CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
‘ hated to leave her in bed. He hated to leave her period. Who would’ve ever thought he would hesitate to leave a woman? He’d never considered this ever happening to him. Never felt a tug at all about a female. He’d laughed at the other men on some of the teams he’d served with. Writing letters. Skyping with their girlfriends. Going on and on about how the separation was painful.
Now, he knew. He wanted to be near her all the time. And it wasn’t just her body. Though, he couldn’t seem to get enough of that either. He loved her voice, her smile. Her sass. Despite his dominance…and he knew he was dominant. He’d accepted this about himself a long time ago. Despite this, she would stand up to him. He loved it when she lost her temper too. He got rock hard and even a little breathless. She was fascinating, magnetic, full of life. And no one, man or woman made him laugh the way she did.
Damn, he was whooped! He grinned as he put on his shirt. He didn’t care. Life now had meaning somehow. Not just surviving. He paused. But now there was someone that meant more to him than himself. It could be used against him too easily. A weakness he never had before.
He was a loner. Had been one most of his life. An only child, he’d lost his parents at a young age, his grandparents raised him and then they both passed. It was why it’d been no problem to go into the military, into the SEALS then Special Ops. No one out there to miss him. Look for him.
They wiped away his identity and he was good to go on any mission. If he were killed, no one would ever know his name. No connection to the government at all. As he’d told Ridge, he was a ghost.
Now, he did have someone. He put on his boots and grabbed a heavy jacket. Someone he wanted to wake up to everyday.
FUCK!
He was in love. Or at least falling. He paused to look down at a peaceful, sleeping Ridge. He had to keep her safe at all costs. He just hoped that never meant he had to give her up.
Pushing away his inner turmoil, he headed out to the gun room.
Tanner was already there. He had guns and ammo out all over the counters. Looking up, he smiled at Noah. “I love this collection.”
“Yeah. The whole team pitched in their faves.”
Tanner looked angry suddenly, his smile cold. “And we will use their faves to get justice.”
Harris nodded. “And to keep Ridge safe.”
Tanner shook his head. “Riley.”
Shrugging, Noah picked up a semi-automatic. “I asked her to stay with me permanent last night.”
Tanner raised his brows. “Wow. You meant it.”
“I did. So, you’d better get used to me.”
Tanner laughed. “She will drive you insane Harris.”
“Yes, she will, but…I want that.” He did too. She had driven him crazy since she showed up here and he looked forward to more.
“You are nuts.”
They both chuckled and assembled the weapons in relative silence for a bit.
“Okay, looks like we got the whole list.” Tanner nodded. “Now for body armor. We will pick it out now, then wear it off the mountain. Too hard to put on in the copter.”
“What about Ridge?” Noah asked.
Tanner huffed. “We don’t have one that small Harris. I still think we ought to stash her somewhere.”
“Yeah? Like where?”
Tanner paused and seemed to think on it.
“Yeah see? We don’t have time to take her anywhere. You said yourself that Faulkner will only be there through tomorrow. Then he will be at the Pentagon. No way can we get him there.”
“Okay, but she stays in the copter. Not that it’s safe either.”
“She can wear a vest and helmet.”
Tanner nodded. “I never thought I’d be taking my little sister to this kind of party.”
“Things change.” Noah loaded another clip.
“Yeah. I’ll say. Harris whooped? THAT is a change, man.” He laughed.
“Laugh it up soldier boy. Until it happens to you.”
Tanner’s smile fell away.
Noah stared at him. “So, it has already?”
He shrugged. “There was a woman, but…”
Noah tilted his head. “But?”
“I never got her name.”
“So a one nighter?”
“No. All week.”
“And no name for a whole week?”
Tanner looked troubled. “Just drop it. It’s a done thing. I’m too fucked up in the head now to be… There’s no future in it.” He shoved his arms into a jacket and grabbed some gear. “I’m loading the copter.” He left the armory room.
Noah raised a brow. “Hmm. Sometimes, fate has already determined our future.” He’d found this out in a big way when Ridge exploded into his life.
They both loaded the gear back and forth for over an hour. Then Noah left Tanner to check over the copter to make sure it was in top shape to fly. They were almost ready.
Heading to his room, he ducked in through the door. Empty bed. He cocked his head and listened. A smile graced his lips. Shutting the bedroom door, he locked it and tore off his boots. He stripped off his jacket, shirt, pants boxers, and socks in maybe a minute flat.
Nude, he stepped into the bathroom.
He could see her silhouette in the shower. He carefully made his way closer and quietly slid the door open. He stood and watched her for a moment.
Water beaded along her luscious body as she washed her hair and tilted back to rinse it. This caused her breasts to jut up, her nipples erect under the pulsing water.
Fuck, this vision was erotic as all hell. Her hips were curvy and perfect to grab onto. Her legs were silky looking and of course, there was that sweet ass. He licked his lips as if he were thirsty.
He stepped in, closed the shower door and put his arms around her.
“OH!” She jumped. “Dammit, Harris! Why are you always sneaking up on me?”
He laughed into her ear. “I am the hunter, you are the prey.”
She bit at her lip. “You mean I fall prey to that god like body of yours.”
“That too, but I know you like my hands as well.” He eased his palms down over her nipples passing them ever so slowly up and down, making the peaks grow hard like he liked them to be.
She shuddered.
“Then, my mouth.” He lowered his mouth to her neck and sucked on her skin.
“Ohhh.” she muttered.
Reaching lower, he played with her clit.
“You drive me insane, Harris.”
“It’s a two way street.”
“No, it’s not. You turn me inside out.”
He reached back and squeezed her ass. “You like it.”
“Fucks yes. I love it. It’s scary though.”
“Scary?” He kept rubbing her clit and tweaking a nipple.
“I-I don’t even recognize myself when you—”
He flipped her around and looked into her eyes. “That’s cause you’re mine now.”
Her eyes shimmered at him. “I-I feel too much for you. I’m scared.”
He gazed into those pools of midnight blue. “I feel too much for you too. I know how you feel.” He picked her up.’
She gasped.
He raised a brow at her. “I’m going to screw you up against the wall now.”
“Oh goody. One of my fantasies,” she cheered.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he instructed as he smiled at her kid like giddiness. Backing her up against the tiles, he paused. “And get ready.”
She giggled. “Oh, I am.”
“Reach down and open yourself to me.”
Her smile fell away as she did what he asked.
“Now, grab my cock if you want it.”
“Want it?” she asked. “I dream about it.”
He grinned as he felt her delicate hands on his dick lining him up.
He shoved deeply into her.
Her breath shuddered. He fucked her slow and easy for once. He wanted to build her up and watch her fall apart. His favorite past time now.
Her panting in his ear was like music.
“H-harris…”
“Yes, sweet cheeks?”
“I’m addicted to you now, y-you know?”
He smiled as he went deeper.
“Unh, god!” She panted as he sped up his thrusts.
“Get your fix baby,” he urged.
She lunged back up against him as he plunged inside her.
Her pussy wrapped his cock like the most perfect glove. He could feel every inch of her slick velvet. He fucked her harder, faster, feeling like he couldn’t get enough.
Her body was shoved up and down by the power he put into his thrusts. She whimpered and moaned as her body convulsed in a climax.
“Beautiful,” Noah whispered as he came inside her while watching her face, knowing he was addicted to her too.