Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,53
loser?”
His lips curved before he sighed. “For a long time, I was just the job. I had a career where I had to be in charge, a decision-maker, fast on my feet, and quick of mind. If not, people died. Yes, there was adrenaline and we lived off that kind of life. Hell, there are women who hang around military bases, attracted to being with that kind of man.”
Brows lifted, she blinked. “Wow… um… okay, just wow.”
His fingers squeezed on hers. “Babe, that was long in my past. Maybe my early twenties were spent not so discriminating in my partners, but I swear, those days have been long gone. For years now, I’ve only been with a few women, all ones I liked and respected, but in the end, knew they weren’t for me.”
She leaned in, kissing him lightly. “It’s okay, John, you don’t have to explain. It’s not like I’m coming to you a blushing virgin… although I admit my list is probably significantly shorter than yours.”
A growl left his lips and his brow lowered. “Okay… sex partner confessions have now been laid on the table, not to be brought up again.”
She laughed, settling back in her chair. “Go on, keep talking.”
“Anyway, I loved finding out more about you, but I was struggling with who I was outside of the Army Special Forces. Who I was outside the team. A man without a mission. Essentially, a man without a job. And sitting here in your house, I felt like I had nothing to bring to a new relationship.”
“And you do now?”
“It might seem crazy to you considering I haven’t even officially started work, but when you called, you needed me, and I would have done anything to make sure you were safe. Not because I was a soldier, but you needed me. And the job just means that I’ll be employed in something that I’m good at, something that I’m proud of.” His free hand drifted up to the scar near his eye but he held her gaze. “And that I can do the job regardless of this.”
“You were always a hero to me.” His intense gaze hit her, and she squeezed his hand, wanting him to take the words deep inside. “But now you’re my hero.”
“Damn, woman,” he growled, tugging at her hand and pulling her from the chair.
She landed in his lap, his arms banding tightly around her as his lips met hers. Breakfast forgotten, they kissed, wet and wild. Noses bumped, teeth clashed, tongues tangled. Her fingers clenched his shoulders, and his hands held her cheeks.
She gave herself over to his kiss, intoxicated with the sensation of the zinging between her lips and core, her sex clenching with need. She mumbled against his lips, “Now.”
He groaned. “I wanted to take you out—”
She separated, leaning back slightly. “John, we’ve known each other for the past eight months, even if you thought I was a little old lady. We’ve had dinner here. You’ve seen my house and my projects and managed to not insult what I’m attempting to do. You were the person I called when I was afraid. You came to rescue me. We spent hours talking, finding out about each other, learning more and more. We’ve spent the night together in the same bed. John, we don’t need another date to know what we feel is real—umph!”
Her words were stolen as his lips landed on hers again. This time, the kiss flamed hot and wild instantly, setting her body on fire. Kissing finesse flew out the window as noses bumped and teeth met in an effort to devour each other. His groan set her blood on fire and she shifted to straddle his lap, now able to press her core against his impressive cock.
He stood and set her ass onto the table, leaning over her as he dragged his mouth from her lips down her chest, trailing kisses over the swell of flesh at the top of her T-shirt before grabbing the material with his teeth and pulling it down. Her fingers clutched his biceps as he latched onto a nipple, sucking it deeply into his mouth.
Electricity crackled about the room, and she grabbed the waistband of his jeans, wanting them off. “Naked,” she managed to mumble.
He jerked away, and she groaned at the loss of his talented mouth on her breasts.
“No. Not like this,” he declared.
She groaned even louder this time, ready to pin his body to hers and not let go. “John, please, I—”