Fiery (9 page)

Faster.

“Two,” Errol said.

Faster.

“Pull!” Byron called.

The Velcro fastening at the top popped and crackled beneath the pressure of several hands pulling at once.

Ryan’s heart stalled. The fabric fell, revealing Carmen from head to toe. 

She froze. Her eyes widened. Her mouth gaped.

Then, slowly, like in a dream, she stepped over the fabric and walked toward him, with the flared skirt of her white fifties-style dress bouncing and the red-and-blue ribbon in her hair blowing in the breeze. Ryan dropped to a knee.

Her hands were shaking visibly as she stepped up the stairs and stopped before him. Her gaze went from him to Aimee to Josh to the Justice of the Peace standing behind him and back to Ryan.

“What are you doing?” Her voice was a quivering whisper.

He wasn’t sure his would be any stronger so he cleared his throat. “Carmen Smith, we haven’t known each other long.”

“Duh.”

“Our relationship has been contentious and angry at times.”

“No kidding.”

“But it’s been silent and fun at others.”

She nodded.

“Even when you’re not speaking to me or falling asleep in my arms I want only to be with you.”

“Ryan.” She swallowed, but it did nothing to stop the tear slipping down her cheek.

“I love you, Carmen Smith.” He pulled a ring from inside his belt and offered it. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She looked from him to the Justice of the Peace and back. “Now? Here?”

“Yes.”

“We can’t. We have to file paperwork and get blood tests.”

“So it’s an unofficial marriage for a few days.” He took her left hand in his and brushed a finger along her palm. “What do you say?”

“You make me miserable when you’re not making me laugh. You’re stubborn and will have to learn I am not a grunt you can command.”

“If you’ll allow me to make one command, now, I’ll take an answer.”

Aimee sniffled from his side, but he only watched Carmen. She only watched him. Then, she nodded slowly. “Yes. I will marry you.”

He released a whoop as he stood and pulled her into a hug. His hand was shaking as he slipped the engagement ring on her finger. His body was trembling as he picked her up to kiss her.

The band blew to life with a rousing round of their fight song. He’d heard it for years when the football team made a touchdown. It was sort of like a homecoming to hear it being played for him. With Carmen at his side he knew he was home and he would never doubt his place again.

“Go, Gunny!” Byron cheered in the microphone. “
That
is how a public declaration is made. Wouldn’t you say, Errol? Harold?”

Chapter Nine

Carmen had been dreading the parade, and had grown sadder the closer she came to the reveal. Ryan had said that morning he had to take his dad to a doctor appointment and might not make it back in time, but then he’d been there, ready to surprise her, when she revealed what they’d worked so hard on. He’d made her prouder than she thought possible. And happier.

Almost as soon as she’d said yes, the crowd had parted and his mother, father and sister had joined them in the gazebo while friends gathered around the outside edges. The ceremony had been short, and Carmen didn’t even care that he wasn’t officially her husband in the state’s eyes. She would never again wonder how he felt about her or how she fit with him. The man she’d fallen in love with between fights and voicemails had given her the gift of a loving family.

Ryan wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they neared her apartment. “You’re shaking.”

“Still in shock I guess.”

At the door, he turned her into him and kissed her. In the last month the only time he’d touched her in public was when she’d hurt herself. Every other touch had been private, and while that was fine with her, there was an excitement in having him kiss her and hold her where people could see.

Carmen moved her mouth beneath his, opening for him when his tongue pressed against her lips. He tasted of the apple pie he’d found at the parade, saying it was the best substitute to a wedding cake.

Her hands rested on his stomach, her fingers curled into the thick coat he’d worn all day without complaint. Easing back, she looked up at him. “You look really sexy in this uniform, Gunny.”

“You look pretty damn amazing in that dress, Woman. So proper I’ve wanted to dishevel you and lead you to disgrace since that curtain dropped.”

