Brianna's Navy SEAL (14 page)

"Not yet.” His stomach was a place she hadn't lingered much, so she did now. He slid down the bed a little so that she stretched on top of him. His hands clutched her shoulders, then her head, while she licked her way down his six-pack. His entire body got tenser and tenser the lower she went, and she smiled.

She'd never given him a blowjob before. He always seemed to care more about her pleasure than his own, and by the time she even thought of it, she was far too needy to shift her focus. But tonight ... tonight was all for him.

The silk pants slipped off easily, despite the size of his erection. First, she positioned herself so her breasts swung on either side of his penis. She looked up at him, and one side of his mouth quirked upward. He looked like a king, accepting one of the entitlements of his position, especially when he tucked one hand under his head and rested the other one on his stomach.

"I wish I had a camera."

"Next time.” She looked down. He pulsed. She smiled. She'd never thought penises were that attractive, but there was something about the contrast between softest skin and hardest muscle that she loved. She wrapped her hand around it, squeezing and moving it up and down, to indulge in that contrast. When moisture beaded at the tip, she first used it as lubrication, rubbing her thumb in the sensitive groove at the head. The second bead, she licked off.

Cable seemed a little less comfortable now. His free hand dug into her hair and his legs shifted. His breathing was louder, too. Brianna had never felt this kind of power, and wondered why she'd waited so long to find it. She hovered over him with her mouth open, feeling his thighs get tighter under her arms. She went lower. He stopped breathing. Finally, she took him in. Slowly, taking the time to wet him so her lips glided smoothly downward. She took him deeper, as far as she could, and held him while he moaned.

Then she reversed, moving upward just as slowly, sucking him, running her tongue hard up the ridge to the sensitive spot at the tip.

"Christ, Brianna."

She did it again, then again, then abruptly turned her mouth and swirled her tongue around him. Cable grunted and jerked involuntarily. Her hand on his balls so she could feel how close he was, she started pumping him.

"Stop, Brie. I need—no!"

His balls tightened. She squeezed and sucked, and with a shout, he came.

When his shudders subsided and his fingers relaxed into tender strokes of her hair, she released him and climbed up the bed to lie cradled on his shoulder.

"You're incredible."

"Thank you."

"And very pleased with yourself."

"Shouldn't I be?"

"You should be. Definitely.” He sighed. “That might be the best I've ever had."

Brianna thought about teasing him, but decided to let it go. She was too content, Cable too satisfied and languid, for teasing.

His neck tensed, and she pressed him back with a hand on his chest. “Just relax."

"It's your turn."

"No. I'm fine. Tonight was for you."

"God, Brianna.” He flipped onto his side and kissed her. His tongue dipped into her mouth, his lips caressed her, and Brianna thought this was the best night they'd ever had. At least, after the Ken and Darcy stuff.

"Will you go with me to Florida next week?” He rubbed her back with light fingers, the way she liked it. She felt like purring.

"I'd love to. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

He smiled. “I was ready for that a month ago. More. I'll call the travel agent tomorrow and book your ticket. Do you mind staying with my sister, or would a hotel be better?"

"Depends.” She cuddled closer. “Will your sister hate me for sleeping with you under her roof, or for taking you away from the family any waking minute?"

"Neither.” He chuckled. “She'll be thrilled to meet you and won't care about that junk. But if you don't mind, let's stay with her. She's very laid-back. She's not my mother, after all."

"Okay. When are we going?"

"I'll confirm the itinerary tomorrow with the agent. I want to make sure she seats us together. And just so it's clear.” He tilted her face up so she could see his. “I'm paying for your ticket."

"I can buy my—"

"No, I want to. It's my family. You can pay for mine when we fly to see your family."

She shook her head. “You're nuts."

"Nuts about you."

She groaned at his corniness, and they subsided into a quiet comfort that turned swiftly to sleep.

Sleep that shattered far too soon. The
boom
shook the entire house. Brie jumped so hard her entire body lifted off the bed and she fell to the floor. Dazed, she squinted around the dim room.

Cable had no such hesitation. He was out of bed and across the room before Brianna could blink. She could have sworn he had a gun in his hand, too.

