Chapter Eight

Rick stared at the bruise forming on his shoulder and let out a groan of disgust. How the hell had he let Nash get a shot in? Clearly, he’d been a civilian too long and had lost a shit-ton of his reflexes. Hearing his front door creak open, he walked out of his bathroom and watched Jack stroll in with a satisfied smile. “Didn’t expect to see you this early. I figured you’d be delivering a coffee to Nessa.”

“Saturday is her busiest day at the shop, and I don’t want to get in her way.”

“My cousin isn’t giving you an inch, is she?”

“Nope.” Jack ran his hand down his face and let out a low growl. “She’s blockin’ me every chance she gets. One minute, I think I’ve got an opening, and the next…nothing.”

“I suggest putting a whole new playbook together, because she’s nothing like those groupies that threw themselves at you when you were on the gridiron.”

“Well aware of that, brother.” Jack strolled into the kitchen and filled two mugs with coffee. “Heard you had a run in with Nash last night after bowling and Emily almost shot your ass.”

“And how much of it do you believe?” he asked as he accepted a cup from his friend.

Jack settled into a chair. “About 25 percent. Your mama, on the other hand, believes more than 50 percent, and it might be in your best interest to make yourself scarce today.”

“I’m a thirty-two-year-old man with a decade of combat experience under my belt, and there’s no way I run, hide, or otherwise shy away from anyone. Including my mama.”

Jack drank half his coffee down and then shrugged. “Then you’re a damn fool, ’cause no one fights with their mama and comes out a winner.”

Ignoring his friend’s comment, he sat down and ran his hand through his hair. “What do you know about Nash Pierce these days?”

“Not much.”

“He was in front of Em’s last night for over an hour.”

“How the hell would you know that unless you were doing the same damn thing?”

“I wanted to make sure she got home safe after bowling and didn’t plan on staying longer than it took her to get inside her house.”

“Then why did you?”

He let out a long breath. “Because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving until I knew Nash’s intentions. I’m thinking he’s got a thing for Em, but slinking around her place isn’t how he ought to go about it.”

“Guess it’s possible. Did Willy haul you two down to the station or just interrogate you at the house?” Jack asked.

“He sat his big ass on the hood of his squad car and ran through a short Q&A. Nash fed him a bullshit excuse about seeing someone lurking in the neighborhood, and I kept my responses to a minimum. No need to let the guy know I’m on to him.”

“Meaning?”

“I’m going to dig around and figure out what Nash is up to. No one with decent intentions sits outside a woman’s house in the middle of the night.”

“Maybe he wants to make a move on Em, just like you.”

Nash making a move was about the last thing Rick wanted to think about. He let out a breath and looked out the large picture window that dominated the wall and let the sight of the wide swath of green calm his nerves. “I’m going to ride out to Hog Lake and see what kind of shape the cabin is in.”

“Any particular reason?”

“As one of stewards of this land, it’s my responsibility to make sure things are taken care of.”

“Or…you want to take Em out for a picnic and some naked swimming and want a decent place to”—he lifted his fingers in quotation marks—“dry off.”

Crossing his arms behind his head, Rick didn’t reply, because the son of a bitch nailed it perfectly. Something that happened with annoying regularity. He saw his mama come into view as she rode up to the house on her favorite horse, and he shoved himself out of his chair. “Incoming.”

Jack twisted around and then stood. “Bet she’s not stopping by for a cup of coffee.”

The door flew open, and Ms. Celeste walked through it. “Son, we need to talk.”

“And that’s my cue to leave,” Jack mumbled as he headed for the door. “You two have a good day.”

Nodding, he waved to Jack and hoped his mama wouldn’t make his ears bleed. When she settled herself onto a stool at the kitchen island, he knew it wasn’t likely.

God willing, it would be over quickly.

…

Emily looked out the window of her truck, studied the home Rick had built for himself, and reluctantly admitted how impressed she was. The modern farmhouse was situated about ten miles from the main house and had about a half dozen oaks surrounding it. The structure had been a barn when they’d been growing up, and she loved that he’d turned it into a home. The corrugated tin exterior had been replaced with wood siding painted in white, and a wide porch that was home to a swing and several rocking chairs was added to the front.

