By Honor Bound (12 page)

“I should have called first.” He released the doorjamb gingerly, as if unsure he could stand without the support. “It doesn’t matter. I needed to come on post anyway.”

His gaze centered on Jemma again and this time the way he looked at her brought wild, rushing feelings back to her. Warm and appreciative, his attention caressed her face. Her cheeks flushed under his unbridled interest. As her nipples tingled in response, she wanted to reach up and hug him. Every so often she thought she caught two emotions running across his expression and it always caught her off guard.

Lust and tenderness.

Tingling built in her belly, moistening forbidden areas deep between her legs in a shocking rush.

The man knows how to turn me into mush every time
.

“You look good, Jemma.” His smile went brilliant, a touch of the old Blayne in his grin. “How are you?”

“I’m great.” Before she could thank him, he closed his eyes a second and winced. That did it. She clasped his arm. “I think you should sit down a minute.”

“It’s no big deal.”

“Right. You almost fainted in my arms a moment ago and you look like the semi from hell plowed over you and then backed up and did it again.”

He placed his palm over her hand, effectively trapping her fingers against his arm. Big and well-shaped, his hands always inspired some pretty interesting fantasies for her.

He resurrected a wolfish grin. “Big, bad Special Forces officers don’t faint.”

She rolled her gaze to the sky a moment, then sighed. “Oh, excuse me. You don’t faint, you pass out.” She tugged on his arm and started to pull him along. “Well, Major Forbes, what am I going to do with you if you fall flat on your face right here? I’ll have to call for EMS and that would embarrass you, big bad Special Forces officer or not. Why don’t you sit in my car a minute and take it easy.”

To her surprise he allowed her to guide him to her Taurus. She opened the door and he slid into the passenger seat. She got into the driver’s seat.

When he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, she asked, “So what’s wrong? Why did you come back early? Were you injured during the mission?”

The thought of him hurt at any time made her heart drop into her shoes.

He opened his eyes but kept his head back on the seat. “Maybe I should have taken a nap before I drove straight to the post.”

“You just got back? No wonder you’re out on your feet.”

“I changed clothes and came right over. I need to talk with Graham.”

“Well, in lieu of my big brother, I can be a pretty good listener.”

He shook his head.

She grinned and crossed her arms. “Oh, is this one of those I’d-love-to-tell-you-but- then-I’d-have-to-kill-you things?”

“Yeah, some of it is.”

She sensed an undertone in Blayne’s voice, something dark and serious beneath the evasiveness.

Go for it, Jemma
. “Since my dear brother stood me up for lunch, maybe you could have lunch with me.”

He looked at his watch. “You don’t have to go back to work?”

“I’m on two weeks’ vacation.”

He grunted. “You know, I think I’m going to go home and crash.” He flicked a warm, almost sensual look her way before opening the door and starting to get out. “Good to see you, Jemma. I’ll talk to you later.”

Fine. Be that way.
She didn’t care if she had lunch with him anyway.
He probably has a girlfriend waiting for him at home.
The thought made unwelcome jealousy rise inside her.

Instead of leaving the car, he came to a stop and put his head in his hands. She reached out to touch his broad shoulder. “That’s it, Forbes. You’re telling me what’s wrong. If you’re ill, you’re going to the doctor.”

He removed his hands from his head and managed a crooked grin. “Forbes?”

“Okay,
Major
Forbes.” She blushed. “Blame it on my brother. He calls you that.”

Although he looked weary, he smiled. “I figured that’s where you got it.” He shook his head. “I’ve told you to call me Blayne.”

Resistance to the idea remained steady in her psyche. “Tell me what’s wrong. You’re not healthy. I can see that.”

He rubbed his hand over his chin. “I’m getting over the flu.”

“I think you should see a doctor,” she said. “Then I’ll take you home.”

His gaze cleared long enough to rake over her with a sudden, blazing energy. Flickering with sensual awareness, his gaze locked with hers, then drifted to her lips.

“Yeah.” His voice came soft and sensual. “Maybe I need some nursing.”

