Her Forbidden Marine (Hearts Ablaze: Men in Uniform Book 2) (7 page)

Matt watched in disbelief as Becky bolted out the front door.  He wasn’t sure if he should chase after Becky and beg her to stay or let her cool down.  He’d lost his shit a few moments ago, taunting her with reminders of all the ways he’d enjoyed her body last night.  But it was more than a quick fuck to him—didn’t she get that?  “Damn it!” he shouted, punching the back of his sofa.  The soft cushions that met his fist were not nearly satisfying enough, and he longed to be at the gym pounding the hell out of a boxing bag.  Had Becky even wanted to be with him?  Maybe she’d been imagining she was with Brody or some other man.

But no, he couldn’t have dreamed up the way she’d cried out his name over and over, clung to him as he made love to her, or gazed helplessly into his eyes.  She was falling, too.  He knew it.  He knew her.  She was just scared to be feeling something for a change.  Hell if he wasn’t, too.  He’d been numb for the past year with grief and loss, and now for the first time he’d felt calm because of her.  He hadn’t even been with a woman for over a year, but had he told Becky that?  Hell no.  She probably thought he went out every weekend to find a new woman to take home.

Matt was starting to regret all those times he’d bolted from the room when she’d been dating Brody.  Apparently she didn’t know him at all, thinking he’d have her in his bed for one night and be done with her.  Maybe he’d fooled around a bit in his younger days, but those were long behind him now.  And he would never do that to her.  Could she really not realize that?

His cell phone rang from where he’d left it on the dresser, and he stalked back into his bedroom, surprised to see Jason’s name on his caller ID.

“Jason, is everything okay?”  Maybe something had happened on base and he needed to report in.  He couldn’t imagine many reasons why Jason would be calling him this early on a Sunday morning. 

“You tell me.  Is Becky with you?”

“Becky?  No, uh, she just left,” Matt said, feeling guilty for telling Jason that Becky had spent the night.  If Becky wanted to share that information with anyone that was her choice, but Matt sure wasn’t one to kiss and tell.  He didn’t really have many options under the circumstances now though, did he?  Becky was already mad as hell, and if her friends or sister were looking for her, he’d have even more pissed off women on his hands if he lied about it.  “Is there a problem?”

Matt heard Jason talking to someone in the background.  “Amy got a call from Becky’s sister this morning.  From Melissa.  I guess she was worried when Becky never came home last night.  Not that it’s any of my business what you do, but Amy and Melissa were concerned enough that I said I’d call you.”

“Yeah, she just left here.  She didn’t have a car though.  I’ll go outside and see if she’s still around.  I thought Melissa was picking her up.”

“No, she never heard from her,” Jason said, sounding concerned.

“She’s probably out front,” Matt said with a sigh.  “She was, uh, pretty pissed off at me.  I’ll go check on her and call you back.”

“Give me your address; we’ll come pick her up.”

“No, I’ll drive her home.  I’m sure she can handle a few more minutes with me.”

“All right, I’ll let Amy know.  Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

Matt grabbed his wallet and keys, heading for the front door.  Hell if this morning was turning out a lot differently than he’d imagined when he woke up with Becky tucked safely in his arms.  Maybe he could calm her down on the way home, explain.  If she knew that he truly cared about her, she couldn’t stay mad, could she?  He sighed as he jogged out to the parking lot.  Even if she would forgive him for this morning, he’d still have to somehow convince her to take that leap of faith with him.

Becky thanked the cab driver, handing him a wad of cash as they pulled up to Melissa’s house.  Melissa’s car was gone, and Becky wondered where she’d be so early on a Saturday morning.  No bother, she’d leave her a quick note and grab her things.  Thankfully most of her belongings were still in her suitcase, so packing wouldn’t take long.  She’d just stuff in the dirty clothes that were currently piled on the floor, grab her toiletries from the bathroom, and be off.  It turned out a week at home was about all she could handle.  She’d booked a flight back to California on the cab ride over and had just enough time to drive to the airport, drop of her rental car, and catch her afternoon flight.

Her parents would be upset that she’d left without saying goodbye, but there was no way Becky could stay here a second longer after the way things had ended with Matt this morning.  What had she been thinking getting involved with him?  Sure the man was hotter than sin, but he’d acted like a total jackass, throwing everything back in her face when she’d decided to leave.  She hadn’t so much as kissed a guy in over a year, much less spent the night in his bed.  The only man she’d ever been with had been Brody.  Although their sex life had been plenty satisfying, it barely even compared to the off-the-charts chemistry she had with Matt.  She’d let her guard down and let him in, given herself over to him, and what had he done?  Nothing but taunt her and throw their night together back in her face.

