What a kiss!

I hadn’t been expecting fireworks, a few sparks perhaps, but I sure as hell got them. A whole display of pyrotechnics and bright explosions illuminating my mind’s eye, sparking a desperate desire within me. A need I’d buried long ago because the right woman never seemed to present herself.

But, I had absolutely no clue what I’d done to have her disappearing off into the night so quickly. Had she not experienced the same show? Did the sparklers fizzle out too soon. Or alternatively did she get burned?

Maybe I came on too strong. I shook my head, puzzled, and considered going after Penny. Predominantly to make sure she was okay, though it was clear I was the cause of her sudden departure, so it probably wasn’t the best idea…

Damn Claire for going down in flames so suddenly; the roar from the crowd had popped the bubble Penny and I had been sheltered within, and caused her to bolt.

When you needed your team to hold up the army’s pride, I hadn’t expected Claire, of all people, to collapse so early in the contest. Angel had her on her knees, quite literally, vomiting the twenty shots of tequila she had downed in the space of fifteen minutes. Angel however looked as though she could carry on through the night. Fresh as the proverbial daisy.

“Remind me never to challenge you on anything!” I teased Angel, striking up a conversation and desperately hoping she’d know why Penny had run off. Had she said something to Angel on her way past?

“I won’t need to, sugar,” she grinned back. “Now explain to me where is my protégé? What on earth have you done to have her rushing off like that?”

I blushed. I knew there would be little point in trying to keep anything from her, and if I was going to get some sort of answers or insight, honesty was going to be the best policy.

“Just one amazing kiss, Angel. At least it was for me.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t go doubting yourself. From the look on both your faces I’d say it was a little more than that, but if you insist.”

“Why would she run like that? Penny has never really come across as that shy, a little quiet maybe… or have I misread everything?”

She twitched her nose and looked at me carefully. I’d say there has only ever been one other woman in my life who could reduce me to feeling like a naughty child, caught with my hand in the biscuit barrel. My grandmother, the Duchess of Cambridge, had a way of making you feel utterly wonderful or totally terrible all with a steely look from her keen blue eyes. And I was now finding out that the delectable Angel Lebeau could reduce me to my infancy just as easily.

“Sugar, Penny is a complex woman. Brighter than anyone I have ever known, but she has no street smarts to help her apply it all. Never met anyone out here so naïve. My guess is she is still the kind of girl who is waiting for Prince Charming to come along and sweep her off her feet.” She giggled. “Though, I do suppose, you already did that! You aren’t a prince are you? You’re certainly handsome enough.”

“Are you trying to seduce me, Miss Lebeau?” I said in jest, all the while being extremely cautious, attempting to lead her onto another track. I’d stifled a small chuckle at Angel’s choice of words; neither she nor Penny knew how true her words were, and though my team would never let that little nugget of information slip, I also doubted if anybody here had the chance to read the society sections of Hello! or OK magazine, so at least my secret was safe for the time being. But I started to understand what she was saying.

“I’m sure all those shots you downed have something to do with making me out to be more handsome than I actually am.”

“Nonsense!” she bellowed. “But seriously, Penny isn’t after—”

“She’s not yearning for some casual one night stand is that what you’re trying to say?” I said, interrupting her.

Angel grinned a knowing smile and tapped the end of her nose, then continued. “Bingo. So affairs or quick rolls in the hay are not her thing. She is an ‘all or nothing, forever and always’ kind of a girl.”

“I had a feeling that might be the case,” I said ruefully.

I couldn’t deny that I really liked Penny, and she was definitely the hottest, sexiest, and most fiercely intelligent woman I had ever met, who somehow managed to push all my buttons in the correct order—but I knew I wouldn’t be able to deliver on the rest of her dreams.

That was just one of the ways in which my life was most definitely not my own. If history was anything to go by, I would have to marry someone that my family deemed to be suitable, regardless of my own personal feelings about their choice and match. I may be a lowly third in line to the throne, inevitably dropping further down the chain once Frederick and William married and had heirs, but apparently that was close enough that whom I married was a matter for political debate, and it was essential that I married well.

