By Honor Bound (21 page)

His wife Cynthia picked up the phone. Rather than asking for Blayne’s number right away, she made small talk with Cynthia for a few minutes.

Graham’s voice came on the phone moments later. “Hey, sis. What’s up?”

Again she chatted with him about mundane things before she asked for Blayne’s number. To her relief he gave it to her without question.

Then he asked, “You haven’t seen Blayne this week, then?”

“No.”

“I have. He’s got good news, but I’ll let him share it with you.”

She sank onto the bed. “How do you know he’ll want to share with me?”

“I have a feeling he will.”

The smile in her brother’s voice made her more than curious. “Graham—”

“Nope, I’m not ruining it. Besides, Cynthia would kill me if I did.”

She laughed. “Oh, well in that case, to save you from dire consequences, I’ll stop asking.”

“And for my part, I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

“I was overprotective. I shouldn’t have interfered in your relationship with Blayne. I didn’t use my skull. I can’t control anything you do. Your life is your life and no one else’s.”

Surprised but relieved they’d jumped the hurdle, she released a deep breath.

 “Thanks. But it was as much my fault as yours. I allowed you to tell me what I was going to do with my social life. I know Dad won’t be too thrilled about Blayne, but he’ll have to get used to it.” She made a small sound of despair. “That is, if Blayne wants to be with me.”

“I have a feeling you’re going to hit the jackpot, li’l sis. Wait. Cynthia is giving me dirty looks. I think that means I’ve said enough.”

After they hung up, she dialed Blayne’s apartment, afraid and yet excited. The phone rang three times before the answering machine picked up. A mechanical voice, not Blayne’s, came from the machine. Disappointed, she left a quick message saying she’d try him back later.

She’d barely put the receiver in the cradle when the doorbell rang. She about came out of her skin, a startled sound leaving her throat.

“Take a deep breath,” she muttered as she headed for the door, wondering who it could be.

When she looked through the peephole, her breath hitched in her throat. Blayne stood outside with his eyebrows pinched together as if he was anxious. Happiness to see him glided over her in a tremendous wave. She opened the door, and he gave her a sheepish grin that made him look more like a boy than a warrior.

She gasped when she saw what he held in his hand.

“Hi. These are for you.” He handed her a dozen red roses.

Immediately she clutched them to her, drinking in their heavenly scent. “They’re beautiful.” Jemma’s heart sang a new, beautiful song. “Thank you.”

As she ushered him inside, she felt a powerful need gathering inside her. She had a lot to tell him, but even more, she
wanted
him. She closed the door and locked it.

Now was the time to let it rip.

“We’ve got to talk, Sweets.”

“I know.”

Before she could lose her nerve, she placed the roses on the table inside the entry. Before he could remove his down coat, she slipped her hand to the back of his neck and pulled him forward.

“What—?” he started as she tugged his head down.

She smothered his words with her mouth, kissing him softly and slowly. He stilled, then responded, his mouth twisting over hers. With a groan his arms went around her and he immediately took the kiss to the next level, his tongue plunging deep into her mouth. She returned his ardor, kissing him with a madness she didn’t want to contain. His lips demanded, tasting her with a furious desire.

No, he didn’t hate her. In fact, he wanted her with a passion she could feel with each breath and sigh. Overjoyed, she slid down the zipper on his coat and he shrugged out of it, still kissing her. The coat fell on the floor. Slipping his arms around Jemma again, Blayne molded her to his body. He deepened the kiss, his tongue making love to her with pure sex and sin.

When he released her mouth, he whispered against her lips. “How did I stay away from you this long?”

“I’m so sorry. I should have told you how I felt when we were snowed in. I should have—”

His mouth swallowed her words, his kisses frantic. He inched her down the hallway, stopping every once in awhile to nibble and explore. His hands found her breasts through her sweater, and when he flicked his thumbs over her nipples, she whimpered into his mouth.

He tore his mouth free and propped his forehead against hers, his breath coming fast and hard. “We can stop and talk if you want.”

“Are you crazy?” she asked with a smile. “I want you. Talk later.”

