SEAL Of My Heart (12 page)

She held her hair atop her head, arching and grinding her torso, riding his cock. Then she released her hair and balanced herself on his shoulders, looking down at him while she rose and fell, as his hands gripped the sides of her hips, as they gazed into each other’s eyes. He bent forward to taste her lips and draw more moans from her. She began to shudder as she rode him with a slow rhythm up and down, undulating and grinding when she had him fully inside her.

He deftly withdrew and flipped her over onto her back, spread her knees, and sucked at her labia, devouring her juices. His hot tongue rimmed her opening and then sank inside. He sucked and bit the top of her thighs, running his teeth over her delicate flesh and making her cry out. He scooped his arm under her, arching her breasts toward him, kissing her neck, covering her lips and then plucking and running his teeth over her nipples. She felt like an instrument he played, working her body which was fine-tuned and more than ready for him.

She urged him to come inside her again, raising her knees up against her ears. His thick cock found her opening and eased inside, then began a back and forth motion, picking up speed. He scooted them to the edge of the bed, holding her wrists above her head with one large hand. The intensity and depth of his penetration was new for her. He released her wrists and immediately dropped her hands to his butt cheeks, squeezing them and pulling him deeper inside her. The powerful muscles of his ass and lower back tensed and released in the quiet hush of the darkened room. With one hand she found the spot where he was rooted inside her, and she ringed his shaft with two fingers, squeezing his balls gently with the other fingers as he rammed inside deeper and deeper.

She felt the low vibration of her long orgasm beginning deep inside, until it traveled the length of him. Her internal muscles clamped down on him, held him as she spiraled out of control. She dug her fingernails into his back as the orgasm rocked her world, until she could feel him spending inside his protection.

His heartbreaking cry at the loss of his control spurred her on. She found his mouth and their tongues clashed as she inhaled whatever she could gather from him. It was simply not possible to get enough. A violent series of spasms overtook him as he jerked several times and then collapsed onto her chest.

Her heart beat wildly, pounding blood into her ears and the tips of her fingers and toes as his chest pressed against hers, matching every undulating movement she had with one of his own.

And then he was done.

“God, Kate,” he whispered.

“Shhh,” she lovingly whispered into his temple. “Stay inside me? Rest, Tyler, rest inside me.” She brushed the back of his head with her fingertips, following down his spine, and then over his butt cheeks. His powerful lower back muscles still moved him within her and sent little delicious waves of further pleasure. She never wanted it to end.

As their bodies finally unwound from each other Kate realized a new, beautiful chapter had opened in her life. A romance she’d only read in books was manifest in flesh and blood with her this day. All she wanted to do was take his passion and give him more in return.

‡

T
yler hadn’t allowed
himself to sleep, although he needed it. He wanted to remember her, the way she dreamed, the way her little finger twitched, the way the back of her hand brushed her forehead as she mumbled something in her dreams.

Dream of me, sweetheart. Bring me with you.

And just as he knew he could do this every day of his life, he also knew she was not his to take. The dark reality that she was confused, that there would be other powerful forces in Kate’s life who would exert pressure over her and make her question this afternoon of beautiful sex, made him shiver.

It would have to be worth it, he decided. But he couldn’t help hoping somehow this thing between them could work.

He felt a pang of regret that he didn’t have more than just a few days—not nearly enough time to develop a proper relationship with Kate—before he had to ship out for several months. And he’d have to be prepared for the Dear John letter he would most likely get. He’d seen what it did to guys overseas who didn’t prepare themselves for that eventuality. As much as they trained men to do the things they did, falling in love and getting stung by a relationship, and then coming unraveled while trying to save your own life and the lives of others in the killing fields, was one of the toughest things about being a SEAL.

He’d seen good men have to leave the Teams because of a breakup at home. God, he didn’t want that to happen to him. But he wouldn’t be there to talk with her, reason with her, make her understand how incredibly wonderful and perfect she was for him. He didn’t know how to grow a relationship, but he sure as hell knew when an existing one was so totally right.

While training was the solution to always being prepared, with love—and he was absolutely sure that’s what this was—the solution was to let it bloom, let her come to him with all the intensity she could muster, because God knew, he wanted that with her. And if she didn’t have it, she just didn’t have it. There was not a damned thing he could do about it.

It was going to be Kate’s battle to fight on her own. While he was over there fighting the bad guys, she’d be home fighting for them.

Her warm, soft derriere fit against him as he spooned himself behind her and held her while she slept. Their second lovemaking had been less urgent, but even more beautiful than the first. Her delicate, feminine side was reaching out to him, trusting him with her heart. He felt it pull on him with golden tethers he willingly submitted to. Whatever happened in the next days and weeks or months to come, he knew he’d always love her like no other before or after. He was hoping she’d be his last lover, if she’d have him. But that was going to be a delicate negotiation.

His thumbs over her nipples must have tickled her because she turned in his arms and faced him.

“Tyler, tell me exactly how many days we have left before you have to go.”

“I leave day after tomorrow.”

“That’s not enough time.”

“You’re right, Kate. But it’s all we have.”

“I want to just stay here, then.”

