Not Another Soldier (16 page)

As I shove them in my mouth, she urges me forward, a
hand behind my head and passes me a glass of water. I swallow the pills and lie
back again. Oh yeah, I could get used to this. Sienna looking all concerned for
me, her soft hands holding me. Something’s changed, I’m sure of it. All that
hero talk. I don’t know, I’ve got this feeling she’s finally figured out that I
ain’t getting out of her life and she wants me just as badly.

I hide a grin as I consider how I’m going to get her
to confess the truth. She’s so easy to read that it won’t be hard, and I’ll
admit I take a perverse pleasure in putting her on edge and seeing her squirm.
I’m not sure if she realizes it yet, but I’m not going to let her get off
easily. This is it. Her and me.

Hell, I’m not getting any younger and I’ve wanted her
for so long. I know her so well, why would I want anyone else? Spending time
with her these past few days, exploring that insanely gorgeous body, has only
confirmed what I’ve known for a long time. Sienna was meant for me. I have to
make her mine, for once and for all, and make up for the fucking idiotic
mistake of ever letting Rob have her.

Glancing down, I note she’s still wearing that
blood-soaked shirt. Stupid, selfless woman hasn’t even thought to get changed.
I’m willing to bet she’s been pacing and debating calling for an ambulance for
me.

“You could do with a change of clothes, babe.”

Sienna blinks and looks down. “Oh yeah, I forgot.”

“Well don’t let me stop you.” I let a big smile spread
across my face as I lie back and prepare to enjoy the sight.

One sassy eyebrow raised, she shakes her head. “You’re
terrible.”

“Yep, but you love me for it.” The words are out of my
mouth before I even think about it.

Her cheeks go instantly red and she jumps up and
starts rummaging for a clean top in the wooden dresser. I’m probably smirking
but I love that she doesn’t deny it. Her discomfort must mean something, right?

She fumbles with her shirt while I force myself up to
sitting and swing my legs over the bed.

“What are you do—”

I’m on her quickly before I can think twice or succumb
to the way my skull feels like it’s going to explode. No way am I missing this
opportunity. I snatch her wrist and pull it away, leaving her shirt open.
Turning her toward me, I spread either side of her top and admire the soft
swells peeking over a cute pink bra. Her nipples are already hard through the
cotton and her breasts rise and fall in an incredibly enticing way. She gapes
up at me as I splay my hands around her waist, her smooth skin beneath my hands
making me harder than ever.

“Do you?” I ask, my voice gruff.

“Do I what?” she breathes.

So that’s how she’s going to play it. I can tell she
knows exactly what I mean. She just needs a little persuasion. Well, the pain
in my head is almost gone and I relish a challenge. With one finger, I brush
aside her hair and bring my lips down on her ear with a feather-light touch.
Sienna is so responsive and I’ve quickly learned her neck and ear are the place
to go for. She quivers and I trail my lips down her neck and back up.

Nipping at her lobe, I pause to whisper. “Do you love
me?”

“I…”

She whimpers as I rake my teeth over her neck and
bring a hand up to caress one breast. I love the sexy little noises she makes.
If only she knew how hot she makes me. It doesn’t seem to matter what I say or
how I say it, she can never understand how much I want her. Like all the time.
I feel like a teenager again around Sienna.

“Just say it.” I skim my mouth over her chin and up to
her lips, pausing to lick at the corner. She tastes so good it takes all my
willpower not to press her mouth apart and taste every inch of her. “I. Love.
You. Three words, babe, it isn’t hard.”

“Nick…” she moans my name.

Now I’m tense all over. It’s ridiculous how quickly
she can drive me to the edge. But she isn’t going to give in. Damned stubborn
woman.

I pull back and rest my forehead on hers, stroke my
fingers across her cheeks. “I love you, Sienna. Probably always have. You’re
sweet and sexy, and clever and funny. I want to make you mine, sweetheart. For
good.”

