Chapter Fifteen

 

Stepping out of the gym into a cool evening breeze, Aidan touched his phone display and blasted the beat of Nine Inch Nails into his ear buds. Taking off across the Academy grounds, the “Yard” as midshipmen liked to call it, he headed toward Maddox’s boat.

 If he’d been smart, he would have enjoyed a nice shower at the gym. As much as he loved sleeping on the boat, the miniscule shower could barely hold a guy Aidan’s size.

Yet he needed more of a workout than just the weights at the gym could provide. Tonight, as the sun dipped below the horizon, he needed to feel his heart pounding in his chest—some kind of reassurance that things weren’t as bad as they seemed—that he wasn’t as broken as the Navy doc had made him feel not long ago.

And Lord, having Leia back in his life made him feel one-hundred-percent alive again.

This was just a fling?

That word she’d uttered early this morning wasn’t settling right, wasn’t coalescing with the feelings that stirred in him each time the thought of Leia flashed through his brain. But why would she want anything more than that with him, after the way he’d unraveled the dreams they held together eight years ago, all in the course of one ill-fated day?

As his feet pounded the pavement beneath him, his eyes darted toward the buildings after he passed the gate. Downtown Annapolis had barely altered since his days at the Academy. Averse to change, the people here valued their picturesque streets and centuries-old architecture within the historic district.

A two-story colonial caught his eye, making him halt his stride at the For Sale sign in front of it. Cocking his head, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the structure, with its ornate gingerbread house-like details. It wasn’t a house that a former SEAL would likely settle down in. Yet he could picture Leia in it somehow, after seeing her apartment and the shabby-chic decor she’d chosen to surround herself with, abundant with pillows and colorful throw blankets always within arm’s reach, even if it was the middle of summer.

He could picture her sitting on that front porch in the evenings, sipping her Scotch-and-soda. The image made him wonder where they’d be living now if things had gone differently for them eight years ago. It was hard not to think about it on this trip.

They might have a kid or two by now, maybe a trip to Disneyworld or Yellowstone under their belts. He smiled at the thought of it.

Unconsciously, he found himself reaching into the plastic tube attached to the sign and pulling out a flier. Tilting his head again, he looked at the place with a more critical eye, now knowing the price. He could buy such a house, even with its prime location. After the SEALs had broken him of the habit of partying away his paycheck in that first year or so after commissioning, he’d invested well in his mid-to-late twenties and was making some good dividends that supplemented his income. Coupled with his share of the quarterly profits from Tribute, he could afford this house.

His mind drifted to the interview in the week ahead. He hadn’t thought there was much more than a coin flip of a chance he’d take it, up until now. In truth, he’d only accepted the interview because he felt he should know his options now that he wasn’t a SEAL. Besides that, it gave him more of a reason to fly out here to attend Captain Shey’s promotion ceremony.

He’d even dared to hope the trip here would give him the chance to smooth things over with Leia. Since he’d seen her at Bridget’s wedding, nothing felt right, as though the axis of his world had shifted and it wouldn’t be set to rights until Leia forgave him, even a little.

Fling or not, he’d certainly never imagined things turning out so well between them in this short time.

A frown threatening, he rolled up the flier and stuck it back in the tube. Fact was, life didn’t have an “undo” button. He couldn’t erase the past. And from the tone of their conversation this morning, she wasn’t ready to start something new with him.

Yet.

His feet burned inside his running shoes by the time he made it back to Maddox’s boat. After tugging off his sweat-soaked PTs, he ducked into the small shower in the head and felt the less-than-impressive stream of lukewarm water soak his skin.

Yep, definitely should have showered at the gym, he decided when he felt a pinch in the muscles of his lower back as he stooped beneath the showerhead.

After scrubbing himself clean, he wrapped a towel around his waist and emerged from the head.

Flipping open the hatch in the v-berth, a cool Bay breeze brushed over his skin as he stretched out on the bed. It was the first time he’d actually rested his head like this since he’d made love to Leia, and his blood heated at the very thought of her.

