Her Officer in Charge (7 page)

“Well, yeah, but not like that,” she grumbled.

“Good. It was supposed to be punishment, and apparently it was.”

“It certainly was.”

“Don’t you think you deserved it?”

“I plead the fifth,” she mumbled, snuggling closer to him.

“Bratty Bella. That’s what you were before the show when you stormed off to your sound man’s car. I know you were testing me. You still have to pay for that.”

“What? You just spanked me really hard,” she protested, attempting to pull back.

“That was for sneaking in here,” he said firmly, tightening his arms around her. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“I am, it wasn’t right. I’m sorry about that, and I’m sorry I was so nasty to you. I don’t know what I was thinking. Can I call you Vince now, instead of sir?”

“Yes, you can call me Vince, but it’s
may
I call you Vince.”

“Oh, yes, right. Not thinking very clearly. Um, may I ask you something?”

“You may ask me anything.”

Lifting her head, she stared up at him and studied his crystal blue eyes.

“Go on, ask.”

“No, it’s nothing,” she mumbled, losing her nerve.

“It’s obviously not nothing,” he said with a soft smile. “I could always spank it out of you.”

“No,” she bleated, her brow crinkling with a sad frown. “That’s not fair.”

“Ask me. I promise I won’t get mad, I won’t get anything, I’ll just listen. I really do want to know what’s on your mind.”

“It’s, uh, please, will you, uh, kiss me?”

Her request was not what he’d expected. Holding her in his arms was sheer heaven, but he already had a raging erection. She’d just had her bottom warmed, and he knew it would have sent its heat between her legs. If he kissed her they’d both want more, and he was torn. He wanted her, he wanted her badly, but the circumstances were so convoluted, and though he wasn’t exactly a choir boy, they had just met.

“What’s the matter?” she whispered, almost afraid to ask. “Don’t you find me attractive?”

“Attractive? My God, I want to kiss you like I want to keep breathing.”

“Then…?”

“If I kiss you,” he murmured, tracing her lips with the tip of his finger. “I’ll kiss you more than once, and my hands will start moving over your body, and my lips will travel to your neck, and… how do I say this?” he muttered, a worried frown creasing his brow. “We just met, and call me crazy, but I want to take you to dinner, I want to know about you.”

“Vince!” she gasped, breaking into a smile. “Really? I would love that,” then pausing, staring into his warm, radiant blue eyes, she added, “I shouldn’t say this, no, I can’t.” She sighed, dropping her eyes.

“Not again,” he declared.

“Sorry.”

“Speak!”

“It’s just, after what just happened…”

“After what just happened… keep going. The world won’t come to an end when you tell me, I promise you.”

“I can’t stand the thought of, uh, going back to that cold, empty motel room,” she whispered. “Sorry, I—”

“Don’t be sorry,” he interrupted, surprised but delighted. “I get it, I know what you’re feeling, and it may surprise you to know, I’m feeling it too.”

“You are?”

“
I have a suggestion,” he said slowly. “How would you feel about coming back to my home and staying the night? No strings. I don’t live far from here, and I have a guest room.”

“Your home?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Really?”

“It’s a no-strings invitation. You don’t want to go back to an empty motel room, and I’d enjoy having you at my house.”

“I’m sort of speechless. I didn’t expect anything like this.”

“Would you like to?”

“Vince. I would love that, yes, thank you,” she sighed.

“When we get there I can give you something comfortable to slip into, and like I said, no strings. I’m an officer and a gentleman,” he smiled, “if you’ll forgive the phrase.”

“Vince, this is wonderful,” she beamed.

“Let’s get out of here. I just have a quick call to make, so you get yourself together and meet me at the front door.”

He helped her off his lap, kissed her cheek, and as he headed out the door and down the hallway, he pulled out his phone and called Brooks, the man charged with following Bateman back to his motel.

“He’s here, captain, and the lights in his room have just gone out.”

“Come on back. We’re closing up shop.”

Ending the call, feeling an odd mix of emotions, he texted the major the update about Bateman and, feeling somewhat disingenuous, the news of his success with Bella, then moved down the hallway and knocked on the door to the large dressing room.

