Tanner: SEALs of Honor, Book 18 Read online

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Don’t even think about it. Brush it off for the moment. Otherwise it’ll take you down that path of fear.”

  She pulled back and announced, “Too late. I’m already terrified.” She walked to the bed, kicked off her shoes and flung herself crosswise onto the huge king-size bed. “It’s not every day I have somebody trying to run me over,” she mumbled, facedown on the comforter.

  “I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “It’s pretty horrific for it to happen once, but the last thing we want is to have it happen more than that.”

  She flipped over, laying on the bed on her back, now staring at the ceiling. “It makes no sense,” she murmured.

  “I know, but we have to assume you were recognized.”

  She sat up slowly and frowned. “It could have been you they were after. It could have been somebody who recognized you from your work or from one of your missions.”

  “Possibly,” he said, “but given the circumstances, it’s not very likely. And let’s not forget that the reason we came here was because you know so many people. And that means, not only do you know many people but many people know you.”

  Chapter 15

  Wynn didn’t know what to think. The effects of the lovely dinner had worn off. And the seductiveness of the evening, together with a promise of the night to follow, was a distant memory. And that made her feel really sad. Instead she was lying on the bed, dressed and by herself, trying hard to calm the butterflies in her stomach and the shaking in her fingers. She held out her hand and tried to hold it steady, but it wasn’t having anything to do with that.

  Tanner’s words about the many people here knowing her rang in her ears.

  He tugged her into his arms, lying down beside her, twisting her so their heads were on one pillow. “You’re fine,” he said. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you that way.”

  She rolled onto her side and looked at him. “You think I’ll feel any better if you get hurt protecting me?” She stroked his cheeks and nose. “No way I want that to happen.”

  He smiled and kissed her fingers. “Ditto. No way I’ll let anything happen to you while I’m here.”

  “In that case, we have our work cut out for both of us …”

  He lowered his head and kissed her gently, his mouth moving across her lips, more soothing than loving, trying to ease her fears. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. The last thing she wanted was soft loving. What she wanted was passion to overtake them and to give her an hour of distance, an hour of something else, something entirely disconnected from what she’d just been through. An hour that would make her forget everything that had happened over the last few months.

  She lifted his head, gently tilted his chin, and then tugged him down to her, sealing her lips over his, kissing him like she really wanted to. When she finally let him go, he took a deep breath, then a second one. She smiled as her fingers drifted across his lips, and she whispered, “Give me a night to remember and let me forget the horror of all we’ve learned over the past few weeks.”

  He dropped a kiss on her nose, her forehead, her cheek. Then he shifted back so he could look at her face again. “Are you still in shock?”

  “If I am, does that mean you’ll administer medical first aid?” she said in a teasing manner, running her fingers lightly up his arm and shoulder. “And, if you’re really worried, no, I’m fine.”

  He smiled, lay down, tucked her closer into his arms and closed his eyes.

  She stared at him a moment and then shook her head. “Oh, no you don’t.”

  His eyes popped open. There was a teasing glint to them.

  She shook her head. “No sleeping. We have all night.” She moved her hand up to his shoulder and down his chest, playing with each of his ribs as she came to them, then down to where his jeans met his shirt and pulled his shirt from his jeans, sliding one finger inside at the hip. His eyes became smoky, deepened in color. The look in them made her heart race.

  “Yeah? What for?” There was a wicked grin in his eyes.

  She slowly drifted her finger inside his waistband, around to the front and back to his hip again. “Oh, I don’t know,” she said in a silky tone. “But I’m pretty sure we can come up with something.” She dragged her finger back to the center and slid several fingers inside, going deeper.

  He gave a strangled gasp as he rolled onto his back. “Yes, I think so.”

  She climbed on top of his frame. She gently grabbed his hands and pinned them above his head. Surprise was in the depths of his gaze. She grinned. “I know you could overwhelm me with your strength, but I would like it if you kept your arms up here.”

  He frowned and whispered, “I will for a second or two. But beyond that I make no promises.”

  She chuckled and sat up until she was astride his hips, and then she pulled her T-shirt over her head. His eyes darkened yet again, and he licked his lips.

  She undid her jeans and pulled down the zipper. Standing up on the bed above him, she quickly dropped her jeans and stepped out of them, kicking them to the floor. Dressed only in purple panties and a purple bra, she dropped back to straddle him. Then she tugged his shirt fully out of his waistband and moved it up his chest. Obligingly he leaned forward so she could pull it over his head. As soon as she had it free, she tossed it to join her clothes on the floor.

  Her breath whispered out of her throat in awe. She studied the heavily muscled body before her. “Wow. You do work out.”

  “No, I work for a living in a physical job,” he corrected. “I’m not a gym junkie. I’m somebody who must call on the strength when I need it.”

  She stroked her fingers across his impressive six-pack, her fingers reaching up to gently pinch his nipples. “It’s a fine difference, I guess, but a very important one, given the work you do.”

  She gently stroked his chest and his ribs, her fingers sliding into the grooves and moving around back and forth. She was fascinated by the muscles, fascinated by the size of him. She was long and lean, and there wasn’t a whole lot to her. She was small-breasted, small-waisted, whereas he was big in the shoulders; even his waist was massive.

