Stone Hard SEALs Read online

  “You love it.” It was there. In his voice.

  “I do. I suppose at some point I’ll be too old to keep up.” He chuckled. “Maybe I’ll become a movie consultant or some shit like that.” He winced. “Sorry, ma’am.”

  “Please don’t call me ma’am.”

  “Sorry.” Silence simmered until he slapped his knees and gusted, “So, what do you say? Should we get some rest?”

  Her mood dipped. She didn’t want rest. She enjoyed talking to him. Enjoyed watching his lips move as he spoke. She wanted… Well, she just wanted.

  As though she had agreed, he barreled on. “You take the tarp and the blanket and sleep by the fire.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’ll keep watch.”

  “You need to sleep too.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  She frowned at him. “Stone…”

  “We’re trained for sleep deprivation, Lily. It’ll be fine. Really. Just lie down and go to sleep.”

  Dang it. She’d been fantasizing about curling up…with him. With all his gear off, she could see the ripple of muscles beneath his t-shirt, the bulge of his biceps. She’d been hoping to steal another kiss…

  But she did as he asked. And tried not to pout. He settled against the rock near the edge of their little shelter with his rifle on his lap. He was like a machine. No doubt he would sit there all night.

  She watched him until the fire burned down. Watched him and thought about him. This man who had saved her and kept her safe. She wanted to repay him. She wanted to give him something back.

  Oh, hell. Who was she fooling? She wanted to take.

  She wanted him. Once they were rescued, there would never be another chance and she knew it.

  It was now or never.

  And, while it was true that what would be, would be…it didn’t hurt to tip the odds in her favor. Did it?

  * * *

  Thank God she’d finally settled down.

  All through dinner and the conversation that followed, Stone had been possessed of one thought. Yanking her into his arms and kissing her. She looked so beautiful in the firelight, her elegant movements, her expressive features. Her hair.

  He wanted to wrap his fist around that hair. He wanted it flowing over his body. It was all he could do to try to remain detached.

  He didn’t feel very detached at the moment, but it didn’t matter. She was asleep. He only had to make it through the night. In the morning the chopper would come and she’d be returned to her father and he…well, he’d return to his team. What was left of it.

  He tried not to think about Zack. About the letter he had to write.

  He tried not to think about Drake, because worry for him ate at his gut.

  It was much more pleasant to think about Lily. To play out scenarios in his mind where they weren’t on a mission and he didn’t have obligations and she wasn’t a senator’s daughter. As pleasant as those thoughts were, they made him uncomfortable. His cock stirred.

  Thank God she was asleep—

  “Stone?”

  He sighed heavily. “Yes, Lily?”

  She pushed up onto her elbow and stared at him. The fire was nothing but embers, accentuating her form. “I’m cold.”

  Well, fuck.

  “Will you come over here and lie next to me?”

  Double fuck.

  “That’s not a good idea, Lily.” For oh-so-many reasons.

  “Why not?”

  Because if I lie next to you, I won’t be able to keep my fucking hands to myself. “I need to keep watch.”

  “I thought you said we are safe.”

  “We are.”

  Silence settled. Thank—

  “But I’m cold.”

  “Cold?” She had the blanket.

  “Yes.” A tiny voice. Tiny, but compelling. She’d probably been spoiled rotten as a child with that voice. “Won’t you come and warm me up?”

  Shit. If he didn’t know better, he would think she was trying to seduce him.

  It would probably have worked.

  Goddamn it. He knew it would be a miserable night, but he hadn’t anticipated it would go this sour. “All right. Scoot over.” He used his gruffest tone, so she would know. She would understand. He was doing this for one reason only. To warm her up.

  She edged to the side of the tarp and lifted the blanket. He couldn’t help noticing the knot beneath her breasts had come undone as she’d moved around searching for a comfortable position. Her bra peeped out. The sight skewered him.

  With a grumble he settled in next to her, making it a point to show her his back. He arranged the blanket so it was mostly covering her and rested his head on his arm.