“Who is it?”

“Fred, it’s Vince. I’m leaving. Make sure everyone is out in the next fifteen minutes.”

“Sure will. Talk to you soon.”

Moving back to the foyer, he found Bella waiting by the front door.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” she nodded, “but I need to say something.”

“Go on.”

“I’m kind of embarrassed.”

“Because you had the nerve to sneak back in here?”

“Well, yes, but something else. I, uh, I don’t do this. I mean, we just met. Going to your house, this isn’t like me.”

“You can change your mind. I can take you back to your motel if you’d prefer.”

“No, I want to go with you, I just really, really need you to know, I’m not a… well, this is special… you’re special,” she whispered.

“So are you,” he smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter Nine

Vince opened the car door for her, and noticed she winced as she sat down. She glanced up at him, and, catching her look, he winked at her.

“Don’t you say anything,” she exclaimed.

“I certainly will if I choose to,” he retorted. “I’m still the officer in charge.” Grinning, he closed the door and moved quickly around the car. As he slipped behind the wheel, she looked back at the venue.

“Did everyone leave? I didn’t see a soul when I was waiting for you.”

“There weren’t that many people for the after-party, and they found privacy where they could. That particular building is used for weddings and some important events, so there are a number of additional rooms,” he replied as he started driving through the base.

“It feels as if it’s two o’clock in the morning,” she remarked. “There’s no one around, and it’s so dark.”

“It’s not two in the morning, but it’s been at least a couple of hours since you finished your show. I didn’t take note of the time, I had other things on my mind,” he said, looking across at her.

“Um, yes, me too,” she murmured. “Two hours, three hours, it feels like forever.”

“I’m sure,” he remarked as they left the base.

“I can’t believe you’re taking me to your home. Why am I suddenly feeling as if it’s a bit weird?”

“Because it is,” he replied. “You know, Bella, we share the same concern.”

“What’s that?”

“I want you to know this is not a habit for me either. I rarely bring a woman home with me, especially having just met her. Again, if you’d prefer to return to your motel—”

“No, sorry, no,” she said, cutting him off. “I haven’t changed my mind, not one bit. I guess this whole thing has been weird, from start to finish, though we haven’t exactly finished anything yet.”

“Yes, we have. You’ve got a sore butt. I would say that was a finish, unless you’re implying you want more.”

“Do you live very far?” she asked, studiously ignoring his remark.

“No,” he chuckled, “and we can talk about something else if you’d rather.”

“That would be good,” she quipped. “It’s amazing how peaceful it is here, especially for a Saturday night.”

“If you go into the small township it will be hopping, but these residential neighborhoods are generally fairly tranquil,” he replied, turning off the main road.

Though it was dark, the streets were well-lit, and she could see the neighborhood was upmarket, with homes set back from the street boasting manicured front lawns. As Vince turned into his driveway, Bella stared at his house, absolutely delighted. It was charming, like something out of a storybook. One-story with a peaked roof and a cobblestone path leading to the front door. Vince touched a button on his rearview mirror, the garage door rolled up, and he slowly moved his car inside.

“Vince, your house is adorable. It’s like a modern day Hansel and Gretel house.”

“You think so?” he chuckled. “I’ve never thought of it quite like that. I liked it the first time I saw it. I thought it looked like a home.”

“It does,” she agreed, “a warm inviting home.”

The garage was a double, and having only one car, Vince had installed a wide work bench, cabinets, and a wall for hanging tools. Bella was reminded of the old saying: everything in its place, and a place for everything.

“You are so organized,” she declared as she climbed from the car. “You should see my workroom. It’s nothing like this.”

“You have a workroom?”

“Not really a workroom, but a place where I keep all my show stuff. My props, my clothes, my CDs; there’s not much really, but even with so little it doesn’t look nearly as orderly as this.”

“Sounds as if you need some lessons in tidiness,” he winked.

“Sounds as if I need to keep my mouth shut.”

“Probably that too. Come on in.”

