The SEAL Next Door (Alpha SEALs Book 5) (10 page)

Matthew awoke with a start the next morning, squinting at his surroundings as sunlight peeked in through the blinds.  Memories of the night before suddenly came flooding back as Brianna shifted in his arms.  Her breasts brushed against his forearms as he held her to him, and his erection thickened against her bare ass.  She was curvy and gorgeous and fit perfectly in his arms as if she’d been made for him and him alone.  He’d never dared hope he’d hold Brianna before, let alone spend the night exploring her body, pleasuring her, and learning what she liked.

Taking her from behind after they’d first made love the night before had made him harder than steel.  Her pussy had clamped down so tightly on his cock that he’d thought he’d explode the second he’d entered her.  His hands itched to knead and massage her full breasts again.  Someday he wanted to have her riding him—watching those breasts bounce up and down as he bucked beneath her, making her come atop his cock.

His eyes fell on the nightstand, where a message light flashed on his phone. Hell.  Recollections of the day before suddenly ruined his good mood.  The creep who’d attacked Brianna at the cocktail lounge.  The news of Beckett attempting to take his own life.  The world was falling to pieces around him, and he’d been so lost in Brianna he’d forgotten about everything else for eight hours.  Guilt seeped through him as he thought of his best friend.  On what was probably one of the worst days of Beckett’s life, Matthew had screwed his sister.  Not that Brianna was just some one-night-stand to him.  But hell.  He had no right to spend the night in her bed.

He edged up onto one elbow, trying not to wake Bri, and reached across her for his phone.  Her bare breasts spilled out above the tousled sheets and rose and fell softly with each breath she took.  His breath caught as his cock rose to attention.  Damn.  He could spend all day gazing at her, touching her soft skin, kissing and caressing her everywhere.  Pleasuring her in every way imaginable.  He had no right to want her that way—no claim to her.  Hell, he was supposed to be leaving in twelve hours.  And even though she’d come onto him last night, baring herself to him in the bathroom, after what she’d been through?  He probably should’ve tucked her in bed and went on his merry way.

He eased away from her sleeping form, sitting up as he swung his legs down to the floor.  Her panties were tossed onto the ground along with his pants and other discarded clothing.  His gut clenched—something just felt so right about being there with Brianna.  How could he go on with his life acting like nothing had changed between them?

He swiped the screen on his phone, seeing Evan’s message asking what time Beckett was arriving.

Hell.

He needed to call his buddies and let them know what was happening.  That the entire thing was off.  It was damn early though.  He quickly sent off a text message to Evan and Brent, giving only the barest of details.  He’d fill them in more after he’d had coffee and food.  Snagging his boxers and pants from the floor, he pulled them on, heading downstairs to Brianna’s kitchen.

His own childhood home was his view out the kitchen window, and he tried not to laugh at the irony of his situation—of falling for the girl next door.  It had only taken what—a lifetime to end up in her bed?  But something inside him craved a whole lot more than one night.

He opened the cupboards and finally pulled out coffee and two mugs.  A few minutes later coffee was brewing, and he debated fixing her breakfast.  They’d never gotten around to eating dinner last night, and his empty stomach rumbled.

“Matthew?”

Brianna’s sleepy form appeared in the doorway, wearing only a silk robe that he longed to unwrap.  Her blonde waves were sexy and tousled, like she’d spent the night being thoroughly ravished.  His heart clenched, and he crossed the room to her, consequences be damned.  So what if they had only one day together before he had to fly home.  So what if they couldn’t ever be anything real.  He would make the most of the moment.  Yesterday she’d asked him to make her forget, and if that’s what she wanted, he’d damn well do it.

Matthew cupped her face in his hands and ducked down and kissed her softly.  She stretched up on her tiptoes and wound her arms round his neck.  He could feel the softness of her breasts pushing against his bare chest, and the silkiness of her robe sliding across his skin felt like the barest of caresses.  His hands fumbled with the sash, untying it, and then her robe was falling open, baring her to him.

