Greeley's Spyce (3 page)

more than twelve hours.‖

Her eyes grew wide. ―And they‘re still married?‖

―Disgustingly and happily so,‖ Dimitri admitted.

―Wow. I don‘t think that would work for me.‖

―Marriage or that short of time?‖ Dimitri asked.

―The time.‖

―What are you two talking about?‖ Ernst queried when he returned,

butting in the conversation.

―Marriage.‖ Dimitri smirked as he walked off.

Ernst‘s gaze locked on hers as he stepped in close. ―Out with me and

talking marriage with another man?‖ he asked in a deceptively calm voice.

Arching a brow, she leaned in even closer, her eyes falling to his lips

before returning to his eyes. ―You asked me out when you were on a date.‖

―I don‘t want to marry her,‖ he growled, reaching for her arm and

pulling her closer.

―Who said I wanted to marry him?‖ Her fingers trailed along his ex-

posed forearm.

―Thought you were discussing marriage.‖ Neither of them noticed

how those around them were watching avidly.

―We were.‖ She smiled brilliantly. ―He was explaining why I‘d be sa-

fer with Scott, Tyson, or Ross.‖ Kacy nodded in the direction of the table. ―I

believe they are waiting for you.‖

His eyes turned to blue fire as he looked over her body seductively.

―The question is will
you
wait for me?‖

Something in his tone made her feel he was talking longer than the

pool game. ―For the evening,‖ was all she could allow herself to say.

―That‘s a start,‖ he said with a predatory look in his eyes. ―Here.‖

Ernst handed her the beer. ―Do I get a kiss for luck?‖

―Do you need one?‖ She was no dummy; she knew he was an excel-

lent player.

―Definitely,‖ he answered immediately.

20

Aliyah Burke

―Well,‖ she purred, ―I wouldn‘t want you to lose to a couple of Del-

tas.‖ Quickly, she leaned in and kissed him. ―Even if they are good looking,‖

Kacy said as she began to move away from his lips.

His eyes flashed with what she could only describe as possession.

Ernst pulled her back in and kissed her again. This kiss was different. It

wasn‘t to save her from unwanted attention, it wasn‘t just because.

This kiss claimed her. His thick tongue swept into her mouth, tasting

her, branding her. One hand slid around her waist as the other held the back

of her head.

There were sparks flying between them as he teased her tongue. Her

body trembled as did his. Never before had Ernst lost control like that. He

almost lowered her to the ground right then and there. The chill of his beer

against his arm as she clung to him snapped him out of the haze.

Drawing her full lower lip into his mouth he slowly ended the kiss.

His teeth grazed her lip as he released it totally. ―Don‘t go anywhere,‖ he

rasped as he picked up his pool cue and walked to the table.

Don’t go anywhere?
It was only by the grace of the good Lord she

didn‘t collapse into a puddle on the floor. Without thought, Kacy took a

drink of his beer and leaned back against the wall to watch the rest of the

game.

―What do you do?‖ a voice asked her.

Kacy turned to find herself staring directly into the black eyes of the

man next to her. Aidrian. ―I have my own business.‖ A big cheer went up

and she looked back at the table to see Ernst and Dimitri taking money. Ernst

met her gaze and raised a finger. She nodded.

The man handed her a stool. ―Here, have a seat.‖

―Thanks.‖ She climbed on. ―So, do all of y‘all work together?‖

―Aye. Dinna he tell you what he did?‖

She smiled over his accent. ―No, just that he was in the Navy.‖

―Dinna you want to know more?‖

Kacy grinned even as she shook her head. ―Look, I‘m only here be-

cause he asked me out. I didn‘t need to know his life story.‖

―I‘m thinkin‘ he‘s gonna be wantin‘ more than one date,‖ the large

man said, breaking into a smile.

If only.
―Well, people want a lot of things.‖ Kacy shrugged it off. A re-

lationship was not something she was after right now.

Ernst sank three balls and lifted his eyes to see Kacy talking easily

with Aidrian. She wasn‘t even looking in his direction, just keeping her warm

gaze on the handsome black man beside her.

