Sexy SEAL Box Set: A SEAL's Seduction\A SEAL's Surrender\A SEAL's Salvation\A SEAL's Kiss (83 page)

Just Sage.

“Then again, the sun hasn’t even set yet,” she said, tilting her head toward the still-light yard visible from the window.

Ahh, there it was.

“Sage—”

“So why don’t we wind this evening up, quickly, so you can rest,” she said, talking right over his protest with a big, bright smile. “That way, none of it will be weighing on your mind, keeping you awake.”

Right. Because he wasn’t going to be up all night—in every sense of the word—reliving that little fantasy she’d woven earlier? Still, she had a point.

Aiden sighed, inclining his head for her to continue.

“You know after tonight, we’re not going to get a ton of privacy. My dad wants his illness kept quiet, so we’re going to be the focus of attention. Invitations, questions, teasing.”

“Goody,” he deadpanned.

Her eyes lit up.

“Goody, indeed. But that does bring us back to the reason for our visit tonight. We need to make sure we not only have our stories straight, but we also have to walk the talk. You know what I mean?”

Yeah. She meant they weren’t done yet.

At least, she didn’t think they were. Aiden had other ideas, though.

“We’ll be fine,” he told her.

“Don’t you think it’s a good idea to practice a little?” she asked, her fingers tracing along his shoulder, leaving tiny trails of fire that burned right through the fabric of his shirt. “You know, so we don’t look awkward when we do it in front of people.”

“I know it’s a big turn-on for some people, but I’m really not a fan of having sex in front of other people.”

Was Sage?

Aiden had never thought of himself as the jealous type. He had never cared enough about a woman to commit his emotions, or to want any sort of exclusivity. In or out of bed, physically or voyeuristically.

But Sage was different.

As much as he’d love to watch her being pleasured—by him. Or pleasuring herself—for him. But sex, with others watching?

His muscles tensed, adrenaline rushing his system right into fight mode.

Nope.

Others weren’t invited.

Feeling like his control fuse blew, Aiden knew he was about to make a major mistake. But without that fuse, he couldn’t help it. The need was too much.

His eyes locked on hers as he shifted forward. His hand cupped the soft curve of her neck. Her misty blue-green gaze was both soothing and exciting as Sage’s eyes widened, then softened in anticipation.

He took her mouth.

Without warning, without fanfare, he simply leaned in and kissed her. Soft and welcoming, her lips parted easily at the sweep of his tongue.

She tasted so good. Like coffee and something exotic.

She felt even better. Soft lips, hot mouth, her tongue entwined with his with ease, as if they’d been kissing this way all their lives.

The excitement was new, though.

It pounded through Aiden with a power he’d never felt before. It ripped at his control, shredded his intentions.

It simply took over.

She slid closer. Or he pulled her over. He had no idea which. He just knew that she was there, almost in his lap. Close enough for him to skim his hands over her side, to revel in the smooth silk of her skin as his knuckles brushed along the inside of her arm.

He reached her waist, curving his palm over her hip for one second, then slid his hand back up. He stopped just short of her breast, his hand along her side and his thumb curving under the full temptation.

But not touching.

“Mmm,” she murmured against his mouth. “You’re good at that.”

“We’re good,” he returned without thinking.

“What other kind of kissing are you good at?” she asked, her words so low and husky they were more a vibration against his lips than an actual sound.

“What kind do you like?” he asked, his tongue tracing her bottom lip.

Since even a breath was too long to wait to taste more of her, Aiden slid his lips along her jaw, placing tiny kisses on her chin, then following the curve of her throat. She arched her neck, shifting her head to the side.

A smart man, he didn’t hesitate in accepting her invitation.

He ran his tongue along her collarbone, before burying his face in the curve of her shoulder. She tasted so damned good.

He breathed deep, one hand burrowing into her hair to keep her from moving. She smelled even better. Like green grass and wildflowers.