Blayne’s eyes held powerful desire, his gaze intense, hot, and refusing to wait for anything. He pulled her sweater over her head and tossed it aside. Reaching behind her, he undid her bra, then flipped it away with a quick movement.

He kissed her ravenously as he found her nipples, pulling, tugging on the hard points until she groaned with each movement of his callused fingers on her flesh.

Desire exploded, and as they stumbled their way down the hall, they made it as far as the bedroom door. Gently he pushed her up against the wall, pinning her with his big body. He pushed his cock against her mound, rotating against her clit. Urgency made her greedy, and she worked quickly at his belt, snap and zipper until she freed his cock.

As she smoothed her fingers over the marble-hard column, he hissed in a breath. She stroked him and he trapped her fingers. “God, baby. Later. If you do that now I’ll explode. I can’t wait that long.”

Every molecule inside her, all the love she possessed for this handsome, wonderful man called her to wild, sexual completion. Nothing would make sense, no more words would be needed until they’d sampled their brand of special madness.

Out of her mind for him, she gazed into his dark eyes and knew she’d love him forever. “I’ve dreamed about this all week.” Despite her arousal, tears popped into her eyes. “I can’t stand it any longer. I thought maybe you’d never be in my arms again.”

He frowned, his eyebrows drawing together, then his eyes softened as he pressed kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, her nose. “No, Sweets. Don’t cry. I’m here and we’re together. No more waiting.” As she gulped in a breath and a sob threatened, he peppered her lips with tender, soft kisses so unlike the hungry searches they’d explored moments before. “I won’t let you go without a fight, Jemma. Please tell me you want to be with me not just for tonight.”

Joy danced in her heart, filling her soul with a special, warm glow reserved for a woman deeply in love. “I want you for always.”

A big smile parted his lips. “Damn, if that doesn’t sound good.”

He kissed her as he undid her jeans and slid them down her legs, then removed her panties. She kicked them away. He pressed his thighs between her legs, pressing hard against her clit. He leaned forward and clamped his lips on one nipple, plumping the breast in his hand. As he sucked, she rubbed against him, a soft, frantic moan parting her lips.
Oh God
. She just might come from this.

His breath came in hard pants as he urged her into the bedroom. When they bumped into the bed, he released her. Naked, she got on all fours on the bed and gestured at him with a come-hither look. A crooked grin that spelled wicked things to come parted his lips as he retrieved a condom from his jeans pocket and held it up. He tossed it on the bedside table. With purpose he yanked his boots and socks off, stripped his jeans and briefs away, then pulled his sweater over his head.

At the site of his beautiful, muscular chest and erect cock, her mouth watered. God, she loved his body. She couldn’t have conjured up a better fantasy if she tried. She almost left the bed to touch him. Before she could move he sheathed himself with the condom.

“Now,” he whispered.

“Yes.” Feeling uncharacteristically aggressive, a feral heat blossoming, she grabbed his arm and tugged. “Come here.”

He tumbled onto the bed with a laugh and they rolled in a tangle of arms and legs. She came out on top, her body plastered against his from breast to loins. Closing her eyes, she savored sensations. Hard muscles flexed, cradling her as if she were the most precious thing in the world to him. She sighed and brushed her cheek against his chest, loving the touch of his hair-rough pecs against her skin. As her legs intertwined with his, the contrast of hard against soft, cock against wet labia, sent her hormones into riot. Her entire body yearned for joining, for a repeat of their loving. While making love before had been wonderful, she felt everything more intensely this time.

She cherished the brush of naked skin against naked skin, the heat of his hands, the growing ache between her legs. Her long hair cascaded down her naked body, and he reached up to brush aside the hair concealing her breasts.

As she straddled him, he clasped her waist and lifted her over his cock. Without more preliminaries she impaled herself deep, a gasp of ecstasy her only sound. His hardness, thick, long, and hot, arrowed high and tight. Clenching her muscles around him, she rose up and plunged down, keeping the rhythm languid and sensuous. Jemma swiveled her hips, tightening over him with the motion. Throwing back her head, she rose and fell upon his hard heat.

