam over her from head to toe.She’d showered after they got home and changed into a pair of gray sweatpants and a white V-neck shirt, which showed only a hint of cleavage, but it was enough to make his mouth water.
What’s that cliché?The woman could make a burlap sack look sexy.
Her freshly dried hair was down and blowing gently in the light breeze coming off the ocean.Again, he had the urge to run his fingers through it to see if the strands were as soft as they seemed.
He must have taken too long to answer because she frowned.“Or we could sit inside if you want.”
KC shook his head to get his brain and mouth working again.“No, no.Out here is just fine.”
Her smile lit up her face again.“Great.Then I’ll bring out the plates and utensils.”
Turning, she sashayed back through the door, and the sight of her posterior was just as exceptional as the front of her—the woman had one damn, fine ass.He groaned again and turned back toward the grill.Reaching down, he adjusted himself for what felt like the fiftieth time since he’d met her less than twenty-four hours ago.This was going to be the longest four weeks of his life.
Moriah placed her fork and knife on the empty plate in front of her and pushed it toward the middle of the table.“That was the best meal I’ve had in ages.”And she meant it.She’d barely eaten her sandwich at lunch, after losing her appetite over the deal she’d made with KC, but now, she felt more relaxed.“Everything tasted delicious.Thanks so much for making dinner.You’re an excellent chef.”
During the meal, they’d talked about a variety of safe subjects, such as the town of Whisper, the beach, old movies, current events, and even the weather.Moriah had found it comfortable, soothing, and peaceful.Nothing personal was brought up, and she felt almost normal again.She could be anyone she wanted to be right now.Someone free and safe, without a care in the world.No one else would know the difference ...but she would know, and that was bad enough.
Swirling the wine in his glass, KC smiled at her.“The pleasure was all mine.I love to cook but don’t get a chance to do it often.”
“Well, I’m glad you had this opportunity, since I benefited from it.”She watched as he took a sip of wine, and her pussy clenched as he swallowed and his tongue peeked out to lick his lips.God, the man, was even sexy taking a drink.How the hell was she supposed to concentrate on anything but his body?He was the epitome of male perfection.His muscles rippled whenever he moved, and she longed to run her fingers and mouth over every inch of him.
Moriah blushed at where her mind had gone and searched her brain for something else to talk about.“So, what do you do in the military?Which branch are you in?”
“The Navy.I joined when I was eighteen, two weeks after my high school graduation.I became a SEAL when I was twenty-three.”
“Wow, really?That’s a big thing, isn’t it?I mean, I don’t know much about the military, but everyone has heard about Navy SEALs these days.How long have you been one?”
“Twelve years, but I think I’m finally beginning to burn out.”He paused, then grunted.“Huh.That’s the first time I’ve admitted that to anyone except my brothers and uncle.”
Tilting her head, Moriah eyed him curiously.“Why do you think you’re burning out?”
He relaxed against the back of the chair, stretching his legs out under the table.“I guess I’m just getting tired of being in the worst countries in the world, seeing the evils that exist, and fighting the scum of the earth.I can be out of the U.S.for months at a time, and then I stay in my apartment near the base or here when I have some extended time off.I don’t own anything except my car.Maybe it’s time to retire, buy a house near the base, and settle down.Leave the fighting and secret operations to the younger guys and start training the newbies.”
“Younger guys?”she asked, incredulously.She quickly did the math in her head.“How old are you, thirty-five?”KC nodded in agreement.“I’m twenty-seven, so thirty-five doesn’t sound very old at all.”
“It is in the SEALs.I’m actually the second oldest guy on my team by one year.In my business, you can burn out quickly.Sometimes I’m surprised I’m still there.But leaving my teammates is a big decision.They’re like family, and for a lot of the guys, I’m sort of their big brother.”
“As I said, I’ve heard of Navy SEALs but never knew what they were besides being this group of tough guys everyone talks about.Well, that and when they’re the heroes of romance novels.”
He chuckled as he rested his hands and wine glass on his chiseled abs.“Romantic heroes, huh?I’ve spent weeks in the middle of nowhere with those guys, without showers and other amenities.I can honestly tell you, there’s nothing romantic about it.”
She giggled, and he continued.“I’ll give you a little military history lesson.SEAL stands for Sea, Air, and Land.It’s an elite group formed by the Navy under the orders of President Kennedy back in 1962.Most of the candidates who are chosen for SEALs’ training wind up dropping out because it’s so intense.We go on clandestine operations, which larger or less experienced units can’t do for one reason or another.We can be sent in under any conditions or to any location, but a lot of our training and missions involve water of some sort.Usually, it’s our way into or out of some foreign country, unless it’s landlocked, of course.
