Page 27 of Grunt: A Marine Romance

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SELENA CURLED UPon the sofa in the houseboat. Though Bret had offered to take her back to the hotel, her eyes seemed so sad. Bret relented and invited her in. She hadn’t said much on the ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, but Bret had a suspicion that her state of mind had something to do with Dima.

“I’m sorry, Bret. I shouldn’t have called you. I just didn’t want to be alone. Thanks for picking me up.”

Bret sat on his father’s leather recliner. She was vulnerable and he wanted to make sure he didn’t get too close to her. “Don’t worry about it. I’m always here for you.”

She started petting Banjo, who rolled over to get his belly rubbed. “I told Dima that it was over between us personally. Forever. He said he didn’t want to have children. You were right. I want to have a family, no matter what.”

The hair on Bret’s arms stood up. Her relationship status shouldn’t matter to him. They were not right for each other and if he let her get close, he knew she would break his heart again. “I’m sure it was just a fight. Tomorrow you guys will be back together, planning a wedding. Televised worldwide.” He watched her face, expecting her to look confused and lost. But she looked determined, the way she looked before she was about to win a competition.

“No, Bret. Never. We’ve been broken up for years. And even when we were together, there were rumors about other women. I didn’t believe them but I was never sure. But none of that matters. Even if he came back tomorrow and said he wanted children, it wouldn’t be enough. Dima’s a great dancer, but I can’t see him as a father. He’s nothing like you. He hates noise, and messes and chaos. I want to marry a man who wants to be a dad—not just someone who will appease me so I’ll stay. But for some reason, I always thought Dima and I would end up back together. Not because we were soul mates or anything. Just because our lives are so intertwined. But you helped me realize that I deserve more than that.”

Her heart-shaped face glowed in the reflection of the moonlight on the water. Bret’s heart beat strongly in his chest. Even after all these years, was it possible that he still loved her? Selena sometimes had her head in the clouds but her bright outlook on life softened him. It wasn’t just that he was attracted to her, he believed that she was the only one who ever really understood him. She was the one who had comforted him when his parents announced they were getting a divorce and when he had been taunted in school for dancing. In boot camp, picturing his future life with Selena had motivated him through the hard times. But he couldn’t, wouldn’t risk getting hurt.

“Selena, I just don’t think you and I could ever work out.”

“I love you, Bret. I always have. I was just so young back then. I wanted and needed to dance. I wasn’t ready to get married. Do you know how many times I’ve regretted that decision? Seeing you the other week was an answer to my prayers. We’re meant to be together. I’m sure of it.” She stood up and walked over to him.

He rose from his chair, his eyes tracing her body. He allowed himself to imagine her naked. He’d been pushing thoughts of her tight-yet-soft figure out of his mind. If she had been any other woman, he would’ve already taken her into his arms and kissed her.

“Sel, I just . . .”

Her soft lips interrupted his protest. Bret couldn’t resist her any longer. He pulled her to him. Her mouth was moist and hot yet her lips were sweet and plump. She kissed his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. The scent of coconut drove him wild. How could she still smell the same after all these years?

“Bret, you don’t know how many times I’ve dreamt of this moment.”

Bret lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him. He carried her to the bedroom and laid her down on the bed. Her tan skin glistened in the light and he unbuttoned her shirt. A beautiful black lace bra covered her small breasts. Bret was so glad she had never succumbed to Hollywood and ruined her body with implants.

Selena took off Bret’s shirt, her hands running over every inch of his chest and exploring his muscles and tattoos. She found a scar on his back, from an explosion that had killed another one of his buddies. Bret had escaped relatively unscathed, except for some lacerations. Selena didn’t ask any details, and just kissed his skin.

The last time they had made love, Bret was just a kid, and though he’d loved her more than anything, he hadn’t had a clue what he was doing back then.

Not this time.

Bret took charge. Kissing her face, her neck, her ears. He was in no rush; all he wanted to do was please her. Exploring every inch of her soft stomach, licking her diamond belly ring. His hands cupped her breasts, and he unhooked her bra, flinging it across the room. It landed perfectly on Banjo’s face and they both let out a laugh.

“Guess we have an audience.” Bret shooed Banjo away.

His attention turned back to Selena, her rosy nipples waited for his lips. He took one into his mouth and she moaned. She arched her back and Bret kissed, suckled, and nibbled on her. Switching to the other nipple, he was so excited by the pleasure that had swept across her face.

“My turn,” Selena said, tugging at his pants.

“Not yet,” he grinned. He wasn’t done with her.

He took off her skirt and pulled down her matching black lace panties. Bret couldn’t wait to taste her. Kissing her thighs, he first teased her with his fingers. She raised her knees up. Her warmth excited him and he took her sweetness into his mouth, savoring every lick. Selena’s breaths grew short and rapid. Writhing on the bed, she placed her hand on the back of his head.

“Bret, oh my God. Please—don’t stop.”

Bret had no intention of stopping. Her groans and whimpers made the sexiest sounds. Her hips gyrated and she climaxed, screaming out Bret’s name.

After a moment of rest, Selena pushed Bret on his back and straddled him. “That was amazing,” she purred.

She kissed his chest, fondling his shoulders, and rubbing her breasts on his stomach. Undoing his belt, she took off his pants and boxers. Bret relaxed on the bed, and Selena hummed while she teased him with her mouth. She wrapped her lips around him and Bret wanted to explode but he held back. Her sweet mouth was so warm. After what seemed like an eternity, she released him and curled up by his side.

“Do you have a condom?”

“I thought you wanted kids?” he joked.