Chapter 9
Her jaw dropped, and, when she could, Kai said, “Are you flirting with me?”
He raised one eyebrow. “Maybe.” He stared off in the distance before directing his gaze at her. “Are you against it?”
She sat back and stared. She had no idea what to think about this side of him, except to say she approved. “I’m not sure what to say,” she said cautiously.
He turned that twinkle on again. “If you figure it out, let me know.”
And she realized just how special a moment this really was. How much he’d jumped forward, healing with every step he took.
She didn’t want to do anything to slow or halt this progress, but, at the same time, she was stunned at his playfulness, the lightheartedness that had popped out of the blue. And she struggled to adapt.
“I surprised you, didn’t I?” He chuckled, the air of a little boy around him.
“What brought this on?” She leaned forward. “Not that I’m against it, mind you, but I haven’t seen this fun side of you before.”
“Then again you haven’t played with me.” Damn if that sexual innuendo didn’t appear to startle him too. He laughed. “I have to admit to feeling oddly lighthearted at the moment.”
“Nice to hear. You miss her,” she said, which sucked as his smile fell away. She quickly added, “No, I don’t mean that. It’s just that I really appreciate seeing you in this happy-go-lucky mood. It’s nice. You’ve been sad and serious for long enough.”
He shrugged. “I agree. We both have been that way for long enough. I loved her, but she’s gone,” he said simply. “I’m ready to move on.”
She beamed at him. “Good. You’re too nice a person to stay sad and alone forever.”
“We have a lot of history between us,” he said with a teasing tone back in his voice, “but where in all of that did you think I was a nice guy?”
“I knew you were a nice guy before Tracy saw you.”
He glanced at her with another raised eyebrow. “Really? Did we know each other first?”
She winced.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“It was a long time ago. And we didn’t exactly know each other,” she hedged.
“How long ago?”
She shrugged. “I was your neighbor.”
He stared at her. “What?”
She laughed at the look of complete shock on his face. “Yes, when you lived in the apartment on Dilworth Road. The Mongolia apartments in San Diego. I was your neighbor.”
He stared at her as his mouth slowly dropped open. “Seriously? I figured for sure you would say in the military …”
At that she howled.
“I always thought I was so observant. I didn’t even notice you when you were right next door to me.”
“I know, right? We were neighbors for about eighteen months, then you moved out.”
“Did Tracy know?”
Kai shrugged. “I never told her.”
His gaze narrowed. “Why is that?”
“No reason. But no point in mentioning it.” She smiled warmly. “It was obvious the two of you were right for each other.”
“That’s how we felt. Like it was just the two of us in the world.” He stared off into the distance.
She watched him carefully. “Would it have lasted?”
He slanted her a thoughtful gaze. “I don’t know. I’d like to think so. Unfortunately I’ll never find out now.”
“True enough.”
“Did she ever give you any indication it might not last?” he asked curiously. “We had our disagreements and arguments certainly, but we didn’t fight. She never said anything along those lines to me, but I know she didn’t like me leaving on missions.”
Kai placed her hand over his. “No, she was very happy. Tracy was a blessing to both of us. That time has come and gone, and we need to move on.”
“I have moved on,” he said. “I’m only just realizing how much. It was hard at the beginning. Then I turned around one day and realized I could remember her with joy, not pain.” He smiled at Kai. “I hope it’s the same for you.”
“It is indeed.” She glanced at her watch. “Are you ready to go home?”
His gaze warmed. “Absolutely.” The waitress brought the bill, which Tyson paid for.
They walked to the front entrance, and Kai paused. “I have to use the ladies’ room.” She turned down the hallway to the facilities. As she returned, the hall was darker. She was sure a light was on earlier.
She headed back toward the main section of the restaurant.
There was no sign of Tyson. She presumed he went to the washroom himself.
The hostess walked over with a folded note. “Your boyfriend said to give you this.” She turned and walked away, saying, “Have a good night.”
Surprised she opened it. Written in block caps was the word DECIDE.
She glanced down at the bottom of the page where two more words were. Or else. She carefully folded the note, turned back to the hostess, only to find her gone. Kai looked around, hoping to catch sight of her again and then had to wonder if she worked here. The woman hadn’t been wearing a uniform, neither had she been carrying anything that indicated she worked here. But for some reason Kai had assumed she did. And that, of course, was the wrong thing to do.
She turned slowly but found no sign of her. She was probably just one of the patrons. However, there was still no sign of Tyson. When she circled back again, she saw him striding toward her from the men’s room.
As soon as he caught sight of her face, he asked, “What happened?”
Without a word she handed over the message. “A woman I thought worked here handed this to me and said my boyfriend asked her to give it to me.”
Tyson studied the note in his hand, nodded and said, “Time to go.” He opened the door, held it for her and walked out in front of her. He reached behind him.
