I pulled my face inches from his. “What’s your favorite color?”
“Blue.”
“What’s your favorite football team?”
“Manchester United.”
“That’s soccer.”
“No, darling, it’s real football.” A wicked smirk crossed his lips.
Holy hell, if he called me darling like that, he could tell me the sky was green and I’d agree.
He pressed his lips against mine as his hands tangled in my hair. I didn’t want to stop, but I barely knew anything about him. My heart raced. I pulled away. Again.
“When’s your birthday?”
He leaned back and raised an eyebrow.
“July 31st. My favorite movie is James Bond, Goldfinger.” His smile spread as if he realized what I was doing. “I love dogs, but don’t have one, and I hate orange juice.”
I like James Bond. Good enough.
My fingers ran through his hair and I pressed my lips harder against his. He chuckled then nibbled my bottom lip. A flurry of anticipation erupted as I wondered where he would nip next. His lips traveled slowly below my ear and I tipped my head back slightly and lightly purred. His breath warmed against my skin, as his hands explored under my tank and up my back. An electric pulse ignited as his fingers traced along my spine. I slid my fingernails gently down his arms. Bumps rose upon his skin and I knew he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
He stopped kissing me, and my body fell into instant withdrawal. I wasn’t ready for it to end. I leaned into him. His tongue traced along the pulsing vein in my neck and I resisted the urge to cheer out. And when his lips brushed against my cheek and his breath tickled my ear, I shuddered.
“Bloody hell. You take danger to a whole new level,” he whispered and nuzzled into my neck.
Amused, I stifled a laugh.
“You have no idea how happy I am that I hit you in the head with that bottle,” I said softly into his ear. I traced my finger along his face and gave a nibble to his earlobe.
My lips moved toward his and brushed them softly. He stood, lifting me. My legs found their rightful spot, tucked around his waist.
He carried me into the house. I stopped kissing him for a few, short, raspy directions on how to get to my room and to make sure he had protection, or a Johnny as he called it. Once he stepped into the doorway, his lips found mine.
He sat me gently on the bed, never breaking the mind-blowing, world-silencing kiss, even as I unbuttoned the remainder of his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders.
My heartbeat thumped loudly in my ears as the reality of what was about to happen diluted the effects of the alcohol. His beautifully tanned and toned muscles flexed as he hovered over me making me wonder if everything about this man was too good to be true. I lay back and shivered as he joined me. He brushed a loose strand of hair from my eyes.
“We don’t have to do anything you aren’t comfortable with, darling,” he said gently and held me firmly at arm’s length.
My eyes traced slowly across his right arm and then his left. I wanted him, but more importantly I needed him. Throwing caution to the wind, I touched my hand to his face.
“I’ve never felt more comfortable in my entire life.”
Chapter 4
It didn’t seem fair for the angel and the devil on my shoulders to gang up against me last night. I didn’t know whether to hug them or smack them. I squeezed my eyes closed and my pulse thumped loudly in my head. A low moan escaped my lips as I pulled my pillow over my face and rolled over. The rich spicy scent of his cologne lingered causing my heartbeat to quicken. I slowly peeked from under the pillow. Disappointment tugged at my belly.
Locke, my stranger, was gone, but a glass of water awaited me on the nightstand with two Tylenol, a first aid kit, and a paper airplane. It was just one night, I reminded myself. I picked it up and unfolded the note, to read:
I can’t believe I don’t know your name. Or did you tell me and I suffered from amnesia due to my head injuries? Either way you owe me a date to make up for the way you treated me last night. I’ll pick you up after work around 6:30.
Locke.
Okay, maybe two nights.
I popped the Tylenol into my mouth and downed the entire glass of water. After rereading the note, I folded it into its plane form and sailed it into the air. Ironic.
As I swung my legs out from under the sheets, I discovered an expertly dressed bandage on my foot and I wondered how he didn’t wake me. Especially since every time he touched me my body erupted like a volcano. My face lit fire as a satisfied grin tugged at my cheeks. I should hate this day. I had dreaded its arrival for so long, but I intended to enjoy this moment while it lasted.
For the first time in over a year, I felt alive. I hadn’t allowed anyone that close to me, but Locke felt different. Just the thought of him made my stomach bottom out. Feelings equaled pain and I promised myself that I would never allow my heart to be broken again after Colin’s death. I couldn’t risk losing someone that I loved ever again. Locke was danger. Serious danger.
I tugged the blankets over my head and rolled over. The sandalwood scent sent my heart into a flurrying panic.
After a shower and breakfast, I stepped into my flight suit and laced up my boots. The pain in my head was replaced by an ache in my foot. I pulled my hair back in to a ponytail, then wrapped it into a bun.
I took my phone from the plastic container. A text from Pink 1 wishing me luck again and a calendar alert that read ‘doomsday’ lit up the screen. I regretted saving the damned phone’s life.
I tossed a bottle of water into the passenger side of my jeep and climbed in. The sun was shining and it looked like the Karma gods had taken pity on me and given me enough time to drive through Starbucks.
As I pressed the cup’s lid to my lips the image of Locke entered my mind. Just the thought of him reignited the feelings from last night.
Warmth spread deeper in my belly as I replayed our extracurricular activities. His strong hands on my bare skin, his soft lips pressed against mine….
The concrete walls of the base flanked by the Forty-fourth wing’s blue and gold insignia smacked me into reality. An uncomfortable tingle started at my cheeks and shot through my body as I neared the barriers that staggered the entrance. I handed my identification card to the security guard and blinked several times waiting for my dream to end.
“Have a good day, ma’am,” the young airman at the gate said with a salute.
I sharply returned his salute and realized that doomsday had arrived, but maybe it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated.
Taking a deep breath, I donned my game face. A stupid sunny smile would not win me any points among the most fierce and competitive group of guys in the Air Force. I rolled my shoulders back and stood up straight with a brief pep talk. For the next eight hours, I was a woman on a mission.
* * * *
I ignored the slight shake in my hand and punched in the code to the squadron door. I walked in with a few minutes to spare. Our brief would begin on the hour so I didn’t have time to mingle with guys, who most likely didn’t want to gab with me anyway.
It didn’t matter how many of them I could take down with a single shot, I didn’t have a dick, which seemed to be required for membership. I wasn’t here to make friends or be in their club. I was focused on a single objective: clear my brother’s name.
A guy named Freak leaned against a