He laughed at that. Yeah, there was a part of him that wished for the very same thing. “You know that’s not possible.”

“I didn’t think it was possible to find this,” she said, and then kissed him. “Or this,” she caressed his cheek with the backs of her fingers. “Or this,” she undulated her mound against his length and—
hallelujah, yes
—there was going to be a round three.

They lingered in
the shower too, and decided they’d keep the hotel room for after the party. Kate planned to go back up to her sister’s to get ready, and Tyler would take care of some errands for his mother. After some long kisses and near clothing malfunctions, Kate left, and Tyler was left to watch her drive away. At six o’clock sharp Tyler presented himself at Gretchen’s. Kate had obviously been crying, so when she slipped upstairs to get her purse he decided to open the subject with her sister.

“Look, Tyler,” Gretchen said, “I don’t know much about you, but what I do know is pretty good. However, you’re not out of the woods yet.”

“Gotcha.” He liked her honesty. Made it easy to be with her. He never understood why women had to cover up what they were really feeling by lying.

“I’m going to tell you she’s paying an awful price for this.”

“This? I’m not doing this.”

“Beg your pardon? Are you blind?” Gretchen said to him without expression.

“I don’t understand what’s going on here. You asking me to step away, is that it?”

“Hell, no. And it wouldn’t do any good anyway. What I’m saying is that if you mess with her heart, I don’t care who you are or who your buddies are, I’ll find you and kick your ass.”

Tyler chuckled. Gretchen didn’t.

“Then you wanna tell me what’s going on, Gretchen?”

“He’s coming up on the corporate jet. And she won’t meet with him.”

“Who?”

“Randy. He wants to take her home with him.”

“So what does she say?”

“Well, let’s see. There was this little comment about a hotel downtown I’m not supposed to know about, so when the guy shows up at my door tonight I don’t have to tell him she’s in a hotel with another guy. I’m not happy about this situation. Those people don’t give up, Tyler.”

“Like I’m some piece of meat.” Kate’s voice shot through the room.

“Kate, honey, maybe you better meet with Randy. This party isn’t as important as that. You owe it to them.”

“So now you’re on their side?” He could see her tears were threatening to erupt again.

“No, I’m on your side. I didn’t know about this when we made our plans today.”

“Neither did I.”

“But now you’re tied up. Honestly, Kate. You should have called me. If you’re still here tomorrow—”

“If I’m still here tomorrow? What kind of a comment is that?”

“Honey, I’m just saying we didn’t know this, and now the situation has changed. You can’t just duck away. I’m not going to let you do that, Kate.”

“He’s right, Kate,” Gretchen added. “Even if you just tell him in person what you told him over the phone, you can’t ignore the fact that he’s coming up here to see you.”

He could see she understood there wasn’t a choice. “Kate, we’ll talk in the morning. You call me tomorrow. I’ll still be here.”

Reluctantly, he left without giving her a kiss or a hug. And he hoped it wasn’t the last time he’d see her. He’d remember her standing at the foot of the stairs in that killer red dress, her hair flowing about her shoulders, unbelievably beautiful but miserable.

On the way to his mother’s gallery, he called his LPO.

“I need a word, Kyle.”

“Shoot, but make it quick. We’re expected someplace, and Brandon is in one of his moods.”

“Okay, the lady I mentioned.”

“Who is engaged.”

“That one, yes. I love her, Kyle.”

“Fuck me, Tyler. Bad. Very bad timing. You shouldn’t be doing that.”

“It’s done, the deed is done. I’m asking for advice, here. Should I just leave, forget I met her, just come back home?”

“Probably. Is that what you’re going to do?”

“Shit, no. Her fiancé is coming up in a chartered jet to talk some sense into her. My mom’s gallery thing is tonight, too.”

“Yeah. You better get home tomorrow. Be there for your mama and then get your butt back to Coronado where you belong. Dammit, Tyler. When I told you to get laid I didn’t say to go lie down in a snake pit.”

“I just—you’re right. I fucked up.”

“So make it right.”

He whispered, “Yeah. Thanks, man.”

The gallery was
buzzing with people when Tyler arrived. He grabbed a glass of champagne immediately. As soon as his mother found him, he was paraded around the room like a stuffed toy.

He was introduced to not one, but two young ladies with purple hair. Later, he stood with his father while they watched his vibrant mother talk to buyers and the gallery owner, describing her paintings and her process.

Tyler watched his father, a quiet man, thoroughly enjoy following his mother around, soaking up her animation and her love for what she was doing. It was then he realized how deeply his father loved her. He didn’t have to be with her in the limelight. As long as he was the man who took her home.

He wondered which man Kate would choose.

And either way, it would be fine. Somehow, he’d find a way for it to be fine. After all, there would always be the letters.

‡

R
andy’s rented car
pulled up to Gretchen’s porch. Kate’s hands fluttered nervously at her waist. She put her shoes back on, took a drink of water and waited for the doorbell. Gretchen had taken the girls to a movie to give them some privacy.

She opened the door and saw Randy’s miserable face. He made a step towards her and she backed up. “Not ready for this, Randy. We need to talk first.”

He had one hand on his hip and the other tunneling through his hair, a worried expression blooming just on the edge of anger.