Ellie sighed as she wiped down the bar in those final precious moments before they opened. Her peace and quiet about to be shattered by the men and women who would be showing up to Last Call for their Friday night drinking and hookups. She truly loved her job, but it took a bit for her to get into the persona she held while bartending to the military men and women that came here.
Tonight was going to be even louder than usual, as they were hosting a bachelor party for a lieutenant who was stationed there. A quick glance at her watch and another deep breath before she tossed the towel over her shoulder.
“You okay, Half Pint?”
Turning to look at her boss, Teach “Dogfish” Burton, she shook her head as a smile turned up her lips. “We are the same height, you know, right?”
He rolled the unlit cigar from one side of his mouth to the other then back again. Shoving a battle-scarred hand through his shorn hair, he shrugged. “You’re still a half pint to me.”
He was the only person on the face of this earth she would allow to call her such a name. After being in the man’s employ for over five years now, she’d come to figure him out. He called her that because he loved her but would never tell her.
“Are you hanging out tonight?”
“Of course I am. I’ll be here up until close.”
She walked toward him, holding his unwavering blue gaze. “Wasn’t the idea of having me as a manager so you didn’t have to be here every open moment?”
“What am I supposed to do on a Friday night in Hawaii?”
She battled the urge to roll her eyes and smack him with the towel. “Oh, I don’t know. Go out on a date.”
He crossed his massive arms over his barrel chest. “You first.”
“I would but I have a bar to open.” She kissed his cheek and moved on to the door, unlocking it and flipping the sign.
She ignored his muttered response, for there were already patrons coming in for the party. Most she knew as regulars but there were a few she’d not met yet.
“Thanks for allowing us to have this here, Dogfish,” Todd Smithson said as he smiled at her.
“You’re paying me, don’t think this is anything special.” Dogfish’s gruff reply had her turning away so no one saw her grin.
“Does he know you laugh at him?”
Whoa there. Stop everything. That voice right there belonged in a dimly lit bar where no one would notice if your nipples were hard with arousal. Only one man had that voice to her. She shifted her gaze up from the floor, along the long muscular legs that were encased in tight jeans, over the flat abdomen covered by the green shirt, and up to the tanned face. Dark brown eyes waited for her.
Bennett Harvey.
If there was one man who could make her lose her cool, this was him. Ex-Navy SEAL, quiet man who proudly sported his tribal tattoos on his arms. She’d seen him one time without his shirt on and knew he also had one on his shoulder.
“Depends,” she said, recovering and finding her voice.
“On?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“If you’re going to tell him or not?”
His smile damn near melted her panties and she took a deep breath, wishing for a moment they were somewhere alone, just the two of them.
“Secret’s safe with me, Smash. If he finds out it won’t be from me.”
“Smash?” She cocked her head to the side.
“Ellie,” Dogfish boomed. “Need you over here.”
He gave her a short nod. “Looks like that’s a story for another time.”
“That implies that this was a time.”
“Think on it, you’ll see it was.” He walked by her, leaving her to deal with Dogfish and what he needed.
As the night progressed, she didn’t have another opportunity to engage with Bennett further for the group at the bachelor party kept her hopping with fixing drinks. She didn’t mind, she had come to love her job. The people she got to meet and the stories she got to overhear. They weren’t interested in her life, her past, and that’s just what she wanted.
Even though they kept her busy, she still found time to cast a few stolen glances at Bennett. Each time she did, she swore he was watching her in return. No way to prove it, just her imagination playing with her and keeping her body in a state of ready alert.
Bennett remained the entire night. In his one spot, splitting his time between four beers total. Dogfish kept his drink for him, leaving her and the others to tend with the partiers.
“What’s the bell for, beautiful?” a man slurred as he gestured to the brass bell hanging behind her slightly to the left. “Does it work? Can I ring it?”
She mixed up a cosmopolitan for a woman during this conversation. “Looks, yes, and no.”
