LikeTheresNoTomorrow (2 page)

A naughty half grin said it all. “A burger would be great.”

Jim nodded to the woman hovering over them. She hurried
away, scribbling the order as she went. In record time, they had fresh drinks
and napkins in front of them. He dipped one of the napkins in the glass of water
and wiped his hands.

“While we wait…” He cut his cheeseburger in half and
positioned the plate between them. “Good enough for now?”

“Perfect.” For a little lady she could take one hell of a
bite. He tried not to think about her mouth around his dick.

“So…what’s your name?” He hated how that sounded—as if they
were in elementary school. A better lead would have been to give her his name
and then—

“Are names really that important?” she asked around a
mouthful of burger. Damn, she was cute. Her response set him back a notch.

“Well…I…”

“Isn’t that the point of situations like this? No names?” A
tilt of her head ended the question. Clearly, she wanted an answer. Jim didn’t
have a good one. She was right. That was the point…then. This was now.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to call each other something?” This was
one hell of a role reversal. He didn’t know what to do or why he was acting
all…feminine all of a sudden. But it stung not knowing her name, even though
Jim hadn’t given a damn about that when he’d walked into the place tonight.

Red shrugged. “I’ll just call you Gunny.”

That snapped him back in his seat. “How did you know I was a
gunnery sergeant?”

Another shrug. “Short haircut? Age? Lucky guess? Am I
wrong?”

“N-no.” Great…stuttering. He frowned. “You military?”

“Isn’t just about everyone around this town in some way,
shape or form?” She scrunched up her nose with a cute little smile that hit him
so hard in the gut he couldn’t breathe for a second or two.

“I need a name.” He had to have one. It drove him crazier by
the second that she wouldn’t share it with him.

“For a drive-by, one-night stand? That was your intent,
right?”

“Well…yeah. But I…” He couldn’t explain why it mattered.
Hell, he didn’t know why it mattered. It just did. And what if she was a
Marine? What about her rank? The whole fraternization thing? Fuck, he was going
down for one rule-breaker after the other. But then, if she suspected he was a
gunnery sergeant, she’d be on the watch for fraternization too. Maybe they were
the same rank, or close, or…

“What are you calling me in your head?” Another naughty grin
jerked his rambling thoughts to a halt. “Be nice now.”

“Little Red. Red.”

“Cute. Not very original, but it’ll do.” She took another
bite.

And calling him Gunny was original? Subject closed. He let
her win this round. The night was young and he was still horny. Getting hornier
by the second.

Jim played out intelligent conversations in his head while
they finished his burger then divvied up hers. Nothing scholarly came to mind.
He was left with the basics.

Jim leaned back, one arm on the bench seat behind her, the
other clutching the beer, ready to play twenty questions. One sip of his drink
stopped him cold. He just couldn’t do it. He pushed the brew away, signaled the
waitress, and ordered what he really wanted—wine.

“Make it two, please.” Red pushed her drink away too. “This
lemonade isn’t working for me. And these drinks will be on me.” She scooted
into the curve of his body. “That’s one pretense out of the way.”

“Speaking of which…”

She pressed her index finger against his lips. “No names,
Gunny.”

It bugged the hell out of him. “All right.”
For now.
“Occupation?”

“Employed.”

“Come on, Red. Gimme something.”

She tickled her fingers down to his navel. “I’d hoped to
give you a lot tonight.”

“You know me? Been here before? Have we met?”

Her laughter felt like spring, all bright and warm after a
long, hard winter. “No…to all of the above. This in my first time in here. And
no, I’m not new in town.”

“So why tonight, here, me?”

“Goodness, so many questions.” She thanked the waitress for
their wine, grabbed both glasses, and handed him one. “I came in here to meet a
heartbroken girlfriend. She bailed. I was getting ready to leave and saw you
looking all…needful. How could I possibly resist? Plus, I didn’t think a
decent-looking guy like you deserved to get tangled up with any of
this
.”
She waved her hand toward the other females in the bar.

“You do this often?” Now that was a nasty question, and Jim
regretted it the second the words left his mouth.

Judging from the startled look in her eyes, the question had
hurt. Red should have kneed him in the balls and taken off. Instead, those
green eyes softened, settled on him…in him. “No. Never. Sometimes a person has
to take a chance. Do something a little crazy. I needed. You needed. Good?”

Jim had thought so at first. “Yeah…good.”

Red rested her hot palm on his thigh and cuddled in close.
“I like dogs, gardening and hiking. I’m a nerd and proud of it. Your turn.”

“Friends call me Rod.”

That brought snickers and a Spock-like lift of her eyebrow.

“Short for Roderick, my last name. First name’s Jim.”

“Preferences?” She sipped her wine. His eyes locked on to
how her lips glistened afterward.

