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‘We’ve waited for fourteen years, Kane,’ she whispered. ‘I think we can wait a little longer.’
‘I don’t know how,’ he growled, forcing himself to take control.
‘Neither do I,’ Mattie confessed. ‘But we’ll manage it.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE OFFICERS’ MESS fell silent as Kane’s old CO walked the newly commissioned Kane into the room.
Mattie’s eyes prickled, hot and stinging, as she watched Kane walk across the room and ring the bell—the invitation for orders allowing every officer to order a drink at the bar, all of which would go on the newly commissioned officer’s mess bill at the end of the month.
She watched with incredible patience as he navigated the social waters filled with the many officers who had worked with him over the years and who wanted to congratulate him on his success. And then, at last, people began to drift into groups, and she found herself facing Kane from the other side of the room.
Mattie wasn’t sure who moved first, Kane or herself, but suddenly they were standing practically toe to toe, and for the first time ever she could call him Kane in front of anyone, and no one would bat an eyelid.
‘Congratulations, Captain Wheeler.’ She smiled. ‘Be grateful it wasn’t an official dinner, or they’d have had you popping a champagne bottle with a ceremonial sword.’
‘Then I’m glad I got the bell.’
‘You won’t be when the bill comes.’ She chuckled. ‘I’ll warn you now that first one is a bit of a shocker.’
‘I’ve been warned,’ he agreed. ‘Still, can I buy you another drink?’
A frisson of excitement rippled through her.
‘Actually, I was just going to retire for the evening,’ she said clearly, for anyone else around to hear. ‘But you can walk me back if you’re heading that way.’
‘Of course.’
Taking their leave, they walked out of the mess in step but apart. Like any other pair of officers who happened to be leaving together. It was more thrilling than she could have imagined.
‘I booked the taxi,’ she murmured quietly, when she was sure they were far enough away not to be overheard by anyone.
‘I booked the hotel,’ he said, and grinned into the night as they headed towards the main gate.
And then they were slipping into the taxi and speeding down the streets, back to the place where it had all pretty much started again only a few months earlier.
‘I feel like I’m sixteen again!’ Mattie giggled softly, her thighs pressed against Kane’s, his arms slung around her shoulders. He dropped his head to her ear and his breath tickled her skin, making her neck goose-bump.
‘If we were kids again we’d probably be making out in the back of this cab.’
And, oh, how she was tempted. Long, long months of keeping her distance, just waiting for Kane to finally get his commission. They’d waited so long, and this last leg felt like the longest wait of all.
Now, sliding her hand up the hard ridges of his muscular thigh, she stopped just shy of going too far, delighting in the long breath that Kane hissed out. He dropped his arm down her back, circling his hand around to draw lazy whorls on her hipbone and down to her backside.
‘That’s unfair,’ she protested weakly.
He didn’t look remotely repentant.
‘Then in future I suggest you don’t start something you don’t want finished.’
And then they were there, pulling up outside the hotel, and Kane was thrusting a note into the driver’s hand and telling him to keep the change.
‘In a rush?’ she teased.
He cast her a sidelong look.
‘Would you prefer me to take my time?’
