She let out a low laugh. Big enough ego?
He stared at her in disbelief. Ego?
Yes. Youre being such aguy.
News flash. I am a guy.
Uh-huh. Look, Im sure youve taken a hell of a lot worse hits than this. Im figuring if youre okay enough to be insulted, then youre okay enough to continue. So if youre done sulking, we should go.
He looked at her for a long moment. Your bedside manner could use a little work.
Oh, sorry. She let her smile slip out. Would you like to be fawned over?
No. Hell, no. But he paused, and then looked at her curiously. What would the fawning consist of?
Funny. Lets go, big guy. Oh, and its two-one now.
What?
Before we crossed the new river running down Third, we were even, one-one. I saved you, you saved me. But now were two-one, big guy. You owe me.
He narrowed his eyes, then hissed out a breath at the movement.
Careful. Youre still bleeding.
Yeah, and how exactly did you save me this second time?
Its all in the gauze work. She cupped the back of his head and pressed on the gauze with her other hand. Are you going to go all alpha on me and get upset that Im winning?
I didnt realize we were keeping score. He turned his head a fraction and she watched his eyes go from alert and sharp toheated?
She looked down and realized their positions-him sitting, her kneeling-left him at eye level with, not to mention less than an inch from, her breasts.
He licked his lower lip.
And just like that, her nipples hardened.
Not that he could see her reaction. She wore his thick sweatshirt and a rain poncho, and was soaked to the skin, but it didnt seem to matter.
Her breathing changed.
And so did his.
Trying to act normal when her body was so hyper aware of his that it was quivering, she pulled the gauze away from his cut, bent over the first-aid kit and located Steri-Strips, which she put on the gash. She worked in silence, and he didnt say a word until shed finished and sat back on her heels to regard him.
He looked right back at her, then skimmed his hands up to her arms and tugged, and with a little gasp, she ended up in his lap. Yeah, youre winning, he murmured silkily. More than you bargained for. His gaze dropped to her mouth. He slid one arm around her waist; the other skimmed up her spine to the back of her head, cupping it, bringing her mouth to within a beat of his.
Her heart kicked.
Once upon a time, he said quietly, I didnt know what to do with the things you made me feel.
You always knew what to do with all the other girls, she managed.
Yeah, but if youll remember, that was all show. I really was an idiot back then.
Yes. Her lips quirked. Though a really hot one.
He snorted, and spread his fingers wide on her back. Youre different now.
Meaning I can talk to you without tripping over my tongue?
Uh-huh. You have a confidence. His fingers slid beneath the poncho and played with the hem on the sweatshirt, slipping beneath that, as well. Its sexy as hell, Lizzy.
Its fake.
He shook his head. Youre comfortable in your own skin. I bet youre a hell of a nurse. He ran those warm, work-callused fingers over her bare back. Do you love it?
His fingers touching her? Yes. Yes, she did.
He was looking at her, waiting for her to speak, but it was tough to talk while he shifted his hand around to her front, those fingers now playing against the bare skin of her stomach. Do I love my job? she repeated shakily. Yeah. I do. It grew on me.
Well, it fits you. When I went into the military, I had no idea if it would fit me.
It did. At least for the time you were there.
Yeah. His other hand joined the fray, sliding up under the back of the sweatshirt, skimming her spine all the way to her nape and then back down, letting out a shaky breath as the tips of his fingers caught on her bra.
It was a rough time for you back then, she said, sounding shockingly normal for a woman who had a mans hands up her top. Youd just lost your father. You were tired of football.
You remember a lot about me.
Yes. She remembered everything about him, but because that would probably put her into stalker status, she just lifted a shoulder.
You cared about me.
Yes, she whispered.
His hand urged her forward some more, until she lost her balance and had to set her hands on his chest. He closed his eyes as if to savor the touch as he continued to play beneath her clothing. God, you smell good.
You cant smell me. Im half-drowned and wearing too many layers.
Ill give you the too many layers. He pressed his face to her hair. But you do smell good. Hands tightening, he shifted, adjusting her so that she was straddling him.
Jase-
Shh. Just for a minute. His mouth found the sweet spot beneath her ear, the one that was an instant turn-on switch for her, which she hadnt realized until just now. When his tongue touched her skin, she gasped, and with a low breath of appreciation for her response, he pulled a small patch of skin into his mouth and sucked, turning her gasp into a helpless moan.