The soft material curtained her full breasts, giving him a glorious view of her full globes, petal pink nipples, and trim pussy down below.  He palmed her breasts, running his thumbs across her nipples in the way that she liked, and a pleased smile tugged at his lips as she unwittingly arched into him.  He nipped at her neck, kissing his way down her body.  Briefly, he laved her breasts with his tongue before kissing his way down her flat stomach as she trembled.  He could smell the scent of her arousal, and his cock instantly hardened. 

Later.

This was about her pleasure right now.

He easily lifted one of Brianna’s slender legs over his shoulder as she gasped.

“Matthew, wait.  What—?”

She moaned as he parted her folds with his thumbs and gave one hard lick up her seam.  She tasted amazing, like the sweetest of all nectars.  He could drink her sweet release all day and die a happy man.  Her hand fell to his shoulder, seeking balance, and he kissed her core, listening to her little gasps of pleasure as he lapped up her juices.  “Matthew, no one’s ever….”

He paused for a moment and looked up to her flushed face.  She looked so gorgeous standing in front of him—so vulnerable and beautiful and completely his in that moment.  Her soft waves fell to her full breasts, making her look like an angel sent down from heaven just for him.  An angel he wanted to worship and pleasure where no man ever had before.

“I love that I’m the first man to ever taste you,” he said, his voice gravel.  “To give you pleasure like this.”

“Matthew,” she whimpered.

“I’ll take care of you, darlin’.”

He kissed her again, laving through her delicate folds with his tongue.  Her sex quivered against his lips, and he felt a surge of male pride that she’d given herself over to him like this.  He lightly licked her clit as she gasped, and he teased her with light ministrations.  She clutched his head, holding him to her, and he wanted to beat his chest in approval.  Gripping her curvy hip as he held her in place, he slid two fingers into her tight channel, feeling her velvety walls clench down around him.

Brianna cried out and nearly came undone.  He suckled her clit, pleasuring her as he slowly worked his fingers in and out.  He could tell she was close as her breathing grew heavy, and he increased his tempo, laving her again and again with his tongue until she screamed out his name.

Heat bloomed within his chest at taking her pleasure.  She was panting and gasping, her leg hooked over his shoulder, her swollen sex still fluttering against his mouth.  He kissed her softly then lifted her leg down, pulling her down into his lap.  She curled against him, breathless, nestling her head into the crook of his shoulder.

“I could go down on you all day,” he muttered, and Brianna shivered in his arms.  “You taste so damn amazing.”

“Wow,” she murmured breathlessly.  “That was—wow.”

“I love that you let me do that for you,” he said, running his fingers through her blonde waves.  They fell to her breasts, only partially covered by her silky robe.

Hell.  He loved that she’d come for him like that.  How on Earth was he supposed to let her go after a moment like that?

He couldn’t.

Wouldn’t.

His phone buzzed on the counter, and he blew out a breath he didn’t even realize he’d been holding.  One of the guys had probably gotten his text about Beckett.  They’d all fly out tonight as originally planned, just without attending the homecoming ceremony on base today.  He had exactly one day to spend with the woman of his dreams.  And his gut churned with the knowledge that one day would never be enough.

Brianna tossed her sunscreen into her beach tote an hour later and looked around her room for a sun hat.  The past twenty-four hours had been completely surreal.  There’d been her shift at the cocktail lounge where she’d spotted Matthew, being accosted in the hallway by a drunken idiot, learning of her brother’s attempt at taking his own life, and then somehow ending up spending the night with Matthew in her bed.  In the span of a day she’d gone through both heaven and hell.

She flushed, recalling all the ways Matthew had taken her. He’d made her come so many times, she didn’t think she’d ever be the same again.  Having him flip her over and thrust into her from behind as he’d massaged her breasts had been exciting and sexy as hell.  He’d been in complete control, commanding her body to reach unimaginable new heights.  She’d never felt so powerless yet so desired and completely worshiped at the same time.  No man could compare to the way he’d given her pleasure, and the sweet, gentle kisses that had gone along with all the mind-blowing orgasms had nearly made her come undone.  Unbelievably, the reality of being with Matthew far surpassed the fantasy.