She wanted space. She might not have used those exact words, but he could read between the lines.

When he’d stopped by today for a cup of coffee (a taste that really was growing on him), he managed to steal a quick kiss from her in the coffeehouse’s back room, right before she turned down his invitation to have a late dinner on the boat after she closed her shop, reminding him that she should really catch up on her sleep tonight.

She should; he had to admit. Neither one of them had managed more than a couple hours at most last night.

But with the clock ticking and his time so short in Annapolis, he felt the temptation to call her up and promise that he’d keep his hands off her completely if she’d just spend the night with him.

After rising from the bed, he headed into the galley and reached into the small refrigerator, pulling out a beer just as he heard a tap at the hatch door.

“Yeah?” he called out.

“It’s me.”

He swore his cock perked up beneath the towel just at the sound of Leia’s voice. He darted over to the hatch and released the lock. “Hey. I didn’t expect you tonight,” he said, glancing down at Ranger at Leia’s side.

“Well, I didn’t plan on it. But I figured I needed to walk Ranger anyway.”

“If you’re tired, I could have walked him. I’d do—” anything for you, he wanted to complete the sentence. But, not wanting to appear desperate or needy—even though he was feeling that way—he opted for, “—anything to help you recover from the sleepless night I gave you.”

“You must be tired, too.”

He shook his head. “I’m used to little sleep in my profession. And it’s a hell of a lot more fun staying up with you, rather than looking for an HVT holed up in the Middle East.”

“An HVT?”

“Sorry. High Value Target. You know, one of the head bad guys.”

Unease settled in her eyes at the talk about his job. “Oh, of course.” She glanced down. “So, that’s a nice outfit.”

He chuckled. “Sorry. Just got out of the shower. Is, uh, Ranger okay on the boat?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s been on here a couple times with Maddox. He loves the water.”

“Hey, boy.” He stooped to scratch the dog behind his collar and Ranger’s leg twitched when Aidan hit a good spot. He could see why Leia was so attached to him. Maybe he’d get a dog one day, now that he didn’t have the threat of disappearing on some mission always hanging over his head. As unstable as Navy life was with constant deployments and PCSs, it wasn’t nearly as bad as being a SEAL.

His lips unintentionally curved downward at the thought. Upright again, he reached over to the cabinet to retrieve a bowl, and then filled it with water. He bent to offer it to Ranger, and looked up at Leia. “Can I offer you something more enticing than a bowl of water?”

“No. I’m fine.” Her eyes seemed preoccupied by his pecs. “You, um, look a little pumped up.”

He enjoyed an unintended pay-off from his earlier work out. “I was doing some lifting. They’ve got some pretty impressive equipment at the Academy gym.”

“I could say the same about you,” she scoffed, blushing.

“Glad you feel that way.” Smiling, he retrieved some chips from the cabinet. “Are you hungry? I really don’t have much to eat around here.”

“Chips sound fine.”

“How about that pizza that you didn’t let me order last night?” he offered as she took a chip from a bowl.

“No—I shouldn’t stay, really. I just—” She glanced in the direction of the hatch as if she needed to escape, at the same time Ranger slipped into the v-berth and sprawled out on the bed, as if he owned the place.

“Leia, talk to me.” Aidan reached out, gently grasping her hand.

Her breath was ragged. “That’s a little hard to do when you’re wearing a towel.”

“You’re right. I’ll take it off,” he joked.

Raising a single eyebrow, she angled a look at him.

He laughed. “I’ll go put some clothes on.”

“No, I, uh, don’t worry about it.”

His grin teased her. “Or I could offer you a matching towel and we’d be on equal ground.”

The color on her cheeks was endearing. She gave a little shiver and sat, averting her eyes from Aidan. “I—I don’t know what I’m doing here, Aidan.”

“You’re not here for chips?”

“No.”