  “It’s amazing how very different we are.” She slowly stroked her hands down his belly, watching with a smile as he sucked it in.

  She again slid several fingers just under the waistband of his jeans and gently stroked back and forth. Then she shifted so she sat lower on him and reached for his belt buckle. Immediately his hands came down to help her. She stopped, looked at him and said, “Your arms.”

  He gave her a half glare but put his arms back up over his head.

  She proceeded to unclasp his belt, then opened the button to his jeans and undid his zipper. She got up to walk to the end of the bed. There she grabbed his shoes, pulled them off, tossed them to the floor. Then she took off his socks and pulled at the legs of his jeans. He lifted up so they came away easily.

  When she had them off, she smiled. “That looks much better.”

  He looked down. Of course his body had already heavily reacted, the evidence lay pulsing inside the soft cotton boxers he wore.

  She ran her fingers up his lower leg. “All of you is heavily muscled,” she said in delight. She gently stroked the definition of his thighs—first one, then the other. “Sometimes Mother Nature just does a bang-up job, doesn’t she?”

  That startled a laugh out of him.

  She grinned. “You might laugh, but I mean it. You’re perfect. Instead of a lean, mean sports machine, you’re a massive, mean sports machine.”

  “Look at you. You’re the lean, mean sports machine. Not a whole lot of spare flesh on you anywhere.”

  “Unfortunately you’re right there,” she said, crestfallen. “Particularly not in the chest. And I don’t have a big butt either.”

  “From my viewpoint,” he said, “you’re absolutely perfect.”

  She gently drifted higher up his body, letting her fingers explore, slidi
ng under the elastic of his underwear, feeling her own body clench and warm with passion as she realized what a joy it was to be with him. She’d been so very much looking forward to this, and she had wondered if they would get this far—knowing it would be a question she had to face and already knowing what her answer would be. She couldn’t wait to have him inside her.

  Only she wanted their first time to last, at least for a little bit.

  With a smooth execution of her hand, she stroked up his hips and around to the inside of his thighs. Then she came back around and up again, gently exploring, always avoiding the large bulge in his underwear. He was massive, the same as he was everywhere else.

  Finally she couldn’t wait anymore. She slid her hand down to gently grasp him over the cotton material. He groaned, his back arching. She moved to kneel beside him, her left hand stroking his belly, his chest, soothing, calming, even as her right hand slid up and down his shaft, his body arching with every motion.

  He groaned and whispered, “When do I get my arms back?”

  She bent down and gently kissed him, her tongue laving over his lips, soothing, stroking, sliding inside to explore his mouth, dueling with his tongue. “Well, I’d say anytime, but …”

  “Done,” he whispered. He flipped them—so she was suddenly lying on the bed beneath him—kneeling between her legs, his body raised above hers.

  She opened her thighs wider, but he wasn’t having anything to do with it. He slid his hands under her back and gently undid her bra, pulling it off, throwing it down. His gaze latched on to her breasts, and she watched with rapt attention as he studied them. He reached out with both hands and cupped her gently. She might be small, but they were still a handful, and, with both of his hands on her, she arched her back into his touch, loving the feel of those big caring hands, moving, sliding, massaging, caressing her body.

  It had been a long time since she’d had sex, and she loved it dearly. But she had to know and to like the person she was with. She didn’t want to have sex with a stranger. Tanner had passed that stage when he’d saved her life.

  His thumbs moved across her nipples, and her hips shifted restlessly. He leaned over one breast, his elbow on the bed, and took her nipple in his mouth, suckling it gently. She reached up and caressed him, her fingers sliding through his hair as she twisted gently under his ministration. But then he moved right down a center line to her belly button and below. He caught the band to her underwear with his chin, and, within seconds, he had them off. His followed. Before she had a chance to acknowledge that, he had her opened wide and spread out, his tongue busy tasting, exploring, as a finger slid inside her.

  She cried out. Her hips lunged upward, but he captured her with both hands and held her in place while he tasted and teased until she was weeping with joy. Then, once more, he gently slid one finger deep inside, stroking upward. She cried out and came apart in his arms, trying to pull him up to her, only to collapse back as sensations washed over her and through her. He withdrew his finger, gently coated each of her nipples and then proceeded to suckle hard.

  She wanted him as close as he could get before she exploded a second time. She wrapped her thighs tight around his hips, stopping him from leaving her. Or trying to.

  He chuckled, gave her a hard kiss and slowly kissed his way back down.

  She grasped his hair, whispering, “I want you inside me. I want you inside me now.”

  He looked at her as he moved back up her body, aligning them. He held her hips in his hands, positioned himself at her center, and then slowly eased himself inside. Filled, and stretching, and so damn tight, he slid deep inside, coming to rest at the heart of her.

  She lay shuddering, barely hearing his worried question.

  “Are you okay?”

  Waves and waves of tremors racked her body, sending her arching and shivering, completely overwhelmed with the moment. “Fine,” she whispered. “But it’s never been like this before.”