After kissing her intimately in the kitchen this morning—something no man had
ever
done before—he’d fixed them both breakfast, insisting she sit down and enjoy her coffee.  She’d been so flushed and thoroughly satisfied that she could hardly move, let alone insist that she help him.  She could get used to watching him move shirtless around the kitchen in the morning, flipping pancakes and grinning from ear-to-ear as they had breakfast together.  And since he had the day here before his flight took off from base later this evening, and her parents had convinced her to stay home and not fly up to Walter Reed to see Beckett, Matthew had somehow talked her into going snorkeling with him.

A day alone with him seemed almost reckless—especially when she knew she’d only fall harder.  Matthew had just told her the other night he wouldn’t ever be in a serious relationship or marry.  This was probably just a fling to him—one in an endless string he no doubt had over the years.  Was it too much to hope that she’d somehow change his mind?  He was a first-class flirt and a single, eligible SEAL.  Of course women would fall at his feet.  She’d been in love with him practically forever, but she had a feeling that after today, she’d be in way too deep.

How could she say no to spending a day alone with him though?  This was her only chance.  The next time they saw one another, Beckett would be back, and everything would change.  They’d be buddies again, friends and not lovers…or whatever it was they were at the moment.

Her phone buzzed from inside her tote bag, and she saw Ella’s name flash across the screen as she grabbed it.

“Hey Ella.”

“Hi!  How are you?  I just wanted to make sure you were okay after last night.”

“Yeah, I’m okay.  Thanks for checking up on me.  Last night was awful, but Matthew brought me home and stayed with me a while.  Did you get home okay after dropping the other guys off?”

“Yeah, it was nice to have the company since I was a little freaked out when we left.  That one guy Brent is a bit much, but Evan seemed nice.  He was telling me how his girlfriend’s pregnant and everything.  I think he knew I was pretty overwhelmed.”

“God, I am never going back there,” Brianna groaned.  “Just the idea of setting foot in the building makes me sick.”

“Do you know what’s going to happen to the guy who attacked you?”

“The police called earlier.  They’re pressing charges and holding him until the trial—everything’s on video, so his lawyer couldn’t get him out on bail.”  She cringed, thinking about other people watching the footage.  She’d been so scared and helpless when that stranger had pinned her against the wall, intending to have his wicked way with her.  To grope her, rape her.  God, if Matthew hadn’t been there—tears filled her eyes just thinking about it.

“Well that’s good news, I guess. 
I mean, not good that it happened, but that the guy is in jail for now.  We won’t have to worry about running into him somewhere.”

Brianna blew out a sigh and wiped a stray tear away.  “It was a crazy night.  I wish I could just forget that it ever happened.  I wish that it
hadn’t
happened.”

“Frank actually left a message on my cell earlier,” Ella admitted.

“What?  Why?  Was he calling to apologize or something?”

Ella let out a bitter laugh.  “Hell no.  He called to try to pressure me into coming back.  He understands why you’re not—and I think he’s scared of all those guys you were with.”

“I don’t even know them aside from Matthew.”

“Would you believe that jerk didn’t even mention you in his message?  He just wanted me to come in.  I haven’t called him back yet, but there’s no way I can keep working there.”

“You’ll find something else.  I know we both hated it before, but now?  I just don’t’ think it’s safe.  There’s no security, no one to stop a customer from doing whatever they want.”

“I know.  Don’t worry; I have no plans to work there again.  Ever.  But I was also calling because I got your text earlier.  Your brother’s not coming home today?”

“No,” Brianna said with a sigh.  “There were some, uh, complications.  Maybe we can meet tomorrow and chat?  I just don’t even want to go into it right now.”

“Yeah, sure.  You must be pretty disappointed he can’t make it home yet.  I’ve got classes all morning but am free after that.”

“Tomorrow afternoon is fine.  I just really don’t want to get into it over the phone.”

