Soldier's Choice (7 page)

He slid the phone back in his pocket, and gradually realized there was a noise out here that wasn’t the wind or crickets. It sounded like a lot of people talking—like a gathered crowd. But it was almost midnight and he was near the “downtown” section of Covendale. Last he knew, there wasn’t any nightlife here. The only bar was across town.

Frowning, he picked up the pace and turned the next corner. There was a crowd. It was in front of the police station.

He slowed as he approached the gathering and tried to figure out what was going on. There was an unmarked car parked at the curb, but no one was in it. The crowd was watching a girl—no, a woman, standing about halfway between the station and the sidewalk where the ground rose slightly. She looked familiar. When he got close enough, he recognized Sydney Davis, Luka’s best friend.

A few seconds later, she beamed as a man who’d apparently been kneeling stood up next to her and took her hand. Funny…the guy looked a lot like Cam Thatcher, the rancher. He’d heard Sydney was engaged to Tommy Lowell.

Then Cam scooped her up and kissed her, and the whole crowd cheered.

Reese couldn’t help smiling a little. He had no idea what was going on, but it looked like at least someone was getting a happy ending. That was something he’d never get to experience.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, turned to leave—and someone called his name.

Luka.

Just the sound of her voice was enough to warm his blood. Christ, how was he ever going to stay away from her? She was the only thing that made him feel alive.

He turned and saw her coming toward him. With all three of her brothers in tow.

“Hi, Reese.” She stopped in front of him with a smile, and the Dawson boys formed rank behind her. “Did you see that? I can’t believe she’s going to marry Cam.”

“They’re getting married?” He smirked. “What happened to Tommy Lowell?”

“Oh, he’s a punk.”

“Told you,” Jonah said.

“Shut up, Jonah. I guess even you can’t be wrong all the time.” She half-turned and stuck her tongue out at him. “Anyway, I think Syd’s about to die of happiness. She’s been in love with Cam forever.”

He managed to turn his wince into a smile. Damn, did he know what that felt like—being in love forever.

“So, Reese,” Gage said. “You ready to put in a full day tomorrow?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Tomorrow’s Sunday,” he said.

“Yeah, but houses don’t build themselves.”

“I guess they don’t,” he said. So much for spending the next day recovering. “What time?”

Gage laughed. “I’m just messing with you, man,” he said. “Wanted to see if you’d agree to it. We’re not working tomorrow.”

“Well,” Mark said slowly. “We
could
.”

“No, we couldn’t.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to get ahead, is all I’m saying.”

“Mark, seriously. You’re not making me work tomorrow. I need a day off.”

The hint of a smile surfaced. “Just messing with you.”

“Asshole,” Gage said. “You see what I have to put up with?”

Luka cleared her throat loudly. “All right, knock it off,” she said. “I don’t know about you guys, but I want to get out of here before you idiots find a way to start a fistfight in front of the police station.” She turned to Reese, wearing her ain’t-brothers-grand expression. “I forgot to ask. What are you doing out here?”

He shrugged. “I went for a walk. Heard voices.”

“And found this spectacle.” She smiled. “Want a ride home?”

No.
He had to stop being alone with her. It was hell on his resolve. He opened his mouth to tell her that he was fine, he liked walking, and said, “Sure. Thanks.”

Damn. How hard was it to say no?

“No problem.” She turned to her brothers. “I’ll be back later,” she said. “You guys can ride with Gage.”

“Oh, could we?” Jonah said flatly. “Thanks. That’s great.”

“You barely fit in my car anyway,” she said. “Now leave. Goodbye.”

They headed away in a flurry of good-natured grumbling, and Luka sighed. “Alone at last,” she said. “Come on. I’m parked over here.”

He followed her to the car and got in the passenger side. Since he’d already screwed things up, he might as well try to make the best of it. Maybe he could figure out a way to get pictures of her work. “So,” he said as she started the engine and pulled away from the curb. “My new place could use a little brightening up. Would you consider selling me one of your paintings?”

She gave him a strange look. “Selling?”

“Yes. That’s how it’s done, isn’t it?”

“Well, I guess I never thought about it before.” She smiled hesitantly. “All right. Which one?”

