Fire for Effect
Table of Contents
FIRE FOR EFFECT
A Recon Diaries Story
KENDALL MCKENNA
mlrpress
www.mlrpress.com
Two years after the events of
Brothers In Arms
, Kellan Reynolds and First Sergeant Jonah Carver are struggling with their bi-coastal relationship. Following the events in Iraq, Kellan’s expertise in national security is well established and he is hired to investigate the suspicious repeated denial of a KIA Marine the Medal of Honor.
Kellan brings Jonah onto his staff and into his home, but just as their relationship settles into a routine, their investigation heats up. What begins at the Pentagon, leads to Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, and an ambush that threatens to destroy everything they’ve built.
Copyright Acknowledgement
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2013 by Kendall McKenna
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Published by
MLR Press, LLC
3052 Gaines Waterport Rd.
Albion, NY 14411
Visit ManLoveRomance Press, LLC on the Internet:
www.mlrpress.com
Cover Art by Jared Rackler
Editing by Kris Jacen
ebook format
Issued 2013
This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher.
For Lynn L.
because she has provided unconditional friendship for more years than I can count; because she stands in line with me just to get 30 seconds of face time with JB; because she laughs at me for ‘fleecing senior citizens of their retirement checks’ at Texas Hold ‘Em; because she loans me her own mom and dad; because she encouraged me to write that first fanficion; and because she was the first to show me what it is and what it means, not to just write, but to write well.
(If you are annoyed that I only write from a single POV, blame Lynn.)
CHAPTER ONE
Kellan climbed out of the Town Car and glanced around at the hotel. It was finished and landscaped like an old Spanish villa, very much in keeping with the flavor of Santa Barbara. Blossoming trees and shrubbery were in abundance all around the property. Colorful flowers were woven into trellises and iron work. Kellan inhaled deeply, his body and mind immediately recognizing the moist, salty scent of the ocean. The sun was warm on his face, the heat mitigated by the cool breeze.
It had never quite felt like home, but some of Kellan’s most formative years had taken place in Southern California. Much of the training and the learning he’d done that had made him an officer, a leader and a man, had taken place on, or often right in, the Pacific Ocean. Those memories tightened Kellan’s chest.
He shook himself from his reverie when a bellhop came forward, pushing a luggage cart to assist the driver with retrieving Kellan’s luggage from the trunk.
“Good afternoon, sir,” the handsome, tanned young man greeted him. “Checking in?”
“Yes, I am,” Kellan replied, slinging the strap of his laptop case over his shoulder.
“Welcome to the Hacienda Garden Inn.” The young man had a gorgeous smile.
“Thank you,” Kellan replied distractedly as he tipped the car driver. He’d pre-paid for the transport when he’d booked it.
“Are you staying with us long?” The bellhop pushed the cart holding Kellan’s single, large suitcase toward the hotel entrance.
“Five days.” That was all the leave Jonah could get, for operational reasons.
“Business or pleasure?” The young man continued with the typical polite small talk.
“A little of both,” answered Kellan. “I’m participating in a symposium at UCLA and touring some of the local Navy bases. Afterward, I’m taking a few days to relax.”
“Is this your first time in California?” They crossed the lobby toward the registration desk.
“No. I was stationed at Camp Pendleton for four years.” Kellan withdrew his wallet from his laptop case.
“You’re a civilian now? Where did you fly in from?” The young man’s interest seemed genuine.
“Yes, I’m a civilian working in D.C. now.” The small pang of loss surprised him, even after all these years. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
“Well, welcome back, sir.” The bellhop gestured toward the registration desk. “They’ll get you checked in right over there. I’ll wait here to take you up once you have your keys.”
“Thank you.” Kellan gave the man a small smile. He didn’t need help with one fucking suitcase. But like Jonah kept telling him, he had an influential job now and should act like the VIP he was becoming.
The young woman at the registration desk was quick and efficient. She gave him a fast run down of the hotel amenities before sliding two key cards into a paper sleeve and pushing them across the counter toward Kellan.
“Enjoy your stay, Mr. Reynolds, and please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can help you with anything.” She was perfectly professional but her demeanor still held a note of flirtation.
Kellan tipped the bellhop well before closing the door behind him. The young man was very solicitous and seemed eager to please. It wasn’t his fault Kellan desperately wanted to be alone so that he could make a phone call.
“Are you all checked in?” Jonah asked in greeting.
“Checked in and waiting for you,” Kellan replied, starting to unpack for his stay. He gave Jonah his room number and brief directions to the room, once he arrived at the hotel.
“I’m nearly there,” said Jonah. “I still say I should have picked you up at the airport.”
“You know how unpredictable L.A. traffic is,” Kellan reminded him. “I didn’t want us to be stressed out over me having to cool my heels at the airport if you got delayed.”
“I wouldn’t have let that happen,” Jonah said firmly, and Kellan could almost believe he had control of Los Angeles freeways.
“I’ll see you when you get here,” Kellan said with a chuckle and they ended the call. His heart raced and his stomach knotted pleasantly.
Kellan turned on the television for the background noise and finished hanging his clothes. When he’d laid out his toiletries in the luxurious bathroom, complete with garden tub, Kellan checked his email on his phone. There was nothing that required his immediate attention, since the workday on the East Coast was over.
He smiled to himself as he admired the fireplace in the small sitting area. Kellan pushed open the French doors onto the private balcony that overlooked the swimming pool and tiled fire pit. With the exception of the symposium and base tours, he didn’t expect they would be leaving the room very often in the next five days.
