Running Fire (27 page)

“I have to get a shower,” Kell rasped unsteadily, “and shave off this beard.” Reluctantly, he released Leah, wanting to go straight to the bedroom instead. He saw her pout and he gave her a swift, hard kiss. “You're a wicked woman, you know that, Sugar?” He smiled against her soft, hungry lips.

“I've had two months of dreaming of you in that bed.” She pointed down the hall. Leah stepped back, feeling giddy, excited and so very, very ravenous for Kell. “I'd already put extra towels and soap in the bathroom thinking you'd be here tomorrow evening.”

He placed his arm around her shoulder and walked with her down the hall toward the bathroom. “When I last called you on the sat phone, we didn't have a flight out of Bagram. But another C-5 came in, unexpectedly, and we got lucky. There was no time to call you.” Kell gave her a look of apology.

“That's okay, it's one more day you're home with me.” Leah halted at the bathroom and felt her heart expand powerfully with love for him. The look Kell gave her was pure male with so much promise.

“Hold that thought I see in your beautiful green eyes. I'm going to get cleaned up. Could you grab me a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and my Nikes out of my duffel?”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” Kell admitted. “For you and food.”

“Not necessarily in that order, though. I was just fixing lunch. I was going to have a salad and a grilled cheese sandwich.”

“That sounds good,” Kell murmured. “If I get clean and get some food in me, I'll feel halfway human.” He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “And you're dessert,” he growled.

* * *

K
ELL
SAT
ON
the stool next to Leah as he ate three grilled cheese sandwiches in a row and finished off three-quarters of the salad she'd made. He'd drank a quart of milk straight out of the refrigerator and she shook her head, thinking of the grocery bill he was going to create by being home. The man did live on his stomach, no question. And yet he was a lean wolf, not an ounce of fat on his hard body.

Leah couldn't get over how handsome Kell was without his beard. It was the first time she'd seen him without one. If he thought his brother Cody was the drop-dead gorgeous one, he was completely wrong. Kell belonged on the cover of
GQ
with his rugged good looks. She could see the dimples now when he smiled, which had been hidden before by the beard. It gave him a decidedly boyish look, someone carefree and fully comfortable with himself.

“Where's Clutch?” she asked, sliding off the stool and taking the empty plates to the sink to rinse them off.

“He's got a condo on the other side of the island. His car was parked at North Island Naval Air Station, where we flew into. Clutch drove me over here after we landed. He's home with his girlfriend, Stacy, who has lived with him off and on for six years.”

“That was awfully nice of him,” Leah said, bringing over some fresh-baked cookies she'd made for him for tomorrow. His mother, Mary, had sent Kell's favorite cookie recipe to her, told her all his favorite foods, and she was prepared to give him meals that he'd appreciate.

Kell smiled as Leah presented him with a plate of two dozen cookies. “Are these all mine?” He pulled it over in front of him.

“I know you're a growing boy, Ballard, but I'd like a few left for me if you don't mind.” Leah laughed.

Kell gave her a teasing look and said, “Okay, here's two. Will that do?”

She threw her arms around his shoulder as he turned around on the stool to face her. “Your ma's recipe,” she said against his smiling mouth. Kissing him, feeling his hands slide from her shoulders down to her hips, a purring sound caught in her throat. And when he cupped her hips and pulled her hard against him, she felt heat tunnel through her. It had been so long...so long...and she suddenly found herself picked up and Kell was carrying her down the hall.

“I told you,” Kell whispered gruffly against her hair, “you're my dessert...”

Kell's bedroom was spare, just like him. Leah had added a beautiful floor-to-ceiling corn plant near the heavy gold brocade drapes. It brought life to the very masculine dark-brown-and-gold room.

He placed her on the bed and then shoved off his Nikes, pulled off his green T-shirt and began to unzip his jeans. His narrowed gaze never left her face and Leah felt a quiver of anticipation race through her, fire about to erupt within her lower body. She appreciated his well-sprung, dark-haired chest, those incredibly strong, powerful shoulders of his, the muscles in his arms, lean and taut.