  Damn. She’d lied.

  She wasn’t cold. She was hot.

  Her warmth soaked through him, sending shivers up his spine.

  “Thank you, Stone,” she whispered. “This is much better.”

  Better?

  Hell.

  It was hell.

  When she breathed or moved or thought about breathing or moving, the scent of her teased his nostrils. He held himself as still as he could, clenching his muscles so he didn’t accidentally roll over and fuck her or something.

  But damn…

  To his horror, she shifted, cuddling closer with a low murmur. She wrapped her arm around his waist and sealed herself to his back. Her soft breasts gouged at his sanity.

  “This is nice,” she said.

  “Mmm.” Nice, my ass.

  “I remember, when we were swimming across the water… Well, you were swimming. I was holding on. But I remember thinking, I wish you weren’t wearing that backpack.”

  What? “Why?”

  Yeah. He probably shouldn’t have asked. It only encouraged her. She pressed closer. His pulse surged.

  “Because I wanted to feel this.”

  He cleared his throat. “Th-this?”

  Her hand raked his chest.

  Holy God. Did she have any idea what kind of dragon such a simple touch could unleash? Indeed, he was at full erection in a heartbeat. He caught her hand in his. To stop her. God knew where such an innocent caress could lead.

  “Stone…”

  With a groan he rolled over and glared at her. Or tried to.

  It hardly mattered. She seemed indomitable. Besides, it was far too dark for her to be appropriately cowed. “What?”

  He did not expect her response.

  Soft fingers fluttering over his cheek, holding him still as her lips found his.

  Every muscle in his body seized as she explored his mouth, kissing him, suckling his lower lip, dabbing her tongue in.

  He was strong. He was indomitable too. He could hold out. He could—

  She roved over his chin to his neck, nuzzling and sucking a tender spot, a spot that made sheets of hot lust rain down on him.

  He groaned. “Lily…”

  “I want this,” she said, sucking on him again, nipping.

  “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  She chuckled. “I’m pretty sure I do…”

  He grabbed her head, held her still to make his point. It was a very important point. What was it?

  Right.

  “What you’re feeling is a normal reaction.”

  “I know.” She bussed his chin and—God help him—licked.

  “You’ve been under a lot of pressure. And now we’re nearly home. You’re a woman. I’m a man.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  Her tone made something, way down deep, harden.

  “This is a normal reaction to the situation. Trust me. You’ll regret it in the morning.”

  “I’ll regret it more if I miss this.” She leaned her forehead on his chest, which was a relief because she stopped kissing him. But then she scraped him. With her nails. When she hit his nipple he almost came out of his skin. “You have no idea what my life is like, Stone.”

  “Perfect—”

  “Far from it. I’m so protected, s
ometimes I feel like I’m in a cage. Every element of my day is orchestrated.”

  “I thought you said you were stubborn.”

  “I am. I think I mentioned it runs in the family?” She peeped up at him and grinned. “My parents can be overwhelming, but I’m not their little girl anymore. I’m determined to live my own life…without their interference. Determined to take what I want.” Her naughty smile sent a shiver through him. “I’ve never had an adventure before now. I’ve certainly never met a man like you.”

  “Good. Men like me are—”

  She somehow found his Adam’s apple as it bobbed, and sucked on that. “Wild. Savage. Sexy…”

  Ah. That was it.

  Stone’s stomach sank. Yeah. She was a groupie. This wasn’t about him as a man…it was about him as a SEAL. Why he felt so disappointed, he didn’t know. Most guys would just say, “Thank you very much, ma’am,” and get on with it.

  But somehow, even though it was her, even though it was Lily, and he wanted her with a blazing passion, he couldn’t do it.

  He started to push away but then she said something that made his resolve crumble.

  “You have a great sense of humor. Even when people are shooting at you. And you love your mom. Your family. And you’re smart, charming when you want to be—”

  “Wait. What? When I want to be?”