Her fingers teased, tiny swirls down the back of his head, over his neck and across his shoulders. She scraped her nails, light and tempting, over his biceps. Aiden wanted to flex just to impress her. Hell, half of his body was already flexing in appreciation. Since she was rubbing her foot along his calf, the movement snuggling her thigh against his happily flexing dick, he figured she was appreciating already.

But was she impressed?

He’d never been the kind of guy to show off. Secure in who he was, what he was, Aiden always figured people could take him or leave him, he didn’t care either way.

But right now, for the first time, he was desperate to make an impression.

He, and his dick.

He wanted Sage to be awed, blown away. He wanted her to feel the same raging, desperate passion that was pounding through him.

With that in mind, he let loose the rigid control he’d held over his body, over his desire. Over his mind. And just let go.

His hand shifted. It only needed to move an inch, and he had her breast beneath his fingers.

God, she felt good.

Full, soft, her nipple beaded and hardened against his palm.

Their kiss exploded.

Hot, wild, it went over the edge, taking Aiden with it.

Tongues battled, his hands raced over her body. She was so soft, but so firm. Long limbs gave way to gentle curves.

One hand still cupping her breast, his palm rubbing her nipple, the other slipped under her skirt. Up the hot, silky length of her thigh. Her legs shifted, just enough to offer an invitation higher.

An invitation he couldn’t resist.

Not letting himself think, Aiden grabbed her by the waist and moved, lightning fast, to lay her out on the coffee table. His mouth still on hers, he skimmed his fingers under that skirt, pushing the silky mass up to her waist and with one quick tug, ripped her panties out of the way.

She gasped against his lips, then gave a delighted laugh.

“More,” she demanded.

More indeed.

He wasn’t a stupid man. He knew this was going to complicate the hell out of everything. But he felt so good. So connected. He was pretty sure this was the best he’d ever felt, and he knew if he kept going it was only going to get better.

Aiden wanted better.

Skipping the niceties, desperate to taste her, Aiden slid down her body. He paused for a long moment to revel in the sight of her, spread out for his pleasure. Wet, pink and delicate, she was gorgeous.

He leaned in, tracing her damp bud with his finger. She jerked, then shifted her legs to wrap her knees over his shoulders and pull him closer.

He loved how she made her wants crystal clear.

The least he could do was meet them.

With that in mind, Aiden bent low between her thighs. Using his tongue and fingers, he worshipped her in ways he’d fantasized about so many times. Her reaction was even better than his imagination, though. She went up so fast, responded so intently, he felt like a sex god.

Then she exploded.

Her back arched off the table, the muscles of her thighs tight against his shoulders as she went over. Her panting cries of delight, combined with her fingers digging into his shoulders almost sent him over the edge with her.

Damn, he realized with a rare feeling of fear. He could see where this kind of thing would lead to him carrying her up some damned mountain to stare at some stupid rocks, spelling out a crazy marriage proposal.

Sage shimmied out from under him, off the table.

“Hey, I wasn’t finished,” he objected.

She laughed, pointing at the couch in silent demand. After a low growl, Aiden sat down, waiting to see what she’d do next. He hoped she’d do it without her underwear. There was something extra sexy about knowing she was bare under that flowing silk.

Bare and wet.

She dropped to her knees between his legs, gazing up at him as she tossed her hair back over her shoulder. With her eyes locked on his, she first traced her index finger along his rock-hard erection. Then, pulling her lower lip between her teeth, she unsnapped and unzipped his pants.

He swore his dick gave a groan of relief at the sudden freedom as it sprang up, pushing his boxers to their limit.

“Oh, my,” she breathed as she watched the move, her words a reverent whisper. “Looks like those rumors were right.”

Aiden would have laughed, but he was too busy drowning in lust. The sight of her, bent so low over his lap that her hair trailed across his thighs, was straight out of one of his hottest fantasies.

Her fingers trailed along his erection, a worshipful touch that was so light, so delicious, he almost exploded right then. Her eyes met his, wicked delight dancing in the depths of her aquamarine gaze.

She was incredible.

She was addicting.

She was trouble.

And Aiden wasn’t sure he could handle her kind of trouble.