“Do I flatter myself hoping you’re here to sneak a peak of me after I’ve been all pumped up from a workout?”

A twinkle flashed in her eyes. “No, that was just a bonus.”

Settling next to her, he took her other hand. “Maybe you’re here because you’re as stunned as I am by what happened last night and you’re not sure how to act around me anymore.”

Eyes lifting to his, she breathed out her answer. “Yes. Yes, that’s it exactly.”

Brushing his hand along her cheek, his movements were slow, as his fingertips memorized the feel of her skin, the warmth, the velvety softness. “Leia, all I know is that I’m happy for whatever time you give me. If you don’t feel comfortable repeating last night, I’m fine with that.”

Her gaze eased downward along his form, resting momentarily on the bulge beneath his towel.

“Or at least most of me is,” he amended. “Just promise me that we won’t go back to the way things were, back when you hated me.”

“No, let’s not go back to that,” she agreed. “Aidan, I wanted to ask you something.”

He stiffened slightly. “You can ask me anything.”

“Okay. So—you said you’re leaving Saturday, right?”

“I am.” He wondered suddenly if Maddox had let something slip about the interview. There was a part of him that wanted to share it with her, if only to see how she might react to the idea that he might be around in the future. But he was afraid to bring it up now, with him still not knowing what direction his life would take.

“I was wondering if you were thinking about…” Her voice trailed momentarily and her gaze wavered, uncertain, until she gave her head a little shake. “…fitting me into your schedule a bit more before you go.”

The question surprised him, different from what he was expecting with her serious tone. But he couldn’t say he was disappointed. “Leia, my schedule is officially clear for you.”

Her breasts rose and fell steadily, her breath choppy as she slid her hand to his back. She pressed her lips together. “Like right now? You’re free to… spend some time with me?” Her eyes danced tentatively.

“Yes,” he affirmed, sliding closer to her and lifting her legs so that they rested on his lap. With a smile, he kissed her, soaking in the salty remnants of the chips he’d offered her. “For pizza… or anything else,” he managed to utter in between kisses.

Her fingers raked through his hair as she fused her mouth with his. His hand slid beneath the back of her shirt, needing to feel the warmth of her against him. Every cell in his body seemed expel a rallying cry, feeling her warmth against him so soon after he’d convinced himself that he might never feel his body joined with hers again.

She lifted her shirt above her head, only letting his mouth leave hers for an instant.

“It’s crazy how badly I want you, Aidan. Like I’ve been waiting for this for eight years.” Moaning as his mouth moved to her collarbone, she unclasped her bra.

Fueled by a need that bordered on desperate, he took a nipple in his mouth, savoring the vibration of her sultry purr against his lips.

“Ohhh…” She exhaled the word in a rush as he lay her back on the cushioned seats in the cabin and let his fingers dip beneath the waist of her shorts and panties.

Soft curls met his fingertips and he nudged his hand in deeper—deeper still, until he could feel the moisture of her. He nearly pulled his hands free so that he could unzip her shorts, but her voice stopped him cold.

“Don’t stop,” she cried out, her pelvis pressing upward and legs opening. She was so close, he could tell already. So desperate for release, that when his finger stole moisture from her and dragged a line of pressure upwards again to her center, she cried out with pleasure.

“That’s it, baby,” he whispered, enjoying the sight of her eyelids fluttering as she gasped for her next breath. His fingers toyed with her, making tiny circles around her clit before dipping again into her, as her body quaked. She was so gorgeous like this, vulnerable and powerful at the same time, that all he wanted to do was let his body, his very soul, blend itself to hers.

A sigh escaped her in a rush of release when her body finally stilled. A smile edged upward on one side of her mouth. “Sorry you couldn’t join me for the ride.”

“I’m all about taking turns,” he replied, moving his hands to the button on her shorts. “That is, if you’re up for more. I know you said you were exhausted.”

“I seem to have caught a second wind.”

Then, thank God for second winds, he thought.

And second chances.