Jim honestly didn’t give a damn what friends called him. The
nickname had also morphed into his work life, making him Gunny Rod. But from a
woman he wanted more. He needed intimacy, especially from
this
woman.

He laughed to himself at the irony of it all. He’d come for
a hook-up and here he was assigning more to it, needing more from it.

“Jim. As long as you don’t add any
Star Trek
reference to it.” Though he wouldn’t mind if she did.

“Jim.” She kissed him, soft and sweet. No tongue, just lips
pulling at his. Tempting, not teasing. A nibble, a pull. As if he were somebody
more than a desert-dried Marine who hadn’t been laid in six months.

Electricity zinged through his body. He slid his hand around
her waist, anchoring her close. Jim didn’t care that they’d barely touched the
wine. He had to get her out of here and someplace where naked and horizontal
were synonymous. But he didn’t want to come off as a jerk who only wanted to
fuck her, even though that was his original intent.

God, he was a fucking mess. He hated when his heads warred
with each other.

“You know…” Jim traced his fingers down her spine, cheering
at her shivers. “I have wine at my place.”

Red flicked her thumb over his nipple. His cock jerked in
response. “Dessert too?”

Okay, did she mean real dessert or
dessert
dessert?
He decided to play it through. “I have a bag of chocolate chip cookies and a
half gallon of vanilla ice cream.”

“Chocolate syrup?” She shot a glance to his crotch.

One head shut down and the lower one took control. “Of
course.” Something else kicked in and Jim couldn’t stop his mouth. “I don’t
want to waste my chocolate syrup on sex. It’s for my ice cream.”

Red splayed her fingers against the base of her throat.
“What
was
I thinking?” Laughter gleamed in her eyes. “I’m ready to leave
when you are. Lead the way.”

Chapter Two

He threw money on the table for the waitress, slid from the
booth, then offered his hand to Red when she grabbed a purse he didn’t know she
had. She stayed in front of him, helping to hide his damp crotch from the
world. He swore her body heat was enough to dry it. God knows it set him on
fire.

His hand skimmed her lower back. To anyone watching it
looked as if they were on a regular date. He found himself wishing it was true.
Dinner and a movie. Hiking and a picnic. Laughing, teasing, almost
touching—that subtle foreplay for public, not what they’d just done inside.
Yeah, it’d been hot as hell. He’d wanted it. The danger factor ratcheted up the
climax. But it wasn’t the real Jim Roderick, just a crazy moment in time.

He felt a flash of panic when he saw her vehicle—a silver
minivan. She couldn’t miss his tension, or the way he jerked to a stop. The
Marine Corps base decal on the windshield identified her as military enlisted
personnel.

“Don’t freak out. I’m a gunnery sergeant too.” She patted
his arm, then plucked her keys from her little purse. He spied a pair of white
silky panties inside.

His relief at having that vital piece of information was
immense. “And the van?”

“I wanted something that would hold everything most
important to me if I suddenly had to leave.”

That too sparked alarm bells. She offered no explanation. He
couldn’t live with that. Images of her being tracked by some crazed ex haunted
him.

“Jim…” She put her hand over his thudding heart. “I’m a
Marine. I’ve become accustomed to packing right and tight. I need the important
things with me. You know.”

“I do.” He knew all too well.

Red opened the door and slid behind the wheel. “You been
overseas?”

“Yeah.” Adjustment to home from a war zone was a son of a
bitch. He couldn’t count the number of Marines who’d sat in his office crying
over it all. He’d been one of them. Jim was glad his family lived far enough
away that they didn’t have to deal with his transitions. They got the joy of
his return, not the nightmares. But he had to admit it might have been nice to
have a warm body next to his at night to help keep the uglies away. Someone who
understood the military life and what true hell was like.

He gave the roof a pat. “I’m in the white Jeep.”

He pointed to his filthy vehicle, then leaned down and
kissed her. Sealing the deal, he hoped. There was nothing to keep her from
driving in the other direction once they left the parking lot. When he started
to pull away, Red fisted his shirt and pulled him back down for another kiss.
His heart triple-timed in that funny little beat he hadn’t felt in a very long
time. The one that said so much more than
I want to fuck you
.

“It’s not far.” His voice came out rough, as if he were
talking around a throat full of sand. It happened every time emotion
overwhelmed him.

He hated like hell to walk away. A name, a number, anything
to link him to her. He was half tempted to take her license plate number. If
it’d been daylight he might have done that. If he lost track of her or she
ditched him, he’d never be able to pick her van out of a lineup. Silver
minivans were a dime a dozen. He should have suggested her place, then he’d
have an address. The playing field might be his, but the ball was in her court.

