Chapter Twenty-Two
The next morning, Stacey’s eyes snapped open. Something was not right.
Something was…missing.
She glanced at the clock, and her attention focused on the date.
Damn. That was it.
Her period could be late, or maybe it wouldn’t come for a while. Hell, she didn’t know. She needed to go to her doctor.
Troy was asleep on his side, his large arm wrapped around her, warm and secure. She knew he had been pleased with how the dinner had gone. His mother, thrilled to learn he was finally settling down, had gushed about how sweet Stacey was, which meant Georgia believed they were engaged. And therefore, she was under Pa’s protection
She was safe.
And Troy free to re-up.
The right side of her abdomen twinged, and she massaged it. She was probably panicking for no reason, right? After all, she’d had the birth control shot.
What would she do if she was carrying Troy’s baby? She was only twenty-one, turning twenty-two next month.
Too young to have a child.
No, she was not going to freak out unless or until she knew for sure.
She needed to stay focused on keeping her late father’s business running. She’d phoned the second employee, Hans Rudder, last night and scheduled an appointment to interview him this morning. Someone was stealing the stock, and she needed to get to the bottom of it.
She was again distracted by the pinging sensation in her side. She dug her fingers into the soft flesh next to her hip, trying to stop it. She couldn’t imagine returning to New York carrying a child. Her mother would be horrified, and her stepfather more strict than ever.
She would come into the trust fund at twenty-five, but until then, it would be difficult raising a child on her own. Which she would be, seeing as Troy wasn’t the marrying kind.
He squeezed her arm, startling her. “Whatever it is, you don’t need to worry,” he murmured.
She turned to look at him. “How did you know I was worrying? You haven’t even opened your eyes.”
“I can feel your body tensing, plus you’ve been fidgeting around like a dog with fleas.”
She winced. “I have a pain in my side that won’t go away.”
He pulled her closer. “Where?”
She took his hand and put it where it hurt, and he rubbed the spot with his palm, building heat until the discomfort receded. “Wrong spot for your appendix. Want me to warm it from the inside?”
She laughed. “Only you would say that.”
“I’m sure it would reach if I angle it right.” He pulled the sheet back to reveal his large erection.
“I wonder when I’ll stop wanting you,” she said as a wave of lust rolled over her. She wanted to taste him, to lick him like a lollypop, and take him deep into her mouth. Every part of her craved him, and she had it bad. This faux engagement and the joy surrounding it seemed almost real.
Not good.
“Never,” he said, kissing her nose. “I’m the best you’ve ever had.”
“You’ve had no competition,” she pointed out.
His coffee-colored eyes gleamed, and his lips tilted into a smile. “You will not ever find better.”
“I’m not looking.” She waggled a finger. “You’re more than enough trouble packed into one man. My life has been crazy since I met you.”
She moved down his body, looking up at his face. His abdomen and pectoral muscles were tensed, nicely defined. There was black hair sprinkled on his torso, but not a lot. And a few interesting scars. He was too much of a combatant to be beautiful. But damn, was he sexy as hell.
Honed, dangerous, and addictive.
He raised his eyebrows, his gaze smoldering. “You’ll never be bored with me.”
“I believe it. So, how long does this have-sex-until-you-burn-out thing last? A week? A month?” She ran her hand over his silky-skinned cock, stroking over the head. She never thought she’d find a man’s cock wonderful, but she gazed at it in awe, wanting to take it in her mouth.
“Don’t know.”
“Not even a guess?”
“I’ve never been very long with one woman. I was always working.”
“What’s the longest you stayed?”
She moved between his legs and licked from base to tip, his cock jerking in appreciation. She’d done this before because her dud boyfriend had insisted. She hadn’t enjoyed it.
With Troy it was different. He had a musky, nutty scent, and she wanted to bury her face in his pubic hair and rub her cheeks all over him. She couldn’t get enough.
“Not long. Sometimes leave is only a week, so I’d find a woman.”
“Or kidnap one like me.” It was out of her mouth before she had the chance to retract the words. She was saving herself a heartache by accepting that this relationship was going to end before it even started.
She only hoped her heart would play along.
“Not like you,” he said quietly. “They knew the score and didn’t care. But you… You’re a bonder, Stacey.”
Which meant…what, exactly?
“Hey, are you feeling better?” he asked, reaching down, his hand on her cheek, his gaze concerned. The king of changing the subject when it got uncomfortable.
“Mm-hm.” She took him in her mouth, the pain in her side long forgotten.
He lay back on the pillow. “See? I fixed you. They say I have magic hands.”
She licked around the head of his sex, totally at ease. “A magic cock, too.” She loved having him to play with, learning his body and what he liked.
He smiled with a joy that lit up his eyes. “I’ve never heard you talk dirty. I’m loving corrupting you.”