A growl rose from deep in his chest. They made a very attractive

couple and he hated it. Two seconds before he could quit the game and

march over there to put his fist in the senior officer‘s face, she turned,

meeting his gaze and smiling as she toasted him with his beer.

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21

―Relax, man. She‘s been watching you. Don‘t worry. And you know

Hondo isn‘t like that.‖ A Southern voice broke in.

Ernst looked to see Ross standing beside him holding a longneck.

―They look good together.‖

―So do the two of you,‖ his friend assured him.

―I think I understand what you feel for Dezarae,‖ the blond said, ―I

wouldn‘t hesitate to protect Kacy.‖

Ross nodded. ―It‘s a scary feeling because you don‘t want to leave

them in case they need you.‖

―She doesn‘t know I‘m a SEAL,‖ Ernst admitted as he lined up for his

next shot.

―Why not?‖

―I don‘t know what she does, either. But she knows I‘m Navy.‖ He

sank the ball and moved to the next one.

―Worried about her reaction?‖ Ross questioned.

Turning his head, he met the gray eyes of his friend. ―I don‘t know. I

do know I don‘t want her smiling at Hondo that way. I don‘t want her

looking at anyone but me. I don‘t get it. I just met her yesterday!‖

―Sometimes, our hearts and souls know before our brains can catch

up,‖ Ross said.

Ernst sank the eight ball and said to the others, ―I‘m done playing.

I‘m not spending my evening with a bunch of men when that gorgeous

woman is waiting for me.‖

The Deltas paid up what they owed and Ernst took his cut. Then, he

gave his pool cue to Ross and walked over to where Kacy sat still talking to

Hondo.

―Hey,‖ Ernst said as he approached.

―Hey, yourself,‖ Kacy replied, handing him his beer.

―Let‘s get outta here,‖ he uttered, nodding to Aidrian.

Sliding off the stool, she put her hand in his outstretched one. ―It was

really nice talking to you, Aidrian. Goodbye.‖

The large black man flashed her a smile. ―It was my pleasure. Good-

night, Kacy. Ernst.‖

―Goodnight, Aidrian. Let‘s go, Kacy.‖ Ernst led her away, smiling as

she waved to his teammates. After a stop off to pay for dinner and drinks, he

pushed open the door, walking into the night.

Placing his pale eyes on her warm beauty, he asked, ―Where would

you like to go?‖

―How about the park that overlooks the water?‖ Kacy suggested.

―Okay.‖ He took them a few steps and spied the ice cream stand. ―Do

you want some dessert?‖

C H A P T E R T H R E E

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

The gentle breeze that flowed over her face partially made up for the

high humidity that filled the air. Kacy tipped her head back, closed her eyes,

and laughed at the pure joy that filled her.

―You do realize I‘m eating all of your ice cream,‖ Ernst said as his

otherworldly gaze watched the beautiful woman beside him.

Glancing at him as her body swung back and forth, she asked, ―Why

are you?‖

―Because it‘s melting.‖ He shrugged. ―And mine‘s gone.‖

Slowing the swing, Kacy reached towards him and wiggled her fin-

gers. Her face was flushed; it was obvious she loved to swing.

Taking a spoonful, he slid it between his firm lips and groaned with

pleasure. ―Oh, damn, this is good!‖

Leaning farther on the swing, she grabbed the plastic spoon and

pulled it out of his mouth. He arched a brow but handed her the cup of ice

cream. ―You probably ate all the sprinkles.‖ She sent him a playful frown.
I

am having so much fun with him. It is like being carefree.

He smiled. ―I will get more if you think it needs it.‖

Shaking her head, she took a bite and grinned. ―I love ice cream, and

this…this is prefect.‖
Especially since your mouth was on the spoon earlier.

Kacy felt his eyes on her and suddenly felt self-conscious. Her hair

was loose, her smiles often and free. She had her skirt tucked so it wouldn‘t

fly up when she swung on the playground equipment. Her copper eyes

shone in the moonlight. She‘d not felt this open in a long time.

―What do you do?‖ he wondered, leaning his body against the chain

of the swing he occupied as he faced her.

