The Valentine's Arrangement (14 page)

When he finally pulled his lips away, she watched him as he leaned over her, pulling her lace panties down her legs, and over her ankles, dropping them to the floor with the remainder of her clothing. She leaned up on her elbows so she could see the full length of him as he stood up and stepped out of his jeans and boxers.

“God, you’re perfect,” he said, inching his eyes up her body.

She could most definitely say the same thing about him.

Without saying another word, Kale carefully rolled on a condom and climbed on the bed, hovering between her legs.

She needed his mouth on hers, she needed to taste him, to get lost in his touch, because getting lost in his stare felt too dangerous. She pressed her lips to his and waited for him to reciprocate. It took him a single heartbeat but then he kissed her. He kissed her like it was the first time, hungry and passionate; spewing nothing but raw desire. But he also kissed her with such longing that it felt like it was the last time, intense and desperate.

All the conflicting emotions were thudding against Ronnie’s already tender heart bruising it and healing it only to repeat the torture over again and she didn’t know if she could handle it.

It was as if Kale read her mind; it was like he knew exactly what she needed to bury the thoughts, to drown the feelings that were crawling their way to the surface. He tucked his hand under her and rolled over onto his back pulling her on top of him. His erection was against her ass and Kale grabbed her hips, lifting her and rolling her back until she felt him beneath her. She slowly lowered herself, feeling inch by every delicious inch of him as he filled her body, stretching her around him.

“God, baby,” he said, digging his fingers into her thighs as she sank all the way down on top of him. “Come here.”

He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her down on top of him. Her chest collapsed on top of his, every part of her body touching him. She rocked back slowly letting his length slide almost completely out of her before she rolled her hips forward, swallowing him deep inside her. His lips crushed hers, his teeth nipping her bottom lip and his tongue swiping across it soothingly. His hands roamed over her waist, her back, her breasts, and everywhere in between. They were exploring her with such tenderness that it made her skin tingle with shooting pricks of pleasure that radiated though out her body, piling up where their bodies were most connected.

In a movement so fluid that she didn’t register it until it was over, Kale had her underneath him. He was still inside of her and his body took over the rocking. Ronnie hooked her feet around his calves, anchoring her so she could roll her hips and meet him thrust for thrust.

His big body was pressing her into the mattress as his lips continued moving against hers, making her lightheaded as she struggled to pull air into her lungs, but being so consumed by Kale that she became breathless was a feeling she invited completely.

As his hips moved slowly in a circle, a tingling pleasure started building and building between her thighs. Kale seemed to notice her body quickening and shuddering and he slowly started picking up his speed, yet he remained completely gentle. Every thrust sent her farther until she couldn’t hold on any longer. And then she let go. She let go of her mind and her body and she just felt, and it was amazing. Kale’s perfect lips softly caressed hers as a delicious spasm rippled through her core. She moaned into his mouth causing a sexy groan in response as she felt Kale’s pleasure pumping into her.

He stilled inside her and planted feather light kisses to her lips, jaw and neck.

“That was amazing,” Ronnie said breathlessly as Kale continued to tend to her sensitive skin.

“That it was,” he whispered, and she could feel him smile against the side of her neck.

Kale rolled off her and pulled her into his arms. She almost hesitated, but didn’t. She was exhausted, her body was still spiraling back down, and she just didn’t have the fucking energy to protest. Yeah, that’s what she kept telling herself. It was better than admitting that the feeling of being cradled in his strong arms felt better than anything else had in a really long time.

*****

Kale’s mind slowly and groggily shifted back into the territory of awake as morning crept through the windows, but he wasn’t quite ready to open his eyes. He took a deep breath and tightened his arms around Ronnie. She was still wrapped around him, her limbs tangling with his naked skin. She was so light and soft, and she was actually sweet while she was sleeping, something that would only be true about this woman while she was asleep.

