BOH 8-21-07 (00178434).DOC (8 page)

heard, that wasn’t a crime.”

She looked up at him, her eyes full of tears. “You

don’t understand. He’s a jerk. Even went so far as to

imply that Peter got what he deserved for joining the

military.”

Mike’s insides tightened. “Ah, Cyn, come here.” He

led her to the couch and put his arm around her. She

nestled against him, her head on his shoulder. “There

have always been people who protest wars. Didn’t you

know he was against the war before you went out?”

Cyn shook her head. “No. We didn’t discuss it. When

he came to the library, we talked about books, not

politics.”

He caressed her arm, loving the warm softness of her

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skin. “Put it behind you.”

She straightened and looked him square in the eye. “I

told him that if he couldn’t stand behind our troops, he

damn well should stand in front of them.”

Choking on his laughter, he managed to say, “I take

it that’s why he left in such a hurry?”

A simple shrug and Cyn cuddled against his side. “I

guess so.”

After a long silence, Mike grew restless. Time to get

out of here before he did something he’d regret. “I’d better

go. Katy’s alone in the house.”

Cyn moved then. Knelt on the couch and faced him.

“Please stay just a while.”

His gaze roamed her face. Was he misreading the

signal? Were her slightly parted lips begging for his kiss?

“I shouldn’t—”

Her mouth stopped his words. God, her sweet mouth.

Hardly daring to breathe, he stayed still while she

explored with her lips and tongue. “Cyn, are you sure?”

“I want to get close to you.”

What did that mean? She wanted to kiss and be held?

She wanted to make love? Damn, he wished he

understood women. Unable to stop, he pulled her into his

arms and pushed her down on the couch. One look into

her dazed blue eyes gave him his answer. He took her

mouth with his. The sound of their harsh breathing filled

the room.

Her fingers slid inside his shirt and skimmed his

ribs. He brushed her breast with his hand. His erection

pressed on her mound, and when she moved her hips for

better contact, he almost went through the roof. With a

groan, he rolled onto his side and buried his face in her

neck. “Not like this, Cyn. Our first time has to be special.

Besides, it’s too soon. You need to be sure you’re ready.

It’s only been four months. That’s not long—”

Cyn pressed her fingers against his lips. “Dr.

Wentworth says every person who loses a loved one

grieves as long as they need to. I’m through grieving,

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Mike. Peter will always be a part of me, but he’s gone. He

told me to move on. I want to. With you.”

He ached to believe her, but nagging doubts lingered.

“What about your fear of dependence?”

“I feel stronger than I did a month ago. I think I can

handle…I mean we can handle any problems together.”

He pulled her tight against his chest and almost

squeezed the life out of her. She felt so good…so right in

his arms. “I’m leaving,” he whispered into her hair. “I

meant what I said. Tonight’s not the right time. Let’s both

think on it. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

He peeled himself off Cyn’s warm, willing body.

Leaving her ranked near the top of the hardest things

he’d had to do in a long time.

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Mike leaned against the headrest and listened to the

quiet night. He was procrastinating and didn’t give a

damn. Murphy’s Law. Just when his life hooked a turn

toward a rainbow, he’d received orders today. By 3 a.m.,

he’d be on a transport plane headed to Tikrit. The digital

clock on the SUV’s dash flashed 8 p.m. Seven hours to

pack and say goodbye to Katy and Cyn.

Forcing himself to leave the Jeep, he put one foot in

front of the other and moved toward the house.

“I’m home,” he called, opening the door.

Cyn came from the kitchen, her finger on her lips.

“Katy’s asleep.”

His brows rose. “So early?”

Mike’s eyes gravitated toward Cyn’s lips as they

turned down in a rueful expression. “She ate too much

cake and ice cream at Misty’s birthday party. Had a

stomachache.”

Great. Now he’d have to wake her up to say goodbye.

His libido stirred to life at the touch of Cyn’s hands

sliding around his middle. Did she feel his pounding

heart? He’d known this woman for less than six months

and couldn’t imagine life without her.

“Hungry?” she whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her and inhaled her

special lemon ginger scent. “You smell good enough to

eat.” “Lasagna and salad for supper.”

He hugged her before taking a step away. “Great.

Let’s dig in. Then we need to talk.” He placed his hand on

her back and moved toward the kitchen, shaking off the

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guilt for prolonging what would be an uncomfortable

conversation.

“Delicious,” Mike managed to say with a full mouth.

The spicy sauce tantalized his taste buds as his teeth

sank into pasta cooked to perfection. “Where’d you learn

to cook?”

Cyn shrugged. He frowned at the way she pushed her

food around the plate. She hadn’t taken a bite. “Nothing’s

changed between us. So stop worrying and enjoy your

meal.”

Her audible sight of relief made him smile. “I love to

cook. And have no problem eating my own creations.”

The meal progressed in silence. Every now and then

he caught her covert look in his direction. She was

nervous as a filly around a stallion. He bit his tongue so

not to laugh at his analogy.

He dreaded Cyn’s reaction when he told her he had to

leave in the morning. She might end their relationship

before it got to first base. Could he blame her? Knowing

what could happen and accepting it were two different

things. He rose and brought his plate to the sink.

“I’ll be upstairs. Come up when you’re ready.”

Cyn cringed at Mike’s terse statement. It would take

a fool not to see the pain in his eyes. Did he regret his

loving words of last night? No. She refused to succumb to

negativity. She’d come too far. She hadn’t imagined his

mounting desire earlier. If he wasn’t going to discuss their

relationship, then what did he want to talk about?

After drying the same dish for five minutes, she hung

up the dishtowel and staunchly marched to the stairs.