God. God, youre sweet. He palmed her thighs, urging them open a little more, pulling her flush against him so that she could find him, hard beneath his layers.
Her head fell back, her eyes closed, and when he rocked up, she moaned. Then he fisted his hand in her hair, tugged her mouth to his and kissed her, hard and deep, like he was dying for her.
Which was only fair, because she was dying for him.
Yesterday she hadnt thought about him in forever, and today she couldnt stop thinking about him. She cupped his face to hold it to hers, but he didnt seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere. Instead he let out a low, rough moan of pleasure that went straight through her. It was heaven.
He was heaven.
Didnt expect that, he murmured after they pulled apart to breathe. He pressed his forehead to hers. You?
Was he kidding? Shed known for years that shed melt into a boneless heap if he ever touched her. What she hadnt known was that the reality of kissing him would be so much better than the fantasy. And her fantasy had been pretty damn good. After earlier? Yeah.
A corner of his mouth curved and flashed a dimple that went with the wicked light in his eyes. I came home thinking Id figure out what I should do with myself, and to maybe shut my damn brain off for a while. Mission accomplished, because when I look at you, it shuts right off.
She shook her head with a smile. Is it coming to you? What you want to do with yourself?
I know what I want to do with you.
She laughed. You know what I mean.
Yeah. He looked around at the river running by them. Stay or goDo something because I think I should, or because I want to. He shook his head. I thought I had it figured out, but I dont. I have nothing figured out at all.
She ran her fingers over the bandage on his temple, and his expression softened as he grabbed her hand.
I came here feeling like the rug had just been pulled out from beneath me, he said. Knowing damn well I wasnt in any shape to enter into any kind of a relationship. I didnt expect you, Lizzy. Letting go of her hand to cup the back of her head, he nuzzled at her throat.
Her eyes drifted shut as he slid his hands back beneath her clothing, making it all but impossible to breathe.
I didnt expect you, either- She broke off on a shuddering gasp when his hands slid up her ribs, his thumbs barely grazing the underside of her breasts. We- She had to swallow. We should go.
Rest a minute.
Im fine- Another pass of those thumbs and her knees wobbled.
Which reminded her that she was straddling him, holding him down as she pressed on the impressive erection he had going between her thighs. With a strength she didnt know she had, she rose to her feet and held out a hand.
He took it and let her pull him up. Thats some control you have, Lizzy. Given Im the soldier, it should have come from me.
I have as much control as you.
Youre definitely the stronger of us, always have been.
Stop it.
Im serious. Remember Carla Alvarez?
Oh, yes, she remembered the beautiful Carla Alvarez. You spent a month trying to convince her to go out with you?
Uh-huh. And you finally told me to stop trying so hard, to let someone else make the first move once in a while. Which worked, by the way. She was my homecoming date.
Yeah. Lizzy remembered. Itd driven her crazy. Shed wanted to make the move on him, but hadnt had the nerve. She watched him re-shoulder his backpack, thinking she had the nerve now. Itd come hard earned, but she had it. Jase?
Yeah?
She fisted her hands tight into his wet poncho.
What-
That was all he got out before she yanked him close and kissed him. Kissed him until they were both breathless, and then she shoved him away.
He staggered back a step and stared at her. Not that Im complaining, but what was that for?
I have no idea. But she did. She knew exactly.
She was over holding back in order to protect herself from hurt. Over setting aside things she wanted, things like her education and becoming a doctor, or taking an extra shift instead of a vacation in order to make sure Cece had what she needed.
Cece didnt need her anymore, and life was too short. She needed to live it. She was going to get what shed always wanted, which right at that moment was him.
9
CECE GRABBED her stomach as another contraction took over, this one deeper and far more intense than the last, and when she opened her eyes again, breathing as if shed just run a marathon, she realized she was on her knees, clutching her belly. Worse, her stranger had come right into her garage, crouched at her side, and was supporting her with an arm banded around her back.
There you go, he said in a low, gruff voice that went with the badass boots and leather jacket, which he wore over a plain tee and torn jeans, all matching the tough expression on his face. Keep breathing.
Shed planned on it, thank you very much, perfect stranger.
How far apart are the contractions? he asked.
She had no idea. Oh, God, she gasped as another hit.
Not far, he muttered, summing up the situation with one brief, unhappy glance.
She breathed through the worst of the pain, and then managed to look at him. She couldnt see past the brim of his cowboy hat, which didnt help. Who are you?
Hunter. Hunter Bryant. I live next door. Who are you?