He watched her as best he could while driving those couple
of miles to his house. She stayed enough behind to worry Jim—at least three car
lengths. He freaked out a time or two when he saw her turn signal flash, scared
she’d change her mind and head out. With the distance between them, chances of
him catching her were zero.

Each time she’d only changed lanes. Nice and legal, which
made him wonder again why she’d done him in the bar. He sure couldn’t talk
though. One, he’d wanted it
bad
. Two, he had no room to judge. Three,
he’d do it again in a heartbeat…with her.

Then there was four… Red had taken a big risk tonight too.
He couldn’t help wonder her reason.

On the final turn,
Yes!
rang through his head and
lifted his…uhm…spirits when Red was now right behind him. Nothing separated
their vehicles. Just him and her heading to the house he rented. Terror replaced
the thrill. Jim racked his brain, trying to remember if he’d made the bed, if
the toilet was clean, dishes washed, clean towels up, and…

Holy shit.
He’d dropped his pack filled with dirty
clothes right inside the door. The hamper in the bathroom was overflowing.
Doing laundry wasn’t one of his strong suits. Few things were more boring than
going to the Laundromat. One of these days he was going to have to break down
and buy a washer and dryer.

Generally he wasn’t that big of a slob. But he’d been out in
the field for two weeks, looking to kick back for a bit once he got home. He
was worrying a lot for what was supposed to be a drive-by fuck.

That made him laugh. He didn’t know who he thought he was
still trying to fool. Red had already intrigued him beyond a one-night stand.
He wanted more. Needed more. He didn’t have a clue how to show her that, or if
she’d ever give a damn. Maybe he’d been alone too long, easy pickings for the
first fresh-faced cutie who crossed his path. That made him laugh too. He was
putting a lot of stock into a relationship that wasn’t much more than an hour
or so long.

He forced himself to shove aside any potential housekeeping
horrors in the house. If Red wound up being a one-night stand, then she
wouldn’t give a shit how his place looked. If she wanted more from all
this
and got a stick up her ass over the clutter then she wasn’t the woman for him
anyway.

He pulled into the driveway. She parked on the street.
Neither of them budged. Nerves, second thoughts…fear. They were strangers,
after all. Jim respected what he presumed was her caution. Made him like her
all the more. For all they’d done back there, she wasn’t any more of a risk
taker than Jim in their personal lives. They were Marine Corps gunnery
sergeants for a reason. They played by the rules.

Pulling in a breath, he walked to her vehicle. She didn’t
notice him at first. Her hands gripped the steering wheel. Jim wanted to peel
her fingers away and kiss each one, trace his tongue around them, then suck
them into his mouth one at a time. When she finally saw him, Red fumbled for
her purse and opened the door. He braced one arm on the roof, the other on the
door, effectively blocking her in.

“We don’t have to do this if you’d rather not.”

Her eyes widened a little. The tension in her shoulders
faded. “I do?” It came out more a question than a statement.

Jim didn’t know what to do to ease her concerns. Anything
that came to mind sounded aggressive.

“Would it help if I gave you two forms of ID?”

That brought a glimmer of amusement back to her face. “Now
that might require me to reciprocate. Not the type of ‘show me yours, I’ll show
you mine’ I was hoping for.”

She swung her legs around, brushing his deliberately. Sparks
zinged upward, sending his body on high alert. He stepped back only far enough
to let her out. The instant she was on her feet he wrapped his arm around her
waist and folded her against his body. She pressed her head into his shoulder
as if they’d been doing this forever.

One night. He had one night to get it right if he ever
wanted to see Red again. He didn’t think he’d ever been more scared in his
life, and that was saying a lot.

“Want to go inside?” Jim asked. “I have to warn you, though.
My house probably smells a little musty-dusty.”

“That’s okay.” She gave him a gentle push as she eased away.
“Mine does too.”

He moved back so she could lock up. “Is that why we’re at my
house rather than yours?”

It was a valid question. Red was the first woman he’d ever
met who’d chosen his place over her own.

“No.” They fell in step, arm in arm, making their way to the
front door. “I…I didn’t want the girls upset.”

Jim tripped. “Sorry, crack in the sidewalk.”

Red wasn’t buying the excuse. “Ease up there, big guy.” She
elbowed his ribs and they kept walking. “My dogs. My girls. If we took this to
my place one of two things would have happened. The girls would have hated you
on sight and you’d be gone before you could take another breath. Or they would
love you to pieces and we’d have no peace…or privacy.”

“Bed hogs?” He laughed.

“The worst.”

He loved the thought. “What kind of dogs are they?” He
unlocked the door and pushed it open, inviting her in with a sweep of his arm.
The lamp he’d left on in the corner of the room lit the way.

