To Seduce a SEAL (Sin City SEALs) (7 page)

“But I think I remember,” she added, lifting his shirt still higher.

He released her hips and caught her wrists in his hands. The T-shirt was playing peek-a-boo with his pecs, and she wanted to see more.

“We shouldn’t,” he said. “I work for you.”

She met his concerned gaze. “I promise I won’t fire you for a sub-par performance.”

He raised an eyebrow, and she knew he’d take the bait. “Honey, if we do this, you’ll walk out of this room satisfied.”

Keep looking at me like that, and I might explode from anticipation.

“If you don’t curl up on my bed and pass out,” he continued. “But—”

“No buts,” she said. “You’ve already given me an orgasm that left me more relaxed than I’ve been in a long, long time. Let’s see if I can return the favor.”

He released her wrists. A lock of his dark, wavy hair fell down over his forehead as he leaned closer. His hands cupped her jaw, mimicking her earlier movements, as his fingers wove through her hair, still bound in a ponytail. He lowered his mouth to hers and captured her lips.

And this time, he didn’t start slowly. He instantly deepened the kiss. He wasn’t holding anything back. This wasn’t part of the show. No one was watching.

Just me and my Navy SEAL…

Her tongue tangled with his, and she reached for the button on his jeans. Her fingers worked quickly and then moved on to the zipper and drew it down. Resisting the urge to reach inside, she returned to his waistband and pushed his pants down to his thighs.

Her hand touched cotton, and she groaned into his kiss. She’d hoped he would be commando beneath his jeans. Instead, she had one more layer to contend with before she had him naked and at her mercy. The longer it took to strip off his clothes, the more opportunities he’d have to offer up another excuse. And some might hit too close to home.

She could ignore the fact that he worked for her. They were consenting adults, weren’t they? But if she thought too long about the fact that her career demanded traveling from one city to the next while his involved fighting in places that weren’t exactly known for their love of country music…

One night. A treat for herself with a man who would be walking out of her life the next day—that was one thing. But fooling around a second time with the bodyguard who would be spending the next week or two on tour with her?

Might be a bad idea…

She pulled back from the kiss, hooked her thumbs in the elastic band of his white briefs, and pulled them down, down, down. She sank to the floor, and her knees pressed into the hotel room carpet.

Oh, wow. I was wrong. This is a very good plan.

She’d never have another man like this at her mercy, in her room.

With his jeans and underwear decorating his lower legs, every thick, hard inch of him was on display. She placed her hands on his thighs. From her position—eye level with his erection—it looked as if every part of her Navy SEAL was supersized, from his biceps right on down to his cock.

This U.S. Navy SEAL was perfect, from his erection to his commitment to his country. And the latter, the way he’d spoken about his desire to serve until he physically couldn’t do the job, meant they would hit a dead end eventually. She wouldn’t need to choose between her career and him—and neither would he.

She ran her right hand up his leg and wrapped it around him. Gently, enjoying the feel of his warm, soft skin against hers, she pulled upward. When she reached the head, she released the pressure and drew her hand back down to the base.

“Chrissie,” he said, reaching for her. His palm brushed her cheek. But he stopped short of drawing her mouth to his cock. “Honey.”

Oh no, she wasn’t done with him yet. She leaned forward and ran her tongue up from her hand to the tip of his erection. And then she wrapped her mouth around him.

For a second, she felt him tense, and she wondered if she’d done something wrong. But then he groaned, and the deep, rumbling sound filled the room. She raised her hand up to meet her lips as her tongue swirled around the head. She drew her hand down again and teased the slit, tasting him.

“Chrissie,” he tried again. She glanced up, her mouth still swallowing him. He looked down at her, his dark eyes on fire with desire.

Or maybe she’d read him wrong, because the next second, he cupped her cheeks and tried to guide her mouth away from him.

“I have one problem,” he said.

She cocked her head. “Please don’t tell me I found the one SEAL who hates blow jobs.”

He laughed. “No. I fucking love what you’re doing. Let’s be clear about that, but—”

She pumped his cock and watched as his jaw tightened. “I’ll fire you again and rehire you after, but I’m not walking away.”

“Yeah, that’s not it.” He reached out and traced a path across the bare skin just above her tank top. His fingertips dipped below the neckline and grazed the swell of her breast. “You’re still dressed. And that’s just plain unfair.”

