Reckless Hero (Savage Soldiers Book 5) Page 5

  The kitchen carried all the necessities for cooking, but I barely used them. The living room had a two-piece set, a center table, and a television mounted on the wall. And the single hallway led to the only bathroom and bedroom.

  I hurried to the door as she knocked again. When I opened the door, I promptly lost my breath.

  Fuck, she was beautiful.

  She was dressed in a sleeveless top and a plain dark blue skirt that skimmed her knees. Her feet were encased in a pair of sandals that revealed her light pink painted toenails.

  Her book bag hanging off her right shoulder, she looked at me with shy eyes framed by wide lenses. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, but a few strands had broken to fall over her grey-blue eyes. She pushed them back.

  “Hey,” she said, clearly oblivious to how sexy she was. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course,” I said, realizing how I had been gawking at her. “Where are my manners? I’m so sorry.” I moved aside so that she could enter. As she walked passed me, her light floral scent caused an uncomfortable stirring in my pants.

  Holding my breath and willing myself to keep it together, I closed the door. But that only made me realize we were completely alone…

  She moved to the center of the living room, briefly looked around, and then turned back to me.

  I cleared my throat and tried to act normal, turning slightly so that she wouldn’t notice the hardened state of my body. Thankfully, I was wearing a shirt that fell over the unruly organ that was overpowering my brain.

  “I hope you didn’t eat yet,” I said. “I ordered dinner. It should be here in about an hour, so I was thinking we could get some studying done and then chow down.”

  “Okay,” she replied.

  A moment of silence stretched between us. I cleared my throat, wracking my brain for a suave line, but failing.

  “Okay. Let’s get started, shall we?” I said, unable to think of anything else.

  Anna nodded and followed me to the table.

  Not before long, we got to work, bouncing questions and answers off each other. Even though controlling my desire for her was one of the hardest things I had ever done, I was even able to simmer down my attraction enough to concentrate and retain most of the information we went over.

  Meanwhile, Anna was in her element, repeatedly pushing her glasses up her nose and pushing her hair out of her face as her brow furrowed in concentration. After what turned out to be a pretty intense first study session, dinner arrived and we took a break.

  We set our books aside and set up the table. I had ordered from one of my favorite restaurants across town. The food smelled delicious—a meat and potatoes deal that tasted just as good as it looked, and came with a bottle of red wine.

  “I don’t think we should,” Anna said when I began pouring us each a glass.

  “Come on,” I urged. “Just one glass.”

  Ultimately, she obliged, the stiffness between us slowly melted, and our conversation flowed smoothly.

  “This is really good,” Anna commented once we were on our second glasses.

  “I’m glad you like it,” I said.

  “So…” she slowly, “this suddenly seems more like a date than a study session. I’m thinking you tricked me, Mr. James.”

  I noted that she didn’t sound upset, but I suspected her relaxed attitude had a lot to do with the wine. I was pretty sure that once she sobered back up, she would resume being the girl I’d ran into on the hike—pissed off and cold.

  She took another sip. A drop of liquid glistened off her lower lips before she licked it off.

  I stared, wanting nothing more than to lean forward and taste those lips…

  I brought my own glass to my lips. While I wasn’t drunk, I wasn’t fully sober either.

  My eyes dropped to the fullness of Anna’s lips again, and I could tell she had noticed. Her nostrils flared and her eyes darkened.

  “Would it bother you if this was, in fact, a date?” I asked, subtly moving closer to her.

  “I’m pretty sure it’s the wine talking, but I’m completely okay with it. Although if I had known earlier, I would have worn something a little more fitting for the occasion.” She played with the lock of hair that had fallen over her shoulder.

  She was flirting with me and I loved it. She was usually reserved, but once she came out of her shell, it was a sight to behold.

  Still, I doubted her words. She had been so harsh on the hike, but now, I wondered whether it had been all a show for her cousin.

  She took another sip of wine. “So now that you have wined and dined me, what’s next?”

  I leaned closer still until her lips were only centimeters from mine. “That’s entirely up to you.”

  She sighed, pulling away slightly. “You’re bad for me, Tucker. Trouble.”

  “Always have been. I’ve never denied that.”

  “We were just supposed to study.”

  “Then we will.”

  Her lips twisted sideways. “Are you telling me you have no ideas on what you would like to happen next? Besides studying, I mean?”

  I smirked. “Oh, I had quite a few knocking around my noggin, but I believe in letting a lady go first. In everything. You remember, right?”

  Her cheeks reddened. “I remember. Good policy.”

  We were so close now that just the slightest move forward on either of our parts, and our lips would be locked.

  I was about to make that move when a noise had us both jerking our heads around to see what caused it.

  A pen and notebook had fallen to the ground, pushed over by the dishes crowding the tabletop.

  The spell effectively broken, Anna jerked away from me, the light in her eyes suddenly very much sober. “Fuck. What am I doing?” she whispered. She stood quickly and moved around the table to start gathering her books. “I should leave. It’s getting late and- oomph.”

  I kissed her.

  I didn’t want her to leave. I needed her to stay. The little flirtation we’d shared over the last few minutes was something I didn’t want to let go; I didn’t want things to become uneasy between us again. I expected her to slap me, but she didn’t.