As he stepped out of his boxer shorts, her gaze drifted lower. Leah felt her channel tighten almost painfully with need of Kell. His erection left her mouth dry and her pulse leaping with expectancy. She stood and shimmied out of her shorts and pulled off her tank top, letting them drop to the floor beside his clothes. She wore no bra, saw Kell's face go feral as his gaze locked onto her breasts. Heat flared through them, her nipples instantly puckering. He hadn't even touched her and she was responding.

“You,” he growled, “are incredibly beautiful. I like you not wearing a bra.” He halted in front of her, his fingers skimming her shoulders, watching her breasts tighten, those nipples begging to be touched, suckled.

“I hate bras. Only wear them if I have to,” Leah admitted, her voice a little off-key and breathless. His fingers made her flesh melt as they skimmed her shoulders lightly and devoured her with his eyes.

“And your left arm?” Kell asked, gently cupping her wounded upper arm. He could see the puncture marks where the four screws had been placed into her flesh in order for the bones to knit. There was a long three-inch scar, a line of puckered red scar tissue where the surgeon had operated. He leaned over, lightly kissing the wound. Leah's breath hitched, and she closed her eyes, leaning forward to make contact with him.

“My arm's okay,” she managed, her voice wispy. “I've been cleared for flight duty a week from now. The flight surgeon feels I'm ready to go back to work.”

“Hmm,” Kell growled, lifting his lips away from her arm. “I only have you for a week?” He moved his hands down to her pink silk panties, sliding his fingers beneath the elastic, easing them down her long, slender legs and letting them drop around her feet. Rising, he said, “I'm not letting you out of here all week, then. That's not enough time for what I had in mind for you.” Kell lifted her and placed her onto the center of the bed. He pulled some condoms from the pocket of his trousers and placed them on the bed stand.

Leah lay on her back, watching his animal grace, that bonelessness that belied the dominance he had strength-wise. Kell lay down beside Leah, propped up on one elbow, reaching out and grazing her cheek. “You aren't going to get any disagreement out of me,” Leah said breathlessly as his fingers trailed down the line of her neck and he cupped her breast with his large palm. Her mind simply went blank as she closed her eyes, felt Kell memorizing her breast, his thumb lazily stroking the peak, making her gasp and then whimper with need.

His lips settled over the first peak and she pressed against his long, hard body, her hips nestling against his, telling him what else she wanted. Kell tensed, his entire body stilling for a moment, savoring her moving sensuously against him. Leah dug her nails into his thickly bunched shoulders as his teeth settled teasingly upon her nipple. Her entire world came apart.

Kell devoted equal attention to the other breast, suckling her until she pressed wildly against his hips. His mouth plundered her lips, curving powerfully against hers, opening her, his tongue taking hers quick and hard. Her breath changed, and she strained, wanting Kell within her, to become one with him.

The tempo shifted like quicksilver and Kell felt the driving ache, felt the sleekness of her flesh beneath his exploring fingers. There was nothing gentle or tender between them right now. It was raw appetite, starvation of a kind that drove him to almost lose his control as her breasts moved teasingly against his chest, those hardened nipples tangling in his soft, curled hair. She bucked against him, demanding. Wanting. He was starving for her, wanting to feel her around him, gripping him, lavishing him with her sweet, hot fluids.

He slid his hand down across her hip, opening her thighs, and her breath hitched for a moment. Kell touched her, felt her wetness, felt her explosive release of breath, her whimpering cry as she buried her face against his neck.

He'd dreamed of a hundred ways he was going to make love to Leah when he returned home. But her wildness, her naturalness, just tore apart any erotic plans he'd planned previously. Leah wasn't lying quietly beneath him, either. Her assertiveness as a lover was a powerful turn-on for him.

She wrapped her fingers around his erection, and a guttural growl rolled through his chest, his entire body stiffening, the exquisite heat and softness of her fingers moving around him damn near making him release way too soon.

Kell appreciated and understood her hunger because he was equally starved for her. Their mouths clashed together, their breaths heavy and ragged, his finger slipping into her wetness, her body contracting powerfully around him. She tore her mouth from his, arching, crying out. Her body clenched, and he felt her heat, knew how close she was. Easing from her, he pushed his knees between her thighs, opening her to him.