When I pull back, I still see doubt in her eyes. I
don’t know if she doubts me or herself or what, but I’m going to have to erase
it. With both hands, I peel off her shirt and fling it aside. She doesn’t
resist. She’s putty in my hands. Is there anything hotter than having a
beautiful woman silently begging for your touch? Then I reach around and
unclasp her bra. I take just a moment to admire her breasts, her pale nipples
tight and ready for my mouth, before unsnapping her jeans and yanking them
down.

I kneel in front of her and tug off her jeans and
socks. Sienna must be the only woman in the world who can turn me on with only
a glimpse of her feet. Her little painted toenails remind me of her so much. A
splash of brightness in a dark world. They’re purple right now. It’s one of
those little things I always noticed about her. No matter what was going on in
her life she always had these perfect, brightly colored toenails.

I stand slowly and enjoy the way she trembles as I
pull myself to my full height and press my thumbs into her hips above her pink
panties. I love how she acts all meek and mild, and then so open and
unashamedly hot when I start to make love to her. It’s like unwrapping a
present.

She lets out a small sigh when I strip her panties
down her long legs. There’s color in her cheeks as I take in the sight of all
that smooth skin and sleek curves, but she doesn’t flinch. I wish she’d realize
how brave she is.

“Well, don’t just stand there!” she declares suddenly.

With a spluttered laugh, I step forward and scoop her
in my arms, making her squeal. She catches on quickly and hooks her arms around
my neck as I take her into the bathroom and place her in the shower.

“Wait there.” I hurriedly strip off my clothing,
almost tripping over my jeans in my haste, and get in beside her.

She’s on me instantly. The shy woman is gone and
there’s a hot, willing one in her place. God, I love all the sides of her.
Silky skin presses against me and she’s practically wrapped around me. My body
tenses all over, blood pounding through me. I fumble to turn the shower on and
she shrieks as the water hits her back. I spin her around and grimace as icy
cold water pummels my back, but I’m not going to let Sienna suffer it. Standing
in front of me, all cold and pale, she looks so fragile, but I know she’s not.
The kind of woman with inner strength this one.

Mercifully, the water warms and I relax into her.
Fingernails dig into my neck as she urges me toward her for a kiss. Her mouth
is hot and delicious. Just her kisses make me hard. Hell, just looking at her
makes me hard. That feminine little mouth opens under mine and I kiss her
forcefully. Maybe if I kiss her enough, I’ll get her to confess. My hands roam
her body, over her ass and back. She moves with my caresses as if my touch
scalds her, or perhaps she can’t get enough of them and she wants more.

I need to know. I pull back and kiss her neck. “What
do you want, babe?”

“You,” she says breathily as she leans into my kisses.

“Why?”

I reach behind me and grab some of her shower gel,
drawing far enough away from her so she misses me. She glares as I pour some of
it into my palm. I’m going to smell like flowers or something but I don’t
really care if I get to soap up that gorgeous body.

“I used to fantasize about you, Sienna. Used to dream
of doing things like this to you. I have a lot of things I want to do to you.
Are you going to let me?”

She nods, mouth open but silent.

“Why?” I try again. I’m still looking for those words.

Lathering the gel in my hands, I begin to spread it
over her breasts, loving the feel of the warm weight and hard nipples before
working it over her stomach, just stopping before the juncture of her thighs.

“Well?”

Sienna tucks her lip between her teeth and releases
it, making it even more swollen than it already was from my kisses. “I…” Her
throat works. “I love you.”

Yes!
My heart leaps at the whispered
words and I want to punch the air in triumph. We’ve got a way to go. I’ve still
got a whole host of problems to conquer with this woman, but now she’s admitted
as much, things are going to be easier. Bundling her into me, I clasp her face
and kiss her until she gasps.

“Was that so hard?” I ask as I draw back, still
holding her face.

Her lips tilt and she shakes her head. “You’re mean.”

“Hey, you can’t blame me for wanting to nudge you in
the right direction. You have no idea how torturous it is to watch your best
buddy be with the woman you want. I couldn’t wait much longer to hear that.”

