SEALed with a Kiss (Alpha SEALs Book 2) (8 page)

He met her gaze.  “I like you.”

She swallowed nervously.  His words were so right, but that didn’t negate the fact that he was all wrong.  “Evan, thanks for making us dinner, but I think you should go.”  She felt pinpricks of tears and abruptly stood, dropping her napkin onto the table.  “It just wouldn’t work between us.”  She wouldn’t let herself date another man who she had no future with.  The fact that she was already developing feelings for Evan just showed that she needed to end whatever this was.  Now.

“Ali,” Evan said, his voice gruff.

She was already exiting the kitchen, crossing through the living room.   Her mind whirled from the wine, the late hour, and the heat that had been coursing through her ever since Evan had taken her hand at dinner.   The pad of his thumb skimming ever-so-slightly over her knuckles had practically made her shiver in delight.  Why did his touch always feel so damn good?

Evan was hot on her heels, easily catching up to her with his long strides.  She felt a tightness constricting her chest.  They reached the door, his large frame towering behind hers.  How ironic that she’d initially been frightened of him in the parking lot.  In many ways, she’d never felt so safe or at ease as when she was with Evan.  He’d never let anything hurt her.  The problem was, who would protect her from
him? 
There was no way she could survive another catastrophic failure of a relationship.  No way her heart could heal from another hurt like that.

As she reached for the doorknob, Evan caught her hand.  Warmth spread through her where his large fingers encircled her wrist.  She glanced up at him, confused, and her lips parted. 

“Give me a chance,” he commanded, his voice low.  He released her wrist and brushed a strand of hair back from her face.  The heat from his fingertips left a trail of warmth across her skin. “Let me take you out this weekend.  On an actual date.”

“We can’t.”

He took a step closer as she stepped back, and he rested his large hands above her on the door, effectively caging her in.  His broad chest was inches away, his muscular arms trapping her.  He was tall and strong.  Virile.  The scent of him surrounded her, made her dizzy with want and desire.  She tilted her head up to look into those searing blue eyes.  They searched hers, penetrated her thoughts, seemed to know all of her secrets.

“Because we’re just friends,” he said.

He ducked his head lower, and she tried desperately to play it cool, to act unaffected and blasé, but her body betrayed her.  Her nipples tightened under her thin top.  Her breathing hitched.  Heat began to pool in her core.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Because I’m too young for you,” he said softly, inching closer to her still.  Warmth washed over her skin, and she was certain she was about to spontaneously combust.  Flames licked through her body, racing faster and faster until her whole body was alight with awareness.  Heat coiled in her abdomen, spiraling down until arousal dampened her panties and she ached for his touch.  She couldn’t move from where he’d trapped her against the door.  Couldn’t run from him.

Part of her didn’t want to.

“Yes,” she breathed.

Slowly, seductively, like he knew she wouldn’t be able to resist, his mouth moved inches away from hers.  Their heat intermingled; for a moment, she wasn’t sure where she stopped and Evan began.  She felt her intake of breath as her heart pounded wildly in her chest.  She shut her eyes.  He was close.  Too close.  Not nearly close enough.

Then his lips brushed against hers.  They were soft and gentle.  Warm.  Full.  She let out a small moan of pleasure, and Evan took control of the kiss.  His hands still rested above her on the door as he bent his large frame down to kiss her.  He’d caged her in, yet the only parts of their bodies that touched were their mouths.  His words, his actions, everything he did had her helpless with wanting him.

She longed for more contact, for him to crush his hard body into her.  She needed to feel the muscles in his broad chest pressing against her swollen breasts, his thick erection against her belly.

She needed his hands all over her.

She opened her mouth to him, clutching his tee-shirt with shaking fists.  His tongue dipped into her mouth, and he tasted of wine and spicy marinara.  Of something darker and distinctively male.  He kissed her slowly, leisurely, his tongue dancing with hers like he had all the time in the world.  Like he could spend all night exploring her mouth.  How he had so much damn control she didn’t know.  It felt like a fire was racing through her body, sparking every last nerve ending in awareness of Evan’s presence.

As she trembled against the door, he finally pulled back. The only thing betraying his casual demeanor was the arousal in his blue eyes.  They were darker than she’d ever seen.  “I need to have you tonight, Ali.  Fuck, I need to make you come, hear you cry out my name, and bury myself so deep inside you that neither of us can tell where I stop and you begin.”