There was something about the way his hand extended toward her that she could get used to. That proprietary air said he knew she’d comply. Not with arrogance but with caring. She slid her fingers into his, and he tucked her up close.
Dusk was settling in, but it wasn’t pitch black yet. He walked her to the SUV, unlocked the passenger door and stayed between her and the rest of the world as she got in. When she was inside and buckled up, he closed the door and walked around. But instead of getting in, he stood outside and made a phone call.
She knew he was calling Levi. She settled into her seat, wishing she could question the woman. Instead, Kai had let a perfect opportunity slip by. Just then the woman walked out of the restaurant with an older man. The two were holding hands. Kai unlocked the vehicle and bolted out.
“Kai, stop,” Tyson yelled.
She raced up to the woman, stepped in front of her, saying, “Hi, remember me?”
The woman raised her eyebrows.
“Do you remember who gave you the note? Is that him over there?” Kai motioned toward Tyson. “He’s my boyfriend. Was it him?”
The woman glanced at Tyson and frowned. “No. This guy was shorter, younger, with dark hair.” She glanced at Tyson again, then back to Kai. “Not anything like him.”
Kai knew exactly what she meant. The man beside her stepped up, wrapped his arm around the woman protectively and said, “Is there a problem here?”
Kai smiled at him. “I need a description of the man who gave her the note she passed to me. The note was a threat—one of many—but so far nobody’s identified who my stalker is.”
“Oh, my gosh.” The woman placed her fingers over her lips in shock. “That’s terrible.” She stared at her partner and then turned to Kai. “I just barely saw him. He stepped in front of me and said, ‘Excuse me. When my girlfriend comes out, could you hand her this note?’”
“And did he walk out afterward?” Tyson joined Kai, asking the woman to go over the scenario once again with him, with a few more sharp questions.
When there were no more questions to ask, Kai took the woman’s name and number and said, “Thank you for this.”
Tyson nodded. “We’d appreciate it if you would meet with the police department’s sketch artist. I’ve already texted them to expect you. Thank you for your help.”
The couple hurried off.
She turned to Tyson. “Well?”
“We have a little more than we had before. It’s a start. Now let’s get you back home safe and sound.”
*
“Well, you were right,” Kai said as Tyson pulled the vehicle out of the restaurant’s parking lot and headed to the main road. They were about ten, maybe fifteen minutes away from her apartment.
“Right about what?”
“Right about him keeping watch on me,” she groaned. “But how mad will this make him?”
“Pretty mad. Which is to be expected. Competition is not in the cards.”
“So we can expect an attack from him now?”
“We’re always expecting that—but, yes, we should expect an escalation in his behavior.”
She sighed in frustration. “That’s not helpful.”
“We need to stay alert. That’s both good and bad. Good in that he’ll show his hand soon. Bad in that we don’t know in what way. That means this ugly situation can get out of hand very quickly.”
“In what way?”
“You know exactly what way. He’ll likely make an attempt to get rid of me. Then he’ll make you pay for it because, by not getting rid of me yourself, you’re telling him how you’re choosing me over him.”
“Even though I don’t know him? Even though he’s not my lover or my partner?”
“In his mind every day he’s stepping closer and closer to the two of you being the reality. That you can’t see or won’t accept that is not his problem. He’ll believe you’re either playing hard to get, cheating on him or any number of other sick possibilities. Remember that we’re not talking about a normal mind here. We’re talking about somebody who wants something and plans to get it regardless of the consequences.”
“I don’t like the idea of him going after you.”
“Oh, I do like the idea of him going after me,” Tyson countered. “I volunteered for this. I knew exactly what I was getting into, so don’t you worry about me.”
“You might be a big macho soldier,” she said with spirit, “but I’ve certainly met more than my fair share of those. Bullets don’t give a damn who you are … They will kill anyone.”
“They do indeed.”
She was quiet after that.
He drove the fastest route home and parked at the apartment spot Levi had reserved for him.
She shot him a sharp look but didn’t say anything.
That was good. She was learning to follow his lead without questioning everything.
*
He led the way, noting cameras installed at the location. Some were hidden, some open. At her apartment he stepped back and held out his hand for the key. She gave it to him. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping in front of her. He waved at the camera at the top, then turned on a lamp. Instantly a warm glow filled the room. He took a quick pass through the apartment. Empty and secure.
She walked in, put her purse on the table and waited for him to be done.
He came out of the bedroom and leaned against the doorjamb. “How you feeling?”
“Fine,” she said with a smile. “How can I not be? I have a big bad former SEAL here to look after me, and apparently a whole team I know in the background.”
He smiled, but he could sense her disquiet. “It’ll be okay,” he said. “You know we won’t let anybody hurt you.”
She gave him a wan smile. “You won’t as long as you’re capable of fighting. I’ve seen firsthand how bullets rip into the human body, and it doesn’t matter how strong or how willing the person is, they still die,” she said softly. “Even with my hours of martial arts, it’s the same deal.”