Even if I wanted more from a relationship with Penny, I was in no doubt that the family would all decree an American from a humble family such as hers to be quite unsuitable.

Occasionally when conversation or scandal was lacking at the palace, around the lengthy dinner table, the past was dredged up, everyone loved rehashing what happened the last time an American inserted themselves into the family. A disaster from day one and the fallout and vulgarity of the situation even though it all occurred in the previous damned century still had a profound effect on opinions today.

The Royal Family—my family—God love them all, still had their feet stuck firmly in the past, where tradition was almost akin to religion and was never to be questioned or doubted.

So even if I wanted to make Penny’s dreams come true, there wasn’t a hope in hell of it happening.

Angel raised her voice over the music. “So, if you can’t offer her more, then don’t set her up for a fall.” And although she said it with kindness, I could hear the warning in her tone. She would go into battle for her cub if need be, and woe betide anyone who hurt someone she loved. I took note of it, and gave her a mock salute.

“Yes, ma’am. I don’t want to hurt anyone, let alone Penny.”

I sighed and wished to disappear into the shadows to lick my wounds; the night had not turned out at all like I’d thought it would. From the moment I’d seen her I knew I wanted her, needed her even. But I wasn’t about to break her heart just so that I could satisfy my selfish desires.

“I know, sugar, but tread softly, okay? Penny is an old-fashioned girl, though she would deny it until she turned the colour of the sky. It still surprises me that somebody like her made it out here at all, let alone has stuck it out and become so good at coping with everything we go through. But still like the majority of us, her emotions run deep. Maybe deeper than most.”

I nodded and vowed to not cause her any more heartache; I would try and keep out of her way. Give us both some distance, especially if it was a non-starter anyway. I didn’t want to cause her any more pain than she had to go through by being in her face.

For her own safety, the camps, as well as all the other personnel, I was prevented from explaining to her why I couldn’t offer any more than a hot and passionate fling. No one could know, apart from those in my squad who were all sworn to secrecy under the official secrets act, who I was.

It was in everyone’s best interest that I walk away from her.

The less people who knew my true identity when I was out in the field, the safer it was for everyone, and those around us. And the last person I wanted to come to harm was my sweet Penny.

* * *

My vow was pretty short lived… but not for want of trying.

Though I knew I should’ve kept my distance from Penny, for her sake as much as mine, I found it impossible. It was as if the universe was conspiring to throw us together.

A chain of her patients needed surgery, and I seemed to be the only surgeon available to consult with. She looked no happier about it than I was, but was utterly professional about it, bordering sometimes slightly on the cold side, which I was not enjoying one little bit.

Where her smile normally would’ve been, there instead was serious straight line, her lips firmly pressed together, and all I wanted to do was forget about my foolish vow and make her grin again.

Though I did appreciate working with her so closely, even having her on hand to assist in surgery when needed, I got to see what an incredible physician she truly was.

Penny had dexterous and nimble fingers that I was sure would make her an excellent surgeon if she ever chose to take the leap. She thought fast and had the ability to devise solutions that didn’t come straight from a textbook. Penny took risks, which at first seemed unlike her, but as I studied her I realised they were always calculated and had her patients’ needs at heart.

“What a day!” I exclaimed, trying to be as casual as possible, as I ripped off my surgical cap and gown and threw them into the bin.

We had undertaken six appendectomies, as well as setting two displaced leg fractures, one bowel resection, and an emergency caesarean.

Penny looked up at me, only briefly I noticed, before returning her attention to the bundle in her arms. The baby was small, but it seemed to have a strong pair of lungs on it. The two of them looked perfect. Penny was a natural with the baby and my cock ached at the thought. Wanting what it could not have.

“You were incredible,” she said as she clucked and fussed over the little one.