“But I should be able to ring it.”
“Your wants, unless it’s dealing with a drink, are inconsequential. You want a bell to ring, go buy one.” She slid the drink to the waiting woman. “Here you go, hon.”
“Thanks so much.” She put a twenty down. “Keep the change.” She toasted her and walked back off into the crowd.
“No need to be a bitch,” he snapped. “Give me another.”
Ellie slid her gaze to the man and sized him up. In an instant, her decision had been made. “Sorry, sir. I’m cutting you off. I’ll let you drink anything nonalcoholic.”
He sent her a scowl that would have worried the devil and she held his gaze, unfazed by the posturing. There was no way she would back down in the bar. At one time in her life she would have cowed, but not now.
Ellie couldn’t say why he backed, if it was her expression of don’t try me, buddy, or the glare from Dogfish she knew was coming. Either way, the customer settled down and asked for a tonic water.
The music changed and she looked up to see three women standing in the middle of the group, beginning to gyrate and strip. Rolling her eyes, she focused back on the bar. Not her scene. She lost herself in work and before too long it was time to head home.
As she drew the door closed behind her—the last one out, Dogfish had already taken the day’s take with him—she inhaled sharply. Bennett leaned against the streetlight post. A mist had rolled in and he took her breath away. Always had.
“Shouldn’t you be out galivanting with the guys? Or does that lamppost need you?”
He flashed a slow grin that had her weak in the knees. “I haven’t galivanted in years.” Bennett pushed away with a lithe ripple of movement and moved smoothly in her direction.
She gulped. Members of the military moved a certain way, but this man, this ex-SEAL had something extra to his swagger.
“I’m surprised Dogfish lets you walk alone after work. I saw him leave earlier.”
The concern in his tone made her smile. “Guess what?”
She watched him approach even more. He filled her senses. Body responding, she fought the urge to pull her shirt away from hypersensitive breasts. Her pussy grew slick as he halted before her, hotness personified.
“What’s that?”
She blinked at him, loving how the mist dangled on the strands of his black hair, making it shine with diamond dust.
“Smash?”
Shit, she’d missed his question. Why? Because she was thinking how nice it would be to touch him. How perfect her night would end if she were given the go-ahead to explore those hard, defined muscles, lick his golden tan skin.
“Yes?”
“You asked first.” His dark eyes twinkled. “What were you telling me?”
“That I am a grown woman, one who doesn’t need permission to walk home after work. Or to work.”
He towered over her, yet fear wasn’t a blip on her radar. Not for physical harm from him to her. However, what she may do to him, a definite concern.
“Believe me, Ellie, I’ve noticed you’re all grown up.”
Hawaii was warm but had nothing on the heat his words created within her.
His gaze ran over her. She flicked her tongue over her lips. Bennett clenched his jaw.
“Am I to assume you are escorting me home?”
“Yes.”
One word with absolute confidence lining it. She hid her smile. This was like a dream fantasy come true, having him in her place.
“You do know I live like two streets from the bar, right?”
“So, it’s not a long walk.”
More’s the pity.
They walked side by side into the mist.
“Do you live around here, Bennett?”
He shoved his hand in those jeans that took her breath away with how they fit those strong legs and firm ass of his.
“Not far.”
“Cryptic.” She fell silent for a few more steps. “Okay, how about why you didn’t go out with the rest of the bachelor party. Didn’t appear they were ending the festivities. Although after the strippers, where do you go from there?”
He glanced at her then looked around them. “Someone waiting for you?”
She shrugged. “Only Roscoe.”
Bennett angled his head toward her. “Who’s that?”
Grateful for the darker lighting so he couldn’t see her flush, she pursed her lips. “My plant.”
His laugh rolled from him, deep and sexy, covering her in a comforting blanket. “Let me get this straight, you named a plant?”
Ellie punched him in the shoulder. There wasn’t any give, only solid muscle.