He carefully slipped his body out from under hers, trying not to wake her up as he climbed out of the bed. He looked down at her, her creamy ivory skin covered in colorful art, her long almost black hair spilling out around her head onto the pillow, her pouty lips parted slightly, her long lashes brushing the tops of her cheeks. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Kale quietly stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. When he stepped in his eyes immediately zoned in on the caddy containing men’s body wash, men’s shaving cream, and a man’s razor— and it pissed him off to no end. He almost forgot that Ronnie had shared her life with someone; that she at one point in time wasn’t afraid of love and of everything that came along with it.

For the first time ever, Kale thought about what it would be like to have this woman every day, forever. He thought about what it would be like to sleep next to her every night, to make love to her anytime she wanted him to, to rub her feet and to kiss her neck and for the first time since he has been in the Army, he wanted to stay. Did he still want to be with his men? Absolutely. But for the first time, something mattered more to him than the mission.

He didn’t want to leave; he didn’t want to leave Ronnie. He finally understood the cost, and it was worse than he could have ever imagined.

Kale turned off the shower once the water was no longer warm. He quickly dressed back in his clothes and walked out of the now empty bedroom. As he rounded the corner from the hallway, he saw Ronnie standing in the kitchen making breakfast. She was wearing a tiny tank top and leopard print panties. He knew they were called boy shorts but they sure as hell didn’t look like anything a boy would wear. They barely covered her ass, not that he was complaining, and they set so low on her hips it wouldn’t take much for him to push them down just a tad and he could… “Pancakes?” Ronnie asked, meeting his eyes as he plopped down at the bar. She pranced around the counter and stopped right next to him, setting down a mound of pancakes.

“Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her onto his lap, and planted a quick kiss on her neck. She felt a little uncomfortable there, like it was forced so he let her go, a sinking feeling taking over his stomach.

“So what’s on the agenda today?” he asked, slathering peanut butter on his stack of pancakes, pushing aside the feelings that were sure to take away his man card.

“Well, I have a full schedule at the shop and then I’m supposed to meet Jordan for drinks later, what about you?”

“I have some shit to take care of for work before I head back to the sand pit.”

The look that flashed over Ronnie’s eyes was brief and he didn’t get the chance to figure out what it was before they hardened again.

Two more days, he only had two more days with her.

“Well, help yourself to whatever. I’m going to jump in the shower and get ready for work. I will call you tomorrow?”

When did the roles reverse? When did he suddenly become the one being rushed off in the mornings?

“Yep,” he said before shoving his mouth full of pancakes. He smiled and winked in her general direction but didn’t meet her eyes. He was afraid they would say what he knew good and well they would—it was just sex.

Only now, it was so much more than that.

Chapter 10

After a long day tattooing her unfortunate share of tattoos on peoples’ asses—that will more than likely be lasered off in less than a year’s time anyway—Ronnie was tired, hungry and ready for bed. But she had told Jordan she would meet her for dinner and a drink and hell, who was she kidding? She never passed up on food and liquor.

She tucked her chin and nose down into her wool scarf as she walked from the parking lot to Sidelines bar and grill. It was starting to snow, she had to park all the way out in bum-fucked Egypt, and she feared for the feeling in her nose, and fingertips for that matter. Sidelines was always packed and it was especially busy on Wednesday nights when they had their hump day deals, dollar domestic long necks. The bar was more than likely full of soldiers and all other forms of assholes. She would have much rather gone to her little hole in the wall, black listed bar full of big biker men and drunk old perverts, but Jordan picked the place. At least they have good burgers.

When Ronnie opened the door and walked inside she was surrounded with the aroma of pizza and burgers and it instantly made her stomach rumble. The bar was crammed full of people and all the tables were occupied. Ronnie hoped like hell that Jordan already had a table because she was not waiting any longer than she had to.

Just as her head was navigating from one side of the bar making its way to the other, Jordan came into view walking her way.

“Come on lets go,” Jordan said when she reached Ronnie.

“What? I just got here, what the hell?”

“Well, I’m in the mood for Mexican and Margaritas and this place is too busy so let’s just go.” The urgent desperation in Jordan’s voice had Ronnie stopping like she was a dead weight of bricks.

