Hard: A Military Stepbrother Romance (15 page)

He
hesitated just one moment, fighting against every instinct riding him as he
looked at me, suddenly uncertain. I read the question in his eyes.

“It’s
alright - I’m on the pill. And I’m safe.”

“Me
too, but…”

“Fuck
it, Seth. I trust you.”

I
didn’t care if he’d been with a hundred damned girls. If he told me it was
safe, I didn’t need proof.

And
I wasn’t waiting a god-damned moment longer.

My mouth
closed over his and his concerns disappeared as he pushed up into me with a
strength that rocked my entire world.

“Fuuuuck.”

I
couldn’t hold it back, cursing as everything inside me exploded at that full,
intimate feeling. He felt bigger than I remembered, stretching me to my limit
as he moved slowly within me, giving me a chance to adjust.

It
felt fucking fantastic, everything I’d pictured and imagined and kept myself
awake at night dreaming about. My pussy shuddered around him as if it had been
waiting for this for the last three years and I couldn’t help whimpering
against his mouth, driven by the raw need and desire I’d spent so long
suppressing.

Those
few, careful movements ended a moment later as I felt his body coiling against
me, his eyes hot with a stormy passion that was ready to sweep me away
completely.

Where
the first time all those years ago had been sweet and gentle, this was not.
There was too much between us, years of waiting, endless unspoken things -
frustration and need and anger. As his body took mine and our hands and mouths
scrabbled over each other, this was a rough expression of everything there. Our
bodies working out what our minds and words couldn’t.

He
cradled me against him, protecting me from the rugged surroundings, but that
was the only consideration as he left me completely defenseless to anything and
everything he did instead.

I
was gasping at him, nails biting into him now, scratching down his solid back
as I pressed myself into him - wanting more, harder and faster as everything
inside me gave into the passionate fury building between us. I wanted to curse
at him, and cry, and laugh, and every confused feeling came out in that hot,
intense joining between our bodies.

We
were both muttering incoherent things to each other, cursing the wait, the
desire, this stupid need that had screwed us both up so much.

It
was rough, and harsh, and so completely perfect I never wanted it to end.

My
body was on fire with every stroke, every movement and touch of his perfect
body, and it just kept building. The need and the urge growing within me until
I felt close to a breaking point. Every part of me was pounding, moving to the
same rhythm he set with a relentless determination. Every nerve ready to
explode as he drove me higher and higher.

“God,
Seth…I…”

He
grunted against me, his thick need inside me throbbing as he had me sinking
down onto it again and again, faster as my breath came in short gasps. I felt
it twitching inside me as he drew closer to his own edge, burying his head between
my breasts and ravishing them as I cried out helplessly. I had a brief moment
to hope to god he was right about there being no one around, and then he moved
- taking us down to the ground and letting me land on top of him, driving
himself harder and faster inside of me as his arms cradled me close.

Like
this, our eyes met with a painful intensity, the passion there hard to see as
our bodies moved together with a wild beauty that I couldn’t resist.

He
smiled at me in some brief moment of calm, his hand running through my hair
with a casual affection that took my breath.

“Fuck,
Bella. Belle. Fuck, you’re so hot like this.”

I
went crazy with need, the nickname that had once meant so much driving me
insane as his eyes met mine.

Then
his hands tightened on me, his body coiled with intent, and he drove us over
the edge that had been waiting there for so damned long.

Everything
exploded within me, pleasure and pain and need and hurt coming at me with a
power I couldn’t resist as my climax rushed over me. I let it sweep me under,
taking me deep as I let go of everything I’d held so tightly under control.

Stars
shattered across my closed vision and my body vibrated with a hum of pleasure
as I collapsed on top of Seth’s warm, powerful body.

Chapter Fourteen

Bella

After that, it was pretty much official - we were
screwing. Or unofficial, I guess, since we were sneaking around trying not to
get caught.

It
was insane. Crazy hot lust. All the time. Everywhere. Once we’d started, we
couldn’t stop ourselves - all that pent up need forcing itself out at every
opportunity until I wondered whether we’d ever satisfy the demands of our
bodies.

I’d
messed around with guys at University, but it was nothing like this - like
Seth. Maybe after him the first time, I hadn’t wanted anyone that there was a
risk of me
really
liking. Or maybe there just isn’t anyone like my
infuriating, badass Navy SEAL.

We
told each other that it was just a bit of fun, the spark of the forbidden, the
thrill of not getting caught. That we’d be over it soon. I didn’t believe a
word of it - but for once in my life, I didn’t care. I might not be able to
have an apartment in San Francisco without getting mugged, or pursue the things
I’d always dreamed of, but I was going to have Seth. I wanted him - more than I
could remember wanting anything in my life. And for once, I was damning the
consequences of that to hell.

It
couldn’t work. It couldn’t last. We knew that, but it didn’t matter. Right now,
it was perfect.