“Hey now. I’ll have you know Roscoe is very loyal. He listens without judgement and is always happy to see me.”
They rounded the corner and headed up the next street.
“Is that so?” He sounded more than a little skeptical.
Another poke to his shoulder. Okay, so she couldn’t resist another touch. “Don’t mock,” she admonished.
“Oh no,” he drawled. “Wouldn’t think of it.”
She smiled at his teasing tone. For the longest time she’d wondered if this man ever smiled. But over the years, they’d become friends and she didn’t get to see smiles from him often, but she relished them when they came. For this to happen, here and now, was more than she’d ever hoped.
After her last relationship, she was enjoying this one with Bennett. They flirted yet it was almost innocent. Then she would go home and use her vibrator thinking of him and what it would be like to share his bed.
They walked up her street and she slowed as they neared her building. “Thank you for the escort home, I appreciate it but as you see it’s fine out here.”
“This is not walking you home, this would be walking you part of the way home.”
She watched him in her periphery. If only she could stare at him for hours. Those handsome Hawaiian features just drove her insane.
“Right. I just don’t want you to feel obligated and continue more out of your way.”
“Ellie,” he rumbled, voice low and electrical.
It sparked right on her clit, making her bite her lower lip to keep the moan inside.
He sent her a look that had her wondering if he would fuck her if she offered. Pushing those thoughts away, she stopped at the door and reached for the handle. He was there, moving in front of her. Then he stepped back and allowed her to enter before him.
“It’s not a dangerous place, Bennett.”
“Any place can be dangerous,” he said behind her, his breath on her ear.
Her knees were weak once more. Navigating the four flights of stairs to her place, she again paused at the door.
“Would you like the key?” She offered it to him.
“I would love a key to your place,” he said, plucking it from her fingers.
He opened the door and encouraged her forward with a touch on the small of her back.
God, what she wouldn’t give to have that touch on her bare skin. Preferably between my legs.
Okay, it was a fact, she truly had to go out and get laid.
The click of the door reminded her she was alone with him now in her small one-bedroom apartment.
Fuck, he seemed even bigger in here. His dark eyes took in her place. Knowing him, he was checking security and would be giving her a lecture on not leaving a window unlocked or something so entirely unsexy.
She noticed he continued looking to her left and she followed his gaze. Roscoe sat there on a small wooden table.
“You have an ‘lwa ‘iwa.”
“Hi, Roscoe,” she cooed. “I suppose so. I’m sorry, I don’t speak Hawaiian. All I know is it’s a Maidenhair fern.”
“Same thing,” he said with a smile.
She shoved her hand through her hair and tried to control the beating of her heart. All that man, here in her place looking as good as he did. It wasn’t fair.
“Tour?”
Ellie looked around and shrugged. “It’s a one bedroom, what more could you possibly want to see?”
He held her gaze. “Your bedroom.”
Holy shit, she nearly came from the heat infused in his words. Needing a moment, she pointed down the hall. “Right at the end.”
He strolled away and she took the time to enjoy watching. Everything on him was hot. From the fit of his attire to the tribal tattoos on his arms. Bennett leaned in her bedroom and when he didn’t immediately come back up, she gazed after him. He rested against the doorjamb but was looking in her direction.
She ran her hands down her pants. “Something wrong?”
“Not at all. In fact, call me even more intrigued.”
“By what?” She moved to his side.
Bennett turned so she would have to press against him to see inside. Taking the presented opportunity before her, she placed one hand on his muscled back and leaned in. Her bedroom was clean as was her wont.
“I’m not getting it.”
“You will be,” he muttered. But he gripped her chin and angled her to see the bed.
Fuck. Lying there on her gunmetal gray and daffodil yellow bedspread was her large turquoise vibrator with all its many nubs.