  He leaned down, whispered words against her lips and then kissed her lightly. He slid one hand underneath her buttocks, positioned her where he needed her, and, holding her steady, he started to move.

  She couldn’t speak, her body focused on responding to him.

  He held her body in place as he pulled out and then slowly slid back in again. Over and over, faster and faster, stronger and stronger, he drove her once again to the edge and held her there until she begged and pleaded with him for more. Just when she didn’t think she could handle any more, he slid his fingers down between them, touching the sensitive button at the center of her folds, and she cried out as her climax ripped through her yet again. But he didn’t stop, nor did he slow down. He rode her through it as the orgasm tore up and down her body.

  Finally she heard him give a hoarse shout, his body freezing above her, and then surging over and over again as his own orgasm ripped through him. She groaned as he slowly lowered himself, gasping above her. He shifted to his side and tugged her with him, holding them still connected hip to hip.

  Held in his grasp, connected in all ways, his arms tight around her as if he would never let her go, she laid quietly, her body, her heart, her mind completely overwhelmed with what had just happened.

  She’d had orgasms before. She’d had lots of great sexual experiences before. But this? … This was something special. It took several long moments before her body stopped trembling. And, when it finally did, she took a deep breath and then another one.

  Above her, he whispered, “Better?”

  She nodded. “Although I can’t say anything else will ever be as good again,” she whispered back.

  Why shouldn’t he know how good this had been for her? It wasn’t like she wanted to hide it. She wanted to stand on the rooftop and shout it to everyone who’d listen. She gave yet another deep happy sigh as the last of the quakes and the shivers passed away, and she relaxed into his arms.

  “That was magical,” she whispered as she let her eyes drift closed.

  *

  Tanner gently hugged her close, stroked the back of her neck and her shoulders and whispered, “If you’re tired, go to sleep.”

  “I was hoping to do this again,” she murmured. “Sleep seems like such a waste.” She smiled at the rumble of laughter coming up his chest, rolling just underneath her ear. She lifted her head to smile at him. “But a nap would be good.”

  “Sleep,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She frowned, looked at him intently and said, “Promise?”

  He pulled her down for another deep, mind-drugging kiss, and, when he released her, she sagged against him as if all the stuffing in her had completely drained away. He loved it. “I promise,” he said. “Just rest.”

  She decided to close her eyes and let herself sleep. But she wanted him rested as well. “Make sure you sleep too,” she cautioned. “No point in you staying awake on guard, looking after me. We’re safe here. And we both need to rest. Tomorrow is a new day, a new dawn. And, for all we know, all kinds of new trouble.”

  He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be fine. You just need to sleep.”

  She chuckled. “That’s not normally what guys say when they’re in my bed.”

  “It’s what I’m saying,” he said firmly. “It’s all about your health and all about whatever it is you need to do to be okay, to handle whatever tomorrow brings.”

  She yawned again, snuggled deeper into him, appreciating the warmth that came from a blanket he drew over her shoulders, and she whispered, “Good night.”

  “Good night,” he whispered against her temple.

  Her breathing slowed, deepened.

  He smiled and held her close. No way would he let anything happen to her. Not now that he’d finally found her.

  Several moments later he shifted to reach his phone.

  Time to call in reinforcements.

  Chapter 16

  The next morning Wynn woke up drowsy and warm, not wanting to move. A heavy leg was flung acros
s hers, almost holding her in place, and, from the even, heavy breathing behind her, she realized Tanner was still asleep. She tried to slip out from under his leg, but he mumbled and tucked her up closer. She laughed softly. She twisted to look down at him, dropped a kiss on his nose and said, “I have to go to the bathroom.”

  He rolled to his back, his leg flopping onto the bed. She slid out from under the covers, walked to the bathroom, used the facilities, looked at the shower and decided that was a perfect next step. She turned on the hot water and jumped in under the spray. When she was showered and ready, she headed out to the bedroom to find Tanner waiting for her. He was on the phone. She waited until he was off and asked, “Any news?”

  He shook his head. “I gave the make of the truck last night to my buddies, but, because we didn’t catch the license plate, nobody has any idea who it belongs to. Given that a lot of trucks are here in town right now, it could take a bit to track it down. And could be a stolen truck.”

  She headed to her carry-on bag and pulled out some fresh clothes. “If you want to grab a shower, I’d love to hit the competition early this morning. I don’t know if we’re staying all day or not, but it would be nice to at least take in some of the sights and sounds.” She straightened and looked over at him. “There should be a lovely coffee shop on the beach where we can see everything.”

  With his eyebrows raised, he said, “Now that would be wonderful. I’ll be five.” He walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

  She heard the shower water a few seconds later. She dressed quickly and repacked her bag. She didn’t know if there still was full occupancy for this hotel tonight, but she wouldn’t mind staying another night. It could be an idyllic holiday. She hadn’t forgotten the reason they were here, but, at the same time, it was a lovely reminder of her previous life. Yet, she didn’t miss it anymore. She’d been more than ready to walk away.

  Tanner was done in the shower faster than she’d seen any other man do. When he came out with a towel wrapped around his waist, she seriously wondered if they should just go back to bed. He saw her gaze and waggled his eyebrows.