I moved to her side. I’d barely had the chance to even notice whether it had been a boy or a girl as I rushed to staunch the postpartum haemorrhage that the mother had suffered. Sadly, it had been so bad that I was forced to perform a hysterectomy too, and so the mother hadn’t even been able to hold her little one yet. Mark was still with the patient, waiting for her to come round from the anaesthetic. She was in good hands, as was her little one.

“For a non-surgeon you held your own, you know?” I said admiringly. I could feel the heat of her body as I was standing so close, and it was suddenly very distracting.

The memory of her lips upon mine and her hot rapid breath played over in my mind as her sweet scent drifted towards me. You would’ve thought I’d be used to it after spending hours with her in close quarters in surgery, but she was unwittingly able to turn my head to the dirtiest of thoughts.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “I have to admit, it seems so much more important here to have the full range of skills.”

She edged away from me, clearly uncomfortable by my proximity.

I cursed under my breath.

I didn’t want her to feel that way and I longed to take her in my arms, to kiss her, to show her just how amazing I thought she was. But I’d made Angel as well as myself a promise, and so I politely backed away, like the annoying officer and gentleman I was.

In that moment, I wished I could be anyone else other than who I really was. Wished I was just another squaddie or medic, no ties to anyone in particular, to do what I pleased. To take her, push her up against a wall for everyone to see, and kiss her like she’d never been kissed before.

To strip her bare and bury my cock within her tight little pussy, filling her with my seed.

But that was all just wishful thinking. Back to reality, I thought, though my cock was still firmly stuck in the fantasy world I’d just created. I coughed, trying to distract myself, and hoped no one would notice.

“Hey, Amy, can you take little one through to her mom? I’m sure she’ll be awake by now and will want to meet her.”

The feisty nurse nodded and took the tiny girl from Penny’s arms. Amy’s face suddenly softened and went all gooey just as Penny’s had, and crooned to the baby.

“Amy, careful, you’ll have me thinking you have a heart after all,” I teased. She grinned back at me then stuck her tongue out as she passed by.

“Only for the little ones, Captain. Mark, however, is a total other kettle of fish.” I gave her a shrug; let Mark have his fun. At least someone was, I thought with a slight hint of jealously.

I’d noticed that all too often Mark would disappear at sundown, and it had been clear at Claire’s birthday party that the two of them were attracted to one another. Though not strictly sanctioned by the military, I wasn’t worried about either of them; both were veterans of the short and torrid affair. And it seemed that theirs was burning pretty hot.

The rush of jealously reared its head again; the ease with which they had hooked up and were just getting on with enjoying one another while they could was maddening.

I gazed longingly at Penny as she walked off towards the shower block, wondering if there was any way at all that I could convince her to take a shot on me, even if it would only be a short time. But no, I knew that would be unfair and selfish. Yet, being out here may be the only time in my life I got the chance to have such a no-strings opportunity, and heavens knew I needed something to help me to feel like life was worth living.

Being here so easily sapped every bit of hope and light from your heart. I knew we were doing good work, but it wasn’t enough and we lost too many lives every day. Add to that the knowledge that my time in the military would possibly be over at the end of this current tour of duty, I could feel everything closing in around me. “Fun time is over,” my father would say, as if equating the time I’d spent in the army as purely recreational. A young man’s folly. Maybe I could squeeze in another tour, but eventually he would require me to go back home and take up my role in the family, assist Frederick on occasion, and ultimately stay put.

I closed my eyes; the fury, longing and lust building up inside, wanting and willing me to ignore my rational side. I imagined a little devil dancing up and down upon my shoulder, daring me to take a chance.

Suddenly I knew I couldn’t be polite and professional about it all any longer. I wanted Penny, I needed Penny, and dammit, I would have her.

She wanted me too, I was sure of it, and it was crazy that she was making us both go without ever knowing what could be. I raced after her and grabbed at her arm, spinning her round to face me.