And seriously, how ironic was it that Matt was the one that wanted them to keep seeing each other?  Wasn’t he the king of one-night-stands?  She’d taken a chance with him for one night, but that didn’t mean she could give him her heart.  Not when it had been battered beyond all repair a year ago.  Hot tears streamed down her face as she stuffed the last of her things into her suitcase and heaved it off the bed.  She jotted a quick note to Melissa, leaving it on the kitchen table, and was dismayed to see her tear stains blurring some of the words.  Wiping her eyes, she turned to go.  This wasn’t how she wanted to leave things at home, but it was probably for the best that she went back to California.  After putting her suitcase in the trunk, she slammed it shut, driving out of Melissa’s neighborhood and winding her way through town.  Before long she was heading north on Interstate 95.  Melissa would probably be home soon and be furious, but for now Becky needed to just put all of this behind her and get back to her real life.

***

The plane touched down in California six hours later after a smooth ride.  Sunshine beamed in through the windows as they taxied down the runway, and Becky sighed in relief.  Despite having grown up in Virginia, it was California that now felt like home.  Although she’d once imagined leaving here, the memories of Brody too strong, she wasn’t sure now what she wanted to do.  Hurt and anger could follow her anywhere.  If she found a job at the university after she graduated, she would probably stay, she realized.  Her life was here now, and whether or not Brody or Matt or anyone else was in it, didn’t matter.  She had to follow her own dreams.

She turned her phone back on as she waited at the baggage claim and wasn’t surprised to see a slew of text messages and voicemails.  She had about ten texts from Melissa, from both when she was out looking for her and from when she’d returned home to find Becky’s note.  They’d gone from worried to downright furious, and Becky sighed.  Melissa certainly had the famed redheaded temper, but Becky knew she’d probably calmed down by now.  She sent her a quick text letting her know that she’d landed and saying she’d call later.  Jade had texted to ask where she and Matt had disappeared to last night but didn’t seem worried.  Her mother had left a worried voicemail asking her to call.  She’d expected to have a message from Matt and found herself oddly disappointed that he hadn’t called or texted her.  If he was so damn concerned about her, he had a funny way of showing it.  He’d let her walk right out his front door and hadn’t tried once to contact her since then.  Not that he could’ve changed her mind, but it was the principle of it.  For someone who claimed that he wanted to be with her, he had a damn funny way of showing it.

After collecting her things, Becky caught a cab back to her apartment off-campus.  Her roommate had gone home for the winter break, so Becky had the entire place to herself.  She dragged her suitcase to her bedroom, collapsing onto her bed.  She needed to take a long, hot, shower and then grab Mexican from her favorite place around the corner.  It wouldn’t exactly solve her problems, but a couple of margaritas and some chips and salsa wouldn’t hurt, either.  Not after the hell of a day that she’d had.  After she’d cleaned up and gotten some decent food in her, she’d call her sister and parents.  Although they wouldn’t be happy she’d flown home early, they’d understand her reasons.

Her cell phone rang, and Becky glanced down to see her sister’s number.  Deciding to face the music sooner rather than later, she picked it up.

“Hey Melissa.  I just got back to my apartment.  Did you get my text?”

“Yes, I got your text!  And the note you left on my kitchen table.  What’s gotten into you?  You disappear with Matt last night, never come home, and then he shows up this morning looking for you.  I was worried sick!”

“I’m sorry.  Wait—he came over?  Didn’t he tell you I was at his place last night?”

“Yes, only after I threatened him with bodily harm.”

Becky smiled, despite herself, imagining Melissa ranting and raving at Matt.  It was hard to imagine Matt being intimidated by anyone, and she wondered how that argument had fared.  “I just needed to get out of there.  Coming home this year was a mistake.”

“God, Becky, don’t be so melodramatic.  So you got in a fight with a guy—big deal.  Does that really require flying back across the country?  My ex-fiancé dumped me, and I didn’t leave.  We still live in the same damn town!”

“Right, and you’ve handled that so well,” Becky said sarcastically.

“Look, I don’t know what exactly happened between you and Matt this morning, but he was pretty worried about you.”