Hearing a crack of thunder rumble in the distance made her wonder if delaying the conversation with Rick wouldn’t be a good idea. The last thing she wanted was to be caught in the storm on her way back to town, and perhaps giving her old friend a piece of her mind could wait for another day. Mabel let out a short bark, and she patted her head. “Don’t worry, girl. We’re heading home since you and lightning storms don’t mix.”

Her dog let out another bark at the same moment a sharp knock thudded against the window, and she let out a yelp. Turning, she saw Rick’s smiling face and hit the button for the window. “You scared me!”

He rested his hands on top of the cab. “Didn’t mean to.”

Leaning back, she told herself not to stare at his biceps straining against his T-shirt. Arm porn wasn’t going to make her weak in the knees. “I stopped by to give you—”

“A lecture about getting into a brawl in your backyard?”

Nodding, she crossed her arms over her chest. “But it’ll have to keep for another time. There’s a storm on its way in, and Mabel doesn’t care for them, so I need to get her home.”

Rick stepped back and opened the truck door. “As I remember, you don’t like lightning, either, so come in until it passes.”

“I don’t think”—Mabel barked, jumped out of the open door of the truck, and landed on Rick’s feet—“we should,” Emily finished as her dog leaned into Rick.

“Mabel seems to disagree.”

“Are you hiding a dog biscuit somewhere?”

“No.”

“I don’t understand why my dog loves you so much.”

“I’m all but irresistible, so it shouldn’t be that surprising.”

“To four-legged animals,” she muttered. And to most women with a pulse, but that wasn’t anything she’d ever say aloud because the man did not need encouragement. “We really should be getting home.”

“Can I tempt you with some of Norma’s enchilada pie?”

“If I say no, will you believe me?”

Rick held out his hand and grinned. “Come in and have a glass of something while I slide that pan into the oven and show you what I’ve built.”

Emily studied her dog’s thumping tail and Rick’s hopeful smile and knew she couldn’t fight, either. “All right, but don’t expect me to skip the impressive speech about not fighting just because you’re offering up one of my favorite meals.”

“If I add a slice of banana cream pie, will you consider making it a short one?”

“You are the devil.”

“Never said I wasn’t!” he said with a wicked grin.

Taking his outstretched hand, she slid out of her truck and reminded herself that she was a strong woman and could resist the delicious man leading her into the prettiest home she’d seen in ages. His tight ass and wide back…was another thing, though, and she didn’t expect to be held responsible if her control slipped the tiniest bit.

Emily leaned against the island that dominated the kitchen and ran her fingers over the cool stone. “I love the home you’ve made.”

“Thanks, darlin’. I’ve been working on it since I got back and think it’s almost there.”

She accepted the glass of wine he offered and decided the large open plan of the first floor fit the big man standing before her perfectly. “Thank you.” She gave him a smile and then wandered over to the wall that was filled with photos and mementos. Running her hand over the frame that held a diploma, she leaned in and read Rick’s name. “I thought you dropped out of college to join the Navy.”

Rick took a slug of his beer and then gave her a grin. “I did and then had the opportunity to finish my degree while I was in the service. I left San Diego State after my third semester when I was accepted into NSW Prep School. I spent two months in Great Lakes, Illinois, and passed every test I was given and was blessed with the opportunity to go to Coronado and enter BUD/S.”

“I remember your mama being very unhappy with your choice to join the special ops community.”

He chuckled. “That’s putting it mildly. The woman did everything she could to try and convince me to stay in school, but I was adamant and knew I needed to make a difference just like my big brother. Weston was in the thick of things as a Marine Ranger, and there was no way I was leaving all the fun and adventure to him.”

“Seems reasonable.” She lifted her gaze and studied a picture of a smiling Rick and several of his teammates. “How long did it take you to become an active SEAL?”

