Hot Pursuit - Denise A. Agnew [36]
“So you did it just because it was tradition?”
“No. I did it because it was natural and I loved everything about it.”
“Everything?” The incredulity in her voice was unmistakable.
“Okay, maybe not everything. I just knew inside it’s what I was supposed to do. I wouldn’t have stayed so long if I didn’t like it.”
“You liked the order?”
“Sometimes. The neatness keeps chaos away.”
“And you hate chaos.”
He drew her onto his chest, and her body sprawled on top of his. “It’s damned twisted. My father was a friggin’ taskmaster. A man who saw things as black and white. I’ve always been more interested in grey. Sure, I believe some things absolutely. I love my family and my country. At the same time, I understand life isn’t black or white, but everything in between.”
Impressed, she allowed his statements to wash over her. “Sounds like me. Did the grey parts get you into trouble sometimes in the military?”
“Yes and no. I worked hard to get this rank, but it hasn’t always been an easy ride. I imagine your photography is like that sometimes.”
She skimmed over his chest, glorying in the way his pectoral muscles moved at her touch. She sighed. “Weddings can be weird. In fact, they’re the strangest events I’ve done. I have some pretty funny stories to tell.”
“I want to hear all of them.” His voice held heat and want and a huskiness that made her inside tremble. “But right now, I want to kiss you.”
He tipped her chin up and kissed her, swallowing a soft moan as she soaked in his touch and warmed under the stroke of his hand down to her waist.
It’s happening again. You’re falling for a military man.
She drew away from his kiss, panicked at the realization. “This isn’t supposed to happen.”
His brow furrowed, his disapproval sharply clear. “No?”
“I’m doing it again.”
“What?”
“Falling prey to a military man’s seduction.”
Worry cleared his face and headed straight to amusement. “You mean going from Danny to me.”
“Yes.”
“That’s old ground.”
She sighed. “There’s more. I haven’t told you all my secrets.”
He narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t look that worried. “Yeah? Spill it.”
Did she dare? Would he think she was nuts? She swallowed hard and managed to push the words out. “I’ve dated five military men in the last five years. After Danny…well, I walked into that bar vowing I wasn’t going to date a military man again.”
“That’s old news, Lucy. I know you didn’t want to have anything to do with a military guy.”
“It’s more serious than that. Four guys, Vic. Four. One was friend of Sean’s. A reservist like Danny. One was a very short month-long relationship with a helicopter pilot that fizzled as soon as his ex came back into the picture. And you heard about the other guy before Danny.” She scrubbed one hand over her chin. “So you see, my record with military men sucks.”
His eyebrows lifted, surprise and disbelief etched firmly on his face. “Five military guys in five years?”
“Yeah.” Ruefully, she looked away from his inquisitive gaze. Embarrassment heated her face. “Crazy.”
He shook his head and sat up. “Christ, Lucy. No wonder you expected the worst with me.”
Lucy winced. “I didn’t want to tell you because I was afraid.”
“Afraid you’d jinx us?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Or maybe I was sure you’d be just like the rest of those men.”
He drew her down to the bed, his arms caging her to the mattress. Fire burned in his eyes, a primitive call to action. “But you know now I’m not like those guys, right?”
She hesitated, but her mouth gave him an answer. “Yes.” When he kissed her ear she shivered. “God.”
His pheromones screamed male, screamed capable, able to do anything he wanted to with her and she’d quiver like mad under his touch. A shiver ran through her, filled with awareness of him as hard, muscular, undeniable male. She licked her lips. His mouth traced a slow, hot path over her neck and ended up under her earlobe. She couldn’t think straight with his mouth discovering sensitive new points under her chin, down to the hollow of her neck, to one nipple where he toyed with lingering licks of