“And SEALs always play fair?” she murmured, her hand moving faster, up and down his hard length.

A heartbeat later, he had his hands around her waist. He’d caught her by surprise, and she released his cock rather than fight to maintain her position. Then he lifted her with ease, turned, and tossed her on the bed. She landed on her back.

“No, we don’t.” He pressed one knee at her side into the bed as he reached for her shorts. He stripped them off, along with her panties, in one swift movement. “Consider that lesson number two.”

Chapter Nine

If given the choice, Dante would rather sit in freezing cold water all night like he’d done during Hell Week than pull her mouth away from his cock again. It had been a long time since a woman had serviced him that way—or hell, any way. But he didn’t want to come first tonight or any other night.

Before he mimicked her performance in Vegas and passed out from pleasure, which, shit, just might happen, given her talented touch, he wanted to hear her cry out as she fell apart.

“You want to play dirty?” she asked as she planted her feet on the bed. She let her knees fall open. Her legs formed a diamond shape on the bed, offering him one helluva view. Her legs were bare, but blond curls covered the space between them. She might possess a body to rival a teen pop princess, but Chrissie was 100 percent woman.

She’s so flexible… The things I could do with her…

If their “lessons” continued…

And she wanted to transition to naked combat…

“Yeah,” he managed, his gaze still fixed between her legs. “I want to play dirty. And wet.”

“Maybe a little rough?” she murmured.

He looked up and saw the question in her blue eyes. He’d been desperate to get her on the bed. He’d tossed her down onto the hotel blanket. But rough sex? That had never turned him on.

“Wild, honey.” He leaned forward, and his good knee pressed into the mattress. He placed one hand on the bed and used the other to pull up her shirt. “I’m going to drive you wild and worship you from head to toe.”

She nodded and curled up to allow him to wrestle her out of her top and bra.

He tossed her clothes aside and reached for her breasts. “And I’m going to start right here.” He lowered his mouth to her chest. His tongue glided over the swell of her full breast and swirled a circle around her nipple. Then he wrapped his lips around the tight peak and sucked hard.

Her moans tempted him to stay right there. But he had plans for the blond curls between her splayed legs. She arched her low back as he moved south, but her knees remained flat against the mattress.

His hands glided down her thighs and gently pressed them farther apart. But there wasn’t space for him on the bed, and he slid off the end. He caught himself before his injured knee came down hard on the carpet. Slowly, he lowered to the floor.

But the woman who’d been writhing and moaning seconds earlier sat up. “Your knee—”

“My knee is telling me to bury my face between your legs. I’ve been damn near dying to taste you again.” He ran his hand up her thighs until his fingers brushed the place he planned to lick over and over. His thumb touched her clit, and she fell back against the mattress.

He smiled as he lowered his mouth. His tongue followed his thumb and teased the place designed to push her over the edge.

“Dante,” she hissed.

He glanced up. She had one arm flung over her eyes. Her other hand, the one she’d hit him with earlier, clutched at the bedding.

“Honey,” he murmured. “This is the best damn combat lesson I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending.”

…

Her bodyguard-turned-instructor-turned-lover lowered his mouth and proceeded to lick, suck, and oh God…worship her. Yes, he had his face buried between her legs, but she felt it from head to toe.

“Dante,” she screamed. “Mmm, more please… Oh God
yes
! Right there! And don’t stop.”

His tongue pulled back as he chuckled.

“No,” she hissed. “Don’t stop. That’s an order.”

He followed her command like a good Navy SEAL. His tongue returned to her clit. And, bless the man, he ran his hand up her leg. He teased her entrance and then slipped a finger inside.

And she tumbled into another chart-topping orgasm. But oh, this one…it was an all-time greatest hit. A classic. The one she swore she’d remember forever as
Oh God, Dante
.

She surfaced from the pleasure dimly aware that he’d pulled back. Opening her eyes, she spotted him standing at the foot of the bed staring down at her. Her gaze traveled down his body.

“You’re still awake,” he said. “Maybe I should try again?”

“No, I think it’s time for me to finish what I started,” she murmured as she pushed her upper body off the mattress. She scooted to the edge of the bed and reached for him. “I think I was right here, using my hand…”

Her fingers closed around his cock. She looked up and saw the strained expression on his face. He’d been kneeling and then standing. Was his knee aching?