  Thank God.

  CHAPTER 8

  Anna

  I knew the feel of the lips on mine and I knew the taste of them like my own. The wine we’d had added an underlying fruity flavor, enhancing his deliciousness.

  There had been many times when Tucker and I had spent hours just making out, sipping from each other’s lips like we had all the time in the world.

  But we hadn’t had all the time in the world. Our time had ended abruptly, and those lips had caused me endless pain with their words.

  As he kissed me, I knew I should have pushed him away and walked out to save myself the heartache sure to come.

  I had even given myself a pep talk before heading to Tucker’s apartment, telling myself that no matter what, I would resist him. I’d had it firmly set in my mind that I’d come only to study.

  But then, he had unexpectedly become that guy that only I’d had the opportunity of knowing. Not the automatic flirt, but the one who was warm and open. I had forgotten how much I missed that guy and the moments we shared.

  Loving moments like sharing light banter over a tasty meal…

  With his lips on mine, all the logic I’d held onto fell to the wayside and my body took over entirely. My lips parted under his and my core flooded itself, preparing to receive him.

  It had been too long…

  Craving the intimate contact, my back involuntarily arched, pushing me farther into his hold.

  His tongue took advantage of my surrender and pushed passed my lips. I moaned and allowed my tongue to dance with his, clutching him as his hands swept over me and roamed over my curves.

  Deep groans escaped from the back of his throat.

  Any self-consciousness I’d felt regarding the way my body had changed over the years became irrelevant. In his hold, I felt like the most beautifu
l woman on earth.

  My fingers tangled in the short strands of his hair, luxuriating in the soft feel of them until I was forced to let go when he jerked my shirt up and over my head. Our lips separated for no more than two seconds before locking up again.

  His expert fingers broke the clasp of my bra, sending it dropping to the floor. Guiding the way, he then pressed my back against the wall before pressing himself against my front. I could feel his erection straight through his pants, pushing against my stomach. Raising up onto my toes, I tilted my hips and pushed back against him.

  I pulled at his shirt, wanting the feel of his skin on mine but he captured my hands and shackled them above my head. He pulled his mouth free and trailed kisses down my jawline, neck, and chest before capturing the tip of one breast between his lips.

  I cried out, the sound loud in the otherwise still room.

  It felt so good. So necessary. Like a relief I didn’t know I needed.

  Pulling my arms free, I reached under his shirt and pushed it up. He stepped back for a second to pull it over his own head, tossing the fabric away carelessly.

  Suddenly, he spun me around. My front pressed up against the hard wall and his body molded to my back. His hands gathered the fabric of my skirt and pulled it up so that it bunched around my waist.

  A sharp tug of his hand, and my panties were gone.

  “I can’t wait,” he growled against my ear.

  “Ohhh,” I cried, delirious with anticipation.

  Cool air rushed over the heated flesh between my legs. I squirmed, painstakingly aware of how empty I felt inside, and how much I wanted to be filled by him.

  He cupped my mound and growled again. “Tell me you’ve been waiting for me. Just for me,” he demanded.

  “Yes. Just for you,” I breathed.

  His stroked my clit with his thumb as his middle finger breached my entrance.

  “It’s been too long. Let me have you, Anna,” he pleaded hotly against my neck. His teeth nipped at my skin and his tongue soothed away the pleasurable pain. He paid particular attention to the small bird tattoo on my shoulder, a habit he’d had from years ago.

  “Yes,” I consented, arching into his hold. Despite knowing I shouldn’t, my body craved him with an intensity stronger than I’d ever known. I was like a moth to a flame, unable to resist even though I knew my probability of getting burned.

  There was the sound of a zipper being undone, and then the crackle of plastic. It had been years since I’d felt Tucker’s body this way, but I easily remembered how long, thick and ribbed he was.

  He poised at my entrance and we both froze, savoring the anticipation. Grabbing my chin, he turned my head and kissed my lips for a brief moment.

  And then, the wait was over. He pushed forward, spearing my flesh inch-by-inch. I cried out as he slipped inside, the small urging thrusts of his hips convincing my resisting flesh to take him. Finally, there was nowhere left for him to go. My core burned with the effort of taking him, but pleasurably so.

  As he started to move, I moaned and cried out in his mouth. The pace quickly built, my movements urging him on.

  I needed this to be hard and fast; the demands of my body could handle nothing less.

  The sounds of our bliss filled the room.

  I arched my back and yelled as he slipped impossibly deeper. My breasts bounced with the hard rhythm of our motion. Our skin grew slick with sweat.

  I would have been embarrassed by how fast I came if it hadn’t felt so good.

  Tucker stroked between my legs with his fingers while his other hand pulled my nipple. Feeling the things he did to my body—it was too much, too soon. A wave swelled inside me, overwhelming in how quickly it built. I gushed my gratification onto his jabbing hardness, my vocalizations loud and echoing through the room.

  He gripped my hips harder and drilled into me, pushing me higher and higher still.

  “Come for me again. You have no idea how good it is to feel you in my arms again,” he murmured.