“Penny,” I said as she tried to pull away from me, startled at the sudden contact.

“Captain Haven, what the hell is wrong with you?” she yelled, her eyes flashing with fire. But there was something else, not brought on by my sudden appearance that was causing the tears in her eyes that fought alongside the anger.

“Penny, whatever is the matter?” I asked. Suddenly all of my selfish needs disappeared, and all I could see was her need to be comforted. I took her in my arms before she could protest and held onto her for dear life, soothing the length of her curvy back.

She held herself rigidly against me, but eventually she softened and allowed her head to rest against my chest. I could feel the silent sobs heaving through her slight frame as I held her tightly, not ever wanting to let go.

“Whatever it is? It’ll be okay. You can tell me.”

Penny sniffed. “That poor woman, to go through all of that and then to wake up to find she will never be able to have another child,” she muttered through the tears.

“Is that really it? Penny, we see this at least once a week, often more than that. You always seem to cope with it all.”

“No, it isn’t all. How could it possibly be all? It’s just so futile, us being here. Everything we do, we have to do it over and over again. Nothing changes, nothing gets any easier. We just keep trying, and nothing ever gets any better. This wasn’t even my ba—”

She trailed off, but I could hear the utter frustration in her voice. All medics experienced moments like that, even if they worked in comfortable hospitals back home, and being here had definitely made them far more frequent and far more painful to bear.

Right now as she looked up at me, I forgot all about my own pain, the frustrations of the camp and the inevitable royal life that awaited me back home.

With those green-hazel eyes flashing at me, so full of life and vitality—though they seemed darker that day—I could feel nothing but love for her. But I wasn’t about to take her moment of vulnerability and ruin it with my lustful actions, so I didn’t do anything about it.

Instead, she did.

She grabbed my head in her hands and fiercely pulled my face down to hers. She kissed me, hard, nibbling at my lips and thrusting her tongue in my mouth, and I couldn’t help but respond.

“Penny, if you don’t stop this I’m not going to be able to,” I warned her as the pull in my groin let me know just how much I longed for her touch. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.”

“I don’t want you to stop.” Breathless from our frenzied kiss she said, “Angel and Amy won’t be back for a bit. We don’t have much time.”

Feeling like all my dreams had come true she dragged me to her quarters, leading the way, holding my hand. She was determined in her steps, and occasionally she gave me a mischievous glance from over her shoulder. I watched as her hips swayed, my cock twitching at the sight getting harder with each passing second.

Stopping at Angel’s drawer, Penny pulled out a tiny foil-wrapped package. I wanted to smile at her forethought, and that she needed to take such a thing from the older woman’s things and not her own, but she didn’t give me a moment to even think about it.

Penny kissed me again, a desperate and demanding kiss.

A growl rose from my belly, it was my turn to be demanding and I quickly dragged her down onto her bunk. It smelt of her, spicy and yet homey. Jasmine and cinnamon, the scent of her shampoo, was all over her pillows.

I peeled my scrubs over my head and dropped the pants onto the floor as she did the same with her own.

My heart was thudding a thunderous tune as she lay beside me, beautiful and looking alive, dressed in only the tiniest wisps of underwear, and so very beautiful.

I buried my head in her belly, kissing her navel, trailing kisses up her torso, while my hands caressed her back and bum. She moaned as I squeezed the generous mounds of flesh between my hands, firm yet soft, just like her.

I looked up into her lovely face, and kissed her on the lips. She was less ferocious now, letting me take charge, but I could see the passion smouldering in her wanting eyes. She closed them as I plunged my tongue into the depths of her sweet mouth, savouring each moment, each sensation.

Her hands clutched tightly at my shoulders, then softened to caress and explore.

“Mmm,” she purred as she traced her fingers over my muscles, and as I began another trail of kisses down her throat to her lace clad nipples, I cupped her breast and began to tease her nipple with my tongue. She was absolutely perfect in every way and I wanted nothing more than to spend forever exploring her body, to tease her for eternity.

