She rolled over. Dark lashes swept over her sculpted cheekbones, and her chocolate eyes swirled with a depth of emotion mirrored in his heart. Lifting her hands over her head, she grasped the U-shaped metal tubing that served as a headboard. “If that’s the case, I guess I’m all yours.”
“You need me to tie those in place, or are you going to be good and keep them there for me?”
They’d barely scratched the surface of their fantasies last night. Too hungry to devour each other’s bodies, they’d fucked until exhaustion had them collapsing in a tangle of arms and legs. Blissfully satiated from the evening activities, he’d slept like the dead, which left him full of energy and eager to fuck with the coming of dawn.
She gripped the rail and giggled. “Take me; I’m yours.”
A growl ripped from his throat as he twisted in the too-small bed and positioned himself over the toned expanse of her body. “Brave words. Be careful what you wish for, Tia.”
“I have no need to be careful,” she said. “I trust you.”
She proceeded to show him exactly how far that trust extended. Morning became noon and passed well beyond lunch. During that time, he introduced her to a world she’d never experienced. And he liked that. He fucking loved being the one to show her something that belonged solely to him. But the time eventually came where exhaustion pulled at them both—that, and hunger for food.
They had to strategize his exit from her room without getting caught. That consisted of her heading out, shower supplies in hand. Once she verified no spying eyes, she would return and rap on the door. That would be his signal to make his exit.
With his ear to the door, he waited. The soft rap of her knuckles came less than a minute later. He counted to ten, giving her time to move away, and slipped out. His barracks were nearly halfway across base, and it would be a bit of a hike but well worth it. He fisted his hands deep into his pockets and wandered to find his things. With his head down, his thoughts drifted to last night, thrilled and a little stunned at the eagerness Tia had displayed. What he hadn’t counted on was running into Forest or seeing the recrimination in Forest’s eyes.
“Lover boy!” The deep rumble of Forest’s baritone carried across the air, pulling Ryker up short.
“What’s up?” And why did Forest look like he wanted to rip Ryker limb to limb?
He glanced down for a quick look at his uniform. He and Tia had dressed quickly, and she’d left him one last lingering memory as she knelt before him, drawing him deep into her mouth where she drove him insane one last time. Insatiable in bed, she’d surprised him with her appetite for sex. He’d never found a woman whose hunger rivaled his or who had the physical conditioning to keep up with his demands. Many things surprised him about Tia, and he hoped to spend the rest of his life uncovering her secrets.
“Come with me,” Forest growled. His arctic eyes hardened and froze Ryker in place.
There was no way to refuse without making a scene, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try.
Gesturing in the direction of his barracks, he attempted escape. “I need to get back to my bunk.”
Forest closed the distance, his long legs devouring the space between them. Pulling up to a stop, Forest gave him the once-over. Then, he sniffed. “You smell like sex.”
“That’s a bit intrusive,” he countered, offended by Forest’s overbearing manner nearly as much as the assumptions rolling off the giant.
“You’re going to fuck up her life at the rate you’re going,” Forest said.
“Excuse me?”
“Look, I’m not military, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what’s off-limits. You and Tia—”
“Whoa,” Ryker called out, “you’d better think very carefully about what comes out of your mouth next.”
Forest arched a brow. “Funny, I was going to say the same about you.” He locked an arm over Ryker’s shoulders and sniffed again. “I smell her on you, and if I do, everybody else will, too. Be smart, Technical Sergeant Ryker Lyons, and fucking follow me. I’ve got your best interests at heart.”
“Do you?”
“I already got Ash to get your stuff. You’re coming to the VIP barracks. We’re getting you showered”—Forest took in Ryker’s appearance with a disapproving scowl—“and shaved before anyone is the wiser.”
“You took my stuff?”
“Ash took your stuff. You’re working for him now.” Forest huffed a low laugh. “Actually, you’re kind of working for me, which means you’ll do as you’re told.”
“Sorry, big guy,” Ryker asserted, “but you’re a bit confused. I don’t know you, and while I dig Ash and the guys, I was pretty clear last night about playing for them.”
“Right, you were all blustery and polite as fuck,” Forest said. “That means shit, by the way. Angel Fire wants you. Colonel Vane has requested you. You belong to us for the next two weeks. Like I said, all your stuff has been brought over. You’ll take a shower and rinse off the smell of sex, shave your scruff, and put on a nice, clean set of BDUs.”
Ryker had to crane his neck to glare at Forest, a tall man. He didn’t like that one bit. “I thought I’d made myself crystal clear. I’m not doing shit until I speak with Bent.”
“Well, that’s where I was gonna take you”—Forest made a show of sniffing again—“but you need to get her scent off your pathetic self.”