“From beginning to end, the process takes fifty-eight weeks, and I was assigned to my first team a year and half after I set foot on the base in Coronado. I was twenty-one and happier than shit to get that trident pinned to my chest and have a chance to contribute.”

She looked up and noticed his dark green eyes were shining with pride. “You did a hell of a thing, Rick. I’m glad you made it home in one piece.”

“Well, the one-piece part is debatable. But I am home and more or less a functioning human being, so I can’t complain.” He lifted his hand and ran it over a picture of him and his two brothers. “Did you know that Brian is a SEAL, too?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Your daddy was talking about your baby brother the other day. He’s so proud of all three of you, and hearing him brag on y’all is so sweet.”

He snorted. “Don’t know if I’d use the word ‘sweet’ when describing Wyatt Blakely.”

“Well, I would,” Emily said as the deafening sound of thunder filled the living room. She hooked her finger into Rick’s pocket and moved closer. “Hope it passes soon.”

“Not me,” Rick said with a smile as he took her hand and walked over to the couch. “Since it’ll make you stick close and maybe be open to distracting yourself by kissing and cuddling with me.”

Not able to deny the appeal of the statement, she gave him a faint smile and took a sip of her wine. “I would think a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy wouldn’t want to take advantage of a woman’s weakness.”

Rick collapsed on the couch and grinned. “I’m offering comfort to the woman I care about, and that is exactly what an officer and gentleman should do.”

She joined him on the comfortable worn leather couch and heard her dog snore contentedly. “I’ll have a snappy response in a minute.”

“Bet you will,” he said as he twined their fingers together. “In the meantime, let’s enjoy the view of the storm working its way across the sky, the warmth of the fire, and one another’s company.”

“Want to know what I was most mad about after you left for college?”

Turning, he nodded and pulled her legs over his. “Yeah, Stitches, I sure do.”

“I missed my best friend and all things we did together.” Seeing his mouth drop into a frown, she closed her eyes. “I’d been wired to seek connection from you for so long that it took me a minute…or a year to convince my soul that it was no longer possible. Everyone thought I was devastated over the whole prom debacle, but it was the loss of you in my life that was crushing.”

“There is nothing I can say that will make that okay, and I want you to know that I missed the fuck out of you every day.”

The gravitas of the moment wasn’t easily dealt with, but she knew that finally talking about the past was important. And…surprisingly a relief. Taking in a long, full breath, she was surprised how much better she felt after finally admitting that all the anger she’d held for Rick had really been grief in disguise. It had been easier to be mad than broken hearted, and she felt lighter for having said her truth aloud.

“I wish there was something I could say that would fix the past but know that’s not possible.” He put his beer down and then took her wineglass, setting it on the coffee table carefully. “If there’s some sort of penance I can pay so we can move forward, please tell me, because I truly want a chance at making something new.”

Emily cupped his cheek and studied his eyes filled with regret and hope. “I think everything happened as it should and the lessons we learned were necessary. So as far as I’m concerned, the past is done, and all that matters is what we do in the here and now.”

“Really?” he asked with incredulity. “Just like that?”

“Well, maybe not just like that.” Leaning forward, she ran her finger over his mouth and smiled. “I guess what I’m saying is…I wouldn’t mind getting to know that man you’ve become.”

“That’s the best news, Em.”

“Good,” she whispered before pressing their mouths together and kissing him. Butterflies took flight in her chest, and she was astonished that it was still possible.

“Em, you sure about this?” he asked on a ragged breath. “Because if not…”

“Yes,” she said against his mouth. “I’m tired of fighting the heat between us.” She slid her hand under his shirt and shivered when she encountered his hot skin. “So, yes…let’s fool around and see if it’s as good as I remember.”

“Darlin’, it’s gonna be a million times better.” He gently pushed her back on the couch and gave her a feral smile before taking her mouth in a long, plundering kiss.

Lying beneath him, she pressed her body to his and shifted her hips as they matched each other thrust for eager thrust. She dug her hands into his shirt and submitted to the soul-twisting kiss, taking her hands off the wheel.

Sparks of need slid across her skin as his hands tunneled through her hair, giving it the perfect tug.