Everything
else could wait.

The
spate of organization and chaos ramped up around us, as the house was taken
over by various wedding cake designers, flower arrangers, invitation writers
and on and on, in an endless coming-and-going that made my head spin. Add to
that the simultaneous planning of the military gala and everyone was far too
busy to notice us disappearing every so often, when the heat of our glances and
the not-so-casual grazing touches became too much and we needed a respite to
sate the burning lust that lingered under every waking moment. And most of the
sleeping ones too.

Seth
was spending more time up at the house now - a state I vastly preferred to him
avoiding it - taking the excuse of helping out with wedding and gala and
pleasantly surprising his mother, who gushed on and on about how much she
appreciated it, how helpful he was, and what a wonderful change this made.
Forget the fact that it was my experience they were both drawing upon, and Seth
spent far more of his time diverting my energies than helping. Not that I was
exactly complaining about that.

He
made a face at me every time she started on, and I’d roll my eyes until by the
end of it we were both trying not to laugh.

My
father, of course, was notably absent - work taking him away from the
necessities of planning and organizing.

Cora
didn’t seem quite as capable as either she or my father had made out, either,
and I worried occasionally when she seemed disturbed by my father’s lack of
involvement. Seth brought it up at one point, with an unnecessary caution that
made me grin.

“Is
your father always this, err…unhelpful?”

I’d
laughed at him, stepping into his arms and leaning up to kiss him yet again. I
thought I’d never get tired of the way his arms closed around me, the light
touch of his stubble which was starting to make me paranoid about an obvious
redness appearing around my mouth.

“Yeah,
he doesn’t do planning stuff. He’s hard figures, big decisions, strategic
visioning - not operational affairs.”

I
repeated the oft-quoted words as Seth shook his head in amusement.

“Still,
Cora should be able to pick up some of that slack - I know dad’s really happy
about having someone to rely on now. Wouldn’t hurt for me to get a break
either…particularly now that I have so many ways to use that break…”

He
took the eager invitation of my hips grinding against his, reaching down to cup
my ass and pull me into him before murmuring softly against my lips.

“Yeah,
good luck with that. Until this month, I’ve never seen her sort anything.
Dinner was always whatever random objects took her eye on the few occasions she
bothered shopping.”

The
stark words drew me out of the familiar desire that had been coiling around me,
and I frowned up at him, confused.

“What?
Dad’s talked about her home-made meals more than once…”

His
bitter laugh cut me off, and suddenly the mood for sex died.

“Yeah,
Mom’s reinvented herself real well - don’t remember any of that crap growing
up.”

I
bit my lip as sudden awareness flickered through me, looking up at the harsh
set of his face. I hadn’t known much about his life when we’d been chasing each
other back in school, but I’d heard the rumors - and they weren’t good. Pity
flashed before I could stop it, and I saw the exact moment he noticed -
stiffening under me as his ironic expression turned to swift anger. His grip tightened
almost painfully as I sensed that barely controlled violence under the surface
of his gaze.

“Don’t
you dare - that stuff doesn’t matter. Hasn’t mattered for years. She can do
what the hell she wants now - if she’s worked her shit out, I’m glad for it,
but it’s none of my concern. I’m past it.”

“I…”

I
didn’t have any words. I’d wanted to express my sympathy, my concern, but he
couldn’t take it. Seth wasn’t a vulnerable kind of guy, and I’d known instantly
my reaction had been the wrong one. But something inside me hurt at the thought
of him growing up like that.

“Don’t.”

He
kissed me instead, and I stopped trying. His mouth was alternately soft and
hard, the passion and need there unchanged but with a tinge of power held
closely in check that both scared and excited me. I gave back as good as I got
and after a few moments, he softened a little, letting his firm, powerful body
against me take away any thought that he was anything other than the hot alpha
male intent on pleasure.

It
was a kiss to remember, but for once we didn’t go further than that. And
afterward, he disappeared for a few days.

It
drove me close to crazy, that sudden withdrawal with no warning, no
explanation, no idea if he’d ever be back. It also tugged at my heart and made
me realize just how dangerous this game that we were playing was. I knew the
effect he had on me - knew there was no fighting it, especially not now. But
when it was ripped loose, I wasn’t quite sure how I’d deal with it.

When
he came back though, he was the cocky, arrogant bastard he’d always been, and
we came together again like nothing had happened. I didn’t say anything about
it - whatever it was that we were doing, it was unspoken. There was no
arrangement between us. No commitment. No guarantee or expectation that he’d be
there the next day.

But
for the moment, I ignored that. He was here now.

And
in the chaos my father had made of my life, having him
now
was all that
mattered.

*  *  *

“You
know, you were supposed to be a fucking bad lay.”

Seth
was propped up on one arm, looking down at me as I traced the eagles outlined
on his hard pecs with a finger. For some reason, I couldn’t shake my
fascination with the elegant ink. I covered it with my mouth, tongue flicking
along the dark lines as he moaned, before glancing up at him with amusement.

