Betrayal of the Dove (Men of Action) (16 page)

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “I’ll bring a picnic basket and we can dine under the stars.”

“I like that idea,” he agreed as he held her tight. “I like knowing I can be with you.” And in that moment the night became a thousand times better, knowing what he felt for her, she was feeling for him too—a connection deeper than any other. This was something they would explore, not just because they wanted to, but because they had to. He loved her. That thought alone scared him because it felt like it was too soon, but it was right. He felt it in his gut that it was right.

Chapter Nine

A
week of nightly picnics in the back of Shane’s truck and Alyssa felt like she was in the most heavenly relationship ever. He was a gentleman, and gracious. Their conversations ranged from frivolous facts about why she didn’t like certain fashion trends, to deep seated political, religious, ethical and moral topics. She was surprised to find they were on the same page with a lot of the topics. There were some disagreements, but as she had said, no two people would ever be one hundred percent the same—not even on beliefs. They were on the same page where it counted, and able to agree to disagree on the ones that they weren’t. She liked this man, maybe even loved him, and something about that scared her.

She was taking it slow—as slow as possible, because she didn’t want to get hurt, not like she had the last time. She couldn’t risk her heart like that, but somewhere in that line of thinking she realized if Shane walked away today she would still feel the pain.

“These are the best dates ever,” she looked up at the star filled sky. They had sat out there and watched sunset; had their dinner and then Shane put the basket in the truck. Instead of going back to the main house they stayed out in the open field and sat in the back of the truck watching the sky and talking.

“I thought most women like to go out to eat, or go to some jazzy club or something.”

She looked at him, “I’m not most women. I like the simple things. A good home cooked meal, great conversation, and a relaxed atmosphere goes a long way with me.”

“I see that,” he smiled. “You’re a good cook too. Those Panini sandwiches you brought yesterday were delicious.”

“Thanks. I do like to cook when I can. You’re pretty good yourself,” she nudged his shoulder with her shoulder. “When did you find time to learn to cook?”

He laughed. “I wasn’t always military,” he took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. “I learned young. I learned some more from friends and the rest I just picked up on my own. If you know how to follow directions you can learn how to cook anything.”

“True,” she nodded. “My mother taught all of us; even the boys. She said there was no way her boys were going to grow up not knowing how to cook and feeling obligated to marry the first woman who came along just because she could. She made sure we all learned enough to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner and deserts. Thomas is probably the better dinner cook. I have lunch down to a science. Gavin’s more of your breakfast guy, and Eve beats all of us. That woman could have been a chef. I don’t think there’s anything she can’t cook or bake.”

“The two of you are close.”

“Yes we are. We’re the only girls so I guess maybe we latched on to each other for that reason, but maybe it was more than that. She’s so easy to love. There’s no malice in her anywhere and that innocence is just something that draws everybody to her.”

“I don’t have any siblings,” he confided in her. “I always wondered what it would be like if I did.”

“Hmm,” she smiled. “Pillow fights. Building snow castles, arguing over who gets the bathroom first in the morning,” she laughed. “Knowing no matter what happens in the world you have good people who have your back…and family dinners that were a riot to be at.” She laughed. “Although not all families are that lucky. Some siblings aren’t ever going to get along. Having the same blood doesn’t equate to liking or loving each other.”

“Don’t I know it,” he said in a tone that told her he was speaking from experience.

“Tell me about your family, Shane.”

“I’d rather hear more about yours and those pillow fights,” he swiftly changed the subject and started tickling her. She squirmed and hooted with laughter. She tried to get away from his roaming hands. He was relentless in his fun loving attack.

“Stop, stop,” she cried with laughter. “Don’t change the subject,” she said when he finally stopped tickling her long enough for her to catch her breath.

“But I’d much rather do this,” he leaned down to kiss her. One kiss took them from zero to one thousand in less than thirty seconds. He removed her blouse, then her bra before unbuttoning her pants. And what pleased him most was that she hadn’t stopped him, that she hadn’t pushed his hand away from her body. He had wanted to touch her for so long, and now he was going to touch his fill.

“Are you going to continue to tease me all night, Shane?” Alyssa’s voice started off with a playful teasing of her own until Shane’s fingers traced a feather line down her stomach, causing her to moan with satisfaction. “Oh yes, please don’t stop there,” she moaned as his hands eased lower, playing with her navel before disappearing between her legs.

He was drawing it out and torturing her. She wanted him so much she thought she might go mad waiting for the moment his touch seemed to promise awaited her. Instead of giving her what she craved he just kept kissing her, stroking her gently with his fingers against her. “Please,” she clutched his hand, trying to get him to take her all the way.

“Uh, uh,” he shook his head, removed his fingers from where they played and then gathered her wrists into his big hands before pinning them above her head with one hand. She saw the twinkle in his eyes; that glint of sheer, unadulterated appreciation. He liked what he saw and she could see that.

He ran his free hand over her breast letting his index finger circle the delicate skin. “You’re perfect everywhere.” His voice was low and laced with sexual embers that sent shivers up her spine. Perfect and smooth,” he growled as he lowered his head and slid his tongue along her breast before closing his mouth over it and sucking gently. She screamed his name; her hips arching off the bed of the truck with need. He chuckled low in his throat. “Like that did you?”

