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“ARE YOU OKAY?” NICK asked later that evening, walking across his living room toward Kaylee. She sat quietly on the sofa, his big sweatshirt engulfing her much-smaller frame. Something inside his chest twisted at the sight of her there in his home, wearing his clothes. She looked so damn scared and fragile, and while he hated the situation she’d been put in, he didn’t regret having her here. She’d been withdrawn ever since Jett’s revelation, and he’d do whatever it took to make her feel safe and secure.
As he moved closer, Nick felt something settle inside him, like she was meant to be here, in his home, in his life.
Kaylee swallowed as she met his gaze. “I just can’t believe any of this. They really killed him?”
Nick frowned. “Yes. Someone must’ve gone to him and reported the incident—or a similar one. It can’t be a damn coincidence that the day you left the safehouse, he ends up a violent statistic.”
She worried her lip, the fear in her eyes evident. “But who else knew about it? Did they think I went straight to him yesterday? Even if they took him out of the picture, so to speak, he’s not exactly the only security officer out there. I could’ve reported the incident to any number of people.”
Nick sank down beside her, his hand landed on her denim-clad thigh. He squeezed gently, trying to reassure her. “I wish I knew the answer to that. Someone else could’ve witnessed something they shouldn’t have. Hell, maybe once you disappeared yesterday morning, one of the men holding you went to him, hoping to save their own ass. I assume he’d document whatever he was told, however, so the paper trail should still be there. Or electronic trail,” he added as an afterthought. “I doubt that was the first time they were secretly photographing classified materials or going at it like rabbits in an empty office. If they really wanted to keep their affair a secret, they should’ve gotten a damn hotel room—and not sworn an oath to their country,” he added, his voice hardening.
“All of it is sick and twisted,” Kaylee said with a shudder.
“It is. People do crazy things based on greed and infatuation. She wanted classified materials. He wanted sex with a much-younger woman.”
“I wonder what she photographed,” Kaylee murmured.
“West is trying to determine that,” Nick assured her. “He’s attempting to hack into some of their secure databases to see what Cornwell has been accessing.”
“Is that safe or even legal?” Kaylee asked, looking concerned.
“We don’t do things the way the military does,” Nick admitted. “Black Ops Team, remember? Jett’s already been in contact with some of the higher-ups at Offutt. He’s got connections all over the world. They’re aware of what we’re investigating.”
“Wait, so they’re already reviewing this incident, too?”
Nick nodded. “If not now, they will be ASAP. Especially now that a man has turned up dead. The wheels have already been set in motion. We’ll do our part as well, just to ensure nothing is overlooked. We don’t typically step in when we’re not tasked to do so, but there have been other instances like this when we’re protecting our own.”
“But I’m not yours,” Kaylee said, looking flustered as she glanced down at Nick’s hand on her thigh.
He left it there. It was a possessive gesture just as much as it was meant to soothe her. Kaylee might not know it yet, but she was his. He’d been a fool to walk away all those years ago. Sure, they’d been young, but now that she was back in his life and he’d once again felt the chemistry between them, he wasn’t going to let her get away again. If she truly didn’t want a relationship with him, that was one thing. But her flushes and responses to him, the way her breath hitched when he was close.... her body told another story. She might be skittish and scared at the moment, but the situation wouldn’t drag on forever. They’d get the men responsible for detaining her. Arrest Cornwell and the woman from HR.
And after that?
He’d do whatever he could to prove he wasn’t the young, dumb kid he’d once been. He’d do whatever it took to make her his.
“Lena dropped off some things for you,” Nick said, nodding toward two shopping bags near the front door. “Clothes, a winter coat, and some other stuff.”
“Oh,” Kaylee said, seemingly surprised by the change in topic. “You’ll have to thank her for me.”
Nick nodded, not saying anything else. He absentmindedly caressed her thigh again, and Kaylee leaned into him, her vanilla scent filling the air. He closed his eyes for a beat as her head leaned against his shoulder, absorbing the feel of her at his side. Nick was exhausted, both physically and mentally. As a sniper, he was used to lying in wait. This type of waiting, however, wasn’t something he was accustomed to. This wasn’t just any mission. Someone he cared for was in danger. His entire body tensed as he thought the situation over. It felt like they were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. This wasn’t any old mission, taking out terrorists and rescuing complete strangers. This was Kaylee.
Nick wasn’t scared when he deployed on ops, his training having prepared him, the adrenaline coursing through his veins keeping him alert. Sharp. The team moved in with multiple backup plans, their ops well-executed maneuvers.
But at the moment? He felt fucking helpless. Nick was mad as hell that someone had been to Kaylee’s apartment. They’d kept her in a safehouse for a month and were no doubt searching for her now. She might have escaped, but Nick knew they were coming. If his team didn’t discover who the men were who’d held her, bringing them to justice, he had no doubt they’d be waiting for Kaylee. He’d never feel safe letting her return to Omaha until they were behind bars. Sitting at home waiting around for more intel felt brutal, but he knew in his gut that something was coming.