“All right.  You can fill me in tomorrow.  Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do.  Let’s chat tomorrow and figure out a time to meet up.”

They said their goodbyes, and Brianna finished packing her tote bag.  That was strange that Frank had tried to persuade Ella to return to work.  It bothered her that he was contacting Ella at all now that she’d quit.  If he called her again, she’d tell the man off herself.  Ella didn’t need any trouble and sure didn’t have to put up with his crap anymore.

The doorbell rang, and Brianna glanced at her clock, realizing that Matthew was already here.  She hadn’t even been snorkeling in years, but Matthew was a Navy SEAL for heaven’s sake.  Certainly he knew how to SCUBA dive and could teach her the snorkeling basics she’d long since forgotten.  She just hoped she didn’t make a fool of herself in front of him. Not that it mattered much anyway.  After today he’d be flying home, and who knew when he’d ever be back.

She tried to ignore the ache in her heart at the thought of not seeing him again for a while.  She hurried to the front door and pulled it open.  Matthew stood on her front porch in navy blue swim trunks and an old tee shirt, aviators shading his eyes.  “Hey,” he said as she looked up at him.

“Hi.  Is everything okay?  You look really serious.”

“Yeah, it’s just—can we talk for a minute before we head out?”

“Uh, sure.”

Brianna’s heart pounded in her chest, and she wondered if he was about to drop a bombshell on her.  After everything that had happened, she wasn’t sure she could deal with more bad news.

“Let’s go sit down,” he said, perching his aviators atop of his head. He rested a hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the sofa in the living room.  She sat down, nervously placing her hands in her lap, and Matthew paced in front of her, sucking far too much oxygen from out of the room.  Her heart pounded, and she took a gulp of air.  Maybe something had happened to Beckett?  Why else would he be acting so strangely?

“Did something happen?” she finally blurted out.

Matthew turned and gazed at her with bright green eyes. He’d shaved since this morning, and his chiseled features looked even more pronounced without the whiskers covering his jaw.  “Bri, I’m feeling guilty as hell about what happened last night.  Don’t get me wrong—I loved every minute of it, but you were upset.  I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you like that.”

Relief washed over her, and she stood, crossing over to him.  “God, you scared me.  I thought Beckett was—” she cut off, unwilling to even finish the thought.

“Shit.  I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.  I just needed to apologize—I should’ve watched out for you better last night, not taken advantage of the situation.”

“That’s what you think happened?”

He ran a hand across his jaw, looking pained.  “That guy attacked you in the bar.  And when we got back to your place, instead of fixing you dinner and telling you goodnight, I spent the entire night in your bed.  And hell, it was amazing.  Fucking fantastic.  But that doesn’t make it right.”

Hurt seeped through her.  Matthew knew as well as she did that she was the one who had initiated things yesterday.  For God’s sake, she’d basically stripped for him in the bathroom.  Maybe he thought he was letting her down easy and this was just his way of telling her he didn’t want to be with her.  Of course she already realized that—he was leaving tonight.  He might have spent the night with her, but she’d known it wouldn’t be something long term.  Still, she expected that things would just fizzle out when he was gone—not that he’d reject her mere hours after leaving her house.

She tried to blink away the tears in her eyes before he noticed them.  Even if he had hurt her, she sure the hell wasn’t going to let him know it.  Maybe she’d cry into her pillow later on, but there was no way she was giving him the satisfaction.  “Look, don’t worry about it.”

He nodded, looking uncertain.

“If you have stuff to do, we don’t have to go snorkeling today.  But I could use a ride to pick up my car.”

Relief washed over his features.  “We can go snorkeling if you like.  But we can’t—nothing can happen between us again.”

“Right,” she agreed, planting a fake smile on face.  “That’s probably for the best.”  She turned and crossed back to the foyer, grabbing her beach tote.  Matthew’s rejection stung, but there was no way she was going to let him see it.  They’d spend a few hours together, she’d show him what he was missing, and then he’d be gone.  Which was always going to be the ending to the weekend.

So why did it have to hurt so damn much?