Bennett wasn’t just shocked but also intrigued and turned on as fuck. There was something sexy about a woman who knew what she wanted and would do what was necessary to obtain it. However, right now, seeing that there, knowing that jellied stick had the pleasure and luxury of slipping between her thighs and pushing up inside her pussy, had him wanting to remind her that it was in no way comparable to a real man. He wanted to be the one to prove it to her.
Bennett wanted nothing more than to strip her naked and give her a personal one-on-one reminder. Her screech preceded her rushing by him into her bedroom. “Oh my God! I can’t believe… I’m so embarrassed. Figured it would be you who saw this.”
She more muttered to herself than spoke to him and he let her vent it out. She held her hands out to the sides and said, “Forget you saw that.”
He crossed his arms. “Not on your life.”
Bennett entered her bedroom as she flipped up the edge of her bedding, hiding the vibrator. Her face flamed red as she turned back to him.
“Why not?”
“Why is that something I would want to forget? A fucking sexy siren and her vibrator. Hell no. I’m holding on to that memory.”
“And what will it cost me to make you forget?”
He smiled and stepped closer. “Nothing, although if you’d like to give me a firsthand memory, I would think on that one more.”
Her eyes flared wide and she closed the rest of the distance between them. “This isn’t going to make things weird between us when you come to the bar, is it?”
“Why would it?”
Holy fuck, she smelled like midnight jasmine. Her scent wafted around him, embedding into his skin and soul.
“Boys can get possessive when they fuck a girl.”
He pulled her tight, splaying his hands along her back. “One, I’m not a boy, I’m a grown ass man. Two, I’m not fucking a girl. I’m sleeping with a woman. Three, ah, who gives a fuck.” There was no point in him pointing out some women got crazy as well. He slanted his mouth over hers and the groan from her mouth met his own.
Soft, pliable lips parted beneath his assault and she purred. Right against his thrusting tongue. It went straight from there to his cock where it wrapped titanium around it. He gripped her shirt and yanked it up allowing himself access to her smooth skin.
Women weren’t this soft, he didn’t know what she did to get this satiny smooth. All he knew was he approved whole heartedly. Her ferocity matched his, pound for pound. She dug her fingers into his waist anchoring herself to him. He approved.
Nipping her lower lip as he broke the kiss, he backed away just enough to rip her shirt over her head. She stood before him, a lacy bra covering what he wanted free and accessible to him.
Next to him, she was tiny and he felt more protective of her than usual. He settled his hands on her shoulders, pushing them along her skin, bringing the teal straps of her bra along for the ride. His mouth watered as he envisioned having her in his mouth, teasing her nipples, tasting her skin.
She watched him carefully with her green-blue eyes, not stopping him, but he could see hesitation behind the raw lust. Making himself slow down, he reined back in his control.
“Anytime you aren’t comfortable with this, you tell me.” His words were gruff but understandable. It may kill him, but he would stop if that’s what she wished.
She shook her head. “Only thing I’m not comfortable with is how you’re wearing more clothing than I am. I’ve wanted you for a long time, Bennett.”
“Fuck, Smash, I’m trying to go slow here.”
“We could always do slow later. You know, once the edge is off.”
The strings holding up his control broke. Snapped clean away and he drew her tight to him, not wanting any space between them. Claiming her mouth once more, he slipped his hands to her waist and undid the snap of her jeans.
She arched into him, pressing those firm breasts deeper against his torso. Ellie copied him, undoing his pants but before he could push hers down over her hips, she’d wriggled her hand down the front of his and curled it around his dick.
“Ahh fuck,” he called out, bucking his hips, pushing himself deeper into her touch.
“That’s the general idea.” She fisted him, stroking him within the confines of his jeans.
Not to be outdone, he cupped her core and yanked her pants down with his other hand. Sliding her panties to the side, he dragged a finger up along her lips before entering her with two. A nice slow push and he was seated inside her heat.
“Shit,” she moaned.