At war with himself, he watched her head descend. His body craved her like an addict craved a fix. It was that desperate need that pulled his brain out of the sexual fog.

Before her lips could make contact, though, he shifted aside.

The minute she touched him, they’d have to finish this. It’d go from pleasure to commitment.

And he couldn’t—wouldn’t—go further until he knew what he was committing to.

“We need to stop,” he growled, tucking himself back behind the safety of his zipper.

His body wanted to know what the hell he was doing.

His mind was trying to figure out what the hell he’d been thinking.

He couldn’t answer either one.

All he could do was distance himself from the needs pounding through him. Using the same technique he employed when he was wounded in battle to disassociate himself from his body, Aiden started reciting Virgil in Latin.

“Aiden?”

“Hang on.” Another three verses and he had control. Two more and he was able to take a deep, cleansing breath and open his eyes. He turned his head, looking at Sage.

She hadn’t moved.

Still sitting on the edge of the table, her braless breasts pressing against the wet silk and her skirt bunched at the top of her thighs, she was the image of temptation.

He closed his eyes and started reciting again.

“Aiden?”

“This is a bad idea. We need to
not
be doing this,” he said, his eyes still closed as he gestured between them.

“But it feels so good,” she purred.

He didn’t have to open his eyes to know she was stretching across the table like a sensuous cat, just waiting to be petted again.

God, he wanted to pet her.

“It could ruin our relationship. And as a by-product, my relationship with the Professor,” he said, using the argument that was now looping through his brain. The only one that had any impact.

Clearly it had an impact on Sage, too.

He heard the rustle of fabric, the shifting of her body as she got off the table. After a few seconds, long enough for her to find her panties and put them back on, he felt it safe to open his eyes.

Damn, she was sexy.

Her skin still flushed with passion and her hair in disarray over her shoulders, she looked like exactly what she was. A delicious woman who’d been worshipped by a very appreciative man’s lips.

His lips tingled to get back to the worshipping.

“You’re sure about this?” she asked quietly, her fingers on the hem of her blouse as if she was ready to pull it off at the slightest indication from him.

“I’m sure,” Aiden said. And he was.

Painfully, miserably, regrettably sure.

Sex between them would be crossing a line they could never return from.

It’d change everything.

He was trying to figure out what mattered. Where he belonged. Until he was clear on that, he couldn’t risk ruining everything for sex.

Not even incredible, mind-blowing, body-melting sex with the most intriguingly sensuous, amazingly addicting woman he knew.

He waited for Sage to get pissed.

Or worse, act hurt.

Please, don’t let her cry
. He cringed inside, knowing her tears were going to slay him.

But being Sage, she didn’t do the expected. Instead of anger or sadness, she offered him a bright smile, brushed a kiss over his chin and patted his cheek.

Like he was some freaking little kid or something.

Aiden scowled.

“Your call,” she said, heading for the door. “But if we’re not going to do the deed, I should get home. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

That’s it? She wasn’t upset?

It didn’t mean
anything
to her?

“You’re really okay with this?” Why did that bother him so much? Was that his ego whining? Or something deeper?

“Okay with you being allowed to decide if you want to have sex or not?” Eyes wide, she made a tut-tutting noise and shook her head. “Seriously? Isn’t that a double standard?”

“I made you come with my fingers and tongue,” he pointed out, shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from grabbing her to do it again. Maybe she needed a reminder.

“And it was quite delicious, thank you,” she assured him, laughing. “Aiden, do you want me to be upset that you don’t think sex between us is a good idea? Should I pout or throw things?”

It sounded stupid when she said it like that.

But, well, yeah.

“Sweetie.” She crossed the room, close enough to touch. But she kept her hands to herself, so just her scent wrapped around him. “You know me better than that. I’m not going to emotionally manipulate you. We’re both operating under complete free will here. Isn’t that what you go out and defend? Our right to freedom.”

“So you’re totally cool with the fact that this—” he waved his hand back and forth between them “—that anything physical between us is over. That we’ll never be having sex with each other.”