Her hand reached the tip, but then she paused. “Is your knee bothering you? Do you need to sit down?”

“No.” He wrapped his hand around hers. “I want it harder. Faster.”

She watched as his grip tightened around hers and drew her fingers down his hard length and then back up. His hips began to pump, and they increased in velocity each time. She studied the movements, memorizing how he liked to be touched, just in case there was a next time.

“Like that, honey,” he said, his tone rough as his guiding hand fell away. “Don’t be afraid that you’ll hurt me.”

Oh yes, she wanted more than tonight with him. Another few lessons…some naked…

“Tighten your grip at the top,” he murmured, thrusting into her.

“Like this?” she asked.

“Yes.” He gasped. “That’s fucking perfect.”

He groaned, and her eyes widened as he exploded. His hips stopped pumping into her now wet hand.

“Now, I need to sit down,” he murmured and stepped back. He disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a hand towel, which he held out to her. Then he claimed a space beside her on the bed.

“We probably shouldn’t have done that,” he said.

“I learned a lot.”

He let out a laugh and shook his head. “If you end up naked and enjoying it, trust me, you’re not in a combat situation.”

“I got distracted.” She stood and stared. “But I’m going to need more SEAL lessons. I have a feeling we have a lot of ground to cover.”

His expression turned serious. “You know I’m heading back to work as soon as I’m cleared.”

“And I have a tour to finish, plus a new album to launch.” She pulled on her shorts. “But until then?”

He pushed himself up off the bed. “Yeah, until then, I’m yours.”

I’m yours
.

Chrissie heard those words over and over as if they’d been set to repeat. Until he could return to the job he loved, he was hers. Her bodyguard. Her teacher. Her lover.

For now.

She understood passion and drive. And she admired his desire to serve. No, she’d never want to take him away from that. Even if it meant having all of his love and loyalty focused on her.

Even if he offers his heart and commitment, it will probably shatter under the weight of my career—and his.

“I’ll walk you back to your room.” He reached for his jeans. “And this time, I’m staying in your suite until it’s time for you to report to the stage. No more wandering alone in crazy outfits.”

“I think you might change your mind about the outfits,” she said as she picked up her backpack and headed for the door. “You haven’t seen my librarian’s costume yet.”

He pulled on his shirt and then picked up his key off the desk. “I bet you blend right in.”

“Your father’s coming.”

Chrissie stepped back. Her calves bumped into the greenroom couch, and she sank down onto the cushions. She glanced at Dante standing guard by the door. Before her mother had burst into the room, she’d been wondering which disguise to wear to his room later that night.

Naughty librarian? She had a fake pair of wire glasses and a brown wig that might work for that outfit. Or sexy schoolgirl? She’d caught him staring at her legs when she’d exited the stage in Portland wearing one of her tiny sequined dresses. She needed to buy the knee-high stockings, and she might draw some strange looks in the elevator—this was Salt Lake City, after all, not liberal Portland—but it would probably be worth it. As long as no one recognized her.

But then her mother burst in and, as if she could read her daughter’s mind, announced her father’s arrival.

I hope she doesn’t have a window into my imagination. If she did, she’d know I’ve been picturing Dante naked and on top of me after our next lesson.

Between the show in Portland, packing up, and riding on the buses with the rest of the crew to Utah, there hadn’t been enough time or privacy to practice her SEAL skills. But privacy might be scarce with her entire family joining the tour…

“He’s bringing the twins?” she asked.

“No, they’re spending the rest of spring break at Disney World with some friends and their families.” Her mother headed for the coffeemaker.

Oh no, she doesn’t need more caffeine.

A second later, Melissa skipped into the room and headed for Dante. He broke into a wide smile and gave her little sister a high five. Then he leaned over and whispered something in her ear.

“Cookies!” Melissa cried, her eyes widening as she scanned the room and spotted the platter on the catering table. She raced over and selected a chocolate chip.

“I told your father to fly out,” her mother said, turning to face Chrissie with a Styrofoam cup clutched in her hand. “If I didn’t, he’d spend the next five days at home feeling sorry for himself instead of helping here, where he’s needed.”