“Yes,” she pleaded, finally giving him the answer he was so desperate to hear.  His body craved her.  He need to take her to bed, claim her, and make her his own.  He needed his name on her lips, his cock deep inside her, and his scent all over her skin.  He could kiss and pleasure her all night long.  Fuck the early morning training.  He’d stay as long as she’d have him, as long as it took for both of them to be thoroughly sated.

“Ali,” Evan murmured, bending down and lifting her into his arms.  She was small and completely perfect for him.  Her lips were swollen, ripe from his kisses.  Her cheeks were flushed.  And the way she gazed up at him right now?  Hell.  He’d do just about anything to see her look at him that way every day for the rest of their lives.

He tucked her body against his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall of her breath. The way her breasts rose and fell was driving him crazy.  He was dying to tear off that top and see how she looked in her bra and panties.  How she looked wearing absolutely nothing at all.

He carried her down the hallway as she wound her arms around his neck.  “I need you,” she whimpered.

“You have me.”  He kissed her again, hard, promising her of all that was to come.  This woman was fucking perfect for him, and he wasn’t even sure if she realized it yet.

Stepping into her bedroom, he made swift work of removing her top.  He’d just about damn near taken her right against her front door a few minutes ago, and he wanted—needed—her spread out on her bed for him.  He needed to explore every single inch of her gorgeous body, to caress and kiss every smooth curve, and no way was that happening in her front hall.

He needed to take his time, driving his woman absolutely wild with pleasure. 
His woman. 
She wasn’t his, but hell if he didn’t intend to change that before the night was over.  He’d never wanted someone so badly before.

Evan grew even harder as he took in her emerald satiny bra.  It made her eyes even greener and contrasted beautifully against her porcelain skin.  “You are so goddamn gorgeous,” he said in a low voice.  He palmed her breasts through the satin as he ducked lower for another searing kiss. Kneading and caressing her swollen breasts, he ran his thumbs over her nipples as they peaked beneath his touch.  She was so damn responsive.  So sexy and utterly irresistible.  His cocked throbbed as he gently squeezed her perfect tits.

His hands slid to the waistband of the leggings she’d put on after her shower.  He briefly grabbed her ass through the soft fabric, pulling her closer to him.  Fuck yes, he could feel all her curves through these.  His fingertips trailed over the swell of her bottom as he enjoyed grinding himself against her core.  He could feel the heat from her center and longed to sink his throbbing cock deep inside that tight heaven.

Soon enough he would have her.  Make her his.

First, he needed to drive Ali completely out of her mind.

He slipped his fingers in the waistband of her leggings.  They were going this instant.

He peeled them down her legs, helping her step out of them.  Emerald bikini-style panties greeted him, and he groaned.  Did Ali always wear matching lingerie?  The woman looked as gorgeous as some sexy lingerie model.  Hell.

He stood and kissed her, enjoying the mewling sounds she made as he deepened the kiss.  Lowering his lips to her neck, he inhaled her citrusy scent.  He nibbled on her tender flesh, enjoying the way she arched against him, her breasts pressing against his chest.  Unclasping her bra, he sank lower, taking first one breast and then another into his mouth.  She was small but perfect, with light, dusty nipples that stood out against her fair skin.  He licked and teased her with his tongue, pulling one taut bud into his mouth until she gasped and clutched onto his shoulders for support.

She tasted fragrant and sweet, like some type of exotic flower made only for him.  He could spend all night worshipping her breasts.  Sucking, licking, and kissing them while she made those sexy-as-hell little sounds.

And the way she clung to him as he laved attention on her breasts?  He was like a man starved for more.

Never mind that he was still fully dressed, Evan couldn’t go another second without seeing Alison completely naked before him.  Sliding his fingers into the waistband of her satin panties, he felt her tremble.

“Are you okay, baby?” His voice sounded like gravel.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

Hell no.  The only thing that could stop him was her saying the word, and thank fuck she was begging him to continue.  He slowly slid the panties down her shapely legs and…fuck.  She was completely bare down below.  He’d expected to find strawberry blonde curls, but she was smooth.  Soft.  Irresistible.

He lifted her onto the bed and hauled her to the edge before she could say a word, ducking down to taste all her sweetness.  She was wet, already so damn ready for him, and he growled as desire surged through him.

Evan slung her slender legs up over his shoulders as he bent closer, inhaling the sweet scent of her arousal.  His broad shoulders spread her legs wide, putting her fully on display to him, and he couldn’t wait to taste her.  To feel her flutter against his mouth and tongue as he made her come.