She smiled and played with one of his buttons. “Would you mind unlocking the door so we can get inside?”

“My pleasure.”

“It will be, as soon as we’re inside.”

Ryan unlocked the door and pushed it open. Wasting no time, he swept her into his arms and carried her inside. He kicked the door closed and carried her to the bedroom. “I’m not tucking you in and leaving tonight. Or ever again.”

“Proof that God is real.” Carmen took the cover off his head—he’d corrected her earlier on the terminology when she called it a hat—and set it upside down on the table as they passed. She wanted her hands in his hair and on his body and everything she’d learned about him said he wouldn’t be dropping his uniform like he might a T-shirt and jeans.

In the bedroom, instead of laying her down on the bed, he stood her on it. Lowering to her knees, she unhooked his collar and eased the gold button below it free. He instantly rolled his neck and blew out a long breath.

“So it’s as uncomfortable as it looks?”

“It’s not so bad when the collar is loose.”

“Which it never is when you’re wearing it, is it?” she asked as she undid the next button.

He shook his head. He stepped out of his shoes, removed his belt and rolled it up as Carmen worked the rest of his buttons free. Pushing the heavy material off his shoulders, she’d expected to see skin, but instead found a black shirt of the material her workout clothes were made of. As tight as a second skin, it failed at pulling the sweat away from him.

She shook her head as she hopped off the bed and went to hang his jacket on the back of her vanity chair. When she turned back, he was stepping out of his pants and folding them at the creases. If he took such great care with his uniform, she could only imagine how attentive he’d be as a lover.

Carmen took the pants, leaving him in socks, boxers and his tight shirt, and laid them over the seat. She hopped back up onto the bed and reached for the bottom hem of his shirt. It took some effort and help from him to get the thing off, but the reward was a gloriously toned torso.

Wide shoulders moved down to the broad biceps she’d only seen hints of since the beach party. His pecs were hard and defined and blended beautifully into his flat, ripped stomach. He’d appeared lean in his clothes, and he was, but the power beneath those barriers… Her skin tingled.

“Damn, you’re sexy.”

He grinned as he tugged the ribbon from her hair. “So are you.”

“You haven’t seen me without my clothes.”

“I saw you in your swimsuit.” He slipped a finger along the strap of her dress top. “My imagination is healthy enough to fill in the blanks of what lies beneath this dress.”

“Fortunately imagination isn’t going to be needed much longer.”

“Carmen.” He kissed her, lingering long enough that her panties grew damp and she leaned into him. “Imagination is always needed in the bedroom.”

He traced the edge of her dress collar, dipped his finger beneath the plunge that showed the top of her cleavage. “What made you choose this dress today? Why white?”

“It seemed fitting for July Fourth.” As if mentioning the holiday was enough, fireworks erupted outside in pops and booms. Flashes of red, green, blue and yellow shone through the arch window top that was uncovered by blinds.

“It was perfect. Is.” He slipped the three buttons securing the top and revealed the strapless bra she wore. “I think it’s time you take it off, though.”

“Okay.” She unbuckled the belt and dropped it to the floor. After opening the single fastener at her waist, the dress would fall to the floor as soon as the straps were lowered from her shoulders.

Ryan stared into her eyes as the tip of his finger swept along the edge of her bra. “How did I stay away from you?”

“I don’t know.” She took it upon herself to reach up and nudge the thin straps off her shoulders. The dress fell in a pile of satin and built-in petticoats to the mattress. She’d told him during one of their shared meals, probably as a result of pain medications, that she’d never met a man who made her feel safe enough to cut loose, at least in a way that didn’t mean losing a part of herself. Until him.

That had been the complete truth, though standing in a strapless bra and matching boy shorts, with Ryan devouring her with his gaze, she felt completely at ease. Like they’d been together a thousand times.

“I encourage you to stop trying,” she challenged.

“Yes, ma’am.” He reached behind her and with a flick of his fingers he released the hooks of her bra.