Chrissie nodded. But unlike her mother, she didn’t hold her dad’s prolonged grief against him. He’d lost his son. And the death had crushed him. Plus, one more parent trying to guide her career from the sidelines sounded like a recipe for disaster, not “help.” She knew her mother believed they should pitch in and do their part to steer the career that supported the entire family.

“Mom, go easy on him,” she said as Melissa settled down beside her on the sofa. Chrissie held out her hand. Her little sister broke her cookie in half and then deposited the smaller piece in Chrissie’s palm.

“I want to help him,” her mother said, her tone defensive.

Chrissie bit into the cookie instead of screaming
Then take care of him! Love him like you did before.

Her parents had married their senior year of high school. And her big brother Joe had arrived six months later. She’d never doubted her parents’ love. She’d avoided most of the goons in her small town because she’d wanted what her parents had one day—a picture-perfect love.

But the frame holding that fairy-tale image cracked when her brother died. And it shattered when she started touring, her hit song climbing the charts. It was as if they’d been holding their marriage together with a shoestring while they focused on launching her career. But when she reached the peak labeled “success,” they’d started tossing out sharp words and pulling apart…and she remained in the center.

“I’m trying,” her mother continued. “If your father would just put forth some effort.”

“Mom—”

“Don’t worry, Chrissie.” Her momma forced a smile. “We’ll present a unified front for your shows and the press. We know how important this is to you.”

She nodded and wrapped her arm around Melissa. Telling her mom that she didn’t want them to pretend to love each other like they once had, that she wanted them to
feel
it, wouldn’t help. Plus, they’d already said enough in front of Melissa.

Hank poked his head into the greenroom. “Ready for your sound check, Ms. Tate?”

“Sure.” She released Melissa and headed for the door with her big, bad, orgasmic bodyguard at her heels. She glanced over at him. “Are your parents still together?”

He nodded as he scanned the corridor leading to the stage. “Yeah. They live in Brooklyn and run my grandfather’s restaurant. My sister is there, too.”

“They must be proud of you.”

“They are.” He looked at her. His mouth formed a thin line. “But they don’t interfere with my job.”

“Ever?” She couldn’t imagine running her music career without her mother’s involvement.

“Unless I’m injured,” he said. “My mom flew out for my surgery and stuck around to cook. But otherwise, they don’t insert themselves.”

“This is different,” she explained. “My family was barely getting by before I landed my first record deal. My mom was a crossing guard for one of the local schools. But her hours had been cut. And my dad worked in the kitchen at one of the local restaurants. We got by on the extra money Joe sent home.” She stopped beside the metal stairs leading to the stage. Her hand held tight to the cold metal. “But they were happy. Now I think they’d be better off apart.”

“I think it’s hard to look inside a relationship and understand all the moving parts. Sometimes even for people in the marriage,” he said evenly.

But what if I’m to blame? They were happy, dammit—until my career took off.

“Only the two people in the relationship know if they still trust and love each other…”

She glanced at him. The look in his dark eyes was miles away from Salt Lake City.

“Do you still love her?” she asked softly. “Your ex?”

“No. But part of me feels like I should, because I promised to love her forever.”

“Even though she cheated on you?” she asked, incredulous.

“Yeah.” He paused at the base of the metal stairs. “You should probably get out there for the sound check. You don’t want to pay your crew to stand around, do you?”

“No.” She climbed the stairs and stared out into the auditorium that looked just like every other venue. Vegas. Portland. Salt Lake. They all looked the same from the stage.

She wrapped her arms around her middle and kept her gaze fixed on the empty seats. In the center of the space, she saw the audio technicians leaning over the sound console. It was a good thing Dante’s time on the tour came with an end date. If he stayed…if she fell for him… She didn’t think she could handle that kind of loyalty directed at her. Not when hers was focused on delivering a perfect performance to the people who would fill these seats tonight.

“Ready, Ms. Tate?” Hank called from the side of the stage. “We’ll start with you and then bring on the band.”

She nodded and headed for the mic stand the crew had positioned in the center of the stage. Holding the mic, Chrissie closed her eyes and began to sing a few bars of “How Do I Remember You?” to the empty seats. Her music. That was the one thing she could trust. These words that she’d written, recorded, and performed night after night. They were her security. Her everything.