“You know I did,” she said stubbornly. She was wound so tight right now that she thought she might break if he didn’t get inside of her soon.

“Good to know,” he slid his tongue over her nipple before repeating the action that had made her scream his name. She withered beneath him. Her body wanted his touch, wanted him, but he was drawing it out, drawing her out.

He slid his hand lower, slipping it between her legs and playing with her some more as he kissed and sucked on her body in all the right places. He slipped one finger inside of her and growled with satisfaction. “You are so hot and wet for me, baby.” He looked up into her eyes and smiled. His eyes were deeper in color, laced with his sexual desire for her and yet he was still fully clothed while she lay naked in the cab of his truck underneath the stars.

“Stop teasing me and take me,” she said.

“I would, baby, but I didn’t bring any condoms with me. I didn’t think we were going to get this far tonight,” he licked her stomach before letting his tongue play with her belly button. “But just because I have to wait, doesn’t mean you have to.” He slipped another finger inside of her, stroking her, playing with her slow then fast, soft, then hard. She arched beneath him, her eyes glued to the sky above as he masterfully played with her body. She watched the twinkle of lights in the sky as he took her to the heights of pleasure and pushed her beyond. She remembered begging for more; pleading for release and then when he gave it to her she called out his name, over and over again, wishing it was more than his fingers inside of her. She knew he had done the responsible thing, waiting since they didn’t have protection. It spoke volumes for his character that he hadn’t assumed she would let him go there tonight. He hadn’t come prepared for sex. It also told her a lot about the man. He was restrained enough to wait.

When she came down off her orgasmic high she looked in his eyes. The smile that curved his lips told her he was thrilled with his victory. He released her wrists and she slid her hand down his body. “Let me,” she let her fingers go to the zipper of his jeans, but he stopped her.

“When I come it’s going to be inside you, not in your hand.” He leaned down and kissed her on her neck, sucking hard enough to leave his passion mark behind.

“Marking me as yours are you?”

“I’ve left my mark everywhere else,” he grinned. “Well, maybe not everywhere.” He looked at her thighs.

“Oh no,” she pushed her hand against his shoulder to keep him from moving. “You are not going down there.”

He laughed. “Yes I am,” he said and he did just that, kissing his way down her body to the juncture between her legs where he proceeded to rectify the neglected areas of her body. One touch from the man and all she could do was lay back and take what he had to offer.

Nevin had watched them through his binoculars. “She’s pretty,” he mumbled. “They always did get all the ladies,” he nearly growled. Just because they were elite members of some mysterious team people liked them, respected them, and the ladies seemed to go crazy over them. He was never allowed on the inside of their team and now they, every single last one of the bastards who had kept him out in the cold was going to pay. Killing Rick had been pure luck the way he saw it. He was in Texas to kill Larry when he found out the man was on a six month fishing trip with his son. He had been disappointed in the loss of one kill opportunity and was getting ready to leave for his next one when he stopped at the gas station to get a case of beer. That’s when he saw Rick walk in to grab some snacks for his little boy. His wife had a baby in her arms and he heard her say something about them needing this vacation because he worked too hard. Nevin stayed in the shadows and when the coast was clear he went out to his beat-up Ram and followed the vacationing couple to their hotel. He made preparations. He was going to go inside and take out all of them, maybe even clip Rick in both knee caps so he couldn’t move while he made him watch him kill his wife and kids. He had waited for the prime opportunity to get inside unnoticed, but then he saw Rick come outside. He waited two days, making preparations for a way inside when luck decided to be on his side. The bastard had returned to his car at night and Nevin took the opportunity to take the kill shot. He wanted him to know. This time he wanted to see the face of the man who knew he was about to die. He didn’t get that reward with the first one, but with the second one it was oh so sweet.

Now, he was here, watching Shane Maxwell. Mr. Shane Maxwell, damn Captain in the damn Navy elite
Dove Team
. He was going to be the kill Nevin took his time with. He wanted to torture him first, make him watch things disappear. Maybe he should watch her disappear, knowing he couldn’t save her. He had kicked the idea around in his head for a while as he watched them, kissing and stripping out on Shane’s property. He liked the ranch because it was nearly surrounded by mountains and it left a lot of space where he could hide off the man’s secure property while he watched certain areas and plotted his attack. Shane was always the security expert. Nevin would have been surprised if his ranch wasn’t a virtual fortress. He needed to find a way in, one that wouldn’t set off any alarms, but he was going to need time to do that.

He was a sharpshooter. He could shoot them both dead right now with the right weapon, but there was no fun in that. No, he was going to savor this kill. He was going to season it with all the right spices, a little fear, a lot of heartache and then, the final kill for the man who had been one of the reasons he didn’t make the team. He was going to enjoy this.

He thought about what he had just seen, how beautiful the woman was and he shifted and growled as he peered through the binoculars at her still naked body. “Sweet Jesus,” he mumbled as he watched from above. She had a body worth tasting and Shane seemed to be enjoying every inch of it. The expressions on her face when she came were of sheer ecstasy and he couldn’t stop watching her. He adjusted his body just enough to unzip his pants and release his erection, but not enough to take his eyes of the beautiful body in the cab of the truck with Shane. “Damn,” he growled. “That is fucking hot.”