Alison gasped and tried to rise up onto her elbows to watch him, but he gently pressed down on her flat stomach, murmuring, “Easy, baby.  I got you.”

He grew uncomfortably hard as he kissed her, feeling her bare flesh against his mouth.  Her soft skin against his lips was like heaven.  It was sexier than hell.  He slowly licked his way up her seam while she moaned beneath him, and he tasted her sweet juices, trying not to groan with pleasure.  He’d go down on this woman every fucking day to taste that sweetness.  To hear her cries of pleasure as he brought her to ecstasy again and again.

He slid his tongue through her folds, eagerly teasing and caressing her.  She whimpered as he continued his erotic kiss, and he moved higher until her reached her clit. As he licked her with tiny ministrations, she gasped and arched up off the bed, crying out for him.  Holding her hips firmly in place, he continued to drive her crazy. Licking.  Teasing.  Urging her higher and higher.

She was at his complete mercy.

Or maybe it was him that bent to her will.

He was down for the count.  Lost to everything but Alison.  There was nothing that could stop him from pleasuring her until she screamed out his name in ecstasy.  Nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

Sucking her clit into his mouth, he gently slid two fingers inside her wet heat.  Her arousal coated his fingers, and it was the sexiest fucking thing he’d ever felt.  She was drenched for him.  What it would feel like to slide his cock inside he could barely even begin to imagine.

He softly thrust his hand in and out, listening to her little moans of pleasure.  She clamped down around him, and he groaned.  She was so damn tight.

“Oh, God, Evan,” she gasped, grasping his head with shaking hands.

He crooked his fingers, touching that secret spot inside, and she nearly came undone.

Flicking his tongue faster over her clit, he didn’t let up as she began to move her hips toward him.  She tightened her grip on his head, her cries growing louder.  She was getting closer and closer, and as he thrust his fingers in and out of her velvety, silken walls, she finally screamed and came undone, wildly bucking against him as he sucked every last ounce of pleasure from her.

Alison gasped as the aftershocks from her orgasm coursed through her.  Her legs were strewn carelessly over Evan’s broad shoulders.  Her sex fluttered against Evan’s sexy-as-hell mouth, her inner walls still spasming around his thick fingers.  Slowly, she floated back down to earth, finally returning from the mind-spinning heights that Evan had taken her to. 
Oh my God.
  Whatever he’d just done with his tongue, lips, and fingers had sent her skyrocketing out of this world.  She’d never,
ever
, come that hard before.  Flown that high.  And all he’d done was pleasure her with his mouth.  Holy hell.

Evan raised his head from between her legs and sent her a cocky grin.  Her heart stuttered as she watched him.  The man was massive, a powerful, trained SEAL, and he was bent before her like she was some sort of goddess he was worshipping.  He kissed her inner thighs, slowly unhooking her legs from his shoulders.  Alison was grateful she was lying down.  There’s no way she’d be able to stand after an earth-shattering explosion like that.

His blue eyes smoldered as they bore into hers, and she could see he’d been equally aroused by pleasuring her.  His erection strained against his pants as he stood.  Well damn.

He crawled over her body, tenderly planting kissing up her abdomen, before pulling her to the center of the bed along with him.  Waves of emotions she couldn’t even begin to explain rolled over her.  Part of her wanted to curl up into his arms and never leave, while another part of her wanted to run for the door and never return.

Tears filled her eyes.  It was almost too much, too good.

Searching her gaze, Evan pulled her to his side.  His hands felt hot on her skin, and one trailed down her back, the other cupping her bottom.  He was still fully clothed, somehow managing to look dark and dangerous here in her bedroom.  How was it that he’d managed to see her completely nude, to kiss her so intimately, and she hadn’t so much as seen his six-pack abs?  No doubt he had walls of muscle beneath that black tee-shirt he wore.  Yet he was as concealed from her as she was exposed to him.

“Are you okay, baby?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.  I was just…overwhelmed for a moment,” she said, fanning her eyes.  Seriously,
who did that?
Maybe she’d stand up and swoon next.  Evan was making her feel all sorts of things she’d never expected.  Never wanted.