“We slept together, okay?  I haven’t been with anyone since Brody—no, scratch that.  Brody is the
only
guy I’ve ever been with, and what do I do to move on?  Have sex with his best friend.”

“Well, it’s not like Brody would expect you to be alone for the rest of your life.  You’re twenty-five for God’s sake!”

“Don’t yell at me!”

“For heaven’s sake Becky, you deserve to be happy.  Whether that’s with Matt or any other man, don’t keep dwelling in the past.  I know you’re scared of getting hurt again, but you can’t live your life alone.”

“I’m not living it alone,” Becky protested.  “I have plenty of friends.”

“What did Matt do to piss you off so much anyway?”

“Nothing.  He  wanted to keep seeing each other, and I said that we couldn’t.”

“You don’t like him?”

“Well of course I like him.  I wouldn’t have gone home with him last night otherwise.”

“So let me get this straight—you’re mad that a guy you like wants to date you?  Yeah, that sounds really awful Becky.  I’d pack my bags and run, too.”

“I didn’t run,” Becky protested.  “I flew home.”

Melissa laughed, her initial giggles soon turning into hysterics.  “You ran so fast you practically left tire tracks smoking in my driveway.  Is that how it’s going to be from now on?  A guy shows interest in you, and you bolt?”

“It wouldn’t have worked,” Becky replied, hesitation growing within her.  All right, maybe she had overreacted just a little.  She could have just calmly told Matt she didn’t want to date anyone right now.  Or ever again.  Anyone would agree that she’d dealt with enough heartache to last her a lifetime.  Why couldn’t Matt see that, too?  She couldn’t risk giving someone her heart again, leaving it open to fate to determine her future.

“You keep telling yourself that.  I’ll call Mom and Dad to let them know you’re okay.”

“Thanks.  Sorry to have freaked you out this morning.”

“Yeah, you owe me for that.  Big time.”

Becky laughed.  “What’d you have in mind?”

“I have two nonrefundable tickets to Hawaii.  And I just decided that you’re going with me.”

“That’s my punishment?  Taking a vacation?”

“Uh-huh.  Michael gave me the honeymoon tickets when we cancelled the wedding, but I can’t go alone.  That’s just too damn sad.  So you’re coming with me.”

“All right, email me the details.  We can probably work something out.  I’ve never been to Hawaii.”

“Love you, Becky.”

“Love you, too.  Bye.”

Matt ordered a Corona with lime from the attractive young bartender, sinking down onto one of the barstools.  Man, what a day.  The pretty blonde leaned over the bar as she brought over his beer, flashing her ample cleavage at him, but he only nodded and turned away, taking in the festive atmosphere of the restaurant.  The cheerful colors and mariachi music didn’t really suit his mood right now, but he was determined to figure out his game plan.  The scent of sizzling fajitas had him realizing that he hadn’t eaten all day long, and his stomach rumbled.  Hell, when was the last time he’d been so distracted he didn’t even have time to eat?

Some things in life were worth taking a chance for, damn it, and he wasn’t about to let the one thing he needed slip through his fingers.  He’d been numb for too long, going through the motions of life but not really living it.  Nothing he did was going to bring Brody back or change the way the ambush had played out.  He’d survived, and he owed it to his friend to appreciate the gift of life that he’d been given.  And if that included begging Becky to give him a chance, then so be it.  He’d fallen for her the very first time he’d seen her years ago, and he’d fallen in love with her a little bit more every day since.  Ignoring her hadn’t quashed his feelings.  Pretending he could never have her hadn’t dulled the longing inside.  The only moment he’d felt complete was when he’d held her in his arms.

He took a pull from his beer, wondering if she’d even answer her phone if he called her.  He’d felt like his own heart was being ripped out when he’d shown up at Melissa’s, and she’d thrust the tear-stained note Becky had left in his face.  Melissa had given him hell. It was nothing compared to the way he’d been beating himself up inside though.  She could call him every name in the book, and it wouldn’t hurt any more than when Becky had run out his door.

The door to the restaurant jangled, and he looked over in surprise.  She had on a pretty yellow sundress that softly fell over her curves and clutched a book in one hand, apparently intending to eat here alone.  Her brown hair looked damp, like she’d just showered.  She felt his gaze upon her as she walked in and looked up, her mouth dropping open in shock.  The book fell to the floor, and Matt was up in an instant, crossing the room with long strides, pulling a crying Becky into his arms.  He breathed in the flowery scent of her shampoo, felt her warmth and soft curves.  She collapsed against him, her petite frame fitting perfectly against him, her head tucked safely under his chin, her small body wrapped firmly in his arms.  Her body shook with tears, and he ducked his head low, whispering into her ear, “It’s okay, baby, I’ve got you.”