Licking my lips, my fingers edged the lace down, popping out the firm, and pert mound. As I did so, I suckled gently on her nipple, increasing the pressure until she gasped and I bit gently at the nub.

“Do you like that, Penny? You want more of that, don’t you?” I asked, watching her face as I pinched the nipple between thumb and forefinger. She nodded, biting at her lip. I felt my cock leap at the unintentionally sexy little gesture and moved to the other breast and repeated my actions. “More where that came from,” I claimed.

I let my hand slip lower, over her soft belly until I was cupping her warm pussy gently.

“How about this?” I asked. Then as I allowed a lazy finger to just stroke her nether lips, I waited until I felt her hips ride up towards my hand. Eager for more. Pleased with her response, I gave her pert nipple another squeeze.

“Robert, please. Don’t keep me waiting,” she begged, her hips grinding against my hand. I let out another small low growl, loving the way her body responded to my touch, and wanting nothing more than to ravish her and to forego any hint of foreplay.

I quickly pulled down her knickers as she unhooked her bra and threw it onto the floor. I knelt beside the bed and pulled her so her legs were dangling over the edge, then spread her thighs wide open for me, revelling in the scent of her, and seeing just how damn wet and hot for me she was.

I ran my finger down inside her slick folds, and rubbed gently at her clit. “You’re a wet naughty girl.”

“Oh, don’t stop,” she cried as I withdrew my finger.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to stop.”

I dipped my head, and flattening my tongue, and laved gently at the very spot where my finger had just been.

She tasted so good, and I could feel her body as it pulsated and jerked with pleasure beneath my hands.

Suddenly, unable to resist any further, I plunged two fingers up within her pussy, needing to be inside her one way or another. I finger fucked her as I sucked on her clit, building her up, with an inexorable rhythm that threatened to overwhelm her.

“Oh please, no, I’m going to come already!”

“Baby, you come all you want… this one is all for you. I’ll be with you on the next one, I promise.”

Satisfied with my answer her head flopped back onto the bunk, her breasts wobbling delightfully at the motion and I continued to give her pussy my undivided attention.

I thrust my fingers within her, harder with each stroke, and she cried out. I felt her muscular walls contract around my fingers, and a gush of fluid bathed her even further in delicious, sweet juices.

She went limp, and I moved up her body, my hands trailing her hot skin, returning my attentions to her delectable breasts, licking and teasing until she began to writhe against me once more.

“You sure you want this?” I teased.

She looked at me, and then she reached down to take my cock in her hand and guided its throbbing head to her dripping wet pussy. I put a hand on her wrist to stop her. “Just a moment,” I said as I slipped the condom she had so thoughtfully procured onto my engorged length. Ever the gentleman.

“You’d damn well better get inside me soon, Captain, or I may just have to report you to your superior officer,” she joked impatiently, breathing heavily.

But, the sensitive tip of my cock had already sensed the warm, sodden depths it had so longed for were now close at hand, and without a second thought I advanced, pushing and burrowing my cock so deep within her that her mouth instantly fell open in surprise.

She moaned and grabbed my bum, fingernails digging in as if she didn’t want me to go anywhere, and now that I was inside her there was no place I’d rather be.

We were one at last.

“Fuck, Penny,” I groaned, her tight pussy wrapped around my cock; snug and fucking delicious.

We rocked and rutted; I pulled her legs up so they were either side of my head, so I could bury myself in even further.

Balls deep into her luscious. Tight. Cunt.

She matched me stroke for stroke, demanding everything, and giving me even more in return.

“More, Robert! Faster!” she cried as her fingernails continued to claw and rake against any part of my skin that she could grab hold of. “I need you to fuck me. Harder!”

I gave her all I had and watched her face, mesmerised as her second orgasm took her over, feeling her inner muscles milking me until I came hot and hard too. At that point I knew there was no turning back, knew I would do anything for her. Then we collapsed in a satiated heap together.