Succumbing to what had always burned beneath the surface, she surrendered to the need pounding in her body. “More,” she repeated against his mouth, whimpering as the last of her restraint slipped away.

The years they’d been apart disappeared in a puff of smoke, and all the feelings she’d denied came dancing back to life. Biting his bottom lip, she loved the growl it produced and did it again.

“You ready to deal with the fire you’re starting?” he asked, lifting his head away.

Shifting her hips, she watched his eyes dance over hers with a hunger that wouldn’t be slacked easily. “I might be. Depends on what you have in mind.”

“I’m gonna do the thing I never got to all those years ago.”

“We did a lot of stuff.”

Rick kissed her firmly. “You gonna let me have my way?”

“Will I like it?”

“You’re gonna love it and will probably be beggin’ me to do it on a daily basis.” He slid his fingers over her cheek slowly. “I didn’t ever get a chance to explore your body the way I wanted to all those years ago. We were so hungry just to be joined that we never got off the main menu.”

Laughter erupted from her chest, and she waved her hand, feeling enough joy to fill the house. “Well, then you go on and do what you see fit.”

“Thank fuck,” he murmured as he unfastened her jeans and slid them down her legs.

Closing her eyes, she heard him growl again and loved the primal thrill of heat it sent to her core. As much as she complained about Rick’s bossy, alpha ways, she couldn’t deny that deep in her heart, she kinda loved them. He was her match, and the fact he could more than stand up to her had always been appealing.

She watched him lean in close and skate his lips across her skin as he gripped the back of her thigh. Electrified, she yelped when he yanked her panties off in one swift motion and dropped his mouth to her dripping wet pussy.

Not able to hold back a moan, she arched her back as his tongue slid between her lips. Hearing him grunt with satisfaction, she dropped her leg open and felt him part her folds and then thrust his wicked tongue deep inside her.

Had anything ever felt better?

She didn’t think so…until his hands gripped her possessively and he tugged her against his mouth. Tangling her hands in his hair made him groan, and she sucked in a breath as his tongue danced up and down her slit. He hungrily lapped at her honey and then dragged his tongue up to her clit, wrapping his lips around her aching bud.

“Amazing grace…what are you doing to me?” He swirled it across it in a perfect pattern, and she began to crumble. Electricity crackled over her skin, and she didn’t know if she could take more.

Lifting his head, he gave her a wink and then let his tongue drag slowly up and down. “Fuck, Em, you taste better than I ever imagined. I’m going to need to get my face between your legs regularly.”

Not able to hide her surprise, she let out a giggle that quickly turned to a moan as he dropped his mouth back down. His tongue went back to her pussy, and he moved it in and out with a ferocity that had her orgasm shimmering closer. His fingers dug into her skin hard enough to leave bruises, and it made her heart race and ache for more.

“Rick, I’m going to…”

“Come for me,” he grunted. “I want your pretty pussy to cream all over my tongue and drip down my chin.”

His dirty words drove her to the edge, and her thighs trembled as she bucked her hips, tumbling toward the edge. His tongue swirled over her clit again and again as his groans vibrated through her core, and she exploded.

Her orgasm detonated, and she writhed against him, shuddering as heat thundered through her and his tongue teased her through the climax without pause. A moan of pleasure fell from her mouth, and Rick gripped her firmly as she rode out the incredible wave. Collapsing against the couch, she felt him pull her into his arms. “I…”

“Loved it?”

“God, yes!”

He crushed his mouth to hers and kissed her firmly. “I’d like to go on record and say that was worth the fourteen-year wait, and you fucking blew every fantasy I’ve ever had out of the water.”

Opening one eye, she smiled. “Is it my turn to get my mouth on you?”

“Not tonight, darlin’. This is all about you.”

“Rick…”

“Don’t argue. Otherwise, I’ll do it again and give you no mercy.”

Wrapping her arms around him, she let out a laugh. “I’d never survive.” His arms tightened in response, and she decided to keep her hands off the wheel and see what else was possible, because so far it was working out better than she ever imagined.