Jemma’s belly fluttered and tingled.
My, oh my
. She couldn’t deny the innuendo, and she knew he realized what he’d said. She dared search his eyes, probing for his intentions and enjoying the heated way his gaze moved over her. With any other man, the blatant once-over might have seemed insulting. When Blayne looked at her like this she felt uninhibited and willing to take a dare. Hell, she felt
devoured
.

Did she see desire in his eyes, or had her imagination kicked into overdrive? On a few occasions over two years he’d thrown her this same look. She dared to keep her gaze on him as heat flamed in her face.

“I saw a doctor before I came home from the mission,” he said. “All I need is something to eat and some sleep. I’ll be great after that.”

Somewhat relieved he’d jumped ahead without waiting for her to speak, she grabbed at the chance to keep the subject on less sexual ground. “Okay, it’s settled then. Do we need to swing by the grocery store?”

“Yeah, the refrigerator is empty.”

“Then it’s settled. After you get some groceries, I’ll drive you back to your apartment. We can eat and then you can crash. How does that sound?”

His mouth opened on a half-formed protest, but then he smiled. “You always were persistent as hell. How could I forget that?”

Deciding she didn’t want this conversation to focus on her, she continued in a different vein. “You’ve been gone almost four months. Maybe the mission cleared away a few brain cells.”

One corner of his mouth turned into a crooked smile. “Thanks a lot, Sweets. Always could count on you for an ego boost.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I shouldn’t leave my car here.”

She shook her head. “I’m not letting you drive if you’re not feeling well.”

“Man, you’re tough.”

“You can get your car tomorrow or something.”

Instead of objecting, he smiled. “Let’s go to a store off-post, then. They’ve got better vegetables.”

Her temporary pass on her car and the fact she wasn’t in the military or a military dependent meant she couldn’t enter the commissary on the fort anyway.

She did wonder, as they drove out of the parking lot, if she’d lost her mind. After all, she’d just invited Major Blayne Forbes, sex god in the flesh, to have lunch with her in his apartment. Reality sank in as they rolled into a grocery store parking lot near his apartment complex. She, Jemma Elaine Teagan, never ingratiated herself with men like Blayne, even if her brother couldn’t say enough good things about him. Over the two years, she’d seen Blayne in action and had some decent conversations with him at picnics and other social functions and parties. But every time she wanted to talk with him, they never had any privacy.

What would it be like to be alone with him this one time? A wild excitement centered deep in her heart and loins.
Hmm
.

As Jemma and Blayne wheeled the cart around the store, and he quickly picked out what he needed, she offered to make something quick, like omelets.

His paleness and the tired lines around his eyes concerned her. Blayne looked about as relaxed as a man on tranquilizers. She was so used to his urbane wit that his relative silence disturbed her a little. They made it through the crowded store, loaded the groceries, then took off.

They reached Rock Ridge Apartments less than ten minutes later. Situated near a highway leading directly to the fort, the five large blue and gray buildings looked clean and upscale. As a major, Blayne could afford something a little nicer, and these were made more like condos than the typical apartment. After parking the car, she followed him up a stairway to the second floor. As he opened the private entrance and they walked inside, a whirl of confusion centered in her mind. She wanted to know him better, yet caution warned her away. Before she could become caught up in her uncertainty, he closed the door behind them and led the way from the foyer to the kitchen. They dumped the paper grocery bags on the counter.

“I’ll get the rest,” he said and went outside to grab the remaining two bags.

As she gazed around, she came to a startling realization. Blayne lived with little in the way of knickknacks or furniture, and the place looked immaculate. In the back of her mind she had this idea Special Forces soldiers lived a junky existence.
Nothing like assuming.
Of course, if he didn’t spend much time here he wouldn’t have an opportunity to mess it up.

Blayne stepped into the high-ceilinged living room with the groceries and kicked the door shut behind him. After putting the bags down on the kitchen counter, he slipped off his leather jacket.

“Take off your coat and relax,” he said.

She didn’t feel relaxed. In fact, she was suddenly nervous as hell. She did as he suggested, slipping off the wool coat and handing it to him.

He grinned. “You going to wear that hat?”

Blushing, she pulled off the hat and gave it to him.
Real suave, girl.Real suave.