―I run my own business back on the mainland.‖

―What kind of business?‖ He pulled her swing closer and took a

spoonful of ice cream for himself.

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23

―I‘m an electrician.‖ Her body tensed as she waited for the normal

male response of disbelief. It never came.

―Awesome.‖

Slanting her reddish-brown gaze at him, she watched him as if uncer-

tain he wouldn‘t say something else, something condescending. But all he did

was point to her ice cream and open his lovely shaped mouth.

―Thank you,‖ he mumbled after she gave him a bite.

Kacy licked the spoon clean, not seeing the flare of heat in his eyes.

Resting her head on the chain she watched the lights of ships in the harbor as

her bare toes dug in the sand. ―What do you do for the Navy, Ernst?‖

His eyes roving over her profile, he said, ―I‘m a SEAL.‖

―Well, I guess that
should
explain the dislike with you and the Del-

tas.‖ She scraped the bottom of the cup getting all she could. ―It fits.‖

We fit.
Touching her arm, Ernst waited for her to look at him. ―Why

do you say that?‖ He got off the swing and beckoned her to do the same.

―You are very confident. Self assured, not in a bad way.‖ She slid her

arm through his as her feet found their reluctant way back into her sandals.

―The ones you played against also seemed such a way.‖

Ernst took the empty ice cream container from her and carried it. He

loved the way she fit against his body. It would be a lie to say he wasn‘t

imagining what it would be like with her naked. His body throbbed painful-

ly.

―Do you know many SEALs?‖ he asked as he tried to get his body to

calm down.

―I must say you are my first,‖ Kacy said, leaning her head against his

shoulder while they walked.

Tossing the container into the trash receptacle they passed, he

grinned.
And I will be the first SEAL you do lots of things with. I will be the only

SEAL you do things with. The only man.
―Well, you know what they say about

your first.‖

Kacy stopped and faced him. ―No, what?‖

Ernst looked down at the woman who stood on a hillside in the

moonlight with him. Her beauty took his breath away, and he knew in that

moment she was the one for him.

Maybe Ross was right, that his heart and soul knew before his brain

could comprehend. Being there with her filled him with such a sense of

peace, of contentment, of love. He barely knew her but knew she was his

future.

―That they remain your true love.‖ His callused hand stroked the

side of her face. ―Your only love.‖

―Is that what they say?‖ her doubtful tone rang.

He nodded. ―Oh, yeah.‖

―Funny, I‘ve never heard that before.‖

24

Aliyah Burke

―Must be an old German saying.‖

Trouble lurked behind her eyes, ―An old German saying, huh? Like

‗Heil Hitler‘ is an old German saying? You do kind of fit the description,

don‘t you? Blond hair, blue eyes.‖

―I am not a believer in that crap,‖ he growled, pulling her in closer.

―But you
are
German, and according to you, that was an old German

saying!‖

Catching the twitch of her lips, Ernst realized she was teasing him.

―It is a very famous old German saying. Don‘t you have any German in

you?‖

―I thought military men were supposed to be observant.‖ She tapped

him on the end of his Roman nose. ―Do I look like I have German in me?‖

His deep voice dropped even lower as he whispered against her lips,

―Would you like some?‖

Kacy closed her eyes and trembled against him. ―Do you know

where I can find a German who may be interested?‖

―Open your eyes,
meine geliebte
. He‘s right in front of you.‖ His warm

breath brushed against her skin.

Heavy, it was so hard to open her eyes. Kacy found his haunting

gaze fixed firmly on her. ―I‘m sorry,‖ she mumbled. ―I can‘t.‖

―Don‘t apologize. As much as I would love to make love to you right

here, right now. I want to get to know you. But when you are ready…this is

all the German you will ever need.‖ He brushed his cheek against hers,

allowing her to feel the stubble that was beginning to grow.

Any second now Kacy knew she was going to wake up and find he

was all a dream. No man was this kind, this caring, or this understanding. ―I

shouldn‘t have teased you.‖

―I‘m not a little boy. I can handle the word ‗no.‘ Come on.‖ He

tugged her arm and led her down the hill towards the water. ―I want to show

you something.‖