Kaylee nestled closer against him, as if sensing his unease, and her hand landed against his abdomen. Her touch soothed him, calming his frayed nerves. Her body was warm and welcome against his own, and after a long day of travel and time with his teammates, they were finally all alone in his quiet home.
“I liked waking up with you this morning,” she admitted quietly.
He squeezed her thigh again, his thumb rubbing against the denim. “Me too. It kind of felt like no time had passed. Well, except we weren’t sneaking around behind our parents’ backs anymore.”
She giggled and looked up at him, and when their eyes locked, it felt like something shifted in the air. Nick’s hand crept slightly higher on her thigh. He heard her breath hitch, and his gaze slanted down. His big hand looked dominating and possessive on her inner thigh. Even though she was fully clothed, with a few quick movements, he could be unzipping those jeans and sliding his fingers between her silken folds. Giving her exactly what they both wanted.
Kaylee seemed to share his thoughts.
“Nick,” she whispered, the air between them growing thicker. He didn’t move a muscle, waiting. He’d give her anything, everything, but it had to be her choice.
Kaylee’s cheeks were pink as she met his gaze, but when her lips parted, Nick couldn’t resist her anymore. He ducked down and kissed her slowly, gently, his other hand landing on the back of her head as he held her where he wanted. She tasted sweet, like the iced tea she’d had with dinner earlier, and inexplicably like strawberries. His heart rate accelerated, and he sank his teeth into her lower lip, teasing her, before soothing away the sting with his tongue. Nick might want to pin her down on the sofa and completely devour her, kissing and caressing every inch of her skin, but he needed to draw this out. Go slow. Show her how much she’d always meant to him.
He took her mouth again, savoring the sweet taste of her, drinking down her sweet gasps and moans. This kiss wasn’t a mad dash to the finish line like the night before. It was something softer. More tender.
This kiss felt like it meant something.
Nick ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. Kaylee whimpered but opened to him, and then Nick was leaning her back on the sofa, his body carefully coming down over hers. She fisted his shirt, clinging to him, and Nick took his time as he stretched her out, enjoying the feel of her body beneath his. Her legs parted as he settled between her thighs, one wrapping around him. Even through their clothes, he could feel the heat of her core.
His erection was straining against his jeans, but he wasn’t a hotheaded teenager anymore. This was about what she needed. What he could give her.
And Nick was about to drive her absolutely wild.
His tongue slid into her mouth again, teasing and tasting. Kaylee let him take control as she clung to him, and he wanted to roar in approval. She was so damn perfect for him, he almost hated to think of what he’d been missing out on all these years. Nick slid his tongue against Kaylee’s, enjoying the eroticism of the moment. His dick was throbbing, and he lightly bucked against her sex, listening to her surprised little gasp.
Yes. He was hard and ready for her, but Nick was planning to take his time.
He tasted her again, thrusting his tongue in and out of her pretty mouth, and then kissed his way to her neck, smiling at her tiny little whimpers. Kaylee was so damn sensitive, and he’d always enjoyed exploring every part of her. He glanced down at his sweatshirt on her, male pride filling his chest. “I like you in my clothes.”
“Funny. I thought you liked me naked best.”
He chuckled, playfully nipping at her. “That too. I always loved you naked beneath me.”
“Take me to your room,” she said, her eyes wide with arousal. Kaylee’s lips were swollen from his kisses, her cheeks flushed, and she looked so damn pretty it actually made his chest ache.
Nick raised his eyebrows. “You sure?” he asked, lowering his head to nibble on her neck again, making her squirm. “I’m happy to take my time exploring you here on the sofa.”
In response, Kaylee wrapped her legs and arms around him, and he groaned as he felt the heat of her core rubbing against his straining erection. “I was planning to take things slow,” Nick said, his voice strangled.
Kaylee shook her head. “I don’t want slow.”
Sliding one arm beneath her, Nick rose, his lips quirking at her squeal of surprise. He was so much bigger than her, he’d always been able to shift her around as he wanted. Her petite frame had always been appealing to him. Nick loved being able to take control as they made love and position her how he liked, then make her cry out in pure pleasure, coming apart on his cock or mouth.
He was moving toward his bedroom before he realized it, Kaylee secure in his arms. Nick set her on the carpet, his heart pounding. Her head only came up to his shoulders, and there was something so damn right about seeing her in his bedroom, in his personal space. Sure, he’d had exes, but it wasn’t the same. It had never been serious, and Nick tended to stay over at their apartment. He stilled. Since moving into this home several years ago, he’d never had a woman in his bedroom.
Only Kaylee.
And he was about to take her to his bed.
She lifted her arms as he took off the sweatshirt. The green top she had on beneath clung to her breasts in an enticing way. Unable to stop himself, he palmed her full mounds, squeezing gently. “Nick,” she pleaded, looking at his big hands on her body.