Boom
.

The wooden floor vibrated under her hand and hip. She shoved at the covers with her feet and pulled herself up by the bedpost. A siren sounded in the distance. She smelled smoke.

Window or door? She could see clearly into the hallway, and there was no flicker of light to indicate flame, or haze from the smoke. She didn't bother looking for her strappy shoes, which would do nothing to protect her feet anyway, but buttoned Cable's shirt as she ran into the hall.

"Cable?"

He didn't answer. She got to the top of the stairs and saw the front door open. A siren whined down outside, and blue and white light flashed into the foyer. Brianna hurried down the stairs, her fingers flying over the buttons of the shirt. Thank God Cable was so big, she thought. The shirt covered her as well as her bathrobe did, when buttoned all the way.

Despite the flashing light bar on the cruiser that was parked halfway in the yard, she could see silhouettes of neighbors on the sidewalk and across the street. But she couldn't see Cable.

Nor could she see what had woken everyone, until she stepped onto the lawn and turned back toward the house. Cable's SUV, parked alongside it, was smoldering. She still couldn't see any flames, but black soot half covered the side panel and smoke billowed from under the vehicle. A cop—not Bob Downey this time, but someone Brie didn't know—walked toward her from the vehicle.

"Ma'am, I think you should go back inside."

"Where's Cable?” She backed up a step when he got too close. “Is anyone hurt?"

"We don't believe so, ma'am. Do you live here?"

"No. Across the street.” She motioned with her arm. The sleeve flapped over her hand. “You haven't seen Cable?"

He didn't answer. She took that as a no. Where the hell had he gone? She turned in a circle, scanning the crowd. Her left-sided neighbor approached with a blanket, and for the first time Brianna realized it was freezing outside.

"You shouldn't have come out without a coat,” Mrs. Whiteside murmured. “What are you doing all the way over here?"

Brianna didn't answer. It was obvious, she thought, but she didn't have to spell it out. Discretion was no longer going to be a part of their relationship. Especially, she saw with resignation and probably some dismay, if she thought about it, when the camera crew got set up. The local affiliate's van was approaching. She wondered where they'd been, since the station was a couple of towns over.

"Thanks for the blanket,” she told Mrs. Whiteside. It covered her enough that no one could tell she was wearing a man's shirt. Maybe she could fade into the crowd. Or even go home and change. No one would notice.

Except for the fact that Cable was still
nowhere to be seen.

"Has anyone called the fire department?” She strode across the lawn toward the truck. “That thing is still smoking."

Two cops moved to head her off. She stopped short, not wanting to make them twitchy. “What's the smoke from?"

"Fireworks."

Brianna spun, so relieved to see Cable walking down the street in his silk pajama bottoms—when had he had time to put those on?—that she actually sank to the ground. His gun was nowhere in sight, and there wasn't anywhere he could have hid it, either. She was sure he had a license to carry. But the crowd and the cops probably wouldn't have asked to see the license. They'd take one look and assume he'd been shooting up the neighborhood. But he wouldn't have stashed it someplace, would he?

She couldn't hear much of what he was saying to the cops, but she pieced it together. Someone had shot rockets under his truck. They'd gone off, making the loud booms, but somehow not lighting anything on fire.

"Age,” one of the cops said. He hitched up his belt. “Maybe moisture. You're one lucky dude."

"Yeah. Lucky."

The cops moved away to disperse the crowd and Cable bent to help Brianna to her feet.

"Thanks for your concern,” she sneered. “I'm fine."

"I know you can take care of yourself.” He kept an arm tight around her, though, and his eyes tracked back and forth over the crowd.

"Was it Carothers? Did you chase him?"

"It wasn't Carothers.” He still searched as they moved toward the front porch.

"But you chased someone. Who?” Brie stopped and waved to Mrs. Whiteside so she could return the blanket.

"Keep it until tomorrow, dear,” the older woman called. She nodded at the officer who was trying to shuffle her along. Brie shrugged and turned back to Cable.

"Well? Did you see who it was?"

Cable finally looked at her. “Yeah, but I don't know if anyone will believe it."