Blayne’s breathing increased, his masculine sounds of pleasure growing by the second. She spread her legs wider and placed her palms on the bed for more leverage. She rode him like a wild thing, pounding her cunt over his cock at a furious pace. No waiting for bliss, no waiting for pleasure. Gratification came almost instantly, the blast-off rippling inside her. Rocking and rolling, she did him like an Amazon, a woman who knew what she wanted and from this point forward planned to take it. As need increased, he thrust his hips upward, compounding the ecstasy as his cock rubbed against pleasure points high inside her.

It roared into her, a lightning quick orgasm splintering her into a thousand euphoric pieces. She gasped, her entire body quivering.

Blayne continued to pump, his cock stroking and thrusting with a driving rhythm. Suddenly he stopped, his breath heavy and hot. His fingers stayed clamped onto her hips.

“What else do you need, Sweets?” he asked huskily, his gaze lit with a voracious fire. “How do you want it?”

Spreading her hands over his pecs, she brushed her fingers over his nipples. “I just want you to come.”

Blayne pulled her down on the bed and rolled, coming up between her legs with a hard thrust. She moaned, feeling her walls part for him with greedy acceptance and desire for more. Urging him on, she tilted her hips, accommodating each slow, achingly tender thrust. A cadence emerged, a wholly erotic mating that lifted her up where she’d never been. Love and tenderness emerged in her world, and her eyes opened wide as pleasure mounted.

He thought the cock-exploding satisfaction of watching her ride him couldn’t get any better.
Man, did it ever.
Although he might blow any minute, he gritted his teeth and held back, concentrating on what he wanted the most. He would get her off again if it killed him; he wanted her screaming, bucking, moaning for it. Who gave a shit if they woke the entire neighborhood?

He would do anything for her. Slay dragons, kick ass, give his life for her.

Blayne adored her, wanted her—

She lifted her hips on a downward thrust and he moaned low in his throat. Now was the time. He drew his hips back and pushed hard.

Fuck, yes
.

As she trembled violently, a cry ripping from her throat, he couldn’t deny it, couldn’t hold body or heart back from the truth. He came with a roar as the last pulsation shook him.

As she imprinted her body and soul upon him, Blayne knew he must tell her what he felt. He drew Jemma into his arms, kissing her nose, her forehead, brushing her long glorious hair away from her face.

With a shuddering breath he confessed, “I love you.”

She pulled back a little, her eyes wide and tearful, a smile glowing. She kissed him with gentleness and he loved her more for it. “I love you Major Forbes.”

He kissed her softly. “Sweets, are you all right?”

Jemma decided to tease him. “Am I all right? Are you kidding? That was the most wonderful…the most exciting—I can’t describe it.”

She buried her face against his neck. As tears ran down her face, she thought she’d never recover from the sheer joy screaming inside her.

Blayne
loved
her.

Joy didn’t get any better than this. Life didn’t get any more wonderful.

After her breathing slowed, she snuggled deeper into his arms and said, “I’ve learned my lesson, Blayne.”

“What’s that?” His voice was muffled against her hair.

“I love you and damn the torpedoes.”

He chuckled. “Torpedoes as in Graham and the rest of your family?”

“Yes. No one controls my destiny but me.”

Sighing, he kissed her forehead. “I can’t tell you how good that is to hear. If you hadn’t attacked me in the hall I had this entire speech rehearsed telling you I wanted to be with you. I was going to say I didn’t care if Graham approved or not. Then I planned on kissing the hell out of you until you agreed with me.”

“I attacked you?” she asked, unable to contain a smile.

He rolled her over on her back and looked down at her, wicked humor in his melting dark eyes. “Yeah.” He winked. “Okay, it was a mutual attack.”

Returning his unrepentant grin, she traced her index finger down his chest to one hard nipple. She explained how miserable she’d been, how she’d called his apartment and left a message. “Graham said you had something good to tell me?”

“I talked with him on the way to the Fort the morning after you and I spent the night together. I admitted that if anyone’s heart was going to be broken, it was going to be mine. I realized I loved you then. All week I’ve been working things out. Part of me needed the courage to take the chance.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing all week. Kicking myself for thinking I couldn’t be straight with you.” She cupped his head in her hands and dared to look deep into his eyes. “Is there more good news?”