We
were lying together on my once-innocent bed, a rare moment of quiet where our
muted desire wasn’t the focus of our attention. We’d sated that not too long
ago anyway, but somehow our attempt to get dressed and get on with our day had
ended up with us back here in bed. Again. It might even have been my fault this
time…I think I’d objected to his t-shirt until I’d had a chance to look at the
tattoo in more detail.

“Ah
yes, one fuck was supposed to horrify you enough to end it all between us - I
remember.”

His
eyes glittered as his mouth leaned in to capture mine, hand running through the
hair that was almost permanently freed from the ties I usually used when around
him. There wasn’t even any point taking it up these days - the moment we came
together he’d release it again. Seemed obsessed with it - not that I was really
objecting when it felt so good to feel his touch.

“Yeah,
fucking disappointment, Bella.”

His
mouth and tongue put the lie to his rough tone, and I couldn’t help laughing at
him. With the constant outlet for our passion, the banter had become an
expression of something much sweeter than the frustration it had been used for
before.

I
cast a meaningful glance over to my laptop screen, which had held the same page
of information on the MCAT syllabus for the last several days.

“Well,
maybe I’d better fix that - and then after you’re sufficiently repelled,
perhaps I can finally get back to doing something useful.”

I
extracted myself from his arms and flopped back on the bed with a long breath,
raising an eyebrow at him.

“Okay
- no blowjobs until I come a hundred times. Now fuck me as I lie here like a
dead fish.”

My
eyes sparked with amusement as I waited for him to laugh, but instead his
expression turned intense, looking at me with a consideration that had me
shuddering. He moved slowly on top of me, the deliberation in his actions
stirring that part of me that had come to anticipate that shift of his mood to
an alpha SEAL badass acting with deadly intent.

“You
know, even as a dead fish, you’re sexy as hell, Bella.”

He
was above me now, just one hand caught in my hair and gently caressing my
cheek. I bit my lip to keep from moaning. There was something about feeling
that tenderness when he was demanding and dominant as fuck that did something
to me. His mouth nibbled at mine, then down my neck and to that sensitive spot
as it joined my shoulder, while I tried to keep my legs from curling up around
him.

How
could he do this to me with barely a touch?

“…and
I’ll tell you why…”

He
continued on, working his way down until he was at my breasts and the bra I’d
barely managed to put on. It only took a tug of his teeth to undo the
front-facing clasp and I felt the familiar wetness at the evidence of his
prowess.

“…because,
baby, whatever you claim, the moment I start doing
this…”

His
face nuzzled against me, mouth and tongue working as my hands clutched the
covers on the bed. My chest was already aching and ready for him, tits hard as
his mouth closed over them. I gasped and he chuckled softly against me.

“…you
can’t help but react. And I’m addicted to your reactions, babe.”

I
groaned as he proved his point, keeping up the valiant defense of the position
I’d claimed for at least a few minutes while his mouth, tongue and hands drove
me crazy.

Bastard.

“Fuck,
Seth.”

One
clever flick of his tongue at the same time as his hand had my panties flooding
with heat again and I gave up. My legs came up around him and I grabbed his
head for a kiss.

“You
are such an unfair, infuriating, piece of…”

The
amusement in his laugh made me melt again and his hand wandered down to the
belt of my jeans - a choice he’d objected to vehemently, claiming skirts were
better for access. I was loathe to see his point right about now.

“…the
best ass you’ve ever had?”

I
growled and bit at his lip, which he reciprocated as he pushed back, holding me
down on the bed in a way that never got old. I loved feeling the strength and
power of his impressive body overtaking me. Somehow it had a way of making me
feel safe and protected, even when it was being used to throw me around and pin
me for his passion. Or maybe especially then.

“We
just…did this, you know. I was kinda serious about doing something useful.”

My
objection was only half-hearted though, the same way any I made were…I liked
seeing his passion overcome our better sense.

“Should’ve
known better than to give a SEAL a challenge, then…one hundred times, hmm? And
does earlier count?”

I
gaped at him, my eyes opening wide at that as I shuddered to think about just
how serious he was.

The
sensitivity of that…

As
his head nuzzled at my breasts again, I moaned lightly, concerned just how that
might have changed our afternoon plans.

“Annabelle!”

A
sharp knock at my door had Seth and I looking at each other in shock. Heat
flushed my face, but Seth was up within moments, disappearing to my balcony
before I could quite gather my wits.

Damned
SEAL reaction times.

“Just
a…just a minute!”

I
grabbed for the bra to either side of me, hooking it again and then darting up
to find a t-shirt to slip on quickly.

Fuck
fuck fuck fuck.

I
took a few deep breaths before opening the door, dreading to think what I
looked like. The frown that crossed my father’s face as he saw me only made my
gut sink lower.