  “You can be…grumbly.”

  “I excel at grumbly.”

  “I noticed.”

  “It’s a gift.”

  “At any rate…I find you very attractive.”

  “What if I wasn’t draped in full SEAL kit? What if I was wearing overalls or a business suit?”

  “I would find you attractive if you were buck naked.”

  A scorching talon of lust slashed him. “Would you?”

  “Oh.” She stroked his pec. “Most definitely.”

  “Lily.” He should probably make one more attempt. But he was weakening and, damn, he wanted to weaken.

  “Yes, Stone?”

  “We shouldn’t do this.”

  “Hmm. You’re probably right.”

  His mood plummeted. On some level, he was already in her.

  “But you know what?” she said. “I don’t care.”

  She kissed him again and his mood…rose.

  This time, he didn’t stop her.

  Chapter Eight

  Oh. Heaven. He levered over her and took her mouth in a brutal kiss. Lily reveled in it, giving back as good as she got. He tasted incredible and smelled…so manly. Like wood smoke and sweat and, well, like Stone. Her heart thudded, her mind reeled. Lust blossomed.

  She wanted him. Now.

  Like a wild woman, she scored his chest, his scalp, sank her nails into his bulging biceps. He groaned and pulled her closer. His large hand skimmed up her abdomen until he cupped her breast and squeezed. Delight shot through her as he tweaked her nipple. “Yes,” she murmured. “Yes.” His lips traveled across her cheek and he nibbled her earlobe; the sensation made her a little crazy. When she wriggled against him in a desperate attempt to get closer, he seemed to go crazy too.

  He growled—growled—and shifted down, enveloping her throbbing nipple through the lace of her bra. Wet heat. Suction. Her thoughts flew, scattered to the four winds as pleasure trickled through her.

  Mindless, boneless, swamped with need, she fiddled with the catch of his pants. But dang it…she couldn’t get them undone. In her fumbling, her hand brushed against something hard and insistent and he muttered an imprecation. He was too beset to remember to apologize, which she found amusing.

  She cradled him, gauging his length, his width, his girth.

  And yes. He was magnificent. “Stone,” she whispered as she tightened her hold. “You’re so hard.”

  “Jesus, Lily. Don’t do that.”

  “I can’t help it. I want to feel you. Take your stupid pants off.”

  “They’re not stupid,” he snorted in a laugh, but he complied, sitting up to kick off his boots and slough his trousers off. As he hunted in his pack for something, she pulled her jeans off too.

  He yanked off his shirt and came back to her, sealing their chests together. It was wonderful. His skin was warm and smooth, though she found a couple scars. She could rub against him all day.

  But he had something else in mind.

  After another scorching kiss, he pulled away. She started to complain until she realized it was to kiss his way down her body. As he suckled and sipped, he caressed her. She tingled wherever he touched her…and he touched her everywhere.

  When he reached her belly, he glanced up and held her gaze as he slipped her panties off.

  Her breath caught.

  Oh God. Oh God.

  He edged between her legs and spread her knees and buried his face.

  She nearly screamed. The touch of his tongue on her clit sent shards of exquisite sensation through her. She was hard there, and aching. His laving soothed her, but stoked another fire. When he moaned how good she tasted, the sound rumbled through her, sending more delicious pings through to her core.

  She probably shouldn’t have buried her nails in his head and ridden his face as he ate her, consumed her, but she was wild, unleashed. Crazed as she never had been. It felt so good, and he was skilled. He seemed to know just how to touch, where to nip, when to lap.

  The orgasm was a surprise. It leaped upon her like a jungle cat and gobbled her whole. Brilliant shimmers of exquisite colors exploded in her mind as wave upon wave of bliss claimed her.

  But he didn’t stop. No. Not this machine. He kept working her, tantalizing her, driving her higher and higher.

  When her second climax hit, he seemed to sense it and, just as she dissolved, he shoved two thick fingers deep.