Especially once Jonah got a look at the four-poster Queen Anne bed that was the centerpiece of the gorgeous room.
A loud knock sounded at the door and Kellan’s heart crashed against his ribs several times before he got himself back under control.
He pulled the balcony doors closed behind himself, fumbled with the TV remote, and nearly crossed the room at a run. Kellan tugged the door open and stood frozen. It had been six months since he’d seen Jonah. Six months since Jonah’s TAD had been terminated and he’d been ordered to return to 1
st
Recon at Camp Pendleton. Six months had passed since Kellan had been able to feel Jonah’s skin, smell his scent, and make love with him.
“Hey,” he greeted casually, drinking in the sight of Jonah standing, tall and lean, in the corridor. “Did you find it all right?” he added.
“Yeah, no problem,” Jonah replied, as if they’d seen one another just last week.
Kellan couldn’t catch his breath. He hastily stepped aside to let Jonah enter the room. Languorously, Jonah crossed the threshold, a well-stuffed rucksack slung over his shoulder. Kellan noticed that Jonah had regained his tan. The clothing he wore—board shorts, tank top and flip-flops, made him look like the California surfer he was. Kellan’s palms itched with the urge to touch him.
Securing the door, Kellan followed Jonah into the room. Jonah set his ruck on the floor at the foot of the bed. He took in his surroundings with a critical expression that was so typical of Jonah. “Not bad,” he remarked, turning slowly in a circle.
“I left you space in the bureau and the closet if you want to unpack,” Kellan said as he leaned against the tall post of the bed. He was strangely hesitant to approach Jonah, yet at the same time he savored the anticipation.
“I’ll get to that later,” replied Jonah. “There’s a couple of things I want to do first.” He faced Kellan, standing tall and meeting Kellan’s gaze directly.
Jonah’s blue eyes were hungry. His lips parted and his chest heaved with each ragged breath. There was tension in every line of his frame and Kellan sensed his anticipation.
Wetting his own lips, Kellan pushed off the bed post and slowly closed the few feet of distance that separated him from the heat of Jonah’s body. His face flushed, his cock pushed against the front of his jeans and continued to grow harder. Kellan ached to touch and to taste Jonah.
“Oh yeah?” Kellan’s voice sounded husky to his own ears. “Anything you need my help with?” He looked up into Jonah’s eyes, unblinking.
“If you don’t mind.” Jonah’s voice was rough and barely audible.
Kellan caved first but he didn’t give a fuck anymore. He slid his arms over Jonah’s shoulders, pressed himself to the length of Jonah’s body. Kellan covered Jonah’s mouth with his own, pushing his tongue inward; demanding entrance, not asking.
Jonah’s arms came around Kellan’s back and gripped his ass firmly. Jonah’s hardness pushed against his own and he rubbed himself against it. Pulling back on a gasp, Jonah breathed harshly against Kellan’s cheek. Each exhalation was rapid and hot.
“I missed you,” Kellan said, voice strangled. “God, how I have fucking missed you.”
“I’m glad you did,” Jonah murmured against Kellan’s throat. “I was afraid I was the only one.” His hands pulled impatiently on the hem of Kellan’s short sleeved Henley until he tugged it up over Kellan’s head.
Kellan stripped Jonah of his tank top. As soon as Jonah’s shirt was off, Kellan pulled Jonah back against him roughly. He licked at Jonah’s mouth, nipped at his lower lip, and enjoyed the press of their naked chests together. Jonah’s skin was warm; the light sprinkling of hair was coarse against Kellan’s nipples and made them tingle.
Jonah pushed Kellan backward into the bedpost. Kellan made a sound of protest against Jonah’s tongue. He shoved at Jonah’s shoulders, creating enough space between them so that Kellan could drop to his knees.
Kellan impatiently pushed Jonah’s hands out of the way, eager to open the Velcro fastenings of his board shorts. Jonah kicked off his flip-flops, stepped out of his shorts, and pushed everything out of their way with one foot.
He was more gorgeous than Kellan remembered, and he’d thought his memory was pretty fucking vivid. Jonah sucked a harsh breath in through his teeth when Kellan grasped the base of his cock. The curls that tickled Kellan’s fingers were just a few shades darker than Jonah’s high and tight hair cut. Jonah’s erection stood proudly, the dusky red tip just beginning to weep pre-come.
Kellan wet his lips and looked up the length of Jonah’s body, seeking his gaze. Jonah stood rigidly, hands fisted at his sides. His face and chest were flushed, his blue eyes luminous as he stared hungrily down at Kellan. He breathed harshly through his parted, red lips, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Kellan smoothed his free hand up Jonah’s taut, defined belly. Jonah exhaled explosively, covering Kellan’s hand with one of his own.
Wetting his lips again, Kellan pooled his spit. He opened his mouth and took the head of Jonah’s cock inside. Kellan sucked at the hardened flesh, sliding forward, dragging the flat of his tongue down the underside of Jonah’s shaft.
Jonah’s free hand gripped the bedpost over Kellan’s head with a loud slap. His hand that gripped Kellan’s tightened convulsively. “Oh shit, Kel,” Jonah sobbed hoarsely.
Kellan looked up into Jonah’s eyes again. Jonah stared down at him intently. A small frown appeared between his brows and his mouth hung open slightly, as if he had to concentrate to keep control of his body’s reactions. Kellan wanted to shatter Jonah’s legendary self-control.