Red drew breath to respond. She might not have physically
stumbled but he recognized hesitation when he saw it. “Cocker, poodle, Lhasa
and terrier.”

“Four? I hope you’ve got a big bed.”

She grinned and slid her arms around his neck. “The biggest.
And yours? Just how big is it?” She ground her pelvis against his erection.

Jim cupped her ass and walked them toward the bedroom. “My
duties as a host require me to offer you something to drink.”

“I’m good.” She flashed her tongue over his chin.

“Eat?”

“Hmm…the possibilities.”

He laughed. “Baby, you have no idea.” He hoisted her higher.

Red hooked her legs around his waist. “If you drop me—”

“I’ll do my best to make sure you’re on top.”

She plowed her fingers into what little hair the Marine
Corps allowed him to have. “Not always though. Okay?”

“Don’t make me trip.”

“Oh dear, cock hanging out again?”

He snickered, then laughed so hard he almost dropped her.

“You’d better put me down before we both wind up on the
injured list.” She kissed him and slithered down his body. Reluctantly, Jim let
her go.

“I need to use your bathroom anyway.”

Panic raced his heart. Clean or dirty? He couldn’t remember.

“It’s okay. I have brothers. I know how to put the seat
down.” She winked.

Hmm…the brother card, generally a threat or a warning. Jim
looked down his nose at her. “How many brothers?”

“Four.”

Wow.
“Are these human brothers or dog brothers?”

Red smirked. “Presumably human, but they can be dogs, pigs
and asses at times.”

He expected her to add
like all men
. She didn’t. “And
I suppose they could all kick my ass.”

“I suppose.” Red shrugged one shoulder. “But they all know I
can pretty much take care of myself. And if I need a hero, I’ll find one of my
very own.”

Hot damn. He might just take that job.

“Or I’ll be my own. After all, I am a Marine Corps gunnery
sergeant.” Smiling, she curled her fingers over his biceps, brushed her thumb
along the inside. “Meet you in the bedroom.”

Other than tackle her, which had its appeal, Jim had no
choice but to let her go. He watched her every step of the way. Loved the way
her green dress rippled against her knees. Then the door cut off his view and
snapped him into action.

He hurried to his bedroom. Everything was as he’d left
it—neat and orderly.
Who knew?
He folded the covers down, plumped the
pillows, took the condoms from his jeans pocket and put them within easy grasp
on both nightstands, then stripped off his shirt and shoes. Jeans remained on
for now. He didn’t want to seem too anxious. Well…at this stage of the game he
was really too shy to completely undress. Truth was, he’d never been comfortable
parading naked around someone he didn’t know well. He at least needed underwear
to cover his assets. It’s a wonder he’d made it this far as a Marine.

“All yours.” Red tickled her fingers up his arm and over his
chest. She might as well have tethered him.

His feet automatically followed her to the bed. It was only
at the last minute another part of his anatomy reminded him the bathroom
called. “Be right back.”

And he was damn quick about it too. Teeth brushed, a swish
of mouthwash, whisker check.

He screeched to a halt at the bedroom door. Red lay in the
center of his bed, naked except for her broad smile. Her tits were perfect—the
right shape and size to fit his hands…and his mouth. He couldn’t wait to have a
taste. One leg was bent, slowly rocking back and forth. A little tuft of red
marked the path to glory. Jim couldn’t wait to taste that either.

But now he had to show his goods.

God, he hated this part. So much better to undress in the
dim light, close up so nothing showed. After the first couple of times he was
good to go, but he had to own up. Right now he was suffering a bout of
wedding-night jitters. Only thing missing was the sheet to clutch to his chest.

Red patted the bed. “Come stretch out beside me. I like the
feel of denim against my bare skin.”

“You’re a beautiful little liar.” Jim’s grin nearly split
his face.

“I like the
beautiful
part.”

She crawled to her knees and made her way to the end of the
mattress. Her eyes never left his. Hot palms pressed against his abs, over his
pecs, then around his neck. She kissed him slow and sweet. Chased away his
inhibitions.

Red’s breath hitched when he unsnapped his jeans. Jim
thought he heard her whimper when he shoved them down. Funny how brave that
sound made him.

His cock sprang free and the tip hit her bellybutton. Red
closed what little distance there was between them. His clothes were history.
He clamped his hand over her ass, knelt on the bed, and brought them down. They
lay there side by side, her hard nipples stabbing him in the chest, one leg
draped over his hip. He anchored her to him, grinding his dick against her
belly, hoping it’d satisfy his aching hard-on for now.

It didn’t.

He wanted to shove her shoulders to the bed, nudge her
thighs wide open, and plunge inside her. And give her the fucking of her life.
Which, at this point, was a little optimistic on Jim’s part. He was too close
to coming. He had to rein himself in.
Fast.