I couldn’t have removed the smile from my lips, even if I had wanted to, as I held her slick, sweaty body against my own, letting my breath return to some kind of even pace.

* * *

“Wow,” she finally said. “That was unexpected.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised. I had known that it was exactly what I wanted to do to her the moment I met her.

“No, I suppose not.” She paused and met my eyes. “I’m sorry I wouldn’t talk about it all before. I just wasn’t ready. I couldn’t bear the thought that you would eventually leave, and so I wanted to try and keep my distance.”

“Doesn’t ever work that well in places like this,” I said gently, lazily stroking her bare skin.

“No, and being in a place like this makes you realise that you have to stop worrying about what might happen, and just get on with what is there now.”

I could hear just how much of a change that had been for her, and wished she hadn’t been forced to learn that lesson. Angel was right about her, there was a softness; a naïveté about her that being in a camp like this was bound to take away from her, but I wished it hadn’t.

“Life is definitely for living while you can,” I agreed, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips. “But, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. You’ll soon be sick of me anyway by the time you get shot of me.”

“I doubt that very much. And even if I am personally, it wouldn’t change the fact that professionally you have made such a difference here. I know we all wish you could stay for longer than you’re stationed… People with skills and dedication like yours are in too short supply.”

“So you only want me for my surgeon’s hands,” I joked.

“Of course,” she said with a cheeky smile as she propped herself up. Her soft, silky curtain of hair draped across my chest, tickling me, then trailed over my pecks and nipples. I shuddered.

She grinned and dipped her head to lick at them. I hadn’t ever really noticed how sensitive my own nipples could be, but all of a sudden I could feel the rest of me responding again too. I looked at her, amazed as my cock reared up again, ready to pleasure her anew.

“But not just because of what they can do on an operating table!”

Penny put a hand on my chest to stop me from rising up to kiss her, and bent her head towards my groin. I groaned as she took my cock in her strong fingers and licked the bead of milky fluid that sat nestled in the tip.

She circled it with her tongue, and then took me into her soft, warm mouth, sucking gently. My hand found it’s way to her bottom, squeezing as my fingertips brushed ever so slightly at her dripping wet seam. And in perfect sync with herself, she rose up and down, mouth and hand. The pressure was firm, and the sensation was paralysing. I lay there moaning softly, revelling in the sparks of electricity shooting through my whole body and teased at her opening again; a finger slipping into her channel, wanting to be inside her.

“Baby, you need to stop now,” I said trying to push her away. I needed for her to come again too, wanted to see the blissful state her face took on when she came.

She’d looked so hot beneath me; and I was sure she would be even more of a wildcat on top. I tried to pull her onto my lap, but she was having none of it.

“No, baby, this one is all for you,” she said, repeating my own words back to me. The echoes of her voice vibrated down my shaft as she took me back into her mouth. My hips rose to plunge further into her and she eagerly accepted. My eyes clamped shut as the writhing in my balls became almost excruciatingly painful while pleasure drove itself deep within my core like a shot of lightning. My fingers laced within her hair assisting her and encouraging her to go deeper, to take every inch of me, and she did just that.

“Oh, God, Penny!” I cried as I came, my seed spurting out of me into her welcoming mouth. My heart felt like it would split in too as it hammered; I’d had blowjobs before, but never one that was as intense or as good as that was.

She swallowed and curled her hand around my length in a tender caress then snuggled up against me, letting me get my breath back.

I lay watching her, silence between us, and wanted to stay like that forever; her in my arms and the world forgotten. I’d finally found where I belonged.

“We’d better get dressed and hide the smirks from our faces before Angel and Amy get back,” she whispered with a grin, then leaned over to kiss me on the lips.

I stared at her. Maybe she wasn’t as innocent as the rest of us had given her credit for, I thought, with a wild sense of hope blossoming within my chest.

“Baby, nah, I’m not done with you yet.”