Still smiling, Blayne placed her hat and coat in the hall closet. When he returned she said, “How about you crash on the couch and nap, and I’ll fix lunch.”

He slanted a glance at her. “I might not sleep. I’ve been having difficulty with that lately.”

She frowned. “Well, why don’t you just chill and I’ll fix lunch anyway?”

“I’ll help. There’s no way I’m lounging around while you slave away.”

She grinned. “You’re worried I’ll destroy your kitchen.”

A warm grin touched his mouth again. “Not much in there to annihilate. Besides, I’m not dead yet. I can help with lunch.”

As they moved around in the kitchen, she caught his masculine, spicy-warm scent and it made tendrils of heat flare inside her.
Wonderful. The man smells so delectable and is distracting as hell. If he gets any closer I just might melt into a puddle.

As they diced tomatoes, ham, cheese, and mushrooms for omelets, she said, “I’m sorry about earlier. I was being a mother hen, wasn’t I?”

He cracked a grin. “Yeah. Graham told me you’re overprotective.”

She shrugged. “I see cute little animals and I want to take care of them.”

One of his eyebrows lifted, and he gazed at her with an intensity that burned straight into her soul. His regard targeted her like a laser, the question in his eyes making her face heat. She saw undeniable physical interest barely held in check and it excited her as much as it scared her. She swallowed hard and poured eggs into the hot pan. She couldn’t remember being around any man as rugged, tough, or as damned sexy as Blayne. Dealing with how she felt around him seemed to be taking up all her oxygen and concentration.

Maybe I’m in over my head here.

“So I’m a cute little animal,” he said.

“Well, maybe an animal.”

“Damn straight.” He laughed. “I was starting to worry. If you thought I was cute, then I’m in trouble.”

How did she take
that
statement? “No chance of you being cute and adorable, Major.”

The glance he threw her, as a matter of fact, sparked with his trademark sensuality. Power exuded from his posture and gaze, the sure sign of a primal male always ready for action.

No, the man didn’t have a cuddly bone in his body.

The Major defined rugged masculinity. Authority radiated from him though she knew he didn’t feel his best. He grinned, the heart-stopping smile sending a tingle straight down her body where it pooled warm and liquid in her stomach.

No denying the feeling. Pure sexual attraction tugged at her, demanding acquiescence. But she couldn’t do anything about it. Not with Blayne, a powerhouse with secrets she could never know. Besides, he probably knew plenty of women to take care of his sexual needs.

Jemma tried to sound casual as she worked at the stove. “I can’t make omelets worth a damn.”

“I can’t either,” he said. “In fact, I’m one of the worst cooks in the world.”

“I was thinking of taking a cooking class.”

“Sounds great.”

“I’ll have to squeeze it into my schedule. I’m busy as it is.”

“A full life can be good. As long as you enjoy things you want to do and not just things you have to do.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

How many things did he want to do, and how many chores in his job did he find tedious and maybe distasteful? She could only imagine. They made decaf coffee and soon the kitchen filled with tantalizing aromas.

When the eggs were finished they took their plates to the small chrome and glass dinette set off the side of the kitchen.

Silence entered the room as they enjoyed lunch, and the unfathomable look in his eyes made her wonder what changed him in the last few months. Beyond the occasional hooded, mysteriously seductive look he threw her way, something dark and worrisome resided in his eyes that she didn’t remember seeing before.

Jemma remembered the first time she met him, and her heart sped up. She’d stopped by her brother’s office and the Major arrived a few moments later in dress blues. Ready for a military ball, he’d cut a devastatingly handsome figure. Remembering his handshake made her fingers tingle with heat to this day. She recalled how he’d given her a bright smile, a potent mixture of white-hot sensuality and formality. His presence had captured her, defining the man as more than a guy who could handle weapons and kill with his bare hands. He’d given her a bright devastating smile. How any man packed that much warmth into one grin, she’d never understand.

She’d responded to his touch with a full body arousal, as amazing and searing as anything she could imagine. Her response to him had stunned her. When he’d left she’d seen a beautiful blonde woman in the car with him.