“I’m still worried. What if I can’t do it again? All
the uncertainty of being with a soldier… I don’t know if I can take it again.”

I squeeze her. “Trust me, being with me will be
nothing like being with Rob, I swear it. I won’t ever give you a chance to
doubt me. I will do everything I can to make you happy. Damn, honestly, I’d
even leave the Marines.”

She gasps and tries to pull back but I hold her tight.
“I won’t let you do that,” she declares. “You love being a Marine.”

“I love you more.”

Sienna shakes her head in disbelief and touches the
back of my head. “You must have knocked your head harder than I thought. Are
you sure you should be doing this?”

“I’m no weakling, woman. I need you so bad right now,
nothing can stop me from taking you.”

“Maybe you should re—“

“Enough talking,” I say as I claim her mouth and work
the rest of the soap across her back and ass, slipping my fingers briefly down
to feel her hot and ready for me. I swallow her moan as I prop one of her legs
on my hip, allowing me access to her sensitive folds.

I let my fingers explore her down there for a while
until she’s trembling and begging for more. Teeth sinking into the delicate
flesh between her neck and shoulder, I play out her pleasure a little longer
before pressing her back against the tiles, framing her with my arms.

Sienna tilts her head up and her spiky wet lashes and
big grey eyes make me a little breathless. Dribbles of water trail down her
cheeks and her hair hangs in damp tendrils. I push back one from her face and
let my fingers linger on her lips.

“I love you.”

There they are again. Those words I’ve been dying to
hear. My heart feels like it’s being squeezed. I reach down and clasp her rear,
scoop her into my hold and sink into her swiftly. I hear her sharp inhale and
her heat encloses me, makes me feel slightly dizzy.

“I love you, Sienna.” I start to move within her and
her instant response sucks the breath from me. “You’re all mine now, babe.”

“Yes,” she breathes and I bury my head against her
neck as she clutches my shoulders.

We move easily, rapidly, like old lovers with all the
excitement of the first time. Making love to Sienna is so unlike anything I’ve
ever known. The way she responds... I feel it in her body. She doesn’t try to
smother the noises she makes or hide her expressions. It’s all there, in her
face. I read every nuance and it makes me harder than ever to know I’m making
her feel those things.

Pleasure, acute and sharp quickly takes hold of me as
I thrust into her. She’s calling my name. Repeating it. And I echo it with
words of my own though I’m not sure what. Her name. Words of love. Christ, I’m
probably spilling out my heart but I have no control over it right now. All I
can think of is her heat and the sensation of her on the cusp of climax in my
arms.

Sienna spreads kisses over my shoulder as she shakes
and stiffens. Her orgasm seems to hit hard and quick as she cries out and her
body pulses around me. I kind of want to squeeze my eyes shut as I grit my
teeth to keep control but seeing her come is the most incredible sight. A blush
seeps up her cheeks and her eyes are slightly glazed, her mouth ajar. It only
takes a few more thrusts and I follow her over the edge, the release searing.
If I wasn’t in the shower, I’d be slick with sweat and the exertion.

We take a moment to gather our breath. Her breasts
press against me and I remain inside her. I’m not sure I want to let her go.
The pain in my head is pretty much gone. Today has been incredible. If I
release her, will it all be over? Okay so knocking myself out wasn’t so great,
but being looked after by a sexy nurse has certainly made up for it. And now
she’s admitted she loves me.

Reluctantly, I reach to the side and turn off the
shower. I step out and help her before wrapping her in a hot pink towel and
slinging one around my hip. She giggles and I raise a brow at her.

“What? Don’t tell me I don’t look great in pink?”

She considers me. “You look good in everything.” Her
cute little tongue darts out to lick her bottom lip. “But pink is not your best
color.”

“Maybe I should bring some more of my own stuff over.”
I watch carefully for her reaction. Though I plan to stay until this hell with
these drug guys is over, I’m still living out of a bag. Only my toothbrush and
razor are any sign that I’m staying here.