"Try me."

"It was Ken."

"You goddamned son of a bitch!"

Lucy jumped to her feet, her mouth wide, when Brianna slammed through the front door of Ken's office the next morning.

"What—"

"Just stay here, Lucy.” The woman plopped back into her chair. Brianna smacked the inner door with the heel of her hand so that it bounced against the wall inside. She moved through so fast it didn't hit her on the bounce-back.

"Brianna!"

Ken looked just as shocked as Lucy had. Brianna would have none of it. She stalked up to his desk and lifted him to his feet with a fist in his shirt.

"I can't believe the depths you would sink to, you pond-sucking scum water."

She was so mad she was mixing up her insults. Ken spluttered and groped at his collar.

"I don't know ... what ...
cough
... you..."

"Don't give me that crap. You know damned well what I'm talking about. Shooting fireworks at Cable's car. You are such a child!” She shook him, watching his face turn red.

"Brianna!"

She finally heeded Lucy and thrust Ken away from her. “They're going to arrest you, Ken. You'll go to jail."

He smoothed his tie and sat, all the color she'd just put into his face draining away. “There's no proof of anything."

"Cable saw you. He chased you."

"What's going on?” Lucy demanded.

Brianna shook her head. “Did Darcy tell you to do it? Was it revenge?"

His mouth opened and closed like a fish before he found his tongue. “Darcy had very little to do with it."

"That's what I thought.” She leaned across the desk again. “Tell Darcy if I have any say in the matter, she'll go to jail, too.” She shoved back from the desk, knowing what an empty threat that was. If proving Ken had done the actual setting off of the fireworks would be difficult, proving Darcy had given him the idea would be impossible. And maybe she couldn't be found guilty of Ken's actions, either. She'd say she was joking or something.

"Did you break into his house, too? And steal his mail?"

Ken didn't respond, but the look on his face was all she needed.

"Give it to me,” she demanded.

"I don't have it,” he said mutinously.

"I'll search the whole fucking office if I have to. Give it to me."

"I mean it! I threw it away. I just wanted to freak you guys out."

Brianna sighed. She'd really wanted that letter from Carothers. “Freak us out to what end, Ken? Did you think I'd go running into your arms if I thought being with Cable was dangerous?"

"Well..."

"For God's sake. Here.” She pulled a tote bag off her shoulder and dropped it heavily on the floor. “These are all the files I had. I'm done with you."

Without looking back, Brianna swept out of the office. And hoped like hell that would be the end of it.

"You're going where? With who?"

Brianna dug the heels of her hands into the dough she was kneading for her mother on Christmas Eve.

"When did you become the mother of a Victorian heroine?” She turned the dough and slapped it onto the floured cutting board. “I'm going to Florida with Cable. For New Year's. We fly back on the second, and school starts again on the third."

"I didn't know you'd gotten so serious.” Elyse laid out the cookie cutters, choosing an angel, a tree, and a stocking. “Serious enough to go away together."

"We've practically been living together, Mother.” If she thought she'd shock her, she was disappointed.

"That doesn't mean anything nowadays. Flying a thousand miles to meet his family still does, though."

Brianna finished rolling out the dough and snatched the stocking-shaped cutter to dig hard into it. “He met my family the night of our first date."

"That was different. That wasn't why he was here. I invited him.” She pulled a stack of pans out of the oven and pressed the buttons to preheat it. “Two sheets?"

Brie nodded, and she set two cookie sheets on the counter and carried the rest of the pans to the table.

"Anyway, I think this trip is a big deal."

"Okay, it is.” She shrugged when Elyse stared at her. “You're right."

"Oh!” Elyse held a trembling hand to her mouth. “It's a Christmas miracle! You admitted I'm right.” She sniffed, and Brianna bumped her side with her hip.

"Knock it off, Mom.” She prided herself on being independent and handling her own affairs, but a need had been building in her for weeks to talk to her mother. The occasion had rarely arisen, and when it did, she hesitated, not sure what she wanted to say.

She laid the cookies she'd cut on the sheet. Her mother slid it into the oven and set the timer, then took over the rolling pin to reroll the dough.