Whatever was going on, she’d face it head on. No more

cowering in dark corners waiting to get eaten by the

boogieman.

She hovered just inside Mike’s room, a tentative

smile on her face. Her heart skipped a beat as her gaze

fluttered to the clothes strewn across his bed. She raised

her head and met Mike’s eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Packing. I’m leaving on assignment early tomorrow

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morning.”

The tremble in her voice belied her so-called bravery.

“Where?”

“Middle East.”

Her gasp was loud in the quiet room. “No!”

Mike continued methodically packing his duffle bag.

Cyn moved across the room and grasped his bicep. He

tensed, as if waiting for the storm. “Mike? Look at me.

Please?”

With a resigned sigh, he turned, and sat on the

mattress. “I have no choice. I got my orders today.”

She sank to the floor by his feet and rested her cheek

on his thigh. Her breathing grew harsh. Another anxiety

attack. Mike reached under her arms and pulled her onto

the bed. “Slow, deep breaths.” He rested his chin on her

head and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

“I’ll be home in three weeks.”

A sob tore from her throat. Mike lay back, dragging

her with him. “Turn around,” he whispered.

With a half laugh, half cry, Cyn scrambled to face

him. “I’m scared. What if something happens to you? I

couldn’t stand it.”

“Nothing’s going to happen. I’m not going into

combat. My assignment is to set up communications for a

special force unit.”

“You don’t have to be in combat to get killed over

there.”

“You’re right. I promise to be careful.”

Her fingers clutched his back. “That doesn’t mean

you won’t be killed.”

Mike pulled out of her arms and tilted her chin. “I

could be hit by a car tomorrow, right here in Watertown.

Let go of your fear, Cyn, before it eats you alive. I’m in the

military. This is my job. It’s not the first time, and won’t

be the last time, I’m deployed.”

She pushed into a sitting position. Her thumb and

forefinger twisted a corner of the bedspread. Although

still labored, her breathing was easier than it had a few

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minutes ago.

“Did you think I’d leave the military because of the

way we feel about each other?”

Cyn reeled at his sudden question. “No! Yes…I don’t

know. Maybe.” She brushed her unruly curls away of her

face to better see him. “I guess I never really thought

about it,” she whispered.

He turned to his side and propped himself on an

elbow. “We need to address this. Otherwise, it’ll become a

bone of contention that might drive us apart.”

Without thought of consequence, she pushed him

onto his back and frantically tore at the buttons on his

shirt. “Nothing will come between us. Nothing. I won’t let

it.” Her strength amazed him. Her writhing body drove

him crazy. He was helpless to keep his thoughts from

having her beneath him. “Slow down.” His fingers wove

into her hair to cup the back of her head. “You’re killing

me here.”

Once his shirt was open her wandering lips skated up

his chest. The want harbored in his body for months broke

loose. Open mouthed he captured her lips without thought

of right or wrong. The sound of tearing fabric barely

registered. His? Hers? Who cared? With trembling hands,

he cupped her naked breasts. His thumbs found her

hardened nipples.

Her wet teasing tongue tantalized his earlobe. One

pleasure cascaded into another until he almost burst with

need to bury himself deep inside her womb.

“Cyn, are you sure?” he managed to croak. “We

decided to wait. Don’t do this out of desperation because

I’m leaving.”

“I’m not.” She pulled back and traced his mouth with

her finger. Gasped when he sucked it into his warm

mouth. “I want you. Even if it’s just this once.”

Mike shot upright to grasp her arms and gently

shake her. “Don’t talk like that. Don’t even think it.”

She gave him a wobbly smile. “Let’s not talk at all.”

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She slid off the bed and without breaking eye contact

slipped out of her jeans and panties.

His gaze slid to her breasts, then roamed down her

body stopping briefly at her narrow waist. Her hips flared

just enough to make her slimness feminine.

“So is this a joint decision?” she teased.

Her question brought a smile to his face. “You bet.”

Cyn jumped onto the bed. He caught her around her

ribcage and flipped her onto her back. Faster than he

believed possible, he rid himself of his pants and settled

between her open legs.

A hand on either side of her head, he lowered his

body. Moaned when her legs wrapped around his back.

“Slow, Cyn. Take it slow.”

“It’s too late for that, Major. I can’t wait.”

Maneuvering her hips just so, his erection found its home.

Little by little, he pushed forward, barely able to

control his orgasm as her vaginal muscles repeatedly

clenched around him.

One thrust of her hips and he was lost. He pumped in

and out. Felt his climax building. He worried he’d come

before giving her pleasure. Just when he knew he was

about to climax she spasmed, setting off a chain reaction.

He cried out and collapsed over her body.

Cyn’s racing heart thundered in the silent room. In a

tangle of arms and legs, she clung to Mike and savored

the aftermath of his lovemaking. Never had she felt so

cherished. She waited for the guilt to come, and was

pleasantly surprised when it didn’t. For reasons she

couldn’t understand, the love she’d shared with Mike

differed from her love with Peter.

Peter had been her first love. Her friend. He

pampered and spoiled her. Held her up when he should

have forced her to stand on her own. Sex with Peter had

been pleasant…warm and cozy. Like an old slipper.

Nothing like sex with Mike. She’d never get enough

of him. Not of his hard body, his hands, his mouth and

especially not his love. Peter had been satisfied with

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whatever she’d been willing to give. Mike demanded

everything and wouldn’t settle for less.

Her skin still tingled from his touch.

A sudden cramp in her foot reminded her that her

toes were still tightly curled. She slowly released the

tension. She swallowed a yawn and shook off her