Harrier's Healer (14 page)

through last night and her feelings. “If I pay no heed to what he said,

perhaps he won’t mention it either.”
You know hearing those words from

him was like being handed the moon.
“Men always say things they don’t

mean when they are in bed having sex.”
Sex? You didn’t have sex, y’all

made love. Slow, tender, and sweet, sweet love.

Body throbbing at the memories of how his touch inflamed her

nerves, Alexis stumbled and took a minute to regain her surefooted

strides. “It was sex! Granted, really,
really
good sex but sex just the

same.” Her mouth clamped shut as she realized she had blurted that

out while jogging past an old couple walking. She could feel eyes

watching her retreating back.
Please, you know that couple is still gettin’

they swerve on!

Alexis slowed to a walk as she rolled her eyes and began her

cool-down process. There were times her brain was like a whole other

entity within her.
There are medical terms for that. Dissociation. Schizophre-

nia.
Rubbing her temples, her body instinctively fell into her usual pace

as she tried to shut out her brain’s ramblings.

Twenty minutes later, her cooled-down body stood at the edge

of the asphalt path. Her body was sore, both from her run and spend-

ing the night with a man named Scott. Point blank, she was tired. But it

was a good tired. Very good.

As she was reforming her disastrous ponytail, a large set of mas-

culine hands reached around her. “Why didn’t you wait for me? I

would’ve run with you.”

I needed to think on some things.
“I don’t think I could keep up

with you.”

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His teeth nipped at her neck. “You did fine last night.” His ton-

gue gently caressed the spot where he had bitten, as if to heal it. “How

are you feeling this morning?”

“Good,” she answered, leaning her sweaty body against his dry

one.

“Well, good. Make yourself at home, Alexis. I am going to take a

short run.” His hands caressed her belly as if he imagined her carrying

his child already.
“I love you,” Scott whispered before slipping past her

and moving off down the beach, looking dangerous and graceful at the

same time. Like a shark. How fitting.

Alexis walked into his cabin and took in the splendor it offered

again. “Damn, this is a nice place.” The phone rang but she ignored it as

she walked up the polished stairs to the master bedroom. Grabbing

another set of clothes, she entered the marbled bathroom where she

stood contentedly under the pounding spray of three water heads that

massaged away her soreness.

Twenty minutes later she was back downstairs, her body dry, lo-

tioned, and dressed, standing in the kitchen and pouring herself a glass

of orange juice. Taking the glass she went out to the porch that wrapped

around the home. Choosing one of the built-in benches, she sat down

on the cushion and watched as the sun climbed higher in the sky over

the ocean.

C h a p t e r T w e l v e

Holding a plate of fresh fruit in his hands, Scott stopped outside

the sliding glass door and just stared. There Alexis sat, her back against

the railing, as her golden-brown gaze overlooked the ocean. Propped

beside her on the rail was an empty glass.

Her legs were drawn up to her chest, hands locked around the

shins, and her chin rested on her knees. She wore a plum tee-shirt and a

pair of gray sweats, her bare feet stuck out from beneath the soft ma-

terial. Hair that shone in the morning sun hung free around her.

Finally, she is in my place. And now that I have experienced my life

with her in it, I don’t want to experience it without her.
His eyes drifted to

her abdomen and he sighed.
Please let there be a child growing in her.

Padding across the smooth cedar deck, he moved his freshly

showered body towards the woman who ignored him. Her gaze never

left the water.

Sliding the full plate beneath her nose, he interrupted her silent

musings. “Fruit?”

Her body jerked. “Oh, I didn’t hear you,” she said in her throaty

voice. “When did you get back?” She glanced at her watch. “What time

is it?”

“I haven’t been back long.” He smiled as Alexis took the plate

from him and crossed her legs so he could sit in front of her.

Her gaze flicked over him. “Long enough to shower and shave.”

“I was sweaty.” Eyes darkened with memories of being sweaty

with her.

Popping a fat blueberry in her mouth, she swallowed it before

she smiled. “So, what is on the agenda for today?”

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His eyes drifted over her body with obvious desire. “You are in

charge, Alexis, my love. You tell me what you want to do.”

Alexis shuddered at the sexual innuendo in his rich voice. Her

eyes took in the fact that all he wore was a pair of faded blue jeans that

adhered to his body like nobody’s business. Her eyes grew hooded as

she ate a few more succulent blueberries. “What around here is good?”

“I am.” Scott leaned over the plate that sat between them and

kissed her. She tasted of blueberries and Alexis.

With a moan, she opened her mouth to accept his searching ton-

gue. One of her legs dropped to the floor as her body pressed towards

his.

Scott drew back, his eyes riveted on her with a promise in them.

He picked up a bite-sized chunk of honeydew and slipped the juicy

fruit between her lips. His tongue swept away the remains of the juice

on her chin. “Would you like to go scuba diving?” he asked, observing

her as she enjoyed the fruit.

After she swallowed, Alexis took a wedge of kiwi and held it out

for him. As his mouth drew in her fingers along with the green treat, he

saw her eyes flash. “Yes,” she purred. “Scuba diving would be wonder-

ful.”

“Let’s get going or we won’t be going at all. Well, we’d be going

somewhere but not anywhere close to the boat.” Scott popped a few

more bites of fruit in his mouth as he stood and waited for Alexis to go

ahead of him.

“I am going to have to put a waterproof sealant on that wound

of yours,” Alexis announced as he drove them to the marina.

“You do care. You don’t want me to be hurt.” He smiled, tossing

a glance at her.

She smirked. “No, I don’t want my shark wrangler to die on me

and leave me as bait for those things.”

Rich laughter filled the car. “So I’m just protection?”

