Harbour of Refuge (38 page)

“Michelle.” He hated how gravelled his voice sounded.

Green eyes watched him steadily. “You were going to leave without a word?”

He put his gaze on their…her father. Martin Walker showed his age. He seemed so tired and worn out. However, in his eyes, there was anger. The siblings had taken after their mother. Giovanni had always teased Mike about being so pretty. Now his body had been so badly burnt and mangled it had had to be a closed-casket ceremony.

“No,” he managed to say as he glanced from father to daughter. “I was going to wait by the car. Allow you final moments.”

Martin shook his hand briefly then nudged Michelle. She lifted one gloved hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. “Take this.” She held the flag out to him.

His heart seized as he glanced at the flag.
Stars uppermost to remind us of our nation’s motto.

“No. I can’t. That is for you.”

Her smile was shaky at best. “Mike would want you to have it.”

Giovanni glanced to Martin, ready to plead his case, only to pause. The look Martin bore told him the flag wouldn’t be going back with them. Martin was in a rage from having just buried his only son. He focused on Michelle and saw the opposite. She loathed to give it up and was only doing so for her father.

Almost as if he hovered outside his body, he saw himself reaching for the flag. Michelle relinquished it to him but didn’t step back. Instead, she lifted his hand, pressed the flag against his chest, and hugged him.

“Keep him safe,” she whispered in his ear.

More of those damn tears threatened. “When you’re ready to take it…” He trailed off.

“Thank you, Giovanni.”

“Michelle!” Martin barked.

She flinched at the tone but squeezed him one more time. A quick peck on the lips and she was gone. They were gone. Moreover, he stood in the raining cemetery, holding the flag given for the loss of his best friend’s life. The thunder rolled, ominous, and the rain picked up even more.

He needed a drink. Badly. And, after he returned to his hotel room and changed from his uniform, he set off to do just that.

* * * *

The bar was crowded and noisy. Just what he wanted—a place to become invisible. He claimed a corner booth and sat there, bottle of Jack on the table beside him. He poured a drink for his fallen friend and drank it.

“Here’s to you, Sidewinder.”

Then he did his best to forget the pain inside him. He knew what Mike would have said. “Find a woman and enjoy life. Don’t cry for me.”

Easier to think than to do. With dispassionate eyes, he watched the activity around him. Many women sauntered up to him, only to leave again when he ignored them.

He poured another drink, craving the blur it made of his memory. He paused with his glass halfway to his lips. An unfamiliar tingle skated along the back of his neck. Glancing around the establishment, he found himself focusing on a woman he didn’t recognise or recall entering. She sat with another but he couldn’t look away from her.

She had skin that reminded him of hot chocolate, with some whipped cream blended in. Lickable. Black hair drawn up and away from her face in a ponytail, it fell down to almost her shoulder blades. A low, purely animalistic reaction hit him square in the gut. His cock sprang to attention and he was halfway out of the booth before he realised it.

He sat back down, continuing to stare unabashedly at her. He could see she wore an ice blue crossover top. All he longed to do was trail the straps with his tongue and see where they would lead. Discover her taste, her smell.

Her head fell back and her laughter—he assumed it was laughter by the smile on her and the other woman’s faces—seemed to add to the glow about her. He scowled when two rather large men blocked his view.

Draining his drink, he pushed to his feet then headed over there. It made absolutely no sense, especially for not having even been introduced to her, how possessive he felt towards this mystery woman. He came up around them and immediately his gaze honed in on her.

Yes, definitely lickable. And biteable.

She had full lips he wanted to kiss, a small, cute nose, and large eyes that were framed by thick, curved lashes. A punch to his solar plexus had him sucking for air when she pinned her gaze on him. Those eyes were killers, multi-hued like a tortoiseshell, and he felt himself willingly falling in.

He glanced at the other two men, moved his gaze on to the second woman before settling once more on his woman. “Dance with me.” It wasn’t a question or a request, but that was his way.

She stared at him, her unique eyes assessing, and he fought the urge to shift when he believed she’d seen past the outer shell. A slight grin lifted the corners of her lush mouth.