***

Becky glanced up into Matt’s concerned brown eyes, unwilling to believe that he was really here.  She’d been upset that he’d never even called her, tried to contact her, and here the man had been flying all the way across the country to see her.  To pull her into his arms.  She stepped back from his embrace, running her hands over his taught forearms, his muscular biceps, finally daring to touch his face.  He was looking down at her with such love and affection in his eyes, it was hard to believe she’d been scared of anything at all with Matt, let alone the chance of a future together.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.  “I’m sorry.”  She stretched up onto her tip-toes and kissed him, needing his warmth and heat and gentle kisses as much as she needed her next breath.

The few patrons in the restaurant broke into applause, and Becky blushed and buried her face into Matt’s chest as he grinned.  “Maybe we should take this reunion elsewhere,” he murmured softly into her ear.

“My apartment’s just around the corner.”  Becky grabbed Matt’s hand as he bent to retrieve her book, and a moment later the two were hurriedly walking out the front door and down the block.

Matt captured her waist in his arms once they’d gotten inside her apartment and gazed down at her.  “It’s always been you, Becky,” he said, his voice gruff.

“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” she asked softly.  “I’ve known you for years.”

“You were with my best friend.  I just wanted you to be happy.”  He ducked his head down, kissing her gently.

“I am happy, Matt.  I was just scared.  I haven’t felt alive in an entire year—not until I saw you.  You’re the only man I’ve ever been with, aside from Brody, and I panicked.”

“I’d never hurt you.”

“I know.  I want us to be together.”

“Thank God,” he said, dipping his head down for a tender kiss.  His eyes grew heated, and he slipped a finger under the thin strap of her sundress, lightly caressing her skin as he trailed his hand lower toward her chest.  “Did I tell you that you look sexy as hell in this little number?” he asked huskily, gently kissing and sucking on the side of her neck as she gasped.

“You can tell me now,” she teased.

He palmed her breast through the thin fabric, squeezing and caressing her with strong fingers, and ducked his head down, kissing along her cleavage.  “So. Damn. Gorgeous.”

“Matt,” she moaned, warmth seeping through her entire body and desire pooling at her center, dampening the panties she wore.  His thumb caressed her taught nipple through the flimsy dress, and she gasped.

“I want to take you just like this,” he said gruffly.  “I want to look at you in this dress as I sink deep inside you.”

She palmed his erection through his trousers, stroking him through the fabric as he hissed.  He lifted her dress and slid her panties down her legs, helping her step out of them.  Then, unzipping his pants, his erection sprang out.  He grabbed a condom from his wallet and Becky took it from him, sheathing his firm length.  He lifted her into his arms and backed her against the door, his body pinning her against it.  His erection prodded at her wet folds, and she reached down, guiding him to her entrance.  The both moaned as he slowly sank inside her, his thick length stretching and filling her completely.  Every movement he made brushed the base of his erection against her throbbing clit, and she gasped as she already began to come undone.

She clung to his broad shoulders, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as their bodies joined together.  He took her harder, thrusting deeper as she bucked wildly against him.  “Come for me, Becky,” he ground out.  The sound of his deep voice growling against her ear sent her flying, and she cried out his name as he tightened his grip around her, lifting her up and down his shaft.  “Becky!” he cried out and then shattered, releasing himself deep inside her hot channel.  Becky gasped as she clamped down tighter around him, a light sheen of sweat coating her entire body.  She felt limp from her mind-blowing orgasm, and Matt was still impossibly hard inside of her.

“Which way is your bedroom?”

“There,” she said desperately, pointing down the hall.

He carried her down the hallway, still buried deep inside her, right where he belonged.  After he gently placed her on the bed, he shucked out of his shirt and pants, stalking back toward her.  He bent down for a kiss, and she pulled him on top of her, laughing as he rolled them so she was straddling him.

“I want you to be mine, Becky,” he said, his brown eyes filled with heat.

“I’m already yours, Matt.”

“I’ve always been yours,” he replied, pulling her down toward him and kissing her tenderly.  “I’ve always been yours.”