She took the big head of his cock between her lips and started moving rhythmically up and down the whole length of his shaft, trying to reach the back of her throat.
“I like the way you become so agreeable when your mouth is full. Sure beats arguing,” he said, then sucked in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh.
She coughed and withdrew, catching her breath. “Shush. I’m thinking about what I’m doing.”
“I’m appreciating your thought patterns.”
She licked under his cock, and he closed his eyes. His whole abdomen tightened so his stomach was pure washboard muscle. How could so much perfection be built into one warrior? She clenched the muscles between her legs, wanting him inside her.
But not just yet.
He was so big, she had to put a hand around the bottom of his shaft while she worked her mouth up and down. Each time his cock touched the back of her throat, he moaned. She must be doing it right. Every sigh, every gasp from him gave her pleasure, knowing she had the power to affect such a big, powerful man.
As she moved over him, he started to roll his hips. She cupped his balls, gently stroking them with her thumb. She started moving faster, listening to the encouraging sounds he made.
“Princess. You’re beautiful. Keep going. Suck me. Harder.”
She glanced up as she rose before gliding down again. His eyes were hooded, glazed, and he was lost in a zone she’d never seen him in before. She was giving him pure sexual pleasure, and she was so happy, she knew she’d keep the memory of this day forever.
The next time she took him down her throat, his whole body tensed, his back lifted off the bed, and he came with a roar. Hot, salty cum spurted into her mouth. She thought she’d never be able to swallow, or even want to, but with him, she did.
Because he was hers.
Just for today. Or for a week, two max.
When he slumped, she pulled off, sitting back on her heels, and wiped the sides of her mouth.
He was still gasping, breathing deeply until he finally caught his breath. “Jesus, baby. You learn fast.”
She smiled at his surprise and skipped off the bed before he could grab her.
“Hey, where are you going? We haven’t finished yet.”
“I need to shower and to get to work early. I’m going to interview Hans Rudder in a coffee shop near the warehouse, and I want to get back before Bill comes in. Besides, you used all the condoms yesterday afternoon.”
Troy leaned over, grabbed his wallet out of his jeans, and checked. “So I have. Damn. Hate condoms. Can’t you go on the pill?”
She raced into the bathroom. Troy was never a once-only man, and although she would happily have had him again, the thought of pregnancy scared the hell out of her. She didn’t want to be vulnerable. Especially not with a man like Troy.
She certainly didn’t want to tie him down with a child. It would be like trying to put a collar and lead on a wolf.
She’d seen his savage side, and no matter how benign he seemed at the moment, she remembered it was there.
She turned on the shower and stepped inside, rinsing the salty taste from her mouth. She heard the shower door, open and he joined her.
He picked up the soap and rubbed it over her breasts, kissing the back of her neck. “Quit running. I enjoy making you come.”
His soapy hand slid between her legs, and he rubbed her clit, kissing the side of her neck until little shivers of excitement made her nipples pebble.
He nipped her lobe, and she squealed until he took it between his lips and sucked. A ripple of pleasure that was unmistakably an approaching orgasm made her roll her hips as his fingers expertly circled her clit. He leaned back against the shower wall, his arm cradling her body against him, and teased between her folds with long, easy strokes, coaxing an orgasm out of her. When it came, she raised her head and screamed out her release, gasping and rolling her hips.
Being with him, it felt so much like love. But it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. He was just doing what he needed to do to get maximum sex while he was on leave. She knew military men could be on duty for months, with only occasional R and R breaks. With her, he was simply making up for lost time.
She turned and kissed him, anyway. Then slumped against him, the spray of the shower beating against them until she could catch her breath. And noted he was hard again. Impressive.
“You’re always hard,” she murmured. “How do you cope when you’re on duty?”
“It gets really hard.” He grinned.
She rolled her eyes.
He pressed her against the wall, his erection nudging between her thighs. She was slippery and needy, but it was dumb to have unprotected sex. She’d already been dumb once, if under extreme circumstances.
“I want you, but I’m scared to get pregnant.” She wriggled out of his arms, left the shower on, and stepped out of it.
“Why don’t you go on the pill?” he repeated, washing himself down quickly, turning the water off, and grabbing for a towel.
“I usually get those contraceptive injections. But they only last twelve to fourteen weeks, and I’m on the edge of the time period. I was thinking of taking a break from them. I thought you told me you’ll be gone as soon as we’ve convinced your parents we’re for real.” She dried herself, not meeting his eyes.
“I haven’t made up my mind, Stacey. In ten years of service, this is the first leave I’ve had that’s more than the regulation thirty days.”
“Which leaves me where? I’m not good with deception, Troy. I don’t want to make happy couple plans only to have you bugger off.”
“Get your injection, Stacey. It would make things simpler.”