“Sure.” Her voice fell smooth, thick, and rich like honey.

She slid from the booth and he held his ground so she would have to brush against him. A plan that didn’t work as he’d intended. His cock was ready to punch free at the tantalising sweep of her full breasts across his chest.

“Let’s go,” she said with a smile that made him think about thrusting his shaft in and out of her mouth.

Gesturing for her to lead the way, he followed the seductive sway of her hips, which were draped in a tight, white leather skirt. He groaned and dragged his gaze down and over her long, lean legs and her fuck-me heels the same colour as her shirt.

Fuck!

He almost lost it right then and there. So he lengthened his stride to catch up to her. With those sexy heels, she would fit just right against him. He guessed her height without heels to be about five-seven.

She tossed her head and rotated back to him. Her gaze took another trip along his body and he bit back his responding groan. The music changed to a slow, sultry ballad. Her eyes showed her hesitation and he reached out to draw her close before she left him standing there.

A flirtatious smile lifted her lips as she willingly came closer to him. Her bare arms slipped around his neck and he took a shuddering breath when she pressed tight against him. Ignoring the fire in his blood, he placed his hands at her waist, fingers grazing the small of her back.

“What’s with guys and issuing demands? You could have asked me to dance, you know.”

He slid his hands around to cup her ass, bringing her flush to his blatant erection. “You could have said no.”

“I get the feeling that isn’t a word you hear very often.”

It was true. His call sign wasn’t Casanova without good reason. “Not too much.”

Her fingers stroked along the back of his neck. He felt on fire, both inside and out. Each step took them closer to the edge of the dance floor. By the time the song ended, the two of them were in a darker hallway.

He lowered his head, giving her half a second to stop him. She didn’t. Her mouth met his. She played the aggressor, sliding her tongue in and around his. Lust blazed to life in him and he ground into her, making his desire very clear. She moaned, a sexy sound—it came from the back of her throat and moved through him like electricity.

His grip on her grew possessive as he took control of the kiss. She tasted like mint. Not peppermint or spearmint. Raw mint. Pure mint. It was addictive as hell and he couldn’t get enough. The feel of her against him, the taste of her—together they lessened the pain that had consumed him since the accident.

He tore his mouth from hers and nibbled his way down her neck. Her gasp of pleasure coinciding with how she tilted her head to give him better access spurred him on. It didn’t matter that they were in a busy bar hallway. All that mattered was her. And sinking his hard length fully within her molten heat.

His hands began moving beneath her short skirt, seeking his prize. She pushed on him and he drew back to glance down at her. Flushed. Passionate. Delectable.

“Hold on there, handsome. I’m not into exhibitionism.”

He gazed to his right and saw two men loitering there. Voyeuristic pleasure on their faces. “Go!” he said in a growl so low the word was hard to decipher.

The meaning not. They left after only a few more leers at the woman in his arms. Again alone, he placed his gaze back on her. He held her stare before slanting his mouth back over hers.

“We need to stop,” she said, a bit breathlessly, when he broke the kiss.

“Why?”

She took some deep breaths. “I came for a dance with you. Not to get fucked against a wall.” She gave him a small grin. “Besides, I’m the DD and I have to get them home.”

Fury licked at his veins. “Don’t go with them. Those guys aren’t right for you.” What’d she need two of them for? He was more than enough for her.

She tipped her head back and laughed. A vibrant sound that made his knees shake.

“That’s cute, really. You think you know what’s best for me based on one dance and having your tongue down my throat.” It wasn’t a question. “Those two are like brothers to me, not that it’s any of your biz. Now I have to go. Early flight.”

She gently removed his touch from her then stepped around him. Unwilling to let her go, he captured her wrist and tugged. “Come with me.”

“You’re good,” she said with a small sigh. “Too good. That’s another thing I don’t do. You’ve got to me enough to get this far.”

She captured her lower lip in her teeth before moving nearer. With her free hand, she cupped the back of his head and pulled him close. Her eyes darkened and she kissed him. Her nails scored the back of his head as her tongue invaded. He went from controlled to locked and loaded in a flash.