Leah's eyes were drowsy with lust, her lips swollen from his bruising kisses. She slid her hands along his flanks, pulling him forward, pulling him into her. His world collided with hers and she quivered violently as he sheathed into her. She enclosed him, so tight, so damn tight, that air hissed between his clenched teeth. His fists knotted into the bedding on either side of her head as she drew him deeply into herself, just wanting what she knew he could give her.

He met her mouth, her tongue tangling with his. His entire body had reached a point of no return. He slid his hand beneath her hips, angling her, her cry drowning in his mouth as he surged repeatedly into her, taking her, establishing a wild, chaotic rhythm between them.

Leah suddenly froze, her body contracting violently in release. Kell groaned, burying his head against her neck and shoulder. The hot fluids spilled like a riptide around him and he could not stop the explosion from being drawn out of his body, hammering him with pleasure. He grated her name against her temple and ear, arching deep into her, the pleasure so intense, his entire body shuddering.

Leah's sweet moan caught in her throat as she curved powerfully beneath him, their hips fused as another orgasm shook her. Kell held her, sliding his arms beneath her shoulders, grasping her tightly, feeling the sweat of her body mingle with his, their chests rising and falling in sync with one another, their hearts thundering as one.

Leah felt the rippling release surge outward, spreading out across her entire belly. Then came the euphoric aftereffects as it continued to flow in relentless, fiery waves. She absorbed Kell's weight, like a warm, living blanket across her. Leah had never felt as loved or as protected as she did right now. His breathing was harsh against her ear, his head pressed against hers, his arms holding her against his taut, trembling body. And slowly, so deliciously slowly, their breathing began to ease and become more shallow, less chaotic. Leah made a happy sound in her throat, sliding her hands across Kell's narrow hips, lifting hers just enough to feel him so potent within her even now.

She opened her eyes, feeling floaty and utterly satisfied, turning her head toward his. Sweat beaded Kell's brow, his gray eyes burning with desire even now. She leaned over, sipping from his lips, feeling his return pressure, feeling him grow inside of her once more as she languidly kissed him more deeply. He quivered as she thrust her hips seductively against his. She placed her hands on his damp chest, asking Kell to roll over and onto his back. He did and he slid his hands around her waist, lifting and bringing her on top of him.

Kell looked lazily up into Leah's sated green eyes, that ginger-colored hair of hers a beautiful frame around her flushed face. It was the bloom of orgasm, of good sex with one you loved, and he luxuriated in how beautiful she looked. “That was one helluva dessert, darlin'.” He grinned as he slid his fingers across her cheek, watching her lashes drop, her well-kissed lips part in a faint smile of agreement.

Leah laid her head on his chest, her fingers moving through his damp hair, feeling the pounding beat of his heart beneath her own. “I love you. I love what we have. We're so good together, Kell...”

Sliding his large hand down across her damp back, he whispered, “Better than any dreams I've ever had.” He gave her a feral smile. Her eyes were barely open, yet the heat still lingered. “I think you're an incredibly natural woman. I like you being the warrior you are with me.”

She laughed and kissed his jaw. “I never knew I was so assertive.” She sighed. “All I knew was I wanted you, Kell. All of you. Every second was wonderful...”

“I liked every second of it, too, Sugar. Don't ever stop being yourself. You're perfect for me, and we're a good match for one another. That's all that counts.”

“Just remember that,” Leah said playfully, smoothing her hand over his shoulder, feeling the muscles leap wherever she grazed his tight skin.

* * *

L
EAH
SAVORED
HER
cold white wine later on the back porch of Kell's condo. They'd gone to sleep in each other's arms and slept until an hour before dinnertime. Her body still glowed from their recent lovemaking in the shower. And judging from the relaxed look on Kell's normally tense, hard face, he felt as mellow as she did right now.

He had a beer in his hand and was watching the hamburgers on the grill. There were seven in all, and six of them were for Kell. She'd already brought out the plates, napkins and all the condiments. The evening was balmy, the bay a smooth reflection. She watched white seagulls with black wing tips sail silently over the three-story structure where Kell had his condo.