At least she’d agreed. But this was the tricky part. “I’m not sure,” he said, trying to sound casual. “I only saw a few. Could I stop by tomorrow and look at more of them, maybe…take a few pictures?”

The strange look resurfaced. “Is that how it’s done too?”

“I don’t know. I’m winging it here.”

She laughed, and he managed to relax a little. “I suppose it can’t hurt,” she said.

“Great. It’s a deal.”

He glanced out the window, and saw they were already pulling up to his house. How did they get here so fast? He’d accomplished his goal, so he should just say goodnight and go inside. But he wanted more time with her.

Which was exactly why he should make a clean break now.

She drove in behind his Jeep. Before he could force himself to spit out an excuse and leave, she said, “This is going to sound weird, but…can I see where you’re going to hang the painting?”

“You’re right,” he said. “That does sound weird.”

“I know. It’s just that I’ve never, uh, sold a painting before. If I see where it’s going, I think I’ll feel better about it. Like I know it’ll be safe.” She frowned. “Does that make any sense at all?”

“Actually, it does.”

Her features relaxed. “Oh, good. Thought I was going crazy for a minute.”

“You’re not.”
But I might be.
It was crazy to drag this out, to actually bring Luka inside, where suppressing the temptation to head for the bedroom and finish what they’d started earlier would be painful. In every possible sense.

But he would resist. If he didn’t, he’d screw up their friendship—and he couldn’t handle a life that was completely without her.

Chapter 7

Luka called herself a thousand kinds of idiot as she followed Reese inside. What the hell was she thinking? She actually did want to see where he planned to put the painting. But more than that, she wanted him. Preferably naked and in bed, though she’d take a couch or a floor or any handy horizontal surface.

It wasn’t even a subconscious ploy. She knew damned well what her intentions were, and what kind of fool she was to hope when he’d made the boundaries very clear.

But here she was. Hoping.

She’d never been in this place before. Everyone knew it had stood empty for years—but aside from a faint, musty smell, you couldn’t tell that from the living room. Gleaming hardwood floors, smooth and freshly painted walls, a beautiful stone fireplace that had been recently restored. He’d obviously done a lot of work here already.

Right now, the only furniture in the room was a couch against the wall, facing the fireplace. She forced herself not to stare at it and envision the possibilities.

“Well, this is it.” Reese walked toward the couch and gestured at the wall behind it. “I’d hang it right here,” he said. “It’ll have the whole wall to itself. What do you think?”

“It’s perfect.” She really did think that. In spite of her raging insecurities—or maybe because of them—she was delighted that he’d want to display her work. Somehow, she could tell he wasn’t just humoring her. He actually liked her paintings. That meant more to her than she could ever explain.

He smiled. “I’m glad you approve.”

“Of course. But you know, it already looks great in here,” she said. “You must’ve been busting your ass since you got the place.”

“Yeah. Unfortunately, I’ve still got a long way to go. You should see the kitchen—it looks like 1960 exploded in it.”

She couldn’t help laughing. “Sounds amazing. I guess you have to take things one room at a time, though.”

“Yep. Three down, and…well, I’m not going to count how many to go. If I do, I’ll give up.”

“Good idea. What do you have done, besides the living room?”

His eyes widened for an instant. “Um. The basement, and a bedroom.”

“Oh.” Judging from the way he shifted, the word
bedroom
had the same effect on him as it did on her. And now would be the time for her to say goodnight and leave…if she wasn’t an idiot set on having her hopes dashed. Again.

But apparently, she was.

She went to him. His gaze fastened on her, and he swallowed hard as she rested her hands on his waist. “We started something earlier,” she said. “I want to finish it, and I think you do, too. Am I right?”

A shudder went through him. “More than anything,” he rasped. “But—”

“No buts.” She stepped closer, until her body brushed his and set her on fire. “Please don’t say the f-word,” she whispered. “I know that’s the deal, and I’ll honor it. But we can have this, now. No strings attached.”

He stood still a moment longer with war in his eyes. And finally, he surrendered.