The kiss ended and she pulled back. “Goodbye.”

Then she walked away. Her friends met her and he moved towards them to hear her voice. Her laughter. She expertly herded her group to the door where she paused and glanced back at him. Her eyes flared with heat and it took every last ounce of his control to remain where he was. In a flash of blue and white, she was gone and his world got considerably darker.

“I’m available.”

At the statement, he looked to see a woman dressed in too-tight clothing. “Of that I have no doubt.”

He strode off, ignoring her gasp of outrage. Barely slowing, he grabbed his jacket and made his way to the door. The night hadn’t gone exactly according to plan. With a snarl of frustration, he waved for a taxi. Slumping in the back seat, he gave the hotel before closing his eyes and using his memory to recreate the vixen from tonight.

He half stumbled from the taxi to his room, only to fall face first across his king-sized bed. Yep. He was close to wasted. Real close. Granted, touching his mystery woman had made the drinks’ effects slip away. All his focus had been on her, her minty flavour and that skin, that delectable, tempting, hot-chocolate skin.

All he’d wanted to do was bite, lick, and suck. Christ, even now—just thinking of her—his cock stiffened in his pants. He wanted her bad. Yes, he’d loved women before, but this was different. This woman got to him on a molecular level.

“Fuck it!” he uttered, flopping on to his back. Eyes closed he tried to forget he’d just buried his best friend.

He slept through all of the next day and was back at the bar the following night. Sat in the same booth and watched the door. He only nursed his drink this time. Hours passed, and he was ready to get up and leave when someone slid in across from him. He snapped his head over to growl, only to find himself staring into sparkling tortoiseshell eyes.

It took him a few moments to remember to breathe. She put his visual recollection of her to shame. Unlike last night, her hair fell loose around her face. Her large eyes peered at him unblinkingly.
How did she get here without me knowing?

She reached out and took his drink from him, moving it to the side. He reacted swiftly, capturing her hand in his. Hers was almost delicate, but he could feel both strength and calluses. He threaded their fingers, pleased to be touching her again, and returned his gaze to her face.

“Thought you had an early flight.” He stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb.

“I missed it.”

“Babysitting tonight?”

“Nope.”

He swallowed. “Come with me.”

Her response was to get to her feet and tug him up. He went willingly and drew her in close. Damn but he wanted to kiss her. Her confusion when he didn’t was obvious.

“I kiss you now, sweets, and we will be fucking right here on this table.” He watched heat flare in her eyes, making them almost molten gold. “Let’s go.”

He slid his arm around her waist and headed for the door. He moved the tips of his fingers in small circles on her hip. Outside he waved for a cab then looked at her.

She wore another amazing outfit. A tight ribbed coral tank top and another short leather skirt, black this time. More fuck-me heels, the colour of which matched her shirt.

“Why’d you come back?” he asked as the cab took them to his hotel.

“I don’t know. I tried to get on the plane but I couldn’t.”

He leaned close and nuzzled the side of her neck. She smelt as delicious as she had yesterday. He licked along her pulse and his cock throbbed at her answering moan.

“You okay with this?” He had to be sure.

She moved her head to the side, giving him better access. “Yes,” she said on a breathy sigh.

He shifted and placed his hand on her thigh, stroking just above her knee on the inside. He kissed her. Sucked on her tongue and searched for all the corners he could find. She leaned into him, one hand settling on his chest. Her response was explosive and he wanted to be away from public eyes.

The cab stopped and he barely looked at the man before tossing him some bills to cover the fare. Her hand in his, he led the way to his room. He was on her the second the door closed behind them.

Control gone, he dominated her mouth as he gripped her ass and pulled her flush to his rampant erection, ensuring she felt it. Her fingers threaded in his hair, pulling lightly, and he growled, a warning, or a promise, he wasn’t sure.

“Bed,” he rasped, tearing his mouth from hers. God, he was burning up. From the inside out.

“No. Here. Now.”

He fished a condom out of his pocket, freed himself, then sheathed his stiff cock. Pushing up her skirt, he found a fire-engine-red lace thong. “Shit, you’re killing me here.”