He worked his wrist, fucking her with his fingers. Words escaped him for the moment. He’d known she’d be hot and tight, but this? Nothing had prepared him for that. If she was like this around his fingers she was going to choke his cock. Yeah, that’s what he wanted.
“Shirt off,” she panted as he flicked his thumb along her clit.
He yanked it over his head with one hand. She worked him free of his pants and purred again as she stared at him. Her hand pale against his darker skin an amazing turn-on. Her lips were parted and her breaths came short and fast.
“Ellie.”
“What?” She tipped her head up to capture his gaze.
He didn’t want to talk anymore. Bennett took control of her mouth once more and lifted her off her feet. While the move took her hand from his cock, he would find a way to survive. Stepping on his pant legs, he stumbled until they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and partially removed clothing.
They separated for moments while divesting themselves of the rest of their clothing. He cursed his boots as he untied and kicked them free so he could be naked. Finally, she was back in his arms. He rolled them so she was beneath him as he settled between her legs. The head of his cock bumped her wetness.
Then she had a hold of him once more, moving his shaft up and down along her slit.
“Waiting for a personal invitation?” Her voice was low and throaty.
“Want you ready.”
“I’ve been ready since you walked into the bar tonight.”
Thank God.
“Put me inside you.”
She didn’t argue or make him wait any longer. Ellie lined him up to her entrance and he surged forward, sinking fulling within her velvet heat. He held still for a moment before lowering his head and kissing her skin where her shoulder and neck met.
“Oh yes,” she sighed. “Yes. Finally.”
He smiled and nipped her skin as he cupped one breast before starting to thrust within her. Slowly he moved as she rocked beneath him, rising to meet his forward motions. She hooked her legs behind his back, allowing him deeper penetration.
Kissing his way down her neck, he laved attention on her breasts. Her moans grew as he sucked, nibbled, and raked his teeth over her. She wrapped her hands in his hair, holding him there.
Her grip was hard and unforgiving. He loved it.
“Faster,” she begged, tugging on his hair. “God, please.”
He listened. Rising up again, he pounded into her. The bed slammed into the wall behind them with each powerful thrust of his hips. Her cries grew as she came around his cock. He didn’t slow as her internal muscles flexed around him, milking him for all he had to share.
Jaw clenched, tendons tight in his neck, Bennett came with a low roar. He nearly fell on her, he had nothing left to hold himself up. She’d taken everything from him. And he’d willingly give it to her again. As many times as she asked for it.
She trembled beneath him and he kissed her, coaxing her tongue to come out and play. As they let their heartrates calm, he made slow love to her mouth until once more she was squirming beneath him, whimpers growing louder as she moved her hips.
Still buried inside her, he grew hard again and began stroking once more. Gentle this time, building up the need until they both burned with it and couldn’t do anything but let it burn and run its course.
Dragging out his movements, he growled his approval when she reached between them and added her touch to his cock as it slid in and out of her.
She came again and shuddered in his arms. This time, he rolled them over and put her on top. Ellie didn’t hesitate or become shy. She placed her hands on his chest and rode him. Used him how she wanted, setting her own pace and speed. Bennett lay there, hands holding her hips as she closed her eyes and found what she needed from him. He ran his gaze over her.
Fuck, she was stunning. Her creamy skin flushed from her desire. Lithe and fit. By his left thumb he saw a tattoo and another near his right thumb. They bore looking at later. Right now, he had something else in mind and she was driving him insane.
Hours later they lay together, tangled in her bedding. Ellie lay mostly on top of him, her head resting on his shoulder and straddling his leg, pressing her nearly bare pussy against his thigh. He dragged one hand up and down her back, moving over the bumps of her spine as they lay entwined. She slept, soft snores escaping as she breathed deeply.
He was fucked. He didn’t want to leave. She’d done something to him during this exchange. Sure, he’d always had a thing for her, but he’d chalked it up to being nothing more than lust. Now that the edge had been taken off, he realized he was wrong. It went way beyond lust.