His hands plunged into her hair, and he ravaged her mouth with a hunger that had her responding in kind, desperate to keep up. She barely noticed his arms going around her until suddenly she was moving without effort, his lips still locked on hers. She clung to him as he carried her down a short, dark hallway into a softly lit bedroom with a massive four-poster bed.

In the space of a breath, she was lying beneath him. His hands were everywhere—touching her face, stroking an arm, skimming her waist, as if he couldn’t create enough contact to satisfy his desires.

She knew the feeling.

Needing to touch him, she tugged at his shirt until he yanked it off with a low growl. He straddled her as her hands explored the hard planes of his chest, the washboard of his stomach. She moved lower, and his breath caught sharply.

“Wait,” he ground out, grabbing her wrist. “Please.”

She fought a stab of disappointment. “What’s wrong?”

“I want more than this.” He pushed her arm back gently, pinning it over her head as his warm weight pressed against her. “I want to touch you. Taste you. Everywhere.”

The shiver of pleasure that moved through her was almost enough to make her come. “Yes,” she whispered. “I want that.”

He kissed her, long and languid, and eased back with reluctance. “Undress for me.”

She sat up and complied slowly, her eyes never leaving his. He devoured her with his heated stare, driving her to the edge of climax without laying a finger on her. Once she’d removed the last stitch of clothing, he straddled her again and guided her back against the pillows. “Stay,” he said softly.

She nodded, her heart pounding like a drum as his head bent to her throat.

His lips brushed her skin just above her breastbone. Then his tongue replaced them, and she gasped in delight. He laid a trail of kisses along the hollow of her throat, each one burning hotter than the last. His fingertips slid lightly up her arm to her shoulder, and he gripped her there as he bent lower.

She cried out when his tongue grazed her nipple, panted as he suckled it to a hard, throbbing point. He lavished attention on one breast, then the other. She held his head firmly in place, arching against him as her sex ached to feel him inside her.

As if he’d read her mind, he slid a hand between her legs.

His thumb stroked her clit, teased her open, and he slipped a finger into her wet hole. She clenched instinctively, moaning as a second finger joined the first. His thumb still rubbing her most sensitive spot, he slid his fingers in and out with a slow, sweet rhythm that soon had her gasping for breath.

His tongue moved faster, teasing her hard nipple and sending waves of liquid pleasure through her. She’d never felt so much all at once. As the motion of his hand increased its pace, she grabbed fistfuls of blanket and thrust into his strokes, urging him on with a breathless plea.

Her eyes rolled back in utter abandon as she screamed his name, and a blinding orgasm consumed her.

What felt like a long time later, she fell back against the pillows with a contented groan. “My God,” she managed. “I think you killed me. That was…incredible.”

“It was my pleasure.” He kissed her tenderly, sending a fresh shudder through her. “Are you too dead to keep going?”

“No.” She smiled. “Undress for me.”

Without a word, he stripped his pants and underwear off. His cock sprang free, hard as marble as he knelt in front of her.

She sat up and reached for him. “Now, allow me,” she said.

He moaned through gritted teeth as her fingers circled him, stroking the silk skin over the steel of his erection. He was perfectly placed for what she wanted. She leaned forward, and looked up at him as she kissed the tip of his cock.

“Luka,” he panted. “Oh, God…”

She stroked him again, squeezing gently until a bead of precum leaked out. Her tongue darted out to catch the salty liquid, and she slid her lips around his cock and suckled the head, delighting in his gasps and groans.

With a hand gripping the base of his cock, she ran her tongue down the length of him and back up. She teased the spot just beneath his head, with kisses and gentle nips that had him shuddering all over.

Then she was taking him all, his hand tangled in her hair as she filled her throat with the firm, clean taste of him.

His breathing grew ragged, uneven. She felt him harden and swell further, until he suddenly pulled free with a desperate cry. “I can’t hold back much longer,” he rasped. “I need to have all of you. Please…”

“Yes,” she said. “Oh, yes.”

He laid her down and positioned himself between her legs. Holding her arms crossed above her head, his mouth locked with hers as he entered her swiftly, deeply. He stayed buried in her for a long moment, his cock throbbing with every heartbeat and sending flutters through her inner thighs.