She narrowed her eyes and hoisted her hands on her hips. “Jordan, don’t bullshit me. What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Jordan lied, which she was a completely horrible liar so Ronnie saw right through it. If Jordan was lying to her then she had a reason, and Ronnie was going to find out what that reason was.

“Get out of the way Jordy,” Ronnie said, pushing past Jordan, moving out of the hostess area and into the bar where all the tables were. She didn’t even need to look around for more than a breath. Sitting on the far side of the room was Kale. She would recognize that sandy brown hair, preppy boy, Captain America impersonator in a pitch black room with night vision goggles on. It was him and he was with a woman, a fucking blonde for crying out loud. Of course, she had to be beautiful as well. Big straight smile, tiny waist, round eyes that were probably blue, and of course she had big boobs that girls paid thousands of dollars for and Ronnie was willing to bet her left tit that they were real. Fucking fantastic. Of course she looked like his type too. Snug fit jeans and a cream colored sweater with a long thin scarf looped on her neck. She was just as model worthy as he was.

Blondie was sitting frustratingly close to Kale and she had her hand placed on his chest. She was laughing and he was smiling at her and it was apparent that he was having a good time. They obviously had an intimate relationship together too. Ronnie could tell by the easy way he held himself under her hand, and the way her legs angled toward his body, and the way she leaned into him as she talked.

“Ronnie, let’s go,” Jordan said, coming up behind her.

It was as if the sound of Ronnie’s name coming out of Jordan’s mouth physically snapped Kale’s head towards her. His smile fell when his eyes locked on Ronnie and he instantly stood up, concern etched in every plane on his face.

He started to walk to her but Ronnie immobilized him with a look that would have killed a sniper. He stopped dead in his tracks, never once moving his stormy blue eyes from her.

“Fucking soldier,” she hissed.

Jordan looped her arm through Ronnie’s and tugged hard, pulling Ronnie’s feet from the spot they had cemented to. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Yeah. Let’s go.” She peeled her eyes from the tortured stare that was looking back at her, and turned and walked out.

*****

Kale knew this looked bad. When Meagan called him this afternoon wanting to have dinner together before he left to go back to Iraq, he should have told her no. He didn’t want to have dinner with Meagan, he would have rather been with Ronnie, but Meagan was an old friend. She was a sweet girl and dinner with her was better than sitting in his house alone.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Ronnie. When he looked up and saw her staring at him it was like his world went flat and he was slipping off the edge. He had let her down. She thought he did the one thing that has turned her away from love to begin with. He had to talk to her. He needed her to understand.

Kale turned back toward Meagan who was still sitting at the table and he gave her a weak smile and shrugged. “I’m sorry, Meg. I’ve got to go.”

Meagan stood and smiled up at him, her eyes full of understanding. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “Go get her.”

“You’re the best Meg.”

“I know, I know.”

Kale leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. “Thanks,” he said, setting a fifty-dollar bill down on the table to pay for dinner, and then he turned and headed after Ronnie.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed her number as he walked to his truck. He was surprised when she answered before the first ring was over. He was fully prepared to leave a countless number of voicemails and venture over into stalker territory, driving past her house and the tattoo shop and anywhere else he thought she might be.

“Kale don’t,” she said, before any other words were spoken between them. “You have nothing to explain to me. You did nothing wrong.” Her words were surprisingly calm and even.

“Ronnie, she—”

“We’re not together, Kale. You’re not mine. It was just sex remember? No fluff, just sex. It’s fine.” Her words may have said she was fine but her voice said otherwise and the idea that he truly did hurt her was worse than the thought of her not caring at all. He needed to see her; he needed to clear up this misunderstanding. He needed to make things right between them. He was only here for one more day.

“I’m coming over.”

“Like hell you are,” she spat. Now there was the Ronnie he knew and he was glad to hear the fire back in her voice. “Look Soldier, it was fun but I’m done. You are leaving in two days anyway. Let’s just end our little arrangement with last night.”