  She tried to cry out. She tried to wail, but her voice was lost, along with her sanity, winging away into some far-off dimension.

  Still, he didn’t let up. He found that spot, that tiny spot hidden in her folds, where all her nerves joined and her being coalesced. He rubbed it, teased it, until she was shaking and quivering and boneless again.

  He moved up her body and Lily was battered by conflicting waves of regret and anticipation. Regret that the ecstasy had stopped, though he still stroked her lightly, and anticipation because, as he rose, he gazed downward, aiming his fisted cock for heaven.

  “Stone,” she whispered, as he nudged her entrance. “Stone.”

  He was well named.

  His erection was hard as a rock.

  * * *

  Jesus God. She was wet. Slick and hot and tight.

  Stone squeezed his eyes shut as he worked the head of his cock into her. It was fucking heaven.

  She was fucking heaven.

  She’d been gorgeous, beautiful, amazing, writhing beneath him, coming again and again with hardly any prompting. The second time, she’d flooded him with her arousal and he’d known—known—she was ready. But he’d wanted to bring her to the brink one more time.

  He wanted to make her come again.

  He adjusted his position so he had a better angle, and drove home. She cried out and shivered around him, a maddening squeeze. Goddamn, she was amazing. She clasped his cock as she clasped his body, wrapping herself around him and holding on for dear life.

  He doubted he had much patience, but he was determined to try and make this last. She made it hard on him, moaning and huffing and growling in his ear, murmuring evil little comments like, “Yes, harder. Fuck me, Stone.”

  There was only so much of that a man could take before he went absolutely apeshit wild.

  He tightened his muscles and eased his cock in and out in a slow, salacious drag.

  This, apparently, annoyed her. She glared up at him and snapped, “Faster. Faster.”

  And really, who was he to refuse a lady?

  Bracing himself on his elbows, he increased his speed, wedging her legs farther apart with his knees and bending to suckle at her breast. He wished he’d removed her bra, but that
ship had sailed. No way was he stopping to do it now. So he settled for teasing the pebble-hard tips through the lace—which, apparently, drove her insane.

  She tried to wriggle and thrash, but he held her still, as he whipped in and out of her in a frenzy of passion, pummeling her, ravishing her, taking all he wanted, and more.

  His fervor seemed to reignite hers. They wrestled against each other in a combat that had two victors. In concert, they raced toward perdition.

  “Yes,” she cried, sinking her fingers deep into the cheeks of his ass. A sharp thrill snaked through him as she tugged on a sensitive spot.

  “Oh yeah,” he muttered. “Yeah.”

  Unbelievably, she came again, and it was his undoing.

  It began with small ripples and quickly swelled to hellish quakes. Each one snarled through his body, a mind-bending torment. His long, hard stokes dissolved to shorter, quicker, deeper thrusts. Faster and faster, like rapid fire, he took her. His cock swelled. His balls constricted. His muscles seized.

  And fuck.

  Everything exploded. His body, his heart, his soul. Something deep inside him released and he felt as though he was soaring, wheeling in the sky, dancing in the wind. It was the most incredible experience he’d ever had.

  The most beautiful conflagration.

  Even when it was over, sinuous sizzles coiled through him. He trembled as he hovered over her, gasping, struggling for balance. He stared down at her, this woman, this miracle. This creature who could never be his.

  But this night was his.

  This night, she was with him.

  And the memory would be his for all time.

  When he covered her mouth and kissed her with grief-stricken gratitude, she responded with a matching anguish that surprised him.

  Perhaps they weren’t so different after all.

  * * *

  Oh my.

  Lily stared at Stone, his beautiful face transformed in bliss. Oh, that had been splendid. Better than she could ever have dreamed or hoped or wished for. Certainly far and above any experience she’d ever had. Ever.

  But then, she’d never been so wildly attracted to a man.

  She’d meant what she said. She’d never met anyone like him.