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By the time we pull up to the gate and show our identity badges to the officer, I’m a mess.
“Can I drive you home?” Kaleb asks after he parks.
“I’m too tired to make the drive to Jacksonville tonight. I thought I would get a hotel.” It’s the truth. I’m starving, and as much as I would love to sleep in my own bed, the thought of driving tonight doesn’t appeal to me; besides, he needs his rest as much as I do.
“Jade. I have a place fifteen minutes from here. Like hell you’re staying at a hotel. Wait for me here if you’re done before me.” His eyes smolder over with intensity, and I feel a twinge inside. Jesus. I’m doomed. There goes my rebellious body again, thinking for me and defying every rule I’ve made for him.
“Okay.” My response feels so awkward. This entire situation feels that way. The freedom to say what we want, to even have a civil conversation, is strange. I really don’t want to stay at his place. It feels too personal. To extreme. Hell, maybe I should request treatment in the hospital, or say goodbye now. I should just walk away, but I can’t. Instead, I follow him inside, where he goes one way and I go another.
“I’m going to request you see one of our doctors, Jade.” I knew this was coming. I’m okay with it. I know I need it. Maybe it will help me cope with what I’ve done.
“I agree, Sir. I’ll make an appointment right away.” Reaching across his dark wooden table, I retrieve the card from his outstretched hand.
“You did well out there. Now go. Make sure you call the first chance you get. I’m not clearing you for active duty until I receive a report back from the psychiatrist.” He stands and straightens out his uniform before walking with purpose to the side of his desk.
“I sure will.” I rise and salute him. He shakes his head, leaving me somewhat dumbfounded.
“It’s me who should salute you. I’m proud of you, Captain.” His shiny shoes click together. I suppress my joy from being saluted by a General in the United States Army. I spin on my feet and exit the door with the first honest to god genuine smile on my face since I left this country.
“You ready?” Kaleb is standing against the brick wall, tapping away on his phone when I walk out into the warm early evening air.
“Yes. Starving too.” Feeling somewhat energized after my briefing, I decide to make the best of my time with Kaleb.
“Good. I ordered a pizza. You okay?” My breath catches in my throat when he shoves off of the wall and places one of his strong, sturdy arms around my shoulder before he starts to steer us toward his Jeep. He’s powerful in the way he walks and in the way he moves. I’ve already admitted I was scared, of what, I’m not sure. Him. Me. Or hell, it could be both.
~~~~
“Holy shit. This is you? It’s beautiful, Kaleb.” I point to the cream-colored stucco home in front of me. It sits in a fancy private estate called Lowell Estates.
“Yup. Home, baby.” Oh hell, his dangerous smile glistens as his eyes rake up and down my body when he opens the door, those devious baby blues never leaving my face. Not even when he reaches behind us and pulls out our bags. Not even when he walks in front of and around his Jeep. Or when he opens the door to help me out. The only time he takes them off of me is when he slides his key into the lock, swings the door open, and drops the bags on the floor to take the pizza from my trembling hand.
I have no time to think. No time to breathe before he gently guides me back with one hand placed in the center of my chest. My heart is thumping away with so much desire, or it could be nerves, or hell maybe even anticipation? I feel him kick the door closed with his booted foot before he gracefully lifts me in his arms. “Kaleb, what are you doing?” He needs to put me down. His strides are determined. “I’m taking you where I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you. To my bed.”
“We can’t do this, Kaleb. There are things we need to talk about.” I’m on emotional overload here. This needs to end. If he gets me in his bed, I may never want to leave, and I have to. I need my head cleared, get my shit together. And I need to do it without him.
“We can and we are. We can talk later, Jade.” He pushes onward, walking over the threshold of what I assume is his bedroom. It’s dark, but oh hell, does his scent hit me the minute he lays me down on his bed. His smell is everywhere. I inhale deeply, the aroma shooting straight to my core and god help me, I know I’m going to regret this when we're done. I’d be fooling myself if I didn’t admit that I do want him in a bed where I can worship him, taste him, lick those abs, and trace my fingers around those tattoos on his chest. My body starts burning up, and the ache between my legs intensifies.
“Kaleb,” I whisper. I can’t see him; the sharp gruff awareness of his heavy breathing is all I can hear.
“I’m right here. Give us this. I know you're nervous; hell, so am I. This is real life. No more fighting. It’s awkward, it all feels different, but I promise you, Jade, I’m not going to give up. Not when I know that you want this is as bad as I do.” He sounds hungry. Almost as if this is a craving for him and he’s finally getting the chance to fulfill it.
Then I feel his rough hands slide across my feet, removing my shoes. The end of the bed dips, and his hands slide up my jean-covered legs. I swallow when the warmth of his fingers practically burns a damn hole in my jeans.
“I want you,” I say, and I do, even if it’s the last time.
CHAPTER TEN
KALEB
Motherfucker. She’s pulling away from me. The entire ride I felt the vibes coming off of her, distancing herself further away. She’s living in her head. The last thing I should be doing right now is taking her to bed, but goddamn it, I can’t help myself. I need her.
I may be crazy for rushing this, but Christ, this is what we do best. The second our bodies connect, it’s like dynamite exploding. I need to remember to make her understand that this is only the beginning of us.
I’m not a man to force myself on a woman, that’s why I need to hear her say she wants me. The talking shit can come later. Right now, I want to show her exactly what she does to me. I want to make her see that I’m not only out to fuck her. This time, I’m taking my time. I want to feel every inch of her skin. I want her to tell me how she feels when I have my cock buried deep into her. When I have her begging me for more.
I slide my hands up her legs, pushing her thighs apart when I reach them. Her little whimpers have my cock damn near bursting through the zipper of my pants. Fuck. She’s in my bed. The urge to turn on the light so I can see her has me stopping at the sweet junction between her thighs, but I fight it. I’m too damn scared to take my hands off of her for fear she’ll change her mind.
“Fucking hell, Jade. The heat between your legs has me craving you. I need to taste you.” I unsnap her jeans, and she lifts her ass up to help me guide them down her legs, my fingers itching to feel her bare skin against mine the whole time.