He nodded. “Left or right?” he asked.
She stared at him in confusion, then shrugged. “Left? But I have absolutely no idea what we’re talking about, so maybe right.”
“Do you want the left side of the bed or the right side of the bed?”
Her jaw dropped. “Oh, no. You don’t get to sleep in my bed. It’s out in the living room for you.”
“Oh, no. I’ll be sleeping in the bed beside you.”
“Oh, hell no.” She walked into her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
He laughed. It started as a low chuckle. Like a rusty unused one, and, finally unable to stop it, it rolled out freely.
She opened the door and stared at him. “I’ve never heard you laugh like that.”
Still laughing, holding his side, he walked into the living room and collapsed on the couch. “It’s been a long time.” He said it with the odd chuckle still escaping.
“Glad you think it’s funny.” She glared at him. “You’re still sleeping in the living room.”
“I had planned on it,” he said. More chuckles escaped. “Your reaction.”
She came out like the dynamo she was, and, with one of the pillows in her hand, she started beating him. She hit him on the legs and the head and stomach and just wouldn’t stop. “You … You …”
Then he howled.
Finally the only way to get her to stop was to grab her, drag her onto the couch, and the two of them rolled off onto the floor. He quickly rolled over and pinned her down. But he forgot—just for a hair of a second—how she was damn near as good at martial arts as he was. The next thing he knew, he found himself on his back with her pinning him to the floor. He was laughing so hard that his ego didn’t even mind.
“If you think you can strong-arm yourself into my bed, you’ve got another think coming.”
He slipped his arm around her again, tucking her under him again. This time he grabbed her arms, pulled them up over her head and held tight. Slowly, ever so slowly, he pressed his pelvis against hers. She twisted against him. He couldn’t tell if it was in response or if she was trying to get away.
Then he decided he better find out for sure. He lowered his head and kissed her. Not a light exploratory kiss. But an over-the-top kiss, out of touch with the subtleties, because he wanted to know exactly where he stood. Now. Driving deep, he searched for her response. When she flung her arms around his neck, her thighs wrapped around his hips, and kissed him back, he froze. And then he lost it in a haze of heat that burned through his restraint, burned through the years of pain, and somehow he stood in the aftermath—reborn. He stroked her face, … caressing her cheeks, her eyes, her nose as he kissed her over and over again until he felt something else.
He lifted his head to see tears slowly tracking down her face. He froze again. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, hating himself for bringing her to this.
She reached up a finger, covered his lips. “No, don’t think that.”
But it was hard not to think that.
She grabbed his hair and dragged him back down where the heat of her mouth seared into him, sealing the two of them together, melting them into one.
And yet, they still had so many damn clothes between them. He groaned.
She wrenched her mouth free and said, “My room, now.” She pushed him off, hopped to her feet and raced into the bedroom. Slower, but not by much, he followed the trail of clothing as she stripped in front of him, ending up on the far side of the bed in nothing but a thong. He reached for her, but she backed up a step.
“Hell no. You’re wearing way too many clothes.”
“I can take care of that,” he said, his voice heavy with passion.
When he was down to his boxers, she stepped forward. “I’ll take care of that last bit.”
His body shuddered as she slipped her hands under the elastic and over his erection and slowly dropped to her knees in front of him.
He closed his eyes, his mind going blank as she laid her lips on his shaft. “Jesus,” he whispered in a guttural groan.
“Keep calling. He might help you out.” She gave a husky laugh, adding, “But I doubt it.”
She grasped him in her hands, slowly stroking the full length of him, her fingers gently cupping the sack between his legs. All the while he stood frozen, his body trembling. It had been so damn long, and yet, at the same time, he knew he couldn’t go there as a small part of him said it hadn’t been long enough.
Pulling back, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
“So impatient,” she teased.
“It’s been too long,” he admitted. Way too damn long. He was afraid to go too fast. Of losing control. Of not giving her the satisfaction she needed because he was out of practice.
She opened her thighs wide. “Come to me now.”
Her voice was dark, the color of midnight as he dropped down, covering her like a heated blanket. He grasped her hips, held her firmly in place and plunged deep inside. The cry ripped out of his throat as she wrapped around and held him tight. And then he was lost. Pounding, driving deep, the promise of foreplay long gone in this madness.
The climax ripped through him, his body arching, the sounds coming from him something he’d never heard before.
Still shuddering, he collapsed onto his elbows and stared down at her. And knew she hadn’t reached her own climax. Under his breath he whispered, “Damn.”
She stroked his face gently. “No. This time was for you. There’s no rush. We’ve got all night.”
He kissed the tip of her nose, his tongue sliding along her cheekbones. “What makes you think I’m good for another round?” She wiggled beneath him, and his eyes opened wide as he felt his body spring to life yet again. “That shouldn’t happen,” he protested.
She chuckled. “It’ll happen. Again and again and again.”