“Shhh, I’ve got you,” he said, pulling her against his muscular chest.  She closed her eyes, burying her head into the crook of his shoulder.  Her body fit so perfectly into his.  He felt so solid and real beside her.  And she had to stop things before they went any further.  He was probably expecting them to go all night.  That’s what guys like Evan wanted, right?  A woman to have fun with in bed, who’d love nothing more than to spend the night with a Navy SEAL?  Maybe he’d have her for more than a night, but guys like him didn’t want to settle down.

She pulled away, wrapping a blanket around her as Evan watched with a puzzled look on his face.  She crept away from him, edging to the side of the bed until her feet dropped to the floor and she stood.  His searing gaze made her feel like she was still wearing nothing at all.  Like he could see right inside her, down to her very soul.

She took a shaky step back, away from the force that was Evan.  She could tell the exact moment he realized her intentions, because his face became expressionless.  “You want me to go?” he asked, his voice low as he climbed out of bed.  He sauntered over yet stopped a few feet away, and her bedroom suddenly felt cold.

“Yeah, I think that’s for the best.”

“Ali—”

“That was amazing, but this just wouldn’t work.  We wouldn’t work.”

He nailed her with a gaze, his lips pressed together.  He wasn’t buying that bullshit but also didn’t look like he would argue the matter further tonight.  He was angry.  Pissed off. 

She hugged the blanket more tightly around herself, and he sighed.

One long step and he was right beside her, facing her bedroom door while she stared at the bed where they’d just lay.  “I would’ve made love to you all night long, Ali.”

Without another word, he was gone.

The emptiness she felt was almost unbearable.

Made love.
  Not had sex with her.  Not fucked her senseless.  Evan didn’t know the first thing about love though.  He was too young to want the same things that she did.  She wouldn’t let Evan—or any other man—hurt her.  No one would use her ever again, promising they were meant to be together forever one minute and then pulling a disappearing act the next.

It was better she broke things off now, before Evan stole her heart.

Uneasiness coursed through her as she turned around, looking out her bedroom door at the empty hallway.  She clutched the blanket in shaking hands, a feeling of emptiness inside where minutes ago she’d been filled to the brim with ecstasy.

She had a sinking feeling that Evan had already snagged a small little piece of her heart.

A moment later, she heard her front door quietly close.  She knew he wouldn’t be back.

***

Evan bit back a curse as he strode to his SUV.  He clicked the remote and jumped into the driver’s seat, slamming the door shut before he backed out.  What the hell had just happened?  He’d promised himself to play it cool with Alison, to take things slowly until he knew she was ready for more.  Ready for
him
.  Dinner had been good.  He’d felt her eyes on him the entire time as he’d moved around the small kitchen—they’d practically branded his skin with their intensity.

And five minutes ago?  Holy hell.

He’d never wanted a woman so goddamn much before.  When he’d knelt before Ali, pleasuring her, lapping up all her sweet juices with his tongue—he’d never been so hard in his life.  She was his.  He knew she’d felt it, too.  She’d let herself be open and vulnerable to him, let him have complete control as he’d taken her pleasure.  The look in her eyes after he’d made her cry told him more than her words ever could.

Hell.  He hadn’t planned to cage her in at the front door after they finished dinner, trapping her between his arms and kissing her as if she were the only thing that mattered to him in the entire world.  The way she’d looked up at him with such longing—lips parted, eyes wide, breasts rising and falling with her shallow breaths.  All thoughts of leaving had flown out the window.

He’d been careful to hold back—to kiss her slowly, sweetly.  Not touching her was practically the hardest damn thing he’d ever done.  Had she noticed the way his arms shook while they’d kissed?

His body reacted on the most basic level to her—desire, want, attraction, arousal.  He had a clawing, animalistic need to have her.  And when he’d given in to those cravings and swept her into his arms?  He’d had plans to explore her sumptuous body, kiss her senseless, and make love to her until morning.

The second he’d pulled her against his chest while they lay on her bed, it was like she’d put up a wall.  Didn’t
wham, bam, thank you ma’am
usually end with the woman upset as the man ran out the door?  Ali had looked stone cold as he’d walked out of her room.  He’d only left because she wanted him to.

The hell with this.

Evan sure wasn’t going to beg a woman to be with him.  He could still taste her sweet juices on his tongue, and she’d all but thrown him out the door.  He could have a different chick every night if he wanted.  So why the hell did this rejection sting in a way he’d never felt before?

He accelerated as he raced down the road, gripping the steering wheel.  He had to be up again in a few damn short hours for training, and hell if he was going to waste another minute thinking about Alison.