She gasped, then he again swept her into his arms. The sensation of his chest against hers, skin to skin, warm and slick and right, cascaded through her. Her belly trembled and her panties grew wetter.

Then he laid her back on the bed and trailed kisses along every inch of exposed skin. His thumbs flicked lightly back and forth across her nipples while his fingers danced along the hardening swell of her breasts.

She lifted her hips, bumping him. Attuned to her, he reached into the bedside table and pulled out a condom he’d stashed a few days earlier. Silently, leaving discussions about birth control and babies for later, he stripped away his boxers and sheathed himself. When he returned to her, she’d shimmied out of her underwear.

The patience they’d had while undressing each other vanished. Carmen spread her legs, inviting him in. Ryan slipped easily into her, going slow. She was tight and he was large, but she adjusted quickly.

After only a moment’s pause, she was moving against him as a storm gathered on the shores of her control. Tension built in her back and legs and stomach and chest. Every part of her was coiled in readiness.

He withdrew and surged, withdrew and surged. She ached for it to last forever. She yearned for the impending release. Her muscles tightened. Sweat popped out at the base of her neck and dripped from Ryan’s forehead.

He gripped her hips and held her steady as he moved in and out, slow and steady, taking her higher and higher.

Fireworks lit the sky outside and Ryan set a torch to her soul as he dropped his head back and gave himself over to the orgasm. She convulsed against him with her own release.

Curled into his side, with his fingers rubbing against her shoulder, the trembles had almost subsided when he asked, “Do you still think Byron set us up?”

She laughed and nodded against him. “I do. And the very next time I see him I’m giving him a big kiss.”

“Not too big,” Ryan said against her temple. “Carmen.”

“Yeah?”

“I really like your new bed.”

She turned over and rested her chin on his chest. “Me too.”

About the Author

Heart-stopping puppy chases, childhood melodrama and the aborted hangings of innocent toys are all in a day’s work for Nikki Duncan. This athletic equestrian turned reluctant homemaker turned daring author is drawn to the siren song of a fresh storyline.

Nikki plots murder and mayhem over breakfast, scandalous exposés at lunch and the sensual turn of phrase after dinner. Nevertheless, it is the pleasurable excitement and anticipation of unraveling her character’s motivation that drives her to write long past the witching hour.

The only anxiety and apprehension haunting this author comes from pondering the mysterious outcome of her latest twist.

Nikki loves to hear from her readers. She can be found at all the predictable online places.

Twitter:
@NDuncanWriter

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NDuncanWriter

Website:
www.nikkiduncan.com

Look for these titles by Nikki Duncan

Now Available:

Sensory Ops

Sounds to Die By

Scent of Persuasion

Illicit Intuitions

A Killing Touch

Taste Me Deadly

Tulle and Tulips

Tangled in Tulle

Twisted in Tulips

Handcuffed in Housewares

Whispering Cove

Wicked

Burned

Serenades

Her Miracle Man

Coming Soon:

Cyber Illusions

Debauched in Diamonds

Fiery

Nikki Duncan

The one way they don’t rub each other wrong is in each other’s arms.

Whispering Cove, Book 11

Carmen Smith’s artist’s eye saw inspiration wherever she glanced as soon as she set foot on the cobbled streets of Whispering Cove, and among the inspiration she’s found the slower pace she always hoped for.

But as warm as her new life is, she harbors a secret dream to find a man who sees her as an equal and who loves her for who she is, rather than out of charity. The man she’s been partnered with to re-design the town square gets her fired up—but not in a way she expected.

Ryan Alden gave up his military career to help his father with the family business. He’s accepted his place in Whispering Cove, but still feels like an outsider at times. When he meets the bombshell babe with a vintage flare who challenges him like no other, he glimpses the life he has always longed for—but not in a way he anticipated.

From the get-go, they clash like oil and watercolor. And a relationship that looked good on paper might not be the right composition at all…