“For you maybe. I’m the one with a fake engagement ring on my finger. I’m the one who has to make nice with your father. And you know he scares the crap out of me. When you’re gone, I’ll have to deal with him all alone.” She hung up her towel.
He took her in his arms. “You’re not listening to me. I don’t know if I want to re-enlist. I’ve had a gutful of the army.”
“Okay. But let’s stick with condoms until you know what your plans are.”
He scowled.
“What?”she asked.
“I’m not asking for much,” he said.
She snorted softly. “You would see it like that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.
She held up her fingers and counted on them. “One, I’m living with you, two, I’m wearing your ring, and now three, you want me to organize the contraceptive.” She held up her other hand. “And let’s see. You did…” She pretended to think, then shook her head. “Sorry, I got nothing.”
“That’s not fair.”
“No, that’s me making yet another commitment without getting anything in return. If you make up your mind to leave, you’ll simply disappear out of my life.”
The expression in his eyes turned cautious. “You want me to stay?”
She dropped her hands. “What I don’t want is to be hurt. I’m the one doing a lot of adjusting here.” She pushed out of his arms and strode out of the bathroom and over to the wardrobe. She pulled out a plain black, knee-length work dress with a high neckline. The fabric was light enough that she wouldn’t be gasping from the heat. Although it was still morning, the humidity was already building, and it was going to be hotter than Hades.
Her hair was wet. Left on its own, it would dry wild and wavy down her back, so she pulled it into a French roll. The upside was, it made her look older and serious. She put on foundation, mascara, and lipstick, the whole shebang because she needed a mask. Getting answers about her work problem was going to be tough.
Troy joined her in the bedroom, his towel slung low over his hips. God, the man was sexy. She was amazed at her own self-control because she was premenstrual and edgy. It was a bad time to run out of condoms.
“Babe, when is your period due?”
“You asked me that before.” She shoved her lipstick into her handbag and made a mental note to buy a pregnancy test when she was in town. One made for early detection.
He gripped her arm and swung her around to face him. “I’m asking you again.” His action reminded her how dangerous he could be.
“I already told you on the day you hung me over your veranda like bait for Psycho that I’d look after it.”
“So, it’s late?”
“The injections affect a period. Stress can, too,” she said, determined to drive the knife in.
“You’ll never forgive me for doing that, will you?” His tone was flat, his eyes glittering with anger.
She didn’t know how to answer that, so she avoided the question. “I know what you’re capable of.” It seemed weird, considering their intense intimate relationship and her growing feelings for him…but no, she still didn’t trust him completely. In bed, she did, but outside the bedroom? Not really.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I had a job to do.”
“Consider your mission a success. Lizzie is alive, and all you sacrificed was my trust.” She wrenched her arm from his grip.
He slipped his arms around her hips and drew her to him. “Somehow, you’ll have to learn to trust me. I’m here, protecting you.”
“From your father and his whore-loving, knife-wielding sidekicks. Nice, huh?”
His expression told her the comment had stung. “Not all the brothers use whores. There are plenty of family men in the club.”
She knew the brothers were his life. But she wasn’t.
“Your world…it isn’t an acceptable way to live for me, Troy.”
“Mom managed.”
“You mother is wonderful. But she’s all about her husband and kids. I have a business to run. I’ll never stay at home expecting a man to keep me. I’m not criticizing Georgia. That was her choice, and I respect it. But if you want our relationship to be real, you need to accept that I won’t let you run my life the way Joe runs hers.”
“You made that clear when you paralyzed my diaphragm,” he said wryly.
“And yet you haven’t stopped ordering me about.”
He slashed a hand through his hair. “You’re not the only one adjusting to a new lifestyle, here. Besides, don’t assume Mom obeys my father. It’s definitely the other way around. Mom rules the roost at home.”
He pulled Stacey close and hugged her. Her head was against his chest, his big hand cradling it, tender and protective. She could hear his heart thumping, strong and sure.
“Okay,” she said. “Sorry. A lot of stuff is making me nervous.”
He bent and kissed the top of her head. “I know.” And just like that, the tension dissipated.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. “I have a lot to deal with today. It’ll be better when it’s over.”
“I’ve got your back, Stacey,” he told her.
“Thanks. But if I’m going to run this business, I need to do things myself.” She pulled away and went to her wardrobe to fetch her black high-heels. She was petite, and today she needed height to deal with her two male employees.
She left Troy standing there in his towel. She raced down the stairs as fast as her heels would carry her, opened the front door, and pulled up short. His bike was parked across the opening. A clear warning to others that she was his property.
Protection, Troy could do. He was trained for it. Short-term strikes under pressure. But anything long-term was out of his scope of experience. She knew he cared for her—as much as Troy could care for a woman. But she wasn’t making any plans for the future.
Not with him.