With Honor (12 page)

“Understandable. I’m a little worried as well. This will be my first, too.” Before she thought her next move through, she leaned forward and smoothed her hand across his buzz cut. His scent wafted to her nose and titillated her senses. “You seem different, Shane.”

He ran his palms down his legs. “Different how?”

“Your eyes. I don’t remember them being so bright and sincere. Your smile is livelier. And, just, well, different.”

“Maybe you want me to be different from the man you met in Florida. The man who left you with a note on your pillow.” His words were husky and broke through a barrier she’d had around her heart.

She gave a small shrug. “Possibly. I didn’t think much of that man, I can tell you that. I’d experienced one of those moments when you wake up the next morning and realize that you’ve made a mistake. That’s unfortunate, because we made a baby that night, and that is a glorious gift.”

“You had reason to feel it was a mistake. Most one-nighters are.”

Meeting his gaze, she said, “You had an agenda and after you got what you wanted it felt like you couldn’t wait for me to go to sleep so you could leave.”

He swallowed. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m not sure what I can do to change a first impression.”

“I think you already have. I’m learning that the first impression isn’t always the deciding factor,” she whispered and lifted herself up on her knees. She slid across his lap.

He sat back so that she was cupped into the scoop of his hips. His cock hardened against her thigh.

“So I guess I’m not the only one who feels the connection?”

The lines of his expression held great magnitude. “I won’t deny the attraction, but I’m not sure either of us is thinking clearly. I don’t want you to feel like you made another mistake.”

“Is that so?”

“A man can never think clearly with a hard-on,” he admitted.

Starting at the neckline of his shirt, she slowly and deliberately walked her fingers down his chest, over his tight stomach, and to the waist of his pants where she tucked her finger in and pulled. “I don’t mind the hard-on. I find it flattering.”

“Well, baby, you should have a flattered ego by now, because I’ve had an erection pretty much since you walked into the bathroom at the bar and caught me with my fly down.”

She laughed and it came out on a throaty sound. Her hormones raced with need for him. “You’re not the stone-cold soldier, after all?”

“No, I’ll always be a soldier, babe.” Placing his hand on her thigh, he slowly slid his palm along her bare skin, stopping at the edge of her shorts. He dipped his fingers in. “And soldiers are men of honor, but we have a naughty side as well.”

“I’m starting to see that.” She lowered her gaze to his hand tucked inside her shorts. His skin looked amazingly dark compared to her pale complexion. The contrast sent a thrill rushing through her. “And I like it.” She brought her gaze back up, absorbing him.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Jasmine. It’d be hard for any man to resist the sweet temptation.” His voice was low and rich, like a fishhook tempting her.

Twirling her finger around the top of his zipper, she teased and lured him in. “Who says you must resist the temptation?”

She traced his erection through his jeans. “I want to do what’s right.” His words came out as he exhaled.

Shane grew harder under her touch, encouraging her to continue her attention to that part of his anatomy. The muscle along his jaw twitched. His barrier slipped. She’d never felt more powerful in her life, or this exhilarated, even when she’d written spectacular articles. Not even when she’d interviewed an up and coming star. Seduction was new to her. And she wanted him like no other. “What is right is that I want you, and I think you want me.” Rubbing the tip of his sex caused him to jerk. “Yes, you do.” She kissed him lightly on the jaw. “Don’t you?”

“Not wanting you isn’t the problem.” He threaded his fingers into her hair. “Wanting you is the problem.”

She planted kisses along his neck, breathing in the heady scent of man as she cupped his head in hers. “Does that feel good?” Her core moistened in yearning for his touch. “You can touch me, too.” No inhibition remained.

“Fuck.” His breath warmed her cheek. “Now that is some kind of offer.”

“What are you waiting for?” she whispered into his ear.

“Hell, even I don’t know anymore.” He slid his fingers farther into her shorts and slipped the tip of one finger along the edge of her panties. There was promise in his touch. She spread her legs slightly, allowing complete access.

With the penetration of his fingers, Jasmine arched her back, gliding her opening completely along his digit. Circling her hips, she rode his palm. She moaned and he rewarded her with another finger thrust inside her as he pounded knuckle-deep.

Widening her thighs, she clutched his shoulder and the cushion for leverage as she quickened her own stride. Tingles flourished between her legs. They began to multiply like fireflies, bright and moving. Her breath grew raspy as her heart took on a heavy metal rhythm that matched the pace of his fingers. Suddenly, the emotion swam into her lower belly and burst into a white light of sensation. Her pleasured moans laced with his. She called out his name repeatedly.

“Yes, baby. Let it come. Come for me.”

Looking at him through the veil of half lowered lashes, she said, “Now. I need you.”

“I know you do, baby.” He slid his hand away from her wetness and tugged the buttons loose at her waist. One popped and flew across the room. In two quick movements her shorts and panties were removed and she straddled him. He then helped her remove her shirt and bra, tearing material in their haste.

He awakened senses she’d never known existed. A need grew within her, a desire to feel him deep inside her, his powerful thrusts of passion. He could mold her, she’d yield to him.

His gaze heated her bare skin, like a branding. “Beautiful.” He dipped his head and suckled each nipple until they stood erect under his attention.

“We still have an issue here.”

“Issue?” He molded her breasts to his palms, flicking the tips with his thumbs.