  At the sound of his voice, I erupted in another tide of pure sensation. Colors burst in front of my vision and my ears roared as I obeyed his carnal command.

  He pushed into me faster, deeper, and rougher. And with a shout, he joined me in paradise.

  Through the synthetic barrier protecting us, I felt the heat of his release. Just the knowledge of him coming set off fireworks in my belly. I shuddered and gasped.

  I had no idea how long it took for me to come back down to earth.

  Once I was no longer riding my high, the gravity of what I’d just done hit me. My racing heart turned from one of pleasure to one of panic. My body tensed, all the sweet sensations morphing to horror.

  The heavy smell of sex in the air and wetness coating the insides of my thighs both served as testaments to my lapse of judgment.

  Tucker was still hard inside of me, and my body was still responding to his readiness despite the walls my brain and heart were erecting.

  Tucker stiffened, obviously feeling the change in my mood. He turned me in his arms and looked down at me, his eyes searching before he tilted his lips toward mine.

  But I dodged his kiss, letting it graze my cheek instead.

  He let his lips linger for a moment before lifting his head. “What’s wrong? Regrets already?”

  I averted my gaze, unable to look at him. “This was a mistake. We shouldn’t have let this happen.”

  “Why? We were great together.”

  My body still shook with how great we’d been, which was precisely the problem. “I can’t get emotionally involved with anyone right now, Tucker,” I said.

  Especially you, I thought, but left that part out.

  “Then let’s leave the emotions out of it,” he said.

  I blinked, stunned. He’d spoken like it was the most logical thing in the world. “What?” I said, dumbfounded.

  “We both have a lot going on right now with school and everything. A relationship will only complicate things. So let’s keep it strictly physical. We’re great together. And law school is going to be stressful as hell. We’ll both need this kind of release. Even though we just fucked, I want you again. And I know you want me too. Let’s be friend with benefits. It’ll be like a professional agreement. A contract.”

  I stared at him. On some level, I wanted to laugh. He already sounded like a lawyer. Or maybe it was his military background that made him capable of speaking in such a matter-of-fact way.

  Logically, I knew there was no way I could agree to such crude proposal. But apparently, my mind and my mouth were not in sync, and I heard myself saying, “Okay.”

  We would have sealed the deal with a kiss, but my cell phone started blaring from inside my bag.

  It was time to get back to reality.

  CHAPTER 9

  Tucker

  After tossing and turning for hours, I finally fell into a restless sleep.

  Even though I was out of the military, I still slept like it. I was trained to sleep lightly, and able to wake at a moment’s notice. I couldn’t remember the last time I slept so deeply that I forgot my surroundings; sleep like that was luxury, not something to indulge in enemy territory when the squad could be attacked at any moment.

  This particular night, in my dream, I was seated around a table with five other guys. We were all dressed in camouflage gear with patches proclaiming U.S. Army. We had just come back from a successful mission and were having a drink at a local bar in a small Iraq town to celebrate. The town was known to be friendly to American soldiers, so we had thought ourselves safe enough.

  We’d been ribbing a newcomer to the group, Lucas Thompson, just before all hell broke loose. In typical fashion, Lucas had just been initiated into the group with a bunch of pranks, the latest leaving him running around the base nude with nothing but whipped cream covering his dick and a bright pink bowtie around his neck.

  Lucas’s face was red while the rest of the guys, including myself, laughed. He took it well though, guf
fawing with the rest of the men as jokes were made about the sight of his bare ass fumbling around the camp in search of his clothes.

  I kind of felt bad for the barely twenty-year-old guy. My own initiation into the group had been no less embarrassing. However, it was funny remembering the horrified look on his face when our base camp leader had spotted his mad dash.

  A fresh round of laughter sounded at the table just before the world exploded.

  The sound deafened me as my body flew with the force of the blast. Disoriented and confused, I’d lost all my senses for a moment.

  When my hearing came back, the noise hurt my ear drums. My vision blurred and a dull ache pulsed on the back of my head.

  “Medic,” someone yelled, and I recognized the voice of my squad leader. “We need a medic over here!”

  The voice grounded me and my focus became clear. Even though I’d had it in my mind that I wanted to be a lawyer at this point, I had briefly considered being a doctor, and had even done a little medical studying on my own. Granted, my medical knowledge had been minimal, but I still felt compelled to help during the chaos.

  I rushed over, steeling my muscles when my legs threatened to buckle under me.

  People screamed and some - those who could –ran away from the scene. Words I couldn’t understand were being shouted about. Smoke and debris made it hard to breath, and faces were darkened with the mess the blast had created.

  Later, we would learn that the explosion was the work of a suicide bomber with something to prove to a radical group hiding out in the area.

  Those fuckers.

  But all I’d been able to concentrate on at the time was helping the medics provide for my team, as well as the others who’d been injured.

  There were broken bones, limbs, and blood everywhere. I saw a few sightless eyes and unmoving chests, but I ignored them as I moved to where my squad leader was hunched over Lucas. The other men were helping the injured people in the bar.

  Lucas was bleeding everywhere, including from his nose and mouth. A large slab of wood protruded from his chest, threatening his life.