He opened the door that led inside the house, and after walking through a small laundry, she found herself in a bright kitchen painted white and gray with granite countertops. It was modern and spotless, and as he led her down a wide hallway, he paused.

“This is one of the guest rooms,” he said, opening a door and switching on the light.

Looking inside, she found an inviting bedroom decorated in blue and white, and just as the kitchen had been, it was spotless.

“It’s lovely,” she nodded.

“Shall I keep going?”

“Uh-huh,” she smiled.

Continuing down the hallway, he stopped in front of double doors and, pushing them open, he gestured her inside.

“My bedroom,” he declared.

The room was spacious, but her attention was immediately captured by the masculine, dark wood, four-poster bed sitting on a riser.

“Whoa, that’s quite something,” she exclaimed, moving toward it. Looking back at him, she softly added, “But then, you’re quite a man.”

“Did you just really say that?” he laughed.

“I did, and I meant it,” she replied with small smile.

“You are a walking dichotomy,” he muttered, shaking his head.

“I love this too,” she remarked, wandering across the room.

A couch and an armchair in a cozy configuration sat in front of a fireplace, with a large-screen television above the mantelpiece.

“It’s like a second den,” he said. “If I can’t sleep, I slip over here, turn on the fire, and watch TV. It’s especially comfortable in the winter when it’s raining.”

“That sounds so cozy,” she sighed, then, dropping her handbag on the couch, she walked slowly back to him. “I don’t want to go anywhere,” she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “We don’t have to do anything, but please, can I sleep in your bed?”

“You know,” he began, feeling his cock surge to life at just the thought, “if we are lying on top of the same mattress, underneath blankets…”

“Yeah, I know,” she agreed, leaning into his body.

“I should spank you again for being such a brazen hussy.”

“Are you complaining?” she asked as she moved her arms around his waist.

“Not for a minute,” he said, wrapping her up and squeezing her tightly.

“This is still a bit weird, but I’m really happy to be here,” she murmured.

“Yeah, it’s weird, but I’m not sure why, and I don’t care,” he said, closing his eyes.

They stood, holding each other for several minutes, before he finally pulled back.

“I’m sure you want to get out of those jeans,” he said softly. “I’ll get you a T-shirt.”

She watched him walk to a dresser and open a drawer, and as he turned around, holding the folded white shirt in his hand, she felt utterly drawn to him.

My gosh, look at you. You’re so fucking handsome. That jaw, those arms, and you’re so strong and so sweet. I didn’t know men came like you. I swear to God, you’ve put some kind of spell on me.

“What are you staring at?”

“You,” she uttered. Running across the room, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

She didn’t kiss him lightly, or tenderly, or with the yielding adoration of a submissive, but aggressively, filled with the fire and heat that was surging through her body. He pulled back, stared at her, then, gripping her hair, he yanked back her head and returned her kiss, making it clear he was still in charge and he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

“You need to be dominated, don’t you, Bella?” he said, his voice husky in her ear.

“Yes, so much, I can’t stand it,” she gasped.

“Then do exactly what I tell you, and if you don’t, you’ll be punished. Understand?”

“You’re amazing,” she mumbled, unable to stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth.

“Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go to the bed, turn around, drop your jeans to your knees, and bend over the mattress,” he ordered, dropping her hair from his fingers.

“Uh, you, uh, yes, sir.”

Her heart furiously thumping, her legs barely able to walk, she staggered to the bed, dropped her jeans around her knees, and leaned over the soft down comforter.

“Now I can see my handiwork,” he declared, moving behind her.

Bella was surprisingly embarrassed at her near-naked bottom being eyed by the handsome marine who was effortlessly curling her toes, but she was also filled with a raging, aching hunger. She wanted him to devour her, to take her, to possess her.

“Red, but not red enough,” he muttered, trailing his fingers across her cheeks. “Have you ever been flogged, Bella?”

“Once, sir,” she whispered, “a long time ago.”

“Turn your body around. Place your hands on the floor and your stomach on the mattress.”

She paused, not sure if she understood, and was rewarded with a hot bite from several quick sharp smacks.