“I’m naked and you’re not.” Undoing his belt and unzipping his fly, she unwrapped the package from his boxers. She admired the length of him as his cock stood straight up toward the ceiling. He was larger than she remembered. Her muscles pulsated. The saying was true. Seeing a nice cock always made a woman quiver for satisfaction.

Lust enveloped them in its veil. Lifting her hips, she steadied him at her wet lips and guided him inside, slowly drawing her hips downward, until he filled her. She dropped her head back onto one shoulder and absorbed the feeling of being connected with total masculinity.

“Fuck, this is good.” Driving deeper, in and out, he clutched her hips in his hands. “So tight. So wet.” He breathed against her neck as he slid his tongue along the contour of her skin to her collarbone.

Adapting to his size, she trembled and moaned. She swirled her hips around his base, feeling his head rub against the deepest part of her and sending pulses of sex current through her. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, holding on, as she plunged further. He suckled her nipples as he flicked her clit, pushing the need deeper to her center. Her muscles became tight, as she felt the sweet grip of ecstasy take hold.

His breathing grew harder, and he moaned against her breasts. Together they ascended the invisible mountain and found a plateau of complete release.

Jasmine fell against him, satiated and smiling. Sweat soaked his shirt. His scent filled her nostrils. She could get used to this.

Chapter 9

Shawn lifted his head up from staring at his paperwork and did a double take. He saw a woman in the distance. Not just
any
woman. Jasmine walked toward him in a tight blue tee and a pair of nice fitting jeans that showed off her sexy curves. His heart slammed against his chest. His mind flitted back to two days ago, when they’d made love. He’d gotten up, dressed, and took his leave after some excuse of needing to work. Really, he’d had to get the hell away. He’d felt a sliver of guilt for running and not speaking with her since. Not calling or eating dinner with her was a dog-ass thing to do, but he felt more shameful talking to her. He was lying to her. Even the best intentions couldn’t weaken the fact that he’d lied to her.

That made him a dog.

He swiped his palm across his hair. Jasmine was a woman a man didn’t fuck with. She was the real deal. Too bad he wasn’t. And now tangled in his own web, he didn’t know how to clear things up.

Still, he couldn’t help but admire her as she closed the distance. From her long hair to her breasts, full and round, it made him weak. And her legs? Endless wonders leading to the sweetest treasure a man could ask for.

“Hi, Shane,” she said with a wide smile as she pulled off her large sunglasses.

Catching his breath and clearing his head, he asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Thanks for the welcome. Holbert told me you were flying your new jet today.”

Shawn glanced into the hangar where Holbert had amazingly disappeared at that moment. The man was dead meat. “But that doesn’t require an audience.”

Her smile began to fade. “He said it’s a big deal. It’s tradition for a pilot to have someone cheer him on as he flies a new machine.”

Oh, definitely, Holbert was dead. The man needed to keep his matchmaking skills to himself. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, Shawn nodded. “Sure, that’s the tradition. I’m glad you could make it, but you didn’t have to.”

The smile eased back on her pretty pink mouth. Somehow it made him happy that she was there. He couldn’t argue with that emotion.

“I’m not bothering you, am I?” Her glance dropped to the documents he still held in his tight grip. He’d forgotten them, and the papers were now wrinkled.

“Nope. Just finishing up some minor details. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it home early last night. I’ve been going over the specs of the new plane.”

“Hmm, I thought you were MIA because you figured I wouldn’t respect you after we had sex.”

Damn, he had to give her credit. One never had to guess what occupied her mind or where she stood. “Are you feeling better?”

“Just peachy.” There was a slight downward curve of one corner of her mouth.

“Peachy? Hmm.”

“We’re not going to be all weird around each now, are we?” she asked.

This was an opportunity to tell her the truth. Plain and simple. She’d hate him, but at least he wouldn’t feel like a total shit. No matter what he did, doom loomed in his future.

“Oh, silence. You regret it, don’t you?”

“No, Jasmine, I don’t. And, I think it’s great that you came down here to watch me fly my jet. I’m just not used to having someone care.” He darted his glance to Holbert, who was back at the plane on the runway finishing up the last details. “I gotta go now. I’m due up in the air.”

“Sure. Don’t let me hold you up.”

Getting up from his desk, he moved around it, and stopped in front of her, trying for a casual smile. “I’ll talk to you just as soon as I touch ground. Okay?”

“Be safe.” Her expression told him he’d hurt her again. Hell, he wasn’t good at this communication thing.

As he strolled toward his plane, he felt her gaze burrowing into his back. The woman made him crazy. What had he gotten himself into? He knew better than this. A man shouldn’t get involved with a woman whom he couldn’t make promises to, and on top of that, she carried his child.
But it wasn’t his baby
.

If his mother knew his actions, she’d roll in her grave or come back and haunt him for his stupidity.Damn, he did have feelings. He was far from being an ice king–he realized that more by the minute. Maybe that’s what scared him the most. Jasmine was different than any woman he’d ever known, and reached beyond his layers of protection. He had no right to have feelings. The lie would unravel and he couldn’t stop it.

“She’s all ready for flight.” Holbert gave him the thumbs-up.

“You and I are going to have a talk when I get back on ground, you hear, Holbert?” Shawn gave him his
dead meat
expression.

“About what?” He seemed oblivious.

“This special occasion in which you needed to invite Jasmine to watch my flight.” Shawn shook his head. “Keep your masterminded matchmaking away from me.”