“I’ve got you, baby girl.” Her top came off next, and then her lacy bra. Kaylee was breathing heavily, her breasts rising and falling. Nick wanted her completely naked before he laid her down in his bed. He knelt before her, kissing her flat stomach as she shivered. And then she was fumbling with her button and zipper, Nick brushing her hands away so he could slide the zipper down. Maybe it was caveman-ish, but he loved undressing Kaylee, baring her to his gaze. Her lips were parted again, her eyes heavily lidded, and he kissed the triangle of fabric covering her sex. Nick could smell her sweet arousal, and as he pushed her jeans down over her hips, his fingers moved to her pussy, caressing her through her panties. He could feel her wetness as he touched her pussy lips through the material, and Kaylee whimpered.
“You’re so wet for me,” he said huskily, kissing her through the soft fabric.
Nick’s arm wrapped around her, gripping one hip, and then he helped her step out of her jeans. As he looked up, his breath caught. Her breasts were full and creamy, swaying as she stepped free of the denim. The sight of them was mesmerizing. Intoxicating. They were rounded and full, with pert nipples, just begging for his touch.
Kaylee was a goddess. Creamy skin with a few stray freckles he wanted to explore. Sexy curves. Pink nipples and swollen, pink lips. She was toned and slender but had womanly curves he could get lost in. Gripping her hips, he kissed her stomach again. Teasing her, Nick nipped at the waistband of her panties. Her eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting, and then he was tugging them down with his teeth, easing his fingers under the elastic to speed the process up.
Nick reached over, yanking his bedspread back, and then helped Kaylee lie down on his bed, her naked form glorious before him. Her hair fanned out on his pillow, and he ducked down to kiss her, slow and deep. Nick quickly stripped down to his boxers, loving her eyes moving over him. She didn’t cover herself or shy away, just let Nick’s own gaze rake over her.
He was hovering over her again in an instant, kissing his way down her body as his erection strained against his boxers. He sucked on her nipples, leaving her wet and writhing beneath him. Nick growled as he licked and nipped the lower curve of her breasts, loving how she let him explore as he wanted. He cupped one full breast in his hand, his thumb skating over her nipple, and she bucked up on the bed, crying out.
Nick was dying to feast on her and abruptly rolled over on his back, instructing her to sit atop him. Kaylee hesitated only slightly before she straddled his chest, and then Nick was gripping her hips and lifting her over his face as she squealed in surprise.
“Nick,” she gasped.
“Mine,” he declared, her swollen sex mere inches from his mouth. He gave her no other warning before his mouth and tongue were on her. Nick ate her out, locking her to him with a firm grip. Kaylee whimpered and moaned, but he didn’t let up, enjoying as she got wetter and wetter.
“Oh my God,” she pleaded. “Please!”
He pulled her down impossibly closer, her legs spread wide, and licked and swiped at her arousal-drenched folds. Kaylee was shaking, her breath coming out in tiny pants, as he absolutely devoured her. Her hands gripped his headboard for support as she leaned forward, her heavy breasts swaying. She was so damn sexy it hurt, and he felt like he was going to explode right then and there as his cock swelled and balls tightened. Nick gripped her hips more firmly, then sank his tongue into her molten core. Kaylee cried out in surprise, and then she was riding him, seemingly unable to resist as he thrust his tongue in and out of her pussy.
It was sexy and erotic having Kaylee ride his mouth. Although they’d made love countless times in the past, this was new for them. Nick realized he was probably more demanding in bed now that he was older, but Kaylee’s eager responses told him everything he needed to know. This woman was made for him, for more reasons than he could say.
“My God,” she moaned. “Nick. Oh my God!”
He eagerly tongued her, enjoying the feel and taste of her sweet arousal. Her thighs were trembling, her inner walls spasming around him. Nick slid one hand from her hip to her ass, cupping it firmly. His fingers teased the sensitive skin just below one cheek, caressing the tender flesh where her upper thigh met the curve of her bottom, and she gasped.
Kaylee was mindlessly moving her hips, taking what she needed, and he wanted to hear her explode. Nick shifted her slightly, his lips closing around her swollen clit, and with another swipe of his tongue, Kaylee screamed, coming apart for him. He continued lapping at her pussy, gently bringing her down, while keeping an iron grip on her body. She couldn’t move if she wanted to, and he loved having her at his complete mercy, breathless and sated.
When she was trembling, he finally shifted her body back down, laying her atop him in bed. His mouth was coated with her juices, his cock rock-hard, but it was her head on his chest that made his heart stutter. His hands smoothed over her body, one landing on the small of her back, the other cupping her bare ass, enjoying the feel of her warm, soft skin beneath his fingertips. Words couldn’t even describe the feelings coursing through him right now. Nick only knew that he’d do anything—everything—to keep her safe and make her completely his.