“Pretty much.” Alexis watched him out of the corner of her eye.

Scott scowled. “Maybe I should just pull over here along this

stretch of highway and show you just how important I am. And what

other uses I have to offer you.”

Making out with you in a ’Vette? Bad thoughts. Horny thoughts.

“My, aren’t we touchy.”

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Aliyah Burke

He growled. “I could be.”

Alexis reached across the car and trailed her fingers along one

rock hard thigh. “I hope you are. But later,” she added as his eyes grew

dark. Her soft laughter filled the car at his frustrated face.

“You are up on your cert, right?” he asked, the wind rushing

over them in the top-down convertible.

“I’m good. Just redid it last month.” She cut her intoxicating

eyes to him and said, “I’m not even going to ask you.”

Scott just smiled as he pulled into the marina and drove down to

slip 4B. Turning off the car, he got out and opened Alexis’s door for her.

After shutting it, he leaned against the door only to tug her back into

him, his strong thighs cradling her softer ones between them.

Lean fingers brushed her hair back from her neck in an affectio-

nate gesture, exposing the string that held up her bikini top. Her eyes

were curious as she spoke. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” he admitted in that deep voice of his. “I just wanted

to hold you.” Fingertips danced along her arms.

“’Kay,” Alexis responded as her body sank against his.

For a few moments they just stood together in each other’s arms.

“You do know that what I said to you last night was real, right?”

Her eyes flew open but she couldn’t move because his arms

seemed to solidify around her, becoming immovable. “Look—”

“No, you look, or rather listen since if I loosen my grip you will

run. I meant each and every one of those words that I said to you.
Every

single one
—”

“Harrier!” a loud shout interrupted him. “Hell, man, I was be-

ginning to wonder if you were ever gonna show up!”

Alexis jumped but found herself still unable to get free. “Hey,

Terry,” Scott said as his hands continued to caress her skin. Turning her

head, Alexis was surprised to see a large black man striding towards

them. He was huge all over, nothing but muscle.

The newcomer’s black eyes ran smoothly over the woman held

in his friend’s embrace. “Is this her? Makes sense that you would be

late.” The booming question came as the man slowed to a stop before

Scott.

With a smile, Scott let go of Alexis and hugged the man named

Terry. “God, it is so good to see you, man,” he said.

Trunk-like arms returned the hearty hug as Alexis spun, leaned

back against the door of the black convertible, and watched the two

friends’ reunion. “It has been a long time. Now let me look at you.” He

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pulled back, exposing a strikingly white smile against his dark skin and

then hugged his friend again. “Looks like being a SEAL has been good

for you.”

Scott laughed. “Too long, my friend. It has been too long and,

yes, being a SEAL does agree with me.” He stepped back.

He had turned halfway towards Alexis when a feminine squeal

filled the air. “
Hhhaaarrrrriiieeerrrr
!” Three sets of eyes turned towards

the shriek and they all saw a very shapely and beautiful younger black

woman running up the pier. From five feet away she jumped straight at

the blond man, who caught her easily and spun her around. Those long

limbs of hers encircled his body as she hugged him tight. “I’ve missed

you,” her husky voice said.

Drawing back, Scott smiled at the woman he held so familiarly

in his arms. “Wow, Stacey, you are growing up so fast.” He kissed her

cheek. “You are one beautiful woman.” Alexis narrowed her tawny-

colored eyes slightly.

Stacey wrinkled up her nose. “I’m grown.”

Scott nodded. “I can definitely see that.” It was with obvious

care that he set her back down on her own two feet.

“Who is that?” A hint of an attitude crossed Stacey’s face as she

pointed at Alexis standing impassively.

A smile crossed Scott’s face as he met Terry’s gaze. “Y’all, I

would like to introduce you to Alexis Rogets.
Dr
. Alexis Rogets.” One

tanned hand reached back and brought the woman who was now the

center of attention to stand in front of him. Scott slid one arm around

her waist. “Alexis, I would like you to meet Terry West and his daugh-

ter Stacey.”

With a kind smile she held out one hand. “It is nice to meet you,

Mr. West. And you, Ms. West.”

That same booming laugh filled the air. “Polite to a fault, Ms.

Rogets. What are you doing with this lubber, anyway?”

Alexis raised an eyebrow. “I have met him a few times and he

invited me down for the week. Please call me Lex.”

“Lex it is. Call me Terry or Skipper like everyone else. Come on,

pretty lady, I have some questions for you. And I know everyone else is

dying to meet the woman Harrier brought with him.” As if they’d

known each other forever, Terry took her arm and began to lead her

down towards the pier to where a fifty foot yacht was moored. About

seven other people wandered around, waiting for the late arrivals.

“Lex,” a deep voice purred behind her.

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Aliyah Burke

She turned and saw Scott staring at her intensely, ignoring the

young woman beside him. “Yes?”

He approached and held her gaze until he was close enough to

touch her and his lips descended upon hers. The kiss was quick, power-

ful, and proprietary. Everyone now knew that she was Harrier’s wom-

an. “I love you,” he mouthed as he stepped back and allowed her to be

acquired once again by his friend.

Limbs shaky, Alexis walked with the large man onto the waiting

yacht, followed by Scott and Stacey who was busy sending glares at her

back. Everyone there waited eagerly to meet her and, as blue eyes that

could stop her heart watched over her, Alexis met everyone on board.

They were all friends from the Officer Candidate School in Annapolis,

Maryland. Terry had been Scott’s roommate, so their friendship was the

oldest. Stacey’s mother had gone to the store one day and just never

came back, so Terry had become a single father while still in high school

and Stacey had known Scott for much of her life.

There were also two other couples. Brian and Randi Eddington